"I dunno," replies Uncle Polder to Walt. "You have a proclaimer with you," nodding at Tungsten Ward. "She'd know better than I about the old times. Just farming is all I know." 

"Pacts are groups of families, a commune," he continues. "Farms, families that live, work, and share with each other. Our pact is about six families now, I guess." Walt senses confidence in his voice, but no sign of holding back or calculation or deceit. 

The Proclaimer speaks up. "Kianna’s friend Culley drowned many years ago. I personally added Culley’s drowning to the Awakening Song."

"I dunno," responds Uncle Polder, shrugging. "She made it sound like he was coming to work at her pact or something."

Uncle Polder follows you outside to thank you all again and to give detailed directions to the farm Kianna works at a few miles away. It is in a neighboring pact.

Tuuli will resume her seat next to Lady Dre on the wagon.

Walt thanks Uncle Polder for his hospitality. As he begins walking with his friends towards the wagon, he stops in his tracks and walks back to the farmer. He looks at his owl wing ring, removes it and offers it to Uncle Polder. “Please, take this. It was said that this ring would protect the bearer of it against attacks from beasts. People tell me it’s nothing more than I child’s trinket, but I feel otherwise. Take this and may it watch over you and your pact. Farewell, friend.”  

Walt joins his friends on the wagon, taking a seat close to the Proclaimer. He has so many questions, but doesn’t know where to begin. Walt digs out the hunk of wood that he was whittling at earlier and begins chipping away at it some more. He’s working in short, measured, precise strokes with his chisel. He appears to be putting on the final touches with some fine engraving. 

Baldar jumps up on to the wagon. She too is uneasy. There seems to be much the Proclaimer especially is not telling them, and the tale of Kianna and Culley is particularly odd. As they resume their journey deeper into the Rattle, Baldar asks Lady Dre: "Can ye tell us a bit more about Kianna. How old is she and how long has she been in The Rattle?"

Walt hands Uncle Polder the ring. He frowns at it, then puts it on one pinky – the only finger his swollen joints will allow the ring upon. "Thank you! Guess I need this then. Go get it done. Swing by on your way back if you need some more stew." You depart.

It is mid-afternoon. Lady Dre drives the wagon deeper into the Rattle, following Uncle Polder's directions. The open fields have all but vanished behind sparse woods at the far edge of the Rattle. The air smells stagnant and carries the taste of metal. Through the trees, multiple small farmhouses hunch amid a patch of green fields.

"I don't know her well," replies Lady Dre. "Kianna is 23? 25? Not sure. Her Pact is a new one. I invested in it. Good farmers."

Now a mile or so away from Uncle Polder's home, you feel a sudden, sickening lurch of the wagon. Suddenly the ground begins to shake, causing the road ahead to ripple, but just as quickly as it started, the shaking fades away. All is calm again. 

Tuuli sways, but keeps her seat. "What was that?"

"What now? Ye know, I'm startin' ta think I should have just stayed in the Citadel. They had craft mead tastings at the tavern today," Baldar exclaims, a little exasperated, but you can tell she's just grousing. She has her axe out again in a flash and grins at Tuuli. "More beasties is my guess."

All remains calm and quiet. 

Lady Dre looks around with alarm, studying the landscape. She speaks up: "I have heard that bulettes occasionally trouble the farmers in the Rattle. Land Sharks. They tunnel through the earth when they hunt. Let's hope that was something else."

The horses remain unperturbed, and after a minute she continues forward with the wagon.

Walt feels the ground tremor and immediately stops what he’s working on. As he hears Lady Dre speak of the bulettes, he swings his pack around and stashes his latest project. He unclips the sling from his belt. He stretches and straightens the leather, preparing himself for whatever may come.  

Walt looks to Lady Dre and says “please, focus on the road and we’ll look out for threats.” He grips her shoulder and whispers a silent prayer and casts guidance on Lady Dre.

After another 10 minutes of travel, another tremor shakes the ground. This time, the tremor causes a broad, 10-foot-deep sinkhole to open beneath the wagon. 

Everyone must succeed on a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw or fall 10 feet, taking bludgeoning damage.

Tuuli tries to leap gracefully from the wagon to firm ground.

Dex Save: 25 

And she does it with a flip and a pirouette, landing lightly on her feet, looking for trouble. 

Walt feels the ground tremor, this time a little bit closer to home and heads the horses panic as the sinkhole begins to open. He leaps from the wagon!

Dexterity save: 22

Walt tumbles to the bottom of the sinkhole, taking 4 bludgeoning damage. Tuuli leaps gracefully to safety.

Lady Dre tries to jump out of the falling wagon: DC15 Dex Save: 17 or take 5 bludgeoning damage
...as does the Proclaimer:  DC15 Dex Save: 11 or take 6 bludgeoning damage.

The two horses, too, try to avoid injury, although they are hitched to the wagon:
Draft horse #1: DC15 Dex Save: 2 or take 1 bludgeoning damage.
Draft horse #2: DC15 Dex Save: 5 or take 1 bludgeoning damage.

The wagon itself falls into the deep hole, taking  5 bludgeoning damage.

Bendrak and Baldar may make Dex Saves as well, next.

Dex save (rolled in campaign log) 12

Baldar tries to get her stubborn limbs into motion to react, but she was always stronger than she was nimble. With a *hmph* she lands in the sink hole alongside the ladies and the horses.

Unable to keep her balance, Baldar tumbles down to the bottom, taking 4 bludgeoning damage in the process. There she joins two panicked horses, a broken, capsized wagon, Walt, and Lady Dre, all floundering in a chaotic heap.

Bendrak may make the final Dex Saves to see if he can leap clear of the tumbling wagon.

Are there any trees nearby, say within 40’ (if the hole is 10’ deep) or closer?

Bendrak attempts to leap free of the wagon.

Dex save: 16

He skids to a halt outside the crater and begins helping Lady Dre and the others to safety.

(There are some small, scrubby trees nearby - almost at the edge of the right side of the pit.)

Bendrak and Tuuli look down with alarm upon the two bucking horses, the wagon (nearly on its side), Walt, Baldar, and Lady Dre. The edges of the sinkhole aren't clean drops, so it will be easy enough for a humanoid to scramble out without aid. The horses' escape remains to be seen, and the wagon may take some work to extract.

But you suddenly discover with horror that they are not alone in this pit. Four disembodied hands emerge from the dirt and begin to tear at one of the wounded horses.
Hand 1 vs. draft horse 1: 14. Hit: 3 slashing damage.
Hand 2 vs. draft horse 1: 19. Hit: 5 slashing damage.
Hand 3 vs. draft horse 1: 16. Hit: 3 slashing damage.
Hand 4 vs. draft horse 1: 10. Hit: 3 slashing damage.

Roll initiative!
Hands: 12
Horses: 10
Lady Dre: 4
Proclaimer: 19

Baldar Initiative 5