Chapter 2.1a: Golden Grain Inn (Orlane at night)

Opting to cheat, Theran will place a hand on Aanbo's shoulder as he begins shifting form into a spider (just like the form he used to scout the Inn). He will find a spot on Aanbo's gear to nestle in for the trip, staying unseen by those searching and ready to surprise anyone who attacks them.

"Ah, our little guide. good to see a friendly face."As we pause Chase will tell the others"I saw a little girl watching us from behind a fence. I don't know how much time we have."

"Despite Reptile being our friend, it probably doesn't look good for us strangers to be carrying a dead body," says Aanbo, "much less apparently taking him directly to Ranme. Let's see if we can avoid the path to Ranme's house and instead take a route through the trees."

"I’ll take Reptile further into the woods, you follow whiskers to Ramne. He guided us earlier, in the dark… that way no one can see you with a body. I’ll keep Reptile’s body safe while you talk."

Aanbo speaks quietly, lest his words attract unwanted attention. "I am sorry for endangering you," he begins. "We wanted to let someone trustworthy know about our discovery. The root of corruption has dug deep into the earth in Orlane, and I mean that literally. We found tunnels under the Golden Grain Inn that appear to be the main passage for shady individuals and troglodytes."

He goes on to explain how the events at the inn that resulted in the deaths of Bertram and other cultists, and of how the Constable, Lhari, and Hamiff were left alive. "The Constable is particularly dangerous, being a man in a position of authority. We ask that you tread carefully, lest he turn his wrath upon you. We also fear for Alan, who helped us when the Constable tried to kill us."

Aanbo continues, "Again, I am sorry we have endangered you. We have been beaten and are in no position to combat this threat to Orlane, not in our current condition. We must retreat to gather our strength and find more friends, and we intend to return as soon as we can."

Chase will nod to these comments and add"Make sure you the Mayor and Alan keep your eyes open. The lady we keep hearing about might be coming after y'all. You should try to figure out who all is under her influence. It looks like Bertram and Derek were also doing their own thing that most of the cultists don't know about."

As soon as Aanbo, Chase and spider-Theran moved towards Ramne's hut, Myrtha found a spot in which to set Reptile's body on the ground, on a blanket of leaves and moss. She looked around her, making sure there were no prying eyes, no sound of approaching movement. Once she was satisfied she was alone, she crouched by her fallen companion and began whispering.

"I'm sorry I failed you, friend," she took a deep breath, and continued. "Two weeks travelling on our own, sharing war stories and laughing at stupid jokes. And as soon as we get a mission, a real mission, I fucked it up." Her voice cracked a bit, as stronger emotions began boiling up. "I've trained for years to be the shield. To put my body in front of the thrusting spears and slashing axes... and what good was that? A fucking bar brawl! A club to the head and that's it. Fucking Hamiff still breathing down there. And when we come back, if we come back, I wager he'll have to be beaten to near death again."

Anger was upstaging grief, so she consciously tried to calm down. "At least that torturer is in the Pits, stuck up the Dark One's smelly arse crack... Derek won't be torturing no more..." she continued, a bitter smile momentarily touching her lips, as the image she evoked settled in her mind. Then sadness again, "Fuck, Reptile! Why'd you have to go?" she pleaded, tears coursing down her cheeks. She'd suffered loss before, even more personal loss. But there was something particularly bruising about the barbarian's demise. Maybe it was the pointlessness of it all. They'd been framed by these cultists, and had done so much effort to 'clear their name' when, as a matter of fact, most villagers would be right to think of them as ruthless foreign killers. This cult was devious and organised, they'd fallen victims to a trap and they'd ought to have known better.

"I hope we'll manage to get Joseph back, friend. I'd hoped that they'd have taken the little guy to that fucking inn, but we found no trace of him, " the warrior-woman continued, concern creasing the corners of her eyes, which she then hid behind her dirty, blood speckled hands. "When... if we return, we'll have to be a lot smarter about it. I hope there's still time for Joseph."

She sniffed once or twice, and touched the barbarian's cheek, on the side not crushed by Hamiff's clubbing. "I'll have vengeance, in your name, friend. And a tale to tell your family, once I track them down. They ought to know what you gave your life for. They ought to know the people who took your life are all back to the mud, and that you ain't died for nothing".

She removed her hand from her companion's face, with a hint of shyness, as if ashamed of a closeness she had not realised was there. She rubbed away the last few tears from her face, and stood up. She took out her hand axe, and began looking for a couple of staves, or long branches she might be able to cut. They'd need to move faster with the body, and an improvised stretcher might be their best choice, given the circumstances. They should have enough rope, and they might find vines that were tough enough. She put her mind to such practical matters, if only to escape the dreary feelings that the previous night' toil had left her with.

"I hope to return as quickly as we can," says Aanbo. "I believe the Mayor and his elven companions are not under this dark influence, not yet. I want to warn them and Alan's family of the danger, but I fear if we linger in Orlane longer, we risk our own discovery and will cause more unnecessary death. It is why we chose your secluded grove first. I remember that you said many in Orlane shun you, but I must ask; do you have a means to spread this news to the Mayor and Alan, that they can take word of the threat with seriousness?"

Chase will agree with Aanbo "We will move quickly and get some help and come back as soon as we can. Can Whiskers deliver messages to the Mayor and Alan without being noticed?" Chase shake his head"If we only had a few horses."

"Thank you, kind farmer," says Aanbo, securing the vegetables for later. "And you're right about the note. I also fear that my handwriting might be terrible enough to label my words as evil!"

He takes his leave of the old man and weasel, and waits for Chase before rejoining Myrtha to escape from Orlane.

Chase will quickly write a note each for the Mayor and Alan relating hitting all the bullet points of what they found so they can do their own investigating. He will also add an extra thank you to Alan for his help getting himself and Aanbo free."Here you go Ramne a note for each and they are labeled. Thank you for all your help sir. We will return." With that Chase will turn and head after Aanbo.

Aanbo leaves one last warning, "I suggest they each burn the note afterward. Of course, those who have been corrupted may still accuse them of aiding those 'murdering strangers,' but at least there won't be physical evidence linking them to us." The monk thinks back to the deposit of the tortured body at the barn, a clear attempt at framing the Dungeon Busters for the deed.

"Let's stick to the Dim Forest until we are west of Orlane, then we can detour back to Cecily's Road and continue to Hochoch," says Aanbo. "What do you think?"

''l agree; Aanbo,' Myrtha responded, ready to begin carrying the body over the rough terrain.