Prologue: Troubles at Red Larch.

"We must leave with all haste." Yohna says, standing up again and turning to the others. "Dark robes and kidnappings doesn't inspire confidence in their intentions for their victims. Whatever is going on at the mines will have to wait..." She turns to the boy once more and lays a hand on his shoulder, briefly. "Worry not. We'll retrieve master Harlo, and hopefully snub this cult before they cause more trouble."

Vardo, seeing Yohna springing to her feet, slowly slides his chair back and rises. "Speed would seem to be called for. Let us not, however, be hasty."

He mutters under his breath, "This could be a trap."

With an expectant look at his companions, Breezy joins Yohna, looking over her shoulder at the map. "Let usss hope we are back by the ssstart of the fessstival. I missssss the bright colorsss and chaosss of it all."

Falka watches the spectacle unfold from the corner. It is clear that not everything is as it would seem in Red Larch. These robed figures had evidently made their way into town undisturbed. That, and the words she had exchanged with the wagon-worker earlier suggests a threat simmers under the veneer of peace that lies over the town. All of a sudden, a voice snaps at her from the back of her mind. Wouldn't be too knightly to sit on yer arse and weep would it? A look of panic flits across her face briefly, but is quickly replaced by confusion. Was it the same voice, or the memory of a knight? That much was unclear. She rises and strides towards the door. "Come. It won't do to wait around." Avoiding meeting anyone's gaze, she sets the door swinging on her way out.

Pleasantly surprised at Falka's response to the situation, Keavan nods and stands to leave after her.

On his way out Keavan lightly touches Vardo on the shoulder and murmers.

"Agreed, eyes open, all the way."

Breezy's visage becomes a twisted mix of fear, anger and revulsion. "Aerisssnathaaaah!!! Jesssinathrasssasss!! No!" he cries out, his voice cracking as tears begin to flow from his pale eyes.

Running to the rock, he begins pounding at it with all of his might, clawing against it as if he was trying to rip into the ancient stone and climb to its peak. The episode lasts only a moment, before the Genasi falls back to the ground, the sobs wracking his frame as he slowly comes to his senses.

When he once again realizes where he is, he tries to compose himself, eyeing his companions gathered around. He begins to speak, but stops himself, the words falling silently through his mind as he stands. Moving back to the rock, he slowly puts his hand upon it, then bows his head until he is resting his forehead against the cool stone. His lips move slightly, as if murmuring to himself, or saying a prayer, but it is too low to hear.

Midnight walks forward to stand quietly next to Breezy. She waits for him to finish his prayer and then asks with a look of concern on her face, "Are you okay?"

"No." is all Breezy says, wiping his eyes and steeling himself as he moves away from the rock.

Vardo I see taken aback by Breezy's outburst. Seeing Midnight approach and console their blue friend, he pushes his concern for his companion to the back of his mind and sets about securing the team from ambush. With as little overt movement as possible, he scans their perimeter searching for movement or signs of unwanted company...

Yohna, shocked by the uproar, starts to reach for the Genasi, but becomes aware of the possibility of attracting undue attention due to the noise as she sees Vardo combing the horizon. Aware that Midnight has seen to Breezy, and thinking that now might not be the best time to talk about whatever it was bothering him, Yohna stows the concern in the back of her mind for later, and joins Vardo in quietly checking for threats.

Midnight's throat clenches and she feels a tear begin to well in the corner of one eye, due both to Breezy's harsh response and to seeing him wiping tears from his eyes. Her face flushes with embarrassment, and she keeps her back turned away from the others until she manages to swallow down her emotions and regain her composure. She looks at the rock, wondering what it is about the boulder that brought up such a painful memory. After a moment, she turns around and returns to the group. "There must be some kind of cave or other entrance somewhere, right? Probably down in the ravine."

"I am sssory. Thisss... thing," Breezy gestures to the slanted obelisk "appeared to have a great eye upon it. It looked... looked... like sssomething I have ssseen before." he says, his voice trailing off to a choked whisper.

"Death wasss... isss... here, I feel."

"It is now, anyway."

At a loss as to how to react to Breezy's distress, Keavan concentrates on finding the way forward.
"Yes, the ravine is likely the way to go."

He starts toward the ravine, keeping a cautious eye out all around.

Vardo stiffens when he hears Breezy describe his vision and the presence of death. He's about to comment when he notices Keavan moving toward the ravine in an alert stance. Not wanting to let his friend wander into potential danger alone, he draws his bow and follows, scanning treelines and rocks for movement.