Chapter 3 - The Missing Delegation

Dropping the crossbow Sorgrimm pulls his hammer and swings it two handed at his aggressor while simultaneously bringing the spectral weapon down upon it as well.

Moving past Xella...

The last remaining orc, whose rage interferes with his ability to count the dead, attacks Balak mercilessly.

Balak will have to eat 12 (before resistance).

All of you may go, Xella twice

Balak’s blood-curdling yell pierces the air as he swings his warhammer in a frenzy.

Balak, pissed that he got hurt, smashes all of the orcs’ heads, two-handed.

"Foul beasts, attacking us unprovoked." Yillia mutters as she starts re-organizing the campsite.

"Is there anything on the bodies to suggest what they were doing out here?" She asks the others nearer the bodies to investigate

After smashing heads, Balak’s heart rate slows, and he yawns, then says, Can someone else check ‘em? I’m beat.

I think it’s safe to say that shift 2 starts now.

He laughs out loud, puts his stuff near his bedroll, and falls asleep.

Aye, I'll give them a look. Felicia says, looking over the bodies.

The orcs appear to be engaged in a long journey. You've seen this before, travelers without boys nearly worn through, the lean skin of those both hardy and deprived, every possession as purposeful and light as they are o'er used.

There is nothing that informs Felicia of their purpose or their destination.

Yillia finishes clearing up and joins Felicia studying the bodies.

"Hmm... Well, let's move them away from our camp a little in case the meat attracts more trouble during the rest of the night".
She begins hauling one of the bodies deeper into the forest. When she thinks they're far enough away, Yillia returns to her bedroll, though still on-edge after the encounter

Their gear is largely worthless, the great axes worn and unspectacular. They have little in the way of coins of the reason, amounting to 4 gp plus 3 sp.

The remainder of the the night passes uneventfully, save perhaps the sound of wild predators feasting on the unexpected treat left some ways away.

Xella does a quick look over Balak to make sure that his wounds aren't too grievous.

The following day leaves you tired after a long day hiking the edges of the hills, with strange weather continuing to bog you. When you camp at night, some time past midnight, once more the sound of footsteps grabs your attending, but you quickly realize the travelers to be four dwarves. Greeting them, after good intentions after proven on both sides, they gladly share your campsite for a brief rest.

Sorgrimm and Balak discern that they are miners, tired from a long shift mining for gemstones. Alas, their shaft seems to be played out, and they are probably not going to return to the same spot. They are headed for their homestead a fair distance to the west, outside of Dessarin Valley.

"Can you miners fight? The roads can be treacherous. Just last night we were ambushed while we slept"

The miners are heading south as compared to your east.

"Fight? Well, while we aren't guardsmen, anybody would dangle with us would get a right drubbing for payment, aye lads?" The dwarves appear strong and experienced, and while geared for war, seem formidable.

Moving on....

The miners leave your camp after a brief rest. The remainder of the night passes quickly.

The following days of travel are uneventful. The odd weather continues, with fog in the morning and evening, uneven wind gusts, changes in temperature that seem more dramatic than just the effect of varying clouds. The occasional rockslide and earth tremble, while not strictly weather, also are noteworthy.

Other than passing 5 human shepherds tending their flock of cattle, you arrive safely on the fifth day, at the path to Sacred Stone Monastery. You can go that way, or continue up river to the RiverGuard Keep, presumably a mile or so.

Balak takes his shield and hammer out, ready for some action as he says, Oi, let's purge this place o'evil.

Yillia stretches her limbs and gives her bow a few warm-up twangs. "Aye, lets head on"