--- Adventure 1 ---

Drogo's face was still a ghastly white. A welcome change maybe, after the blush that didn't seem to ever leave him.

"But... what if there are... other things like this on the road?" he said quietly and motioned to the dead ra'azac. "I mean... it's not like I'm afraid", he now a seemed a bit more resolute, though frankly speaking he was very afraid and he had good reason to be. He arranged the belt and the pouches haning from it and re-arranged the bagstrap on his shoulder. "But my magic doesn't really help me against... those."

Thorn watched him thoughtfully for a few moments. 'Well... I suppose you'll have to count on others."

He turned to the Barbarian. "Duro'than... could you lift this little rock?" he asked, stroking the boulder on which he had sat. "Just enough so I can shove this ugly guy underneath:, he said, poking the dead ra'azac with his boot again.

"Nici o problema"

Se apropie de bolovan, il apuca bine si il ridica fara prea mult efort. Nu ar fi fost oricum mare lucru sa-l ridice dar abia astepta sa scape de creatura aceea dezgustatoare.

"Daca nu atrageam atentia prea mult, eu as fi propus s-o ardem"

Se-ntoarse. Se căţără pe o creangă a unui copac , aştept

Thorn laughed. "That's not the most pleasant thing in the world... ra'azac roast." He kicked the dead body under the boulder, with as much stained snow to go with it as possible. Then he scattered some fresh snow where the blood had melted it away. "Thanks."

He surveyed the scene and muttered to himself. "Not the best track covering job I've done. Still, better than nothing. These things stink anyway, and i doubt any grass'll grow here in spring. With a little luck on our side and a little carelessness on whoever's following us... it should do."

He frowned in disgust and headed on.

Though Rissa was caught in her landscape viewing, a putrid smell was offending her nostrils. But she was already too late: Thorn took out his dagger and the Barbarian worked with a rock. "I can do that too" she barked almost silently, somewhat upset that she wasn't quick enough to see the act.

Ias was by nature a cold, slow nature. If it wasn't a scythe handle in the head or a heavy tome in the face, the chances were almost inexistant that he would struggle to use the weapon's blade or theeth and horns. Magic was his forte - the silent magic. As there was no real danger, he was happy to be near the center of the scene when Thorn was already not pleased about their poor track-hidding. Ias was not touched at all by the horrible smell. He grinned in a shiver of emotion:

"May *I* suggest some *other* use for this... mmm... *thing*?"

She couldn't rezist anymore. Her thoughts were annoying . She decided to jump of the tree , near Rissa.

*I have to exchange a few words with her... maybe...*

Then , in a hushed tone , she said :

" Is there something wrong , Rissa? "

The presence of the dark horse intrigued Rissa, but while she tried to read between the lines of what Ias had just said, her chain of thoughts was interupted by Angy.

"No, not really... but what did I just miss around here?"

"Well... Thorn just killed this... eh..thing. He says that there are more like it around here , so we must be careful."

She looked at Ias for a couple of seconds , then said :

"Strange fellow , isn't he?"

"This stinking bird smells worse than after a wyvern raiding party... ugh..." Rissa finally was forced to cover her nostrils.

After a moment of silence and hard-breathing, she waved her hands and summoned forth a small flame.

"Fire magics do not match with stench, but it will help in getting rid of the rest". Then she threw this onto the blood stain and melted the snow away, togheter with the blood, all the dirty mixture infusing the earth beneath and somewhat cleaning the air.

"Oh... he doesn't seem deranged by all this ofending smell... Does he?"