-----Brandel breaks into a wide smile. "And I would ask to be in your employ, such as I am now with your associate," he replies as he bows to the Dread Pirate.
-----Marast crosses his arms as he looks toward the farm where Seth and Kazel went. Runik, tired for the moment with antagonizing the elf, walks on the other side of Krord.
-----The huge guard looks around in the brilliant sunshine and raises his massive arms to stretch, clearing Runik's head by a few feet. He inhales the fresh air deeply and a smile crosses his ugly face. Looking down he sees a small wild flower growing up among the short grass. Leaning down, he plucks the flower and raises it to his face. Sniffing the flower, the petals almost disappear up his large nostrils. Reveling in the fragrance, Krord closes his eyes seemingly at peace with himself and the world.
-----The door to the tavern opens and a man dressed in farmer's clothes walks out. His demeanor reflects his irritation at something while the loud talking continues inside the building.
-----Suddenly, Krord lets go with an explosive sneeze so loud that some of the horses whinny in their state of being startled. The farmer, distracted in his thoughts momentarily, spins in their direction. After squinting at the Dread Pirate and his entourage for a few moments, he then continues on his way toward more of the places in the village.
-----In the next few moments, Seth is seen leading two horses, one of which is hitched to a small cart, and a pony away from the farm buildings. The musician still holds his 'Gorian warrior' form as he trudges back toward the Dread Pirate and the guards.
-----As he approaches, Marast can be seen squinting as he looks at the grass, searching for a sign of the invisible Kazel.
-----Brandel speaks up and although he turns toward the Dread Pirate, he says to everyone, "South of this village, the road forks. The road heading toward the south leads to the village of Nox while the one leading to the southwest takes us to the Town of Redmarsh."
-----The Dread Pirate waits for the other two thieves to join them and says, "Brandel and I have been discussing the best course of action for us to take next. We're both leaning towards going to see Sir Zantar and getting directions to Krondor's keep. If anybody would know where this keep is located it'd be him since it's in his territory after all. Brandel knows a couple of the guards, so they can vouch fer us. They might even know where this keep is, which would save us from having to meet with Zantar."
-----Seth slowly takes off his hat, and reverts from the form of Sol to that of his own. As the Dread Pirate is talking, he casually puts the hat back on and assumes an almost naked form of Sarah Night and winks at Dread before quickly taking off the hat and reverting to his normal Sethenales form.
-----With a chuckle Seth shrugs and addresses, "Ok, sounds good with me!"
-----The Dread Pirate snorts loudly at Seth's impersonation of Sarah and nearly falls off of Joren, "Ye know, ye could do that back in Hearthorn and make Sarah a very popular young lady with all the townsfolk. Think of all the crimes you could commit looking like her. Heh."
-----Kazel removes her ring and reappears. She grins and shakes her head at Seth's gag but then says, "Ah, but that's only what you think she looks like. Who knows if she has chest hair or green scales. Ahem. Anyway, yes, good idea, Dread."
-----With nods and grins all around, everyone mounts up with Krord climbing onto the back of one of the newer horses. The horse steadies itself but otherwise permits the large guard to mount up.
-----Brandel takes his place on the seat board of the small cart. "I have not done this since my younger days," he says, slapping the reins and urging the horse forward.
-----The entire party then heads down the road that leads through the middle of the village. Grute doesn't appear to have a village square of any sort although there are many scattered buildings and homes that line the trail road. Among the scattered places are clumps of trees and small ponds. A few citizens of this small village are seen working in the small mushy fields beside the farmhouses.
-----As the sun beams down warmly from on high, it is close to the noon hour. They pass another small tavern and are in sight of a bowyer's workshop, when the party is momentarily detained. Five strong looking men stand in a line across the road facing the rogues' party as they approach. They wear the baggy and ragged gray colored clothes of peasants although they are armed. Two of them carry swords, while two more bear clubs and the final one hefts a spear.