�I hear a river nearby...� Valen�s voice, just above a whisper, startles you out of your
thought for a moment. �...west of us. It must be a good size, by the sound.�
�Tharkon, do you have the map handy.� Joref asks.
Reaching in
your pack, you produce the parchments as the others gather around you. �Yes, but we
need some light. I can�t see a thing in this darkness.
Just then you hear a
sharp cracking sound as a spark flickers in the night nearby and a torch flickers to life.
You turn to see Kale putting his flint into his tinder kit and holding the light above your
heads.
�Are you sure that is wise?� Keei questions, glancing about you
with concern. In the light of the single flickering light, the shadows of the woods around
you seem to move eerily.
�It�s necessary at the moment, Keei. We�ve got to
get an idea of where we are.� you assure him. �Why don�t you scout around and keep
the look out up the North road while we get our bearings here.�
Without
hesitation, Keei moves away, joining the shadow dance around you and disappearing
from sight. Turning to Kale, you ask him to check out the south road and then turn back
to the map.
�I don�t like this silence, Tharkon.� Joref comments, confirming
your feeling of unease.
�Neither do I, but we have to stay focused on the
Raid.� you assure him.
Valen interrupts you both as he points to the map.
�Here is a river and the mountains to the west. We must be somewhere along this stretch
of road running beside the river going North and South.�
�That would make
sense.� you agree. �Then Safety�s End would be...�
You are suddenly
interrupted by Kale, who is running up the road toward you from the South and signaling
for you to douse the light!
�Goblins!� he hisses.
�Where?� you
ask in alarm.
�I don�t know for certain, but we dare not take the chance
with the light. I found many fresh tracks along the road going South. They couldn�t be
more than an hour old and there�s no telling if there might not be a few of them lingering
around in these woods somewhere.�
Soon Keei returns as well with a
similar report. Apparently, goblins passed along this road from North to South mere
minutes before your arrival, but nothing else is out of the ordinary. The light of the silver
moons has returned and with it, the sounds of forest life.
What will you do now?
If you choose to
follow the North Road, click here.
.
If you would rather follow the
goblin tracks South, click here.
You might want to make camp for
the night and continue on in the morning when it is lighter. If that is your choice, click here.
Or you might try cutting through the forest and leaving the
road. If that is your choice...
Click here
to strike off east away
from the mountains.
Click here
to go west toward the mountains
and the sound of the river.
