Kaelen lifts his gaze as the dragonborn enters. He inclines his head to return the polite nod, pale eyes studying the newcomer with calm interest. “Kaelen Shadowstride,” the shadar-kai replies quietly, his voice steady and even. He doesn’t move to shake the offered hand, but there’s no rudeness in the gesture—only a simple, practiced economy of movement.

Mathias eyes the dragonborn, taking special note of his golden scales. "Pleased to meet you, Brekka. I'm Mathias." the druid says, clasping the forearm of the offered hand of dragonborn - a friendly enough greeting, but one that definitely marks the druid as someone not of the civilized lands. 

Arista meets the dragonborn’s clawed handshake with a firm grip, her own splint armor clanking slightly as she rises. “Arista,” she offers in a straightforward tone. “Always good to have another armored fighter along—can’t hurt our odds once we’re out on that trail.” She jerks her head toward the door, her gaze flicking to the slivers of morning light spilling in. “We’ve already spent enough time cooped up; best we take advantage of the daylight. Let’s move.” With that, she slings her pack over one shoulder, clearly itching to be out of the inn and on the road.

Asariel shakes his hand, "I am Asariel. And I don't believe the wagon could have troubled you too much. From the looks of your muscles, you can carry more than any wagon could." and as they all start to move out, Asariel will walk alongside the cart, the fiddle and bow (for the fiddle, not the weapon) slung over his shoulder, playing a merry tune on his pan flute until they have left Threshold, so that anyone living there will hear the music and be able to watch them go off. 

Brekka laughs a deep, resonant laugh, his eyes alight with mirth.

"That's true, friend Asariel. How do you think the wagon got here? I carried it under one arm!" he boasts. It's difficult to say how embellished that might be.

He is glad to see his new companions so eager to depart. Brekka has no love for sitting around and waiting, so he's quick to join the others as they leave.

Kaelen stays near the front as they head off, attempting to keep a watchful eye on their surroundings. He finds his mind wandering though, perhaps excited to begin the journey in his own way. Thankfully he is able to focus with Arista's aid.

Perception: 7  19 with Arista's help

Quote from EmileTherese >>

Kaelen stays near the front as they head off, attempting to keep a watchful eye on their surroundings. He finds his mind wandering though, perhaps excited to begin the journey in his own way.

Perception: 7

 Arista, being used to remain constantly on the lookout for danger in the mountains (showing in her proficiency in Perception), helps Kaelen.

With a last minute interruption from Torban’s mother, of all people, dropping off a small tray of tarts for you all, you are all heading off on the way out of town.

In the misty early spring morning, the light streaming through the town is a beautiful site. It’s not too busy, although you do attract some attention as most you pass aren’t expecting a group so well equipped moving northwest. The well worn road smooths out as you pass several outlying farms, moving into some more wild fields before entering the forest as little more than a trail.

Once in the forest, travel becomes a lot more difficult, especially for the wagon.

I would like everyone to choose an action to be focusing on for the first few hours in the forest. Some suggestions (and associated skills) are: clearing and following the trail (survival), keeping an eye on out for animals and threats (perception), light hunting / resource gathering (survival), or any other activities you want to propose. Do not roll till we settle who is doing what. Up to two characters may work together, with the one with the lower score taking the help action to give advantage to the other. Feel free to use class abilities and spells if you wish, there will be a short rest ( and lunch) at the end or this period.

Torban will offer to drive the wagons and take care of the animals, (animal handling +2, with a potential d8 and reroll from tactical mind if he fails).

Okay, here are the rolls I want:
Asariel, give me a perception check with advantage from Arista.
Mathias, survival check for staying on the path, with Brekka’s help adding advantage.
Kaelen, Survival check for foraging.
Torban: Animal Handling 18

Kaelen survival: 20

Advantaged Survival Check: 24

[[I rolled a 14 for Asariel]]

Between Brekka’s brawn, Mathias’ trailcraft, and Torban’s skill with handling a wagon he clearly has used before, you make good progress this morning. Kaelen finds some small game for lunch, And Arista and Asariel don’t see anything out of sorts along the way. It’s about 8 miles in so far, so you decide to take a break.  (Short Rest)

Mathias, Kaelen, and Asariel, you all notice in the clearing you decide to rest in, that there are a large number of flat, white rocks.

Oblivious to the strange rocks the others have seen, Brekka is sitting on the ground with his back against one of the wheels of the cart. With his large maw full of sharp teeth, he tears a chunk of meat from the game cooked up for lunch and chews it noisily. He hums his enjoyment.

"Great hunt, well cooked," he heartily compliments both Kaelen and the chef.

"Who wants to take bets on what we'll find at the keep? A gold says it'll be a nest of wyverns."

Mathias shrugs while partaking of the mid-day meal. "Wyverns?  Possible I suppose, but I would guess goblins or hobgoblins would be more likely."  before adding with a bit of mischief glinting in his brown eyes. "A gold is the wager, right?"

After he finishes his lunch, Mathias calls over Kaelen and Asariel, who had also taken note of the peculiar rock formations. "Any thoughts?"

[[@DM - Do the rocks look like they have been worked or do they appear more naturally formed? Any sort of roll you'd like?]]

Kaelen slowly walks over after he finishes jotting down a note about the rocks, eyes narrowing slightly in thought. “Wyverns and goblins are loud and territorial. This feels quiet...Hidden. Like something waiting." He pauses for a moment before pulling out a gold piece. "I'm guessing undead."

[[Anyone trying to figure out what is up with the rocks can make a history or investigation check. To save time I will put the info in a spoiler box. DC for either skill is 15.]]

Kaelen History: 15

"Those stones are what's left of an ancient road. Leading to the Keep perhaps."

History Check - Nat 20.

The druid looks and the weathered stones and walks around the formation, gazing upon the stones from each direction before coming to a conclusion. "It appears to be the remains of an ancient road.  It seems civilization had come to these wilds before, but then nature eventually took back over. Interesting..." 

Hauling himself to his feet, Brekka ambles over to look at what the others are all talking about.

His mouth is still half full, but that doesn't stop him from saying, "So we're on the right track then?"

He tests one of the broken shards of the old road with his tough, scaled heel.

[[Does it look like the ancient road is following the same path we are?]]