At first the idea of investigating the village made no sense to him. It would take them out of course and put them deeper in what they could only assume to be gnoll territory. More likely than not they would find nothing beyond ruins and corpses – a waste of time he was not keen on entertaining. But Evelyn was right, it was unlikely many enemies remained there and they could find information. The kind that would be worth gold, if not by itself at least by dissuading any city that it would be a good idea to hire them to help with the situation. You may be greedier than a drow, he thought looking to the wizard and then the rogue.

Nodjeim’s words made he reconsider if for a moment. Keeping to the carts would be safer. Or would it? There was strength in numbers and most there seemed inclined to investigate the ruins.

“There are three things we need to consider.” Veldruk started moving to his shield. “First, can Vassil travel back there?” She could make for a good guide or a dead weight. “Second, how will this choice impact the caravan? Are we ready to part ways knowing that by doing so we may be dooming the smaller group?” He very much was. “Lastly, is everyone conscious that leaving the wagons may be considered giving up work and payment?” Hopefully for a better reward. “If so, I would sleep better knowing what is happening around here.”

"You all are the reasons we are not dead," says Fefir. "If you meet us at New Shaarmid, we can split whatever we get from the job with you. Even the bandaged one. Take whatever you like now that may aid you. Don't worry about us, if you end up striking at the gnolls, that's fewer monsters to attack us. Either way, even with you here, I don't think we could survive another encounter like the one we faced. We just have to travel fast and hope we don't have to deal with something like that again." Fefir claps Veldruk on the shoulder, giving a rare smile. "You have our blessing to give them Hell, drow. You and the others. Know that when we sleep, our dreams will be of split gnollish throats."

Vassil shakes her head. "I would only slow you down. I can draw a map for you, but I would be of no help. I am no warrior. If I was, I would be dead."

The crew parts from the caravan and begins traveling south on foot, through the tall grasses. There are smaller paths here, tread by those traveling between the villages in the hills and the main road, but still the occasional bush hooks into someone's clothes, or some grass or another deposits its sticky seeds on someone's arms. The sun beats down from above, and the drow in the party have to keep their heads to the ground to avoid its scorching glare - there are no blankets to bury one's head under to clear a headache. Now and again a drop of dried blood can be spotted smeared against the dirt or a bush, evidence of Vassil's travel and that her map is true.

The day passes slowly, and the DM starts rolling for random encounters.

Marpenoth 7, 1489 DR

Two days pass without issue, but as you are passing into the hills, everyone save for the elves notice a shape high above, silhouetted behind the sun. It looks like just a simple bird, flying low... until it becomes quite apparent that there is not nearly enough definition to its features for it to be flying low. It's flying as high as any ordinary bird. It just happens to be a dozen times larger. It moves out from in front of the sun, and it becomes clear that this is a giant vulture. It doesn't seem to be heading after you all, just slowly circling your group, but it's certainly not the best omen.

If you all press onward, you notice that it follows you, even into the hills. Never approaching, just slowly circling.

Current Position:

     
                                "A spy?" Nodjeim calmly inquires of the others regarding the vulture.  "Wouldn't a true scavenger still be picking clean the remnants of the village?"

     The two days that passed since parting with the caravan were uneventful and calm.  Nodjeim often found himself in a state of meditation even as he walked ever on.  But his eyes were always active, always scanning the horizon for threats.  The bird did not register as a direct threat to him but he did believe it's actions peculiar and out of character... If he was correct about that he could only surmise it to be in cahoots with the real threat of the region.

     "If demons and gnolls are indeed forming an army my guess is they also have scouts..."  It was high in the sky and beyond his reach but he wondered about the others...

Evelyn watched the giant vulture follow them with a growing sense of foreboding. It was a bad omen. Was it following them, waiting for them to die? Was it a scout for the gnolls like Nodjeim suggested? Both options were rather grim. The wizard frowned up at the bird, wishing she could do something about it. She could shoot a fire bolt at it, she supposed, but what if it was just an ordinary bird? Evelyn didn't like to harm any creature without good reason.

"Someone with a bow can shoot it or I can use my magic," Evelyn suggests now, although she doesn't sound too excited about either option.

Olan carries on, some distance ahead. The thing above them didn't worry him, if it was going to attack it would have done so  by now. Besides, he was more focussed on what lay ahead, not above. He thinks to himself as he moves that it's a pity his bedine ranger disguise didn't give him their tolerance of the heat.

Another day passes, with the vulture wheeling above. It disappears later in the day for some time, but you all have a feeling that it will be back in the morning, as it returned last morning as well. The wind blows through the hills, colder than out in the open. Autumn has come late to these lands, but it is coming on nonetheless.

Marpenoth 8, 1489 DR

By the time midday comes, you're practically at the village. It's squeezed between the dry hills, protecting it, but also meaning you won't get a good view of it until you round the bend. Are there any preparations the group is making before you arrive? The sun is high in the sky, so the drow will be affected by sunlight sensitivity unless you choose to wait.

OOC: is Olan still scouting? or has he come back to report?

(That's part of the preparations!)

Olan, make me a stealth roll if you're attempting to remain unseen, and a perception roll. Your stealth roll will have advantage, due to your disguise.

21

23

Stealth 22, perception 14

Olan drops back from time to time to pass on anything he sees, and to sleep when he's not scouting.

Just before getting to the village he waves to the others to take cover while he goes very carefully to see what's happening. After observing for a while he goes back to update the others.

((Nodjeim is all set))

Olan approaches the town from an elevation, finding a path up the hill to look over the whole area. As he emerges from some bushes, he sees the village sprawling out before him. It's a mess. Old, dried blood coats the ground, and there are a few devoured scraps of once were corpses scattered about. Notably, there are not nearly as many as one would expect, had a whole village been devoured. There are in fact only about four bodies scattered about the village, three of which are currently being gnawed upon by a gnoll. The fourth has been completely scoured of flesh, and lies in the middle of the town, ignored. Additionally, there are more of those skeletal gnolls wandering about, plus a few creatures that seem to resemble zombified gnolls. Flies buzz around them, and pustules and mange coat their bodies. To say they look unwell would be an understatement.

With his perception, Olan notices two things. First, the gnolls nearest to him are faced towards the northern entrance to the village, and look ready, almost eager. They seem to be expecting something. They do not, however, appear to be on high alert, like they would be if they knew foes were approaching. Second, there are some more sounds coming from the building directly to Olan's south. There are likely more gnolls, or something else, in there.

Whole Village View:

 Surrounding Area View:

Olan settles himself to watch.

He counts how many creatures there are, and how many of each type.

He watches to see if there is any pattern to their movement, such as a patrol, or if it seems random.

He waits to see if anything enters or leaves the village (up to 1 hour unless something happens earlier).

Olan gets the following count:

• Two gnoll hunters
• Two ordinary gnolls
• Four skeletal gnolls
• Two zombified gnolls

They seem to mostly be idling, gnawing on bones, waiting for something. They settle down after a bit, and return to just sitting around. Eventually, there is a sound from the building to the south, and a great form squeezes through the door. A hunched, giant humanoid, with a massive crossbow slung over his back. He looks around, puzzled, and turns to the gnolls on the cliff near Olan.

"𐌊𐋅𐌐ꝊꝊ. 𐌕𐋅𐌉𐌃𐌃 𐌀Ᏽ𐋅 𐌂𐋅Ꝋ Ᏽ𐌀𐌵𐌐? 𐌄Ᏽ𐋅𐌌𐌀𐌵𐌕?"

 The gnoll cackles something back, and the ogre appears not to understand.

"Speak words. Where new bodies?"

Again, the hyena-man just cackles in return. It appears that these two creatures do not actually share a language. Notably, however, this ogre does seem to speak some common.

"Stupid doggy." The ogre turns to head back into the building.

If Olan continues waiting, that's pretty much all he gets. 

Evelyn is taking cover with the rest of her companions while waiting for Olan to return from scouting. She bites at her fingernails nervously. What if the gnolls were still in the village? They would likely not survive another encounter with a large raiding party. Perhaps it would be best for Olan to see what he could see and then to move on. There was no one left to save after all. The wizard remembers the pain of the gnoll arrows and winces, touching her side where one of the arrows had pierced it. If not for healing magic, she would very likely be dead.

Olan returns and passes on what he has seen/heard.

"So, we basically have odds of 2 to 1 in their favour, not including the ogre. Also they seem to be waiting for someone or something, which would tip the odds in their favour even more."

"I am willing to go back and watch for longer if needed, but unless they move out I wouldn't recommend entering the village."

"You said... khh... they were waiting for something from the north? That is the... tssz... path we have followed thus far." Chakka chirrs thoughtfully. "Perhaps we have outpaced what they are... wvv... waiting for."

They twirl a chatkcha in one of their lower hands. "The skeletal ones are not a... fszz... large concern, in my experience with gnolls. They are too stupid to wield bows, and their bones are... chh... weak. If it comes to a fight, we should attack at a range."