Number one wins by a landslide. Investigation it is then.
9 – An investigation on the road
You decide to investigate the site of the ambush, in order to try to discover some more clues.
The caravan was clearly on its way back to Batik, and the more you look at the dead, the more you think they were ambushed. Some of the people seem to have been killed face to face, and considering they were not armed, you think that means they were surrounded. You doubt an unarmed person would try to face off against an armed opponent unless cornered.
More interesting is that the two caravan guards have been hit multiple times from multiple angles. Their leather armor is torn, and you think some of those wounds should have killed them quickly. Yet they have multiple wounds, as if they have been stabbed at the same time by more than one opponent. This makes you think the caravan was outnumbered at least 2 to 1, though of course you could be wrong.
And also there is that body almost cut in two. You look at it well, but whoever did it must have been extremely strong. And using a big weapon, possible of high quality since the cut seems very clean...
You then proceed to inspect the carts. They have been destroyed brutally, and everything of value has been taken away. You notice though that the food has been left here to rot. This is weird, really weird. No matter who attacked this caravan, they should have taken the food. We're in the middle of nowhere, and the caravan was going back in the autumn. Surely some food would have been helpful to the attackers right? So why did they leave it here? Something is not right here....
You decide to try to inspect a wider zone around the caravan. Maybe you can find some useful clues....
It takes a few hours, but eventually you find something very interesting. In a small clearing near the road, hidden by thick bushes, you find traces most likely belonging to the ambushers. Evidently, they attacked the caravan after a rainy day, and the terrain was muddy. Somehow, it must have been hot after that, and the earth solidified and retained their footprints. Not even the snow erased them all, and you find quite a few.
There are two things here that worry you. First, there are quite a few marks of hooves. You think at least four or five beasts, and from their size you think they are horses. This is not common at all in these parts, horses up here are only in the hands of the army.
But the second thing is the true problem. You examine the footprints, and notice how deep they all are, and how well defined and regular. These were not left by leather shoes. No, most definitely not. Though you never saw it in person, you are sure that such deep, regular footprints can only be left by metal boots. You remember the words of your father, as he talked to you about his life in the outer world. Hunters, bandits, scouts, even the army uses leather boots. After all, they are comfortable, an absolute necessity when one has to march for long days. And even more so when it is necessary to cross rough terrain, like around here.
There are only two exceptions to this. Heavy cavalry, and heavy infantry. What could a group of heavy infantry want by coming here and attacking a caravan? This is not normal at all....
What shall you do with this knowledge? (semi-open choice)
1) Go back to Tulik, warn the village of what you saw.
2) Keep following the plan, travel south on the path another day or two, then go to the small ruin
3) Immediately cut west through the forest, then go to the ruins and follow the original plan. Avoid this cart path for now
4) Other. As it's a semi-open choice, make a proposal and put a number on it.
