The return to the Rumbling Ridge was rather somber as the party contemplated their actions, and what may befall them as consequences. Once they arrived at the Rumbling Ridge the guards escorted them to a small room on the second floor where the guards locked the door as they entered.
"Well, not sure where we're gonna go from here guys." said Akash as he opened the window ever so slightly, to clear the room of the scent of the many patrons who had come before.
"Yeha, definitely not our brightest hour." replied Hal, "I guess we should have thought about the consequences of killing several men in order to save the life of a single man whom we barely even know. I mean, we don't even know if the Guild got the sluid to Greenmeadow in time. I sure hope so."
"I have faith that they made it in time." said Gnoll, his large frame nearly scraping the low ceiling as he paced. "My concern is what Thompson has in mind for us. I am concerned about being in the service of yet another group that we know little about." He paused for a moment gathering his thoughts. "If he asks us what we believe our consequences should be, I think we should request a fine, and explain our situation with the man in Greenmeadow."
"I don't think that's a terrible idea, but to be honest I don't necessarily see Thompson being the most lenient man. One doesn't get to where he seems to be in life by letting things go lightly." Added Charles. "I think we just have to wait for his decision and try to make the best of whatever it is he wants."
After Charles' declaration each member of the party fell silent and went about preparing themselves for the future. Akash sat in the windowsill, one knee hugged close to his chest, the other leg draped down, swinging listlessly his toe just above the floor of their impromptu jail. His thoughts drifted back to his parents, "What would father think?" He asked himself, "I've been away from home for barely a week and already I'm in trouble with the law, and worse, I've killed people." He reached into a pouch by his waist and brought out his stone star map. "Is this really the path that you have set out for me?" he wondered, his thumb gliding between each indentation that formed the guide holes. "I suppose I have found new friends along the way, and we helped those kids, and hopefully managed to save that man. But I can't help but feel like there's something still missing for me, is this what adventuring is?" His final thought gnawed at him as he brought his forehead to his knee and let the sound of the breeze outside his window lull him into a calm meditation.
The next several hours passed slowly, however, the lock eventually clicked open and everyone swiveled to face the door as Thomppson entered, his armor replaced with the clothes of a noble. "Good, you're still here. I have decided on your punishment." THe members of the party waited with bated breath, giving all their attention to their captor. "I have a job for you to do." He paused for a moment, seeking any objections, hearing none he continued. " I have a logging operation over the eastern border in Woodernia, just south of Nestrin. This particular operation has not reported in for several weeks and missed two shipments. Your task will be to go to my operation and find out why it has stopped producing and report back to me. This will absolve you of your actions in the mines, and the ensuing chase. There are of course additional stipulations. Should you be stopped by Woodernian authorities at any point you do not work for, or are in any way affiliated with the Thompson Company. Additionally, if you do not report back to me in a reasonable amount of time a bounty will be put out for your arrest so do not think that you can simply run-off on me, you are criminals until I see fit to release you from your obligation. Do I make myself clear?" His question was met with nods and murmurs of ascent from the party. "Good, I expect you to leave in the morning, and remember you're on a clock.
Once he had left and the door shut behind him Hal let out a sigh. "That wasn't nearly as bad as I was expecting. Just gotta find some old logging camp. How hard can that be?"
"The main problem is Woodernia." replied Naivara. "They like to keep to themselves, and since this is clearly some kind of under-the-table operation we're basically going to be on the run the entire time we're in there anyways. Fortunately it sounds like the camp is just south of my hometown. I also happen to know if a pass through the mountains that should be able to get us into Woodernia without encountering any issues at the border."
"Wait, you're from Woodernia?" asked Akash.
"Yup, born and raised. We should stop by my parent's house, my dad has the most wonderful workshop. It's where I first forged this beauty." She said, holding up her revolver.
"Huh, neat. I used to spend a lot of time up in the mountains with my tribe, but we never actually crossed over into the Woodernia side." Responded Akash. "Well, I would imagine we want an early start in the morning, so I am gonna get a good night's rest."
The party awoke before first light and shouldered their packs as they ventured out the doors of the Rumbling Ridge taking the road east to Woodernia. They made good time of the first half of the day, at first passing the outlying farms of Three Falls before even the furthest farms fell behind as the land sloped upwards into the foothills of the Barzul Mountains that separated Cavalion and Woodernia. The packed dirt road under their feet turned to a series of stone switchbacks that climbed up into the unforgiving peaks considerably slowing their progress. A few hours after they had stopped for lunch Naivara held up a hand.
"Ahh, right here." She pointed off the road to the left at what appeared to be a dried riverbed. "This cuts between a few of the peaks and won't be watched."
"How can you be so sure?" Asked Charles.
"Because, this floods in the spring, so nobody uses it as an actual road. Come on, we'll be fine." Leading the party up into the shale sided canal.
True enough to her word the riverbed was fairly easy to traverse on foot, but Akash could see why nobody with a cart would want to use it. The shale was prone to cracking and sliding around, not to mention the various boulders and stair stepping that would have made up the rapids in the spring. They continued up this way for several more hours, then right as the party began to slow their pace and get prepared for night several low growls emanated from the trees that lined the riverbed.
"Anybody happen to know what that was?" Hal asked. "Akash, you are big into nature and stuff, any clue?"
"Kinda sounds like a bear, but I'm not positive." He began to call up to Naivara to ask if she had even encountered this noise before, when he spotted the feathered figures of three Owlbears emerging around them. "Well, that's no good." He stated gripping his staff with both hands.
"Alright everybody, move slowly, they might not attack still." directed Naivara without turning around.
"They look pretty ready to attack to me." Said Charles nervously, Buck knickered in agreement.
The Owlbears advanced, their growls increasing in volume with every step.
"You know, you might be right for a change. I've got a thing I've been meaning to try out." Naivara slowly reached for her holster drawing her revolver. "I haven't technically tested this just yet, so be ready for anything." she said as she slowly backed up to the rest of the group.
"Uhhh, what haven't you tested?" Asked Gnoll as she came level with him.
"Just a little modification." Naivara brought the pistol up to ready position and as she squeezed the trigger a faint blue glow involved the cylinder, then with a jolt, a crackle, and a boom! A bullet fired from the barrel streaking toward the leading Owlbear striking it square in the right shoulder. The feathers stood up on end as if it had gotten caught out in the middle of a thunderstorm. "YES! It worked!" Exclaimed Naivara. The surprised looks on her companions' faces were quickly replaced by brief panic as the ringing in their ears subsided, and they noticed the Owlbears leap at them in full force. The battle was quick and efficient. No matter the might of the Owlbears, their beaks and claws were lacking against the party and their magic. After that encounter it was decided that enough hiking had been done for the day and it was time to settle down for the night.
Morning brought a cool crisp air that Akash relished in, he had always preferred the chill of the mountains over the scorching heat of the southern deserts. His respite was interrupted by Naivara. "Come on everyone, if we make good time we can make it to Nestrin by midday, and then we can have lunch with my parents!" She called back hoisting her pack. True to her word, after a few hours the riverbed split, with one of the forks leading back down the mountain on the Woodernian side of the Barzuls, the road just visible about a mile down the mountain. Akash felt a rush of excitement as he truly realized he was in a new country for the first time, even spending much of his childhood in these mountains he had never actually crossed them. Nevertheless, the party continued on, pressing forward to Nestrin.
As they approached town Naivara commented on the lack of other travelers. "There's usually a good number of other folks out and about, I wonder where they've all gone." A slight frown appeared on her face. "Anyways, here's my parent's place." She said, turning down a path off the main road. A quaint two story home came into view, a small stone wall encompassed the overgrown garden near the front door, which hung by a single hinge, swaying open in the breeze. Naivara stopped, as all the color drained from her face. "No, no, no no no." She said as she broke from her stance, sprinting for the door, her companions close behind. The inside was a disaster, furniture strewn about, deep gouges torn into the wall, and yet notable valuables still remained.
"Naivara, I am so sorry." Said Gnoll, his voice full of compassion. "Maybe they weren't home when this happened. Is there anywhere in town they could be staying?"
"I don't know…I have to check my father's study. There's research there that cannot be lost." She then led the way upstairs to a large circular room that was lined with massive book cases that had also been ransacked, hundreds of books lay on the floor, with loose pages crumpled and discarded about the space. Naivara made a bee-line for a shelf that housed a number of small carved busts. Grasping one with her hand she muttered a word under her breath and a section of shelf to her right clicked open to reveal an empty steel-lined alcove. Much to Akash's surprise she actually let out a sigh of relief. "This is where my father kept his most important research. Since it is empty and the lock was reset, that means that he took it with him wherever he went." She explained. "I just hope he and mother are safe wherever they are."
"We should check out town." suggested Akash, "They may be there, or perhaps someone there can tell us what happened here."