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<blockquote data-quote="Capellan" data-source="post: 477171" data-attributes="member: 6294">&quot;Unearthing the Past&quot; by Jesse Decker (WotC Cliffhanger) - Part 5The group wastes no time in looting the bodies of their fallen enemies, and then turns their attention to the matter of returning the wagon to Amberdale: a problem that proves more formidable than originally expected, when it becomes apparent that none of them has the faintest idea how to drive the vehicle or handle the still skittish horse.&quot;I will return to the village and fetch someone to drive it for us.&quot; Ming Li suggests, &quot;I believe I can make the journey quickest of us all.&nbsp; The rest of you should guard the wagon, in case any more bandits arrive.&quot;Ulfgar agrees,&quot;Seems like it would be quicker than trying to handle the cart ourselves.&nbsp; We'll tend to the bodies of the victims while you're gone.&quot;Ming Li frowns,&quot;It seems strange to me that these creatures would have so much interest in a wagon that only contains foodstuffs.&nbsp; How could that be worth the deaths of six people?&quot;&quot;Maybe they were hungry.&quot; Briar suggests pragmatically.&quot;Perhaps, but I still think it would be wise to check the contents ... in case we have been lied to.&quot;The group agrees to the suspicious monk's suggestion, and spends some time examining the contents of the many sacks and barrels aboard the wagon.&nbsp; By the end of this process, even Ming Li is forced to concede that the contents are exactly as they were told: oysters and fish.&quot;They're good.&quot; Macwood confirms happily, burping lightly.&nbsp; Ming Li fixes him with a disapproving stare, but the halfling appears utterly unperturbed.With her concerns allayed, Ming Li sets out for Amberdale.&nbsp; Travelling light as always, the young monk makes excellent time, and soon arrives at Gendrew's house on the edge of town.&quot;Oh!&quot; the portly cook exclaims on answering her knock, &quot;You're back!&nbsp; Did you find the wagon?&quot;&quot;We did.&quot; Ming Li nods, &quot;Unfortunately, it had been attacked by orcs.&nbsp; They killed the driver and guards, as well as the two boys you sent to meet the wagon.&quot;&quot;Oh dear!&quot; Gendrew wrings his hands in distress, &quot;That is terrible news!&quot;&quot;The wagon itself is intact.&quot; Ming Li continues, &quot;We arrived before the beasts could take it away, and killed them.&nbsp; We now require someone to drive it for us, as none of us have the training.&quot;Though still distressed by the news, Gendrew is quickly able to arrange for a stable-hand from the inn to accompany Ming Li back to the wagon.&nbsp; He even manages to prevail upon Captain Jarrek to release two of his guards for security purposes, despite the latter's protests about the need for order in the town.&nbsp; It seems a successful Festival Feast is more important.Thus Ming Li is able to return to the wagon within a couple of hours.&nbsp; Upon arrival, she finds the others have been busy: the bodies of the victims have been cleaned up and placed on the wagon, as well as the armour and weapons taken from the dead bandits.&quot;Should fetch a good price at the Festival markets.&quot; Twinkle comments, &quot;There are usually lots of people wanting to buy that kind of stuff.&quot;&quot;We also found tracks.&quot; It seems Ulfgar has the scent of more orcs. &quot;We should follow them back to wherever the scum came from and make sure there aren't any more of 'em.&quot;&quot;There may also be other valuables at their camp.&quot; Macwood evidently understands the adventurer psyche very well.&quot;Will we be able to find it?&quot; Briar asks, &quot;I don't know much about this stuff - I'm usually the one making the tracks, not following them!&quot;&quot;It won't be a problem.&quot; Macwood sounds confident, &quot;There was rain last night and the ground's still soaked.&nbsp; As long as it doesn't rain again the tracks will be clear.&quot;&quot;We should start now, then.&quot; Twinkle advises, &quot;It's already past noon, and it rains most nights, this time of year - we'll have to find their camp before dark.&quot;There is rapid agreement all round, and - having seen the wagon safely on its way once more - the five adventurers set off to follow the bandits' trail.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Capellan, post: 477171, member: 6294"] [b]"Unearthing the Past" by Jesse Decker (WotC Cliffhanger) - Part 5[/b] The group wastes no time in looting the bodies of their fallen enemies, and then turns their attention to the matter of returning the wagon to Amberdale: a problem that proves more formidable than originally expected, when it becomes apparent that none of them has the faintest idea how to drive the vehicle or handle the still skittish horse. "I will return to the village and fetch someone to drive it for us." Ming Li suggests, "I believe I can make the journey quickest of us all. The rest of you should guard the wagon, in case any more bandits arrive." Ulfgar agrees, "Seems like it would be quicker than trying to handle the cart ourselves. We'll tend to the bodies of the victims while you're gone." Ming Li frowns, "It seems strange to me that these creatures would have so much interest in a wagon that only contains foodstuffs. How could that be worth the deaths of six people?" "Maybe they were hungry." Briar suggests pragmatically. "Perhaps, but I still think it would be wise to check the contents ... in case we have been lied to." The group agrees to the suspicious monk's suggestion, and spends some time examining the contents of the many sacks and barrels aboard the wagon. By the end of this process, even Ming Li is forced to concede that the contents are exactly as they were told: oysters and fish. "They're good." Macwood confirms happily, burping lightly. Ming Li fixes him with a disapproving stare, but the halfling appears utterly unperturbed. With her concerns allayed, Ming Li sets out for Amberdale. Travelling light as always, the young monk makes excellent time, and soon arrives at Gendrew's house on the edge of town. "Oh!" the portly cook exclaims on answering her knock, "You're back! Did you find the wagon?" "We did." Ming Li nods, "Unfortunately, it had been attacked by orcs. They killed the driver and guards, as well as the two boys you sent to meet the wagon." "Oh dear!" Gendrew wrings his hands in distress, "That is terrible news!" "The wagon itself is intact." Ming Li continues, "We arrived before the beasts could take it away, and killed them. We now require someone to drive it for us, as none of us have the training." Though still distressed by the news, Gendrew is quickly able to arrange for a stable-hand from the inn to accompany Ming Li back to the wagon. He even manages to prevail upon Captain Jarrek to release two of his guards for security purposes, despite the latter's protests about the need for order in the town. It seems a successful Festival Feast is more important. Thus Ming Li is able to return to the wagon within a couple of hours. Upon arrival, she finds the others have been busy: the bodies of the victims have been cleaned up and placed on the wagon, as well as the armour and weapons taken from the dead bandits. "Should fetch a good price at the Festival markets." Twinkle comments, "There are usually lots of people wanting to buy that kind of stuff." "We also found tracks." It seems Ulfgar has the scent of more orcs. "We should follow them back to wherever the scum came from and make sure there aren't any more of 'em." "There may also be other valuables at their camp." Macwood evidently understands the adventurer psyche very well. "Will we be able to find it?" Briar asks, "I don't know much about this stuff - I'm usually the one making the tracks, not following them!" "It won't be a problem." Macwood sounds confident, "There was rain last night and the ground's still soaked. As long as it doesn't rain again the tracks will be clear." "We should start now, then." Twinkle advises, "It's already past noon, and it rains most nights, this time of year - we'll have to find their camp before dark." There is rapid agreement all round, and - having seen the wagon safely on its way once more - the five adventurers set off to follow the bandits' trail. [/QUOTE]

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