Theaton will work on dressing the elk and skinning it. He will set the skin aside to stretch later and when he hears Zorks call he will call back. "Hold there for a bit Zork I will be right over when I finish getting dinner dressed." Theaton will get the meat all ready and carve off a leg to give to his wolf companion. Theaton then heads over to where Zork is calling from telling Mykael to have the bandits get the meat to roasting as he goes to see what Zork has found.
The bandits listen in silence, nodding their agreement. They just want this phase of their life to be over and hope to go home or get a fresh start if the punishment isn't as severe as they expect.
At Zork's call Mykael stays to watch the bandits cook the meat Theaton prepared, as he goes to Zork. Archival and Caelum also head off in another direction, Mykael thinks it's to have one of those mystical mental conversations.
Theaton arrives in the area littered with rocks on the ground and the tall pile in the centre. Zork rubs his chin thinking about its origin and the carvings on the stones; mostly crude depictions of battles with creatures magical and mundane. Yet other stones show feats of skill such as the stick man jumping a ravine, smashing a shrine, throwing an anvil, and even using various magics.
Theaton can tell it's obviously not natural and explains that it would have been left behind by barbarian tribes many centuries ago. Cairns like this could mark trails, special locations, or graves and the carvings on the stones might all be about the same person.
"What about treasure?" Says Zork with eyes wide open. "Maybe we have stumbled on a real find here or do you think its nothing more than a location on a map?"
"That my friend is what we are going to try to find out. Lets go get some food and relax for the night and explore this in the morning. I have a nice elk roasting right now."
Theaton will look around to see if he can find some sort of entrance before they head back to the roasting meat.
"That sounds nice but I will stay here awhile..." Zork meditates on his new find as well as continues his peace time. Later he will rejoin the camp and eat.
Mykael keeps an eye on the bandits as they prepare the meat and he continues to sharpen his sword letting his mind wander a bit thinking about the sword and the armor bearing Iomedea's symbol. Again, the image of the armor clad woman flashes through his minds eye, her shield radiating light. This time he sees himself kneeling before her with his head bowed in respect as she looks down at him. The image quickly fades but once again he feels an increased sense of devotion to the goddess. Unsure whether this is nothing more than fanciful daydreaming Mykael sheathes his sword and gets up to check on the meat, making sure that it is roasting evenly over the fire.
Taking his bedroll off of his pack he unfurls it and starts to set up his own "Space" Near the fire, placing his pack on the bedroll to act as a sort of pillow. Satisfied that the preparation of the meal is going well he allows himself a small break and leans back onto his pack though he continues to keep a watchful eye on the bandits.
Theaton sees only a pile of rocks stacked neatly to the same height as him. It is overgrown with vines, but no entrance is seen.
Everyone sleeps, and those on watch report no occurrences, the captives don't even try to escape. Mykael dreams of the moon, he sees it waxing to full with an accompanying sense of dread. Awakened for his watch shift, he looks up to see only the first quarter moon illuminated.
Oathday 9th Desnus
The morning is cold and windy with clouds coming from the north threatening rain in the afternoon. Nothing in the camp is amiss. The pile of rocks is overgrown and undisturbed, just as you left it.
Theaton will walk around the stones again and study them a bit more to see if he can figure out how to enter. He will also pace a few paces away to see if there is something he can see outside that will aid them.