In Character: "Then let us try to hunt down the remaining halfling bandit first. Sabine the Gatekeeper told us that she would send out a patrol to check the site - maybe we should volunteer to join it. I could easily find the ambush site again, but I'm no tracker and halflings leave little trace. Maybe we should ask the advice of the woodsman Cob, who provided that fine-smelling boar you're eating." Then observing at Rethal's weathered look and sharp eye, Gervase adds, "But maybe you could lead us yourself, Rethal?"
Aseneth suggests, "Well, I think we're all agreed that we need to find this 'evil cult'. May I suggest that we get a good night's rest and all meet at the gatehouse first thing in the morning? Then we can find out from Sabine what the patrol found at your bandit site and maybe start there in our search?"
If there are no replies to this post by 6pm eastern or if I get everybody's response in agreement, I'll assume that everybody agrees with the plan and pick it up from there.
"Sounds good to me. I'm going to spend the evening buying drinks and telling Bambur stories. You are welcome to join me. If not I'll see you in the morning. "
The next morning, you all meet at the gatehouse. Sabine is just arriving for her shift. She tells you that the patrol found a spot up the road, about six miles, that appeared to have an altercation, but no bodies were found, halfling or otherwise.
Heading out of the keep, you turn east on the main road heading back to the location where you were accosted by the halfings. The road travels due east for about a 1/2 mile before turning to a northerly direction. After another 1/4 mile, Rethal's sharp eyes spot a game trail heading north west off of the road. His instincts and experience tell him that this trail has been used by more than game and as he explains the details, it becomes easy to see that he's correct.
"Renthal, do you want us to follow you closely or some distance behind you? I have often been told that subtlety and silence are not Dwarven strong points."