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-----Raven yells at the disgusted bandit, "Shut it. I won't tell you again. Got it?" Raven waits for the man's answer, but the only answer the man gives is a grumble.
-----Raven says to Sarah, "Ask him if he knows who attacked the keep."
-----Sarah shoots an annoyed glance at the other bandit quickly, but then turns back to her charmed man. "You attacked the keep of Broactor. You almost killed him," she says gently. "What do you have to say to this charge? Have you ever worked for a priestess of the Goddess of Nightmares?"
-----"Oh no, Sweet Angel," the bandit answers with an obedient tone, "we didn’t attack no keep. T’was our job to help drive the orcs. We were to just raid farms and then watch the road for small merchant wagons." Then in a hushed fearful tone, he continues, "No, most blessed one, I be followin’ no dark goddess!"
-----Raven goes over to speak with Zentil who has finished searching the prone bodies.
-----Sol squints at the man who spoke back to him, "You’re pretty stupid aren't ye. Bravery has nothin' to do with it. Who's in control has everything to do with it. So as my fine friend said...shut it!" With that cleared up, Sol draws his boot back and gives the man a severe kick. The man’s head jerks from the recoil, but surprisingly remains silent.
-----Raven turns to Sol, "Easy now. Don't ruin your boot." Raven says to the kicked bandit, "Not very bright are ya? Our elven friend here only found 44 silver between you all. Not very good bandits are ya? Damn, the arrows we used on you cost more than that! If you live through this, pick a better line of work." Raven shakes his head and turns to Sarah, "Can you ask him where their camp is?" Raven shoots the kicked bandit a look to make sure he knows he shouldn't talk. Raven turns to Sol, "Do you still have your old long sword? If it's okay with you, I'd like to use it."
-----"No problem." Sol replies as he carefully pulls out his old sword, still wrapped in cloth and rags. He shakes them free and hands the hilt to Raven.
-----As Sarah asks where the bandit’s camp is, the charmed bandit tells her, "We don’t have a camp where we stay. We was ‘pose to keep movin’ in the area. Sometimes someone’d find us from Tru and I reckon that’s where they was givin’ us orders from."
-----"I've had enough of these guys. They're just grunts. Let’s head on to the keep. Whoever's there should be able to give us more information." Sol remarks.
-----Raven tests the weight of Sol's old long sword and says, "Aye, this will do nicely. Thank you." Raven listens to Sol's comment of heading for the keep, "One minute, I have more question for this guy."
-----Raven turns to Sarah, "What or where is 'Tru'?"
-----Sol’s eyebrow raises in surprise, "Even I know the answer to that Raven, and I come from a different country. Then again, being a caravan guard does help with area knowledge. It's just that...remember Shallia? The village we took her to was Tru. Where we wanna go is south of Tru...if I recall correctly."
-----"Hold on, let’s take him with us. He can ride with me." Sarah suggests, "The others....well," she shrugs, "We'll leave ‘em here."
-----Raven rubs his chin, "Ah! You mean the town just east of that nice grove of oak trees. I never was very good with town names. Maybe that's because they're the last place I'd want to be. Do we want to pay them a visit and see what's going on?"
-----Sol looks harried, "I...suppose we could do that. But then we go to the tower, ok? The one that woman Thalog charmed yesterday mentioned. She did say that whoever is in there is looking over 'operations' in this area."
-----The adventurers turn toward the south and leave the swamp behind them. Off to their right, a couple of miles in the distance, they can see where the trail road leads north to Myn and south toward Tru. Just beyond the road is the small copse of woods where Krondor Keep is located.
-----Traveling two miles more they pass by a larger marsh area. The steady rain causes some of the stagnate water to overflow from the dark pools within. Even though the place extrudes a dismal and foreboding feel, nothing emerges to challenge the riders.
-----Over the next three miles, they cover open plains and then begin to pass a good-sized lake. Just to the west beyond the lake, the adventurers can see the ancient stone columns of the Lathanian ruins. They move around the lake’s eastern edge and ride south once again.
-----About an hour before high noon, the party rides over the River Bridge spanning the Altor River and sees the small buildings of the village of Tru. The activity in the village seems very slow. Only one wagon trudges along on the muddy trail road heading east toward Hearthorn. The second building the adventurers pass by is a small tavern and a group of four men stand outside talking. They wear leather armor and dark cloaks cover their shoulders and heads.
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