"I believe I am," said Irmiel pulling a particularly painful thorn from her forearm. "But I'll live. Provided no one else will try to eat us today. Well, now we know what killed elves in this place. Might as well leave as fast as we can."

Having pulled out the thorns, though still clearly wounded, Sistri stands again and comes over to Irmiel.  "Here, I can help a little," she says and she starts to chant a prayer asking Mielikki for aid in healing her friend before her.  She touches Irmiel gently on the shoulder as she casts Cure Wounds on her. (9 hp healed)

"How is that? Should get you feeling a bit better," she says with a smile. 

(you're several miles from the elven village at this point, it's unlikely these things did the village in)

Stallock has several bad gashes and also begins painfully pulling spikes out of himself...blood stains seeping into his clothes. He sheathes his blades and then glances around, "I'm sure nests like this exist. There are a lot of energies in the deep woods, and they can easily get out of control and awaken nests like this, or foster the growth of other creatures. Unfortunately these ones are hard to spot until they start moving. You all reacted really quickly though, so I think we avoided the worst of it." 

Grunting a bit, he puts down his bag.  The bones amidst the deadfall that made him pause are like stark white branches that jab up here or there.

(Does not mean it was not the same thing who killed elves! But I get the point.)

"Much better, thank you." Nodded Irmiel and immediately "oh-ed". "Ow, you should not have wasted it on me - you are way more wounded. And Stallok too." She pointed at their wounded guide and "tsk-ed". "Truly, the writer of the "Field magic 101" knew what he was talking about. "Mending" will be in high demand, it seems." Irmiel should her head. "Let me help at least with fixing the holes in clothes and armour. Are we staying here or searching for another spot? Would not want to run into a fresh nest of these horrors."

Irmiel could not heal the flesh wounds, but would gladly help to remove the blood stains and fix the pirsing holes.

Sistri glances at Llwyd, "Are you able to help a bit with some healing?"  She then replies to Irmiel with a smile, "I'm ok.  I still have some reserve healing I can use.  I just wanted to make sure you were alright first."  

"And yes Stallock, are we going to camp here?  Or perhaps move on a little bit?  Not sure what lurks in this forest, but could the flames and smoke attract attention?"

He could feel the Blight collapse under the weight of his arms, tore apart by his ursine claws. With no time to be surprised he looked around, inhaling the air in an attempt to notice any hidden, living, corrupted plant. Fortunately, there was none to be found. As adrenaline subsided, he felt splinters on his tongue. The first one left a present behind, deduced the satyr trying to spit as a bear. A vain effort soon abandoned in favor of trying to scrape the tongue with his paws. It took more time than anyone would like, but by the time he finished Sistri asked for help with healing.

“Of course. I didn’t use any more advanced s…” Before the druid could finish his sentence, the druid noticed something akin to confusion on his friend. Only then he noticed that he was speaking still transformed and to the rest of the group his ‘words’ where no more than incomprehensible groans. The realization was enough for him to release the Wild Shape. “My bad. The druids back home could understand what animals spoke so I could and used to speak with them while transformed.” Apologies made, he turn his eyes to the rest of the group. “I didn’t use more than a cantrip and a transformation in the fight, so I can heal to the best of my abilities. Anyone needing recovery, get here. I will use a spell that can cure wounds to some extent up to six times in a five cube space around itself, meaning either curing someone six times or six people at once. I will take at least one of those heals and we are better taking a short rest – without one I can only change into a beast once more and at least on my part, the wounds are more on the deeper side.”

Before an answer could be given he started whispering and his eyes once again flared green. Not far from the satyr a transparent owl, identical to that he had called in Suzail to deliver a message to Kris’ parents, appeared. He was fast to approach it.

Noes: Llwyd casts Healing Spirit, so anyone needing healing get close to the transparent owl. @DM, should I roll the d6s of the heals?

Sistri watches bemused at the bear making groans at her and the others. Once Llywd transforms she listens to his instructions and once the transparent owl appears she comes near to it. 

Stallock grunts and moves near to the owl as well.  (Yes please roll the D6's. And we roll once for each heal. I generally never use a roll more than once for anything.) 

The man then looks about, and shrugs, "Animals and beasts or more than likely to move away from the scent of fire actually. The smell of our blood is another matter, but that scent goes with us, so I think it matters not where we rest. Aside from the discomfort of looking at the remains of these dead blights.  So, let's move a short ways away and then setup camp for the evening." 

Stallock begins moving away, but Irmiel's feels a brief tingle, a shadow of herself moves through her and vanishes.  She glances around in curiosity, and her sharp eyes pick up some details in the underbrush.  She moves closer to where the white bones stick from the grass and bush.  There, tangled in amidst the remains of several bodies she sees the rotted remains of a couple of backpacks, some belts, rotted clothes and some rust covered weapons. However, her eyes pickup two things of interest. There is a rotted sheath, but the gleam of steel can be seen through gaps in the leather...and the steel is unmarred by rust or the elements. She also notes a teal colored amulet that lays amidst several brown stained spinal bones...the amulet looking to be in rather good shape.

It seemed that this strange forest full of ancient magic resonated with her own. "Wait a moment!" She curiously (though carefully - who knows what else is hiding in these bushes) pushed away a branch and grimaced at the view of dead bodies. Not something unusual here, but it did not make the sight more pleasant. Then she noticed the glimpse of the metal and forgot about unpleasantries. To her own surprise, she did not even feel ashamed, marauding the bodies. She felt excited, actually, as a treasure hunter who found the very first treasure.

"These things are magical! Can not say right away why a how, but they are." Irmiel reappeared from the bush and demonstrated to the group both trophies. "The sheath is completely rotten but do you see any sign of rust on the blade? Magical!" Amulet, however, interested her more. "I will need a few minutes and then can tell what enchantment is on every item."

Whenever that moment came, she used it to identify the blade and the amulet.

Sistri steps over to where Irmiel was working through the brush. "I can help.  And a really great discovery Irmiel," she says.  She does what she can to move brush out of the way so Irmiel can get to the pieces. 

Irmiel frees the glimmering blade and the amulet from the detritus. A quick search reveals nothing else of value. Irmiel sits on the ground, an excited chitter at the groups first find of treasure. The lays the sword beside her and focus' on the teal amulet with the chain that is wrought like tiny vines.  A wide mouthed fish adorns the amulet, with sea grass detailing the edges. Its therefore no surprise when she reveals it to function exactly as a Cap of Water Breathing. 

Next she lays the sword across her lap and concentrates on it.  The thing, though not evil, seems to have a bit of a dangerous side to it, as her magic draws out the things function as a Longsword of Life Stealing. 

Kris stands, blinking, completely as surprised as anyone that she had managed to escape the battle unscathed.  It seems her years of training in fencing, as well as her practice fighting in the harbor taverns, have paid off.  

"Well, if the plants themselves have it in for the forest's inhabitants, it's no wonder there isn't more civilization in this region, and that the village that did exist was overrun."  She shivers at the thought of those creatures creeping up on people sleeping in their own beds.

"My, that's a magical blade, then?  Well constructed and potent.  But it's too heavy for my dueling style.  Sistri, would you be willing to use such an item?"

Irmiel was not much into weapons but could appreciate beauty when she saw it. She let the blade to reflect the moonlight and smiled, explaining the quality of the sword. "A bit dark, I would say, but we needed some magic to fight the danger ahead. And here it is! Hopefully, not the last of the findings." The blade was handed over to Sistri while Irmiel admired the amulet. "So small, so powerful and so useless! I mean here, in the forest. Do not think someone was mad enough to bring it with him for the forest stroll. Might have been found in the ruins or stolen from someone, or.... Anyway. Can be incredibly useful in the right circumstances - like visiting you-know-what if we ever get there. I think it's a sign that we have to go there."

The amulet she kept (unless explicitly was asked to share). "Well, congratulations on our first findings. Can not say I like the way we got it but I guess it's part of the job. Let's just make a camp and get some rest."

Notes: Rolling for Healing Spirit. Llwyd will take the first heal, everyone else who need, jump closer to the spirit.

1st heal: 1
2nd heal: 3
3rd heal: 2
4th heal: 5
5th heal: 6
6th heal: 6

Sistri takes a look at the longsword. "It is obviously a very fine weapon and our fight in Candlekeep, we clearly need some magic weapons.  At least for Kris and I - since I think Irmiel and Llwyd have a bit more magic at their disposal.  If you cannot use this, then I will Kris.  I do hope we can find one for you though."  She picks up the sword, inspecting it closely as she would any mundane sword.   "I do agree, Kris that it does have a somewhat dark feel to its power, but hopefully the healing aspect will serve us well, and we can certainly use the magic."

She will carefully hold onto the sword until the group has a chance to make their camp.  She will then evaluate it further then and see if her current scabbard might properly hold this one.  Or at least serve well enough to make do.  

(OOC - Would try to attune once there is an opportunity.)

Stallock settles the group into a camp site for the evening perhaps a kilometer from where they'd been attacked. The site he finds is next to a creek with enough flat space to setup tents and a cook fire easily enough. A combination of healing, mending, and cleaning spells has the group looking well by the time they're ready to turn in. Sistri sits for a time with the blade across her lap, forming a bond with the weapon. It's cold dark power drives a shiver up her spine, but the sensation passes quickly. The blade fits well into her current sheath, leaving her with an unsheathed mundane weapon that she wraps up and stores tied onto the side of her backpack.  Meanwhile, with Stallock's fruit and roots found during the day the group is able to cook up a rather tasty meal cooked over a fire. It's a bit idyllic here in the dark woods. With Stallock as your guide it feels less a dark shadowy threat and more a site seeing tour.

The evening passes uneventfully, with dark watches spent listening to the active sounds of the forest. Animals calls, rustling back in the bush, a scream of an animal dying in the distance...all with the backdrop of the bubbling creek and the constant hush of the treetops swaying in the wind. The next morning comes and as you're breaking camp the rain begins. The sound of the water splashing against the upper leaves soon melds with the drip/drop of water from everywhere. The large plops of water that fall irregularly from the trees above are impossible to avoid and brushing up against a wet bush here or there soaks you through as much as rain falling directly on your heads might.  As Stallock leads you through the arduous journey you're soon thoroughly soaked. 

You catch the occasional glimpse of a coyote or deer. The animals subdued and quick to depart in the steady down pour. A great owl sits on some branches staring at you as you pass, it's body constantly shivering to rid itself of the rain. 

At some point Stallock leads you past what appears to be a massive boulder resting in the forest. As you pass by it, you see the other side is flat, with the remnants of flagstones covering it. He points to it, "A fragment of Thulthanthar, or of Myth Drannor. When the floating mountain fell from the sky onto the elven city, it sent boulders like this flying for miles in every direction." 

He leads on. Just before noon Stallock appears from his scouting.  "We've a pack of wolves on us. It's best to just stop and wait for them to get near enough to drive off. Trailing us will just embolden them and makes my scouting harder."  Sure enough, when you stop to wait the wolves eventually begin to appear. However it only takes a few shows of force and a bit of magic to dissuade the animals and soon enough you're back on your way. 

You stop for a brief lunch before continuing on. As you move through the woods Stallock continues to direct the group through the forest. He points out several nasty areas that he's been able to manage to help you avoid, including a nest of giant spiders high above in the trees. Llwyd is confident he would have spotted the signs of them, the small animal bones laying on the forest floor are generally a dead give away.  He also leads you around a nest of boars. Though he seems to briefly consider getting some meat, the small family of piglets pushes the idea off the table and you continue on. 

And just like that, your second day of travel through the woods draws to a cold, wet ending. Stallock manages to find another massive fragment of stone, this one with an overhang that provides a pleasantly dry spot to setup camp and greet the night. 

(1 1: Stall, 2: Irm, 3: Sis, 4: Llw, 5: Kris)

Percep vs Stealth:  15 vs 11

Stallock Init: 27

creature: 12 

The drip-drop of water continues well into the night, even though the rain has stopped. The ground near the massive stone is dry though and the camp you've set is guarded from one side at least. At some point Stallock takes his turn at watch and the previous person heads into their tent to doze.  That nights peoples dreams are full of forest scenes, of dampness, and of things moving in the shadows. However the restless sleep is disturbed by a yell.  After a day of hiking through rough forested terrain, your bodies are tired and you feel a bit groggy as you Stallock's yelling voice, hinged with some panic, finally begins to pull you awake into the world.  It's dark still. The glowing embers of the cookfire cast a dim ruddy glow through your tent. Outside, something large is moving. 

Everyone roll initiative. 

As you're waking up, Stallock's panicked yells are accented by the sound of chopping, of something massive moving, the ground shaking and then you hear Stallock scream an awkward scream which gets cut off abruptly.   (Insert Wilhelm scream here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xn6hhrX34Pw )

Kris initiative: 13