Chapter 7: The Village of Gafa!
The Eighth of Greentide, D.Y. 500
-----With less than half a mile to reach where Sarah believes the village lies, the adventurers move forward leaving the grisly place in the woods behind. Gradually now, the noises of the swamps begin to fill the night. As they walk carefully, they hear the distant creaking of crickets, the peeping and croaking of frogs and the occasional splash of something taking refuge in the slimy water.
-----Soon, the trees thin out revealing great marshes and swamps surrounding the area to the west and south. The waters look dark, glassy and smooth under the starlight while the black tall shadows of trees dot the places where the water is absent.
-----Directly in front of them, the road leads them to a dark and seemingly, deserted village. Low buildings and homes rise up on each side of the trail as it becomes the main street for this place. A very light breeze makes its way among the buildings bringing with it an uncomfortable chill and whisperings that imaginations could be maddened with. The ground beneath their feet is moist and soft thankfully dampening the clopping of the horses' hooves.
-----Most of the buildings appear to be made of wood and daub which seems to be in need of some repair. Some of the buildings are boarded up as if the people who lived there left a while ago. A few others feature doors that have been broken through or windows with the shutters torn from.
-----As the adventurers pass a second block of buildings, they pause to take their bearings. To their left, the closest building appears to have once featured a tailor's shop. Next to it is a small building, which has a picture of a flatboat on a sign over the door. To the right, they see a building with a strong stone foundation with a sign at the door identifying it as a stonemason's workshop. A large stables is located next to it. All the buildings here show the same beginnings of decay; dark and deserted as they are.
-----Something moving just overhead startles Garrison and he drops his torch while grabbing his battleaxe. With the torch extinguished, Lovan brings his torch over only to reveal a sign swaying gentling in the breeze.
-----Romney glances warily around and says, "Is it wise being out here in the open like this? I feel as if we are being watched."
-----"Let's move int' one o' th' buildings. If there's something nasty inside, we'll deal with it, but otherwise we can use it as a base o' operations." Sol looks over the choices then points at the stonemason's shop, "That looks like a good stout place t'work with. Wi' th' stables too. Come on. Get another torch lit, as well."
-----Quickly Sol moves to the front entrance of the building. He points to Raven, then himself and then into the workshop, indicating that the pair should enter first. He then points at Lovan to enter next, so that the two storming the building will be able to see what they're doing.
-----Garrison quickly picks up his dropped torch and relights it from Lovan's. The woodsman then hangs back behind Romney and Mirian scanning the unnerving surroundings with his eyes.
-----The two heroes move forward with Lovan holding his torch aloft. The storm priest mutters under his breath as if he wishes to rush forward.
-----"Don't worry," Sarah says spying the dancer standing beside Romney wide-eyed and frightened, "we'll soon be inside where it's safe." The tone in her voice fails to hide the mage's unease for the moment.
-----Rinda draws forth her bow and notches an arrow as she watches Sol and Raven move toward the building.
-----In front of Sol a wooden door at the top of some steps provides access to the interior of the workshop. He throws it open as Lovan reaches as high as he can to cast the illumination toward the inside. Seeing nothing unwanted occur, Sol and Raven step up and into the workshop. The storm priest quickly follows them.
-----First, they see before them a fairly large room more than adequate for the work once done here. A few feet from the door to their right two large stone containers are found. Both are mostly empty except for a dusty gray powder covering the bottom.
-----A small pile of smoothed flat stones is stacked haphazardly just behind the containers. A large table is situated to the left and a few small tools used in the cutting and shaping of rock lay upon it. A door on the left wall seems to lead to the residential portion of the place while a large portal on the right wall leads to the stable building.
-----No noise is heard except for the night sounds outside.
-----"Everyone inside." Sol says quickly as he scans the workshop carefully. "Lovan, come wi' me while I check th' stables, Raven check th' door on th' left wall wi' Rinda. Once I've secured th' stables, I'll settle down our horses. After that we'll have t'work out what we're doing next. Romney, can ye see if ye can find some sort o' lantern, or maybe start up th' fireplace? Garrison, keep an eye on th' front door here."
-----Sol then moves towards the Stonemason's stable entrance.