Ferg stops before Haldeen leaves and takes out a paper and ink.  He sets up on the back of the open wagon gate and writes a quick note.  He then walks over to Haldeen and hands it to her, giving her a quick hug and saying "When it is safe and there are no others around, give this to Arc"  The note is very basic.  It says:

We have decided not to move toward Effulgyn's home town but are continuing on to Kindermarsh for our original purposes.  If you are able to get away you can either hide out somewhere around here and we will check with Haldeen on the way back, or you can find your own way to Kindermarsh.  Either way be careful and we hope to hear from you.  You are always welcome. Your friends from the academy.

Ferg sends Parson to fly high enough to be mostly out of sight and he will sit in the cart or walk beside it, depending on how tired he is.

Haldeen hugs Ferg back, squeezing his shoulders tightly, and letting him go without a word. 

Effulgyn has already started to roll away so Ferg has to jog back to the cart. There is a sullen but determined silence in among the remaining company, as each reflects on what they've learned, and what they've lost so far. But perhaps there is also hope--Haldeen had said the fights don't lead to death hadn't she? And Ash, with his Jastracan past--fighting is literally in his blood. Surely he can handle whatever small town adversary these Rabbitfolk can muster. Surely. 

OOC Effulgyn, as you come up to the fork in the road leading you back on the main road south,  can I get an animal handling check from you to see how Asterix handles the trip out of Beres?

Effulgyn - Animal Handling 18

Asterix seems in no particular rush and takes the right turn a little wider than she needs to but otherwise she seems happy to be back on the road. 

There are a few additional buildings to see as you leave Beres--small, tidy, mostly nondescript structures on either side of the road. There are very few people out and about, which seems odd for a Saturday afternoon. Merchant's Mile in The Commons would be absolutely bursting with activity--there would be entertainers busking for coppers, folks selling handmade components pouches in small stalls on the corners of streets, other folks selling baked goods infused with small amounts of different homebrew potions of the maker's own design. (Tatty's Tinted Tasties are popular, for instance, among those seeking a little oomph in their day). 

But there is nothing like that here. It's like you're leaving a town that's bracing itself and I can only imagine that some of you can't get out of there fast enough. 

Ferg is interested in what the mindset of those they are seeing.  If they get close enough to talk with someone he will instruct Effulgyn to stop so he can ask a few questions. 

If there is no one near the road then Ferg will let it pass and they will continue on towards KinderMarsh.

You see two women enter a small establishment on the left side of the road--they both wear leather and are armed with shortbows which they have hanging casually on their backs. You could wait for them to come out if you wish. 

Otherwise, coming down the road is a half-orc dressed in farming attire, and wearing a straw hat. It looks fairly ridiculous on him but does keep the sun out of his eyes. He is leading a cart but you can't tell what's in it. 

You can't tell who might be further down the road just yet but you can elect to wait if you wish. 

Arc says "Lets continue on. We can keep an eye on them as we pass"

"Agreed." Fin was particularly down since leaving Ash, but tried to keep an eye out around him. "Best we press forward and not make unnecessary stops."

Effulgyn nods a hello as they pass. ‘A farmer like meself.’

Without missing a beat the farmer nods. 

"Yellow at the Inn," he says without looking at you, or slowing his steady pace down the road. 

Arc turns to Effulgyn and quietly says "That was a strange reply. Do you think it had anything to do with the reading?"

"Peach!," yells Effulgyn over his shoulder, and keeps going. To Arc, the halfling nods, quirking his eyebrow. "That's what I think too?" He casts a long glance over his shoulder. 'But...Yellow?' Is it possible for Effulgyn, craning his neck, to see what is in the half-orc's cart? Perception 12

Ferg sends Parson to fly over the Orc for a bit and watch.  Not close enough to be seen but just to get a general look.  Perception for Parson if needed: 8

He listens to the other.  "I suppose we should continue moving.  Just wanting to know what's in the air"  He continues to watch as Parson floats above the Orc

The farmer continues on his way, ignoring Effulgyn's shouting. But he is not trying to get anywhere fast, and so you all have full sight of his cart--it seems laden with vegetables. 

Parson follows the half-orc as instructed, and provides Ferg with the following telepathic images:

1. The farmer is missing a white button on his shirt and has closed it with a flower-shaped pin of roughly the same colour.
2. He has a bit of green food or gunk or something in the left corner of his mouth.
3. There is a hole in the toe of one of his shoes, caused, ostensibly, by a very long toe nail. 

Ferg is satisfied and tells the others what he sees and says "Everything is fine.  We should continue on"

There is not another person or creature to be seen as you continue down the road. Not many of the buildings have signs indicating what they might be but in some cases it's pretty obvious - one of the last ones to the left, as an example, is obviously housed by a coffin-maker based on the stacks of thin-wood coffins sitting against its painted black boards. 

To your right and up ahead is a building that stands out because it is so cheerfully painted a nice perriwinkle blue with yellow trim. As you get closer you start to guess it might be an inn-- a real one, with rooms for boarding. Indeed, there is a large swinging sign hanging just the entrance, too far still to read, but compared to all of the buildings you have seen so far in Beres, this one is by far the prettiest and well taken care of. 

As you approach, you realize there is actually a small group of people gathered around this pretty blue building. Again, too hard to make out much about them but they are humanoid, and--a lot of them are wearing yellow. 

(OOC: trying to remember the significance of wearing yellow.)  

Ferg sends Parson to fly closer to the group to check things out.  "Hey gentlemen, what do you think is happening here?  Interesting place"

Effulgyn squints, trying to make out if those outside the periwinkle building are rabbit folk. “I see that single colors are the fashion trend around here. Nothin a country person like m’self would know about…”

”Are these more rabbit folk do ye think, mates?”

The halfling clicks his tongue and keeps Asterix moving forward toward the crowd.