Meanwhile, in the north...
Joyousgard and his new aquaintances had been in Citadel Felbarr, from there the small group was heading to Sundabar. Striving for no less then spiritual, mental and physical perfection, there was no real direction his path would lead him, as long as it led him towards his goal, so Joy stayed with them to observe and learn. Since they had heard rumors, that the direct route to Sundabar would be too dangerous to travel right now, they decided to travel to Auvandell first and go east from there. It proved to be a fatal choice...
With the weather growing worse from one day to the other, they had to take cover in a larger cavern, which they luckily discovered a few days south from the mighty dwarven citadel. It was empty, altho it seemed in use, and there were signs of a recent fight, but having no choice, the adventurers decided to stay and hope that the inhabitants wouldn't come back too soon. Of course, this wish was not granted. At some point during the night, a large hideous and vaguely humanoid creature, a troll, entered the cavern and altho they were prepared for trouble, it was more than a match to the few of them. Seeing no hope and no way to survive this encounter, Cedric, a human warrior in the service of the church of Tyr, turned to Joy and handed him an envelope with the words “I have failed. Bring this to Sundabar. Run!”
Joyousgard didn't think, he just did what the human told him to do. His legs carried him far away from the cavern and he continued his way southwards, fighting against the snow and the cold. Three days he walked and his rations were already used up by then, mist had risen during the last night, but he continued along his path, whereever it might lead him now...
A few hours later, vague shapes are forming out of the mist and the dampened sound of voices can be heard. Getting closer, Joyousgard can see a larger wagon and two carts, all drawn by horses, and a group of travelers, merchants and guards it seems, gathered around them. Observing the scene for a while, he also spots some corpses, one of a larger animal and almost a dozen smaller shapes.
