Kina turns round and crouches beside the other man, taking off his mask.

"Come on! Stay with me!" she says. "You're all right. I'm not going to hurt you anymore." she says, her mind racing. Last time she asked questions about 'the one' it triggered that... curse. So, this time, she won't reference that.

"Hey, what's your name? I'm trying to help you now. I need to know your name, and I need you to stay awake, all right?" she says. She knows his shoulder or arm or both is broken, so she's not moving him.

He doubles over from the strike and rushing loudly from his lungs, his scimitar falling from numb fingers as he collapses into the dirt.  Your victory rush is cut short by shouts from down the road as you see the other two rushing toward you.  You calculate that you have a moment or so, as they are about 50 yards away still.

He doesn't respond.  A small bloodstain is spreading from near his shoulder.  Taking a peek, it seems a piece of his collarbone has broken through the skin, and a deep purple bruise tells of internal bleeding as well.

Kina takes the man's head in her hands, and she touches her forehead to his.

"I'm so sorry..." she whimpers, and then cracks his neck. If he's suffering... she must end it.

Next to the two bodies, she sits on her haunches and cries bitter tears and punches at the ground in frustration. This isn't how she wanted it to end. After she calms down, she investigates the bodies for more clues.

Investigation: 13

Regardless of what she finds, she runs off to collect 'Bo' so she can carry the bodies back to the Shire so they may be given a proper burial. They deserve that small dignity.

Inside each of the other masks are duplicates of the map and list of names from the first mask.  Other than mask, robes, scimitar and a few lengths of rope, you only find a small weighted leather sheath (aka blackjack).  The second scimitar lies in the grass nearby.  You gather up the bodies, and head back towards where you first encountered these hapless fellows, and on to collect Bo, and finally towards home.  Roll perception if you intend to collect the weapons dropped by Bo near the original encounter point.

You release the brake an swat the ox with the reigns and he starts moving.  Built for distance, not speed, your captors continue to close, if at a slightly slower rate.  The dash to where you left the third crumpled in the road and try to rouse him, but soon leave him behind and continue their pursuit.  They are now about 30 yards away.  In the bed of the wagon are a pair of canvas tarps, several lengths of rope and a small wooden chest tucked up under the back of the driver's seat.

Kina searches for the weapons, but only for the sake of evidence. While she doubts the sheriff would suspect her of murder, she doesn't want to just leave the weapons lying around for any bandit to pick up.

perception: 11

She then returns to the Shire (probably really sore from carrying 3 bodies all that way, thank goodness for the beast body perk) and informs the sheriff of what happened, definitely showing the list of names and asking if there are any that the sheriff recognizes who should be warned.

You find the spot you were originally attacked, and the scimitar laying where it fell.  The smaller blackjack is nowhere to be seen however.  Soon after, you find Bo's body.  Tired and footsore by the time your reach the Shire, the bodies you carry draws a crowd by the time you reach the square.  The sheriff, and your mentor are both there waiting.  Looking over the list, he nods, "there are a couple of names here I know.  I'll send runners first thing in the morning.  Seems they are grabbing about 1 person a week.  I wish I could spare someone for this but the warning to those we know on the list will be all we can muster at this time."  Your mentor steps in as he finishes, and reaches up to lay a hand on your arm.  "You need to rest.  Your wound will need some additional tending, but how are you doing?  This experience could not be easy for you.  But, let me give you this much peace.  The one you called Bo, you had nothing to do with his death, he had the palsy, and that is what brought him to peace.  Now, once we redress that cut, off to bed with you.  We will discuss options in the morning."

As you pull in to the cluster, one of the farmer's wives' hurries out to meet you.  "Blessed be the W.....," she starts.  "Uh, who are you?"  Startled, you are about to speak when a second woman walks up, "Hush up with that One nonsense for a change, Lily, can't you see he's tired and hungry?"  She turns to you, "come, stranger, we just finished dinner, but I'm sure we can put a plate together for you."  She pushes past the one she called Lily and extends a beckoning hand towards you.  Glancing into the wagon, "another prisoner for the Undercity mines, I take it?  We'll put a bowl together for them too for when they wake up."  Looking back up at you, "well, c'mon now, you must be starving!"  Lily has shuffled off to one of the huts, muttering and looking back over her shoulder.

You can see your pursuers beginning to tire, hopefully enough to give you an advantage.  You pull on the reins and set the brake, the ox snorts but comes to a stop.  A swing of your axe and 4 spokes shatter.  The wagon creaks, but still stands, for the moment at least, for the wheel creaks ominously.  As you turn again to your pursuers, they have closed the gap to 20'.

The sun is close to setting, and the captor riding in the back of the wagon with you places a heavy hand on your should and leans in, "nighty, night time, see you in the morning," as a familiar sensation explodes in the back of your head and the world goes dark again.  Some hours later, you know this because the sun is in the sky again, you stir.  A voice behind you, you recognize as the driver yesterday, is in the back of the wagon with you today, "ah, you're finally awake.  Behave yourself, and we have some food for you.  Annoy us, and we can keep you sleeping."

The packed earth path continues on for some miles.  Just before the sun looks to set, you see a small cluster of farmhouses in the darkening (due to low sun) dell before you.

Your benefactor smiles at you, and starts moving toward what you presume to be her home.  She calls ahead, "Bobi, come get the wagon into the barn, and turn the ox out to graze."  You hear a plaintive "Aw, Mom!" but a young girl of 11 or 12 comes out of the house and runs over to wagon to follow her mom's instructions.  Mom smiles at her and calls after "and leave the prisoner alone, we don't know what he's done to earn time in the mines."  She continues escorting you to the house.  "Now, let's get some food in you, and find you a decent place to sleep," she says with a pat on your arm.  Roll a History check.

As you come rolling up, you see a couple of the farmers' wives' coming out to meet you.  One of them calls to you, "Hail and well met, stranger.  What brings you to these parts?"