worker."

He raises a furred brow at Tristan. "Speaking of which, how'd ya get all the way to those ruins on your own? Me and Malkala gotta tread lightly before we started gathering a party. And this place is full of bandits. Hard to go a lot of places without running into them."

Tristian lets out a chuckle, "You are not wrong. There are a lot of bandits. But you never necessarily need to fight. A quiet foot and divine magic can do a lot. And while my performance at the Temple probably did not show it, I can hold my own if needed."

As if to add credance to his words, he speaks a soft swift prayer and holds his hand up. It glows a bit before it fades out.

"I am used to pilgrimaging on my own. But I am glad to be amongst people again."

Zrak attempted to look idle, as if unbothered or unflattered by Tristan's words. "If you can pull your weight, you're free to come along," the ratfolk responded. Yet the more Zrak stayed around Tristan, the less Zrak understood the wanderer. The one thing Zrak was sure of is that that having more allies will help, so long as their supplies hold out.

He paused, enjoying the night for as little worth there is, then lets another thought cross his mind and out his mouth. "What do you make of the others?" A sudden question which Zrak asks so absentmindedly. "Have you been getting to know any of them?" All Zrak wants to know is how much the group gets along with each other, and whether any may share the same sort of distrust he has or not.

Tristian gives Zrak a smile, "The problem is that I am an optimistic person. But I will try to answer to the best of my ability."

He looks back toward the others, "Malkala seems to have a good heart and mind. She seems to be putting others before herself, and, in a wierd way, that might be holding her back. Octavia and Regongar, to me, are just trying to survive. They have markings of slaves, and are reveling in freedom. But they seem to worry that you may be leading them into a trap that will send them back."

With a shrug he adds, "It is a strange group. But from what I see, it could be a lot worse."

"Could be a lot worse, eh?" Zrak shrugs and looks around the area, where Malkala, Octavia and Regongar are all resting or doing their own thing. Optimism isn't something Zrak flowed with, but he wouldn't have gone on this journey if he was an eternal cynic. "I guess you're onto something. I'm not used to traveling with strangers," he continues with all the straightforward, perhaps painful honesty in his words, "But we are stronger for numbers as long as we stay together. Or you can be off on your way once we get back to town."

Zrak takes a moment to stare up at the night sky, letting its vast cosmos wash over him, just to get his mind off of irrelevant fears. "Do you know where you're going, anyway?" he asks Tristan. "You knew where that shrine was. Surely you ain't wandering aimlessly in your studies."

Tristian shrugs, "I don't have a focused goal. I was directed to the shrine by a friend. He had heard rumors and decided to share them with me. Otherwise, I am simply exploring the Lands, finding what magicks and curses that I can. I have always been a wanderer, so that life is not new to me."

He looks up to the night sky as well, "I have always felt guided, though. I'm not sure how to explain it. As if my instincts knew exactly where to go. Have you had that happen to you?"

Zrak is unable to hide his contempt, though not specifically because of the 'aimless' feel to it. The wandering reminded Zrak of himself, of his own travels since being separated from his family. With no clue where to go or what to do, he ventured without a method or plan. It was honestly luck that he met Malkala and, from there, have a kingdom to build... eventually.

"Nah," he responds to Tristian without a doubt in mind. "There ain't anythin' guiding me. I just follow my instincts and go where I think I ought. Worked so far." He leans in, taking in the embers and feel its warmth compared to the cold night.

"Well, that's 'bout it for tonight," the ratfolk mutters, getting on his feet and looking back at his tent. "Don't stay up too late now. Still gonna be a walk back home." With that, Zrak heads back for the night, keeping Tristian's words in mind.

The rest of the night goes peacefully. The only sounds to be heard being the crackle of fire, slight snoring, and various crickets. Sunrise provides a beautiful orange light as everyone wakes up and prepares for the last leg of the journey back to Oleg's.

When they finally make it, they find the Trading Post to be a bit busier than normal. A couple of trappers leave the gate of the post with fresh bags of gold in hand. Guards in plate patrol the outside and gate, wary of all who approach, and some conversation could be heard inside.

As the group passes the guards at the entrance, showing the missive from Aldori, Malkala looks at the emblem on their shields.

"It's Aldori." She whispers as they continue into the post, "I guess the promised bodyguards finally arrived."

"Then we don't need to worry about this place," Zrak said, confident and relieved to see some concern out of the way. Bandits would be folly to dare threaten such a place now. And thus provides the group with a moment to prepare and recollect themselves.

Zrak looks back toward the other adventurers who joined along the way. "Well we're here," he tells them. "The place is nice and defended now if you need a place to stay. I doubt Malkala and I are gonna be here long. So sometime, let us know if you want to tag along or not.

He waits a moment to see if anyone responds, then heads back toward Oleg's place.

As Zrak turns to face the others, he sees them looking around, the magi with wonder and delight, and Tristian with a smile. At his words, Octavia looks to him and smiles, "I think we are going to rest for a bit. In the knowledge that we don't have to watch over our shoulders."

Tristian nods, "And I need some time to figure out my next move."

With that, the group splits off, leaving Zrak and Malkala to head for the main building of the post. As they approached, they found the tables outside fuller. Mostly with guards, but two figures were more familiar: Amiri and Linzi, both returned from their own expedition.

The appearance of the two brought a ghost of a smile to Zrak, glad to see something of a familiar face after collecting so many strangers. While Amiri and Linzi may have their own plans, at least the two can be trusted on until paths change.

"You wouldn't believe what we came across," Zrak said to the two, hopping onto one of the empty chairs with a chaotic bounce and, hasty to show results, pulls out the map with all the landmarks and places listed on his and Malkala's trip.

"What'd you two uncover in the meantime?"

On Zrak's appearance, Amiri and Linzi both smile.

"Welcome back!" Amiri yells jovially, smacking her hand on Zrak's back. While he isn't actually injured, the force of the smack makes him wonder briefly if something got sprained.

Linzi lets out a chuckle, "Come on Amiri, you can't be doing that to everyone. You almost broke that poor hermit in half."

The loud barbarian snorts, "He was weak. But had interesting baubles."

Shaking her head, Linzi looks back to Zrak and Malkala, "Well, unfortunately, besides a pleasant conversation with an old hermit, we did not get much."

As if mirroring Zrak, she pulls out her own map. There are only two spots that she marked to the east of Oleg's Post. The closest, about twenty miles from the Post, she labeled 'Bokken, Hermit.' The other mark is labeled, 'Fort, Abandoned.'

"The fort was abandoned." Linzi starts, "It seemed as if everyone just got up and left. No belongings, no signs of combat, Rostland's flags are still up even."

This time, Amiri's snort was more disappointed, "Nothing to fight. Not on the way, not at the hermit, and not at the fort."

The ratfolk's body hunches over on the table, still feeling Amiri's joyful smack like a warhammer. "No fighting, huh? Should've... gone our way," he responds with a pained grimace. "Sounds like there wasn't much of value there. Then it's a good point to avoid there from now on. Take a look here instead."

Zrak points down on his map, showing the locations of the outlooks, the shrine, the airship, and other places of note. "Think we found the way to the bandits' lair. They kept a few places to search out and if we head in that direction, we're bound to find them all."

He gives a ratty shrug afterward. "But I doubt we could just charge in. They'll know their shipment isn't coming and that their watchmen are dead. At some point we gotta get 'em, but I doubt we'll charge in anytime soon."

He pauses to look up at Malkala. "You got any suggestions to prepare?"

Malkala nods, "I agree that we have time. Especially when their scouts report sightings of guards around the Post. I say we keep exploring our future territory. Not only will we possibly find some other information and equipment against the bandits, but also gain some well needed combat training."

"Ha!" Amiri barks, "You may need 'training', but I am always ready for a fight!"

Linzi snorts, "Fairly obvious, much?"

As if on cue, a gruff voice speaks behind the group, "Well, if you want a fight, I may have an option for you."

Oleg approaches the table. There is a mix of emotions on his face, but he tries to smile and continues, "There is a boar that has given travellers trouble and hunters headaches. Tuskgetter roams the southern end of the Greenbelt. If you kill it and bring me it's head, I'll reward you. I would love to have a trophy on my wall."

He does not even get halfway through his offer when Amiri's eyes brighten,"Yes! Exactly what I want!" She turns to Zrak, "Make sure to take me with you!"

The ratfolk lacked the general excitement of his barbarian... friend. Hunting was a mundane task, one he was used to, and he certainly lacked the same sort of drive Amiri had.

Yet the eyes behind his cloaked hood flickered with interest. "So we search out south, find more areas, find this Tuskgetter, an' we'll get our share of recon, battle and fortune." His ratty look to Malkala, Linzi and Amiri gave a clear indication: there were too many benefits to ignore.

Oleg, however, did not receive an immediate answer. Instead, the curious ratfolk looked up and asked, "So what kind of 'reward' are we talking?"

"There is a hunter who is desperate to have the beast killed. He has agreed to give anyone who does the deed his composite bow and three magical arrows." Oleg grins, "And if that isn't enough, I'll be glad to give you all a free plate of the roast I make of him."

Malkala looks to Zrak, "I mean, what more can we ask?"

"Come on!" Amiri practically pleads, "I want to fight this Tuskgetter!"

Linzi just sighs with a smile, "I've made friends with a bunch of glory seekers." She shrugs at Malkala's raised eyebrow, "It would make an interesting story."

Zrak merely gives a shrug at the offer. "We could use a bow and arrows," he idly comments, assuming there's going to be gold for the kill as well. Either way, it'd be a trek worth adventuring. Just... who to take along?

"We need a little time to recover," Zrak notes to Amiri and Linzi, "And see what our previous companions intend to do." While Amiri and Linzi made respectable allies, the ratfolk wouldn't mind the help of a mage or the healing of a vagrant if needed.

"How long have you two been back for?" Zrak asks Amiri and Linzi again. "Not sure how much you both have been waiting for us to return."

"We've only been here for a day." Linzi says as Amiri continues to beg Malkala about Tuskgetter, "We got back around dinner last night."

She leans forward to whisper to Zrak, "If you don't want us with you to continue exploring this time, I do not mind." Her eyes glance toward Amiri, "But you may seriously consider taking Amiri with you. As you can see, she is nearly bursting at the seams to fight something."

When Zrak turns to look, he can see that Amiri is loudly begging Malkala as the dragonborne holds her hands up in a defensive attempt to calm the barbarian down.

"Couldn't help but notice," Zrak plainly responds, giving all the deadpan snark that a rat could muster while seeing Amiri seemingly ready to erupt in excitement. It'd be foolish to not take a battle-happy warrior to a hunt, though her eccentric excitement gave him pause. Someone's eventually going to lose their head with her around, whether on the road or in the darn fort.

"Alright, alright, you can come," Zrak hastily speaks up, dire to get Malkala out of her rather embarrassing situation. "We need some time to prepare. Give us until the day after tomorrow and then we can go. Alright?"

With a hefty sigh, Zrak looked back at Linzi. "Give us a bit to figure out who else to take along. We must reassess all our supplies."

Before Zrak forgets, he pokes his hood-covered ratty head out of the room, getting a look outside, then looks back at Linzi. "Have there been any sorta developments here since you left? Seems like the fort's better protected now."

Linzi shrugs, "Not really. From what Oleg said, the guards came in the day after we left. Ever since then, there has not been a single bandit sighting."

She leans in closer and whispers, "However, there has been a sighting of a dwarf, human, and elf captured by kobalds. Based on the descriptions I've heard, it seems like the three other adventurers from the manor, Harrim, Valerie, and Jaethal. Not only that, but our 'friend' Tartuccio was seen to the south, between us and the kobalds at the Old Sycamore."

Zrak watches a flash of worry across Linzi's face. It passes quickly as Malkala is finally able to pull herself from Amiri, "If Oleg is right about where Tuskgetter is, we should be able to easily take care of it and the Old Sycamore in one trip. Based on the map, they are only about twenty miles from each other."

"Then they should've been more careful," Zrak said with a sneer, not keen on the idea