Quobbles shakes his tiny head.

"At the same time as I do not attempt to understand the ways of priests, I also try my hardest not to judge.  The way I see it, a holy man acts according to his creed and it isn't the secular man's place to persecute him for it."

Ari gulps, "I hope it will be enough."

"If the Halls are as vast as rumor has described then perhaps it would profit us to plan for a campsite, hidden, but close to them. It could save us a great deal of walking, especially if wounded. And if the cultists are in league with goblins any roads in the area are likely being watched. Venturing to the Halls through the roughest terrain might avoid some ambushes. Perhaps we should slip away from town before daybreak to avoid watchful eyes."

"That is a prudent and sound course of action, Ari," Donovan says contemplatively.

Ari flushes, and with an awkward kid's grin says quietly, "Thank you Father Donovan."

The night passes quietly. Dawn creeps in with a chill and a dreary overcast sky seems to hang just overhead. A fine misting of rain is falling and the locals are already grumbling about the winters early arrival over cups of warm cider in the dining area of the Hangover. Aiden sits at a corner table intently discussing the best method of approach to the halls with a shaggy mountain of a man.

Quobbles, gear fully packed and ready, walks up to Aiden, handing him the sack.  He nods briefly up to the man-mountain, but is clearly in a hurry to set off.

"Ready to go then?"

Ari slings his pack and heads out the door to await the others outside.

After quietly saying his morning devotions, Donovan packs his gear quickly and goes downstairs to meet his new companions.

"Alright, Gentlemen," he says cheerfully, "I am ready."

Ari falls into the marching order next to Brogar.

"Okay then, I guess we are off."

You begin your march out of town. A mere hours march north along the road takes you to the edge of town. The sun is up in earnest now, though it is hard to tell through gray haze and thin drizzle of rain that is falling. Aiden pauses a moment "I was talking to that gent in the Hangover back there and he said the best way about it was to make off the road and march straight north. The road would just take us outta our way as it cuts north east instead of true north. Either way we got three days hard march ahead of us."

He gives a everyone a steady gaze "Off the road is likely to be dangerous though, the wildlife is none to friendly, wolves, bears, wild cats you name it. Course if the tales are true then worse could be lurking about". He looks thoughtful for a moment "Also when we get there from what I have gathered we have two avenues of approach, we can go through the Goblins holdfast in the caverns which is lower down the mountain on its east side. Or we could go through the temple entrance itself which is further up and on the west side, I just figured we should have a game plan".

Ari rolls his eyes and stamps his foot!  "WHAT A CHOICE!!!  WHAT IN THE GO.."

A quick glance at Donovan causes him to check his rising emotion and choke back his words.

He sighs and in a much softer tone, "Perhaps its better to make straight for the Halls. We could spend days hacking our way through Goblins if things go badly for us. As well, they could send runners and alert the cult of our pending arrival."

Giving Donovan a sidelong glance, "But I will follow the lead of the good Father."

Donovan says thoughtfully, "since we all have come to Last Keep, we have moved fast and purposefully.  As far as we know, we still have the element of surprise against the cultists of the Black Circle.  If we can enter their temple undetected, then I think we can overwhelm them.  I say we enter through the temple and deal with the goblinoids after we fell the cultists power base."

Ari nods, "Surprise is our only asset. The cultist and their allies outnumber us 10 to 1. But they must defend all they hold, while we can strike where we wish - once inside. It will be a stern test and I fear we will have little time for rest."

Squatting down he smiles at Quobbles, "Small friend, It will be up to you to be our eyes and ears as we go forward. I will back you with both sword and bow as best I can."

He grins as an idea strikes his fancy, and turning murmers, "Donovan, perhaps you can loan for a time your whistle to master Quobbles? If he is scouting far ahead and ambushed, its shrill warning may buy us enough time to save him. And, if the black cultists attempt to use the Pipes of Madness on him perhaps the whistle's shriek will disrupt their power."

"This is what I am made for.  I say we cut directly North, off the track-I can move swiftly and silently enough to avoid any immediate danger in the wilderness.  

As far as entry to the Halls- I would have suggested bargaining with the moronic goblinoids rather than hacking a way through, but I seem to be outvoted in any case.  I leave it up to the group.  If you think we can deal with the cultists, so be it."

He looks at Donovan- "I can be careful with the whistle.  I'll scout, say, ten minutes ahead, how does that sound to everyone?"

Aiden shrugs "Makes no nevermind to me, either way most of the approach is the same, we can always revisit the issue when we are closer". The party continues forward, after the outskirts of town end you shift off the road heading straight north. The area is sparsely wooded and a creek runs to your west headed south toward town. By mid day the ground is beginning to rise slightly and the woods have become thick, the ground is damp and thick tangling briar bushes wrap around the base of many of the trees.

As evening approaches the clouds have thickened, and a steady rain is starting to fall. The chill is increasing and the forest has grown to an incredible thickness and its canopy has begun to smother all vestiges of the failing light. The creek babbles gently nearby and from time to time the distant rustling of wildlife can be heard. It is hard to escape the sensation that the forest is watching you.