Chapter 4.3: Returning to Report

Decidedly silent, Berthold walks along the cart, attention turned to the way ahead, though his mind still ruminated the past days’ successes and failures.

Antonius walks alongside the wagon, one hand resting loosely near the borrowed mace at his belt while his eyes continually sweep the shadowed edges of Cecily’s Road. Every broken branch, disturbed patch of earth, or fleeting movement among the trees earns a moment’s attention, though he knows the chances of finding any sign of Ene here are slim. Still, he refuses to stop looking.

After several hours of silence, Antonius glances toward Kazzak beside the wagon. Small talk does not come naturally to the cleric, but the quiet has become almost oppressive.

"You seem rather comfortable behind the reins, Kazzak. I imagine a dwarf spends more time underground than driving wagons." He pauses, searching for something else to say. "How did you come to be a Dungeon Buster? Was it the mines that brought you to the guild, or did you find your way to adventuring another way?"

Even as he speaks, Antonius continues scanning the forest around them, listening for anything out of place amid the creaking wagon, plodding oxen and rustling canopy. His attention remains divided between the conversation and the possibility that somewhere ahead, Ene—and Final Measure—might have left a trace.

After his search for Ene Dell will jump up in the wagon and pull out his healers kit. The bruises from the zombie slam are still hurting quite a bit. He will treat these bruises with salve and ask Morton to help with a quick bandage wrap."Keep it tight." He is not much use scouting in this darker terrain so will ride for a bit and just listens to the creak of the wheels and for anything out of the ordinary. He has his trusty bow in hand just in case.

"Antonius, my main tasks were mining and fighting, but I do what the clan needs done. The ore we transport is needed by everyone."

"My clan, Clan SkyForge, respects those that do good deeds in the surface world. I heard about the Dungeon Busters and it sounded like a good opportunity."

"What about you? Has your family always been followers of Wee Jas?"

Amnestria rides in the wagon, wordlessly taking up her same spot amidst the dwindling supplies. She pays little heed to her surroundings, instead jotting notes in her book about spent inventory and how many days had elapsed; if she's to pretend to be an accountant, she might as well have the appropriate material in case they are challenged.

The owl, less interested in numbers, rides on the wagon rail with her head scanning the woods that pass.

Sora rides in silence, her eyes and ears alert for any trouble.

Antonius begins to answer Kazzak, his gaze still wandering between the road and the surrounding trees. "My family? No. Wee Jas was not—" He stops immediately as Berthold raises his hand for silence. Years of watch duty take over without thought; Antonius straightens, one hand resting near the mace at his side as his eyes turn toward the road ahead.

He listens carefully, filtering out the creak of the wagon and the steady tread of the oxen. The faint yipping carries through the trees again. Antonius remains still for a moment, studying the sound and its rhythm, trying to place what manner of creature might be making it.

He quietly signals to Kazzak to hold position, then keeps his attention fixed ahead, waiting to see what the road reveals.

Berthold readied his shield, which had been slung to his back during the march, and drew his sword. He instinctively looked around, ahead on the road, for any boulder, tree or bushes large enough to obscure his presence from anyone coming down the road. For the millionth time he cursed himself for having lost his horse.

He turned to his retinue, and whispered urgently. "You three stay with the wagon, and Olyena, you lay down on the cart," he then turned to Dell, nodding forward towards the right side of the road ahead. He was nimble and discrete, and might have a better chance of remaining unnoticed.

He took a first few tentative steps towards the left side of the road, focusing his attention on the noise of hound-like yapping. He tried to determine if the sound was approaching, or immobile. It could be just dogs, of the wild variety or even trained dogs… but in the latter case one would also expect the sounds of their master.

Amnestria closes her book and stows her pen. She looks at Grallaria, wordlessly conveying her thoughts on the owl's reconnaissance, Something's got their attention. Fly in the direction they're all looking and report on anything that's not native to these woods.

Well, yes, I know you don't know what's native to these woods, but... look, just head out there and if you see Big People, report that.

The wizard then looks in the opposite direction from where the others' attentions are; it wouldn't be the first time something came up from behind.

Sora leaps from the wagon, ready for anything.

"Could be Kobolds."Dell will nod to Berthold and jump down out of the wagon with his bow and melt into the woods staying just deep enough to still be able to see the road and react.

"Whatever it is, we don’t have to be involved." Kazzak nervously taps the hilt of his sword.

Amnestria's report follows Kazzak's sentiment, "It might appear to be just that. There's another cart or wagon up ahead, accosted by a group of small creatures armed with bows; they're the ones making the noises. There's one non-small person talking to the people in the wagon. This is likely a robbery, similar to our initial travel here."

She looks at everyone. "Do you think this is that Black person that Fern and Ene spoke of?"

Before they can answer, Amnestria communicates with Grallaria. How many Small People with bows are there?

Antonius listens to the reports in silence, his expression tightening as the situation ahead becomes clear. At the mention of a robbery, his hand settles firmly upon the borrowed mace. He looks toward the road ahead, then back to the others.

"If there are people in danger, I cannot simply walk away." His eyes briefly narrow at the thought that the stranger ahead might have some connection to Ene—or even know the whereabouts of Final Measure. "And if this is the one they called Black, then perhaps we have been given a trail after all."

He looks toward Kazzak and the others, his voice calm but resolute. "We have strength enough to help them. Let us approach carefully, but let us not leave innocent travellers to their fate."

Antonius turns his attention back toward the road, readying himself for whatever awaits them beyond the trees.

"I hoped the noise was a Kobold tribal squabble. I’ve seen many of those. We should send a message that bandits no longer have free rein in the Dim Forest."

"Indeed, we must not allow brigands to harass travellers thusly," the knight stated with finality, adjusting his grip on his shield in anticipation of conflict. "We should take to the sides of the road and try to approach through cover, it might confuse them or suggest greater numbers, and we can take cover from their archers behind trees, if necessary," he added, assessing the immediate topography hastily.

"Whatever the case, the cart and my servants will stay here, for now," he added, "You can grab some of the crossbows from the bandits, load them and get ready to use them if needed".