Northlands Campaign

The wagon seems to be untouched other than the ox having been unharnessed and sent to graze.

"We thought it strange as well and were hoping you might be able to shed some light on the situation.  So not any real changes out there?  How odd.  I'll have to press with the next supply run to see if he knows of anything."

All three buildings appear to be empty, and have been for some time, until you catch movement out of the corner of your eye.  Turning to face a potential threat, you are relieved to see a raccoon hurrying across the room for the front door.  Checking the barn out back, you are pleased to find fencing intact around a paddock attached to the back of the barn, so you can give the ox a comfortable night if you choose.  Returning to the ox, you see one of your captors turned captive is beginning to stir.

With the men partially obscured on the other side of the wagon, you let loose another shot and hope for the best.  You heard the arrow strike, but only a whimper instead of a yelp from your target and you see one of the men fall to the ground.  As he falls, the red on his shirt tells you it is the one who had fallen from the wagon.  The other man moves to behind the front wheel of the wagon, peering through the driver's seat to catch a glimpse of you.

Chesterfield is going to scan the figures and see if he thinks they are incapacitated or if they will be back up soon. Perception: 25

If they are going to be down for a while then he will sling his bow over his shoulder and draw his rapier and call to the one left standing, "Well then, you've had your fun. Care to settle things like a man or are you too scared?"

If they might be back up soon then he will try to sneak his way to a better position to see the last one currently standing. Stealth: 13

As you move into the barn, you see a figure you recognize as the man who followed Arn out of the house up in the back of a wagon.  His back is half toward you and he seems to be looking through whatever is in the wagon.  The dimness of the barn prevents you from making out any other details.

In the back of the wagon are a couple of canvas tarps, several lengths of rope, your still motionless captive and a smallish wooden chest.  The chest is simple and unlocked, and as you open it, you hear the hoofbeats of your bunkmate coming in and moving to the stall, the barn door close and bar fall lightly into place.  A single lantern is lit hanging on one of the support posts giving some light.  Inside the chest are the robes like you remember from when this journey first began, and 3 hardened leather painted masks.  One mask gives you a tiny shudder, being the sunburst design you remember seeing.  The other two decorated as a full moon and crescent moon.  Turning them over, you find scraps of parchment tucked into each.  Although it is difficult to make out in the low light, each set seems to be a duplicate of the others.  Of the two pieces of parchment in each mask, one is a list of names, several of which have been lined out, and the last of those is yours.  The other piece seems to be a crude map that you think can only represent the Greymere Moors as it is depicted in the break of the Lands End mountains.  Lastly, at the bottom of the box are three weighted leather sheaths (a.k.a. blackjack).  As you finish up, you hear the centaur settling into the fresh straw, and think "do I need to set the 'alarm' that Arn set up?"

With eyesight an eagle would envy, the spreading red stains around the first two give you cause to think they may never move again.  As you move into the open and taunt the third, he makes his way around to the back of the wagon, drawing his scimitar as he does.  He smiles and beckons you on with his free hand.

Rolf holds out his hand to take it for a closer examination.  Turning it over and back, he shakes his head, "first I have seen anything of the like.  Where did you find this?"

Chesterfield laughs, "Well, I didn't think you had it in you." He pauses for a moment, "Too bad it will be your last bit of courage. I hope you've said your prayers to whatever god you need to make peace with. You'll see them soon." He flourishes if rapier before pouncing and jabbing at the mans torso. Attack: 11 Damage: 7 Damage Reroll if first roll is 2 or under 10

The two are groggy, but conscious.  There were no food supplies on the wagon, but you did find some few vegetables in the root cellar of the one house that were still serviceable.  With the few logs near the main fireplace, you soon have a fire going and a decent stew starting to boil in no time.  While the food cooks, you take a better look around.  Whoever did leave here, did not leave in a hurry, as there was not much left behind.  Looking out the back window, if they really left at all as you see three simple markers out back, indicating the final resting place of someone who once lived here.

Your strike scores, eliciting a yelp from your opponent as he tries to return the favor.  Attack: 21 Damage: 2 

Chesterfield takes a step back as the mans swing misses by a mile. He raises an eyebrow before saying plainly, "My good sir, that simply will not do." He lunges again at the man. Attack: 18 Damage: 5 Damage reroll is the first is 2 or below: 10

"I can't say as I ...," his voice trails off, then he looks at his wife, "is that what the fruitcake next door is always mumblin' about?"  Her face pales and she gives a short gasp and nods.  "And she usually rushes out to meet the prison wagons ahead of us.  You don't think...."  Rolf clears his throat and looks at you, "I think you may have stumbled onto something bigger than any of us.  I just pray we're wrong about this.  Mary is no threat herself, and her sons seem perfectly normal, so no need to worry about things here, but next supply wagon they send us, I'll have the watch come out and take a look around."  His face painted with a genuine look of concern, despite his assurances that everything would be alright.

Another true strike, and this time he gasps in response as his scimitar falls from his hand.  As you pull the blade back, he starts to follow it, collapsing face down at your feet.