-----Inside, it is evident that this place has seen more abuse than its counterpart down in the valley. Furniture is smashed and destroyed beyond recognition and burnt marks are on some of the walls. It is a wonder that this place was not burned to the ground.
-----A long meeting hall makes up the entire interior of the building with window openings set into the walls. Even though the sun shines somewhere behind the thick clouds, it is now getting toward early evening.
-----Here, the only thing of note is a dull metallic object that looks to have been slung in one corner.
-----Sol idly wanders over to inspect the metallic object closer.
-----Jeilin likewise takes a look at what seems to be the only thing of interest in the building.
-----The metal is noticed to be roughly squarish in shape about two feet in length and width. At first, its edges appear to be bent, but then it is determined that this is a hammered piece of work! Sol holds it up and it appears to be a breastplate from a suit of armor. Lying underneath it is a bent piece of rusted metal.
-----"Someone was shedding armor," Jeilin says, looking at the third piece of metal. "Does that mean anything?"
-----Raven searches the flooring and answers, “Many have come through here, but I don’t see anything that gives a clue about the armor. I think most of what I see was left behind by those that attacked this building.”
-----Looking at the last bent piece of metal, the hunter says, “I can’t make any sense out of it. I don’t know what it is. Maybe someone was using it as a weapon.”
-----Jeilin moves to stand in front of a window, and looks at the fading light outside. "So it seems there are no troops waiting to attack from here. Should we scout farther south or return?"
-----“We’re about three or four miles south from Kulendra,” Raven responds. “We ought to return to our friends before nightfall.”
-----The hunter puts his hand on the back of his neck and stretches. “We probably need more rest as we help everyone recover from the fighting last night.” He then looks over at Sol.
-----Nodding his agreement, Sol silently leaves the building, assuming the others are in tow. Once again up on Thunder, the mounted warrior sets back towards Kulendra. With conflicting emotions he rode, grateful for Ku being safe for now from the retreating previous occupants, but restless at not finding more foes to throw himself at.
-----Whisper hesitated, then grimaced.
-----He had no real inclination to return to Kulendra, and cool his heels for several days. Still grimacing, the Wood Elf snapped his fingers to gain Raven's attention, and then slowly shook his head.
-----“No?” Raven says as he looks with a frown at Whisper. He casts a quick look at Sol as he rides off and then returns his attention back to the wood elf saying, “I don’t understand. You’re not done here?”
-----The hunter then raises his voice to get Sol’s attention before he leaves them behind.
-----Whisper tapped himself on the chest, and then gestured Southwards with the bundled spears in his left hand.
-----Sol turns, and looks back to see what is of concern. For once the Gorian appears to full well know what the elf is communicating. His shoulders roll briefly, though whether it's a shrug or merely a play with the muscles is unclear. Then the warrior calls to Whisper, "I know yer still keen t'be off, but ye'd be best off waiting fer th' rest o' us. Now that we have th' trail yer after, they're not getting away... also, since we'll see relief a day or two early, not much time is lost. Still... I won't stop ye going if yer driven."
-----While the others are talking, Jeilin turns her gaze from the window where it is still overcast outside. She fishes out a small astrolabe and begins to fiddle with it, then stopping to look at it as if in thought.
-----“I know we could all need a bit more rest, especially if there is nothing to attack us tonight,” Raven offers as he looks at the others.
-----Whisper made a so-so gesture with his free hand, and pointed at his eyes before gesturing South again. Then he pointed at each of the humans present before slowly closing his hand into a fist.
-----He made to continue gesturing, but then cocked his head to the side. A grim smile touched his lips. "Meet in... four days. South. Find... trail signs, find me."
-----The Wood Elf turned to the skygazing priestess. "Tell me... of South."
-----"We are at Briar Valley now," Jeilin replies, looking up from her astrolabe. "Ravenhold is about one hundred forty two miles to the southwest. But those you seek are probably heading to Black Bog, about seven to twelve miles to the southeast."
-----Putting the instrument away, the priestess continues. "From here on, it will mostly be open plains with little cover, although there are swamps and forests nearer to the eastern border. But many troops will be in place along the frontlines."
-----"I wish that we can stay together as caution is needed. The stars tell of battle being joined on many levels very soon." She falls quiet and looks placidly at the others.
-----Unsurprised by the elf's answer, Sol raises his hand silently, palm forward; a gesture of parting. The warrior smiles slightly at Jeilin's report on the stars, showing that there were at least some things he could look forward to. Abruptly, Thunder swung around once more, and began walking back towards Kulendra, picking up into a trot once the others caught up.
-----Raven nods as Jeilin speaks. He then watches Sol as the young warrior begins to move out.
-----A look of concern comes over Raven’s face, but it eases into a small smile. “My friend,” he says to Whisper, “do you need a horse?”
-----Whisper's grim smile twitched up higher as he shook his head. "Too... much noise."
-----He nodded solemnly to Raven and Jeilin, and then cast a strange look at Sol's retreating back. His smile became less grim, and he shrugged. "Four days."
-----With that, Whisper turned away, and began moving South out of the village, breaking into a light jog.
-----Jeilin and Raven mount up on their own horses and ride after Sol. They catch up to him and they take the trail road that winds down the hill. From there they ride across the valley that leads through the first village they had explored this day.
-----They usher their horses quickly through the abandoned village, choosing not to talk until they clear the buildings and move out through the vacant farm fields. This time they follow the trail road along the eastern side of the first hill they scouted from. As they move to the north side of the hill, the river and the stone bridge leading to Kulendra comes into view.
-----Raven says to Sol, “It seems like there wasn’t a whole lot left behind in these villages we explored for the people here in Ku to use as supplies.”
-----Sol nodded his reply to Raven, commenting quietly, "No, that's true. Hopefully Howrun's army is well supplied enough t'spare Ku's folks enough t'get by. There is some game in th' area though... perhaps ye could, an' any others who might be decent hunters, bring down some boar or something."
-----To Jeilin, the hunter says, “Did you find anything of interest? I thought I saw a book you took from that bigger building in the first village.”
-----"The records show that humanoid troubles for the village started back in Wintertide, and that there was no help from the estate," Jeilin says to the hunter. "So it seems to confirm it was planned well in advance." The priestess glances at the overcast sky and a slightly resigned look came over her face.
-----"It was... very much so." Sol adds darkly as he trails his gaze over Kulendra's surroundings.
-----Glancing behind at the hill they leave, Raven says, “You know, it’s a shame these small villages of freed people can’t combine together. There was that village on top of another hill that we helped free before we got to Ku. I wonder if there are any other villages like that that have gained their freedom and are now doing everything they can to escape notice from Ravenhold and the humanoids.”
-----Nodding toward Kulendra across the river, the hunter adds, “Villages like that should be celebrating summer festivals.”