As a bookworm herself, Nexus absolutely adores the chance to look over a bit of parchment that might have no real value at all. "Oh! Of course, gimme jussst a moment."

Nexus proceeds to unravel the scroll, taking note that it's not broken down so it's likely either magical paper, or a scroll containing magic of some sort. Maybe she can decipher what it says? Or maybe she'd just need to identify it or comprehend languages and figure it out that way. 

"I have no problem traveling with you all," Aldith chimes in. "Strength in numbers and all that."

She looks curiously at the scroll Shayone gives to Nexus.

Kenar nod grateful “Indeed Ayo having you and your party along will make the trip far safer!” Kenar walks off a pep in his step then stops dead a look of confusion crossing his face. ”Umm wait where are we head first…” 

Ayo smacks her fist into her other hand with a smile. "Great! I'll get the crew ready. This'll be a grand adventure, huh? I'm looking forward to it."

With that, she heads out of the tavern. Nexus takes a look at the scroll that Shayone gave her, and it is indeed a spell scroll. An identify would reveal that this is a scroll of thunderwave. 

Nexus takes note of the information, sliding her book over toward Shayone once she finished her identification spell so they might be able to see the information on the spell itself. After all, the words lasted for a good couple minutes before fading. No need to rush. "It does seem like something I could add to my spell-list, but you found it, so it's your treasure."

Kalhala jumps up once the scroll business is done, "Well!  Shall we get a move on?  Ayo and her crew should be ready to go in about an hour and we have places to visit!  Where to first?"

"My own magic is enough to deal with, I'm not looking for more," Shayone says. "If you have use for it, take it. I'm keeping the healing potion, that's good enough for me."

At Kalhala's question, Shay replies "I need to talk to Maryl, the friend I met up with yesterday. She used to work in Bazzoxan, I'm hoping she can give us some information. I don't think anyone needs to come with me, but where should I meet up with you afterwards?"

"It would be nice to purchase some more supplies for the road, but I'm afraid I don't have any money," Aldith says with an embarrassed half-smile. "So I'll tag along with wherever the group wants to go for now."

Shayone and any who accompany her seek out Maryl and find her with her family having a picnic by the river. "So, you're headed to Bazzoxan again, huh Shayone? Well, not much has changed since you were last there. There's still incursions by monsters and worse coming out of Betrayer's Rise, that damned dark temple, but the Watch is holding fast. Verin Thelyss is still Taskhand, so you'll see a familiar face if you bump into him. What else do you want to know?"

"If there's been changes in what's coming out of the temple, or frequency, anything like that. Or rumors of anything to do with followers of the Moon Weaver? Rumors of just plain strange." Shayone's hesitant to ask detailed military questions with Maryl's family present. "And I'd like some better armor or a shield, but I'm about out of coin. Is there any way to requisition something from the local guard, without having to wait and try my hand in Bazzoxan? It's not the safest of treks."

"Same old horrible monstrosities and fiends... frequency hasn't changed either. However, I noticed some new faces in the Ready Room tavern before I left... They looked to be scholarly types. Not often you have new folks roll into somewhere as dangerous as Bazzoxan... Strange, even," Maryl says. "Anyway, I could pull some strings with the Aurora Watch here and get you some armor and a shield. What are you looking for, friend?"

"Just some basic medium-weight armor," Shayone says. "The new body is a damn sight softer than my old one, it's taking longer than I'd like to get my defenses where I'd like them to be to go up against... well, whatever I went up against before." She shakes her head. "I'll be sure and keep my eyes peeled in the Ready Room. I'll be traveling with at least one bookish person this trip, maybe they can make friends."

"Alright, well swing by before you go, and I'll have some armor for you. Hopefully a shield as well. Least I could do for an old comrade like you. Just be careful on your way - and once you arrive."

Eventually, Maryl is able to get you a set of scale mail armor and a standard shield.

Nexus, meanwhile, took a trip to her home within Jigow. She'd firstly pack her bags, making sure she had several changes of clothes going forward, before she'd discuss with her mother the trip she was going on, with who, why, and ask if they had any advice. And any spare special paper around, so she can copy that scroll an ally found down. Kalhala is more than welcome to accompany her, if he'd like. 

Nexus returns home and packs her things, managing to find a few pieces of spellbook paper among her mother's things. Nexus' mother, a drow woman by the name of Sadara, helps Nexus prepare. "Well, I won't pretend I'm happy you're headed to somewhere as dangerous as Bazzoxan, but it's clear you're adamant about this. I've never quite seen you so excited before! Remember that you can always come home, darling. And you be sure your friends keep you safe, or I'll give them what for, I assure you!"

Kalhala, excited for the new adventure, decides to tag along with Nexus as they all disperse to get ready for the trip.  He hangs out near the door as he feels a bit uncomfortable, the big minotaur in the home of Nexus and her mother.  As her mother talks about keeping her safe, he pipes up, "Well of course we will, ma'am!  I won't let her leave my sight!"

"I'm trusting you on that, Kalhala. Don't let anything happen to my girl!"

Nexus, in the midst of folding a shirt when her mother says such a thing, can't help but chuckle a little to herself. "Mother---I'll be fine. Kalhala will be with me, and you know he's always kept me safe while we were going up."

Finishing folding her clothes, snapping the suitcase shut, she plucks it up and walks over to wrap her arms around her mother. Squeezing tight. "But, you be safe too, alright? Don't forget to rest when you need to. I know you tend to stay up far too late reading over those scrolls and the like. I won't be here to toss a blanket over you and fix you something to eat in the mornings."

Her tone was playful in it's worry, but there was a small note of genuine nervous under it. Of course she was nervous, making this trek out to a city she's never been before. And although she did have Kalhala with her, that only meant she had someone else to worry about. Making sure they returned home safely was just as important to her as making sure she did. 

"I'll see if I can't send a letter at some point, let you know how I'm doing, okay?"

After that, she strides out of her room, nodding at Kalhala. "Do you need to go get your things together, Mini? I'd like to accompany you if so. If not...guess we can head to the meeting place and I'll see if I don't have enough material to copy down this spell scroll."

"Well, all I risk if I stay up too late is a cold and a headache, perhaps. You're throwing yourself into much greater danger! Forgive your mother for worrying, dear-heart... Yes, please do write as soon as you can. I love you!" Sadara calls as Nexus heads out the door.

You all gather at the edge of town, where Ayo, Dermot, Maggie, Galsariad, and Irvan await, similarly kitted out for travel. 

"Good, you're all here! Let's get rolling, huh?" Ayo asks with a smirk.

"The wastes between here and Bazzoxan are full of threats, so I hope you're all ready for danger," Maggie states with a grim expression as she stares out across the fields.

Irvan gives the ogre a friendly tap with his fist. "Oh, lighten up, Maggie, they'd be mad to try and tangle with the lot of us!"

"I'm just glad that we've got more friendly faces traveling with us!" Dermot smiles. "May the Luxon guide us all on this journey."

"I am of an accord with Dermot; I'm quite curious to learn more about each of you, particularly those of you with a penchant for the arcane," Galsariad says with a slight bow towards the group's spellcasters.

With that, both of your parties set off into the Wastes of Xhorhas. Crossing the Ifolon River, you enter the cracked and blasted plains that constitute northern Xhorhas. The summer sun beats down on this barren prairie as a weak breeze blows in from the north. Sweat beads on your brow. Shayone, Kenar, and Aldith are familiar with this road, having taken it to Jigow in the previous days; it is as potentially dangerous as Maggie says. But with a capable group of adventurers like all of you, surely you'll be able to overcome any dangers. Nexus, Kalhala, Ayo, and Dermot bid their hometown goodbye and head out into the wider world.

A few hours of travel pass. Jigow is well behind you. The path stretches on ahead. About a hundred feet in front of you, an overturned wagon languishes in a ditch on the side of the road. Surrounding it are three humanoid corpses. "Looks like we've got something up ahead... wanna check it out?" Ayo asks you all.