((May allow a +1 to a roll if the double thumbs up is genuine))

As the group quietly debates its options with the mysterious chest, searching dragons, and potential for instant death, the wagons and horses make their way along the Great Road. The only point of interest the rest of the day is a small portion that looks to have been washed out by flash flood several days ago. Soren and Tas seem a little confused by the washout. Not worried, just a little surprised.

"Didn't know there was a river or creek around here to do that," Soren says.

But there's no sign of danger, and the horses and wagons navigate the broken up road with relative ease.

The incessantly howling wind continues throughout the day. And as an added bonus it begins to take on a winter's edge. It's going to be cold tonight, and probably every night here on out.

As night begins to fall twinkling lights can be seen in the distance, and slowly the walls of Bezentil come into view.

The town's watchtowers are sturdy, but the walls are more the kind that will keep roaming wolves from causing mayhem than they are to prevent any serious assault. On the other hand, what army is going to come all the way out here to lay siege to a small trading outpost.

Tas greats the guards in one of the watchtower, and after a short negotiation comes to an agreement that allows the entire group to enter.

"That's our only option for the night," Tas says, gesturing at a single story, L-shaped inn not far from the gates. "At least they have stables."

A sign at the front reads "The Foggy Fern".

((Any actions for the evening?))

((The only authentic double thumbs up I've seen in recent memory were from children 5 and under.))

Marrin, also unfortunately used to travel on the road, notes their noting and the lack of any water source and will ride over to briefly inspect it. Her mind goes to a magical cause, because, well, she has magic.

Arcana: 9

On arriving in the outpost and, happily, finding they have an inn, Marrin elbows Soren.

"Duet time? Mostly traders and the like here? That one you taught me would be good to try out."

If allowed, Marrin is going to perform!

((No need to make anything of this, and certainly don't slow down the story on her behalf.

She isn't looking for anything in reward from the innkeeper, just loves the limelight.

Performance if needed (minimum 21): 31

))

((Well, I guess she puts on a hell of a good show haha!))

 At the washout, the best Marrin was able to come up with was that there was probably water, and a lot of it that damaged the road, but there's no water now.

------------------------------------------------

Inside the Foggy Fern, there's a roaring fire, a handful of late season merchants, their guards, and a couple of travelers along with a few locals for good measure. Both Tas and Soren appear to know the owner, a bearded hobgoblin who's missing a few fingers on his left hand. Despite that life setback he appears affable enough.

Sorren happily joins Marrin for a song or two, but the bard drifts off into silence as Marrin really gets into it. He knows who the performing gods are favouring tonight and he doesn't want to get in the way.

Marrin wins over even the most serious of the merchant guards and receives plenty of applause and requests for more.

The innkeeper merely smiles a half smile and let's Marrin know that was more than enough payment for her and her companions for the night.

Tas begins making plans for an early start the next day.

 Jan will ride up beside Marrin, sending K'oshash down and sending her senses through them to see if there is anything further revealed to his tremorsense and innate connection to the earth.

((Nature Check: 18))
((With Advantage?: 7))

At the inn, she'll lead her horse in and see to it getting stabled. 

((Have you described the horses? What that input from us?))

Jan and K are pretty satisfied that there's dirt in, on, under and beside the road. Beyond that they don't have much to add to the conversation.

-------------------------------------------

(The description so far has been 'horses' and that they're larger than the 'ponies'. Go ahead if you want to flesh them out)

Jan's horse is a dun mare whose coat reminds her of sand (she steers her mind away from the sand of her vision), and she has taken to calling the mare "R'iyatka". The mare is easy going enough to suit Jan as not the most intuitive of riders, her thighs are aching after long hours clenching the saddle.

Ethel's horse is an old buckskin gelding with a black face, and a passive demeanor.  She has named it Nostromo.

Sitting down at a table in the Foggy Fern, Ethel's mind is troubled with thoughts of carrion trees, occult assassins and desert tombs.

Before long, however, her attention is drawn to Marrin's performance, and she is pulled out of her own dark thoughts and into the moment; just sitting back at a small tavern, enjoying a show.

Jan considers swapping faces and moving through the crowd to talk Marrin up, but soon realizes that crowdwork is not needed, her friend has the entire tavern eating out of her hand, and she rejoins Ethel, Ula and Ava to just take in the performance.

Marrin looks up to the sky, then around to see if there are any other markers nearby that would indicate what happened to the lots of water after it did the damage it did. Shrugging she says to Jan,

"Well, it was definitely water that did the water damage."

Before clicking her non-descript bay gelding forward. He came with the name Dan, and Marrin is fine with that. Dan is as clean as a horse can be and smells like mint and lemon, which Dan doesn't especially appreciate. Beyond that, they have an indifferent relationship towards each other.

----

As Marrin wraps up, she bows and says,

"Marrin Eversong, it has been a pleasure, and let's hear it for Soren (whateverhesaidisnamewas)."

She'll give another bow to Soren and then to the innkeep.

Back with her crew and Tas she'll ask,

"I think this is where we part ways in the morning, safe travels and favorable deals to you Tas!"

((We are heading northwest in the morning, right?))

Jan and an invisible K nod along sagely. "Plenty of dirt."

(Soren Lark)

Tas smiles sadly when Marrin talks of parting ways.

"I'm sorry to hear it. We wouldn't have made it past those trees without you," Tas says then nods over at Soren who, while not hitting the same passion as Marrin did, is still turning in an admirable performance. "Though I can't say it wasn't unexpected. Seeing Soren with you lot suggests you need to get where you're going a lot faster than you would with us. He knows these parts well, and most of the people in them. Even the less savory."

She then pulls out a coin purse, adds up a sum in her head, and then hands over 15 gold coins.

"Travel safely."

Soon Tas and the merchants have retired for the night. The locals have all gone home, and the innkeeper has announced the kitchen and the taps are closed for the night. A fire still burns in the hearth but it's not as roaring as it was earlier.

Eventually the group is alone and can head to bed or plot away.

To the comment about Soren,

"Well I'd certainly prefer to avoid a forest route, but you're right we that we need to move fast. I know my share of unsavory types," she'll cast a meaningful look towards Jan, "a it comes with being a traveling performer. We'll keep an eye on him though."

 Marrin looks at the money then over to the others,

"Were we with Tas as part of job? I thought it was strength in numbers and the like?"

((Marrin has no scheming for the evening, just bed and then up early to get going and get Jan in her ring to check a totally okay box.))

Avaria is glad they have arrived to an actual Inn with the cold coming on as it is.  Riding in on her larger than normal dark brown steed, she quickly hands it over to the stable hand and is able to sit back and truly enjoy the performance Marrin gives that night.

As they part ways with Tas, she wraps her arm around the woman for a side hug, "If you see those terrible trees again.. you run the other way!  Hope the rest of your travels is safe and you all stay warm."

Ava shrugs to Marrin's question, "A little of both?"

((Same here))

"While you might take your pay in the adoration of fans, I prefer coin. Seven and half gold per walking, rotting tree... perhaps when all this is sorted out, we can all become arborists."

Jan will wish Tas and her crew well before they head to rest.

For her part, she'll spend some time quietly studying Terran with K'oshash, before resting. She'll have K keep watch while she trances.

She tries not to think too much about the plans to open the chest solo... though she can at least bring K in to keep her company...

The night is the quietest you've experienced since before first boarding the Rose Marie, now the Xanthe's Wish. The unrelenting wind blows all night, but it provides cover for any other noise and not a peep arises in the inn.

The smells of breakfast greet the group when they wake. Any that move to the great room find simple but warm and filling fare - fresh bread, some very large eggs (hinting at a bird other than a chicken), and hot coffee.

Soren stands by the main windows looking out at the sky, a steaming cup of coffee in his hands.

Hammerdasher and Geffroi, sit at one table, chewing on buttered bread, discussing how cold it might get as you head further north.

There's no sign of Tas or the three merchants who were traveling with her.

Jan finds a seat at the table, securing a cup of coffee for herself, and pulling some food onto a platter for herself, and a smaller one to place down beside her for K.

"Good morning all. Sleep alright?"

((There's barely the slightest bit of a hitch when she says sleep, as one who does not do it themselves.))

Marrin steps in and grabs a slice of bread before sliding in beside Geff, Hammerdasher and Jan.

"Morning"

She munches away contendedly. Looking over at Soren she asks, round a bite of bread,

"How long he been standing there?"

Hammerdasher just waves a dismissive hand at Soren.

"He wanted to get a read of the weather," Hammerdasher said. "I said we're going into deep dark woods with trees that want to eat us, whether or not it's going to rain isn't my biggest concern."

Marrin snorts a chuckle at Hammerdasher's comment.

"Snow'd be better than rain."

She'll wave Soren over,

"What say ye ole guide?"