((It's in the Rime of the Frostmaiden book, I believe. I just customized some travelers clothes as I don't have access to it either.))

The line of horses and ponies weaves its way through the gloomy forest. Large gnarled roots make the going slow and occasionally dangerous.

Those paying close attention start to get the hang of distinguishing the trail from the untrammeled woods. It helps that a low ridge runs more or less parallel to the west. If you get too close to the ridge it seems likely that you’ve gotten off the path.

While you know it’s day time, the dim green light that makes its way through the foliage to you is barely above that of moonlight.

That’s what makes the appearance of a small clearing that much more blinding. As the group turns a bend in the trail, the ridge is a little further away. In the clearing, you see a small pond. The trail skirts the eastern side of the pond. The ridge, trees still on top of it, lies to the western side of the pond.

On the other side of the pond, in the side of the ridge, you can make out a large cave opening.

“I’d heard that was used as a makeshift shelter years ago by some of the woodcutters,” Soren says, pointing to the cave. “Can’t say I’ve ever seen it in use though.”

Avaria stares at the gaping mouth of the cave for a couple of moments.  "So two nights in this cursed woods, right?  I do not want to extend that to check out a cave... unless you think we have a little time to spare to have a peek inside?  Might find something that could give us a clue as to what has happened here?  Or maybe not.. I just can't get those terrible trees out of my mind."

Ethel looks as if she is about to put down the idea of the cave, but then her look softens.  "I can appreciate the curiosity," she says at last to Avaria.  "But we are on a tight schedule and unless there is good reason to stop, I don't think we can spare it.  Besides..." she adds, looking to Soren.

"... If this forest is as prickly about lumbermen as you say, and that cave was used once by woodcutters, then perhaps if we ventured inside, the trees would hold us guilty by association."  Her tone suggests she is trying to make a jape.

"At least there's less likely to be trees inside a cave."

Soren shakes his head.

"Can't say that I've ever looked in there," Soren says then nods at Hammerdasher and Ula. "Underground always seemed more for dwarves than elves."

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

Anyone looking at their surroundings more closely can toss a perception roll in.

Jan: 12

Jan will also send K to feel out the entrance to the cave with his tremorsense, extending her perceptions through them.

K: 8

Dirt and stone, at least.

Not having much else to do, Marrin looks around, barely.

Perception: 6

"Yep. That's a cave. Let's keep moving."

Ava's perception: 19

She pauses as she looks around and waits to hear what Jan's dust friend has seen.

For the most part, everyone is certain there's a cave on the other side of the pond.

"That's not natural," Hammerdasher says. "Dwarves made that."

He points out spots that show where tools were used and a certain cut that indicates the work of dwarves.

While everyone else is focused on the earthiness and craftsmanship of the opening, Avaria's attention is taken by what she sees to the side of the entrance. She can make out some bones under some bushes. And near those are large feathers - a mix of brown and white feathers. From this distance she can't be sure, but they look too large for any bird she's ever seen.

Marrin tries to brush a branch from Dan's mane and responds,

"Nice, nice. Best to get moving so we don't spend more time here than we need to."

Jan looks around at the dense, oppressive forest. "Forgive my assumptions, but a bit unusual place for dwarven workings, is it not? Though suppose if that's where the resources are..." 

Ignoring the rest of them, Avaria gets off her horse and walks over to the bushes near the opening.  Brushing them aside, she takes a better look at the bones and feathers, looking to see if there is anything else of note.  "Hey guys, ever seen a bird this large?" as she holds up one of the feathers.  

"Woah."

Jan Nature: 19

"That is pretty big."

Hammerdasher continues to admire the cave from a distance not wanting to get off the pony if he’s just going to have to get back in again.

”It was likely a natural cave that they widened. If those angry trees have been here for awhile, a cave might have provided extra protection.”

Jan can’t identify the source of the feathers but she’s leaning towards thinking they might not be from a bird.

When Soren sees what Avaria is holding up, he curses in elvish and wheels his horse back towards the trail.

””We should move. Now.”

Nature: 23 (nat 20)

Marrin mostly ignores the cave talk but does glance over when Ava show off the feather. She goes back to aimlessly looking around a half a heart beat before snapping back.

Soren beats her to it and she adds, quietly but urgently,

"Ava, hop back up on your horse. That belonged to ((presumably)) an *owlbear*."

She then considers the feather again,

"Keep the feather though, I have an outfit it'd look amazing with."

((Guessing on the ID Thor, insert correct animal as needed!))

Nature:  20

Coming to a similar conclusion as Marrin, Ethel tightens her grip on the reigns.  "Yes.  I see less and less reason to dilly dally at this location.  Let us ride."

((It's clearly from an offshoot clan of winged dwarves.))