Desloate

20th Sunebb: Hochoch, about three weeks earlier.

“Sweet Beory it’s hot today and the sun is barely up. Please ease your terrible gaze Earth Mother” throwing dry dirt into the wind as the teamster looks to Boyd.

“let us get a move on shall we, we have much distance to cover today. I want to be out of Hochoch and in the prairie by sundown. Can we make ten leagues by that time, I have someone to meet and I can’t keep them waiting?” asks Boyd.

“Sure we can, as long as the dwarf and gnome don’t slow us down. Better keep your eye on the dark one though, he is strange enough.”

“That he is, but he checks out and that is all that matters for me. I hope they all pitch in when, not if we get in trouble. That is why I need to catch up with Glok and Zabnik so as to get an idea as to what we face out here, because the reports don’t sound good. How long till we reach Tarwin’s gap?” asks Boyd.

Looking to Boyd, “I assume no later than two days, assuming we get into no trouble. The reopening of the western corridor is an ambitious feat. Sure it can be done?” the teamster unrolling a map of the area.

“Yes, but I wish this heat would subside as it is a drain. This weather is not good for the drafts or us for that matter.” Boyd smiling under his mustache, “I am interested to see how long the dwarf, Brandar is going to travel in that boiler oven of armor.”

As the hours pass by the group remains steadily quiet. An hour before camp sets a rider come out from the southern Dim forest. The wagon with Boyd and the teamster seemed not alarmed. Kulin,the gnome, coolly looks to Boyd to see if alarm is warranted. Boyd, not appearing worried, Kulin turns to look at the approaching worg ridding goblin. Boyd and the goblin converse and after about 5 minutes, introductions are made and camp is set.

As the journey of the second day comes to an end, the town of Tarwin's Gap is seen in the distance. Overcome by shadows of the setting sun, blocked out by the giant mountian range known as the Crystal Mists the town lies about a 10 minute ride by horse back. The wagon with Boyd and the teamster stays behind as Brandar, Kulin, Dark man and Glok go in to take a look. As they approach, what they see beyond is utter destruction. Only the remains of a few buildings stand, hollowed out by fire. The party splits up looking for evidence of what happened. Some time goes by and Glok the goblin signals Boyd to come into town.

After some preliminary talk amoungst the group, it is clear that this is the work of the raiders and bandits they were warned about before setting out on this journey. Very few bodies were left and of those most were women and children. Few men were found dead with the wounds of battle. Just before night fall, Dark man is spotted carrying a childs body to a grave that was dug by his own hands.

The journey continues...