You do not find any survivors. Four dead bandits. You find on them leather armor with short swords. They have a couple bows with 24 arrows inside the way station. You also find 30 gold, 58 silver and 102 copper in coins inside along with some jewelry. On the largest bandit you find a note. It says, "Four traveling east soon" The handwriting appears as if well educated person has written it from the fancy flowing script.
Durgan is worried and shows the note only to Zork. They conspire in whispers to figure out its source. They hatch a plan, Zork asks the clerics to record all the spoils from the bandits so it can be split evenly. Then Durgan will be asked to check it, secretly comparing the handwriting with the writing on the note.
One of the clerics writes down the spoils as the other cleric goes over everything and confirms it is written down and then signs to confirm the accuracy of the items. They both tell you the jewelry is cheaply made and not worth much maybe a few copper but it could be valuable to those who lost it.
When you compare the handwriting it is no where close to the flowing script of the note.
Durgan announces to the two clerics, "You forgot one thing. There's this concerning note I found. We are going to have to double time it to the temple. Do you know who could have written it? Is anybody at the temple particularly suspicious, or didn't like me when I came in?"
The two clerics look at the note closely. They look at you and tell you that the handwriting appears to be from the cities scribe office. They have had the scribes copy some tomes for them and the handwriting looks very familiar. They do not recall any one wanting to harm you that they know.
"It could be anyone then," Durgan talks as he ties up the horse and mules outside. "The only way to check would be at the office. It could also be the anyone at the tavern, but I didn't talk to anyone there.
"Either way, we should all rest up as we will try to travel fast tomorrow. Same watches as yesterday?"
"Hmmm..." Zork looks at Durgan with a confused look about the note.
They take the same watches during the night. After an early and quick breakfast and prayers, they pack the loot into the mules and plan to head off at a faster pace, skipping one lodge and aiming to rest at the one after it.
The next day the weather is cold with a wind blowing out of the west. You set a hard quick pace to make two days into one. It is a hour after sundown when you can see the darker outline of the second way station ahead. Everyone is fatigued and ready for a good night of rest.
Durgan, having been riding, at least had some energy left and he has his mace out as he knocks and pushes the door of the hut.
If nothing is inside, they perform the same set of watches.