"Drax" nods his head at the suggestion to leave the forest, eager to escape the territory of gigantic predators. The towering trees and threats about them made him feel uncomfortable. "I agree with Cals' sentiments," "Drax'' remarks. "The sooner we get out of here, the better."

Turning to Haj, he asks, "Would you like assistance with navigating the group? I have a little bit of experience with maps, but I'm sure not as much as yourself! Together, we can surely escape this accursed forest!"

((Offering to Help with navigation so Haj can roll with advantage if that's ok))

((Horros will also provide guidance to assist))

As the first light of dawn filtered through the forest canopy, a sense of urgency enveloped the party. Galdric's warning about the hill giants resonated with everyone, spurring them into swift, silent action. They hastily yet quietly dismantled their camp, each movement deliberate and cautious, mindful of the lurking danger in the woods.

Horros, understanding the gravity of their predicament, called upon his divine connection for guidance. He whispered a prayer, his words a soft murmur amidst the rustling leaves. A subtle, almost imperceptible glow seemed to surround him briefly, a sign of his deity's favor.

This divine intervention seemed to sharpen Haj's already keen scouting instincts. With Horros's blessing, paths through the forest that were once hidden now revealed themselves. Haj led the way, his steps confident yet stealthy, weaving through the dense underbrush and ancient trees.

Zyzix, adept in the art of deception, assisted Haj in covering their tracks. With Horros's divine guidance aiding them, they found ways to obscure their trail ingeniously — brushing away footprints, rearranging fallen leaves, and even using natural elements to misdirect any followers.

The forest was alive with the sounds of morning, but these were soon overshadowed by a distant, ominous noise — the heavy thuds of the giants' footsteps, each step resonating like a drumbeat of doom. Tension gripped the party, a palpable fear that they might be discovered.

Then came the roar, deep and furious, echoing from the direction of their abandoned campsite. The giants had found where they had been but not where they were. The sounds of crashing trees and enraged calls filled the air, a cacophony that spurred the party to move faster.

Despite the giants' anger and frustration resonating through the forest, Haj, guided by Horros's divine intervention and aided by Zyzix's cunning, navigated a path that was both hidden and quiet. The sounds of the giants' rampage gradually faded into the background, lost amidst the myriad sounds of the forest.

With each step, the party put more distance between themselves and the threat of the giants. Eventually, the sounds of pursuit were gone, swallowed by the vast expanse of the forest.

Exhaling in relief yet remaining vigilant, the party continued their journey, the danger momentarily evaded but still very much present in their minds. The forest stretched out before them, a vast and mysterious expanse filled with both wonder and danger.

Bell trips over yet another exposed root.

”Are you quite certain, I cannot interest any of you, in a fine desert adventure?”  (the bard ventures, to no one in particular, only half in jest).

After a couple of hours, and with the sounds of pursuit now gone, Haj calls for a short rest, and studies the map.

"After last night's adventures, I'm beginning to think that we may be better changing course. Reckoning by our current speed I suspect we may need another 3 or 4 days before we're out of the forest. The other option is to turn north, which won't get us there any quicker, but at least we'll be able to see further."

"To backtrack now? We're already behind the serpents, if any still breath and move towards their goal, it seems counterproductive to not continue on this path. Regardless of where we go, we'll face danger... that's why we do what we do no?" Horros says almost defiantly, though he says it in as nice a way as possible. "But if the group decides to change course, that's on you all.."

Taya listens to Haj and nods as he reasons. Then, careful and in a respectful tone, she asks "But when we can see further, so can everyone else, right?" She continues this argument by way of an example, "We might have lost the giants partly due to the forest, on open ground they might have caught up easier." Locking eyes with Haj, she concludes, "In the hills we might find different dangers from which it will be harder to hide, or harder to defend against, like flyers. Are you sure it is better for us to travel there? Perhaps, the forest really is the more dangerous place, I don't know. I'm only trying to point out different possibilities and offer my thoughts. You are the expert and ultimately we will follow your lead."

Haj listens to the responses and considers them in turn. He responds first to Horros; "We will not need to backtrack, we'll simply go north then west, rather than west then north".

In response to Taya he shrugs; "Sadly, this isn't a question with a definitive answer, there is good and bad in both options. If we head north to the edge of the forest and then west we shouldn't need to enter the hills, and we can use the forest as cover if needed."

"This is our current route, and this is our other option"

[OOC] current is yellow.[/OOC]

"Enjoying the best of both environments, good idea!" Taya agrees and nods appreciatively at Haj's wise words. "That sounds like a plan," she says and helps to prepare the large party to get going again, especially the guards with the horses, from which she had already learned a good deal on this trip.

Galdric takes in this debate but doesn’t say much. He trusts his companions to decide the best course of action. This sort of thing was outside his usual expertise, so he’s content to follow his more knowledgeable friends

"Ah so up near Castle Daggerdale we may cross their paths again, or when we get to the main road. If luck is with us we get there before them... but, with their headstart that seems unlikely. But who knows! Traveling the open plains is certainly faster than trudging through all this" he gestures aimlessly towards the forest all about. "I like this plan."

"Progress is progress, that's all that matters." Horros chimes in, prepping to change course. He doesn't have much more input and will follow the group as they see fit.

"Drax" shrugs at the conversation. "As long as we get out these woods, that's all I care about. Haj seems to be doing well at navigating thus far, so I trust whatever he decides to do!" He actually didn't, but Zyzix thought that wasn't sort of thing to share. He didn't trust any of these people around him, but Drax would, so Zyzix played along for now.

With the threat of the hill giants and their dire wolf companions temporarily evaded, Haj took a moment to assess their situation and plot their next course of action. Drawing upon his expertise as a scout, he quickly devised a new route that would take advantage of the terrain to their benefit.

Haj proposed that they travel north out of the forest then west, skirting along the narrow strip of plains that lay between the dense forest they were currently in and the looming hills to the north. This path would offer them the advantage of open space, reducing the likelihood of being ambushed while still providing some cover from the forest's edge. It was a strategic choice, balancing speed with caution, and it offered a clear direction away from the immediate danger.

The party, trusting in Haj's guidance, set out along this new route. The plains provided a stark contrast to the dense forest, with open skies and a gentle breeze that offered a sense of openness and freedom. They moved swiftly, their pace steady but careful, always mindful of the potential dangers that could be lurking nearby.

As they traveled, the landscape began to change, the plains giving way to gently rolling hills. It was on one of these hills, silhouetted against the horizon to the west, that they spotted the ruins of Castle Daggerdale. The keep, though in ruins, stood as a testament to the history and battles that had once raged across this land. Its weathered walls and broken towers were visible even from a distance, evoking a sense of age-old stories and forgotten tales.

The sight of the castle on the horizon brought a renewed sense of purpose to the party. It was a landmark, a point of orientation in the vast wilderness, and a sign that they were making progress on their journey. Haj estimated that, at their current pace, the castle was about a day's travel away.

Encouraged by this realization and bolstered by the relative safety of their current path, the party continued onward. The day passed without incident, the open plains allowing them to cover a good distance. As the sun began to set, casting long shadows over the land, they found a suitable spot to make camp for the night, with the distant silhouette of Castle Daggerdalerisong a constant presence on the horizon, a beacon guiding their way westward.

[survival roll: nat 20, do not subtract any rations. You didn’t roll an encounter for this hex. You can choose to explore further in the current location for clues (this may trigger further encounter rolls)  or continue onward]

As the party settles in for the night Haj sits and stares at the map. Now that they were out of the forest they were making good time, but he couldn't help a nagging feeling that they were missing something. Where were the mercs? Had the giants killed all of them? If not, then where were those who were left?

Quote from Vedar >>

As the party settles in for the night Haj sits and stares at the map. Now that they were out of the forest they were making good time, but he couldn't help a nagging feeling that they were missing something. Where were the mercs? Had the giants killed all of them? If not, then where were those who were left?

In the fading light of dusk, as the party settled in for their evening camp, Haj sat quietly, poring over the map with a furrowed brow. The open terrain had allowed them to make good progress, but his instincts as a scout told him something wasn't quite right.

As he scanned the horizon, his gaze continually drifted back to the distant ruins of Castle Daggerdalerisong, silhouetted against the darkening sky. The castle, long abandoned and cloaked in decades of history and mystery, held a certain allure. It was then that Haj noticed something unusual — a thin wisp of smoke rising from within the castle's broken walls.

The sight of smoke was unexpected; the castle had been left to the elements for years, its halls and towers silent witnesses to the passage of time. The presence of a fire suggested occupancy, and given the location, Haj couldn’t help but connect this to the mercenaries they were tracking.

As they get to camp and settle in, Horros helps with makeshift defenses similar to that of the forest. Seeing the smoke from the Castle's ruins Horros makes a suggestion, "Oi, maybe that's a spot we should be checking.. anyone sneaky enough to do some scouting? Not my niche, but could be the lead we're looking for.." He turns to Haj with a smirk  knowing he's the best scout they have. 

"I suppose that will be me then, will it?"

Haj checks his kit to make sure nothing rattles or clinks and sets out. As the sky darkens his newly acquired darkvision comes into its own, allowing him to move more easily than before. Despite his slightly cynical tone before, he is comfortable going out alone, where he can focus completely on what's around him.

Before Haj moves out, Taya stops him a moment. She buckles down to pick a pinch of dirt and sprinkles it over Haj's footwear while speaking a short incantation, casting Longstrider. "That will boost your speed for an hour. That castle is a day's march away, don't get too close. Please, don't risk anything. I don't like that you want to go alone," she admits. "Perhaps we can ask Bell to accompany you?"