Ludi Blog

"Are you sure?" asked Edge, knowing immediately that: a) Celad was invariable correct when it came to his ability to spot and b) he hadn't heard Celad make one single joke in his 12 months of knowing him. "Andreais? Really?" But Celad was already drawing the cart to a halt and jumping down to confused looks from his compatriots.

"Andreais just ran across in front of me" explained Celad to confused looks around him, "He was pale, dirty and in a bit of a mess but it was him I swear. Oh and I think he recognised me too. Headed off that way." He pointed east into the forest.

"Well let's go look then. Me, Celad and Alana will go have a look and the rest of you stay here with the carts. Let you know if we find anything." ordered Ril.

The search turned up nothing, just a track leading deeper into the forest and the party soon started back on their journey south, curiously more quiet than before. Meanwhile the interrogation of the elf was going nowhere - despite many threats of violence she was not talking.

"What did she have on her?" asked Edge, his demeanour heading south quickly.

"These 3 pouches and this badge." said Ril producing a small brass badge with the engraving of a harp on it. There was an intake of breath from both Edge and Celad as they recognised the symbol of the Harpers!

"And now you know of the trouble you are in, Wedding Crashers. I'm not sure how you got away from the hanging but you'll get nothing from me and the Harpers will be hunting you wherever you head." said the grimly smiling, bound elf on the floor of the cart.

"Not if we kill you quick and bury you deep in the woods." commented Womac. 

"Kill her quick and dump her in the forest, there's probably some hungry wild life out there." said Celad.

"Kill it slowly and make it sing like a nightingale first?" said Ril wistfully.

"Yeah. Let me have some fun first." slurred Grogg.

Edge moved forward and slit the elf from ear to ear. "There. Done. Let's disguise her face and remove any distinguishing marks she might have. Then dump her for the wolves."

Once the body was taken care of the party continued for another hour or two until they found a spot to stop next to the road. Watches were set, Grogg set about recovering and the other party members got what rest they could. The night passed without problem and the party were woken in the morning first by a passing merchant and then by a speedily approaching messenger.

Instinctively Womac told Celad to take the messenger out as he passed, Celad simply shrugged, picked up his bow, breathed out slowly and let the arrow fly true. The messenger was plucked from his saddle and crashed heavily to the dirt as the spooked horse disappeared off into the morning mist. After reading the messages being carried and realising that there was nothing important, the messengers body was dumped in the forest and the two carts moved on towards Daggerford.

When the party arrived at the small track that was expected to take them to the slavers, they found a track large enough for walking only. So it was decided that the best course of action would be to head further down to Daggerford, then take a road east and then north as there must be a cart sized route to the slavers, otherwise how would the slaves be transported. It was also decided that the party would pose as buyers and that disguising certain party members would be a good idea. Covering Groggs hair with a makeshift leather hood, Ril was asked to stay out of sight completely and getting Alana to dress in anything but red and gold seemed about the limit of the disguises but it was a start and with that the party moved on towards Daggerford.

The rest of the day was spent travelling to and through Daggerford with as much as discretion as possible - no fighting, no killing innocent folk, no "accidental" fires and no sign of any Drow in this cart, at all, no way, not us, oh no no no.

Finally outside of Daggerford on the East road the party spotted a small cartway heading north that didn't appear to lead to any villages. They turned up this one stopping in the entrance to allow Ril to run ahead to check out where it was heading. Ril came running back at speed saying that a cart/horses was heading this way and the party sprang into action. Caled, Womac and Grogg headed off into the forest whilst Ril hid and Edge and Alana waited with the carts.

The dispatch of the well dressed half-orcs driving cart was quick and effective and then the Wedding Crashers found themselves as the proud owners of a third cart and a dozen ragged looking slaves.

So what's next for the Wedding Crashers? At the moment it looks like they are heading into the second-hand cart business ...