Chapter 7: Slappy meets the Paladin!
-----As Kazel settles in for her watch, the others catch up on their sleep. About an hour later, she hears the sound of raindrops hitting the canopy of the wagon. As she holds her hand outside, she can tell the freezing precipitation is more like sleet.
-----Thinking that nothing would be wandering around in this weather, she examines the stash of weapons closer . . . About an hour later, the sleet storm stops and the sky remains dark.
-----The next morning, the rest of the wagon riders awake to still more gray cloudy skies. The cold moderate breeze that blows makes the small branches in the surrounding trees sway.
-----After grabbing a few fruit items for breakfast, Jim begins to take care of the horses. As he does, Seth studies through a book. Minutes later, he begins to feed apple pieces to the crow that flew in. Looking up at his companions, Seth asks with a smile, "Are we up for a little treasure hunting then before we head back?"
-----Gimplefwick grumbles as he starts to eat another apple and looks speculatively at Seth's crow, "Ya know, I'll be glad to get back to the town where we have a wider variety of things to eat."
-----After finishing the apple, Gimplefwick hops off the wagon and goes searching for tracks.
-----Kazel looks glumly at the sky, tiredness starting to show on her face from her last watch. "Let's not take too long, then."
-----Seth jumps down and follows the Dread Pirate. "Ech!" he says holding his nose as he looks at the carcass of the big humanoid lying a few yards from the wagon. "What do you suppose this thing was?"
-----Gimplefwick looks about and carefully scrutinizes the ground, even getting down and sniffing at it in places. He lifts up several clods of dirt and sifts them through his hands, looking at the earth speculatively. He then stands, hands on hips and gazes authoritatively about, "Well, by my reckoning the creature probably came from either those clumps of trees to the south or those hills to the north," Gimplefwick gestures in both directions. It is readily apparent from the look on Gimplefwick's face that he has absolutely no idea what he is talking about and for all he knows the creature may have dropped out of the sky. The parrot on his shoulder seems to gaze at him in bemusement.
-----Looking off to the north, Gimplefwick states, "I'd say our best chances lay in searching the northern area. It may have a cave or some sort of shelter there. If we don't find anything, we can always check out the trees afterwards." He starts stumping off to the north.
-----"Well, my guess is that it didn't live in trees. Only elves do that... I think. A street bum once told me there's no place to put treasure up a tree. That's why they're always broke or out looking for loot..." Kazel looks about as she rambles on.
-----Seth smiles, "Mmm . . I have heard a song once about beautiful women that live in trees, but the only treasure they have is that of their beauty, and if you accept that treasure, you accept it for the rest of your life. But elves may not place treasure up in the tree, they do have many things of beauty in the homes." He strides off after Gimplefwick quietly muttering sweet nothings to the crow on his shoulder not really paying attention to the surroundings at all. After a while, the crow flies up and ahead towards the hills in the north.
-----Jim calls to the thieves, "I’m gonna keep the wagon close to the road. Head back here when you’re done."
-----The thieves cross the road and head down into a valley about a mile in length. Minutes later, they rise out of the valley on its northern end. Up ahead of them, they see a grassy plain bordered on the left by woods and on the right by a marshy area. On the grassy plain, about a half-mile ahead, they see a small stone structure, smaller than a house in size. They see no signs of life other than birds and small animals.
-----Seth turns to the others, "It does not appear to be any humans, or anything around. Do you think that was its house?" Seth rests his chin in his hand while waiting for the others to decide. "Well I do not think that there will be much treasure of beauty in that creature's house, hopefully there will be some coin!"
-----Gimplefwick ogles the small stone hut, 'Well, I think we should get our slings ready, stand back a goodly distance and hail the house. If another of those critters comes charging out, I want it bruised and battered before it gets to us. If nothing responds then, we can sneak upon the house and check it out." Gimplewick then moves around to the front of the house, readying his sling.
-----"Works for me," Kazel readies her weapons and walks into position.
-----Seth fumbles around in his pouches. He comes out with his last piece of pork fat, looks at it, and then tucks it into his palm with his thumb while he also readies his sling. "Umm, I don’t suppose anyone else has any pig fat?"
-----As they move closer, the trio can see that the structure is not a house at all, but rather an old shrine. Its stone foundation is heavily covered with tall grass and slender columns stand about its perimeter. Toward the center of the shrine are small stone benches. A few birds that have their nests atop the columns take flight as the thieves approach. Even though the shrine has fallen somewhat into ruin, the place gives a tranquil feeling.
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