Gruesome Cargo

[Xanderleo]

The Crossroads.

Like a magnet draws iron, so the Crossroads draws trouble.

Today was no different ... as Sigrun found when he and Nyx took a stroll by the camp that has been the site of many an ill-fortune.

Two massive, badly mauled and burnt hulks lay in the rain, marring the grass with their gore.
A dwarf and a man standing by the fire alert the ranger to the happenings he only just missed, simply: Two trolls lumbered down the road from the northwest and a fight occured.

Another man, who's name was not mentioned, bested the monsterous assailants and promptly departed.

Upon further inspection of the corpse, Sigrun notices the tattoo of a black disc emblazoned on the beast's chest, which he removes with a small knife and places in his pack. Further inspection shows chafe marks on the spongy dead flesh of the forearms.

These beasts had been shackled.

As the ranger begins to follow the tracks of the attackers, the dwarf recalls that the black disc is the symbol of the goddess Shar. The information is absorbed, mentally set aside as he walks the same path travelled not long before by the trolls themselves.
His boot looks the size of a child's as he places it in each footprint, straining his legs to step into the print left before it. The upturned earth around tracks and the spacing of their stride shows that they ran for a time, then slowed, then ran again as they set eyes on the campfire.

Sigrun finally looks up as his thighs touch wood: A wagon. A wagon at the edge of the Exigo Trading Post. Empty now except for a rough-spun tarp, thrown aside.

These beasts had been brought in by wagon and then set loose; but by whom?

[Keldri]

The Dwarf, Revenark of the Stoneholds heard the flapping of wing behind him, turning he saw an eagle resting upon the rangers outstretched arm. Sigrun with a rushed look in he's eyes said he had comrades in trouble and must leave at once, seeing as the wagon was a dead end the human and Dwarf wished him speed in he's journey.

Shar, to what ends would she be involved and why mark the troll as such? Many more questions then answers plagued the Dwarfs mind. He set off at once to find who's wagon this be, but in his heart he knew the Exigo to be notorious for not giving answers to questions pertaining to themselves or their grounds.

[ipsissimus]

Again I try to open diplomatic relations with the local denizens of the Viradale...the Mossclaws are not to be excluded.

Speaking with their chieften long ago proved to be somewhat useful as the number of trees and other natural resources that both man and gnoll have been monitored.

Perhaps today we can discuss the allowance of some travellers through the woods without unprovoked attacks.

Upon reaching the Mossclaw's territory I noticed something very strange. No goblin, no orc, no gnoll, or ogre. Not even lurking in the shadows waiting to ambush me or my companion. The stench of rotting meat was in the air and tracks of something I have not seen in these woods were everywhere.

I don't need to be a ranger to know there was a struggle here and by something larger than a gnoll.

I slowly walked up the hill into the once heavily guarded fortress of the Mossclaw. Bodies everywhere, but not of human or elf kind. All members of the Mossclaw, slaughtered. Claw and bite marks found throughout their bodies...as I looked up to where the Gnoll Chief would stand my face suddenly went pale.

Three very large and hunched figures, dark green rubbery skin, long stringy arms, black and yellow eyes, and a row of sharp teeth. All surrounding the Gnoll chief.

It seemed they had been fighting for sometime, I quickly ran to his aid and after some exchange of tooth and claw together we managed to put down the unwanted guests with torch fire.

I turned to the chief who was bleeding from multiple wounds, "we share a common enemy...only together can we push these trolls back to wence they came. Let us put aside our differences until we can remedy this new threat upon our lands. I offer you some healing as a token of good will."

As I walked forward toward the chief with open hands...two heavily armored men ran up the hill behind me, one unleashed an arrow which hit the wounded chief in the shoulder. He howled in pain and what sliver of a chance we had towards an agreement was lost in that arrow.

As I left the Mossclaw in frustation, I saw more hunched forms running towards me. I dug my boots into the ground and turned to my furry companion. "there is a time for words and a time for action...and since I know you don't know a lick of common." We both turned to the coming onslaught.

(battle scene with lost of lightning, fire, and biting)

There is a new treat in the woods, these trolls...not one or two, but dozens. I must tell the others. (runs to through the Viradale)