Toben just shakes his head. "Touched by evil, clearly. I'm all for avoiding them."

The dwarves agree and soon the party is moving perpendicular to their original path, traveling long into the night to avoid the twelve once-men.

Days pass and no sign of followers lightens the mood to a more regular journeying mood.  The thought of what those men had become lingers, though.  Five days out with the near-encounter, Xar returns with news of a semi-permanent encampment surrounding a large crater in the ground.  He draws out a map in a cleared patch of dirt on the plain.  Indications on the map show there could be well over a thousand people around the crater.  He also pours water from a canteen into the drawing of the crater, indicating the real one ahead is filled partially with it, especially after months of rain.

Toben looks up at Xar. "Nice job, this is good information. This place might seem a bit more hospitable than the last group. It may be worth paying a visit."

Xar frowns and shakes his head.  He looks at Saris, who nods back after a moment.

"There are more of the same kind of individuals we avoided back on the plains.  These are not warriors, but they practice the same cannibalism and self mutilation.  There are a couple of warriors roving among them, bullies and peace-keepers rolled into one.  It is unclear why the camp is set up around the crater.  The crater is difficult to see through thick trees and heavy underbrush ringing it on all sides."

I say we keep going...wonder how far this wrongness has spread. I suspect it has something to do with the falling stars...being in trouble.

Ano thinks for a moment before speaking up "Xar, how old did the crater look.  Is it possible that this is the place where the star fell?"

"Interesting question, Ano. Ceven did mention that Nestael had the power of healing. What if these people are somehow feeding off her, unbeknownst to them."

Toben thinks for a moment. "Much of this is speculation, but what we do know is that there are forces trying to corrupt these stars. What if Nestael landed here, and a force similar to Dúath'gûr is trying to corrupt her as well. If that corruption were to seep into the local water supply or soil, there is no telling what that could do to the mind of men. Maybe that is what Ceven meant by 'ravaged without death'."

Klale snaps his fingers and then snaps a middle finger against his (thick) skull. Of course. Water! This star is associated with water.

Toben nods and looks over at Klale. "I think we are going to have to check this one out."

"The crater is beyond the tree-line.  Xar did not get a look at the actual crater."

"I think this may be more than just coincidence. Let's take a look, but try to keep our distance. Best to go as unnoticed as possible."

We go in, we'll probably have to kill some if not all...and resist becoming like them. Klale pauses. It may be that, as we kill some, others will start to feed on them.

Kornari, what's your take on this? You're not human, so what we may face may affect you differently.

Phineas looks like he's about to speak several times, but then stops. Finally, he says with evident reluctance, "I'll go look closer if needs be. But I don't relish the thought after what I saw last time."

Kornari actually takes a moment to think about his answer before offering some flippant comment.  It is a testament to how serious the circumstances are.  "To be frank, I doubt I would be affected much.  I already eat meat, I imagine the meat of men would be just as tasty as anything else and its not cannibalism for me.  Dragons are also intensely magical creatures which offers us a measure of protection against other magics as they have to pass through the layers of energy already present around and within us."

He stops and sniffs the air.  "However, I have not felt even a twinge of magic in the air since we passed that smaller group the other day.  I doubt we will face the kind of conflict you are concerned about."

Thank you Kornari. Klale continues with a mock-serious face Let us make a bargain, you agree not to dine on us and we agree not to snack on you.

Toben prepares himself for the encounter. "We may as well all go together. There are over a thousand people down there. No chance on sneaking up on all of them."

Phineas falls in line behind Toben, happy to let whatever atrocities lie ahead fall on the eyes of others first.

Ano readies himself for what they might see, but he feels he must get a good look at the crater for himself.

Klale dons his armor and readies sword and shield. He takes or shares the van.

Saris bites her bottom lip and hesitantly joins in behind.  Xar has already disappeared.

"Of course I would not eat you!  You are my servants and you have not displeased me thus far."  Though it's hard to tell, the drake's tone sounds like he might just be joking...almost.

The shanty town surrounding the forest-lined crater is appalling.  There are few children and those travel in packs with fearful faces avoiding the adults.  The adults are poorly clothed, sometimes barely clothed and propriety doesn't seem to be the primary cause of clothing here.  They are all dirty, beyond unkempt, and most look sickly, wounded, or dying.

There doesn't seem to be any real fear of attack here after all.  Once people start noticing you, a few brave souls approach asking questions that don't make much sense.

"Where have they taken her?"
"Have you seen the life-stew?"
"When will I get my turn to bathe in the blood of heaven?"
"The guards aren't letting anyone down to the blood pool."
"My daughter is dying, please let her have a bite of your arm."

He looks back to the group. "Not at all what I expected, but it sounds like we might be in the right place."

Toben recoils a little bit form the ones asking to bite his arm. "Sorry, I'm not feeling all that well. I'd hate to get your daughter  even more sick."

As the braver souls among the towns people ask their questions, Toben volleys back with some of his own.

"Which she are you referring to, and who are the they who have taken her?"
"What is the life-stew?"
"Tell me about the blood of heaven, and why are the guards blocking people from the pool?"

Klale asks Where are these guards? (Assuming he doesn't see them)