For those of you in the conversation about tracking down the Gnolls to the north.

Malcolm poured himself another cup of coffee. "I understand that there was a group of gnolls. I just traveled down the northern trade route from Lake Altier. I haven't heard of any gnolls, but we were a large caravan. Where was this attack?"

"Have a seat friend. What's your name and how can you help us?"

"To avoid repetition we'll get to it when everyone has gathered. I believe we're awaiting the other Knight."

"Do you know him Tarek?"

”I’ve an interest as well. Our caravan is slated to head north in the next while. If Gnolls are causing problems, best to take care of them before the lads head out.” Knut says as he joins the table with a fresh cup of coffee.

Vogryn rises, having finished his breakfast, the bucket of coffee still in his large hand.  He walks over to stand next to Tarek, towering over his fellow order brother.  "I am Vogrryn, of da same orrderr, as Tarrek.  Vere are dese Gnolls to hunt?"

Longwalker stood, his breakfast finished, and spoke to the group, "I will go and gather the men and get them in order. It may take a while. They, too, enjoyed the festivities last night. But, old Sergeant Harkness is a real hard ass. He'll have them ready by mid morning."

With that the old man walked out with purpose.

Tarek glanced up at the towering Vogryn and smiled. He turned back towards Knut, Brother Samuel, and Knut. "It would seem that our purposes are aligned. Do we have a tally of the previous attacks? It may be that we if spend a modest amount of time we could determine if there is a pattern to the attacks. Perhaps with hope and good luck and some guidance..."

Tarek clasped his holy symbol that was hanging from a chain around his neck, "we could possibly determine where they may have a stronghold or locate their base of operations."

"Have a seat Sir Vogryn. I will explain while we give the good sergeant time to do his job."

"A short time ago a peaceful steading of Half-Orc folk on the edge of the Bayou was attacked and killed but for a single survivor."

At this point he indicated Yprish.

"I was travelling with Longwalker, he who has just stepped outside, and a small unit of troops and happened upon the scene of this crime. We tracked the Gnolls and cut the trail of the survivor who led us here. Which as it turns out was very fortunate."

"It is clear to me that The One God has sent help. As to why the masters of these others are concerned I do not know but I will not turn away help freely given."

"The plan is simple. We will return to the trail of the Gnolls. Longwalker will lead us to them and we will destroy them and bring their heads back here where they will be presented to the magistrate and subsequently burned on a sacrificial pyre to Ator."

"Gather what you need. We leave as soon as the soldiers are ready."

Yprish sat there absentmindedly whittling a stick with his dagger while the others talked about killing gnolls.

Tarek nodded  in agreement. 'This is news most foul indeed. I shall lend my sword to this quest as I do my blood and the hear that pumps it. These Gnolls must be routed else their contaimination shall continue to fester."

The Paladin turned towards Yprish. "You have my sincerese condolences on your loss."

Turning back to the others, Tarek posed a question. "As I am new to this area I woefully ignorant of the area. How far is this encampment? How many if possible do we expect? Can you recommend  how many rations we will need?"

Knut nods and gets up. He walks over to a rather fat dwarf that's still somewhat sleeping off the nights festivities. Giving the dwarf a few nudges in the ribs with his foot, Knut speaks directly to him as he rouses him. [Language unknown: "O cefo sta And. Nt ntur ngis se nesiil ni li. Pawer vor ng ic passpe heril Formenich ourfi ion ica unmost ac sta inre her ectr verainine t ameestvor. Ere Eeosnt i lola thicbe lami M nc ard."] With that done he returns to his seat.

Vogryn takes a seat, the chair creaking under his weight.  He sips from his bucket of coffee, as he listens to the others talk.  Whatever thoughts may be going on behind his ice blue eye, he keeps to himself for the moment.

"Very well, we'll leave once the soldiers are assembled." Malcolm got up from the table to get another helping of breakfast. He sat down again, "As I've already shared with some of you. I have practiced magic at an early age."

it took the sergeant a while to locate and hydrate the soldiers. of the fifty from the day before only forty-one were able to make muster in any condition to march into the swamps and fight. The other eight would be left behind to help the locals with town chores such rebuilding walls, dredging the drainage ditches, chopping wood for fires, and patching roofs.

Longstrider came to retreive them, he was already muck damp from the swamps. He told them, "The men are assembled, and I have already found their trail. The band has moved southwest. They are below the town in the deep swamps. My guess is that they are moving through the bullywug territories to the south to hide and hunt. The men are on the march, meet out front when you are ready to go and we will catch up to them. Bring your kit, this will take some days' work."

"Well I shore ain't gonna spend the next month muckin stalls, now am I," Yprish said to nobody in particular when he stood up in response to Longstrider's announcement.

He looked the paladin up and down. "Condolence is kind, but you's a-coming along to scalp some gnolls an that's better by a far piece. Name's Yprish. Much obliged to ya."

The big man picked up his pack and spear from where he'd laid it and walked outside. He pulled out a shawm, inserted a reed at one end, and played while he waited.

"Your skills will be of great use. I suggest you wear your high boots."

Samuel picked up his pack and hammer and joined Longwalker outside.

Tarek drained the last of his coffee. "Now that I think of it I should consider some additional equipment or what we will need in the days to come. I have ten days of rations. Will that be enough for the trip? Also, I am without any bow. How are we equipped for that? What other equipment we will need? I have enough funds for one healers kit but it would be useful. Not that I want to use it mind you."

"I expect ten days rations will be enough. Beyond that your judgement is as sound as anyone's. Bring what you feel will be useful, but hurry. We leave in minutes and trying to catch up to that Old Man is an embarrassment you do not wish to suffer."

Knut checks his pack when its brought to him and notices the rations put in. He hands over a small bit of gold to the dwarf in payment and settles the pack on his shoulders. "I'd not wager I'd be able to catch up to you long legged lot. Try not to leave me too far behind." Knut laughs a bit at his own joke, but otherwise seems ready to go.

"Haste may create mistakes. But I do hear that some urgency in the matter." Malcolm picked up his pack and took several pastries from the breakfast table. "Is this a purely a hunting party? Or is there a possibility of of survivors?"

"The only survivor we are aware of is Yprish here."

"If we will need range, I will pick up some javelins.". Vogryn says, as he finishes the last of his coffee.  "It would be a foolish captain that left a soldier behind, or set a march they could not keep.". He says to Knut.