After a quick breakfast, your party once again takes to the road. And the booming echoes continue to the north as you travel. The road was once well maintained, but it and the normal encounters you expect to find along the road - the merchants, the toll collectors and guardsmen, even the beggars and shadier types are missing. The occasional merchant's stall you find is turned over and smashed, the contents long stripped clean and half the lumber carried off. Where you expected to find a tavern to water your beasts and rest your boots, you find a smoldering shell.

Eventually you reach a crossroads where the road continues to the north and another road veers north-northwest. The sign on it has a painting of grapes and reads ARBADAC WINERY - a vintage many of you, especially born of some means, would have heard of. The human skull on top of the signpost, however, seems more of a warning than an advertisement.

Brodd tries to judge the time of day from the position of the sun and the length of shadows.  While not a precise science, he liked to think he was pretty good at it when lacking a sundial.

If it was early in the day, they had more options, like investigating a potentially sacked winery and trying to help anyone still alive there.  If it was later, then they probably had just best be pressing on ... too many delays and they were never going to rescue the missing baroness.

The wizard is taken back by the total destruction they see. His cheerful mood from the camp  disappears quickly as they travel further.

“Well, that doesn’t look exactly inviting. I’d say who ever controls the winery now likes to be left alone. Might not be the last skull we'll see.” Sasar says upon seeing the post and the skull on top of it.

“We should be continuing north towards Castle Braunstein, shouldn’t we? Going to the Winery could be a detour and some time lost, perhaps. Not that we are in a hurry, of course.  What do you think; which way to go?”

There's very little shadow from the post. Just about high noon you think.

It was the question at the very center of Regdoc's faith. Which path to choose. While most who wandered this realm would fret over it, this old follower of the Wandering God didn't even bat an eye. "To the Winery of course!"

Chomper however thought differently. The large guard-dog-turned-pack-animal walked over to the road leading toward the Castle and sat down, waiting patiently for his master to come around to the corrected decision.

"No you furry mouse-cruncher! The sign says the Winery is that way! Now c'mon!"

Chomper yawned but didn't otherwise move.

"Oh fine! If you're going to act that way about it you spoiled bone-biter, we'll go that way. So stop your whining, this is the last time I'm going to give in so easily!"

There's very little shadow from the post. Just about high noon you think.

"I assume we are close to the winery, no more than a mile or so," Brodd reasons.  "I think we have time to scout it.  If deserted, then it just becomes a stopping place for lunch and a brief respite before pressing on.  If there are enemies to drive off, then we learn more about the invaders and what they are .. soldiers or disorganised raiders .. or something else."

The least acolyte is loathe to make a unilateral proclamation though, he wants the group to decide as a whole.  By pressing on there was no risk, of course, but then they wouldn't be tested, either.

“Oh? You want to check it out?” Sasar’s voice carries mild surprise as he glances over at Brodd. He looks at the skull again and shudders.

“Alright. I won’t object. I’ll go where the party decides to go. Should we sent a stealthy scout ahead, to see what lies ahead? So that we won’t stumble as a group into middle of something... unpleasant?”

Walking with the others Amalrik keeps a cautious eye out for anything amiss; however when he sees the winery he gets a bit excited; "Winery...haven't heard this name before.  But wine is wine.  Should we check it out?"

Chomper groaned and yowled a bit, and it wasn't the threats, the yelling, nor any sort of pleading that got him to give up his insistence that the party head toward the castle. Rather it was when Regdoc began stomping his way toward the winery after a final, terrific display of what one might consider a tantrum for a child, but a vehemence when applied to one much, much, much, much older.

The dog gave a canine sigh and trotted after the oldster, much like a hen going after a wayward chick.

"Well!?" Regdoc barked, looking back over his shoulder at the remainder of the party.

"WOOF?" Chomper barked, looking back with a distinctive pleading quality...

If the pixie or the convict wanted to prove their ability to scout, this was a good chance.  Brodd also would like to see just what kind of magic the group had at its disposal.

"I'm plenty good on my feet... I'll go," Iffy offers.  "Eyes open for danger and signs, and on my way back for something for you to gnaw." She was referring, of course, to the dog.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:05, Sun 14 Oct 2018.

Chomper wagged his tail in response!

"You be careful of that one! She'll steal your fur and swap your fangs for fruit snacks!"

Chomper just glared.

"I've heard stories!"

Chomper snorted, apparently he didn't care for stories.

Brodd approves of a plan where they headed down the way to the winery, but, once close, got off the road and into obscuring foliage where they could observe the place from a safe distance.  That way they could see right away if it was burned down or otherwise a loss, or patrolled by evil humanoids or similarly dangerously occupied.

Then, if it appeared abandoned, or not otherwise overrun, Iffy (and anyone else who felt up for it) could begin her (their) scouting.

In reply to Brother Brodd (msg # 13):

[The GM nods, and prepares the next scene.]

"It's true, you know..." Iffy says to Chomper, unable to resist going along with Regdoc's...Regdoccery.  "Ask any deer, or your good man.  They'll tell you all the same.  One minute, I'm making promises, selling palaces to paupers.  Next minute, don't you know it, there's meat stolen off bones, skins traded for gods only knows what, and...and men leaving their families for livestock."

Eron enthusiastically shouts his approval of the plan to scout the winery.  His motivations are clear to all!