Despite gaining much knowledge of the surrounding countryside, the three found no tracks or other signs of the portal exit. As they headed back to the village, suddenly a panting, running guardsman came into view and headed to meet them. At first they were concerned his appearance meant Tagreth had somehow escaped, but the guardsman – after catching his breath somewhat – denied that and insisted instead that they needed to find Captain Calen, saying he wasn’t sure what the captain was going to do with the prisoner. Shanni was all for going back at a leisurely pace, given what was likely to happen to the Fire Knives leader, but Dermot pointed out that a summary execution would make Calen a murderer himself. The three adventurers then took off at a run themselves, leaving the out-of-shape guard to walk back to the village on his own.
After Dermot, Shanni and a puffing Darrow (in that order) arrived at the barracks, they found Aerikoth and Mayor Haman Amraphel there, but none of Baron Pahar’s soldiers. The mayor was at a loss and suggested that a search was in order, saying he would warn the villagers to be on the lookout. Aerikoth suggested other possibilities besides Calen going to execute the prisoner, such as the guards having departed to escort him to Turnton, or perhaps even having been bribed by Tagreth to set him free.
While Shanni was impatient to get moving immediately, the wizard calmly suggested that Dermot should first try to find evidence of their departure, an idea seconded by Darrow. Dermot welcomed the wizard back, then started cursing as the rain began again. He said he wished he knew the guard captain better, explaining that if he were a practical man, he would just take the Lord out to the forest for execution, but if he were a sentimental one, he would do it at the manor, thought the ranger. The group then began casting about for any visible tracks, Shanni and Aerikoth being the first ones to spot a group of bootprints in the mud, heading west along the road out of town.
They moved as rapidly as they could to the western outskirts of the village and saw Calen and his squad lined up in an open space past the Winnfall farm. Tagreth was on his knees in front of the guard captain, who had a naked sword in his hand. Calen looked up as Dermot yelled from a distance to attract his attention, asking what was the meaning of this. The guard captain remained silent as they approached. Once they finally reached him, he replied, “Justice. That is the meaning.”
After Dermot, Shanni and a puffing Darrow (in that order) arrived at the barracks, they found Aerikoth and Mayor Haman Amraphel there, but none of Baron Pahar’s soldiers. The mayor was at a loss and suggested that a search was in order, saying he would warn the villagers to be on the lookout. Aerikoth suggested other possibilities besides Calen going to execute the prisoner, such as the guards having departed to escort him to Turnton, or perhaps even having been bribed by Tagreth to set him free.
While Shanni was impatient to get moving immediately, the wizard calmly suggested that Dermot should first try to find evidence of their departure, an idea seconded by Darrow. Dermot welcomed the wizard back, then started cursing as the rain began again. He said he wished he knew the guard captain better, explaining that if he were a practical man, he would just take the Lord out to the forest for execution, but if he were a sentimental one, he would do it at the manor, thought the ranger. The group then began casting about for any visible tracks, Shanni and Aerikoth being the first ones to spot a group of bootprints in the mud, heading west along the road out of town.
They moved as rapidly as they could to the western outskirts of the village and saw Calen and his squad lined up in an open space past the Winnfall farm. Tagreth was on his knees in front of the guard captain, who had a naked sword in his hand. Calen looked up as Dermot yelled from a distance to attract his attention, asking what was the meaning of this. The guard captain remained silent as they approached. Once they finally reached him, he replied, “Justice. That is the meaning.”