looking around at the ruined city. Oko will search the area near the Baily picked for a usable shelter. The troop barracks, looked good. Near the stables and with a fire place, plenty of dry wood for a smokeless fire and some usable cots.

"I think this place will worrk and it does have a rroof and beds. I would not trrust the casstel proper since it looks to have been hit harrd. Having the roof caving in on us is not a nice thought"

"the Towerrs are attractive but too noticable and given the damage on the lower levels make them not a good choice."

"Agreed we can mage this area do for the night." Let me get started on cleaning up the place and getting a fire started.

The cots were nothing more than frames holding moldy old straw. The whoile place has bee in ruinds foir some time and on closer inspection none of the building looked any good. even the stables.

At least they could build a fire well out of direct sight and maybe, if luck were with them, enough dry wood so that there would be no smoke.

"Ugh." Morglin said as she walked into the ruined building. That is not fit for rats let alone people. She tutted and then with a snap of her finger sent a whirling dust devil out to sweep up the place. Unfortunately the dust flew into the air and not all was captured by her dustdevil.

After coughing several times to slear her nose and lungs. Moraglin banish the creation and let dust settle. "A...A...Choooo, achoo," Moraglin sneezed several times to clear her throat. .


Moraglin unrolled her carpet and laid her bedroll on top of it.

"There is not way I am sleeping on that floor or a pile of moldy straw.

Did she apologized for the clous of dust--no, not Moraglin.

As the group tried to come up with suitable places to rest a musty smell mixed with that of unwashed bodies wafted abouot the ruins. Moraglin and Oko caught scent of it first and then Dae and Zara were alerted to the scent. It seemed to drift about the ruins from the prevailing breezes that blew. It soon became apparent that it was intensifying.

"We have company," Moraglin states simply. "The great unwashed by their stench."

Moraglin rises and bags her bedroll and carpet. taking out her wand and holding it ready. She cst a glance about the room deciding quickly where she might take cover but not get herself into a corner. Somewhere she could bolt from in case of need. She didn't doubt her own abilities but situation could arise that would forced flight rather that face overwhelming odds.

Dae did't like the idea of being caught in htese old ruins. It would be too easy to bring the remnants down on top of them.

"I say we make a run for it. Mount up and we will take off. Moraglin can you make some sort of fog or wall that will take them time to get through."

"On fog coming up she says even as she reaches for the obsidian statue of the destrier. When she sets s it down and commands it "Bran-der-zat". The statue rides up under her."

"Everyone gather in close and keep together. Ir won't do to get us all lost.

She then cast her wall of fog in the direction of the smell and sets off in the opposite direction. Which with the breeze that was blowing will move the fog in the direction they are headed keeping their foes in the dark, so to speak, for a longer interval.

The small band takes off through the ruins. They had to move slowly where tumbled walls blocked parts of the streets. Zara was leading, when she suddenly halted as they came to what look like a great gateway.

"Its a magical gate," called Zara, "and it is working."

"Well we can rrisk going or die from the horrde that is apprrroaching us. I will do my best to prrotect my team mates, but the shear numberrs arre beyond my ability to best. I think I can take at least half with me." A feral grin is seen on Oko's face and a steely glint is in his narrowed eyes as he assesses the approaching horde of orcs.

Shadow taking his cue's from his rider is battle ready ears forward. and each step he takes as Oko moves to a position that will place him between the orc's and the rest of the group is taken with deadly precision and determination.