With that reaction, Mordekai takes the map. Things were left on street. Did not see if it was picked up as we were shoved in cages. I had rations for few more days, but is clear that I deserve nothing. He walks out, not waiting for his items to be returned. If time was such a paramount issue, then having to hope he wouldn’t starve was all he could do.

As Mordekai walks out, Con calls after him.

"Stop being so dramatic! We're all in this now, and we will all save those kids."

He turns to the other men and shrugs, before walking out himself. 

"I see okay in the dark, but I also have a lantern. Thanks for the warning," Carmen says to Kharth.

To Borin she says, "We will do our best to get what you need." Then she gets a little closer and says a little quieter, "You know, we could have killed Irrk as well and left all their bodies where they were, covered our tracks, and nobody would have known what happened." She stares into his nervous face and continues, "I think the fact that we brought them home with hope that the fallen could be saved demonstrates our wish to do right by you all. I hope your friend," she nods to to exit that the dwarf stormed out of, "will take that into consideration."

She turns to the others, "Let's go!"

Iefyr darts out as soon as he is freed. For a second it almost looks as if he's trying to make a break for it, but he stops as he comes to the door of the jail. He turns back at the last second with a wide grin at his companions. "Come on guys, what are you waiting for?" he seems genuinely excited to have been given a second chance. Once he steps out of the building, he begins chanting under his breath again.

Cozubia let’s the almost insulting tone of Tynom roll off his back, reminding himself that to these people, they really are child killers. But the little verbal jabs are wasting time that the children do not have, wasting time the Cozubia does not have. Given the recent events and the troubles plaguing the area, may be wasting time that Squee does not have. “Cozubia has torches. That will not be an issue.” 

Ready to help but reluctant to work with Tynom, the group gets the map from Borin and any provisions they may need. Borin reaffirms that if they are not back in seven days that it is unlikely that he will be able to do anything to save these children. 

As you walk out of town, ready to head east following the map, you see the families of the fallen children. The same woman who originally rushed up to the group to grab her little boy. You see the Aarakocra family of Irrk standing firmly in front of Irrk as he tries to squeeze between their legs to look at you once more. In fear but also inspiring as you head off on your adventure that he and his friends so desperately wanted. You see the halfling parents of the small girl, a look of fear and hope mixed on their faces. Finally you see the last elf family, with a look of disgust upon their face. All of them watch you, angry and saddened at the events but oddly hopefully. Not for your safe return, but hopeful that at least one of you makes it back with the diamonds. 

As you head out of town, the eerie silence turns to the sounds of birds chirping and the wind blowing through the grass. You have a two days journey ahead if you can find the cave entrance and a two days journey back. Leaving you just a few days, if needed to explore this cavern and find what you are looking for. 

A few hours into your travels, you see an elderly gentleman on the side of the road. Only a few wisps of white hair remain on his head. His posture looks almost as if his spine is slowly curling in on itself as age takes hold. As you approach closer a near toothless grin smiles at you as you watch him slowly spinning some sort of animal over a spit.

"Well hey there travelers," you hear in a jovial inviting tone. "Why don't you rest your feet awhile and dine with me. Only the best that Golden Oaks has to offer." You see the elderly man lick his lips eager to bite in.

Carmen wants to get a read on this guy before she even responds.

Insight 14

You get the sense that this man has been out here for awhile. his clothes are ragged and very weather torn. You see the small traps hanging from his pants that he used to catch whatever is roasting over the fire. He does seem very genuine in wanting to share his food with you.

Iefyr doesn’t respond. The chanting which had slowly softened to barely a whisper now once again gets louder as he anxiously looks back and forth between his companions and the man.

"We have a long way to travel, not sure if we have the time..." Carmen looks at her companions. A meal now might mean they could travel longer into the night, but she is anxious about time and is suspicious of everyone even if she she does not pick up anything sinister about this guy. "What are you doing out here, old man?" she asks.

Iefyr continues his low chant, staring at the old man as he talks to Carmen and casts Detect Thoughts, initially trying just to read his surface thoughts.

Quote from WhitsEnd >>

"We have a long way to travel, not sure if we have the time..." Carmen looks at her companions. A meal now might mean they could travel longer into the night, but she is anxious about time and is suspicious of everyone even if she she does not pick up anything sinister about this guy. "What are you doing out here, old man?" she asks.

Quote from Sphynxyy >>

Iefyr continues his low chant, staring at the old man as he talks to Carmen and casts Detect Thoughts, initially trying just to read his surface thoughts.

Cozubia hangs back from the old man, not seeming to want to get close. He looks around nervously, not saying anything.

Having been silent, and feeling the pangs of hunger begin, Mordekai's first instinct is to accept the offer... only to remember the face of the elven child. We... I, am off to retrieve diamonds from a mine. It is a long journey and I will not be held back another minute of time. Forgive me for not accepting generous offer. Mordekai starts back on the path again. Even if there was no inherent trap, he was going to do what he had set out to do and not be held up by anything or anyone on the road again.

The old man looks sullen as he takes off two of the sticks of meat. He eyes them both carefully, eats the one in his left hand and offers the right to anyone else who would want it.

"No thank you, Old Master. However," Cozubia trails off for a moment while gazing towards the old man. "Do you know anything about a cave a couple days walk from here that is full of treasure and evil creatures?"

"Thank you for your offer, but we do need to continue," says Carmen as she glares at Mordekai from under her hood, a bit shocked (but not really) that he told a stranger their quest. He really is going to get us killed, she thinks. "Well it is all out on the table now," she  mutters as Cozubia asks his question.

As the group passes on his offer, the old man looks at the other stick of meat and chomps in, at least the best he can with his lack of teeth. "Well.. more for me I guess." 

As Cozubia asks about the cave, you see him turn his head, he rubs his chin with his free hand and shrieks "A ha! I can help you with that. Caves are underground. The go one way and the other sometimes hooking back around . With that you will never get lost. And if you do get lost just don't. Hehehe!" You see the old man fall to his side laughing.

The group moves on past the old man and continues on a course to the east, making their own path through the brush and grass. Day soon turns to dusk as the end of the first day comes to an end. 

"We should set up camp for the night, it is getting pretty dark out now." Ezid suggests to the group, pulling his backpack onto one shoulder, ready to start a campfire and set up his bedroll wherever the group found an open space.