After a few minutes in the stables you hear the pounding of four horses as they head south.

The whole tone of day is made brighter by the sun which decides to come out and a rather pleasant day happens in spite of a rainy start. That tone is muted somewhat later in the afternoon when word of another murder, this time to the east makes its way into town.

It seems a young guide to the east from the small hamlet of Tinder killed his wife and young daughter and has vanished. Tinder is a day and half east and this news along with the weaver's story has succeeded in making people nervous. The large southern farm is farther away and many here have never gotten there, but Tinder is a common stop for many in the area and the young man in question (Lees is the name if you remember rightly, may have even met him once) is fairly well known for his hunting skill and peaceful nature.

Two men (maybe guides themselves) are looking for able-bodied men to help look and bring the young man to justice.

Pots washed the dishes early, before dinner. The young man seemed serious for once. He hadn't told Tulleen, but he planned on volunteering for the search. Twip had already packed his modest bedroll. Gilgamesh had laid out his ironwood buckler, his round metal skullcap and traveling cloak. Goat Tooth's red-painted blade gleamed with a coat of fresh oil; the forktooth blade rested atop a leather satchel of round river stones.

Pots knew the two lads would be in the tavern that evening, and that they might even leave that night. But Pots always traveled light; such was the fate of exiles. As soon as he settled accounts with Tulleen's da, Portentis would be ready for the road.

He hadn't given much thought on what to say to the barmaid. Gil fancied her a bit, but he had a job to do. Regardless of clan, all canyonlanders swore allegiance to the King. While his peasants were in danger, it was the duty of any sword-bearing man to keep them safe.

Truth be told, something about the killings unsettled Pots. A widow weaver, a cheerful young guide... these were not killers by trade. A cold shiver ran up the Southerner's spine as he recalled Sir Romi's words: "Dammit Healand, you don't know how these things start do you?"

Had the cloaked men really been spies? Had they passed through the southern farm and Tinder? Perhaps they were the cause of these grisly murders, or perhaps they were fleeing the advance of something far more sinister.

What had started here, indeed?

Just before dusk and after a good bit of grub for the road...the two men move to pack up and leave. They've only been in town for half-a-day and have warned most of the surrounding area to be on the lookout for the rogue guide. The quest for those able to help in in finding this ghost in the woods has also been successful with three others able to help.

Twip mentions to them that you've also decided to help, so this makes a band of six going back to Tinder. The two mean (Ord and Lew) have suggested you all take slightly longer going back and actively search for him going back. This would be either three groups of two or two groups of three, Lew favors one and Ord the other.

Pots immediately casts his vote for two groups of three, each led by one of the scouts. He reminds them that this man knows the terrain, and he could easily take a pair by disabling the leader.

That points seems to hold sway and it is agreed that two groups of three is a safer course of action.
The two men (roughly the same age maybe 30?) are Ord and Lew, while they mention nothing of being related they look somewhat alike. They both clearly know the man involved and while horrified by his actions, they have much to gain by having him dealt with. With young families this has caused havok with the local community and most in Tinder are going armed day or night, and hunting in the woods and surrounding area has stopped except for larger groups. However, being larger group you can figure the noise alone might mean less meat on the table.
When they left, four groups were searching to the North, South, East and West of Tinder. Coming in from the west Lew says the two group might stray to the north and south of the road and search their way back into town. It will be slower, but you also may wind-up running into one of the other search parties and find out if they've had any success.
Ord mentions being careful, all of Tinder in on edge and you'll want to make sure that you don't get shot by a nervous hunter, the mad guide or a member of your own group.

(Ord and Lew seem fairly skilled, while maybe once men of the forest they have set down roots and now raise cattle and other staple farm animals...the steady income and ready food, beats the somewhat sketchy return you get as a ranger, guide or woodsman - whichever term you fancy)

As they set out, Pots strikes up a quiet conversation with Ord and Lew. "Does our quarry have any favorite places, lads?" the canyonlander asks. "A fishing hole or camp where he might have holed up? How much equipment did he take with him when he left his wife and daughter behind? Might not be long until he's forced to steal supplies..."

Gilgamesh was silently aware that their group was carrying supplies for six men, including bows, knives and swords. They were an attractive one-stop shop for the killer, especially if he were crazed beyond rational fear.

(Lew looks to Ord and scratches his three days of stubble)

"Yeah, he does have a few right spots. He's good at waiting...favors using blinds. Good at getting duck, goose, deer...anything with a bow."

Ord says, "But he ain't got his bow. Killed 'em with his knife and left. I saw his gear all laying in the front room of his place. He just killed his child and his wife and left. I ain't ever heard of nothin' like it."

The pleasant weather seems out of place with the serious nature of your journey. It gives a different tint to the world and it seems hard to believe that somewhere out there, two apparently model small town folk now run pursued as murderers.
Ord and Lew stop the party near a creek a short way out from town and water the horses. They then divide you into the two groups (You with Lew and a very young man named Hillock - he says he's 17, but you doubt it...on the plus side he's holding his bow properly and moves like someone older - who's spent a good deal of time outdoors)

OOC: Are we riding or walking? I'm assuming that we're riding because of the horses.

Pots pauses to fill a few skins in the creek. The dark-haired young man has tied back his hair in a rough braid, held in place by a piece of cured sinew. Although his satchel already holds ten good throwing stones, the short canyonlander can't resist a fist-sized river rock. Red was Pots' lucky color, at least as pitching rocks went. He tucks the smooth, rust-colored stone into his belt, just in case he needs to knock down a rabbit or perhaps brain a crazed murderer.

"So, Hillock, lad, if we're split from Lew, do you know how to reach the road or Tinder alone?" Pots queries with a serious tone. "I don't know these woods and don't fancy my chances if I'm lost."

OOC: you are indeed riding, although once off the road searching for this fellow you may be walking and leading your mounts if the brush, trees, etc. is too thick

Hillock turns and ernestly looks you in the eye, "Oh yes I do sir. I been raised here my whole life, mostly right in between the two villages. Me Da is older now and we've moved closer into town (motions behind him the way you've just come) so getting goods to market be easier. All me brothers can do good work now and he could spare me, plus I'm a better shot than he is now...although he ain't admitted it."

(the mood now you've split into two parties has gotten a little tenser, with everyone more on edge scanning to the left and right, and every noise is paid careful notice)