Xorn looks to the direction of the stag and then back to the body of the wyvern. Wishing he had time to process the wyvernhide and meat he slowly walks away and turns to follow the others. 

Escarin walks alongside Shan, hesitant at first he finally starts talking "I hope you are alright, I know you didn't want to kill the best but I couldn't let it survive to possibly kill innocents. I won't apologise but I wanted to explain." 

Shan smiles back to Escarin. “It’s ok. “ she puts her hand in his arm “You are right. It’s just that since.. the Test and we came back to Solace it’s has been too much killing. Like those goblins at the Lake that I blasted... I... “ she keeps quiet as if she didn’t find the words

"It is too much, but I feel it won't be nearly enough either, we wear these white robes but I don't think we will be able to live lives of peace, darkness has come to Krynn, we have this power and we must use it for good, doing whatever is required of us to keep the people safe."

He looks around him, as if seeing the changes in the forest for the thirst time. 

"Shan, be on your guard, the dangers may not have yet passed for the day..."

“I know. War is upon us and we will see much death before it ends. On our enemies and our friends “ she looks to the others “Is not that. I am not afraid of death. What scares me is that I didn’t feel... nothing seeing them fall.” 

Looking around them when Escarin does she agrees with him.

”You are right we better focus on the task at hand. Perhaps following that white stag wasn’t so good idea after all.”

Geoff would like to see if the stag has moved at all and it's Current distance

Perception 19

Quote from Necmo >>

Geoff would like to see if the stag has moved at all and it's Current distance

Perception 19

Geoff says, "This stag seems unnaturally large by the looks of it. I wonder why? It's still moving in the tree line if we're going to continue following it." He points with the staff towards it in the trees.

"I don't think we have another option. But be wary. These woods are not as welcoming as the ones of Solace."

Kinlin also looks at the kill and looks at group and get in pursuit to follow everone

Geoff says to Shan, "Indeed. You're right about that. Perhaps one day we'll all be able to take a peaceful stroll in the forests by Solace again. Anyway, let's get going."

As we approach the stag, Geoff will try and be stealthy as possible to avoid any unwanted attention. Stealth 13

Also, would Geoff have any idea *why* the stag is so large? Insight 14

Quote from Necmo >>

Also, would Geoff have any idea *why* the stag is so large? Insight 14

running through tracking nature11

Alex

Falling back to Xorn "Keep your eyes open. I don't want any extra surprises today." Then Alex will move back to the front between Kin and the rest of the group.

The only thing Alex felt on entering the forest was relief at being out of the glare of the autumn sun. The ranger recalled all the legends he had heard about Darken Wood-stories of ghosts told around the fire at night-and he kept in mind Shan's foreboding. But all Alex felt was that the forest was so much more alive than any other he had ever entered.

There was no deathly hush as they had experienced earlier. Small animals chattered in the brush. Birds fluttered in the high branches above them. Insects with gaily colored wings flitted past. Leaves rustled and stirred, flowers swayed though no breeze touched them-as if the plants reveled in being alive.

The White Stag had disappeared but they could all hear it moving in the forest.

All of the companions entered the forest with their hands on their weapons, wary and watchful and distrustful. After a time of trying to avoid making leaves crunch, Kinlin said it seemed "kind of silly," and they relaxed-all except Escarin. Whispers of old memories still alive followed him, warning him but also teasing him, daring him.

They walked for about two hours, traveling at a smooth, but rapid easy pace along a smooth and clear trail. Shadows lengthened as the sun made its downward slide. Alex felt at peace in this forest. Evil seemed out of place, unless, as Shan said, one brought one's own evil into the wood. Xorn looked at the mage. Shan walked alone, his head bowed. The shadows of the forest trees seemed to gather thickly around the young mage. Alex shivered and realized that the air was turning cool as the sun dropped below the treetops. It was time to begin thinking about making camp for the night.

Soon it was twilight, that time of evening when the dying light makes everything most vivid and distinct. The companions began to lag.  The ranger was just about to call a halt for the night when-as if anticipating his wishes-the trail led them right to a large, green glade. Clear water bubbled up from underground and trickled down smooth rocks to form a shallow brook. The glade was blanketed with thick, inviting grass; tall trees stood guard duty on the edges. As they saw the glade, the sun's light reddened, then faded, and the misty shades of night crept around the trees.

"Do no leave the path," Escarin heard, or dreamed, he couldn't be sure anymore.

The rest of the companions were already moving off the path and began setting up camp. Geoff sank down against a tree, his eyes closed, while Xorn began to look for the best place to set a fire and cook. At a signal from Xorn, Kinlin slipped off into the forest after firewood.

"No, stop, we shouldn't leave the path, I... I don't know why exactly but we shouldn't, come back from there Kin! Stop." Escarin's confusion is evident in his tone. "You need to listen to me, come back Kinlin."

Shan, her face covered in shadows of her hood was the only one at Escarin's side.

"It's too late " she said "The kender had already dissapeared in the wood"

Escarin feels the dread ebbing a bit from his body. 

Alex reminds everyone not to kill or break anything. The forest is alive. 

Xorn scoffs at Alex. "Did you think I was not paying attention? Hah! You keep your sharp eyes forward. I will protect our flank do not worry."

While setting a pot to boil water gathered from the bubbling brook, Xorn looks up at Escarin's concerned warning. He nods toward Shan in agreement when she says "It's too late." but he adds "Besides, this seems perfect. Why would we not stop to enjoy this?" After looking around the clearing to make sure all was still well, he returns to his pot to make sure not to spoil the meal.

Xorn once more doesn't disappoint. The meal, though modest is tasty and invigorating.  (OOC: Xorn wants to apply an effect?)

As the night falls you notice that light are dimer around you and that even elven eyesight is poorest in the forest. The fire burns but seems to cast almost no light.

You are ready to take turns on guard duty and rest when you become aware that you are not alone. 

An army of warriors surrounds you.

That alone would have been enough to chill anyone's blood. But the companions could have dealt with that. What they couldn't handle was the horror that overwhelmed and numbed their senses. Each one recalled Alex's tales, warning trespassers

These warriors were dead.

Nothing more than fleeting, fragile white light outlined their bodies. It was as if the human warmth that had been theirs while they lived lingered on horribly after death. The flesh had rotted away, leaving behind the body's image as remembered by the soul. The soul apparently remembered other things, too.

Each warrior was dressed in ancient, remembered armor. Each warrior carried remembered weapons that could inflict well- remembered death. But the undead needed no weapons. They could kill from fear alone, or by the touch of their grave-cold hands.

How can we fight these things? Tyrros thought wildly, he who had never felt such fear in the face of flesh and blood enemies. Panic engulfed him and he considered yelling for the others to turn and run for it.

Angrily, the half-elf forced himself to calm down, to get a grip on reality. Reality! He almost laughed at the irony. Running was useless; they would get lost, separated. They had to stay and deal with this, somehow. He began to walk toward the ghostly warriors. The dead said nothing, made no threatening moves. They simply stood, blocking the path. It was impossible to count them since some glimmered into being while others faded, only to return when their comrades dimmed. Not that it makes any difference, he admitted to himself, feeling sweat chill his body. One of these undead warriors could kill all of us simply by lifting its hand.

As the half-elf drew nearer to the warriors, he saw a gleam of light, Shan's staff. The mage, leaning on her staff, stood in front of the huddle of companions. Escarin came to stand beside her. The pale crystal light reflected on the mage's face, making it seem nearly as ghostly as the faces of the dead before her.

"Welcome to Darken Wood, all," the mage said.

OOC: rolls for appropriate skills, Insight, History or Arcana if you wish. Except for Shanryar and Escarin you have probably never encountered spirits before. keep that in mind.