The day passes and recedes into night, the life of the castle humming along as one can presume it usually does. Soldiers train in the courtyard and the surrounding fields, cooks and servants move through the stone halls of the primary keep, and resident knights and courtiers move amongst each other, whispering some gossip or formulating some plan to advance their station.
When light again creeps through the leaves of the forest and the open spaces of Castle Evenwood, each member of the party is uncerimoneously roused from their beds. After using you alloted time to dress and equip, you are lead outside the large castle walls in the light brush, guided by Darven Evenwood and a few select guards. The brush gives way to trees and after about an hour, around mid-morning, you come upon a small clearing. The area is non-descript with the exception of what appears to be dried blood layered over the leaves and undersoil.
Darven speaks up for the first time in the morning, "We moved the body yesterday afternoon. Its probably been little less than a day since our ranger was slain, so, assuming any of you have any familiarity with the woods, this would be the logical place to start in your seach for the beast..." He frowns and looks to Jericho, "Don't come back without the bear's head D'orite. You gambled your honor when you accepted my father's challenge and you didn't come in with many chips to play considering our earlier run-in...In times of strife, few hold out patience to foreign mercenaries..." He turns to Whitney and bows, "My lady..." He and his men then depart, returning the way they came.
[/I]Tarowyn: You catch sight of the bear tracks, its large paws making it visible even in the relativly firm woodland soil. They lead deeper into the woods away from the castle.
ooc: Whitney and Jericho, let me know if you are bringing your mounts.