Chapter 13: The Village of Kulendra!
The First of Solentide, D.Y. 500
-----By early evening, Raven, Rinda, Whisper and the others walk their horses through a field of taller brush. To the south, they had seen smoke rising as if from many fires and knew that Kulendra must be near. Finally the brush clears enough that the party can get a view of the settlement before them still many yards off.
-----The village of Kulendra certainly seems to be the largest settlement that the adventurers had seen in Ravenhold so far. Over fifteen major buildings make up the center of the village and it probably hosts a population close to five hundred. Quite a few smaller houses dot the area surrounding the main buildings and these appear to have overseen fields of crops.
-----Now, however, what was once a normal village of good people has been perverted. Very few humans are seen out between the main buildings and if they are, they are in the cruel company of humanoids! Hobgoblin soldiers armed to the teeth swish and crack whips and yell curses at humans who are obviously used as slave work.
-----Where the road, that runs parallel to the river, runs into the village, a small squad of hobgoblins is stationed. Currently, they are conversing with a slaver caravan that is bringing new slaves into Kulendra.
-----Raven snarls, “This whole place stinks of orc,” though none of the orcish folk are seen about. “Let’s wait until dark and then we’ll move in,” he adds before leading the others to cover back in the brush.
-----Whisper had a sinking feeling that he was on what could only be referred to as a wild goose chase. So far, he had found no further clues or had any indications that he was still on the trail of his quarry. Still, here he might have a better chance. Someone he could question as to troop dispositions and mercenary companies hired by the corrupt leader of this country.
-----Shaking the thought from his head, he followed behind Raven, Rinda and the others. He musingly considered his companions, and found echoes of his departed friends in each. Even in the absent young Gorian, who showed impetuousness reminiscent of...
-----Whisper's face tightened beneath the cover of his scarf. It had only been a few days that he had spent in their company, and he was still unsure on whether or not he would remain with them past whatever they had planned for Kulendra.
-----He worked quickly to settle his riding beast, and commenced to dig a concealed firepit. Although chancy, the fire was not likely to give them away during the hours of daylight, so long as they kept it fed by well-dried tinder and dead wood.
-----Once accomplished, he took a swig of the concoction in his possession. He would need to speak, where his erstwhile companions could not interpret his gestures.
-----Giving a low whistle to get their attention, something he was sure irritated at least a couple by now, he began making a series of gestures, pointing first back at Kulendra over his shoulder, 'drawing' on the palm of his left hand with his right, and tapping out each of the digits on his left in what could only be counting.
-----Raven’s wolf sniffs at the fire pit that Whisper prepares and then looks up at the elf. The wolf’s golden eyes seem to gleam in the evening light.
-----Whisper finds that everyone silently gathers around him, but by the frowns and intense stares, no one quite understands his gestures.
-----The Elf looked at each companion in turn, and mentally sighed. He repeated drawing on his hand with his index finger, "Map;" and then he counted off on his fingers, "Count the... en... enemy." Only a slight catch interrupted his otherwise quiet voice, so the swallow of the herbal milk mixture had been just enough.
-----Now he hoped that he would not have to repeat the performance.
-----“Count th’ bloody enemy?” Strolum says, slightly grimacing.
-----“Not a bad idea at all,” Raven says, in a more agreeing tone. “That way we can get an idea of how much resistance we’re up against if we make a full on strike.”
-----The Hunter then looks over his companions and his eyes seem to scan over Pil and Jyan. After a moment, he says decisively, “Strolum, why don’t you and Pil go to the edge of the brush here and give us an idea of how many hobgoblins are in charge. Oh, also, look out for what seems to be a leader for them.”
-----“Aye,” Strolum says, before speaking to the larger bronze warrior, “Come on, Pil, let’s go a’countin’ them goblinses.”
-----“Countin’?” Pil says, somewhat in surprise.
-----Strolum then looks back at him with a mischievous grin, “Not t’be worryin’, I’ll do th’ countin’!”
-----As the two warriors stride off in the brush, Rinda sits beside Whisper and looks at the elf’s eyes. In a lower tone which could be taken for compassion, the Huntress says, “We have traveled these last few days together, but we,” here she looks at Raven to indicate him, “sense that there is much you have suffered.” In an even quieter tone, she asks, “Can you tell of this warband that you hunt?”