"Kesili's right, let's return to the scene of the supernatural event," Hyacinth says, their resolve steeled. "And aye, noble Cordimis, we ought to help any that are ravaged by the same curse. But let's not get distracted - the Princeling is why we came here."

Heading back the way you came is much easier than forging ahead into the unknown. But I’ll still ask for a survival check and also an encounter check (plain 1d20, first come first serve on who wants to roll it) as you’ve come quite a long ways at this point. And the day is dragging on as well.

7

Survival: 4 (yikes)

The walk back is a strange and quiet affair. It’s almost as if the Wood is keeping a respectful distance, staying reticent. The afternoon is spent in retracing your steps until you are back at the familiar spot where the governess had discovered the young prince. But now it is late; you’re losing the light.

(Natural 1 for a 7 for good ole Hyacinth! :/)

When the group is back where they started, Cordimis takes a deep steadying breath. Reaching out to her god to quell her growing impatience and fear for the young boy.

”I know time is of the essence, but perhaps we should turn in for the night? I’m not too keen on returning to the castle without a cure, how do you all feel about camping out here and taking turns on watch? A new dawn holds the promise of real answers.”

Kesili surveys the dimming forest, feeling the day's weariness settling into her bones. She nods at Cordimis's suggestion, acknowledging the wisdom in resting, but her expression remains thoughtful. "You're right, Cordimis. We've come too far to turn back without a real solution. A rest could help us think clearer... but we have to be mindful. The longer we wait, the harder it might be to pick up Antimony's trail again. I'm equally for a rest as for pressing on."

(if it helps make up your minds, this point in the wood is really pretty close to the castle, the prince had not gone too far in)

(waiting on other opinions before weighing in)

Trix plops down next to a tree. 

“Campin’ here sounds like a good idea. Yea, I don’t won’t to show up an’ get their hopes up.”

Hyacinth stretches. "I did kinda miss roughin' it, as posh and nice as the castle is. And I'm pretty tuckered out. I bet I can get a better read on this Antimony's trail after..." Hyacinth stops to yawn, then continues, "... after a bit of shut eye."

(Sorry things have been a little slow, I’ve been extremely busy but things will be looking up for me starting later this afternoon)

Cordimis will set out a bed roll and then mention to the group, "I'll be back in a moment, must thank those who've blessed our journey so far and ask for some guidance." She'll walk around 10 feet away from the group, not far, and get on her knees facing east and light a stick of incense. The cleric will take a deep breath before offering a prayer to Lathander. She thanks him for the safety of the journey so far and for His continued watchful guidance. If anyone is listening, she feels in her heart and voices that she is nothing without Him, her devout faith carries her through each day, and she expresses hope that tomorrow will bring a solution to the young prince's condition.

She turns her head to the west to recognize the setting sun and then bows her head to the east in reverence and expectation of the rising sun. She stands and returns to the group, eating some rations and then turning in to sleep.

You pass a peaceful night in the Witchwood. Here close to the castle you feel that perhaps there is nothing too crazy that can be allowed to happen. And yet here it was, apparently, where the young prince Jessin met Antimony, and then the witch.

Looking back through the old posts, it seems that Trix had set down the amulet gained from old Omicron Thorne. Did She or someone else want to take it up or do you all want to leave it alone?

12

Quote from T0dd0 >>

Hyacinth spots one more thing that stands out as an oddity. Another set of tracks, though quite unlike the others. Hyacinth cannot say for sure what made them other than that it was likely bipedal and roughly humanoid in size. The footsteps of this thing have indented earth and plants as normal, but the shape is strange, not like a shoe or boot at all, just a vague ovoid shape. These unusual tracks also came near to where the prince had lain, and they lead off in a different direction, south-southeast.

 
Feeling refreshed in the morning, Cordimis watches the sun's light peak through the trees since she is unable to see it on the horizon through the forrest. She will ask the group, "Shall we follow this other set of tracks?"

Kesili stretches as she rises, feeling the weight of the previous day lifting with the morning light. She glances at the tracks Cordimis mentioned, then nods decisively. "Yes, let's. The sooner we find Antimony, the sooner we can uncover the truth behind these curses. We need to move quickly before the trail fades."

(If no one else picked the amulet up, Kesili would not leave it there. She'd pick it up and store it in her pack for later inspection.)

The other set of tracks are easy to follow, because those strange footprints now have tiny white-petal'd star-shaped flowers springing up in them.

By now you are quite familiar with the forest surroundings, and the morning passes peacefully. The tracks you follow seem to meander a bit but more or less go in a southeast direction.

After about 90 minutes of this, you encounter something new. A formidable person is making some racket in the foliage ahead of you. Before you have much time to regroup and analyze the situation, the creature is upon you. Stumbling out of the brush ahead is a great ape, perhaps 5 feet tall but just as wide, with arms as big as his legs. He wears a bright plaid green-and-orange suit vest with no sleeves, and a pair of green trousers, but no shoes. He's dragging along a large footlocker which leaves a furrow in the spongy, mossy ground. He pulls up short as he sees you and pushes a pair of spectacles up his nose as he regards you. His face breaks out in a toothy but friendly grin. He waves one huge arm at you and says (in common),

"Oi, potential customers. Howdy do! Otto's my name, and commerce is my game. Boy have I got some nice merchandise, I reckon I've got something special for each of ya, If ya willing to pay, that is. Step right up and see what good ol' Otto has in store for you!"

As he says all this, in a bit of a rushed and rehearsed tone, he pulls up the footlocker, laying it out flat, undoing several locks on it, and then opens it up. The lid swings up towards you, so that you cannot see what is inside.

(anyone who wishes to barter with Otto can pre-emptively roll a d8 to save some forum time)

Kesili steps forward with a curious smile, her eyes narrowing slightly as she appraises Otto. The unexpected appearance of the great ape in a plaid vest is surprising, but not entirely out of place in this enchanted forest.

“Morning, Otto,” she greets him warmly, her tone cautious but friendly. “You’ve certainly piqued my interest.” She reaches into her pack and pulls out the amulet they found earlier, holding it up for Otto to see. “We found this in the forest. It looks intriguing, but we’re not sure what it does. Any chance you could tell us more about it?”

As she moves closer to the footlocker, she casually adds, “Oh, and speaking of strange finds, we also came across some curious metal figurines. Do you know anything about those?” Her tone remains light, but her eyes watch Otto carefully, gauging his reaction.

1