-----As they slow their horses, the riders can hear one of the warriors, a man wearing rags, but with a proud bearing addressing the crowd. “We have seen this rising smoke to the east and I know it bears no good!” he says. “Could be the orcs returned for their gold. Could be the armies of Ravenhold come to reclaim what is theirs! I know I will be enslaved no more! I say we meet them outside the village and then, when the fighting ends, we split the gold amongst ourselves and be done!”
-----Curiously, this is met with dull murmuring tones from the crowd.
-----Sol pushes Thunder forwards, taking care to ride slowly through clustered sections of crowd till both horse and rider are in the centre of the square. His voice rises above the dour man's words, full of confidence and reassurance, "The army to the east is a part of Lord Howrun host that has come to free this land and its people from Sintor's cruel fist. My companions and I have just ridden back from seeing them defeat a sizeable army of Lord Sintor. They will be here at this village to provide support and defense."
-----"Take heart, good people! Your struggle is not in vain. There will be an end to all this bloodshed, and you will be free once again." The Gorian settles back down in his saddle, yet his back is still straight, full of pride and dignity.
-----Jeilin remains quiet, the lack of any immediate call for action leaving the priestess contentedly impassive. She resists breaking out her book, however, as she watches the crowd milling about them.
-----Sol’s pronouncement leads to more low murmuring among the crowd. Many of the people turn their attention to the Gorian although their faces still reflect uncertainty. Many of the boisterous warriors appear to back down including the one the riders heard speaking. The man jumps down off his platform grumbling and heads off toward the inn.
-----Rinda appears causing Raven to dismount and dash toward her. She reflects seriousness in her tone as she says, “It is good that you have returned! Many of our ‘friends’ here been concerned about the smoke they have seen.”
-----"I'm sure they are. Is there anything else they're concerned about especially?" Sol asks the huntress as he dismounts. The Gorian's eyes linger on the doorway of the inn for a moment, and he begins to head over to the building.
-----"Some of them were talking about missing villagers," Jeilin adds as she walks along to the inn. "Did you hear anything more?"
-----"O' course. I got so wrapped up in Howrun's army getting here, I forgot we were going t'have a look fer more tracks... near the swamps right?" Sol stops heading towards the inn and reprimands himself with a curse, before asking Raven, "Are ye still up fer some tracking? If so, we'll head out now."
-----Jeilin nods. "Some were near the swamps." She looks at Rinda to see if she has anything to add on the town talk.
-----“The tracks we saw were orcish,” Rinda says. “They lead into that small marsh just east of the village along the trail. The orcs seemed to enter the marsh and then double back to scout the village. I think they were only a few nights old.”
-----“The night we came to Ku,” Raven mused. “They were on the run.” Raven’s face turned grimmer as he asked Rinda, “Do you think they are still hiding there?”
-----The huntress shakes her head saying, “I doubt it. They probably made their way across the river.”
-----Raven narrows his eyes as he continues, “Howrun’s army will be going through there. Were there very many orcs?”
-----“No, only a handful,” Rinda says. She then continues to ponder before adding, “I don’t remember seeing any tracks left behind from freed people such as these.” She gestures to the people in the square as they begin to cluster nearer to the heroes.
-----“I think that none of these people have left since they’ve been freed,” she adds, “and some of those who used to live here were taken elsewhere when the orcs and hobgoblins took over.”
-----"So you are saying, Howrun can handle the few orcs left, and there are no more captives near Ku." Jeilin says as she resumes walking towards the inn. "How about the elf, Whisper? Any word?"
-----Sol looks slightly confused, but continues walking towards the inn as well.
-----“There may be captives in other places,” Raven says. “Like that village where we found Jyan. I would guess the orcs are heading south away from the battling armies . . . or maybe west toward the hills and mountains.”
-----“Whisper . . . ,” Raven mutters when Jeilin mentions the elf. “I haven’t heard any mention of him since he left.” The hunter then looks at Sol and asks, “Have you?”
-----"I barely hear from him when he's around." Sol grunts uncharitably, before shrugging uncomfortably. "I told him I'd come after him once Kulendra is safe, and I'd like t'try an' stick t'my word if I can."