I’ve got a few questions, but he’s in no shape for proper answers. Me carrying him around when he’s probably got broken ribs surely didn’t help any. Keep the questions and answers simple.

Tarian pointed in the direction the cart was headed. “This ‘Belkar,’ did he attack you up this way?”

Tarian crouched next to Thia while their wounded passenger struggled to speak. “Miss Thia, I’ll take your lead on this. Broken ribs are something I’ve got experience with, but I don’t think he’d manage chewing my usual analgesics with wounds like that.”

Tarian turned to the front of the cart. “Anyone spot anything up there?”

Tarian, the man in front of you seems a straightforward type, speaking plainly. He's dressed in simple clothes, that'd keep someone warm if travelling for a day or two, and it seems likely that he was headed to a nearby settlement or even Duskrock to sell some of his wares and buy supplies. Whilst clearly hurt, he seems to be in shock, not yet fully processing the extent of all his injuries, and seems mostly thankful for his luck of stumbling across someone willing to help him. When asked, he answers without hesitation: "No, we was attack'd on this 'ere spo'. Came ou' of the woods, they did. They got Carl good, with a rock or sumthin', and 'e went down like a brick. Jack and I, we put up more of a figh', but the big'un got me with the broad a his sword, after ringin' me bell good- Musta knocked me tooth loose- wha' wi' strikin' me wit' is armoured glove. Strange though, 't weren't no armour I'd ever seen. Looked well made, but foreign like. Bu' 'e was th' only one to wear armour, the others were jus' normal kind of brigands.

Dunno wha' happ'ned wi' Jack, 't was all over very quickly. Now, Belkar, he don't usually harass folks like tha', he'd been livin' in this 'ere forest fer a while now. But they looked all real hungry like, as if there wouldn't no more game to be had 'ere. Pro'lly why they attack us farm folk, tryna get a piece of our produce" As he retells what happened to him, you can't seem to find anything that seems dishonest, or that wouldn't fit with the story he presents. He still seems to be puzzled by the fact that one of the bandits was wearing armour though, and it is a detail that doesn't fit with the story of a bandit attack, at least from what you know about the local bandits.

Listening to the man's story as she drives, Corti will start to keep an eye out for signs that the bandits had stuck around.

Corti, as the cart turns a bend in the road, you spot a small hamlet, of maybe four or five houses about a mile or so in the distance, other than that, to your left, the countryside is filled with gentle rolling hills, dotted with small forests. Though beautiful to look at, the many folds and crevasses could easily hide a small group of bandits. To your right, a small mountain range rises, with a steep rock face turned towards the valley path, and a small snaking trail leading up to the pass that Njalgas mentioned. Whilst it looks less hospitable, it is easily possible that the bandits are hiding up in the mountains, perhaps in some cave. Either way, immediately ahead of you, you see no more sign of any bandits or any other living creatures for that matter.

Thia would go through the motions of checking the mans vitals and the basics as Tarian engaged with the patient to keep him talking. She’d grab for a cloth and some water to begin cleaning off the mans face and wounds as he walked them through his encounter. The scholar would frown a little as the man seemed focused on the one man in armour, exchanging a look with Tarian before going back to her tasks at hand. 

Once the farmer was done his story and took a breath, Thia would begin her formal patient intake blurb. “And what is your name sir?” She’d give him a moment to respond, “Miss Tarian here was the one who spotted you and brought you aboard for some care and will be assisting me your assessment.” The artificer would flash her dimpled smile, “My name is Thia. I am a medic and a member of the Veiled Valour. I’ll be doing my best to tend to your wounds on the wagon ride this evening. Look at my finger with your eyes... eye.” She’ll hold up her finger in front of his face and move it left to right. “Good.” Then she’ll test his reflexes. Once done that, she’ll begin unbuttoning his shirt to expose his chest for signs of swelling and bruising, and any additional signs of internal bleeding. “Don’t be shy to let me know if this hurts.” The medic will use her hands to apply pressure to specific areas of his vital organs as she continues her assessment. 

Brandt sits up straight as Thia treats the man and joins Tarian in asking some questions. "Who's Belkar and how many bandits were there with him?"

"Name's Pete, an' Belkar is an outcas' an' hermi' livin' in the woods.They's five of 'em, an a happy ol' mix too. Belkar an tha big'un are human, then there's a dwarf, an orc an' a goblin, plus Belkar's pet, some kinda bird.They's all got sum kind of bows, or throwin' weapons, took out our horses with those, an' Carl, before dealing with Jack an' Me up close an' personal like. Belkar dunnae have a ranged weapon, but his bird got fierce talons, an' seems to listen to the ol' hermit." 

As he recounts all he remembers about the gang of bandits, Thia gives him a check over. Though badly beaten and bruised, he doesn't seem to have any life-threatening internal injuries, and doesn't seem to need more than rest, some cold wraps for the swelling, and maybe a little something for the pain.

This farmer’s rather talkative, despite his wounds. He must be sturdier than he looks. If he’s not that bad off, then two people tending to him might be one too many. I should probably stay out of Thia’s way, then.

This Belkar, though… he sounds like trouble. I’d like to just drive the wagon right on through, but if he used the same tactics on us that he used on Pete, then this wagon would be a liability. Maybe it’d help if I knew a bit more about where and how often he attacked, but—Tarian frowned, considering what she could remember Pete saying—I think it sounded like Belkar didn’t usually do this, so there probably isn’t a pattern, or at least not yet.

Tarian sidled next to Brandt to engage in a brief aside. “You’re a seasoned soldier. I think this could still end in an ambush. Do you have any experiences that might help here? I’d rather not lose a horse and have to pull the cart myself.”

As Njalgas peeks out of the cart, he spots the small hamlet up ahead: "Thought we might stop there for a bit, let the horse rest. Chances are, Pete here is from there, or at least knows them. They might be able to provide us with a few more details about this Belkar guy."

Corti nods her agreement with Njalgas and continues to steer the wagon toward the hamlet.

As you approach the hamlet, all windows are shuttered, and the place looks deserted, were it not for the smoke that rises from the chimney of one of the larger houses. Corti, as you look around, you feel watched, and in the corner of your vision you can make out faces pressed against window slats, carefully watching the cart slowly roll up the street towards them.

Do you want to go with Njalgas plan and stop here, or carry on driving?

Thia would glance around from within the cart before looking to Tarian. She'd break the silence. "I imagine we need to document this hamlet? Your call capt."

Arc pipes in as he finishes writing something, "As I enunciated before, we're not pressed for time, and if a rail will be made here, these people may act as a stable point of trade or rest for the workers." He snaps his notebook shut, "It would present beneficial advantages in the future to speak with them." He glances at the surrounding hamlet, "....probably."

Corti speaks up from the driver's seat, "I don't know... be that as it may I can't help but feel that we're not wanted. Maybe we should approach this one with caution."

It's hard to tell what the vilalgers think, they're clearly afraid of something however.

“A fair point, Miss Corti, but I think Mister Cannith is right. Or, well,” Tarian briefly glanced at Pete in the back of the wagon, “more to the point, Mister Pete here shouldn’t be traveling with us long, especially if he’s injured.”

Tarian hopped down from the back of the cart while it was moving and made a large showing of removing the belt that held her scabbard and placing it back in the cart while she walked. While keeping pace with the cart, Tarian called out, hopefully loud enough for the townsfolk to hear, “We are looking for friends of a Mister Pete, who was traveling with a Carl and Jack. We found him injured down the road and were hoping someone could look after him.”

After a short while, one of the doors opened a crack, and a thin woman stepped outside. She seemed hesitant, her eyes puffy and red from crying. "I'm Kathy. You have news of Carl an' Jack?" At the sound of her voice, Pete clambered off the wagon. "Kathy, I'm so sorry. We's been jumped by Belkar and 'is gang, a few miles out. I dunnae wha' happen'd wi the others, but there weren't much blood around", at that, he looked at Tarian, hoping for confirmation, before continuing. "These 'ere folk have been helpin' me out. They can be truss'ed."

Kathy's eyes welled up with tears again: "So t'is true… we got a letter over night, claimin' that they had taken Carl an' Jack hostage. They was askin' for half our lifestock an' feed to release 'em. We thought it was some kinda sick joke, Pete, Jack, and Carl, they was our strongest… Accordin' to the letter, we got until sundown to deliver, or else they'd start returnin' our husbands, in pieces, they said. Sorry ta burden ye wit' this, but we cannae get the ransom together…"

Thia would hop out of the cart after Pete would clamber out. She'd remain silent to listen to what Kathy had to say, her brows furrowing at the news of hostages and ransoms. The medic would glance over to Tarian and the others for their thoughts.

Arc notices Thia's look and gives a small sigh, "Normally, this would be a job for the military.....but considering everything going on, its no surprise that they wouldn't be able to come and lend aid."

He looked over the people in need of help, but looked away from them to speak to the group, "I'll listen to the group majority, but it should be noted that if we want to involve ourselves, we should resolve it by today."

Corti slides out of the driver's seat, but stays near the horses as Kathy talks. That explains why they were so afraid. We can't just leave them. She speaks up after Arc, "I think we should help." Corti lowers her voice, doing her best to just speak to the group, "We're out here to do good, right? That includes unexpected good."