The half-orc touches his aching head after dropping to the ground.

"Thagakh still feeling grogy from the ghost possession and haven't finished his sleep. Thagakh will have to take some time to rest."

The half-orc heads back to their sleeping quarters at the north tower.

Tyrus takes issue with the defenders of the keep when he sees them emerge from hiding, but quickly stifles it, knowing that aggression will help no one. "Your time hiding from ghosts in the night is over! We will rid the world of this spawn, but we cannot do that if you are unwilling to defend yourselves!"

"Please, rest if you need it," he says to his companions. "I will help to keep watch as long as I am able tonight. We will discuss our plans tomorrow."

Ian checks on the Dire wolves and horses before going back into the keep until morning.

Arafiel goes back to the rooms

As the group enters the Keep, they see a few Dwarves armed and looking like they were ready to fight if any undead would have made it inside.  They avoid eye contact with Tyrus and Ian as they heard the accusations about them.

Morning comes and a great deal of activity from the Dwarves.  They are burning the remains of the undead and repairing the gate to the keep.  Quickly they prepare meals and tend to all animals.

Arafiel comes down and ensures the corpses are fully burned (firebolt as needed) then recommends that the ashes be scattered

At breakfast Boghadair asks, “what do you all think?  I don’t like this place and we are not getting to the shield if we stay.  Do you want to go after Johnson or get going?  I would prefer hunting for him during the day if that is what we decide.”

Arafiel comes in at the last part of the statement

Daylight would be best I think for any travel in this area

"It would not sit well with me to abandon these men in a time of need, but if this shield could help with their defense, it may be better that we make all haste for it. Then again, what if we return to a keep full of vampire spawn?" Tyrus ponders.

"You sir," he says to the nearest dwarf, "Answer me honestly. Can you survive this vampire threat on your own?"

The nearest Dwarf says to Tyrus, “ Survive ... ? Yes. As long as we do not invite them in we only have to keep the skeletons and zombies at bay.  Last night was the first time they sent ghost at us.  We have had attacks from Vampires for over 100 years.  Some have been caught outside after dark and perished.  Some have tried to make a run from the Keep and were killed on the high road.  We know our limitations and that is why we didn’t join you outside.  If anything had come inside the Keep,  we would have fought with all our might.”

"Then you have my apologies, good dwarf. Mayhaps we are simply a tad reckless," Tyrus says with a slight bow.

"Probably best that we be on now. Maybe once we've found the shield we can help undo some of the damage Johnson has caused. I feel guilty that I did not deduce his cause of death sooner," he says to the group.

Ian declines to comment or make eye contact with the Dwarves.  Instead he gathers his gear and animals to prepare for departure.

Thornhold Keep sits just off of the High road.  To the east are the Sword Mountains. To the west is the coast.  One days travel south will put you in Waterdeep.  Heading south east and across two rivers will place you in Daggerford in a little more than one more day.  From Draggerford west along the Delimbiyr River will place you in Secomber.  It will take 3 days to go from Daggerford to Secomber by land but only one day by boat.   The last stage of the trip travels north through the High Forest to the Star Mountains. To make that trek will require the group to follow Unicorn Run for four days through rough terrain.

Boghadair gathers his equipment and looks for spent arrows before climbing onto his horse. “Seems like we still have a long way to go.  Let’s get going to Waterdeep.  There are some of my relatives there that we can stay with.”

"Sounds as good a plan as any"

“Thagakh.... what was it like being possessed by that ghost?  I was afraid we were going to have to wack you.”

Ian asked as the group rides towards a Waterdeep.  He spends some time bonding with the Dire wolves.

"Oh you won't like it at all Arafiel. Thagakh felt very restricted. Thagakh doesn't want to be possessed for sure. Had a splitting headache and saw some of the spooky ghost's memories.

A ragged manor, not that bad like Cragmaw Castle but it was very spooky for Thagakh's taste.

Thagakh also remember spooky Johnson leading the horde of undead through a dank swamp. Thagakh might have seen the spooky ghost's master but can't really tell any defining features.

Thagakh only felt that it has a very master-y prescence, Thagakh doesn't know if that's a word but that's as close as Thagakh can describe it."

Boghadair says to Thagakh, “I would love to see the world through your eyes, my giant friend.  Do you think you could remember enough from your possession to guide us later to Johnson’s new home?  Now that we are out of the Mere, we probably won’t have to deal with them.”

Boghadair attends to his bow while riding next to the wagon.

"Though Thagakh isn't known for his good memory, Thagakh will try his best to remember."

The half-orc prods the horses as they travel using their wagon.

"From what Thagakh remembers, Linene is in Waterdeep right? I think Boghadair should be worried about Tyrus about remembering his quest before he spends all the time meeting with her. Hahahaha!"