-----The stone span rises over the dark marsh water and its structure seems sound though its stones are crumbled. They walk forward a good fifty feet before their progress is impeded by the stone shapes that resemble statues. Still the castle seems to loom over them quietly as if watching. A cloud passes in front of the sun and even though a partly blue sky remains overhead, the stronghold appears to grow colder.
-----"Why are these statues placed out here in the way?" everyone hears Raven utter as the hunter approaches the first shape. Indeed, between the adventurers' position and the raised portcullis, there looks to be a half dozen stone shapes placed haphazardly on the bridge. Surely no wagon or even detail of mounted troops could pass here unhindered.
-----The statues do look somewhat heroic featuring human and elven warriors with drawn bows or swords. Oddly, their bodies take the stance of those gallantly and strongly fighting. One, an elven fighter, is crouched down to one side of the span, with his arrow drawn. Another, a human fighter rears back with his sword while keeping his off-sword arm up as if deflecting something. However, on some of their faces, an expression of horror and defeat is expressed.
-----Suddenly, Raven gives Sol, Sarah and Rinda a look that belies shock and recognition. "Part of the troop," he gasps out.
-----Sol's eyes widen in horror at the fate of this half-dozen or so members of the troop. Unable to pry his eyes from the battling statues, the Gorian says in a heavy-laden voice, "Sarah... Rinda... What can do this to so many men?"
-----Rinda jerks her eyes up toward the yawning darkness of the castle's entrance. Seeing nothing there, she looks over the high windows and surrounding towers. "There are a few creatures that can do this," she says almost whispering, "or someone of great evil."
-----"Oh!" Mirian exclaims clasping her hands over her mouth. She stares at the statues with wide terror filled eyes. Getting hold of her senses, she asks softly, "Someone did this to living people? Those poor souls!"
-----Garrison glares at the castle. Standing firmly he almost looks as if he is rooting himself to the bridge. His fists clinch and anger registers on his face. "This is not good," he growls. "Something waits for us. I can feel it."
-----"Is there nothing that we can do to protect ourselves from such magic?" Sol asks, a noticeable trace of finality in his tone. He slowly hefts his weapon and appears to be on the verge of walking in.
-----Sarah had done nothing but let out an audible squeal of distress as she had quickly realized what the statues were. But all she had done for the past couple moments was stand there with a shocked look on her face, her open mouth covered by one of her thin dainty hands. "I..I..." She stammers, "A very powerful wizard could do this. If there are animals that can turn people to stone I don't know what they are." She seems to be on the verge of tears, the earlier encounter with the dead bodies and now this seems to have taken its toll on the young sorceress. "M..maybe..." She opens her pack and removes a black wand, pointing it at the closest statue, "No Nocta Nada." She says, trying to sound confident.
-----A pale gray beam springs forth from the wand in Sarah's hand dully shining on the nearest stone shape. The statue-like form, that of a husky woodsman wearing leather armor and twisted as he appears to raise his sword over his head, stares at a point over Raven's head as the hunter stands with his back toward the castle. In a few moments, the pale beam fades and the stone form remains as it was.
-----Mirian smiles meekly at Sarah clearly unsure of the intended effect of the wand. "C-can you help them?" she asks softly with a bit of hope in her voice.
-----Lovan narrows his eyes as he does his own observation of the keep wall towering up at the end of the bridge. He quietly looks at Sol as if awaiting the young warrior's next move.
-----Sarah's eyes grow even more watery as the wand's effect fails. "I..I..I was hoping that would." She says sadly, lowering her arm and wiping her eyes with her sleeves. "I can try dispelling it tomorrow." She says, but the tone of her voice lets everyone know how much good she thinks it will do. "I don't have dispel magic today."
-----"We'll do what we can fer them later then, love. Ye've done what ye can." Sol words come as he continues to stare at the entrance to the keep. As if he can feel the Storm Priest's gaze, the Gorian nods and begins to head into the entrance, sword at ready.
-----Sarah takes a deep breath and closes her eyes for a second, muttering a prayer to Destine to give her spells the power of the fury she is feeling. "Right then." She says in a calm, somber voice. "Let's go find what did this to them." She marches off with Sol, not behind him as usual, but right next to him, ready to blast whatever hellspawn she comes across to oblivion.