Chapter 12: The Rogues Go Hunting!
The Seventh of Greentide, D.Y. 500
-----The next morning the darkness is replaced not by the warmth of sunshine, but by the gray gloom of an overcast sky.
-----Some of the troop is in the stables readying their own steeds while a few of the soldiers walk around the tavern building cautiously watching the trees and other buildings.
-----Seth wakes up, and begins exploring the tavern for clean water, soap and some drying towels. As he finds some he begins cleaning himself up and then his clothes. When he is finished he moves over to Marast and quietly asks him, "See if you can find some food, ham, cheese, bread, maybe some wine to take with us on our journey."
-----Kazel goes around collecting her caltrops, then prepares the horses and wagon for departure. Dusting off her hands, she grumbles loudly, "Well, now that we're done accomplishing nothing by staying the night, let's get out of this accursed place."
-----The Dread Pirate yawns widely and stretches, gazes blearily at the surrounding soldiers and sighs, obviously wishing he'd awakened somewhere else. He then says to Kazel and Seth, "Are we going to hunt those werewolves or not? I'm inclined to give it a shot, but I'll abide by whatever the group decides." As Dread speaks, he begins picking up his silver coated caltrops from the werewolf tunnel.
-----Marast quickly moves back to the kitchen area and in a few moments comes back with his arms laden with a decent amount of food items. As Marast takes the food to the wagon, Seth makes a big show of popping some silver coins on the counter.
-----Runik grumbles with a sour face as he gets up from the bench where he caught some sleep. The dwarf stretches, but still groans as a few bones in his back snap. Runik grits his teeth as his eyes focus on the soldiers moving about and he raises his warhammer. His eyes then alight on Brandel and he stops.
-----"Uh, . . . ye be lookin' a bit peeked," Runik says, the morning aggravation gone from his voice.
-----Krord quickly moves over toward where Brandel rested for the night, a look of concern plastered on the half-orc's face. Brandel sits in his chair, his arm tightly grasped in his other hand. The young man's face is very pale and his cheeks are flush and wet with sweat.
-----Brandel manages a weak smile. "All for the Honor of Redmarsh," he says in a sarcastic whispering voice.
-----After moving about the room, and seeing if there is anything worth stealing, Seth moves over to look at Brandel when he overhears the conversation of Runik and Brandel. "We better get you to a priest soon. Do you know of any other priests close to here or is Oakwood the closest?" He turns and looks for Dread and Kazel, "We may have to take Brandel to a priest. He does not look good."
-----The Dread Pirate gives a concerned look at Brandel, then says, "We have several priests right here, but apparently they can't do anything other than get their feelings hurt. How about Krord, Brandel and Runik take the wagon and start fer Oakwood. If everyone else is agreeable, the rest of us can try to track those werebeasts and put 'em out of commission. I've heard that if ye manage to kill the werewolf that infected ye, then yer lycanthropy is cured. Or maybe that's vampires. Or both. In any case, we can look fer 'em fer a couple of hours then catch up to ye, since yer wagon will be movin pretty slow."
-----Seth nods at the idea of going after the were beasties, but he quietly tells Runik, "If you reach town before we do, take lodgings at Maime's tavern, where we stayed before. See if you can locate some of your former companions as extra guards, remember what the wagon is holding? You should have enough gold in there to buy a small army! If the Oakwood guards come to arrest you tell them what has gone on here, and insist on getting healing for Brandel. Use gold or silver from the wagon to pay for it if you have too. But make sure someone guards the wagon. Don't let the Oakwood do-gooders take the wagon!"
-----"We stay on this trail road to Oakwood," Brandel groans out, "we'll go through two villages like this one before we reach the town."
-----"Aye," Runik says to Seth, "We'll git 'em there! How's 'bout the littl' one?" The dwarf points at the girl watching Kazel preparing to ride out.
-----Marast walks up to the group. The elf keeps his eyes on the soldiers as if looking to avoid them. "Marast hunt beasts too?" the elf asks standing close to the Dread Pirate.
-----The Dread Pirate shrugs, replying, "The little girl issue is up to Kazel. As fer you, Marast, we need you to track those beasts. The rest of you, get moving. Keep moving through those towns, no taking a break fer a pint o' rum."