-----Just after noon the adventurers ride out from the village. Their exit had been a quiet one with no one wanting to draw attention to the existence of the free village. As to whether this would have mattered is uncertain as nothing alive is visible in the surrounding countryside.
-----Jyan had been allowed to study his spellbook on the condition that he tell the others what magic he had memorized for the day. The young mage was now able to use two Magic Missile spells, a Ventriloquism spell, a Protection from Evil spell, a Hold Portal spell, a knock spell, a deafness spell and a Haste spell.
-----Garrison seemed pleased to have him along, even though under Sol and Raven’s orders, he continued to keep a close eye on him. Lovan, on the other hand, sneered and visibly avoided any contact at all with Jyan.
-----The day was now hot, although a wind picked up from the south from across the marshes. Even though the movement of air kept the irritation of bugs away, the air felt heavy with moisture. Huge white clouds moved in the sky occasionally shielding the bright sunlight.
-----With only a half-hour gone, the dirt road they used took them to the edge of a large swampland. Jyan told them that the marsh stretched for many miles to the south. From where they were, the party could see distant blocks of trees and rough patches scattered among the open pools and lakes.
-----Continuing west, they rode up over a hill that revealed little of the country as forests were seen to the south and north. Riding down the hill, they continued to follow the edge of the marshlands that was slowing winding to the southwest.
-----After passing a large lake and another forest, the riders draw their horses alongside an old Gorian tomb. It was here that Jyan spoke up. Pointing to the southwest, he said, “In that direction, we will come out on the banks of the river after another mile or so.” The young man then points straight west where a hill rises up in the distance. “Just beyond that hill is the village of East Bend. That is where the troops take the peasants before sending them on to Kulendra.”
-----Raven shifts in his saddle and looks towards the west. Raven smiles a little, "I kinda liked killing slavers and freeing people. Might be we continue to free villages? That will be sure to cause all kinds of problems for our dark hearted enemies."
-----“We’ve seen a lot of their troops moving north . . . or trying to, in the past few days,” Garrison says. “It would be great if we’re cutting east to west behind their movement. Lord Howrun’s army will have an easier time behind us.”
-----“Few have been able to stand against us,” Lovan states. “May the enemy feel the wrath of the Rager.” For now, the storm priest speaks his mind in calm and matter of fact tones. He sits atop his horse beside Sol as the Gorian gazes silently at the hill to the west.
-----Rinda then says, “Since Jyan says the village lies over that hill, we could scout around it before we do more.”
-----Quietly, Sol starts Thunder forward. It is unclear whether the young warrior agrees to scout the village first or if he intends to go directly there.
-----Sol stops maybe twenty feet ahead, and appears to be lost in thought for a minute or two. Finally he looks over his shoulder and says, "Perhaps those suited fer th' work should head t'th' village an' find our best way in, as well as finding out th' lay an' what we're facing exactly."
-----Raven and Rinda ride forward as well as Garrison. The woodsman turns back around and says, “We’ll scout things out a bit. Anyone else interested in scouting?” The woodsman looks at Whisper.
-----Whisper spent considerable moments mulling over the question, and a few further moments sizing up the terrain ahead. He drew his hood forward, and raised his scarf, before giving a single short nod.
-----Raven seems pleased that Whisper has joined them.
-----Sol now watched his companions move ahead. They had a very wide expanse of ground to cover before they would approach the distant hill. It would be perhaps the middle of the afternoon before they returned.
-----Still Sol remained with Lovan, Jyan and the three warriors. The Storm Priest took the time to survey the bright summer sky and for once, seemed content. The mage also remained quiet although he continued to focus on the receding sight of the riders and appeared restless.
-----Strolum and Dilton began swatting at insects and emitting occasional curses at the bothersome insects. Pil seemed to be turning his thoughts inward.
-----For once, Sol was actually feeling quite patient. Slowly he turned Thunder around, and the steed slowly made its way back to the group. Sol circled his mount so that the horse pulled up next to Lovan's, and he busied himself with calmly watching the surrounding area.
-----He could not explain his mood, for it even felt odd to him. The thought of what lay ahead for stirred nothing within him, and after half an hour of introspection, the Gorian felt put off enough by it that he turned to the party's newest mage and asked, "Jyan, would ye tell me o' yer family? Th' ones ye believe t'be where we head?"