-----Scowling, the Dread Pirate gazes about the clearing, then examines the trees more carefully, saying, "Could they have climbed up the vines or the trees around here to get away? That'd explain the lack of tracks or blood evidence. Let's all take a look at the trees near here and see if we can find bloody hand prints going upwards on any of them." The Dread Pirate then begins carefully walking around various trees, looking for signs of climbing, broken branches or bloody handprints.
-----The Dread Pirate walks just a few feet to a gnarled tree with smaller vines growing down and around it. While he does this, Marast starts scanning the sections of the trunks above their heights. As the elf nears a tree that the Dread Pirate stands by, his eyes grow large.
-----"There," Marast says pointing at an angle up the tree, "blood on tree." Sure enough, as everyone follows the elf's line of sight, they see a dark reddish substance in spots up the side of one tree. These curious tracks seem to lead to a branch at least twenty feet over the heads of the rogues.
-----The Dread Pirate points to a tree and says, "Arrr, this one has lots o' blood on it. Whichever one o' those what killed that soldier must've climbed up here. Well, there's nothin fer it, but one of us has to climb up these trees and direct the rest of us where to go to continue the hunt. Unless ye figure the werewolves are nestin up there. And that don't seem quite right to me. I don't think werewolves nest in trees."
-----The Dread Pirate waits quietly for a moment then says, "Ye know, all this recent exposure to paladins and priests has got me thinkin. Maybe the life o' a pirate doesn't suit me anymore. I'm a pirate without a ship or crew. And there ain't much use fer land-pirates. And when I think about all the vile unspeakable acts I committed as a pirate, I think I must be destined fer one o' the seven hells if I don't mend me ways. Maybe paladin'n around would be an option. I could stand around and say things like 'Ho, varlet!' or 'Stand fast, rapscallion, and meet the judgement of Joren!' What do ye all think?"
-----Seth snickers and then feigns a look of concern. He then asks, "But Dread, wouldn't you have to hang around with Nylan Lotley, Sir Slappy and the Lady Paladin? I suppose there would be a terrible amount of knee-haulin' that would go to waste!"
-----The musician then lays the back of his hand across his brow and dramatically sighs toward the sky. "I always thought the best years of knee-haulin' were ahead for you. How could you deny all those worthy of such a disciplinary act?"
-----Seth then gives an excited look as he continues stifling back giggles, "Oh and those exploding undead priestesses, flying evil wizards and those we have to make our fortunes from yet! How can you deny your descendants the riches and the infamy you will pass to them?"
-----The musician then touches his index finger to his lips as he adds, "Besides, by the time you get there, you might be able to straighten out the nine hells."
-----By this time, Marast has climbed the tree and stands on the blood stained branch. The elf scans the distance and finally points in one direction. "Marast think enemy swing in trees," he says, as he also indicates vines that hang loosely down from the higher boughs.
-----The Dread Pirate looks thoughtful as Seth speaks, then replies, "Arrr, it's keel-haulin, not knee-haulin. I don't know what knee-haulin is, but it sounds disgustin. And I bet once ye peel that lady paladin outta her tin suit, she'd be a scrumptious treat fer any pirate. She's just all repressed with the whole holy Joren thing."
-----The Dread Pirate then looks up at Marast and says, "Well, yer an elf, ye mean to say that ye can't swing on vines as well as a couple o' diseased human types? You swing along followin the trail and we'll follow along underneath ye."
-----"Well, maybe there are were-apes after all," Kazel says as she squints up at the elf. "Hopefully not the Sawoojian or Raven kind. And Dread, I don't think you need paladin'ing now, because you'll probably do that as punishment when you get to the nine hells. But I do like the idea of obtaining a ship and sailing down the river out of this kingdom one of these days."
-----Marast comes down out of the tree stating, "No vines in tree." As soon as the elf lands on his feet, his eyes fix on a certain tree about twenty yards away. He then begins running with his bow drawn. "Marast see where they go."
-----As the rogues run up behind Marast as he stands before the tree, they see the elf carefully skirting the trunk scanning for tracks. The tenseness that suddenly takes hold of the wood elf tells them he has found something. Marast quickly squats down and brushes back a few short plants. There he points out the two sets of small footprints leading off in a southeasterly direction.
-----In the next moment, the trio begins to follow the elf as he carefully but strongly moves forward just to the left of the trail. Everyone moves quietly and once again the forest seems to hold its breath. The land here begins to slope downward in a valley only a few yards across.