The Bait

Tanya doesn't seem to be much of a morning person, but is happy to listen to some of Hilmir's stories as you both set out towards the crater, following a different path than Dani's group to ensure you all aren't captured at once should The Order track you all down.

As you get to know each other is seems that she arrived in the woods around the time Hilmir did, but spent most of her time in The Order's city, Valleyview. "If you don't buy into their little cult right away, things get rough pretty fast. Tried escaping a few times, they locked me up and kept me awake for days. I'd still be stuck there if Wenlan hadn't snuck me something to pick the locks with."

Changing the topic, she voices something that's clearly been on her mind for a while. "Hey Hilmir, think we're ever going to get out of here?"

"Pessimism comes naturally to me, but you always seem to be in a good mood. You must have some lighthearted stories, right?"

Tanya laughs at the story, enjoying the relief after all of the recent tension and spots a small stream nearby. "Oh look! Let's quickly check our bearings." She fills up a small bowl she brought with her, and takes one of the guide stones out of her pack, the other currently being held by Elara.

The stone lights up, and slowly rotates into position. After a minute the bearing doesn't change. "Either they're not moving too much right now... or they're coming right for us. How do we get close enough to lure this thing, without getting crushed?"

"Alright," Tanya answers, "you sure do like stories, huh?" and keeps striding forward.

After a few hours of walking, Tanya stops suddenly and gets Hilmir's attention. She whispers, "Hey... look over there!" and points towards three Robes, several hundred feet away. It seems like they're looking for something, or someone, and haven't spotted either of you.

Hilmir gets closer to the group without being noticed. With a better vantage point he can see that two of them are systematically combing the area, while the third hangs back at a distance.

Tanya whispers, "Should we maybe try to follow them? Might lead us to a Sweeper." she says with a shrug.

The pair of you follow them without being noticed. With a bit of study, Hilmir and Tanya see that the two scouts keep reporting back to the third individual. The pair are sent off to comb somewhere else, and the third goes in another direction. By tailing the individual which seems to be calling the shots, without losing sight of the others, Hilmir sees him walk into a clearing and approach a Sweeper which suddenly stops walking forward.

Neither of you can see exactly how it was done from where you are, but you are confident that this Robe gave the Sweeper some sort of command.

Hilmir and Tanya move to a vantage point where they can observe the commander more clearly, just in time to see his two reports return. They exchange a few words, before heading off in a different direction.

The commander then turns to the Sweeper, places his hands upon an amulet that is hanging around his neck, and utters some sort of command that neither of you could hear. The Sweeper adjusts bearings, and begins walking in the same direction as the other Robes while the commander follows closely. They are moving away from Hilmir and Tanya at the moment.

The Robes turn around in shock, and each ready a sword. "Bartley! Found someone with a death wish." one calls out in the direction of the commander, and the pair of them begin to slowly advance towards Hilmir.

As Hilmir charged ahead Tanya started to try and say something, but didn't want call attention to herself too by making extra noise. After blowing the horn, he notices that Tanya did not follow him out, and is likely still hidden in the woods nearby.

The pair of Robes follow Hilmir, and a bit further away the commander appears with the Sweeper nearby. He gives a command sending the Sweeper after Hilmir too, after which Tanya jumps out of a bush and drives a blade into his leg, engaging him in combat.