Getting to the top of the cliff, you see the two petrified elves that you passed the previous day while grabbing the greatbow. What's odd, however, is that both of the statues have been knocked over onto the ground. Moving over to investigate, you notice the crimson-red -now dried- blood splatter across one of the statues torso and terrified face. On edge, you pull out your hooks and scan the area. Looking around, you can see signs of battle: flattened grass on parts of the area, blood sprayed against the green environment around you, etc. However, none of it provides answers: only more questions.

After a few minutes of searching, you find something: a trail of blood against flattened grass, like a body being dragged across it. Following the trail, it leads off the cliff and into the water below. Looking down from the cliff's edge, you can see something dark lying at the bottom of the lake near the cliff, though any details beyond that would just be speculation from your vantage point.

 "What?! How? Damn it, this is my fault for not checking on him when he didn't wake me up!" Ato begins to scramble to repack his few belongings. "How can the rest of us get up to the top of the cliff? Do we need to climb, or is it easier to get up there along the lake shore?" He's ready to head out as soon as the others are as well.

Outside the cave, he gauges the climb directly up the cliff within his abilities, but knows that won't be the case for everyone.  Thinking it best to stay mostly together as a group until they know more, he swims for the shore, helping anyone along who needs it. Once there he grips his spear and  offers to scout ahead just to be sure no one is lying in wait for the rest of them. With no objections, he ghosts ahead of those following his route up the more gentle side of the cliff, fading into the shifting shadows and out of sight to all but the most careful observation as he goes.  He sees nothing to stir any concern as he goes, and does not pause or fall back to the group as they go. Emerging at the top, he begins to survey the scene for whatever clues the site may have to offer. 

[OOC: Stealth 19 and Perception 10]

Kayn had just finished his packing when Vasha popped out of the water with her news. "Okay!" Kayn says, hopping aboard his gnarlid. He approaches the hedron and says, "lechich," allowing the glowing hedron to fall into his hands. 

Kayn is the last to leave the cave, providing light for everyone to gather their things. 

Kayn lets out a huge yawn once the gnarlid is done swimming to shore. The extra pack was quite heavy, as it seems the barbarian carried the majority of the group's supplies. The gnarlid didn't seem to have much trouble carrying it though, so that was nice.  Once on shore he stretched and took a look around. 

The combined efforts of the twins (twin powers!) made the search much quicker and more thorough. The bits of evidence Vasha had missed were quickly picked up, further cementing the idea that it was a battle involving at least four persons. Under some brush, they found a wicked looking dagger with a wavy blade and ebony handle. They also find tracks, both coming and going in the same direction.

Piecing the clues together, it would seem that a group of humanoids snuck through the steamy forest-jungle and ambushed Ellangil. The fight spanned across a decently sized area, and resulted in at least one person, a vampire, dead. This group then, it's hard to tell whether with or without Ellangil, then returned the same way that they came, deep into the forest. The tracks lead northwest from the group's current position. The suns slowly rise up into the horizon, suggesting the time to be about nine o'clock in the morning.

Kayn followed the others. Even though he was quite exhausted from last night's study, the gnarlid seemed full of energy. He stopped to sniff at occasional places, getting the scent of the group they were perusing. He wasn't sure if it would help, but it was worth a shot. He also knew the scent of the barbarian. You can't miss it. The goblin had a feeling the barbarian used some strange oil only found in his tribe and rubbed it all over his body. The scent was like a roasted craghorn filled with honey. It was somehow appetizing to the gnarlid. 

Following behind the iconic twin duo, the group makes their way through the thick forest, delving into the humid heat. The tracks are hard to follow as the group ventures deeper and deeper into the forest, due to the undergrowth that seems to thicken with the trees beginning to close in all around. The trek is slow and tedious, as you must stop every few minutes to reassess and make sure you're following the correct tracks. Strange noises can be heard off in the distance: shrieks and howls echo through the moist air, dampened by the foliage.

About forty-five minutes of trekking through the thick, hot terrain, you come across a sizeable clearing. A large sinkhole, at least two-hundred feet in diameter, has caused a sizeable portion of the forest to fall into it, creating tons of debris and turned-over rock. While mostly sheer, the cliffs surrounding the sinkhole do have small, yet steep, openings of loose dirt and gravel. The tracks lead through the brief clearing and down over a cliff into the sinkhole below...

It'll be ok, Vesra signed to her sister as they trekked through the jungle. Her eyes were open wide as they searched for traps, or any sign of the barbarian. We'll find him.

The druid glanced around the sinkhole, originally looking for a way out. But then there, forty feet to her left... She had almost missed it, but a pair of scarlet eyes stared back at her. "Who are you?" she called out to the owner of the eyes, taking a step toward them and producing a flame in the palm of her hand. "What do you know of our barbarian?"

Sitting quietly in a tree, a vampire slowly and purposefully chews away at a portion of rations, careful not to drop any debris onto the jungle floor. She stared down, like a hawk, at a sinkhole. This particular sinkhole, she knew, was the hideaway for a group of betrayers. She was to eliminate them, but the vampire did not feel confident enough to go down this unknown path and come out alive. This wasn't a certainty, not yet, anyway. So she waited and waited, until she counted their number.

Oddly enough, a small group of varied races came across this same depression. They weren't exactly being too cautious, but they did seem to move with intent. Perhaps they, too, were to eliminate these scoundrels. No, Vielara hadn't stated she'd sent or would send a party on this task. They were too distant, 40 feet or so from this angle, to tell if they were headed into the sinkhole or not, and Rezivah hated the thought of lives needlessly being lost. She gritted her teeth, and dropped down to the ground of the clearing.

Raising both hands, palms facing forward, Rezivah asked, "Are you aware of what's down there?" In this short moment, she looks over the party. A goblin, a human, and two Kor. Inexplicably, she can't look away from one of them.

Just as Kayn summons Sear, Vesra speaks up. Both he and his tatood albino bat peer in the newcomer's direction. Kayn's gnarlid rears up on its hind legs momentarily and gives off a low growl. The goblin raises his arm, a small fire bolt forming in his hand. Not knowing whether this vampire is alone, he scans the trees for more. 

"'Your barbarian'? I know of no such person, but down that sinkhole is a group of reprobate, lowlife scum that must be dealt with. If your 'barbarian' friend was taken by them he's gone and so you should take your leave lest the same fate befalls you."

Rezivah's lowered her hands slightly, now. Her palms are still facing the party. She knows it would be most unwise for her to antagonize a group, but what if she didn't have to? Some of the members already looked ready to fight. The party's feelings in general weren't too keen on vampires, evidently.

"Better yet, if they took your friend, I'll help you get him back. What's say you?" A sleek half-smile crept up on her face. She can't help it sometimes. Must be the precipice of danger.

"There is no one else in the trees," the goblin says confidently. "How about this," he responds to the vampire, "We take you, bind you, and offer to trade you for our friend. You can resist, but we will win." He grins, showing a row of sharp teeth. Oddly enough, the gnarlid grins as well.

Rezivah lets out a small, awkward chuckle. "Listen, you clearly don't understand the situation. I am not among those vampires down there. They wouldn't want me! In fact, I want to kill them!"

She takes a small step back with her right foot, and seriously regrets not learning how to become invisible. Being held prisoner by a potentially racist, definitely murderous ragtag adventuring party was not her idea of a pleasant afternoon.

Kayn's gnarlid takes a step closer, "You have to understand... this den of vampires have our friend and we happen to catch their lookout outside their hideout. If you're not with them, prove it," the goblin says, gesturing to Vasha's rope. 

He wasn't even thinking about how they would get the vampire down the hole. Maybe they bounced when they fell. That would be a wonderful test to conduct.