We keep going. His need outweighs what may be going on yonder...we don't know who is right or wrong, or both, or neither...and we are few anyway.

"I don't know. I doubt it would hurt anything to spare an hour or so just to see what's going on."

He looks around the group. "Assuming there aren't any other objections, perhaps Ourn or Xar could check it out and report back quickly."

Ourn looks over at Xar and shrugs. "If only for a short time, I suppose".

"Of course, I don't think we should devote more time than is necessary. Perhaps it's a selfish curiosity." He thinks back to the destruction of his own town. "I feel it would weigh heavy without knowing one way or the other."

Saris and Xar look at each other for a moment then Saris turns to Ourn.  "Xar will go with Ourn to scout.  The rest of us can continue on and they will catch up."

Toben nods in agreement. "Seems fair." He looks to Ourn and Xar. "Do be careful, and hurry back."

He whispers something to Ferb, and the ferret leaps from Toben's shoulder and on to Ourn's.

Klale exercise his dour glower power, to no effect; so he has a drink. The water hadn't turned to wine either.

Minus Ourn, Xar, and the ferret, the group turns west along the border of Callord's domain.  Soon, the low-lying foothills of the Soul's Rest Mountains begin to roll.  They are gentle, empty, and covered in autumn grass.  Three hours in and the sun has set.

For the few hours the group travels north, Toben seems slightly distracted. Like his attention is only half focused on the path forward. Once the sun starts to dip below the horizon, he urges the others to find a safe spot to break for camp.

"Probably best not to get too far ahead. With any luck, they're already trying to catch up."

Klale, while having no particular talent for camp-siting, has been on the lookout for leas by streams.

As feeble of an attempt as it is, Toben tries to help set camp. Once things are settled, he chimes in with as much of an update as he can. "As best I can tell, things feel rather uneventful from our scouting party. No sense of danger, so far."

Ryland settles down in the tall grass and lies back. He summons a lute again and begins to softly strum. He plays a mellow tune, fit for camping.

Klale's face clears when he sees the scouts return. What news?

"The city is completely razed. Its very walls have been torn down, and the only building left intact was a keep in the center. The whole of the thing was charred black and covered in soot. There was some sort of... shadow there. Like apparitions without bodies, skirting between swathes of darkness".

"That's terrible", Toben says as he shakes his head in sorrow. "Thank you, both, for checking that out. At least we know there wasn't anything we could do to help."

He thumbs through his journal for a moment. "These bodiless shadows, has anyone ever seen or heard of them before?"

Ano shakes his head They are unheard of to me.  Are we sure there was no one left there that needed assistance?"

"Shadow stalkers, the elves used t' call them.  Ghouls.  They're fast and deadly, but they don't normally go inta battle unless cornered.  Their main purpose is t' pick through th' dead, which they eat.  Th' Valaraukar use them mainly for destroyin' morale."  She shakes her head sadly, likely remembering something specific about them, something she'd seen.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:51, Wed 08 Feb 2017.

Ryland ceases his playing and sits up. "You mean to say cannibal ghosts are around?".

"They aren't ghosts, lad.  They've got flesh, and a foul, black blood.  Hard as anathin' to kill, too."

"Sounds like it's better to avoid them. Plus, it doesn't sound like much could survive with that many infesting the city."

He puts his journal away and starts to settle in for the night. "Hopefully they won't wander out this far, but we should probably set up watch just in case."

"As grim as this may sound, let's hope they don't run out of dead to eat then".

Klale frowns in thought. Why hard to kill...or what kills them? What will fire do to them?

Saris scratches her chin and looks at Xar.  Then she turns to Klale.  "I've not seen fire used against 'em, but Xar thinks it didna have much effect.  What makes them hard t' kill is tha' they don't feel pain.  Ya hafta practically dismember 'em t' slow 'em down and even then they writhe around tryin' t' bite ya.  They're wicked fast and can climb most anathin'."

"Are they anything like those walking dead we faced a little while back?  You seemed to deal with those quite well."

"I'm curious of that too. Though we didn't see the dead you all fought, Phineas and I dealt with reanimated bodies in S'tharglo as well. I'm seeing a theme among our enemies".
This message was last edited by the player at 00:38, Thu 09 Feb 2017.