After a few minutes, Grugga regains some composure, though he's noticeably less talkative and his eyes drift to the lake quite often. He says that he think they should make their way to Northbridge, notify the authorities of what happened, and pick up the trail again - perhaps they can hire a cart from Northbridge to Shelley and sleep on it. He noticeably does not suggest hiring a boat. He assures the group that he doesn't mind walking along the shoreline, if they want to take that way.

Grugga would be happy to take any place in the marching order, but his eyesight isn't the best after years of straining them over small pieces of jewelry and machine parts and he also admits that he never learned to track. So he probably shouldn't take the lead.

((pass on the d20. I'm ambivalent toward rolling, but some people really enjoy it, so go ahead yall))

Rohuzar will lead the way to Northbridge, first through the woods to the road, then north. 

survival 26 

d20 1 

Guilim follows Rohuzar, letting out a small yawn as he soldiers on, seeming to be barely bothered by the fact that had not rested in a decent amount of time.

Aubrey is clearly tired now, having harder and harder to keep up the pace, but following along to the best of his ability.

Leelan closes the march, as he is smaller than most of the party and also feeling the exhaustion of the long day of travel once more.

Rohuzar boldly takes the lead and guides your party through the forests in the direction of the Midway Road.  Almost immediately, he locates an overgrown trail heading in the right direction.  It looks like at one time there was a footpath between this old shack and the road.  It was almost lost to the forest and hard to see.  But now that you know it is there, it is easy to follow and even in those places where the forest has swallowed it completely, you are able to pick it up again.

The woods here are quite varied.  In places the hardwoods grow tall and their fresh spring leaves block the sun... creating a vast open field between the trees as there is no light for smaller plants to grow.  In other places the forest is more broken, with large rocks and boulders sticking out of the soil and fewer large trees.  In these places, bushes, buck brush and small flowering trees dominate.  You cut across the tracks of a large herd of deer, and later a single moose, though you don't encounter any animals larger than squirrels.

You do pass another abandoned structure.  This looks like a simple cabin or perhaps an old woodcutter's home.  The road passes within 70 yards of the structure.  As you pass, you hear a familiar droning sound.  This may be the hive of those hideous wasps.  If so, none emerge to harass you and you swiftly continue past down the overgrown trail.  Eventually you hear voices in song, and you emerge onto the Midway Road.

As you turn northwest toward Northbridge, a mixed group of human men and women and a single dwarven man are jogging toward you.  Each is dressed in light, loose clothing and has a half log, weighing perhaps 50 lbs, strapped to their back in a harness.  Their brows and bodies are drenched in sweat but they are beaming ear to ear and sing a hymn in unison.

"Lives are short; No time to waste

Labor's love through all our days

It won't take long

when there's a song

to help you set the pace.”

Religion: DC 12

You soon encounter more and more travelers: a groups of knights on horseback; brothers hauling two hand carts of apples; a wagon loaded with wooden picture frames destined for Bardstown.  More and more  Two hours after you left the shack by the lakeside, and near mid afternoon, you arrive on the outskirts of Northbridge.

The town spreads out across and down the valley surrounding the northernmost branch of the Breitvasser.  Where the Midway Road meets the river, a great stone bridge, the town's namesake, sits where it has for more than 1000 years.  Just beyond the bridge is a great plaza, where the River Road begins is long march down the distant sea, following the west bank of the mighty river.  And also from this plaza the Great North Trail has is beginning, leading all the way to the northern border with the NTF and the frozen lands beyond.

The town itself sits in a footprint nearly as wide as Bardstown, but where that great city is dominated by mega structures and stone buildings - the trappings of imperial wealth and power, Northbridge instead is all warehouses, homes, shops and barns. 

Aubrey religion: 13

Aubrey is deeply relieved to arrive safely in Northbridge. He ponders if he has any suggestions on a suitable Inn where to rest.
History if needed: 11

Aubrey, no you don't know of any 'suitable' inns for a quick and cheap rest.

On those occasions where you spent the night in Northbridge it was always at the Captain's Hotel, an upscale establishment near the lakefront.  While you doubt they would turn away your group, especially with you there to vouch for them, it is an expensive night's lodging more commonly used by traveling merchants and nobles.

You are also aware of another upscale inn closer to the downtown area, the Lodge of the Huntsman.  By reputation this is another swanky hotel and likely expensive.

You do know there are probably a dozen or more hotels spread throughout town.  Aubrey just isn't aware of any details about any of the rest of them.

Aubrey instead keeps a lookout for any not-so-expensive Inns to have a rest.
Perception if needed: 6

Rohuzar is looking for guards or a sheriff or something of that nature

Aubrey, you spot and point out a simple looking inn.  It is set back off from the road, behind and between two larger buildings.  One of those buildings you immediately recognize as a shrine to Alcona.  The other building looks like it could be a shrine or some kind of hospital.  There is a bas-relief of what looks like a pregnant dwarf near the door.

Of the inn itself, the sign calls it the Last Resort.  It is a simple wooden building, two stories.  Inside, a dwarven woman seems to be the hostess.  She is engaged in an argument with a thin elf in leather armor.  The nature of the argument revolves around the elf's companion... a large owl with razor sharp claws.  The dwarf is objecting to the creature staying indoors while the elf pleads his case.

***

Rohuzar, you make your way to the nearest town guard post.  It is across the street and down a short walk from the inn.  A sign tacked to the outside of the post reads in both common and imperial:

 Inside the guard post is a large room.  There is a desk as well as a card table.  Two guards sit at the table and another behind the desk completing paperwork.  The back half of the room is fashioned into a stockade with a large iron cell.  There is also another door, which is slightly ajar.  You can see a rack with two spears... this appears to be an armory.  The two guards at the table look up as you approach.  The guard behind the desk pays you no attention.

Religion: 6

Grugga trudges along sullenly with the group, though he does spare some smiles for the joggers and the merchants and his companions. He looks relieved when they start approaching Northbridge, but looks a bit nervous once finally face to face with the guard post.

Although just grabbing a room at the Last Resort seems very tempting, Aubrey decides to stand by Rohuzar in his dealings with the law before turning in.
(Giving Help actions to any rolls required by Rohuzar where Help could be given.)

Rohuzar approaches the desk guard and starts right into it. 

“I have crime to report. There are dead bodies down the coast, and two people went missing after ve found those.” 

The two guards at the card table listen to Rohuzar's words, then both turn in unison to the man seated behind the desk.  He puts down his papers and looks Rohuzar up and down.  "Red Band?  You just passing through or are you looking for work here?"

He returns to the matter at hand, questioning you all about what you experienced.  Upon learning that the shack with the corpses is four miles outside town, and that the two missing sailors are from Anchorage and not Northbridge, his questioning relaxes considerably.  He does take notes.  At the end of the conversation, he advises the the incident falls outside his jurisdiction but he will pass the report along to the next Legion patrol that comes through.  It will be up to that Legion commander to investigate.

(I am assuming for now you tell the guard captain all the relevant details.  If there is anything you intentional do not tell him, let me know.)

Rohuzar fills in on everything he can. 

“Ve are just passing through.” He starts to turn but stops. “You have job? Just for curiosity, tell me details?” 

"Might have a job." 

He looks at the two guards at the table.  "Lunch has been over for more than an hour.  Quit stalling and go bring in Macarski."  The men start to leave before the captain adds, "Be sure to be civilized and professional about it.  The trial is going to be enough of a mess as it is.  I don't need the magistrate busting my chops over unsightly bruises all over the accused."

Once the two other guards are gone through the front door, he returns his attentions to your group.  "I've just got in a tip on the location of some wanted criminals.  Four brothers from the dock side of town.  Apparently they've been causing small scale trouble since they could walk, but graduated to the big time.  They staged a daring robbery last week.  In the process they killed the nephew of a prominent citizen.  No one had heard of them since the crime and it was assumed they fled far afield.  As it happens, this tip tells me they are in an old cabin up by the Borski Bog.  If you're not familiar with the area, its an old overgrown cranberry farm.  Its about 10 miles north of town on the lake side."  He points to a map of the area on his desk... it looks like he may have been working on this case when you all came in.  "That also puts them outside my jurisdiction.  I can't use my guards on this one."

He looks you over again, sizing you up before looking Rohuzar in the eyes.  "Now, I happen to know these citizen victims want their stolen coin returned.  But I also know they are willing to part with it so long as they know their kin's killers have been brought to justice.  Something like, a bounty.  I understand they made off with more than 400gp in coin as well as some jewelry."

He sniffs... sounding a bit like he might be coming down with a cold.  "So that's the job.  You roll up these hoodlums, you keep whatever you find in their possession as your reward.  But you bring me back their heads.  All four of 'em.  I'll present that to the family so they know the deed's been done.  Simple as that.  I know the Red Band is a group that can handle itself and get tough work done.  What do you say?"

Rohuzar struggles with his love of money for a moment.

”Ve should keep working on job ve have before adding another one… probably… maybe…” He looks to the rest of the party. “And sleep. Meals and stay at inn are on me.” 

"If we didn't have to worry about others being on the same job and the time constraints I would say it would he worth it. But for now like you said we need to rest..." Guilim says as he stretches and stifles another small yawn, looking to the others.

Leading Dandelion, Leelan follows the rest of the group. A yawn escapes his mouth every once in a while due to the fatigue.

As the group is discussing taking up another job, Leelan uses this time to feed his mule. She has been through a lot recently, and she deserved a rest just as much as anyone else in the group.