"Um... just traveling through?" replied Roland cautiously. He didn't keep his voice low, but he didn't overtly try to awaken his comrades--yet.

"We're really not looking for trouble, although the local monkeys might disagree," he continued as he scrutinized the strange creature. "I take it you're passing through as well?"

"Ah travelers. No I am not passing through. You see my people are about 2 days from here and I am on patrol. Now we have marked our borders with signs. I ask that if you head north to go around. My people don't take kindly to strangers. Especially after the last group." says the Myconid.

Roland's curiosity got the better of him. "That sounds terrible," he began as a preface. "If I may ask, what happened with the last group?"

The myconid lets out a heavy sigh. "You see the quickest way to the northern side of the island is through the valley where my people settled long ago. Going around means traversing harsh rocky crags, encountering giant ant nests, and mountainous region. So my elders allowed travelers to pass through our lands with an escort. Not too long ago a band of adventurers came through and they killed their escort after they found some ruin." The myconid shakes with anger and then he looks to Roland "My apologies. Just thinking about it gets me so .... Anyway just be careful as you head deeper into the jungle"

(Are Zhernon and Twig there with them?)

Everyone is there at the campsite. You can say you awoke because you heard the myconid talking.

Zhernon will sleepily mention something about "tell them about the curse, the coin" and try to focus on them.

Twig is fast asleep.

Quote from Gnomesftw >>

Zhernon will sleepily mention something about "tell them about the curse, the coin" and try to focus on them.

Roland's eyebrow raised. He had tried to be discreet, and hadn't mentioned their purpose; but perhaps the traveler could be of assistance?

"Well, we're only here to deliver an item to rid ourselves of a curse," began the farmboy. "We have no intention of harming anyone. If anything, we might be able to use an escort if you'd rather keep an eye on us. Do you know anything about 'She Who Slumbers?'"

(( Roland will also fill in details on the curse-maker as necessary; it's rather late and I seem to be forgetting them, lol ))

Tilsu is asleep as well.

The myconid takes a hard look at Roland. " I don't know much about curses. In regards to letting you through our village, the answer is most likely no, but I can always ask my elders" The myconid's hand moves to the hilt of his fungal sword "I truly hope you do not betray me or that will be the last thing you do. Get some rest we leave before first light"

Twig mutters something in her sleep as she rolls over and curls up into a ball.

Roland stays up the remainder of his watch, then fills in the next person on their situation--how their new "escort" will try to help them get through the myconid village. Of course, he'll trust whoever is next on watch, and promptly fall back asleep.

The rest of the night is uneventful. At an hour before dawn the myconid shouts "Wake up! Its time to move out!"

Zhernon hops up and is ready to head out whenever.

Roland rubbed the sleep out of his eyes as he got up and prepared to move out.

Tilsu wakes up to see the mushroom man and looks to the others before asking, "Was the fungus man always here or had he just joined us recently? Because I'm sure I would have remembered meeting one."

"He... showed up last night," replied Roland with a sheepish grin. "Seems genuine enough, offered to escort us through his city." He leaned in a bit closer and lowered his voice. "Apparently they've had trouble with strangers before, and might not trust us. So even though he doesn't seem to know anything about the curse, if he can help us stay in the good graces of the locals, he might just make a valuable ally."

Twig yawns then blinks, looking at the mushroom man, "That is the biggest mushroom I've ever seen!" She says sleepily.

"You can call me Heric now lets go" says the Myconid.

The party travels on for the next day. The jungle gives way to more rocky terrain and the party descends down a narrow chasm. On the second day in the late morning Heric stops and raises his hand to halt the party "There is danger ahead. I can feel it" Heric then looks to the party. "I need someone to scout ahead. Who will it be?"