Seeing the tracks leading back to the river again, Hex returns the group. "Looks like you were right, Briny. We're probably going to have to head down the river and towards the marsh."

She looks down the path towards the third farm. "You don't think they took the family from the last farm as well, do you? They've already taken at least 4 people... Should we go check up on them as well?" she asks Taroo, worryingly.

"We should check the last farm," Sylyra says to Hex. "If they haven't been hit, they may be the next target."

"I like that.  We could lay in ambush.  Set a trap." Uragum responds in agreement.

Taroo, looking increasingly more stressed, exhales, "I sure hope they haven't. I watch the farm for Hilloo and Gerona when they travel and help 'em with their livestock they deal with all the local farmers. We all think they're good folk."

He is quiet throughout the walk further along the Farmer's Trail, aside from repeating, "I sure hope they're okay," on more than one occasion.

At the furthest point of the trail from the river, you see a number of cattle inside and outside of a large pasture. Part of the pasture's wood fence along the trail from the road to the house is down. A big bull remains inside the fence, watching you intently.

"No..." Taroo mutters. The small house and barn of the Tralios have also been broken into.

"I sure hope they haven't. I watch the farm for Hilloo and Gerona when they travel and help 'em with their livestock they deal with all the local farmers. We all think they're good folk."

"Yes, yes," Sylyra says impatiently, "everyone is wonderful." He gives Taroo a withering look. "Perhaps that's what makes you all such easy targets."

After realizing the third farm has also been attacked, the elf keeps walking toward the house and barn. "Let's see if we can learn anything new here," he says to the others over his shoulder.

Sylyra is once again looking for tracks. He'll start around the outside of the barn.

Hex tries to reassure Taroo during the whole journey and gives Sylyra a disapproving look as he voices his impatience. Upon seeing there are still animals in the pasture though, Hex lights up ever so slightly. "The animals are still here. Maybe they know something." She jogs up to the fence towards the bull, though keeps a respectful distance from it, before casting Speak with Animals to question it about what has happened at the farm. If there is still time left on the spell, she would also question the cattle.

Briny watches Sylyra's behavior after his impolite remark, but says nothing. With the others going off to do their investigations she stays a moment with Taroo. "I am so sorry that this is happening to your community, it must be very demoralizing to have lost so many good people. Do any of the people left ever talk about what they think might be happening? Or has anyone claimed to have seen anything? Maybe kids that are off playing and get creeped out, who tell all their friends what happened?"

Sylyra actually stops in this tracks and looks back at Hex. His face is a combination of surprise, amazement and incredulity. After a heartbeat, his eyes relax, and he once again looks halfway between bored and pissed off. "I guess if you want to start with the witnesses," he replies snootily. He changes direction to join Hex.

Though he won't hear their replies the same as Hex, Sylyra will use his speech of the woods feature to understand the bull's responses to Hex's questioning. If they move on to the cattle, Sylyra will question separate cows from Hex.

The first thing Sylyra spots while looking around is a trail of blood leading from the pasture back to the Farmer's Trail toward the river.

"It could have just as easily been me," Taroo tells Briny. "If I had been home when they attacked...would I have been able to help at all? Would the Aylins have made it to tell the tale, or would I have just been taken with the rest of them?"

"Wait, what are they--are they trying to talk to the bull?" Taroo asks, suddenly distracted by Hex and Sylyra's approach to the pasture. The bull stamps its feet and watches their approach.

OOC: What would Hex like to ask/say to the bull?

Hex's body language and voice changes slighty as she speaks to the bull, softing up and moving and speaking slowly so as to not scare the clearly aggitated animal. "Hello there, we're sorry to bother you. My name is Hex, this is Sylyra. If it's alright, could you tell us what you've seen happen here recently? We're looking for some people who have taken others against their will, including those who take care of you, and we could really use your help to find them. We need details like when they were here, what they did and what they look like."

To the others, the bull simply grunts and stamps its hooves, but to Hex and Sylyra, the gestures carry further meaning.

For Hex:

For Sylyra:

Hex steps back, shocked at the bull's reaction. She raises her hands, trying to calm the bull. "It's okay, it's okay! We aren't here to hurt you, we want to help you. These green men, did they hurt you?"

Sylyra turns his full attention on the bull. "Let me see if I can calm it," he says to Hex while his eyes are completely on the animal. He casts a short spell of animal friendship in an attempt to convince the creature they mean it no harm.

animal friendship

Briny gives a small amused smile at Taroo and his question. "Well, when a person can turn into an animal I suppose it's not too hard to learn to speak to them either. I'm going to check the house, you can come with me or wait here. Or join the others by the bull, that might be interesting." She moves in the direction of the house, this time investigating outside by the doors and windows before taking a look inside.

"As amussing as it is to watch animal speak.  I'm of no use just listening to it," Uragum says.  He turns towards Briny and begins to follow.  "I'll check the house as well.  Best to buddy up for protection anyways."

Briny and Uragum see a scene similar to the Renons'. The simple and small farmhouse displays obvious signs of a struggle; the doors are broken in, and there are minor blood splatters along the wall and floor, but the pair find no further clues or evidence. The amount of blood pales in comparison to the trail found by Sylyra leading from the pasture toward the trail leading to the river.

Sylyra magically calms the bull, though its eyes remain glued onto Hex, and its posture defiant.

For Hex:

For Sylyra:

Sylyra looks at Hex and back to the bull. "Perhaps you should back up a little," he says to Hex. "What has he said to you?"

I assume Hex is amenable to relaying what the bull has said to her.

The elf furrows his brow, then raises his voice in congratulations. "Of course you did! You are a strong a powerful bull. Where is the 'green man' you killed?"

Hex nods at Sylyra and steps back enough to be just a small bit furher from the bull than he is and tells him what the bull has told her. She watches the two converse, quietly translating the bull for Sylyra.

Briny takes in the scant evidence and sighs. "There's not really much to go on so far from the houses. Just that one sort of scratchy print, and signs that these people or creatures use ambush attacks." She pauses as she looks back out of a window at the duo with the bulls. "Is it just me or is Sylyra acting, a bit extra? Um, you would know him better than I do if this is normal behavior. I might be making things up for no reason." She gives a self-effacing chuckle to indicate that she isn't being too serious.

For Hex and Sylyra: