<div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote">Quote</div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">"So, what are your real plans for us, Sir?"</blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div>“To settle down in Daggerford for a while, like I said.” Deon told Lune, his lower arms softly pressing against her sides as he held the reigns around her. “We can all use a rest and see how things are in the civilized world for a change… though Daggerford isn’t strictly civilization as far as I have heard. If it wasn’t for the trade crossing the ford on the coastal road to Waterdeep, it would still be some ramshackle frontier hamlet. As it is, I hear the council is trying to attract more merchants and artisans, mercenaries and adventurers, priests and wizards to the town to make it more ‘cosmopolitan’. I’m sure we will find a cozy place for ourselves out there.<br/><br/>And as for ‘us’ as in ‘you and me’, I don’t know.” Deon said and his touch became a bit more teasing. “Clearly, Beatrice isn’t the only girl trying to be<em>useful</em>.” He said and took both of the reigns into his left hand so he had the right free to stroke and tease Lune a little. Her efforts to help his new rules, his new<em>law</em>to pass had not been overlooked.<br/><br/><br/>Suddenly, the horse became skittish. Dancing sideways and throwing its head this way and that. “There is fresh blood in the grass!” Elora said and drew 'Mehgen' from its sheath and the others followed suit, drawing their own weapons.<br/><br/>“Get down!” Deon told Lune and stopped his horse. If it came to a fight, they would only get in each other’s way, seated as they were. The half-elf shot him a lingering glance when she jumped off, but then she took up her bow and drew an arrow.<br/><br/>“Something big was dragged this way.” Elora said and pointed at the bloody trail in the grass that lead north, away from the road and into the Misty Forest. “Lizardmen! At least<em>twenty</em>!” Lune added as she examined the tracks closer.<br/><br/>“There is a broken waggon over there.” Deon said and pointed at the ditch by the side of the road where a small wagon had sunken halfway into the muck. The draft animal was missing and there was a lot of blood on the ground. The wagon itself had been ransacked and numerous small tools and other metal items lay scattered around it. There was no sign of the driver or any passengers. If there had been any combat, then it had been short. The ground was littered with lizardmen tracks, but there were no bodies, arrows, discarded weapons or others leftovers of battle. “Looks like we weren’t the only ones to be attacked.”<br/><br/>“We should go after them! Maybe the people are still alive.” Elora said.<br/><br/>“Tracks are easy enough to follow.” Lune said, pointing at the broad swath of bloody, compressed grass where a dead horse or other large animal had been dragged along. “<em>Really</em>easy.”<br/><br/>Deon investigated the wagon. The tools looked like they belonged to some kind of craftsman. A few of them were probably still useful. The lizardmen had taken what seemed valuable to<em>them</em>, which meant anything big enough to be used as a weapon as well as anything shiny.<br/><br/>“Alright.” Deon said and got back on his horse. “We will pursue. The blood is still fresh and if we catch them before they get into the deep swamp, then we have the advantage. Elora, take the lead!”<br/>