Episode 2

The thief who had been compelled to accompany the group stirs. He sits up in the cluster of ferns, holding the back of his head where Bryn struck him. He looks around fearfully, and confused.

Oram, following orders, has Koral over the shoulder and is moving out northward downhill.

Yasi has gathered up the thief, motioning him along impatiently and shoving him faster when he passes. Yasi is signaling everyone else onward as well.

Yasi nods to Kray, "We go, Lord. Back to camp. Danger here."

Oram keeps moving, carrying injured Koral. He is almost to the descending stairs and moving out at a steady pace. The egg thief is following Oram, at Yasi's direction.

Yasi is directing everyone to move out, back to the camp. He is getting agitated.

Before we decide, let's all remember J kills PC's. Don't know about you guys, but I'm not interested in making a new one ha. And I know for a fact that J subscribes to the "not every fight can be won by the PC's, and the PC's should make realistic choices."

Given the above:

So, we don't know what's out there. We shouldn't assume just hell hounds. Could just be some nasty random monster. Am I curious? You bet. But I'm not that curious. Kray came here with a plan to hit the Red Bastion and get some legit roots in the area, whether that be through criminal organizations, local governance, or ideally both. Also, for Kray, those men out there are on the job, knew the risk. Part of the job, and not worth risking our guys or leaving our camp undefended against unknown threats in a strange land.

Remembering the roots of Dark Thrones, what J has out there could just be part of the game world, nothing more, and just nad news.

Yeah, I'm curious. But I think we play it cool, go back to camp and keep a *close* eye on sick boy. We show up in to town without breaking the local laws.

Ultimately, what I'm saying is that there may be absolutely zero benefit whatsoever to going out there and checking things out. It could just be bad news and nothing but a distraction.

In sum, Kray is here to explore the crap out of this land, but he doesn't want to start it off by rolling into the local culture like a bull in a china shop. If I have to choose on the odds, risks and rewards, we let it go and secure the camp for the night.

Again, super close eye on sick boy. I'm already considering having Kray put him down.

Lets move back to camp.

A bit frustrated with the scene perhaps, the group does end the stalemate with Yasi and agree to return to the camp. It is a short walk back.

The camp is still on high alert, with most travelers set in defensive positions behind cover and the armsmen and able-bodied men on the lookout for incoming threats. There is no active conflict, however, and the group is received enthusiastically as they return.

Yasi takes command of the entire scene. Oram carries Koral into the central tent of the armsmen, and then quickly reemerges to rearm himself and get back into the defensive scheme with his fellow armsmen.

It seems like the archer that was previously assaulting the camp was run off by the armsmen who responded. One armsman was killed. Two others were injured.

Questions roll in relentlessly about what happened on the hill crest. Gibon, predictably, is among the first to seek an update. He and Amit are now instant celebrities among the common folk for being employed by the group of warriors who rode out alongside the Gilded Armsmen and brought back an injured Captain. Lord Medios also approaches Kray and tries to make a connection to get some news of what is going on.Even though you guys say nothing, speculation and tale-swapping runs rampant in the camp almost immediately. Gibon can quickly relay that the bulk of the traveling workers believe that you faced the devil known as Iz Jeddriss. Most believe that the archer was likely Iz Jeddriss as well, because he can step through shadows and travel great distances through darkness. There is a fear that the injured armsmen shot by arrows will likely die soon of poison, though they seem to be recovering now.

The other theory is that you faced or saw a glimpse of Humbaba, a ruthless cannibalistic giant who lurks in Jara Hili, who is said to employ goblin-men as his servants and archers.

Soon you guys find yourself as sudden celebrities in this small circle. Definitely the talk of the camp.

At the same time, everyone is distraught that the rest of the wood-gathering crew has not come back. The fellows in their camp are clearly very worried and are making appeals as they can to the armsman to seek more info. In the end, they are silenced and must endure the uncertainty, fearing the worst. Several of them come over to your camp, very humbly, and ask if you might have any news about their friends. They beg to you, asking if you might help them somehow.

Ron Oram is still chomping at the bit to go back out into the woods to search for his buddies. He seems extremely at odds with Yasi, but he obediently follows orders to stand vigilant in the vicinity and guard the camp.

All the while, you keep a close eye on the tent where you know Koral is lying. No developments so far.

About an hour goes by, then you see and hear something coming down the trail from the east (direction from which you came when returning from the trip up hill)...

Your team campsite is on the eastern edge of the broader camp, so the Armsmen are frequently in you vicinity hanging out and watching outward, just as you guys are on self-imposed watchfulness.

It is fully dark now. That being said, there are some strategic fires placed on the outskirts of the perimeter, so visibility is not really too bad.

You see some people walking in on the trail from the east. It doesn't take long to recognize them as the wood gathering laborers. Several of them step into a jog once they see the campsite. Their friends come out to receive them as everyone begins to realize that they have arrived. Soon the camp is buzzing with the pleasant surprise.

Some of the laborers look fine. Others look somewhat...confused. Disturbed. At the back of the group, two of the workers are actually tied up at the hands and are being led into the camp by another laborer. The guy leading the group is not pulling them along roughly or like captives. Instead it seems that he is carefully supporting them and giving direction. The two men tied to the rope at the hands are seen to be mumbling too themselves and looking mostly at the ground as they walk. They are shaking their heads erratically and presenting troubled and strange facial expressions. It is somewhat like the look one associates with madmen.

At the very end of the line walks the Bearded Traveler (previously seen on the hill, previous to that seen on the horse riding on the road to Goelmorel). He carries over his shoulder one of laborer who is either unconscious or dead (suspect unconscious, no signs of injury). He nods to the group as he passes, though he does not speak.

The Armsmen nearby snap into action controlling and directing the incoming laborers. They circle with the Bearded Traveler and begin to ask questions to him as they walk together to the center of the camp. The traveler carefully transfers his carried patient over to the care of the other poor laborers who have come out to meet him as he walks up.

Ensha Yasi comes out to meet the traveler and instantly launches into a flurry of oration, which seems to be a barrage of both questions and demands. The Traveler, calm and quiet, does speak briefly to Yasi, animated and intense, but the exchange does not last long. Soon the Bearded Traveler refills water from a nearby source, shifts and resets his equipment, and the begins to walk northward into the woods.

Yasi begins to shout at the man, but it is of little use. The Traveler is soon beyond the reach of the light, heading south into the inky blackness that is Jara Hili this night.

Again, the camp is buzzing with enthusiasm. Great joy for the return of the laborers. Those who seemed distressed are being treated and attended to by their companions.

The rest of the night goes by uneventfully.

Nothing happens in the tent where Koral was placed. In the morning with the tent is broken down, you see Koral being attended by the other Armsmen. He still seems unresponsive. They are now placing him on a horse, strapping him in to be carried while unconscious, laying forward in the saddle resting against some padding and blankets set up as his legs are secured and tied carefully.

At first light, Ron Oram took off with two other Armsmen back down the east trail. He stopped by to see you briefly, saying that he has been granted a few minutes to see if he can find his two fellow Armsmen who are still missing in the forest.

He and the others are gone only a short time. Soon they return under sad circumstances. They are carrying their two friends over their shoulder and their armor carried in a large strapped bundle. It is soon exposed that both of the Armsmen are dead, one killed by a stab wound. The other severely burned.

This puts a mood of anger and strong vigilance on the Armsmen for the rest of the morning. Most of the travelers move around quietly, speaking in hushed whispers and going about their tasks with seriousness. Everyone finishes packing and breaking down camp. Perhaps an hour after sunrise, everyone is readying to move out westward on the trail at the direction of the Armsmen led by Yasi.

Everyone is on their guard. Very little talking going on.