Thriv scratched his chin. Maybe she was right... but a town was a town, and it was worth having a look. Still, something definitely bothered him about the town, though he couldn't put his finger on it...
As the pair (or quartet, if one decided to count the horses) neared the town- or village, as that might have been the more appropriate term for the relatively small gathering of houses before them- the problem became abundantly clear. "They're huge," Thriv said, staring at the houses which were all twice the size of a human home at minimum. It was almost as if they'd been built for giants... or ogres. Thriv gulped at the thought.
Perhaps it was fortunate for them that none of the village's inhabitants were anywhere in sight. The road down to the village was completely clear, and the knight couldn't make out any signs of movement within no matter how hard he squinted. "I... don't think those are human houses, but..." Thriv looked to either side of the road and noted that it rose to a sharp incline on either side. No going around. Hrm... a suspicious village positioned at the perfect place to discourage finding a different route... something told the young man this was a trap. "...We don't have many other choices."
He was about to suggest turning back and trying to find another way when a booming voice rang out from the hill above them. "Travelers! Guests! Welcome strangers! Not many new faces around here!" The speech was somewhat slow and rough, as if the speaker had to slow to think about what he was saying, but it was certainly a decent example of the common trader's tongue. More importantly, looking up revealed the speaker to be a decent example of an ogre... and an even larger one than the pair they'd confronted before.
The large creature gave a hop, and half slid, half jumped down the slope behind them. The ogre gave a broad grin and a laugh. He was better clothed than the others had been, at least. Where Mug and Crug had simply been covered by crude loincloths, this ogre wore a (very large) set of simple pants... though he still went bare-chested. "What brings ya here? Come, come. You're tired, of course. I can get you food, a bed, rest!" The ogre didn't seem to want to take no for an answer, as he caught all of them up with his massive arms and pushed them along with him.
Perhaps one would have expected Thriv and Spire to fight, or flee, or something, but both of them seemed perfectly okay with the situation. Oh, sure, Thriv was a little nervous, but he'd heard rumors of monstrous races who'd settled down and built peaceful lives, and this ogre seemed to fit the bill. Besides, what was he going to do if he wasn't? The ogre could crush him like a bug before he even drew his sword. Spire, whatever his reasons, wouldn't have run if Elizabeth had told him to- though he did walk slightly ahead of the pushing arm for comfort's sake.