"Apparently, word got out to more people that there's been sightings of a particular stone's fragments here. Worse, they say the tale is spreading, and bringing more people here. All kinds of people." She took a deep breath, looking a bit tired. "I stayed up running forth sending messages to a few old friends to help out with this but it looks like its getting out of hand. Folks showing up at this rate and scouring the countryside wont make things easy."<br/><br/>She hesitated a moment then continuing. "There was no signs of the bard and the other fellow returning either. They knew the direction you were in, and perhaps they stayed to investigate but nonetheless, word is out and things are looking a little more grim." She closed her eyes. "Apparently, some people traveling the south road came across several bodies on spikes along the roadside on their way here. That was before yesterday, but the bandits in that area are particularily gruesome to put things like that up. It should bother their robbing to scare folks off like that, but they're boldly declaring they are around." She winced.<br/><br/>"Lots of things wrong here, and the talk about their boss like almost religious figure, it begins to seem really bad. On that note though, the town guard captured some runaway, apparently dressed like a bandit, claiming he wanted to give up that life but one of the townsfolks identified him as a thief and a mugger, and they're planning on stringing him up soon."