Dardek for the first time holds his head up but says nothing

Talon muttering to himself and shaking his head, simply turns around and starts leading the party back the way they came...

It takes another hour or two to return to what remains of the hunter's camp, but they have long departed. Fortunately, Talon is easily able to pick up their trail and starts to lead you westward for another half-hour or so... At this point, the trail goes entirely cold. 

Talon turns in circles, explaining that they should be right around here somewhere...

It's at this point that you all hear the growl of a large hound. Looking to a patch of brush you see the crowned, pointed-eared figure you saw before standing with the dog at his heel. He speaks to you all in a voice that is grizzled, but has an air of nobility to it.

"You folks seem lost." He says. "Might I help you find what you're looking for?"

Dardek smiles and waves "Hello there! How are you? Ooh are you hunters? I've never been a part of a hunting expedition before. I have a keen eye maybe I could help you spot a deer or ooooh a wild boar! I have never seen one up close before. Have you hunted one before? Was it difficult? Maybe I could help? Ooh I am rambling. My name's Dardek"

Ashley keeps her hood up as they run into the one that she considered their leader.  Weren't they supposed to follow them?  Well... this should be interesting.  Finally she adds, "Dardek, have you ever hunted?  What kind of help would you be?"

Dardek's shoulders slump "Oh uhh no I haven't but I have read tales of hunters and the big games! You know wild boar! And, and Wild Bear! Although I guess there aren't many domesticated bear, but that would be cool to have a pet bear....I would name mine Yogi. I read about a Yogi once. It was a children's story about a bear who would steal people's lunches. It was funny and this Ranger, whose name was Rickard, would try to stop him. Oh what fun! Oh I am rambling again....."

Another pointy-eared man in hunters leathers emerges from the trees. He holds a bow at his side, not drawn but handy if needed.

The crowned man lifts a hand to interrupt Dardek's verbal avalanche and adds, "Let me rephrase... Who are you and why are you here?"

Dardek smiles again "Hello there! I thought I mentioned my name..How rude of me. I am Dardek! Why are we here? Like in the woods? I am confused by your question....Do people outside of cities not walk in the woods? I like learning about nature. I have been locked in a city for so long that i wanted to see the outside world! Why I've met an old lady who turned out to be not very nice....she smelled of fish and took us along the river pointing out the eels and fish, then there were some corpses that were dragged away by some stalking creature, Ooh I saw a red bird and a blue one! Cities don't lend themselves to many birds other than the black ones and little tiny birds that peck at food left on the ground. What else have I seen....Oh a bugbear I think it is called. I never saw one of those before in a city but the Bugbear and his friends tried to take our stuff away but we we scared them off...well they did, I didn't. Uhh what else...Oh sorry I am doing it again. What am I doing in the woods....Experiencing the world outside of city walls." Dardek blushes at his inability to contain himself from rambling on and on. 

The crowned man's companion eyes the rest of you, trying to take a read. Meanwhile, the crowned man regards Dardek with amiable bemusement.

He points vaguely north and says.

"If it's the trade road you're looking for, you'll find it a few miles north. I suggest you make your way there. The Driswood is no place for cultivated folk such as yourselves. Sounds like you've had some close calls already. I wouldn't tempt fate by taking further risks."

Ashley watches Dardek in stunned amazement.  She's never heard him talk so much.  She is glad he didn't reveal anything about the vegekin, but is honestly shocked he didn't.  Or tell them more about the hag they ran across.  

She turns to the crowned man and does a small bow, almost like an overextended nod, not wanting to overstep anything.  "Thank you kind sir.  I believe we'll rest here a bit if you don't mind and then we'll be on our way."

At that, the crowned man offers a polite nod, calls out something to the bushes in a language you don't understand, and turns to walk away.

The armed companion follows him and they head deeper into the woods, out of sight. You hear a slight rustling in the woods, following them but can't quite determine its source.

Nib stands there rolling his eyes as Dardek speaks.  “Ye gods, this one is all over the place!  And elder Reed liked to say the my mind wandered!  Let me just sit here and look tough and see what happens with the verbal diarrhea….”

Nib says right before they start to leave, “Ummm, excuse me.  Are you fellows hunting something in particular?  Are you hunting for meat?  Just curious.. I’m from Figbrook.  We’re on a big adventure, makin our way in the world, just curious… never met folk like you… you seem like a true.. leader.  Don’t mind sweet cheeks there, he tends to ramble.  Just was wonderin if you had any other uh, advice for us bout what you’ve found in these woods.”

The crowned man stops and turns to look at Nib before disappearing into the brush. He nods a sort of salute. His companion also stops walking, staying by his side. The crowned man exchanges an amused glance with him before addressing Nib.

"Warm greetings to you, young halfling. Your gentle people are well known to us... I am Thréig, tiar of the Dristwood Fiánfolk. Our people hunt for food, yes, and for many other reasons as well, as has been our way since before these woods were known by other folk."

He glances to the treeline.

"We've tracked a herd of elk that forged this way. We mean to pay them a visit, but I'm afraid you and your companions may have alerted them to our presence." He quickly raises a forgiving hand. "No fault of yours, to be sure. We'll manage to resume the hunt without much trouble.... As to this adventure of yours..."

He takes a moment to consider, taking a closer look at this motley group of travelers. "...I'm not sure what it is you hope to achieve, but if you're traveling to Caeili, do take care. Few of our demi-elven kin recognize the old ways. Some even shun their heritage in favor of their trade relationships with the humans. They regard life as a series of exchanges, and always seek to get the better of any exchange they make." Thréig's companion huffs in agreement, but says nothing. Seeing this, he leader pauses a moment to adjust what he's saying. "Do not misconstrue. I mean my kinfolk no ill will... Just take care. Don't be deceived by their agrarian trappings. They are as sharp minded as any merchant in Seamew."

As he says this, his eyes flick upward, noticing the light. "Now, if there isn't anything else, we should be off before we lose the trail."

He waits a moment to see if Nib has anything else to add, but will turn and leave if given the opportunity.

Ashley regards the conversation between the apparent noble and halfling with a bit of amusement.  Nib sure got him to change his tune.  But she doesn't say anything when he turns to leave and waits to see if anyone else is going to.

If they don't, she'll suggest they follow them at a pace back as the bones foretold...

((History check to know of Thréig, tiar of the Dristwood Fiánfolk : 17))

“No, thank you Thréig, that is very helpful.  I am learning to be, uh, somewhat of a “tracker” myself.  We don’t want to bother you or affect your elk hunt, but we will make our ways to Caeili, I appreciate your words of caution.”  Nib puffs up his chest, then waves goodbye as they head off, bending down as they are leaving, making a show of examining their footprints, and checking for footprints on the ground of any other animals.  

When they have gone, soon after Nib says “Quick, let’s follow them!  I think we are meant to….”  he starts to move, tracking as best as he can, giving help to Talon with this.

Dardek stays quiet figuring he has said enough while the hunters are present. When they leave Dardek whispers "Are you sure that the cat in the locked box isn't enough?" Dardek begins to get cold feet or more likely continues to have cold feet. 

Nib: You don't know the name Thréig specifically, but you've heard the term Fiánfolk used to refer to both elves and half-elves. You know Dristwood is an archaic name sometimes used to describe the Bramblebottom Woods and you know there's supposed to be a tribe of half-elves that live in the woods. The "elves" of the Brambleboottom are figures of mystery and fascination to the halflings of Figbrook. Legends say they have magic but those are mostly dismissed as tall tales. Tiar is another term that is unfamiliar to you, but based on this man's position, you deduce it's some honorific that marks him as a leader of some sort.

After they have moved away, Nib starts to follow, slowly, being careful to make little sound, and bent low he examines for footprints to follow the hunters.  He tries to avoid detection and certainly wants to avoid spooking anything they are tracking.  He holds his finger over his mouth in a “Shhh” manner and motions for the others to come along behind him.

Stealth (with adv) : 23

Survival : 12

Dardek begrudgingly follows (stealth 13). He has watched Talon and Nibs track a few times and decides to give it a try (20 Dirty) 

There's a buzz of excitement that passes through your group for the next half hour or so as you manage to keep close on the trail of the hunters.

You're farely confident you've managed to do so without alerting them to your position... That is until you hear a bow-string being pulled from the bushes and a voice saying. "Don't move another muscle." One of the hunters (not the leader) emerges and asks, "Talk fast. Why are you following us?"

Before you have a chance to answer, you hear another sound... Like a bird but too clear and specific to be natural. The hunter turns his head toward it slightly... It's a signal.

"Hold still." He insists in a whisper. "Disturb the hunt and you'll pay a price in blood."

Freezing in that position, he keeps his attention split between your group and the tree line... Beyond it you hear delicate, clopping footfalls stepping on leaves... A few sets of footfalls from the sound of it.... You also hear the careful crunching of some woodland animal feasting on leaves... A foraging herd...

A sharp intake of breath causes you to look over at the hunter. His eyes no longer rest on you. They settle on a massive pair of antlers, large enough to peek out over the trees. Hard to get a proper measurement, but the top of the antlers must be roughly 10' tall.

"Tierna Foraise..." The hunter whispers in reverence, lowering his bow without even fully realizing what he's doing...

How would you like to respond?

Ashley's eyes go wide when she sees what has taken the hunter's attention.  Could this be it?  She remembered the woman from the vegekin did say that the convergence could be of natural causes... so that means, she lifts a fist in the air with excitement but keeps her mouth shut.

She motions for the hunter do to whatever he needs to do and for her friends to stay as quiet as possible.