If Ixsas says his impressions out loud then Zeds notes that that may indeed be true but notes that when you got nothing you're happy for any little bit you can claim is yours.  "Besides, what we want with a tapestry anyway?  It's nothing to us, to them it may mean a sense of home... Or a trade item they can trade for food or shelter.  You really want a tapestry I'll steal you one next city we're in.  A better one than this.  One that doesn't smell of fire and dead troll..."

"Thank you for healing me and thank you for bringing us the tapestry. It means a lot to have a tiny bit of faith with us as we traveled. Though you can have the folded packet as we found it in the shrine when we came." says Thalren. 

He hands the folded packet back to Zeds. Looking at the dust again there is a brief glint of magic. 

(Lunch counts as a short rest) 

     Zeds first instinct is to insist they take the packet, whatever it is.  But giving the packet of dust a second look and getting a suspicion that there may be something special about it, magically wise, Zeds allow it to be returned to him.  "If you insist, sure," he says as he tucks it away.  On his own away from others he will cautiously sniff at the dust, maybe even get a wee bit on a finger and taste it, trying to figure out what it may be.  (Arcana check?  12)  Assuming he learns nothing for it, he'll wait until after lunch to bring it to anyone else's attention.

     Later, after eating, whenever he can grab Krackle alone for a moment, Zeds will ask him what he thinks of it.  "I don't know much about magic but... I got a hunch about this being... Something?" he suggests to the kobold.  He'll allow Krackle to examine and check it out however he deems appropriate.  If still nothing he'll then approach Ixsas about it.

     "Blech!" Zeds blurts at the taste, then immediately starts feeling choked up and coughing a bit.  It takes a while, and much drinking from his waterskin, to clear his throat and sinuses...  But eventually Zeds gets a clue.  "I guess the could come in handy sometime," he concludes and tucks it away until that time arises.

That wee bit taste gives Zeds a fit of sneezing and combined with the Arcana roll Zeds realize that the packet of dust is Dust of Sneezing and Choking. 

((Cool cool, edited post above))

Serge misses most of the exchange over the tapestry and other details of settling down to lunch. 

He rests for the better part of an hour and then removes his chainmail, finding and binding up the worst of his wounds.  Nothing permanent seems to be lost, though his right shoulder and hip remain painfully stiff.  At last, he re-outfits himself and then helps himself to a small bite of lunch, his stomach still uneasy after his recent proximity to regenerating troll innards.

Back on his feet, he looks more or less back to his old self, though he is definitely favoring his right side.

Before the wagon leaves, he addresses Zeds, Krackle and Ixsas.  "That was an incredible thing we just did.  Four trolls together, they could have taken down a small company of soldiers.  That we slew them all, without losing a soul... its a miracle.  You should all be proud of yourselves."  Then he ambles off to make ready for the next stretch of their journey.

[Serge burns all 5 hit dice for 30hp regained (38/44).  He also regains his Second Wind and Action Surge.]

After lunch the villagers head off to the east as they plan to head for the Trade Way Road and then head south. 

After Malfa gives the villagers the supplies, she then takes to time to refill the water barrels using the Winding Water River. Then the caravan continues onward till midafternoon when Faelsin calls for a stop and approaches the party. "I know some of you may be tired from your ordeal, but we are in need to food. Can you begin hunting or gathering?" 

After the fight was over, Krackle quickly hitched Jr. back to his carriage before making his way across the river with the rest of the caravan. While looking back and watching the village burn, he was tempted to plunder what he could from the doomed buildings. He resisted the urge however and nodded in approval when the tapestry was given back to the villagers. 

"I bought 400 pounds of animal feed the same day I bought my carriage. Jr. has gone through some of it but there is still quite a bit if that helps..." The kobold suggests as he remembers eating things much worse to get by when living in the sewers. "I can also help hunt for food. I have never been hunting but I can be sneaky and I have a crossbow." Krackle offers with a toothy smile. 

stealth 26

nature? 3 or survival? 18

Ixsas isn't really a hunter, but he can gather tubers, berries, mushrooms, etc.  He figures that Malfa can make a big stew.  Survival 21

If possible, Ixsas will also help Krackle in finding a good spot to look for game (e.g., near a water source but hidden downwind).

Krackle please roll Survival again as Ixsas is using the help action. 

Ixsas's careful exploration discovers berries, mushrooms, and 5 tubers. 

Assisted survival! 21 (Rolled a second time... let's hope it is higher than 13.)

Serge takes a walk among the rocky crags along the trail, looking for gamebirds.  What he lacks in hunting gear, he can make up for with magic missiles, potentially harvesting up to three birds at a time.  Unfortunately, he fails to jump anything during his stroll.  A shame.  During the walk, he thinks on how much easier this would be if his old hunting dog, Barron, was with him.

Survival:  5

     "Incredible?" Zeds says in reply to Serge.  "What we did was crazy.  Insane.  Crazy insane!  Damn, I for one am hoping never to have to do such again.  You all but got yourself killed, we burned the whole place down... Sure it was mostly abandoned anyway but damn.  I like a good barroom tale as much as the next guy, I suppose.  Never wanted to be the subject of one though..."

     "Still, we did kick some troll ass, didn't we?"

     As the time for hunting and gathering comes, Zeds suggests they don't all head into the woods at the same time.  Maybe do short shifts anytime the caravan pauses with only two heading out at a time at most.  "Don't want to leave the caravan unattended.  Also want someone who can come rescue you if need be," he suggests.  Still, when it is his turn he'll hapfully skulk through the landscape and look for some good game or edible mushrooms or whatever.  He, for one, doesn't want to take food out of Junior's mouth.  Because he isn't sure the big lizard would take kindly to it but also because he's not sure that meat has been properly salted or preserved... it's starting to smell a bit rancid to him.

Survival:  Nat 1 for a total of 0.
     Truth is, Zeds enthusiasm for helping to hunt and gather if far less than he lets on.  During his time skulking in the woods he mostly just takes a big dump and a short nap... In different places, of course.

Quote from Bartjeebus>>

Before the wagon leaves, he addresses Zeds, Krackle and Ixsas.  "That was an incredible thing we just did.  Four trolls together, they could have taken down a small company of soldiers.  That we slew them all, without losing a soul... its a miracle.  You should all be proud of yourselves."  

Ixsas has been thinking about the dangers that he has faced since joining the caravan.  He has certainly grown in power since leaving the temple where he grew up, but he never could have survived the attack of the trolls on his own.  He says, "All things are possible for those who are strong in their faith, but when I'm face-to-face with the monsters of this world, I am glad to have such doughty companions at my side!"  He smiles at everyone, his green eyes shining from his dark, scaly face, and invokes a mundane blessing: "May Kossuth adorn your heads with a Crown of Light!"

[Serge burns all 5 hit dice for 30hp regained (38/44).  He also regains his Second Wind and Action Surge.]

(( OOC: I was trying to save one slot for Aura of Vitality, but I just couldn't pass up a chance to hit both of the remaining trolls with a fireball and try to end the fight faster. ))

Quote from Kaemgen >>

we burned the whole place down... Sure it was mostly abandoned anyway but damn.  I like a good barroom tale as much as the next guy, I suppose.  Never wanted to be the subject of one though..."

     "Still, we did kick some troll ass, didn't we?" 

Ixsas was going to offer some catechism about how Kossuth's flame returns all things to ash in the end, but Zeds's last comment surprises him.  He laughs out loud and offers a more light-hearted comment of his own: "Yes, we certainly did.  As one of my mentor's said: 'Kill it with fire...unless it's already burning.'"

Krackle is very stealthy and with Ixsas's aid he finds a badger among the grass. The badger is eating some grubs and is unaware of Krackle

Attack: 21 Damage: 4

Krackle slowly raises his crossbow and aims it at the creature. He decides not to use Flames to take down the creature in the hope of ensuring more meat remains edible..

Krackle shot strikes true killing the badger. 

"I did it!" the kobold shouts as he hoists his crossbow above his head.

Krackle and Ixsas brings back what they found, and Malfa gets to work making badger stew with the items gathered by Ixsas. This night nothing of note happens so anyone can chat or just head to bed.