"Thank you for the mutton, Lugosh, we shall be on our way.  Hopefully we return to you with news of the wine at some point.  If you do see your brother, let him know we'd like to chat with him."

And with that, Zefla turns and heads down the odd hill, watching those around her and starts to head back down the path they were on, not wanting to get lost in this area.

Soren is not entirely sure that he and his companions have made the ally he was hoping to make upon returning Luvosh's daughter.  Nevertheless, he takes his leave after finishing his small serving of muton and moves to follow Zefla.

"Perhaps we can find common cause again Luvosh, with the wine or something else.  Friends and allies seem difficult to come by in this land."

(He does look back to see if Burr is finished eating or if Giles had anything more to say).

Burr heads down the hill with a few more pieces of mutton tucked into his pockets for snacks, " Wine or Wolves?", he asked as they reached the base.

((Sorry, thought it was a different time of day.))

Giles smiles back at Luvosh, saying “Indeed we will, play it by ear I mean.  I’m glad that we could help your daughter and save her from that madman, thank you for your offer to stay, but there is much time left in the day.  We wish you well…”

Then, he walks down the hill with Soren, Burr and Zefla, saying “No, I would not wear out our welcome, especially if you have that feeling about them Zefla.  Let’s proceed as you say, looking into the wolf den, then back to Vallaki to sleep overnight, then to the winery the following morning.  Does that sound agreeable?”  Giles readies his pack for walking.  

Zefla smiles at Giles, "Exactly as I was thinking."  

Once they get away from the area, and back to the lake, she attempts to find the best route to the next lake that is shown on the map.

Survival?  21

"Hmmm... I am definitely unfamiliar with these lands.  Any of you know the best way to get to that other lake?  but honestly, if we don't find anything there, I'm about to give up on Eva and her predictions!" she stomps her foot in frustration.

Soren attempts to judge distances on the map,  Which he pulls out only once a safe distance away from the Vistani encampment.  With Silvanus' guidance he struggles through his exhaustion to get his bearings and discern whether any of the other lakes to the northwest would be reasonable destinations for a day hike that would allow the party to return to the Vallaki area before nightfall.  Such as the smaller lake in the Forest of Wolves for example.

Or is it more realistic for the day to do a partial circuit of Lake Zarovich?  (East or west from the southern shore area we already visited).

Soren Survival at disadvantage plus Guidance:  14 (disadvantage ruined a nat. 20) + 2 = 16

Burr looked at the map though he didn't really follow much how it related to the landscape.

" Theres time to go there and back, but no real time to do anything there before we needs head back."

“I think we circle the lake looking for more clues then head back to Vallaki before nightfall.  There were some small shelters on the shore, weren’t there?  We need to go back and look again, perhaps we can pick up a trail…”. Giles trails off, trying to sound hopeful.  

[Sorry for the pause.  I see voices calling for a trip northwest to look for wolves, and for a circuit of the lake.  Which will it be?]

( Looking at the map by the time we get to the wolves we'll need to head back if we don't want to camp out so the lake seems the best option.)

Considering the map, the distance and time it took to get from the Village of Barovia, to the Tser Pool camp, to Vallaki, and the time of day, Soren believes Burr is probably right.  While the lake in the forest doesn't look that far, there is no way of knowing how long it may take you to find this 'wolf's den' and you would run a serious risk of being unable to reach Vallaki again before nightfall.

So, the party departs the Vistani and elf camp heading northeast, instead of northwest.  Crossing over the Old Svalich Road and continuing in the direction of Lake Zarovich, they follow the western shoreline.  

Like so much else here, the land seems largely deserted.  Mist clings to the overgrown trail that circumnavigates the lake, and though you pass a pair of abandoned and partially collapsed fishing shacks, you don't see any signs of life.  At times, the scraggly trees and cattails completely obscure the trail, forcing you to blaze your own path through the grey wilderness.

After 2 hours, you spot what looks like a small village across a shallow bay, just another 1/4 mile or so down and around the trail.  As Zefla points it out to the others, a twig snap draws your attention to the forest.  You can just see a pair of soldiers, leaning against trees 20' off the path, perhaps sentries watching the road.  Though the mists are thick, and the lighting is poor, they must have already spotted you as well.

With Nettle having vanished for now, Soren attempts to make sense of how empty the wilderness feels, though he is not sure if it is just his exhaustion fogging his mind as the wisps of fog block vision in these woods around the lakeshore.

Remembering the way the sinister fog seemed to be trying to encroach into the cathedral, not to mention the warnings of the hunters he and his companions had met at the Blue Water Inn had warned how dangerous this land is, Soren pauses as the sentries come into view.  Even the Vistani and the ravens above the Blue Water Inn speak of this land as if death is everywhere, though these look like ordinary soldiers...

Calling on Silvanus' guidance, he squints around to look for any other signs of danger or ambush, and then again at the soldiers to determine if anything seems... wrong... with them.  But the mists seem to occlude his vision and he finds he is not sure.

Soren Perception (at disadvantage due to exhaustion) plus Guidance:  7 (nat. 1) + 1 = 8

He licks his lips uncertainly, asking quietly, "so... shall we just move forward and greet them?"

Burr nods and raises a hand in greeting to the men-at-arms.

" Guess you blokes drew the short straw?  Anything about we should worry on?"

Both soldiers snap to attention at the sound of Burr's hail.  They pull away from the trees and lurch forward, seemingly unsteady on their feet.  Around them, a sucking sound echoes as four more soldiers rise from the damp forest floor around them.  As they stagger through the doppeled grey light of the forest toward you, their tattered chain armor and decayed standards come into view.  Whatever army or guard force these men once belonged to, the colors and sigils have all faded and rotted away.  

The mists surrounding you suddenly reek with the foul odor of death and pestilence.  The figures that loom out of the forest are dead... undead.  Zombies.  Three of them carry rusted longswords while the other three reach out with empty, clawed hands.  Their wordless moans of hunger and longing seem louder than they should, shattering the shrouded quiet of the shoreline trail.

Initiative!

• Burr: 16
• Giles: 5
• Soren: 16
• Zefla: 11
• Zombies:  4

Round One:

1. Soren
2. Burr
3. Zefla
4. Giles
5. Zombies

Soren looks on aghast as the undead abominations emerge from the woodland.  The ravens spoke truly.  This land is tormented and befouled, and death walks the wilderness, as every person we have spoken with has attested.  I must use what power remains in the forest to lance at least this vile boil...

A cold determination fills him as he reaches out to Silvanus', murmuring sharp words and making a strange gesture, his fingers like thorns protruding  from his hand.  Sickly and dying though the land is, it responds.  The trees and underbrush seem to swell and become overgrown in a spherical area just northeast of Burr, stopping just short of the big man's feet.  Only a close inspection would reveal the vicious spikes and thorns amidst the greenery.

Soren casts and concentrates on Spike Growth in roughly the area (20' radius) shown below, which becomes difficult terrain.  The camouflaged spikes deal 2d4 magical piercing damage to any creature for every 5' it travels into or within the area.  Soren hopes the zombies trudge mindlessly through it.

"Do not step forward," he calls to his companions, his voice quiet but grim.  "Attack at range and retreat slightly, waiting for them to reach us.  The forest defends itself!  The area I have awoken will slow and damage any who step through it, as I believe these mindless undead will."

(Soren himself walks slightly back 10', W-SW, ending up just south of Giles.)

Burr quipped, " I'll take that as a yes."

Then he looked across at Soren as he called upon the plants, " Right you are."

Unable to attack he simply stood his ground and waited for the dead to reach him.

Held Action- 

Attack: 8 Damage: 8

Zefla stares at the undead for a bit, her mind trying to comprehend what it is seeing.  She's glad her companions seem to have a good head on their shoulders as Soren and Burr are ready to go.  

The spike growth is impressive, she heeds Soren's warning and stays where she is, pulling out her shortbow.  Releasing an arrow at the one undead that is not in the thorny overgrowth.

Attack: 24 Damage: 12

Giles starts to backpedal as well, saying “If they get too close, I can turn them away.  Lady don’t fail us now!”  He grips his coin in his right hand and steadies the shield in his left, he points at the closes zombie with a longsword, and the sound of a bell rings in the area around it.  He moves back approximately 15-20 feet, staying within a 60 foot range away from the leading Zombie, keeping his distance.  He is impressed with the magic of the wood and the abilities of Soren, demonstrated yet again.  “Let’s focus on not letting them overrun us…” Giles says, a worried sound in his voice.  

Toll the dead : DC 13 wisdom save, or take 4 points of necrotic damage.