"Thank you both," Lu replies to Maxx and Calwin with a soft expression not quite a smile. "I will speak with them," they nod towards her other party members, Gehir and Sarai to make a mental note to speak to them later.

"This area we're traveling does certainly sound dangerous.  There's wolves in the Storm Horns and dragons too, " they begin but pause, "there's a bronze dragon pair who gave protected us for as long as I've been alive," they add clutching the shard they wear again with a somber expression remembering home.

Quote from Spiderwrangler >>

 

"I'm sorry Lu, I've read up extensively on diseases, that does sound unusual, however. I'll give it a think and let you know if it reminds me of anything I've heard of."

((Straight INT to see if it jogs loose any description?: 12))

---

 

"I'm not much of a cook myself, but learned a bit of a magic that makes my efforts at least palatable, but glad it won't be needed! Happy to help with cleaning and chilling and whatnot if you need it!"

If the halfling is curious, Calwin will pass an hand over Shorty's mug and frost his beer, and then make it taste like ham broth with another wave before changing it back once he's had a chance to taste.

 

 You do not have any ideas regarding Lu's problem. It is very unlike any plague or disease you have ever head of.

Shorty's eyes go wide and then he smiles, "That. Is. Amazing! Perhaps we can make some drinks at night with that skill... not the ham one... that was pretty gross honestly. But we could take some fruit maybe some vegetables, cut them up really real fine into a slurry and a bit of water. Then if you just freeze it, not all the way... just enough to make it into a sort of solid I bet it would be delicious. I should write this down..."

Seems like everyone is ready then to the next day then? I will get you a post and start you off. Is there anything you would want or try to do before dawn and the caravans departure?

(I'm good for skipping to tomorrow.

Sallah tries to be jovial and social, but he isn't making any deep connections this evening.
To some extent, that includes the party, outside of Calwin the Avowed.)

Calwin may try to do a bit of research if he has time, reading through medical texts to see if he can help further with the disease Lu described. Other topics might be anything else that was mentioned in prepping, just so he's read (or re-read) them. Perhaps any other works by the lost scholar?

((Don't expect any major revelations from it, more just RP, but if you'd like me to make a roll I can.))

((I'm good to move on))

(On we go then!)

You all have your fill of food and drink. You spend sometime getting to know your new companions but the night gets late and you know the expedition is heading out at first light. As you drift to sleep your mind wanders about the events of the evening and what the future will hold. Perhaps you are eager, scared, curious, worried you didn't have all the time you wanted to prepare regardless you drift off to sleep.

Morning comes quickly you pack your belongings, whatever you think you'll need and will fit your pack and set off to the gates. Despite the sun recently cresting over the horizon you can feel the summer heat beating down, it's going to be a hot day. You leave the gates and find Gehir is sitting on his wagon. The wagon is a large wooden box, 7 feet wide and 15 feet long, painted a bright green and yellow. There is a latched door on the back and hatch in the front just behind the driver's seat. Two draft horses are hitched to the wagon and eager to stretch their legs. It seems the rest of the party has arrived. Gunnar greets you all warmly, "Ah good morning friends! It promises to be a grand day of travel. Perfect for an adventure." It seems Gunnar is a morning person.

And so the party sets out along the King's Way making small conversation as you travel. The first day is uneventful and you make excellent time. By the end of the day you have traveled to the intersection of the Coast Way. As you make camp Gehir addresses the group, "Tomorrow we will leave the road and start our journey to the woods. It should take us about 2 days to reach the edge of the forest where our search will begin in earnest. Tomorrow we shall split into three parties, a scouting party, an escort for the wagon and a hunting/foraging party. I'd like the Friendlies to scout tomorrow, Gunnar's Gang will hunt or forage whatever they can do. This will leave our scholars on escort duty. We shall rotate duties each day we travel. Get your rest for who knows what dawn will bring."

He leaves you to your nightly rituals. Shorty prepares a large stew of vegetables and some sort of meat. It's incredibly good. There is wine for those who want it and water for the rest. 

Everyone roll perception.

The following morning you find the Friendlies' and Gunnar's Team have already left for scouting and hunting tasks. You pack camp and make your way east off the main road.  For the first time you are alone with your host Gehir.

Mysterious DM roll: 3

I'll leave it here as you travel the grasslands. Anything you would do as you march for the first time alone as a team? Gehir steers the wagon but makes free conversation with anyone who would approach him.

Perception: 21 

Jonathan H Quayle 22Perception

Sallah Perception: 19

Sallah will chat with Gehir. "Your plan is to explore the anomaly with all the groups, looking for resources. Do you have any means to close the portal, if it proves dangerous? A magical spell to seal it, or a mystical shield from an item?"

Gehir looks at Sallah with interest and obviously happy he has taken an interest in the expedition, "I am not sure it is possible to close the rift but we are certainly going to try. From Professor Galadon's research it seems they would close on their own with the natural migration and movement of the heavens. But now that the heavens are gone it is unclear what the future holds. It's possible that the planes will continue to merge and collide with each other eventually obliterating all of reality. Alternatively, one plane may continue to engulf the others leaving one dominate realm superimposed on all the others. We are in scientifically uncharted waters... but that is why we are here. We need more information. I hope that at the center of rift we will be able to find a nexus of sorts perhaps we can undo the magic or contain it and at the very least stabilize if we can not close it." He smiles at Sallah, "I am certainly open to suggestions if you have any."

Sallah: "No suggestions or ideas. That was why I was asking.

"My skills are better suited to finding ruins and moving through the safeguards. I would be content to get the experts in our group to this phenomena (safely), so they can explain it to the rest of us."

Calwin Perception: 20

As they travel, Calwin will alternately cool the clothing for those who seem to be struggling the most. He can only keep a few up at a time, but it gives folks a bit of comfort, at least while it's active.

((Cooling via prestidigitation. 3 up at a time, for an hour each.))

The rest of your day goes rather plainly. Calwin's cooling is very effective and pleasant as you travel. Gehir declines your offer for the comfort and recommends you save your efforts for the others. 

The hunter gathering group returns with a wide variety of berries, nuts and small game. Shorty takes everything but does not use the meat that evening. Instead, he prepares a very light and refreshing salad with the greens and fruit. It is drizzled with an oil and seasoned very well. You can't help but think this is rather odd choice of meals but it is what it is. The night passes without any further events. 

Gehir pulls your group to the side in the evening. "Tomorrow you will be our advance scouting team. You should set off early and march ahead scouting for trouble. If you find anything and you think you can deal with it wonderful. If you can not then come back to the main caravan we'll handle it as a group. I trust you all to use your best judgement. Do not enter the woods. If you make it that far then you can set up camp and we will meet you at tree line we will start our travel into the woods at first light the following day."

(Assuming no one has anything further for the night I'll move on to your next morning.)

The next day, your third on the road, starts earlier than the rest. You get up, hurriedly clean your camp and head out as the scouting party. Traveling considerably faster than the wagon you make excellent time and weather is initially very good. It is getting toward mid afternoon and it is about time to find camp and wait for the wagon and other to catch up. You crest a small hill and as you reach the top you can see the forest stretching endlessly below you. You appear to be 200 yards from the treeline. The skies are turning grey and it appears that it is going to storm tonight.

Just at the edge of the forest you see a wagon tipped over on it's side. There are three figures sitting on the ground, backs against the toppled wagon. From this distance you can not see anymore than that. They do not move like they have noticed you but it is hard to say for sure. You can not see your wagon behind you, it is probably a few hours until it would catch up to your location.

What would you like to do?

Earlier: After tinkering with his toys he cant seem to get working yet. He turns watching Gehir out of curiosity. Jonathan wonders over to Gehir and quietly says "You know if you're a vegetarian, the essence of the animal still lurks in the stew. What kind of meat is it?" 

"Ah, yes it is not the meat that bothers me so much as the texture. Just not something I care for and I don't want to hurt Shorty's feelings he works very hard to make the travel as pleasant as possible." He smiles at the company and conversation. "If you could keep this to yourself I would appreciate it the little guys feelings are important to me. As for what meat it is you would have to ask him. It seems rather gamey, kind of tough. Perhaps venison?"

Jon nods "Mums the word," he jokingly hums "mum, mum" he smiles but continues quietly "Perhaps he should use a hammer to tenderize and a bit of garlic to mask the gaminess." he shrugs "But, who am I to tell a cook how to do things I would not want to insult. What do you think, Garlic? I think one of our group can come up with some." 

"They might need help!", Calwin starts running towards the downed wagon.

((Perception 16 ))

Agar takes off after him, drawing his weapon on the way, but pays attention to the surroundings as much as the wagon and the three figures. It would not do to rush into an ambush.

Jonathan shakes his head and says to Calwin "I think we should approach a little more cautiously. It may be an ambush." 

He says as he draws his rapier and lags behind.