Sinak walks along, watching the prancing of the fox and appearance of the new pink petaled flowers.  He too bends down and picks smell, trying to sense their smell out of curiosity.  He attempts to communicate with a message, pointing at the fox, saying “Thank you for your help, we have been sent to help the children to escape from danger, to get them away from the black dragon.  We would appreciate any help or knowledge you have -“  He sits down in the grass, to have better visualization of the fox, connecting with it eye to eye.  

Yasmina comes up behind Thelan and watches the fey spirit. She looks curiously at the bundle left behind as the fox disappears and suppresses an urge to pick it up, insted looking to Thelan to do that.

Krugh tastes a few petals

Thelan watches as the fox disappears then calls after it “Thank you, friend of the wood”  He turns to the others “Thank the gods, the children are still alive.  In danger, but still alive.  We should hurry.”  Thelan shares the rest of the information the fey spirit provided, especially the warning and the rules surrounding the gift.  At the mention of the gift, Thelan bends down to carefully unwrap and inspect the bundle the fox left for the group.  He also picks up Moonpetal and returns it to his rightful place with his equipment.

"The children are alive? How do you know? Did the fox speak to you? Did it say anything more?" Yasmina says excitedly, following Thelan around, ready to press on.

Sinak - The petals appear to be from a common wildflower and offer a delicate sweet scent. The fox cocks its head to the side in a very humanoid-like way, that conveys confusion. It does not appear to have understood you and offers no answer before disappearing.

Krugh - The small petals offer little in the way of taste or substance, but the flavor is as you'd expect. It tastes like you ate a wildflower.

All - As you watch, Thelan reaches down to touch the bundle and it suddenly unfurls like a flower blooming. You see what appears to be a pile of sticks, vines, and stone, but upon closer inspection you find that they are weapons. The weapons include a greataxe, six daggers, a longbow, and a small pile of sling stones. All are gracefully designed, as if the wood and vines grew around the stone naturally and even carry a few pink flowering blossoms. The weapons are all weapon, +1 and the sling stones are ammunition, +1. There are fourty sling stones in the pile.

Krugh stares at the pile in wonder

Sooooooo, I guess the axe is for me?!

Krugh looks to the others with obvious questioning glee

"But you already have one?" Yasmina says giving Krugh an incredulous look, but then laughing softly and smiling warmly at the the half-orc. "Of course, you take it Krugh, I'm sure you will make good use of it."

With a sheepish grin, Krugh picks up the axe and swings it around a little. Careful not to hit anyone or anything.

I'll still keep my old one, but dis is pretty good

Thelan glances over at Yasmina “The spirit did tell me the children yet live.  It also gave a warning that not all in the forest is as it appears at first glance, there are things that lure you in 'Like the fly-trap flowers that grow in these woods, enticing their prey with sweet scents before revealing themselves as deadly traps.  

Thelan inspects the longbow, noting the beautiful and graceful way that it appeared to grow in that form. “I already have Moonpetal, does anyone else know how to use a longbow?  Everyone, take what weapons best suit you. But the spirit says the magic within these weapons will only work in the boundaries of the forest.  Keep that in mind." 

Neela trots up to the pile of gifts, patting Thelan on the back on the way past. "Nice one, Thelan! Look, shiny rocks!" She picks up an armful of sling stones, which with her small stature probably only accounts for half of them. You can no longer see her face but hear her slightly muffled voice from behind the pile. "Does anyone else use a sling? There's so many here. I couldn't possibly carry them all." She tries to jam as many as possible in her already quite loaded backpack, tucks a few into her bandolier and stuffs a couple more into her cheeks.

"Hnng. So, if the kids are alive, should we still go to the Druid, or hurry straight for the Keep? I think we got some great gifts here. And we hopefully won't have any more trouble with the orcs."

I can carry the rest if you can't fit them.

Yasmina nods and ponders what Thelan tells her about the spirit's warning. "You take that longbow Thelan." She says, stepping forward to gracefully pick up two of the daggers and slide them under her belt by her curved calishite blades. She smiles as Neela keeps picking up sling stones, finding new places to stuff them away. "Yes, I think it will be prudent to visit the druid before proceeding Ravenglade Keep."

Krugh ponders this a moment

Was the fox warning about flowers that want to eat us or a metaphor for something or someone else?

Perhaps the druid is the one that summoned the dragon cuz the elves came back and he/she wanted to be alone?

So many things to ponder...  oh look another pink petal

All - Pressing onward to the Druid's cottage, you spend roughly seven more hours traversing the thickly wooded forest. It is very dark beneath the canopy now even though the sun hasn't quite yet set. Your darkvision helps you all see relatively well in the gloom, though all color is muted to shades of gray. You're very close to where the cottage should be, how would you like to proceed?

Yasmina messages Razul to take a closer look, but still from some distance, to see if any threats are visible, and then report back.

Razul perception: 17

Yasmina - Razul is gone for roughly thirty minutes before returning. He tells you that the druid's home is about ten minutes away. He did not see or hear anyone while he was watching and saw no obvious threats.

All - You are startled by the sudden appearance of a stranger in your midst. A nearby tree twists and contorts, forming a vaguely humanoid form with feminine features. The creature moves with a creaking sound, like trees swaying in a stiff wind. “Hail, visitors of the forest,” says the dryad. “You have entered the territory of Marla Moonglove, who oversees this area. You would do well to proceed with caution for Marla has many watchers whose eyes are upon you now. Continue forth, and you will come across her cottage. Remember: The way you treat the forest is how you will be treated in return.” Before you can reply, the dryad contorts again, taking the shape of a young tree once more.

Yasmina takes a step back as the dryad appears, not sure what could be trusted in a forest. "We will of course continue to traverse this forest showing the same respect as up til now." She says calmly to the dryad, not sure if it still can hear her. "Let's continue." She suggests to her travelling companions.

Aye, but be wary of the druid. It might be working with the dragon.

"I doubt the druid would ally herself with a creature that likely have no respect, much less reverance, for the forest, but we shall be cautious in our dealings with her of course." Yasmina says with a warm smile to the half-orc.