Chapter 2.2: First Encounters in the Dim

Chase disappears into the forest to the north of the Road, even though he's starting by heading west in the same direction as the rest of the party (west to get to the previous campsite where Jonel and the others were attacked by undead).

In about an hour, he sees the place where some upthrust granite forms a wooded cliff overlooking a shadowy clearing, just as Manthis had described. At first glance, the ranger is alarmed to see slain adventurers, but then he recalls that the new Dungeon Busters had said that they were attacked by animated corpses dressed in armor and carrying weapons. He looks over the site before approaching: there are six bodies scattered around the campsite, two close to a fire ring, the other four not really in the clearing but near it.

Chase is a little puzzled: there is no collection of equipment in the clearing, though he remembers now that is how it was described to him. He waits for some time, a patient hunter who knows well that waiting in silent stillness will often result in prey revealing itself. But after several minutes, there is no movement or any cause for alarm, and his jangling nerves begin to relax a little.

Looking around a bit further, Chase observes (from a distance) that most of the corpses are clad in the remains of the armor they wore in life: rusted chain, scraps of leather, a couple plates of armor whose straps still remain intact. All but one of them also has one or more of some kind of weapon near them: three short bows, three quivers of arrows, two short swords, a club, and a staff. The last corpse has no weapon near it.

Heading west on Cecily's Road, the rest of the Dungeon Busters arrive at the place where the familiar path to the Jarls' homestead leads north into the Dim Forest. Soon enough, the younger Jarl children, Wenderly and Torren, come down the path to greet their dear friends from the Dungeon Busters (Torren runs, but Wenderly's little chubby legs are unable to keep up. Running hard, he trips, falls into the dust, springs up, and runs again. "You're back! You're back!" they cry with gladness. "Tell us of your adventures!" Then their enthusiasm dims a little when they see Bradley, a stranger to them, but Torren knows what they are supposed to do. "Greetings, sir, and well met. Please a-a-a-comp'ny us to the house for a warmer welcome. All who come in peace..."
"Peace! Peace!" Wenderly shouts, and Torren loses the thread of his little memorized speech.
"Uh..please, won't you rest a while and visit with us?" They then lead the adventurers back to the farmhouse. Emiless and Elista are tending the garden, and you see Devek in the distance leading livestock from one pasture-clearing to another. Elista rises with a smile. "How delightful to see you all again so soon! It looks as if you have found the rest of your group." Her keen eyes notice the change to the group, and she addresses Bradley. "Is that Bradley? Bradley, have you given up on barrels and taken up a sword to go seeking treasure and glory?" She gives off teasing the cooper and begins to lead them into the house, but then she notes that her kids are being idle: Emiless, Torren, and Wenderly are just standing there, mouths slightly agape. "Well, get back to work, you three. You can visit with the heroes when you've finished your daily chores."