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"Barkas, how do you feel about dragons?", T'laren ask from his position by a tree, the wood elf inspecting his arrows.

Barkas looks at T’laren with a concerned look on his face, rubbing his beard and chin.  “Dunno about tha, I’ve never messed with one.  I guess ya can if ya have a death wish.  I suppose if you had a strong enough crew … I have no idea, I’ve never talked to one or fought one before.  Whysat, are we about to tangle with one?”   Barkas is considering, starts shifting side to side, popping his knuckles and fiddling with his fingers.  

Then he hears the tale from Keashirryl, staying silent and nodding.  He stands when Gundren says his goodbyes, grabbing him by the forearm and giving him a handshake.  “Best o luck to ya, safe travels back to Phandalin.  I have a feeling that our business together isn’t done yet.  I’ve seen strange patterns marked on my map around Phandalin, I think there is more to be seen there and I’ll see you soon.”  He sits back down, chewing his lip, scratching his beard.  He takes out his star map, lying it on the ground.  He uses his hands to measure locations, drawing between different spots, nodding to himself.  “Aye, it seems to be my path.  Guess you’ll find what stuff you’re made of Barkas.”  He reaches down to his backpack and beyond his brewing equipment to a custom made spout and liquid container at the bottom of the pack.  “Those fools at Cragmaw didn’t find another key item in my pack.  My storage of ale!  Hah!”  He dusts off a mug and puts it under the spout, pouring out an ale and taking a sip, contemplating.  

“Ok.  Time to test my mettle.  I owe ya for saving my arse back there.  I’ll go with ye on any path ye wish, it is destined it is.  To Thundertree and parley with a dragon.”  His stout body gives a subtle shiver when he says it.  “I’m with ya.  Look, it says it right here!”  He points down to the map, noting several constellations and distances between several points.   You look at the map and see nothing of any meaning.

"Well, as long as you're better than Droop at navigating...", T'laren says wryly.

He shakes hands with Garrin, Keashirryl and Gundren, promising to see the latter two when they return to Phandalin, and wishing Garrin well in his retirement.

Quote from Spiderwrangler >>

"Well, as long as you're better than Droop at navigating...", T'laren says wryly.

(LMAO)

Keashirryl, Garrin and Gundren Rockseeker don't wait for morning, instead setting off to the south/southwest in the direction of Phandalin under cover of darkness.

Do the three of you wait for morning?  Or press on toward the ruins of Thundertree through the Neverwinter Wood at night?

((T'laren's good to push on if the others are on board, he got most of his stuff back with the short rest, and only needs 4 hours once they do stop, but if pushing on means that others are needing to sleep in until midday, we might as well take our long rest now.))

(I say if we are out of danger, might as well take a long rest while we can.)

((Agree with a long rest here if safe and then on to Thundertree in the morning?))

[Taking a long rest here is as safe as any long rest taken in a nighttime sylvan forest full of goblins, monsters and the unknown.]

((If the two of you alternate to cover the last 4 hours of a long rest, T'laren will take the first 4 hour shift.))

(Droknin can take the last hour)

Perception: 7

The night passes without incident, and as you complete your rest the sun is lightening the eastern horizon.

Since Droknin is already awaken, you know Leonins really never sleep, he has already his stuff packed and he is ready to go.

The day's travel passes smoothly and without incident.  The air is brisk enough for you to see you breath as you pass beneath the tall pines of the Neverwinter Wood, retracing your steps from the previous day back toward the ruins of Thundertree.  You arrive on the outskirts of the remains of the settlement in the late afternoon.

All is quiet.  The cottage where the dragon cultists had been staying is now dark and deserted.

“You say there’s a dragon here?  Have you already scouted round the place?  Whas the dragon’s name, and who best to parley with it?”  Barkas is checking his star map, looking for guidance, and seems uneasy about the prospect.  

"Venonfag, I believe that's what she called herself." Droknin gets closer to Twombley. "I believe she's a little full of herself, to tell you the truth. Also, last we heard from the Green Dragon is hurt from a fight with another Dragon. Actually, that dragon happens to be her cousin. You know the deal, family squabbles..." He takes a few steps towards the Reidoth's Cottage. "There is a Druid that lives in these ruins. We should visit him first."

“Excellent!  Reidoth eh?  Perhaps we can exchange beer recipes.  And he might know about this Venomthing, you think?  Let’s go..”. Barkas starts to walk in the direction of the Druid’s house as indicated by Droknin.  ((Changing to green.))

"It seems he has a tense standoff with the dragon.", T'laren says wryly.

(T'laren wonders if Barky is trying to imitate his wood elf accent. 😆)

(Just confirming. We good checking on the Ol' Druid first?)

((Barkas would be excited to meet a fellow Druid, much more excited about that than meeting a dragon.  He’s ready to go!))