As they get introduced, Jek goes and sits next to Tori and takes out some dried meat from his rations. 

As Tori and the others talk about the Shem desert and the troubles there, Jek jerks his head up and looks worried. Orcs and Goblins, while not uncommon, did not ususally build in the desert. And to try to take control of the Tower of the Elephant! Oh no, what of the Mystics, they were always friendly the the Utinni. 

Jek asks "Wait, hobgoblins and orcs all over the Shem? Is it Vader, is he moving into the Shem? Have you seen any of my people during your travel? The Utinni, or other clans? People who look like me? If there are dangers, they would probably steer clear of the Tower of the Elephant, but still. Are they safe? They are probably safe. Right?" Jek will look around for reassurance quickly.
Then, with a deep breath, he continues to ask questions, almost to distract himself. "What is a Crystal Palace, and Ara...Gar... whatchamacallits? Did you pass by Castle Grayskull? Are the orcs just roaming everywhere in the desert?" Jek will stand and walk away, quite worried. 

"I don't know who it is!"  The little Goblin replies for Tori as the woman bites her lip.  "We didn't see no one!  No uh...no...uh...whatevers you are...and we certainly don't know about no Mystics or whatever those are!"

"Arathim!"  Malco says with a flourish.  He shakes, sending his puffed feathers trembling.  "Big bug spider bads!  Garthim bads too!  They watch the Crystal Palace for the Skeksis!  Skeksis look like bird buy they're no bird."  

"The Crystal Palace!"  Ulxi said, like that answer alone should be obvious.  "Where the Dark Crystal is!?  Everyone knows that!"

"I uh...they're not just everywhere in the desert."  Tori replied, using her hand to sweep a strand of hair behind her ear.  "But there are traveling bands of them.  And some bigger groups too.  I don't really know what they were doing.  And I don't know what Castle Grayskull is."

Atoh opens her eyes wide in astonishment when she hears the name, the Tower of the Elephant. " The tower is under siege! Maybe the Skeksis are trying to attack the Mystics! " She turns and faces the other members . " B, but why? I heard that the Skeksis and urRu are still connected somehow. They can't hurt the Mystics because it hurts them too. And if the Mystics die, the urRu will die. ''  " I don't know. " Atoh's little dragon says suspiciously. " I mean, it's centuries since they are separated from the urRu. If the Skeksis are as smart as rumor says, it's not impossible for them to find new tricks.  Or… maybe it's another evil overlord who's attacking the tower. "

 " Then we must hurry before it's too late! No time for the castle exploration. " Atoh exclaims in frustration. Her dragon on the other hand stares at the fire and sausage calmly as if they will give him some inspiration. " Nope, I have a different opinion. The siege is the more reason we have to go to Castle Grayskull. There's no way only six of us break the siege, enter the tower and get out ALIVE. We need power. A lot of them. Can you translate me? " The Halfling looks at her partner. " Maybe you're right" She sighs, nods, and tells the others what Tola just said. 

Brevon smiles.  "Thank you, Chuba.  Yes, that is a very good point!  Orin would have fixed the problem easily!"  He also pats Ulxi on the shoulder when she seems sad.  Then he listens to the travelers' story, his brow furrowing more and more with each syllable.

"So you say hobgoblins and orcs are moving south from the Black Crags, and that they have advanced to the Tower of the Elephant. These are dark tidings! Castle Grayskull may be their next target, if it is not already under their control or influence!"

"Yes Atoh, I think Tola may have a point.  My, luck dragons are amazing creatures!  I agree we should visit Castle Grayskull first, to determine the extent of the Black Crag's influence there, to warn them, and perhaps to seek aid in our quest."

He turns back to Malco, Tori, and Ulxi.  "Yes, our quest.  We have heard there are dangers in the land.  Very, very grave dangers.  Are you aware that the unicorn stallion has been slain?  That the Childlike Empress has fallen ill?  Have you heard of the dark storm, the Nothing, that is reportedly moving across the world?"

Orin blushes. “You are too kind Chuba.” Looking to the group around the fire. “If any of you are in need, I’ll do what I can with the short time we have, as we do need to be off early in the morning. “

Tori, Ulxi, and Malco look at each other while Atoh voices her concerns, and seem to be confused while the Halfling looked like she was conversing with the Luck Dragon.  Their eyes open as she relays back what the dragon told her.  

"Slain?"   Malco said.  His eyes shoot open, and his face relays a feeling of surprise that must have been hard for someone with such avian features.  "Slain!?  Slain!?"

"The Empress is ill?"  Ulxi said, her voice lower and more collected than Malco's.  

"I...no.  I haven't heard about this storm, the Nothing or whatever."  Tori said.  She just looks confused.  It seems to be a lot of information pressed on them all at once.  "I don't think we need anything fixed, no..."  

She slowly shifts her attention to Orin.  

Chuba senses the foreboding of their new acquaintances. "Fear not. We heroes recruited by Empress to find Triforce pieces and Crystal shard. Your hospitality around campfire for tonight is help enough. Thank thee."

Chuba starts making herself more at home as she's finally convinced they are not a threat. She ties Thators to a nearby tree and lays out her bedroll in a comfortable enough looking spot near the fire, but at least ten feet away from those she does not know. She listens politely as the rest converse, but her mind is focused on the task at hand.

"Tomorrow, we continue journey."

Brevon sighs.  Part of him regrets being so blunt about everything, but their task is urgent.  There isn't time to mince words. He climbs to his feet.  "I am sorry to lay all of this on you.  You seem to be good people.  But the truth is the truth.  Chuba has explained our task.  We are to find the Triforce pieces, as well as the shard of division.  If we can find them.  That is why we must leave you at first light."

Jek, standing in the shadows, listens to the other speak while thinking of his family. Realizing that there wasn't a mass invasion, his family is probably safe. They know the desert, the dunes and secret places. They can bend shadow and light to hide themselves if needed. They will survive. 

As this trio responds to his questions and to that from the other, he will observe them. While they seem friendly, you never know. insight 7

Jek returns to the campfire, and places a comforting hand on Tori's shoulder. "It was a lot to take in for all of us, as well. It is... daunting. I am not strong, but I will do what I can. For what else is there to do, other than to help save the light. Any help you can give is welcome, but your fire is help enough. Plus, we will get to go to new and interesting places!"

The trio seems rattled by all the portance of the Order's words.  There are a lot of questions, side conversations, and slowly the drunken party settles back in, offers their support to the Order, and goes to sleep for the night.  

Jek studies them, but they seem alright.  He can't find any reason to believe they are nefarious or malicious.  

First light comes with no commotion, no drama or excitement.  The sun rises nice and easy into the eastern sky like it has for trine untold.  This, of course, is a good sign.  The day is clear and sunny.

The campfire from the night before has smoldered out.  A single wisp of smoke rises from its dying embers, and there isn't much left but black ash.  The trio is gone, set out before the Order of the Phoenix woke up.  

Chuba checks her belongings and the party's supplies in the wagon. Investigation 3

Brevon rolls out from his blanket, his blond hair a mess.  He immediately confirms that the medallion of the Empress is still on his person, then hauls himself up.  "Oh my, we've overslept!  Up, up!  Let us not waste the day."  He helps load the wagon and mounts, taking care to kick the dirt around and over the fire to try to hide the evidence of their campsite.  "After hearing their observations, we can't be too careful in this region.  The further north we travel, the greater the danger will become.  Chuba, is everything alright?"  

Brevon Perception to check supplies: 14

(posting from mobile, I'll try to edit the format tomorrow)

Jek wakes with a grumble as Brevon gets them up. He will look around while rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

"Morning, all. Our new friends appear to have left. Did anyone see them off? Oh well."

He will make his way to Iron-Hoove and start prepping him for the journey. 

Responding to Brevon, "Yes, we definitely need to be careful. Once we get to the desert, it will become harder to travel during the day. We should stop at a town before were head into the desert, get whatever supplies we need. What are you two looking for, did you lose something?" He will say to Chuba and Brevon. 

(assuming a 3 fails to find anything of note...)

Chuba finishes her thorough search and simply shrugs at the queries of her mates, as though she was a little embarrassed of the assumption she made, playing off like Of course everything is fine.

She helps break down camp and pack up supplies.

After the wagon is packed, she pulls out the three healing potions. "As we face danger, we should carry heal potions instead of stow in supplies." She offers one to each of Jek, Atoh, and Orin to carry on their own persons. "I be okay. Go on, take."

She then mounts Thathors and is ready to face the day.

Orin also checks in with Dirk to see if there's anything to report (Passive Perception 14) as he gathers his tent and sleeping bag and packs it. He then checks in on his horse (yet to be named) and gives it feed for the ride today. 

"Good morning. I see our visitors have left before us. It was nice visiting with them last night. Good stories and info." He starts to pull out and eat something before getting ready to ride for the day. 

That night, Atoh dreams her favorite dream. She returns to her childhood, running in the grassland. It is a fine sunny day. The spring is leaving at a trot and short summer is approaching from the horizon. 

Atoh can see her father and eldest brother riding on their Luck Dragons. The dragons' bodies look like two flags made of silver and pearl fluttering in the blue sky. The rest of the clan are on the back of their dogs and hogs.  Little Atoh waves to them and they wave back to her. Sometimes she falls down but that's part of fun. The thick soft grasses always embrace her like a mother's arm. Atoh giggles. She is as joyful and exciting as a five year old kid can be. Atoh really hopes her friend is here. Though she cannot remember his name. And in the dreaming head, she knows he is still born.

And then she saw it. Something is moving under the grass. Turning her gaze, Atoh finds two, three, four and more are following her. " Wolves! " The Halfling girl calls her family and clan for help. But they are not listening, moving faster and leaving her behind. Atoh tries to catch up to them but her limbs move so slowly like swimming in a sea of honey. Turning back again and Atoh sees something even more terrifying. Night is closing in from the horizon. No, it's not night. The little girl thinks in horror.  It's darker than night, blacker than black itself. It drinks the sky, devours the light, eats away all the grassland. The beasts under the grass are nothing but mere finger tips of the great darkness. If Atoh falls again,it will be her end. But she falls. The movements of grass are circling around her like bloodthirsty sharks. Atoh desperately digs her mind, calls everyone she can remember for help. Then in the bottom of her brain, Atoh finds the name. The name which is as familiar as her own yet she has forgotten until now. 

"Tolaaaaa! " The earth shakes. Breaking the ground, emerging are two giant antler horns. Thick and soft fur appears under Atoh's foot. The dragon's scales are black, and shining like dark opals. Atoh grasps the mane with all her might, as the dragon soars into the sky. The beasts don't conceal them anymore and raise their heads. They are not wolves, much like snakes without eyes and faces. They are approaching from all directions, like the fangs of closing maw or the fingers of grasping hands. " Faster! Faster! " The dragon flies faster than lightning yet they barely slip through the narrow opening of darkness. Atoh looks back for one last time. She still sees nothing. But she feels something or someone is in the heart of night. It looks at its empty hands. And it looks at her. 

" Wake up! Hey buddy! I say WAKE UP! "  Atoh feels someone is slapping her cheek. She opens her eyes, screams and throws a punch at the face she first sees. " Wow! Calm down! It's me!" The Atoh blinks and finds her dragon sitting beside her. " Tola… I…I…" "No need to explain. I see that thing too. You know,we are connected. " Atoh still wants to say something. But instead a sob leaks from her mouth and tears run down from her eyes. Tola tries to calm his partner down. However he cannot find words either.  So the little dragon curl its body around Atoh and comforts her with its warm fur.

Quote from Apophis2000 >>

Atoh still wants to say something. But instead a sob leaks from her mouth and tears run down from her eyes. Tola tries to calm his partner down. However he cannot find words either.  So the little dragon curl its body around Atoh and comforts her with its warm fur.

Jek hears the commotion. He sees Tola hitting Atoh, then Atoh waking up and crying. Jek will go up to Atoh. "Oh, umm, it's okay. I'm sure Tola didn't mean anything by hitting you. Please stop crying. Oh, and now it's constricting you... Is it trying to eat you, like a snake? That what they do to there prey sometimes. I've seen it happen. Oh, you are still crying...." Jek will look over to the others and gesture towards Atoh, then shrug helplessly. 

When Chuba hands Atoh the potion of healing, she thinks she notices something and looks more closely at her face.

Insight 7

Perhaps it's nothing. Remember, Chuba, you are among warriors, heroes.

Dirk has little to report in the morning.  Things have been very quiet.  

Brevon feeds and waters the horses, then dons his armor and claims his spot up on the wagon.  He places his shield in the seat beside him.  "Another beautiful day," he says with a slightly grim expression.  "How many more will there be?  Ah well, let's be off, then.  Hya!"  He spurs the horses into action.