Chapter Three - Return to the Mournland

Hiding some tracks

As Tryne slows down, Meepo begins the somewhat grueling task of molding earth continuously behind them. Torhak points to a slightly treacherous looking spot to their right to divert the cart and its wagon. Tryne agrees and expertly negotiates a steep, windy embankment, while Meepo wipes away any trace of wagon tracks. After a short while, they find themselves in a series of stony rolling hills and valleys. Devoid of vegetation, the hills look like they were poured from molten clay and fired in a kiln. Meepo has little issue covering what little tracks are left behind from the carts.

Winding through the hills, Tryne and Torhak keep their bearings using the ever approaching large cliffs to the east. Based on Kalli's map, 37 knows the rail tracks will end just before the cliffs. At this pace, they will reach them in two or three hours. He would know they should return to the rail tracks before that so they find the right path to the warehouse.

Feeling confident that they have sufficiently covered their trail, Tryne is now in full control of the cart. He has begun to feel a deep connection with elemental within. The machine moves quickly and smoothly toward the cliffs ahead. Here and there, large bore holes begin to be seen in the ground, but no creatures are immediately obvious.

Keeping their distance from the turnpike, the elf and the minotaur can see the rail tracks end to their left. Ahead are the cliffs that mark the first real obstacle of the Mournland. With 37’s direction, they find the road Kalli described and turn south. The incessant whispers begin to fade slightly, sounding more distant, seemingly coming from the west. Blackened shrubs dot the road, appearing like dead brambles, yet on closer inspection, are very much alive. Their branches sometimes reaching toward the cart as it passes.

At the quicker pace, they arrive at an opening, approximately where Kalli’s map said it would be.

The kobold takes to the air, as the gloom above parts and the grey sun blinds Meepo. He doesn’t get a great aerial view before he has to return to the ground.

Laulalith meanwhile, stretches and takes a breath, catching the scent of sulphur in the air. As she looks through the opening, she catches flickering of orange light on the other side.

37 gains his bearings. The ‘path’ is a wide and shallow gully. To the west are rolling hills of melted stone. To the east, they’ve been following the cliffs. He is certain this must be the right place. The cliff walls form the outcropping and the opening Kalli described.

Tryne joins the rest of the cautious group in their assessment. He also catches the smell of sulfur in the air. As Vice joins them on the roof, Talon has eyes locked on the opening.