Sherwin speaks up. "If those ropes on top of the tree are any indication, the tree is easy enough for you to move it. Hardly worth 20 allers when we could do it ourselves. And you talk of disparity like high rise perches are immune to the risk of fire. Their homes are destroyed as much as ours. So yes, I do echo the words of these birdfolk. You would be wise to listen to them too."

"Like I said, you're clearly not refugees. Neither is the trader with you. She's headed to Alderheart with a cart full of goods, she can easily recoup a loss that small. We're trying to provide for hundreds of refugees that the Council couldn't care less about. Not the perch birdfolk who are welcomed to the city with open arms, but the ground-dwellers, humblefolk, who the Council couldn't care less about. That's what this is for. It's not about punishing anyone, it's about helping those who nobody else will."

The gray vulpin takes a small step forward, seemingly growing bored of the philosophical debate. "We take from those who have, and give to those who need, it's not that difficult to understand. So, are you slow, or just selfish?"

Eliza quietly clears her throat, trying to get Sherwin's attention next to her, and then whispers, "Maybe it would just be better to pay them? It sounds like they've got good reason for needing the money."

Vira sighs before relaxing somewhat, pulling out the twenty allers and walking to hand it over. "You could have just asked instead of this whole blocking the road routine. If people mistake you for bandits like I almost did, things could get ugly." They do have a time-sensitive mission to take care of, for the good of Birdfolk and Humblefolk alike, after all. And maybe a little simple kindness will make this lot reconsider their approach...or not.

The cervan accepts the coins, dropping them into a pouch before letting out a sharp whistle. The two jerbeen hop off the log as the ropes coiled behind it go taut, slowly lifting it into the air and off to one side of the trail as some unseen figures work to move it. Tying the pouch back to his belt, he looks up at Vira's comment. "Mistake? You think these weapons are just for show? No, no mistake there, but the Coalition thanks you for your donation."

B'Reh shot a quick glance at Vira as she handed over the coins, her expression unreadable. She wasn’t sure it was wise to openly give support to those who would stop travelers on the road and demand coin—no matter how noble their claims—but at the same time, their words rang with a certain truth. If even half of what they said about the Council’s neglect was real, then these weren’t just common thieves, and judging whichever it is was beyond her. 

Still, when the conversation began to veer into dangerous territory again, she stepped forward, her tone even but firm. “Then let that be the end of it. You have what you came for, and we have a long road ahead. Move aside, and let us pass peacefully.” She gestured toward the now-cleared road, her sharp gaze lingering on the cervan and vulpin. “We will not cross paths again, I hope, but if we do, consider asking instead of taking. You may find more willing hands than you expect.”

With that, she nodded to her companions, signaling that it was time to move on.

Sherwin nods in agreement. "Had you not blocked our path, and had you not been trying to threaten with your weapons, then I would have happily given you some money for refugees with no additional question asked. Kindness goes much further than violence."

Vira sighs and relaxes somewhat at the others' words. These people...aren't the same as the bandits they seem so eager to associate with. They aren't motivated by pure greed, aren't killers. She hopes they realize that before they go too far. She moves to grasp the cart and get moving.

Athletics: nat 1 + 5

The bandits move aside, but the vulpin shakes his head incredulously at the repeated comments about threatening and asking and is still talking as you begin to move away. "Boy, you folks sure are green. Congratulations on your giving spirits or whatever." As Vira struggles to get the cart moving through the mud, barely managing to move it at Eliza's normal speed, he calls after you one last time. "When you all figure out that most of the Canopy doesn't share your 'willing hands' and 'kindness' come let us know!"

The rest of the day passes without major event, but the travel is slow going with the still-wet ground. As the clouds part to reveal the rays of a setting sun from behind you, Eliza comes to a stop. "Well, it seems we've lost too much time to make it to Alderheart this evening. The gates will be closed at this hour anyway, so probably best we spend one more night in that fancy nest of yours, and we can make it to the city nice and early tomorrow! Is that alright with everyone?"

B'Reh nodded at Eliza’s suggestion, finding no fault in the logic. “Morning is better. No sense arriving tired or waiting outside the gates all night.”

She scouted ahead, scanning the terrain for a defensible position, ideally somewhere with natural cover or limited points of approach. Once a suitable spot was found and as others began setting up camp, she set out to walk the perimeter, gathering what she could—dry wood for the fire, edible plants, and any signs of fresh water. (Survival: 17 plus 3 from guidance)

Vira exhales sharply, rolling her shoulders to work out the strain from pulling the cart through the mud. She ignores the vulpin’s parting words—she’s heard enough cynicism in her life to know it won’t change her course. If the world’s cruel, then all the more reason to stand firm in what she believes.

As Eliza calls for a stop, Vira nods, glancing at the dimming sky. Once camp is set up, she will volunteer to take first watch, having trouble settling down anyway.

Perception: 19

“I’ll take a watch as well,” b'Reh offered, voice steady. “I’d rather not wake up to another surprise.” 

When her time for watch came, she tried to remain vigilant, hand resting lightly on her spear.

(Perception: 11, incl. 1 from guidance)

Aric can take 2nd watch

Sherwin will cast goodberry before sleeping. And will take the morning watch 

(B’Reh will also cast Emerald Goblet to extend everyone’s dark vision by 30ft for 24h before resting. I think we only need 3 watchers, and I think Aric is the only one that lacks native dark vision. )

[[ Technically you do need four to cover the full night, since long rests require six hours of sleep and nobody has any features like an elf's trance that allow you to shorten that time. ]]

Early in the night, not long at all after everyone else has bedded down for the evening, Vira hears a piercing howl in the distance, off to the north. A few moments pass, and then another howl answers from a different direction, roughly southeast. Before that howl ends, another joins, this one from the southwest, long and melancholy. As the howls fade, Vira sits in the noisy silence of nighttime in the forest for a few moments, and then the northern howl returns, closer than before. The others echo it, seemingly drawing nearer to each other, with the party's small camp caught right in the middle.

Vira’s feathers bristle as the howls cut through the night, her grip tightening around her greataxe. The first calls were distant enough to keep her wary but still—then they came again, closer, surrounding them. A shiver runs down her spine as she realizes they’re converging, and the party is directly in their path.

Moving with practiced stealth, she steps to each of her companions, placing a firm but careful hand on their shoulders to shake them awake. "Up," she whispers urgently, eyes scanning the darkness beyond the perch. "Something's coming. Wolves, maybe—but not normal ones. They're circling us."

Sherwin wakes up, listening out for the howling to try and identify if it does sound like a wolf, but with the echos it's hard to tell. (Nat 1 for 6)

B'Reh jolts awake, gripping her spear as she instinctively scans the darkness—but her eyes struggle to adjust after the sudden wake-up. The shadows seem to shift unnaturally, every rustling leaf and distant flicker playing tricks on her vision. She narrows her eyes, frustrated, but can’t make out anything beyond the eerie howls surrounding them. (Perception: 4 - natural 1)

(Sorry, I had lost track of the thread somehow. Our nest charm elevates us 30 feet into the air, right? Just to be sure, I understand correctly our situation.)

[[ 50 ft. in the air, 30 ft. diameter. ]]

The howls continue to move closer for a minute or so, and then stop. B’Reh and Sherwin gaze down into the darkness, but even with their enhanced darkvision, they aren’t able to make out any shapes below. Everyone relaxes slightly in the moments of quiet, before the air is filled with noise again, this time of sniffing and growling. Looking down, three large shapes move around the clearing below. Vira was right, these are no normal wolves. 

Vira, Sherwin, and B’Reh are just barely able to watch over the side of the nest as one places its front paws against the trunk of the magical tree produced by Vira’s charm, standing up on its hind legs and reaching nearly 15 feet up the side of the tree. It lets out another ear-piercing howl, nearly deafening at this range, while its companions continue to pace about below. 

Aric squints into the darkness, trying to hone in with his ears.