As Devin completes the incantation the corpse says “Devin how did you end up being captured by the Hill giants” before crying “noooooo don’t rip me in two!” As Devin asks his first question “Who is Ardragon Malark?” The corpse replies “the big boss, the leader of the Black Network in the northwest, please please make the pain go away?” Devin ignores the corpse’s entreaties and continues with his line of questioning “Who is Fylo Nelgorn?” To which the corpse replies “the Black Network’s senior negotiator for the northwest. Can we stop now please?” The corpse pleads. “Just a few more questions and then you can rest in peace!” Devin responds "Who is Duke Zalto?" To which the corpse replies “ a wantabe leader of the Fire Giants in the northwest. Now can I go?”

"Interesting." D.O.R.K chimed in as she watches the interrogation. "I had been imparted this miracle the day before, and I had not been led to believe the spirit retain such feelings, or that they're souls could be drawn so well. Might you ask what the 'Black Network' is?" She then looks to Devin with faintly blue toned eyes and almost... admiration for the cleric? Difficult to say considering she lacked much in the way of emotive facial features, but there was something there.

"Truly your connection to your deity must be quiet deep now." She remarked, before then simply turning to stare down at the corpse, studying its behavior. Meanwhile, a bored Beedo and Vark have taken it upon themselves to graffiti the tower walls. Most of it appears to be goblin gibberish, but some of it in common states, "The A-Men Group were Here", "Long, Live Beedo, Slayer of Giants", and "Fat ****s B-ware!" to name a few.

Meanwhile, Ebonitus will keep his distance from the ritual, communing with the Earth mother.

Devin continues to ignore the pleadings of the spirit.

He then asks another question.  "What matters of mutual benefit were they to discuss?"

Devin asks  "What matters of mutual benefit were they to discuss?" If a corpse could look confused it would but the spirit answers "I was but a lowly messenger and not privy to Fylo's inner thoughts. However if I had to guess would think it has something to do with the Black Network using its power and influence to ensure that Duke Zalto's operations - whatever they may be - were not for interfered with. Of course this would come with a quid,pro quo but I don't know what it would be?" 

Satisfied with the answers given he asks the last with a bit of trepidation.

"What happened to the people of Nightstone after we left?"

In response to Devin's final question the corpse replies "nothing as far as I'm aware - can I go now?" 

Devin glances up at D, a pained look of regret on his face. Quietly he nods to the spirit,  "You may leave."

Devin sits and stares off into the distance for several moments after the spirit leaves.  

Eventually he speaks again,  a tone of grim determination in his voice. 

"The Black Network would be the Zhentarim.  They seek power and profit over all.  Somehow they are in league with Fire Giants.  Perhaps it was their combined actions that upset the Ordning.  It would not surprise me if it were true. We need to conclude our business in Yartar. We must seek Dral Thelev at Danivarr’s House in Everlund and also collect the sword from Harthos Zymorven at Zymorven Hall.  We need to find Nesme and learn what we can of this meeting which is in 7 days.  We have much to do."

"...And we will not be able to do it all and be able reach Nesme. Not without a faster means of transportation." D.O.R.K had replied a moment's pause. Before then, since hearing the true nature of the Zhentarim and the men they left in charge of the rescue, the construct's eyes had been steadily flickering between neutral yellow and combat red; only to ultimately settle into the yellow again.

"We should make acquiring a larger map a priority upon returning to Yatar. From there, we will be able to better plan our route... But one way or another, we will have to eventually head to Nesme, for this combining of forces cannot stand. For even if we set right this whole madness with the giants, the damage we ignored along the way may yet lead to irreparable harm. And, we will need to be more mindful of the allies of circumstances we make along the way, least we become another 'tool' of the problem, and not the instruments of our respective deities we are meant to be."

We should make acquiring a larger map a priority upon returning to Yatar.

The party is currently five days from Yartar - weather permitting - if it were to follow the route back it followed into the Surbrin Hills - i.e. 4 days back to Crickhollow (the Halfling settlement) and a further day from there back to Yartar.

Oh what a wonderful DM we have …!

(OOC: Whatwall is frantically marking exams and despite my constant NAGGING has never completed Ebonitus’ backstory. I have therefore taken it upon myself to do it for him.)

Ebonitus finishes his communion. Hearing the party discussing what to do next pipes up and says “I’m actually from Longsaddle which by my guess is about a day and a bit’s travel to the west – weather permitting. If I remember correctly, Nesme was about seven days travel to the northeast of Longdsaddle up on the edge of The Evermoors.”  

"There is no way we can interrupt or infiltrate the meeting then.  Nesme is simply too far away.  We should make for Longsaddle.  We can try and find a map there and find out where exactly these other places are.  Perhaps we will learn more of the giants during that time.  We know the halflings will be safe now as we have eliminated the immediate giant threat to them.  It is unnecessary we tell them in person.  Or we could do a Sending and inform them.  Perhaps we can find faster travel in Longsaddle.  We could move faster on horses than by elephant.   But I am not sure that is a popular notion as we have grown attached to Gol."  Devin says.

OOC Devin might have misinterpreted what Ebonitus is saying. Longsaddle is to the west of where you are, whereas Nesme is to the east. But if I hadn't of mis-typed Northwest instead of northeast it would have been a lot clearer. 

(@Grant: If Longsaddle is to the west of our current position, and Nesme is to the northwest from it... how is it to the east of our current position???)

 "Incorrect." D.O.R.K chimed in after a moment's pause. "As stated before. Depending again on the weather, and provided we do not linger in Longsaddle for long, we could reach it, if only barely, as roughly seven to eight days remain until the meeting. The chances of doing so increases if we keep to a fast travel pace. Though, the odds increase of being taken unaware, and you organics may have to rely more heavily on conjured food and water during the trip, as foraging may take time that we do not have." She states.

"Furthermore, while a horse may outpace Mr. G in a sprint, it will not get us there any faster. Not without able to trade horses periodically along the way, which is unlikely to be the case given what had happened to Nesme." She continued calmly. "That said, we will not be able to complete of our other missions prior to this, as we were originally on an eastern trajectory by my recollections. Unfortunate. But, in part thanks to my brother's ingenuity, we can adapt for this threat. Though, if I heard correctly, we should be on the look out for any chances to acquire more smoke powder."

She then claps her hands together a few times more than necessary. "In any case, we should make ready to leave to Longsaddle, as we are to be on a strict time schedule it seems. Assuming there are no objections."

(@Grant: If Longsaddle is to the west of our current position, and Nesme is to the northwest from it... how is it to the east of our current position???)

Probably about five days ish

OOC: I think we are technically between the two.

Torunn tries to make a mental map of the locations that Ebonitus has given them. "I think Devin is right, we don't have time to escort the halflings, a sending should be sufficient. In terms of transport, whilst I agree horses will be faster in theory, my experience riding is essentially non-existent, so that may impact that plan." He then pauses and looks around at the group, "Either way, lets make to Longsaddle with haste and plan from there."

Lukian has no objections and is ready to go!

Head West young men, construct, elf, dwarf and assorted hangers-on....

After completing the ritual the party decides to head towards west towards Ebonitus' home town of Longsaddle to garner some more information on the location of Nesme. Fortunately  yesterday's rain has stopped but the wind has picked up in strength. As they make their way down out of the hills at times it is strong enough to almost blow them off the path. Late in t the afternoon as they are seeking a place to camp for the night they hear the bleating of sheep and the barking of dogs.  

"Sounds like more shepherds," Lukian comments, remembering their earlier encounter.

Beedo looked somehow both terrified and angry all at once. Deciding discretion was the better part of valor however, the goblin buried himself deeper into whatever junk remained in the wagon. Vark too seemed wary of the noise, but only adjusted his tending of Mr. G so that hiding behind the big grey wall of muscle would be easy enough in a pinch. As for D.O.R.K, she spends at a least a few moments staring off in the direction of the sound, trying to judge if the sounds were more alarmed from an attack, or merely the standard sounds of sheep herding.

Insight: 17. (same bonus if perception or investigation would apply)

"So it does, Lukian. All the same, we should remain on alert for a time, as the sounds may yet mask the approach of an unexpected enemy." She states calmly, spending a few moments more staring off in the distance.