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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Carlo-One" data-source="post: 8213080" data-attributes="member: 7015827">Once they were outside the manor, Dermot began sorting through the old and new tracks, commenting that it would be tricky. Moving around the area, the ranger searched the ground carefully in ways difficult for the others to comprehend, looking at boot impressions, divots and recent signs of rain to reveal what he needed. After examining what appeared to be an unremarkable patch of ground, he waved the others forward, moving along what seemed to be a trail. He explained that another had walked that way, not long ago, wearing boots, with a light, human gait that was too far apart to be the kid’s steps, and heading away from the manor. (The ranger's tracking ability shows the value of mastering one's skills in life. There is no magic to such mastery, only practice. --C)Once they reached the main forest trail back to Tallwell, Dermot was unable to distinguish their quarry’s prints, but did note the presence of the child’s on the approach to the manor. The ranger’s companions eagerly searched for further signs in the vicinity, but came up with nothing. Dermot then led them back to the village, along the way evading roaming bear and boar in the forest.By the time they reached Tallwell two hours later it was raining, to Shanni’s disappointment, which the ranger noted would probably hide tracks. The consensus among the party was that their culprit was not enough of an outdoorsman to stay in the wilds, so would likely be looking for a place to spend the night. Dermot raised the possibilities of a traveler having stashed their things at the inn, or that their quarry might even be a local inhabitant. Aerikoth cast doubt on this interpretation, still believing that their target was a member of the Fire Knives, running after their assault on Castle Cormaeril.The four adventurers tracked their wet selves into the village inn and were greeted by Yasia and Kablin Menson. Dermot remarked with some concern that they were up late. Yasia said that she couldn’t sleep after the wizard had showed up with the boy, not to mention what was going on with the ghost at the manor. A bleary-eyed Kablin told her that if it were a ghost, then it would be nowhere near town, to which his wife replied that if the wizard could move by magic, why not the ghost.In response to a question from Dermot, Yasia indicated that no one had come by since Aerikoth had shown up with Fente Bross, the son of the general store owner. The wizard asked to see the two rooms at the inn and Kablin welcomed the four to stay in them for the night. They soon determined that no one else was present and debated where else their quarry might have gone to ground in the village, having hit a dead end at the inn. Dermot was confident that the tracks he had followed leading away from the manor house were no more than an hour old when he found them, meaning – as Aerikoth pointed out – the person had an hour head start on them.Yasia stuck her head into their room, apparently concerned at continuing to hear voices so late at night, but was assured that everything was fine. Aerikoth took the opportunity to ask her some clarifying questions about her delivery of Fente to his father, then asked her about where one would stay in Tallwell if not at the inn. She struggled to understand what the wizard was driving at, saying she supposed that someone could stay with friends in town, but the inn was the only one. After some further reassurance that there was in fact no ghost, she departed and left the four to their discussion.</blockquote>

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