Chapter 1: The Village of Noth!
-----The Seventh of Greentide, D.Y. 500
-----Small branches sway as a moderate breeze begins to pick up through the forest. The gray clouds overhead seem to churn as they are glimpsed between the high limbs.
-----Marast looks cautiously up at the sky as he steps out on the trail road that leads back to the Town of Oakwood. The wood elf then glares off to his left down the road as Kazel, Seth and the Dread Pirate emerge from the trees behind him. "Werebeast village back that way," he snarls. The expression on his face reveals his intent to hide his uneasiness with a harsh tone.
-----The wood elf then turns his attention toward the trail road itself. Within a few moments, he points out the wheel tracks left behind by a wagon. Without a doubt, it looks as though the rogues are just a couple of hours behind their wagon's progress.
-----Noting that the small group is now without horses, Marast speaks as he looks up the road where the tracks lead. "We reach next village by nightfall," he says before glumly turning his gaze skyward once more. "May storm soon," he adds before looking at his employers.
-----The trees on each side of the trail seem to grow a bit darker with the only sound being the breeze carrying through the branches.
-----Seth watches Marast and wonders what makes him more glum, reaching another village or being out in a storm. "Well, I don't mind walking in the rain. This is probably the only bath I will get for another week." He holds out his shirt and shows everyone that is interested the dirt marks and creases. "We need to catch that wagon, at least I have a fresh shirt there." He takes out his harp and begins playing a jaunty trailing tune as he walks in what he thinks is the way of the wagon. He looks up at the sky and calls Albert to him and asks the bird to perch on his shoulder as he walks.
-----Albert flaps down and lands stiffly on Seth's shoulder cawing as the musician begins to play. The crow then cocks its head as it looks at Seth's companions.
-----Marast turns and looks at the Dread Pirate noting his wounds and bleeding shoulder. "We rest if you need," he says to Gimplefwick. He then adds, "We bind wound. Werebeasts smell blood."
-----The Dread Pirate thinks about it for a moment, then gauges the amount of blood trickling down his arm, "Nay, we'd best keep going and try to catch up to the others. Besides, that last werebeast catching up to us would be a boon. We could end their plague right there. We can bandage my shoulder after it rains. The rain'll cleanse the wound a bit, besides covering up our scent."
-----"Wait," Kazel says as she walks again towards the cottage. "Let's see if there's anything in this little house that's worth the fight."
-----Seth looks at the cottage and lets every one know, "I searched the cottage while I was in there, all I found was badly made furniture and old bones tossed about and odd trinkets such as chicken feet and dried bats dangling on strings from the rafter beams, not what I would want to cart back to Hearthorn and display in the shop."
-----Kazel looks crestfallen. "I s'pose we're heading back now." She straightens her hair and dusts off her hands, then strides down the path with the others.
-----The rogues and Marast start off heading in a northeasterly direction on the trail. Even though the gloomy clouds continue to build, the journey on foot proves not to be so bad. The breeze still carries through the trees somewhat, cooling the trio and their scout. With the absence of the sun glaring down, they find less stops for rest are needed.
-----As they continue on up the trail road, the trees appear to line the way like great pillars with their highest branches blocking full view of the sky. A very interesting thing occurs, also, it seems that the farther they distance themselves from the unfortunate village of Navlot, the more comfortable the journey becomes.
-----Birds are seen in growing numbers as they take to the tree branches perhaps for shelter from the oncoming weather. Small animals are occasionally seen or heard dashing through the undergrowth. From time to time, Seth plays on his harp and the woods falls still as if all the woodland creatures are listening to the melodies.
-----The small company stops about noontime to munch on a bit of food Seth stored in his backpack. Here, Marast eats while squatting with his bow in his lap. The wood elf keeps his eyes scanning the surroundings but nothing threatening is detected.
-----About a couple of hours after the rogues set out again, it begins to rain. Not just a steady drizzle, but a heavy rainstorm! The wind whips the high branches around as wave after wave of precipitation falls. Albert suddenly spreads his wings and takes flight landing on a high branch where he can keep an eye on his master.
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