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-----"Alright, I'll see you soon." Sol replies warmly, as he mounts up. Slowly, Thunder walks out of the village square, picking up pace slightly only once away from the bulk of the villagers, as they make their way to the southern watch.
-----As Sol and Thunder move toward the river, the air feels as heavy as it did during the middle of the day. No wind is felt at all and all the while the clouds hang seemingly motionless overhead.
-----For the most part, the men are in good spirits despite the discomfort of the evening. Sol approaches the twelve warriors as they watch from behind their makeshift barrier of hedge. The stone bridge beyond portrays a dire contrast as it spans the Altor River.
-----Four of the men immediately turn and greet the Gorian as he arrives.
-----“Sol,” one of them speaks up, “any word this day from those who are coming from Silvergard?”
-----"None yet, though unless a few more days pass without any signs, I wouldn't worry just yet." Sol replies as he slips off Thunder, and leaves the stallion to his own devices. Nodding greetings to different men as he sees them, he then asks, "Quiet enough here?"
-----“Aye,” one of the guards answers, “n’ I be a’guessin’ no news be good news. P’haps there be movement in th’ countryside wit’ Silvergard comin’ t’keep those o’ Ravenhold from getting’ t’us.”
-----Sol then tells the warriors, "If any o' ye have been on fer longer than th' normal watch length, head back int' Ku and grab yerself a replacement, a bit t'eat an' an earned rest."
-----“An’ miss th’ chance o’ seein’ ye handle a troll o’ giant th’evenin’?” One says with a laugh. The other warriors chuckle but it is good-naturedly and Sol feels at home amongst these warriors. It almost reminds him of when he was among his own band of Stormbringers patrolling the area around the Town of Hearthorn many months ago.
-----Sol smiles back at the group, though waves them silent as he advises, "Th' more time that passes, th' higher th' likelihood that some sort o' showing o' Sintor's forces will happen. Keep yer vigil sharp this night, an' as soon as it darkens, we'll brighten up th' bridge again."
-----“P’haps th’ armies o’ Silvergard’ll wanna head north from here,” one of the warriors says. “Like t’see ‘em cut some o’ Sintor’s knights down n’ bring Hearthorn in t’help!”
-----“Wouldn’ th’t be a sight!” another warrior chimes in. “Silvergard n’ Hearthorn ridin’ in t’face Sintor.”
-----“It will never happen,” yet another speaks up glumly. “Sintor’s too cagey. He’s got more up his sleeve than these damned orcs and hobgoblins. I think he’s holding back his strongest cards close to his vest.”
-----“You’re daft!” the first warrior replies. “I don’ be a’thinkin’ Sintor got so much. I be a’thinkin’ he’s stretched himself too thin. A day n’ a half n’ no sign o’ movement in th’ country.”
-----"We can guess all day about Sintor's forces, but at th' end o' th' day, we just don't know what he has. Fer now, let's keep th' noise down, an' keep sharp." Sol advises gently, before turning around to face the bridge.

-----After dusk, Whisper sets out. The night in the open plains prove to be dark and heavy. Thick clouds continue to blanket the sky and the air seems especially muggy with no hint of breeze at all.
-----Still, the wood elf remains alert and quiet as he follows a few yards off the trail road. Out here, no sign of life greets him and a deep sense of loneliness prevails over the darkness.
-----About a mile and a half he travels before he comes upon the small marshy area that surrounds a small deserted thorp. It was here that he had met up with Crane and Jules. He searches around the small vacant buildings but finds things exactly the same as he had left them. Nothing of interest remains.
-----From there, he travels south across a large plain. A mile or more brings him to the edge of a very large lake; it surface dark and unbroken. Off a mile to the east, he encounters a large shell keep. The structure is very dark and its gates hang limply ajar. Nothing is found to stir within.
-----To the south of the keep lie the ruins of a village. Whisper then heads to a point to the east of the keep where he saw shadows of other structures. There, he finds another village devoid of its inhabitants.
-----Just when the search couldn’t get more frustrating, the elf sees to the southeast a dull glow light the sky. The town of Black Bog appears to be the only evidence of life in this forsaken land.
-----Another mile’s travel to the east, Whisper quickly moves closer to the trail road that leads from ‘his woods’ to the town. As he passes through the swampy areas that lie before the main gates of the town, more light suddenly spills out in his direction! The gates begin to open! As Whisper takes cover behind some thin trees, he sees many yards away what looks like an army patrol of soldiers exit through the town gates and turn north across the plains. The entire troop probably numbers fifty and there are foot soldiers and horsemen among their number.
-----Whisper remained hidden, wondering at why a mixed patrol would be dispatched in the dark. But they were not his concern, not until he had found his quarry, or until his companions finally caught up.
-----Waiting for the patrol to be well and truly out of range, and Black Bog's gate to be shut, the Wood Elf made his way back to the woods. He would wait out the night for Crane and Jules.

-----The watch goes quietly until after midnight. Sol can tell the men grow somewhat restless as if they wish for something to occur; something to even break the calm air.
-----After midnight, other warriors approach and Sol rides Thunder back into the village for his night’s rest. . .

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