As natural silence once more settles in the forest Kinlin pipes up. 

"We are not going get rest."

“ Rest ye shall!” boomed a voice—a living voice!

Alex breathed a sigh of relief even as he put his hand on his sword. Quickly he and the others jumped into a protective circle , turning to face outward, staring into the darkness.

Then the silver moon appeared, suddenly, as if a hand had produced it from beneath a black silk scarf. Now they could see the head and shoulders of a man standing amid the trees. His bare shoulders were as large and heavy as Xorn ’s. A mane of long hair curled around his neck; his eyes were bright and glittered coldly. The companions heard a rustling in the brush and saw the flash of a spear tip being raised, pointing at Alex.

“Put thy puny weapons down,” the man warned. “Ye be surrounded and have not a chance.”

Even as he spoke there was a tremendous crashing and cracking of tree limbs. More men appeared, surrounding them, all armed with spears that glinted in the moonlight. The first man strode forward then, and the companions stared in amazement, their hands on their weapons going slack.

The man wasn’t a man at all, but a centaur! Human from the waist up, he had the body of a horse from the waist down. He cantered forward with easy grace, powerful muscles rippling across his barrel chest. Other centaurs moved into the path at his commanding gesture. 

"Mount upon my back,” the centaur said coolly. “In fact, if any of you be tired, thee may ride to where we go.”

“Where are you taking us?” Geoff asked.

“Thee is in no position to ask questions. We travel far and fast. I suggest thee ride. But fear not.” He bowed before Geoff, extending his foreleg and touching his hand to his shaggy hair. “Harm will not come to thee this night.”

Shan breaths in relieve when the commander of the undead leaves.

"I.. I can't barely believe that worked..." she whispers "We have more luck than I thought..."

And then she jumped again to her feet when she heard the living voice calling them.

After the centaurs appearance and explanation she bows her head to one of them, asking for permission to jump.

"It's seems that thee haven't much a choice " she says with a grin smile looking at the rest "Come on, when do you have the opportunity to con undeads and to ride centaurs in the same night?" she jumps up.

Escarin smiles at how quickly Shan recovers from the fear brought abut by the undead warriors.

"I have to say I was worried you had doomed us all but better not to question fate, I say."

He moves to one of the nearby centaurs and asks politely

"If I may?"

He mounts up once given permission by the centaur.

Kinlin > while the others mount i will put out any fife we have and try to remove traces of our camping there

then i will gracefully walk over to one of the Centaurs as say "got room for a light load"

"Me?" Shan winks to Escarin. One could say she was so happy preciesly to have scaped certain doom "provoking our certains deaths? Who do you take me for? A kender? " she smiles at Kinlin and winks at him too. She then leans towards Escarin and wishpers

"To be truthful I didn't think about it. Before I noticed the words were dropping from my mouth. And I still don't believe that it worked. Just remember me not to come again to this forest. Ever.."

At hearing the "puny weapons" comment, Geoff briefly considers unveiling the Staff in that moment, but does not.

Geoff responds to the centaur before him after their exchange, "It certainly appears that we have no choice, but a generous offer to ride with your noble kind to safety—I would be a fool to decline."

Geoff says, "May I?" Then mounts the centaur, taking care to do it with gently. "Thank you for your intervention, I feared we would not survive the night in this forest."

Alex

Having heard whispers of their kind Alex is, for once, in awe of what stands before him. "I respectfully ask it ride with you this evening. Thank you, and may I ask where you will be taking us?"

Xorn’s breathing calmed with the dispersing ghosts. He turned to restoke the cook fire and gowled to himself when the booming voice interupted then again. 

After seeing the creatures come out of the woods, Xorn lowers his weapons and stows his shield on his back. Gathering the supplies from the camp since it did not appear that they would not be staying.

”I am not accustom to riding. I will follow. My hooves will carry me with some speed. Maybe not as fast as yours but should be fast enough.”

While the rise to the center of the forest seems close you found yourself dozing off and loose some notion of the time.spent on the centaurs backs. 

Xorn runs beside them. It is a wild primal pleasure that is forever unknown to the other humanoid races. A centaur, Hector, keeps him company and on track.

You arrive in a clearing, surprisingly rested. The centaurs bow as they leave you. 

Hector whispers to Xorn before he retires. "The Master is to be listened and trusted. She is wise and old. The Golden One spoke to her."

OOC: you are all in a clearing with food and water at disposal. The air is warm and reassuring. 

Geoff will bow in thanks after being dropped off and says, "Thank you for your generosity and speeding us away from harm. I will not forget it."

While in the clearing, Geoff will sit with his back against a tree as he takes some sips of water and a few bites of food. He takes out the wyvern scales and pieces of leather cord then begins constructing seven wyvern scale trinkets.

Shan, that has been talking with the centaur that carried her in low voice, thanks her for the ride and help before she dissapears with the rest of them. 

“This is something that one doesn’t easily forget, isn’t it?” She says with a smile. She then sits, take a bowl of water and uses her magic to boil it and prepare a tea and eat something in silence. 

Kinlin will dismount with slow movement from the ride 

"that was different than the short jumps and rides on Xorns back"

ready to eat, sit and rest, (while looking around our surroundings for anything worth taking notice of)

Escarin dismounts, turns back and thanks the centaur who carried him "My gratitude, I appreciate your help." He then looks over the surroundings and feeling that the area is safe sits at the table and begins to eat and drink a small amount.

"It seems we were expected, I wonder who our host is.."

Geoff finishes crafting the wyvern scales as he finishes eating his food.

He then walks to where everyone is gathered and says, "It has been a long five years and many changes have taken hold. This is just a small token to remind us of our bond of friendship and how much I admire you all. I think the wyvern we encountered would be ok with this." Geoff pauses momentarily then continues, "One scale alone will not protect much, but many scales united may provide protection against the mightiest of blows."

Geoff then walks up to everyone individually and gives you a single wyvern scale with a small hole on one end. A thin, brown leather cord is looped through the hole. The cord is long enough to make it possible to wear it wherever you please after adjusting the knot.

Xorn following Hector, lopes into the clearing. Looking around around, he heads for the water and drinks his fill. Although his run was exhilarating, it was also exhausting. 

Nodding to his guide he comes and sits next to the others once his breathing had returned to normal. “What did I miss?”  After being filled n that he did not miss anything of note, he pulls out his hand axe and wet stone to pass the moments of wait. Using the rhythmic sound of sharpening steel on stone to keep everyone calm. 

When Geoff approaches with his scale and leather strap, Xorn puts axe down and accepts the gift with a nod and offers Geoff and warriors hand shake in return. “This is good, I felt sorry for leaving the creature. At least this way it’s death may have some meaning. “

Shanryar smiles back at Geoff and kiss him in the cheek.

”Thank you Geoff. “ she says and she finds a comfortable spot against a tree, says a single word.

”Shirak” 

The cristal in her staff lights up in a blueish light and she concentrates a little bit to adjust it , and she produces her spellbook and starts reading and studiyng it.

Alex

Upon arriving at the clearing, Alex thanks the Centaur. "Are we all here?" Seeing that everyone is accounted for he will find a spot to eat and gather his thoughts.

"Thank you Geoff, I will find a way to honor the wyvern. Have you seen our host?"

Escarin claps Geoff on the shoulder "Something I will value, a memory of the strength of our arms when we fight together" He smiles at the staff bearer "You have my sincere gratitude".

He ties the scale in place on his leather armour so it is positioned centrally on his chest.

"Welcome." Now the deep voice was amused. "You have no weapons. I will return them when the time is propitious. No one brings weapons into Darken Wood, not even a chosen of the Gods. Do not fear, noble men. I recognize your blades as most valuable! I will keep them safe. Forgive this apparent lack of trust, but even the great Huma laid the Dragonlance at my feet."

"Huma!" Xorn asked. "Who are you?"

"I am the Forestmaster." Even as the deep voice spoke, the darkness parted. A gasp of awe, gentle as a spring wind, swept the company as they stared before them. Silver moonlight shone brightly on a high rock ledge. Standing on the ledge was a unicorn. She regarded them coolly, her intelligent eyes gleaming with infinite wisdom.

The unicorns beauty pierced the heart. Her fur was the silver of moonlight, her horn was shining pearl, her mane like seafoam. The head might have been sculpted from glistening marble, but no human or even dwarven hand could capture the elegance and grace that lived in the fine lines of the powerful neck and muscular chest. The legs were strong but delicate, the hooves small and cloven like those of a goat. In later days, when Geoff walked dark paths and his heart was bleak with despair and hopelessness, he had only to shut his eyes and remember the unicorn to find comfort.

The unicorn tossed her head and then lowered it in grave welcome. The companions, feeling awkward and clumsy and confused, bowed in return. The unicorn suddenly whirled and left the rock ledge, cantering down the rocks toward them.

Alex, feeling a spell lifted from him, looked around. The bright silver moonlight lit a sylvan glade. Tall trees surrounded them like giant, beneficent guardians. The half-elf was aware of a deep abiding sense of peace here. But there was also a waiting sadness.

"Rest yourselves," the Forestmaster said as she came among them. "You are tired and hungry. Food will be brought and fresh water for cleansing. You may put aside your watchfulness and fears for this evening. Safety exists here, if it exists anywhere in this land tonight."

Alex

"Do you know what is going on in this land? What has created this turmoil?"