IC: Fort Bones

The halfling nods and says in a low voice, "I can accept that." He holds Rocha's eye for just a moment more, then pulls on the reign. His mount turns with unexpected rapidity and speeds off in the direction of the Talenta Plains.

Vencerin steps forward, next to Rocha and breaths a sigh of relief. "That was close. I wonder what he was doing in Karrnath?" He stares after the halfling, rubbing his chin as he thinks.

Vencerin nods, scratching his head. "I thought they were going to respect our borders. We're definitely reporting this."

You continue your travels and nothing else of note happens until you arrive at Fort Bones.

The high walls are dirty white. At first sight, the walls appear to be topped with crenelations, but as one turns, you realize that they are animated skeletons on lookout.

The doors to the keep are open as the sun is going down. Few people move around inside, and one guard approaches and nods as Vencerin shows him his orders, directing him to a small office on the opposite side of the yard.

The office is dark as you enter, lit only by a small lantern sitting on the desk. A man sits at the desk, writing on a piece of paper. As he hears you enter, he looks up at you, his eyes bloodshot with lack of sleep and lines of worry cross his face.

"Yes? Who are you?" he asks. Vencerin steps forward and hands him his orders. The man takes them and looks them over then tosses them back at Vencerin with a laugh. Leaning back he says, "He's not here."

"No, you misunderstand me," he says with a mirthless chuckle. "He's not here, in clear violation of his sworn duty. That man has been a problem ever since I got here." He smiles and licks his lips, then leans forward, folding his hands on the top of his desk.

"Several days ago, he was dispatched on a routine patrol along the border with the Talenta Plains. He returned early, recruited our wizard, and immediately left. I only found out about his return and departure hours after it had occurred." He spreads his hands out, palms up in a helpless expression. "He's been gone for three days past when he was due and I don't have the manpower to go looking for him. As it is, I can't continue to patrol the border without the soldiers he took with him the first time."

The officer sighs and nods. "I'm sorry this duty fell to you. ... Good luck." He turns back to what he was doing when you entered his office.

Vincerin sighs and nods, "Ok, let's get moving." He picks up his pack that he'd dropped at the door of the office upon arriving and tiredly slings it onto one shoulder. He folds the warrant and puts it back in his pocket, checking for it's presence again after adjusting the straps on his pack.

The officer points at the pair of you and says, "He was out patrolling the border and wasn't supposed to go more than a day's journey to either side of the fort. Being that he's overdue and out of communication, I don't know if he's within those bounds, but maybe that'll give you a place to start."

Vincerin nods again and leads the way out of the office, continuing out through the fort's gate.

Vincerin looks shocked at Rocha's suggestion. "Cyre?! The Mournland? I hope to the Host that he didn't go there. I've heard the stories..." he trails off with a shudder.

Rocha examines the ground. It's obvious that a lot of patrols come this way, so, perhaps it's a good way to go. You travel through grassy hills, following the trail to the border with the Telanta Plains where it turns to the West, toward Cyre.

When Vincerin realizes this, he groans, "Please tell me this isn't going where I think it is!"

Soon, just as the sun starts to dip down to the horizon, Rocha notices something a little off the trail he follows. It's the start of a new trail, one that has been used recently and very infrequently. It doesn't connect with the patrol trail you followed at all, and it appears to cross the border and enter the Talenta Plains.

You follow the path and it definitely leads into the Talenta Plains. It hasn't been used by very many people, but it's been used recently, within the past couple days. As the sun finally sets, Vincerin looks at the horizon. "Are we going to set up camp or push on through the night?" he asks.

Vincerin nods tiredly and pushes on into the tall grasses. A cold breeze picks up as the sun dips the last bit beneath the horizon.

As you both continue following the trail, weary and focused on the journey, you realize that there are small figures hidden in the tall grass, watching you. You can't make them out individually, nor do you actually see a silhouette, but you spot a curve there, and joint there, a head sinking down there... all in silence.

What do you do?