Spark, Minty and Rizo (and Bappy) meet up at Dorsela’s town gate early in the blue hour. The night sky slowly turns from a dark blue to a lighter hue just before the orange colors of an imminent sunrise will take over. Not far from the town in the forest a wolf howls as if wishing a good rest to the moon that descents into the tree line. “Nothing better than starting the day early,” Rizo comments when they begin their trek into the forest.

a few dice rolls:

(Please post your character sheet with your first post for reference)

Rizo

The group ventures into the forest with mixed spirits, on one hand there’s loot to be had but on the other hand it awaits a ghost story.

You are eager to get out for a new adventure into the forest that appears to be brimming with loot that just waits to be taken. Well, almost, but at least if one discounts the bands of goblins, bandits, beasts and monsters that typically lurk about each way looking for the same or, worse.

And then there is what’s on everyone’s mind. The spirits that haunt Minty. They could be catching up at every turn. And you don’t know what they are- or were, who they are - or were, or even what they will want  - or simply take - when they finally catch up. Still, it is better they follow you than that they find the tavern, or is it?

Spark follows the group.  "Isivunguvungu taught me some protective magic, although I am not sure how useful it will be if we encounter these spirits.  It should help against the usual monsters in this forest, though."

https://www.dndbeyond.com/characters/67938300

"Wood you look at that!" Bappy jokes as he tunes his lute. "This is my first time officially adventuring, and I'm so glad it's with you fine folks!"

https://www.dndbeyond.com/characters/90699132

“You’ll do fine,” Rizo attempts to encourage Spark. “As long as we stick together, we aren’t easy pickings.” He chuckles at Bappy’s comment. “And who knows? They might not want us harm, but, perhaps, something else. Maybe to warn us, or to tell us something that would be, otherwise, lost?”

((How long should we wait to see if Minty shows up? The plot I had in mind was somewhat inspired by his character but I guess the three of us would be enough. I’d say we wait another day and then just start. Feel free to object.))

Sorry for the delay. Work went nuts this week. 

(No worries, glad to have you on board. Please post a link to your character sheet if you have one.)

”Hey Minty, so how do you know that something is following you, or looking for you?” Rizo ventures into what he thinks might be a difficult topic for Minty.

A good hour into the woods the way slopes down significantly. On the descent, the bushes between the trees make place for long prairie like grass that swings slowly from side to side without you noticing not even the slightest breeze. The trees itself get sparse, too, but not so much as to reveal an open space, no. More and more, large strands of kelp take their place and they reach a few tens of meters into the air. When you look up you see a small fish flitting from one strand to the next as if it was hiding from your sight. For a moment you doubt your senses and hold your breath, but after a deep inhale you’re sure, you still breathe air. But why does it look like you’re under the sea? 

(Perception/Nature/Survival check everyone, whatever is higher or you think your character would more likely use in an unfamiliar situation.)

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 Bappy is friendly, and talkative, but not very bright. "Huh, didn't know that's what flying fish looked like!"

Spark seems unfazed by the transition from the forest to what seems to be underwater.  After a minute, she pauses.  "Hold on.  Can the rest of you breathe okay?"

Spark's Survival: 22.

If this check is related to tracking fey, fiends, or undead, she has advantage, and uses the higher of this roll and 7.

As Bappy comments on the fish, he notices that it  doesn’t have wings or such as you would expect of anything that flies. Moreover, occasionally the fish is suspended in the air wiggling with his minuscule fins before jolting in one direction or another. 

Spark (for other players this is meta info that your characters do not know unless Spark shares it. Read spoilers at your own peril ;)):

 The visibility is poor in this area, first, there is the kelp that obscures a good view in most directions but even where you can look farther, in the distance a green-blueish haze impedes your vision. The road continues South-East and you can’t see where it leads. Rizo points out to you that direction South, and off the track, the bluish haze is somewhat darkened as if an enormous shape casts a huge shadow there. Might be a mountain is situated in that direction. 
Will you go S or follow the path SE?

“The fish seems to be spooked.  Of what, I’m not sure, but I think it’s from there.” Spark points to the south.

"Something does seem....Fishy. Lets go check it out!" Bappy begins trotting Southward

Perception: 15

Minty answers Rizo as he cautiously follows Bappy.  "Well, it seems that every time I start to get my life together, things start to get weird.  Whatever is following me never approaches directly, but it is as if I can see them out of the corner of my eye.  When they find me, people start to die in my presence.  I can see their souls leave their bodies and it seems like whatever these things are want me to do something with the souls, but I have not figured out what.  When I don't do anything, bad things start to happen, my business burns down, townsfolk start blaming me for the increased death rate, my friends desert me or get caught in the crossfire.  Things like that.  If I knew what they wanted, maybe I would do it, but it is as if they think I am supposed to know, and I don't"

Minty:

You leave the path that you were following and venture South on a sandy slope slightly downhill. The kelp forest thins out in this direction and the more you advance the dark shape that Rizo pointed out takes form, a massive rock formation that throws a long shadow in your direction.

Getting closer to the rock the floor levels at the same time as you pass the last kelp and you enter a huge sand floor that extends several hundred feet to the foot of the rock and as far as you can tell, all around it. You judge that the rock must be several miles wide but you can't ascertain where it really ends as your vision is blurred at such a large distance. It is very high, too, and the wall is impossibly steep and features are difficult to discern as you look onto the shadowy side. Looking up you see sunlight bending around it's top that might well be three hundred feet away and you think you see busy movements, similar to the fish you've encountered before but in much larger quantities. 

When you scan the sand surface, you see a large shipwreck that you would normally expect to find deep under the sea. 'Where exactly are you', you wonder but it has become clear that everything here behaves as if you were under the sea, except you yourself. The wreckage is already half buried in the sand and must have been here for a long time.

As you ponder what hidden secrets it might hold, your eyes wander off and find a smaller vessel some 50 feet from the large ship. It appears to be a large rowboat, one that maybe can even fit a small mast that can hold a sail. You note that it must be much newer than the other wreck. You're currently some 200ft away from both wrecks and 500ft away from the foot of the rock.

Will you approach the large shipwreck? Or the small boat? Or ignore both and get closer to the rock? Or better turn around and seek shelter back in the tavern of Dolsela? Or, perhaps, something else entirely? 

(I'll try to run this adventure open and if you have ideas that you like to pursue other than the obvious paths, I'll try to accommodate it.)

Character Sheet: https://www.dndbeyond.com/characters/69484370

"My guess is whatever that fish is afraid of, it's probably from one of those wrecks.  We'd best be prepared for a battle."

“You might be right, Spark.” Rizo casts Shillelagh and, then, Guidance on Minty, “Let me see if this works and attracts a spirit or two. With some luck, one  will provide you with some guidance.” Rizo dons his shield and looks expectingly to the others to decide which wreck to look at first.

*Bapppy taps his staff on his chin, debating the options* "I don't know about the rest of you, but to my thinking a bigger boat means better treasure!" 

Battle-ready you walk slowly towards the large shipwreck. At around 50ft distance, Minty spots a pair of red eyes staring right at you out of a hole in the ship’s hold, and alarms everyone. That is when you notice no less than another three pairs of red glaring eyes. Whatever waits you there must have noticed that you have spotted them, because the eyes start moving. (Roll initiative)