Richard gets up and moves the cart over to the bodies.  Once there, he dismounts to examine the grisly scene.  He moves about, looking for anything which might be a clue: discarded weapons, ripped uniforms, anything as to the identity of the attacker(s).  After starting at the scene for quite some time, however, he is pretty sure there is nothing to be found.

He will as of yet pay little attention to the incoming storm between the mage and the chantry priest.

15:27, Today: Richard rolled 7 using 3d6+3 (1 stunt point) with the AGE System with rolls of {1}, 1, 2.  perception check.

Brother Loran decided this argument could wait as Fost had said there were dead to Bury.

Searching the wagon he found a shovel and finding soft ground started to dig.

His mind was realling from the power of the maker followed by what mage Loren had said but he put it all aside and while he dug the graves started to remember words to comfort the dead when they were put to rest

The earth in this area is, thankfully, not difficult to work - when you get away from the trees and the rocks, that is - and the good brother-apostate draws back the sleeves of his robe and gets to digging.

Richard and Fost approach the bodies, and the stench of death just about knocks them over; they have to tightly cover their noses and mouths to keep themselves from retching. Thankfully, Mikhail has a convenient remedy for that and casts a spell he remembers from his early training - it places a small scent in their noses that blocks out all other smells for a time.

It’s strange to smell cinnamon-and-honey-preserved apples while looking at the bloat of corpses four days dead, but here they are.

Richard can find little useful information as to the identity of the attackers as he inspects the dead; damage to the armor tells them that arrows and blades were the weapons of choice, which is no surprise for bandits, really - and they don’t think any mages were involved, given the lack of “exotic” marks on the armor. The arrows left behind don’t seem to have any signature of manufacture, although the fletching appears to be made from grouse feathers. That fact would point to manufacture by someone who makes arrows for hunting. (Unfortunately, grouse are common across southern Thedas, and there’s nowhere that prefers them over other birds; soldiers almost exclusively use goose feathers, as they’re more easily gathered in large numbers, so one might be able to conclude the attackers weren't in the obvious employ of an arl or bann.)

They do, though, find that a wagon has been recently taken off the trail and down the hill overland (to the north). The tracks seem relatively easy to follow, at least in this section of the hillside.

The bodies are soon enough in the earth and Brother Loran recites the chant for the dead and prayers for the souls of the men, and the graves are covered.

As they start to inspect the tracks in earnest, they find two things:

First, the trail leads to a winding...not really a path, per se, as there seems to be little evidence of passage, aside from the evidence of one wagon's passage.

Second, a sack seems to have fallen off the wagon. A quick inspection reveals that it's filled with dried fruits and nuts, including a variety of berry unique to the Crossroads area (and identical to the proportions of rations the group has been given for their own journey); it's likely this fell off a wagon that originated in Redcliffe.

Mikhail meditated for a moment as they worked, trying to regain his mana for the next leg of the journey, albeit minus a bit of magic to help with the smell. Resting and refocusing his mind to ensure that he could provide help to the others was important to him, and important to the Circle.

The fact that a ley member of the Chantry, a Brother no less, was a mage brought far too many questions which threatened to disrupt his focus and provide a distraction from their current goal. Whatever the Brother thought, it was clear to Mikhail magic was involved. The Brother could lie to himself or actually be lying to all of them. It would not do well for anyone to learn of this until all were behind closed doors. As a believer himself, Mikhail was a bit conflicted. The Chant of Light had clear instructions for users of magic, but what of those who never realized they possessed magic in the first place. Were they to say that there was no Spirit of the Law, only its Letter? That felt like something reserved for a high ranking Cleric.

He was grateful to see these men given burials, even if it took time for them to do so. A recognition of the mortal realm and a grounding in this reality was good enough for him at the moment. Now would come the hard part. Following the trail set before them seemed to be the most apt way to go, but also seemed to be the way likely to be ambushed on. Not ideal, but it would be faster. And, since time is of the essence, perhaps it would be a better way of doing things.

---

Minimum amount of MP I can regain from a quick meditation is 5, and I'm only missing 4 so...

"Pretty obviously they knew what they wanted: the boy. With that purpose in mind, would you really take that cumbersome wagon and go cross-country? Would be so stupid as not make sure not to drop this sack?"
"Honesty I think this is too obvious to be anything but a false lead. But what other option do we have?", Fost said in frustration at their failed search of the area. How had the attackers arrived here?

After venting his frustrations, the warrior realizes there are some possible explanations for what he's seeing on the ground.

First, he remembers that the surviving guard says the attackers had left during the time he was unconscious; given the injuries of the others, the attackers likely thought all of the guards dead. They may have thought that they had at least two weeks before anyone in Bournshire missed the boy and their soldiers and began looking.

Second, a cart is a useful item, even going overland, especially as well provisioned as it was for an 11-day-long journey for five.

Third, it's possible the boy wasn't just an idle prisoner. What if he dropped the sack as a way to point searchers in the direction he was being taken? Even if animals broke into it to get at the fruits and nuts (and he's a bit surprised that they hadn't...perhaps the proximity of the corpses scared off prey animals), the bag would likely have survived some time after. And, if the boy is actively assisting in his own rescue, maybe there are more clues along the way?

OOC: I rolled a Cunning (Military Lore) test on Fost's behalf; with a 15, the warrior remembers much of his military tactics. :)

After they had buried the corpses and said the appropriate prayers, performed the correct rituals and discussed the scene it was time to continue on.
"Well then, like I already said: that's our only lead. So let's follow it, right?"

Fost was more mobile than his companions so he would ride ahead twenty yards every now and then, dismount and check for further tracks or clues

Nodding, Mikhail hefted himself on his feet, "I don't like the idea of following the tracks of our enemies, but you are right. It's the best we got. Maybe I'm just a bit more on edge since we discovered Loren's magical abilities."

He still couldn't get that entirely out of his head. He sincerely hoped that it was just ignorance on the Brother's part, and not an active attempt to deceive.

Brother Loran looked down cast and eyed the mage with sad eyes "it was the maker working through me it is the only explanation there is" he said in a quiet voice as he gathered his stuff up.

"for now let us find the boy and return home  then I will hand myself over to the mother superior and what will be will be the maker will be standing by my side so I will endure what is to come but the boy first"

This message was lightly edited by the player at 19:19, Wed 28 Oct 2020.

"If we want to rescue the boy we really only have one option, don't we." Richard asked, more of a statement than a question.  "Still, we had best hurry however.  We may get the advantage of surprise if the kidnappers think they still have time before they're discovered."

He is, however, starting to pay attention to the discussion between the two spell casters but he won't get involved just yet.

A sudden mistrust hanging in the air, the four friends head north, off the road to follow the only lead they have. While the path is untrod, save the cuts made by the previous cart, the descent is surprisingly gentle and undemanding of Richard’s driving skills.

OOC: Okay, we’re going to use the Advanced Test rules to resolve tracking the cart overland.

An Advanced Test has two components; first is the test difficulty against which you must roll, and the second is the Success Threshold, which is the sum of the degrees of success for each successful test.

For the tracking test, each individual test will be Perception (Tracking) against a Difficulty of Average (11). If a test is successful, then the Dragon Die of that result will count toward the Success Threshold, which is Average (10). Once you pass the Success Threshold, you succeed on the Advanced Test.

Note that the whole test will have a degree of success, with different results depending on how many rolls it takes to cross the Success Threshold.

Go ahead and decide which character(s) will make tracking tests, and roll the first test.

1. 08:54, Today: Fost rolled 16 using 3d6+2 (5 stunt points) with the AGE System with rolls of {5}, 4, 5.  PER (T.
   Success, +5
   
2. 08:55, Today: Fost rolled 12 using 3d6+2 (3 stunt points) with the AGE System with rolls of {3}, 3, 4. PER (Tracking).
   Success, +3
   
3. 17:48, Today: Fost rolled 13 using 3d6+2 with the AGE System with rolls of {3}, 2, 6.  PER (Tracking).
   Success, +3
   
   Completed

This message was last edited by the player at 16:49, Sat 31 Oct 2020.

OOC: Completed the advanced test in three rolls.

The travel overland is slow going, as the track and footing are sometimes rough and a more winding route is required to get around some obstacles. Eventually, though, they find themselves on a lightly worn track in the lower regions (still about a half-day away from the water) that seems to see occasional use.

They continue along for the better part of the afternoon when they come upon a section that seems to have been recently trampled over by a pair of humanoid footprints; they appear oddly shaped, one large and wide and the other small and narrow. Both, though, are soled, which indicates boots or even sabatons, and they appear to wander off side-by-side the way they came.

Forty yards of shallow slope rises to meet a low escarpment that appears to be 10-20 yards high. At the base of the plateau, the party spies a cart turned on its side and laid up against the cliff face. Even from this distance, the cart is at a strange angle, like it’s been pulled up on an edge (rather than sitting flat against the slope).

OOC: A sabaton is mailed footwear.

The path travels SW to NE, and the footsteps come from the NE, mill around, and then return the way they came to the NE.

Putting my clarification in the game thread: You folks are on a path, with a low slope to your east. The slope meets the base of the escarpment/plateau about 40 yards from your position. If you walk up the slope, you will come to the base of the escarpment, which rises as a cliff about 10-20 yards to the top.

The cart is laying oddly against the base of the escarpment, and it appears pretty much intact from your vantage point.

First, you gents receive 250 exp each for the Mabari encounter and investigation around the ambush site. Second, you receive 100 exp each for the successful tracking of the cart, and a bonus 100 exp for succeeding in three rolls. So, that's a total of 450 exp each, which should bring each of you up to 900 exp total.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:30, Wed 04 Nov 2020.

Fost looked down the cliff and rubbed his chin.
"Either they carried the lad or he went elsewhere. Also, just two pairs of foot prints is strange, there must have been more attackers."
"I suggest to get up there, one of us that is, while the others cover with ranged weapons. Check if there's any further tracks or something"
This message was last edited by the player at 19:47, Wed 04 Nov 2020.

Brother Loran stepped forward. "if it had been pushed over the cliff it would be in worse state than it is now. It looks like it was turned on its side rather than fallen in that position. Could they have themselves been attacked and used the cart as cover with the cliff to their back for protection? "

"I agree with Brother Loran in that it looks like the cart has been placed that way.  Climbing down sounds like a sound plan but I may be a little stealthier.  I'm good either way, but whoever goes down there needs to have a way out just in case."

"Yes, Richard, but you are the better shot. I'd rather go myself and have my ass covered by you bow than having to cover your ass.", Fost said.

Then he shrugged.
"Guess I'm fine either way, though."

"Your plan is sound, I will cover you." He exclaims as he draws his bow and places an arrow on the string, ready to draw at a moment's notice.

Fost nodded, picked up his bow, notched an arrow and cautiously approached the cart, trying to keep a low profile and being as stealthy as possible-

Fost moves slowly, deliberately even, in his attempt to be quiet as he approaches the overturned cart. As he's about halfway up the slope, he begins to realize that the cart has to be held fast by something, as there's no way it could remain at that angle naturally.

OOC: Basically the angle of the cart against the cliff wall isn't stable; it's currently aligned at a 10-15 degree angle, when it would need at least a 40 degree angle to come to rest against the cliff wall.

As he nears about two-thirds of the way to the cart, he notices that there may be an opening behind it, perhaps even large enough for men to take shelter within it...

Fost was puzzled by the cart and its position and was incapable to grasp how it came into it.

He put away his bow and took up his axe and shield instead and stealthily approached the cart in a circle, advacning on the cliff side to get to the assumed cave entracne without being seen himself. Straining his ears to hear anything to be warned...

rolled 16 using 3d6+2 (6 stunt points) with the AGE System with rolls of {6}, 2, 6.  PER.
rolled 14 using 3d6+3 with the AGE System with rolls of {4}, 6, 1.  DEX (Stealth).
This message was last edited by the player at 07:27, Fri 06 Nov 2020.

His senses heightened by the strangeness of the cart's placement, he moves quietly toward it along the cliff wall. As he draws near, Fost can see the mechanism behind the magic - it looks like someone used rope to pull it against the rock. The rope is taught, and the warrior expects that it's secured somewhere in the cave.

He hears whispers carried in the air from the cave, although they're too quiet to be deciphered. Three distinct "tones," though, making him thing at least three people are hiding somewhere within.

OOC: The cart is being held fast by ropes. Fost could probably reach out with his blade and, with some work, cut them free.

There's clearly a cave behind the cart (since the ropes pass into it). The cave mouth is probably 5' high, or so, so most folks will have stoop a bit to enter it; however, Fost can't see into the cave itself, due to the angle. He'd have to try to look through gaps in the cart or cut the ropes to pull the cart down.

Fost cautiously retreatwd back to his friends and reported his findings.

>Fost looked at his friends.
"Well ?"
"I suggest we go there and attack, keep one alive, though."
"I doubt they will want to talk instead without any conflict, but if you want to try Richard I'll cover your back."

Brother Loran was uncomfortable with the talk of killing but he was more concerned with the boy's safety. " I will wait outside the cave mouth and come in when the killing has finished to tend the boy" he said quietly