-----About an hour passes and the companions have been gathered with their supplies and horses. Dilton rides up to Sol astride on Thunder and reports, “We be present and all countin’ fer! That is, . . . all fer Master Raven.”
-----Rinda stands beside her horse and looks also at the young Gorian. “Where are we to meet Raven?” she asks.
-----“A fair day such as this soon gives way to clouds and storms,” Lovan says, raising his warhammer skyward. He then remains quiet but frowns at those around him.
-----Garrison bides farewell to those of the peasants who shared his watch and the newly arrived troops. He then looks toward Sol and Jeilin and nods, showing his readiness.
-----Pil wipes his brow and mounts up; his expression grim. Strolum also sits quiet in his saddle surveying the movement around the village square.
-----Jyan rides up on his horse smiling. The young mage then looks at Sol with a questioning expression and asks, “I take it we are heading south. How far are you planning on going?”
-----Surprising himself, Sol finds himself smiling at Jyan as he replies, "Glad t'have ye with us. We're heading fer Black Bog fer now I guess. We'll look for Raven - or more likely he'll find us, an' hopefully he can help us find some signs o' Whisper, though I like not our chances. If yer all ready, let's be off."
-----Nudging Thunder into a quick trot, the warrior starts to head south out of Kulendra.
-----Roderon hails the departing adventurers saying, “Take care, my friends! Send word if you need help!”
-----Pil rides out of the village square with a solemn expression. His eyes look toward the trees that line the southern edge of the square, but he appears to stare through them.
-----The adventurers soon descend toward the river bank passing the hedge where some of the elves and men of Silvergard now man the watch. Those who were part of Dilton’s troop as well as the other refugees from the humanoid occupation are now in the village speaking with Lord Howrun’s advisors and are rewarded with more rest and relief. Those who now man the south watch salute and wave to the adventurers as they pass.
-----The Altor River flows smoothly beneath the river bridge. Sol finds this journey across it odd as the last few times across have been in haste for one reason or another.
-----Jyan rides close to the young Gorian and observes, “At this pace we should arrive at the Town of Black Bog in three hours. That would put us there near early evening. Do we dare enter the town or look for somewhere safe in the area?”
-----"Tha' depends on whether Raven was able t'drag down his prey or not." Sol replies solemnly as he regards the young mage thoughtfully, "Or maybe it doesn't. We're probably better off finding some place close t'town, but still far enough away t'avoid th' populace t'rest fer th' night, an' where we can talk about what we might do. But I do want t'see if we can find Raven first."
-----“Hmm,” Jyan muses, “there are some small villages and thorps in the area that are probably deserted.” The young mage then says with hope, “Surely we will meet Raven along the way.”
-----“The way of the Rager has brought change to this land,” Lovan suddenly says. “Have we not turned the tide against a castle and many villages and armies along the way? Why not test our mettle against a town?”
-----Pil raises his eyebrows with a strange smile. “A town wit’ th’ kind o’ rabble liken we seen n’ th’t castle . . ” he says in recall. “T’would be an honor t’be bringin’ Holy Joren’s justice t’em!”
-----“Now don’ be a’kneelin’ t’takin’ on a paladiny’s quest yet,” Strolum says laughing to his larger companion. “We been injured n’ hurtin’ enuff t’keep Huntress Rinda nursin’ o’re us so fer as it is!”
-----“I don’t know the current condition in Black Bog,” Jyan begins, overhearing the conversations, “but whatever we do in Black Bog, if we go there, will not be a cakewalk. However, from what I’ve heard from Lord Howrun’s troops, they have defeated a resistance force that marched from the town.”
-----“Aye,” Strolum says, “th’t be the one th’t stirred up them forked tongued ones in th’ village when they seen th’ smoke.”
-----They quickly clear the bridge and looking back across the river, they see no sign of the armed guards that had probably took up their watch behind the hedge. All was quiet from the village but the adventurers were far enough now not to hear the pleasant sounds of a relieved community.
-----Rinda says, “This would be the last day of the Solstice Jamboree. At least we may have given these people a day to enjoy it.” She then turns her head sadly toward the south; her mind perhaps preoccupied with finding Raven.
-----Dilton looks at Jeilin and smiles, “An’ do th’ stars bless us wit’ any good signs, MiLady?”
-----As they cross the bridge, more leisurely this time, Jeilin pauses for a moment looking first to the west, then downstream towards the east. "So it is here," she mutters to herself before starting forward again.
-----To Dilton's question, the priestess turns in her saddle and answers. "I do not know if you can call it a good sign," she says quietly. "The last few times the stars showed themselves, it was portended that all players are in position, and battle will soon be joined on many levels. At least two allies nearby are helping Sintor, which, I think, we are finding out as the humanoids and followers of the god of hate and fire."