Late to the Party

The mysterious lady has been acting shifty, we are not sure what she is exactly or who she is, but she is not being 100% truthful and Revan and I are both distrustful of her ultimate motive in this game.
 
We reached the base camp and stumbled upon a murder scene most foul. Dead bodies littered the area most of the dead seem to have been heavily intoxicated before they were cut down. While we were investigating the scene Willowick had headed south to ready a group of horses for our departure and make sure that was secured in case we had to beat a hasty retreat out of the disastrous base camp scene.
 
Through the deepening night air we hear Willowick scream out in pain and alarm "I've been shot!!..please help!!" his voice coming from somewhere near the horses in the south of camp.
 
We start moving in haste to investigate when suddenly Kinichi lurches with a sudden start and gurgles as an arrow strikes his throat in a gruesome hit. I look past his grevious wound and trace the line to a shadowy shooter on the corner of one of the southern most tents, I head that direction without pause. Knowing my heal spells are currently out of reach until I get some much needed rest and prayer time, I'm of more help to Kinichi if I can subdue our would be assassin.
 
We cornered the assassin in the sleeping tent but some how they slipped past us as we were distracted by an odd fellow by the name of Jigglebones, the orc. Old and braggadocious, he fumbled around the tent and tried to escape, we gathered from his presence here that he must have been part of Barabus's crew, in league with the would be assassin no doubt. As we pondered what to do with him we heard on the night wind a sinister howl of some unholy nature. Such was it's chill that Jigglebones began to panic. Night Jackals!
 
We defeated the unholy midnight jackals and vanquished the undead ghouls. Kinichi and I basically single handedly accomplished this feat ( side note Revan was doing his own thing off to the north end of the camp that involved gnomish thunderpowder, a very loud explosion, and some elaborately unnecessary scheme no doubt, but we had no knowledge of that). Kinichi was bitten by one of the ghoulish creations and fell paralyzed by the result!
 
Sam tarkus felled a jackal with several well placed punches and kicks and then caved the skull in of one of the ghouls feeling it's sickly infirm bones crunch under his force of will and training. The jackals however were a little more challenging for Sam. Kinichi suddenly fell prone and unmoving to my left in mid combat, this was alarming to me. I called upon the Arkynian girl to inspect his vitals so we might know his state to confirm life.
 
As the battle progressed i took some damaging attacks from the jackals but was able to break them under my fist with the help of Kinichi, after he was able to over come his paralyzed state. The stranger Corrin truly proved his worth by delivering some rather skilled blows to the jackals that proved to be decisive in our victory. The braggart Jigglebones tried to run and feebly stumbled and fell in the dark, such a sad display of cowardice. Perhaps we can help this poor soul find some modicum of dignity in his twilight years.
 
Willowick and I tried our best to rig up the horses that remained, two strong draft steeds, a black well groomed stallion and a normal mare of brown fur. Revan took to trying to manage the loading of the strange cart vehicle with sails with gnomish thunder!!! to which we all took issue with! That stuff is volatile and unsafe at best only the craziest of gnomes would even dare to travel with it. Yet, Revan seems obsessed with bringing it along. I chose to reason that we would need water and food rations over this crazy gnomish thunder nonsense. However, after some reflection and after water was loaded and food and some other basic must have supplies for the journey, I pondered the safety of purhaps stowing some of the crazy thunderpowder in my bag of holding. A choice I hope I don't live to regret.
 
The mysterious nameless woman was able to work some kind of ancient Arkynian magic and mend my broken, less than alive body. The effort seemed to drain her though and she nearly collapsed. I had to carry her to the cart and lay her upon a bed roll to rest while the group continued to load the cart with haste. We didn't know how much time we had left but it was pressing heavily upon all our minds like a massive anvil of dread. The Assassin escaped and most likely to bring ill tidings our way.
 
After discovering poor Professor Theodard's cruel fate, I paid my respects and covered his body with a rug and gathered up his collection of books, the one's Kinichi had not already taken. For in this world not much bares more value than the pages of a printed book. I sometimes reflect on my ability to journal and the value my books might someday hold...but that is folly. Walking back to the cart I spied Willowick excitedly exploring the front driver seat of the strange cart with Sails. He began jumping with joy upon working the command to lift the cart in the air just enough to levitate with ease.
 
We secured Jigglebones's bonds and placed him in the cart's interior cabin with the Mysterious lady. Then took to the task of deciding our route back to Fort Alzacan. Revan advised we needed to be as deceptive and evasive as possible and pushed for us to leave to the south and curve our path through the rougher terrain and re-connect with the main road later in the night. As I had not a better idea, and no one else spoke up, it was decided and we boarded our strange new vessel.
 
With a high pitched voice and no small amount of glee, Willowick bellowed, "I christen thee Land Shark!!" and shattered a bottle of wine on the side of our fortuitus vessel. And we were off!
 
The trek through and around was mostly uneventful Revan took point and led a path around covering our tracks at the end as well as leaving a "fake" campfire to perhaps fool any would be pursuers. We connected with the main trail with ease and began to pick up speed. The non casters of our group took sleeping spaces in the cart while Willowick, Revan, and myself drove on into early morning to make as much time as possible before we camped. All was going smoothly until we hit the switchback trail that zig zagged down into the Bone Springs Canyon precariously. Willowick was doing well until we hit some loose soil and the horses began to slide down against their efforts to maintain ground! Willowick quickly used his newfound animal handling skill set to calm the beasts and lowered the cart down to anchor them in place until their tenuous footing could be re-established.
 
We moved on slowly after that, apprehensive in the deeping night, at what pitfalls lay before us. We had little choice though, there was no going back now. Later on after turning a bend lower down, almost a little more than half way down, we heard a great calamity coming from above and behind us. It became alarmingly apparent that our passage had loosened some debris that was now raining down on our heads! With some quick thinking and assistance from Revan and myself, Willowick was able to maneuver the cart and steady the horses in time to avoid a collision that would have no doubt ended our maiden voyage with a rather unpleasant bang.
 
We reached the base of the trail and traveled on for about an hour until we found a suitable set of boulders to duck the cart behind and make a very light camp. Willowick and I saw to the horses needs and then took our leave for the night. Sleep came quickly, as our bodies were weary from the stress and trauma of the herculean day we had just survived. In my twilight moments before slumber, I recall trying to remember if we had checked Jigglebones's bonds before bed, but alas the thoughts were overcome by my fatigue and lost to dreams.