Tracks In The Desert

[OGRE MAGE]

The Find

Deciding it would be best to simply pass the unknown anomaly in the sand, the group continues following the footprints. Three dunes later, they spot the area where all the tracks lead.

Up ahead, along an open, flatter area of the desert, you see an area of disturbance in some harder packed sand. There are footprints all over this area and you suddenly get a strange scent of burnt wood on the distant breeze.

At the center of the disturbance you spot three blackened poles sticking straight up out of the sand to a height of about 6 feet. You see no people or any other movement as you visually scour the area from the safety of the nearest dune.

Actions?

Xenos
Akhilleus
Drest
Cyril
Snorri
Valkrina

[Bluetongue]

Valkrina

Burnt offerings (people) tied to the stakes?

Without going closer to investigate we are no wiser. If no one is about, I guess we go take a look.

[shaidar]

Xenos

"Some of us could approach for a closer look, while the rest stay hidden and watch. I'm happy to be one of those going forward."

[Karaunios]

Akhilleus

"Rex is better suited for that kind of task." says the warrior withouh keeping his eyes from the poles.

[Tamerlaine]

“Let Drest scout the area, behind the dunes,” Snorri growls. “We walk in with the ‘All Clear’ or we deal with anyone or any thing chasing Drest. Mmm?”

[The_Wanderer]

Back to fully healthy
Cyril wipes his hands on his pants and says, "I will stay here and observe. I smell burnt wood but not burnt meat. I do not think it was people, Valkrina."

Cyril moves to the nearest dune and climbs it, peaking over the crest to see as much of the surrounding area as possible.

[Rex]

Drest

Drest will advance forward and scout the area, bow at the ready.

Discern Noise, 5:12
Hide, 6:12
Move Silently, 6:12

[OGRE MAGE]

The Find

A mile or so into the desert beyond the Oasis, the adventurers follow the numerous foot tracks through the sand to find a disturbing sight.

Drest does his professional duty while the others observe from a safe distance. Cyril chooses to hope for the best, but once their scout gets closer, the horrible smell of death and burnt flesh is undeniable.

The others eventually join the Pict after getting the all clear sign, finding telltale evidence of foul play here. Blood and scraps of discarded viscera is found in the sand near the poles, and chunks of burnt human remains can still be found stuck to the blackened poles.

Wisely climbing to a position to view the entire area from above, Cyril notices a smaller set of tracks that continues deeper into the indomitable Zakath.

Actions?

Xenos
Akhilleus
Drest
Cyril
Snorri
Valkrina

[The_Wanderer]

Do those tracks lead in approximately the same direction we are traveling?

Cyril
From his perch, Cyril calls down to the others. "There are tracks leading out...that way..." He gestures in the direction the tracks lead and then climbs down. "Can anybody tell how big the group was that made these tracks?"

[Rex]

Drest

Drest moves over to the new tracks and examines them. Can he tell anything about who made them from the tracks?

"It seems my vision was accurate. I think we should follow the tracks."

[Karaunios]

Akhilleus looks in disbelief.

Savages. This looks like some kind of ritual.

Or just plain torture and execution." He looks for anything that may point to sign similar to the one they found in the sand earlier.

[Rex]

Drest

"My vision had a ritualistic feel to it for sure. Evil, very Evil."

[shaidar]

Xenos keeps a wider look-out while the others make their examinations.

[Bluetongue]

Valkrina

"But no bodies remain. Bits, but no whole corpse. No graves marked."

She checks out the stakes, careful not to step on any goo. "Cannibals. They cooked them. Skewered on the pole and roasted, sliced into slivers for kebabs."

She has a theory which may not be as wild as it seems.

With no life here except ours, she suggests we keep following the tracks.

[OGRE MAGE]

Do those tracks lead in approximately the same direction we are traveling?

Can everyone see the red dots on the map?

The trail leading deeper into the desert is still mostly bare human footprints, but this route appears far less traveled.

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[Rex]

Drest

I can see them.

"Lets keep following further in."

[OGRE MAGE]

Would Snorri like to take an action?

[Tamerlaine]

Snorri is quiet as he surveys the gruesome scene. This wasn’t warfare and despite the brutality of violence, the giant Viking couldn’t fathom the act of cannablism.

He turns to Drest, his face now grim. “Yes,” he growls, his voice like two builders grinding against each other. “Lead the way.”

[Rex]

Drest

Drest just looks at Snorri with his usual friendly grimace and continues to follow the tracks.

[Bluetongue]

Valkrina

Follows the tracks. It is either to Xambaala or onwards, so the choice is a little made up for us.

She looks about. Circling buzzards and vultures might indicate another death scene nearby. She plays her flute while walking just to keep in tune.