Harbin chuckles.   "No wagons.  It's not that big of a lumber camp, and not that big of a supply run.  Just a single cart loaded with replacement saw blades and rope, flour, lard, salted beef, pork, and root vegetables, and a few barrels of wine.  Oh," he snaps his fingers.  "And they'll be wanting some extra blankets and sleeping bags, I'm sure, with the seasons changing."

[If it's decided then, is there anything else the party needs to do in town before we venture again into the wilds?]

((T'laren is good on arrows, I don't think I ended up tracking rations on our excursion, he had ten when he left town last, so will buy enough to get back up to ten again. I can't recall if we asked after healing potions in town before, but if someone was selling, he'd pick up one or two. Otherwise I don't think he has any necessary purchases unless/until someone has something with magic to sell.))

(Droknin is ready to go!!)

Before the morning is over, Townmaster Wester has the shipment to the Neverwinter Wood lumber camp ready to travel.  A single cart is piled high with goods and covered with a canvass tarp, tied down with leather straps.  A seasoned and grizzled mule is latched to the wagon and a grey-haired teamster leads the beast.  Two of the local militia members volunteer to accompany the troupe, a middle-aged horsegroom named Jeem and a teenaged farmhand form the local apple-orchard by the name of Rickby.  

As the group walks north out of Phandalin, Rickby pulls something from his knapsack and holds it up to Droknin.  "Excuse me, sir lion.  Could I get an autograph?"  Looking at the piece of paper proffered by the boy, Droknin sees an old, torn wanted poster.  

Barkas looks over his shoulder, seeing the drawing and breaks out laughing.  “Hah hah heee!  Why don’tcha draw in some icicles on that mane from sleepin out in the cold and bad weather!  Hah!”  Barkas pulls out his pen and starts to draw bad air coming out of the Leonin’s backside, but stops short, chuckling, and puts it away.  “Lead on!  Adventure awaits!  Never woulda predicted this… guard duty.  Hah!”

Aranea peers over Rickby's shoulder to see what's on the parchment, and she too lets out a chuckle. "Oh my," she says. "The likeness is uncanny."

As they travel back into the Neverwinter Wood, the investigator keeps her eyes peeled for signs of anyone else on the road, whether it be more orcs, goblins, or who knows what else. This region certainly didn't lack for danger.

Perception - 21

The day's travel is uneventful, as the teamster drives the mule onward, eager to put miles behind you while you have daylight.  

The group reaches the spot where the little trail to Phandalin branches off from the Triboar Trail, and then you continue north - northwest, overland, toward the southwest edge of the Neverwinter Wood.  Though not readily visible, there are signs of an old trail here, and the cart is able to traverse the hills and fields slightly easier than it could on wild ground.  As the sun draws low in the western skies, you come close to the edge of the Wood and make camp.  

As dusk settles in, a herd of 16 elk emerge from the forest to graze, aware of your presence and somehow knowing enough to keep themselves just out of bow range.  The bugling calls of the dominant stag ring through the cold evening sky as Rickby gathers loose deadwood and Jeem gets a campfire going.

[Will you set a watch?  Will you utilize the NPCs with watch shifts or take them all for the PCs?]

"Ahh, of course young man." Droknin puts his right paw on a muddy spot on the ground, then leaves a mark on the lower corner of the paper. He displays proudly to the group. "You see? I didn't know that I am famous!" He give the paper back to the young man, and whispers to him. "Make sure to save that paper, it will be worth a fortune in the future!!" (Droknin will take last watch)

Aranea admires the beauty of the elf. She wishes for a moment that she was back in her quarters of the Wintershield Watchmen, where she has plenty of ink and parchment. She might try to draw these magnificent creatures. Instead she volunteers to take the first watch.

T'laren starts feeling a bit uncomfortable as Aranea keeps looking at him admiringly, but it's only when he gets up and moves around to the side that he realizes she'd been admiring the elk.

He can't help but feel a bit relieved that she wasn't eyeing him that longingly.

((T'laren can take a middle of the night watch, he'll trance now and wake in four hours for his watch. He may stay up with Droknin, if that's the case.)) 

Barkas will take any remaining shift, setting up his wort chiller and brewing equipment to continue his work, then sitting and contemplating his charts while he awaits his shift.  

((Whoops.  Pardon my post.))

T'laren Perception check when it's needed: 18, and disadvantage if it's needed due to visibility: 8.

The evening watches pass without incident.  The younger of the militia members sits up to join Aranea on first watch, asking a few questions about the 'big city' of Neverwinter while he peers out at the cold darkness with his crossbow.  

At some point after midnight, the elk herd disperses, returning back into the dark depths of Neverwinter Wood and leaving the travelers alone on the grassy plains.  

Dawn arrives, cold but still, with no more of the biting north wind from the day before.  

The groups has good spirits as they break camp, with even the grizzled old mule seeming to pick its way through the fields with an extra spring in its step.  

Droknin stays ahead of the wagon.

T'laren will walk with Droknin for a bit, ranging further ahead to scout the trail with Neral't occasionally before falling back to share any upcoming things of note.

Barkas walks along whistling a tune, picking up three stones and trying to learn to juggle them easily…

The party reaches the place on the map where the area where the white dragon was seen digging is roughly due west.

The two militia members and the old teamster pause.  They are curious if you planned for them to wait for you here, or if they should continue north to the lumber camp without you?  

Based on distances on the maps, it looks like it will take at least half a day to travel to the site and come back, though it could be longer depending on how long you spend there.

(I thought we are taking the wagon to its destination, then heading to the other places.)