Tentative plans pushed off until the town's needs are addressed, the group settles in for the night. While the main group stays at the Tavern, Jarrith makes a lonely sojourn up the road towards the castle. In the deepening darkness, Jarrith his half-sure he is being watched, but never hears or sees anything which confirms his suspicions. The Stalker finds his Lumin brothers still a good bit down the path from the castle proper, but high enough that any reasonable path would still pass near them. "It was an unpleasant feeling, being that close," reported Khensu. "Here will be better."
During the night, in the tavern, Daellin's revery is interrupted by the sound of heavy feet from outside. Looking out a window, his keen elven eyes can see the dark forms or two preternaturally large wolves sniffing about the Tavern. They circle the front door once, then lope off into the night's fog. What is unusual is that they leave the corpses that still remain in the courtyard alone.
18 Wir, Zaranthyr 998 YK
[[Everyone regains one night full of hitpoints, spells, etc.]
In the early morning, Tessa and Ashlyn approach the caravan about what provisions they still have in order to prepare for the tasks ahead. Tessa and the other magewrights and artificers are able to identify a minor enhancement on the Father's old items; in contrast, a low whistle is made when the strength of the greatsword's magic is known. [The armor and shield are +1; the greatsword is +2] After a brief discussion and some measurements, Ashlyn turns over her armor to the caravan as payment for resizing Danovich's pieces. Several back-and-forths are made regarding supplies, and the caravan makes its best offer. But in reality, the caravan is not as well stocked as the two would like.
The rest of the day for Tessa, Ashlyn, and Perriwimple pass in toil as the rest of the bodies are taken to the graveyard for tending. Stone slabs, mostly simple square markers in the earth, dot the manicured grass that grows at the foot of the great crag where the cemetery lies. The three work with other villagers to build a make-shift crematorium, and most of the day is spent turning the bodies to ash. Ashlyn and Tessa are both given the opportunity to speak at the services. Ireena, dresses in a somber brown covered in ash from her efforts, also provides a stirring speech to the townfolk, extolling their capability to come together and reminding them of their stubbornness and willingness to survive. Ismark, still in his finery, looks on impassively. He does not lend a hand in the burial works.
Jarrith returns midday to see the efforts, then returns to his so far uneventful vigil. As he leaves the village, the sense of being watched hovers about him again. With all the down time, he has the opportunity to peruse the mad priest's journal at length if he so desires.
Janis awakens early, and leaves the inn without a word to the others. She had her task to perform, and it was best if the others were not involved. Knowing she would need some protection, she borrows someone who she thinks she can trust not to talk---the so-far mute half-orc Ladreth. Keeping near the edge of the forest near town, she begins a calling taught to her in her travels in the Reaches, but one she had not thought to use. It is a complicated ritual, and she sets out to begin. Though she thinks she hears distant movement at times near her efforts, nothing disturbs Janis.
Daellin, less inclined to help with the task with the dead---his concerns were with the living or unliving---decides instead to try to find any sign of the Claw agents. It is difficult to find initially, but after four hours, he is able to find a campsite north of town. It is abandoned when he finds it, but there is sign of three or four occupants, and from some of the tell-tale ivory dust, some of them are undead. The group left a trail leading into a more rocky region near the base of the crag, and their Daellin losses it. It was moving along the crag towards the northeast, apparently trying to avoid the road. If they are going to the keep, it will take them some time to do so. However, it is also in the direction of the heart of the forest where the mysterious fey apparently hold court.
As Daellin decides his next move, he once again hears stealthy movement at the edge of sight. Looking in the dim forest reaches, he sees two more of the large wolves some hundred feet back, just looking at him, watching. After a moment, they lope away again.
