LOST TRAILS TWO: TRACK OF THE BEAST-MEN

[alhoon]

Raen follows Benn closely to see the child and try to make sense of the situation. He holds the reins of his horse unless someone takes them off his hands.

[ewancummins]

AT THE CART

Governor Samus returns to her saddle, leaving Benn to question the girl in the cart.

The child looks no older than seven years. Thin but not starved. Dark circles under her bloodshot eyes, sallow skin, sweat plastered dark hair.
She huddles under a quilt, atop a bed of hay.
Staring at Benn, she says, ''Are you the priest?"

[Adam]

"In a manner of speaking," he says. "My name is Bennedict. I understand you have been through a trial, little one. I wondered if you could tell me about the monsters you saw."

[ewancummins]

"In a manner of speaking," he says. "My name is Bennedict. I understand you have been through a trial, little one. I wondered if you could tell me about the monsters you saw."

The girl stumbles through a confused, sometimes contradictory account of the night-time raid on her family's farm. Benn has to calm her at times.


Monsters came in the dark. One grabbed her, hurt her. Papa hit it with his axe and it dropped her.
Mama said hide in the fields, get far from the house.
Mama was hurt. Her brother and sister could not get up. They would not move or talk.
Blood.
Monsters laughing. Always laughing. Hairy like dogs. Ugly.
So big.
She hide from the big monsters. She heard Papa shouting.
But she could not see her parents.
She ran, and ran, until she tripped in a ditch. She crawled under some fallen cornstalks and lay still...
Hurt.

She remembers waking up in the sunlight, feeling cold, weak. A nice man helped her. He drives the cart.

Are Mama and Papa going to be all right? Her brother and sister?

She begins crying.

Benn does not get a clearer picture of the monsters, their numbers, even the time of the attack (beyond it being night). The girl just repeats herself or cries if questioned further.

[Adam]

Bennedict rests a comforting hand on the girl's shoulder. "I do not know, Fraulein. I hope that they escaped."

[RocEter]

"Is your Empire a secular government, or does it enforce a state religion?" Klokulf asks.

"We have a state religion.. There are nine total gods we worship." Clive says.

"More importantly, may I please see that device her Imperial Majesty uses to communicate with her trusted servants? I swear I will return it to you." Raen says.

Clive looks at Raen, "Perhaps another time." He says.

[kintire]

Kat listens politely to the knights story, making mental notes. She seems impressed by his description of the landscape, but her opinions of the politics are more difficult to read.

[ewancummins]

The girl wipes her eyes, thanking Benn.

She's sleeping by the time the cart rolls off, a few minutes later.

The Governor details two mounted militiamen to join the cart as an escort back to Monksblade.
She then rides on, taking point as the party heads for the site of the monster raid...

By late afternoon, the party reaches a farm in the northern plains, situated along the highway.

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/34/b2/c0 ... 033057.jpg

Two rustics camp in the shade of trees near the road's western shoulder.
These peasants rise and hail the party as it approaches.

Both doff their hats and bow to Governor Samus, looking a bit startled.
''Excellency!'' one exclaims,
''We didn't know you was coming. We didn't mess about inside much, not after we found Joram's daughter in the fields, all spooked and bloody-like. But we aint seen any monsters around...just...it's creepy in the houses, so empty. And something busted in. Clawed open the doors!''

[Adam]

Bennedict climbs down from the horse, deferring to the governor before stepping forward with his notebook to get the peasants' version of events.

[ewancummins]

Bennedict climbs down from the horse, deferring to the governor before stepping forward with his notebook to get the peasants' version of events.

The men tell Benn they did not reach the farm until early this morning.
''Just stopping by to see why Joram and El didn't show up to market, the other day, with those pigs he promised us.''
They found the girl, fevered and bloody and alone, and so they sent word to Monksbridge straight away.
No pigs, but some gnawed bloody scraps that look like they could be from pigs...
They saw they saw claw or maybe just ax marks on the farmhouse door.
The stables are empty.

[Adam]

"Has there been any reason recently for more trouble with the creatures? Anyone in their woods or dealing with them regularly?"

[ewancummins]

"Has there been any reason recently for more trouble with the creatures? Anyone in their woods or dealing with them regularly?"

The peasants look at each other, then turn back to Benn and shrug.
''Dunno'' says the talkative one.
''I've heard tell that brigands deal with them sometimes. But lately? I haven't heard anything much. I just know the monsters come from the Vast Swamp."

[Adam]

Bennedict sighs and closes his notebook. "Thank you for the help, gentlemen."

He turns to the lord. "With your permission, I'd like to examine the scene."

[alhoon]

Raen, having made no real progress with making the girl feel more comfortable stands next to Bennedict. "I would like to help searching the scene for clues" he offers.

[Wolfglide of the Fraternity]

Klokulf ungracefully dismounts from his horse and walks over. "If a third would not be in the way, I could assist as well," he says.