Chapter Three: On the Road

Bughu levels his crossbow upon Leema, assessing whether or not she poses a threat to the party. He'd rather secure the woman and let his companions verify her innocence before lowering his guard.

The stranger's weapon does little to convince Leema that she will soon be free from her makeshift cell.

"You working with those creatures?" she asks, slowly slumping back away.

Bughu ignores the question, instead asking his own. "Who are you?"

Finding her back against the far wall Leema slides down into a seated position and stares blankly at the man.

"Rask. Corporal. 8675309" she says plainly and in a monotone voice.

Bughu lowers his crossbow, and gives a signal for the others to approach the camp. "Khatagi. Specialist. What happened here, Corporal?"

Seeing the crossbow lower, Leema slowly comes to her feet and holds her hands up as a sign of non-aggression.

"A few of us were sent ahead to scout for what's left of our battalion. Didn't get too far before we were ambushed."

She winces, her hand moving to the back of her head to check on he wound.

"I don't remember quite what happened - but I do know it was bad. No clue how I ended up in this thing, but certainly wouldn't mind being let out."

Bughu chances a glance around, as though expecting soldiers to come through the brush. "I am here on behalf of Ontharr Frume," he says, wondering if the name would mean anything to the injured woman. "What is your purpose here?"

"I do not know of an Ontharr Frume." Leema responds, looking past the man to see if any of the others she heard talking are about.

"Our purpose was to investigate the recent activity of the lizard-men in the area. They've been much more aggressive as of late and we're trying to determine their motives."

She spreads her arms to her sides and looks down at her plain clothes and then back to Khatagi.

"Obviously things haven't gone as planned."

I could take a look at your wound, make sure that nothing is wrong. Erich says, holding his hands up to show that they are empty.

"That would be most welcome." Leema responds, moving out of the lean to. With a slight smirk she adds, "Although as a healer, I make a lousy patient."

Bughu steps back, giving Erich more room. "We met up with some lizardfolk back at the Carnath Roadhouse. Seven of them, and we followed their trail here. You think it's the same group that caught you?"

Though it may only be obvious to his companions, Bughu's face is mixed with hesitation on whether to tell this prisoner why the trail interests them. Suspicions on who else might be working with the Cult after their recent discovery are high.

Erich moves to check the wound, familiar slightly with first aid basics.

"We approached from the opposite direction" Leema responds to Bughu's query. "If I had to guess though, my bet would be the ones that got us are part of the same group you were following."

She does her best to hold still as Erich checks her wound. "If my equipment is around here someplace I'll finish up what you've started. Had some proper medic gear with me."

Bughu, somewhat confident that Erich knows what he's doing, tries to check the rest of the campsite for the mentioned equipment.

Grabbing the equipment and pouch, Bughu brings them over to the woman. "Strange that they left you unbound, and we found no other guards," he says. To the others, he says, "See what you can do for her. I'm going to look around." He pads off to secure the perimeter, and try to find a trail beyond the campsite.