-----"Hmm, well the streets seem to be more deserted than before, and there's something going on not far from here." Kazel strains to hear what the noise is about.
-----"So what now? I s'pose we should find a place to put all this loot and then find out what needs to be fixed in this town and where Krondor is. There's probably more to find in those tunnels. Or maybe we can read Abbar's entrails for some clues. I wonder if Marast knows any special sylvan interrogation techniques."
-----The Dread Pirate perks up at the noise of a possible confrontation, "Aye, maybe our friend Abbar is involved in that ruckus. I think we'd best leave Krord here to guard the wounded while the rest of us go check it out. If it seems like it's too much to fer us to handle by ourselves, we'll come back and retrieve everybody. We can leave our loot here to be guarded as well, while we're takin a look."
-----Runik and Brandel begrudgingly agree to remain to guard the treasure with Krord. The three rogues then venture out the door. Looking at their surroundings it is apparent that they were in one of the towers that stands to each side of the north gate in the town wall.
-----The street that runs in front of them stretches off to the east and the west walls with blocks of buildings lining the street opposite the large wall. At regular intervals, the beginnings of streets running to the south are seen.
-----Also along the street is the distressing, but familiar sight of bodies lain out either prostrate on the ground or slumped against the dark buildings. It is to one of the nearest bodies that Kazel approaches to examine. The half-elven girl finds that the man lying there is dead with nothing of interest among the ragged clothing the body wears.
-----The three then walk across to the nearest street that appears to lead toward the center of the town. As they peer down it, they see again more buildings with a few deceased citizens spread out along the way. A block over, however, there appears to be sounds of horse's hooves and excited talk and cheering.
-----Carefully and quietly, the trio makes their way down the block to get as close as they can to determine what is going on. On their way, they don't encounter anything distressing other than the corpses and the dark buildings that seem to surround them.
-----As they draw near to the end of the block, they find they have made it to the street that Abbar had originally lead them down. They pause in the lengthening gloom of the late afternoon as they hear the sound of more approaching hooves. Suddenly coming into view is a small patrol of the lord of the town riding back to the town's keep. The expression on the soldiers' faces are worn and disgusted.
-----After they pass, the rogues look out into the thoroughfare to see a group, numbering about a dozen, of unkempt men cheering and mocking the departing soldiers. From among them, joyous talk is heard as one of them clasps his hands together, shouting, "The dragon is dead!"
-----The Dread Pirate peers out at the departing soldiers and the mocking villagers, then says, "This is the weirdest town we've been to yet. If it weren't fer the fact that I'm turning into a zombie, I'd say the hell with all of 'em, grab our loot and leave 'em to their own devices. Sadly, we need to find Abbar and pull off his fingers til he squeals like a piglet. Let's go check out his warehouse, then we can question the townsfolk about this dragon slaying."
-----At the mention of dragon slaying Seth reminds Dread and Kazel, "Those soldiers, if they were the ones that killed the dragon, did not look like they were burdened with the treasure hoard one comes to expect from a dragon. Perhaps it is laying unclaimed in the lair of the foul, recently departed, beast!"
-----The Dread Pirate looks thoughtful for a moment, then says, "Perhaps they didn't actually kill the dragon. That would explain the mockery of the townsfolk. And I agree with Seth, those soldiers should be loaded down with loot, if'n they killed the dragon. Well, let's find out."
-----Dread then walks up to the nearest peasant and tugs at his sleeve and queries, "So what's the deal with the dragon? Did those soldiers kill it?"
-----"Ho! Ho! My friend!" the man says looking down at the Dread Pirate with a somewhat crazed but happy expression. "Those soldiers or their leader do not have the bravery to have killed the dragon," the man continues, shaking his fist toward the departing soldiers' backs.
-----"Nay," says another man with missing teeth. The pungent odor of his breath greets Gimplefwick as the man stoops down in front of the Dread Pirate's face. Lines of sweat and dirt fill the wrinkles that cross his face that, stares out from his greasy brownish hair. "Tis word o' heroes outta Oakwood n' the north what slain the draggin'!"
-----Some of the people around the rogues begin speaking excitedly of leaving the town.
-----Seth mumbles something about, "They will be heavily laden and easy to ambush on their way back!"