Getting There

Day One
The cohorts head east in search of tracks or other tell tale signs. They find none.

Day Two
As you get up, Farathin notices smoke NW in the distance. You hastily break camp and head out only to discover a burnout farmstead. A search of the immediate area reveals the corpses of the farming family and some dead animals. Large animal corpses are conspicuously absent. Someone discovers the signs of something(s) large being dragged NW. Investigating you come across a small group of orcs camped out in a copse of trees. As hort fight later and they are all dead. Yorick held the last one who was running away in hopes of getting some information, but it broke the hold and Ashmai finished it. There were about a dozen orcs, most of no note. There were two large orcs viciously wielding greataxes who were practically dead on their feet before they fell. The last was a more deliberate orc with heavy sheild and scimitar. This bunch had slaughtered some cattle and stuffed the meat into several large sacks.

You follow tracks further NW trying to find out where they cam from. Night falls. Late in the evening those on guard notice an even larger band of orcs and a black rider. You quickly recognize the beast it rode as a nightmare. As the orcs closed, this rider moved fast back and forth through the group lancing people on the way. A few spells and the grunts were no more. A few more barbarians and another sheild wearing orc were a bit more difficult as they were aided by a cleric who never fully approached the main battle. Ashmai was finding that the orcs were skilled enough in combat that he was having an impossible time getting a sneak attack to land. An arc of lightning from Fayed severely hurt the nightmare and it faded from view and then flew off. Yorick, who had true sight, watched. In the morning you find the path that the band had taken to get to you and it was not in the direction the rider and nightmare took. You figure it was simply fleeing.

Day Three
Uneventful

Day Four
You realize you are heading more north and getting into softer ground. You spot some large creatures rooting around in the undergrowth. Ashmai sneaks up expecting bears. He was partially correct. less than 30 feet in front of him are six owlbears. An easy fight later and they are all dead.

Day Five
Uneventful

Day Six
Near dusk as you start turning you attention to finding a place to camp, you notice a large mansion off in the distance. The group moves up for a closer look and you spot at least one giant patrolling the grounds. Fayed turns into a small bird and scout ahead. He reports that there are several breaks in the main floor walls of the keep and a large opening in the second floor of the tower. The group approaches on foot noting that some of the ground may be too treacherous for horses. You dodge the glances of two patrolling giants and get fairly close before battle ensues.

More in the next installment...