As Joy and Randa rush from the cart to the creature, Joy slides in on her knee and places her hands on it. Roiling, wispy shadows roll over her hands as she touches the unusual and barely tangible flesh. The divine power finds no target and remains with Joy. The creature has passed. On inspection, it seems to be a wyvern-like creature, with a long neck, dagger-like teeth and talons, and a face that is twisted in a hateful expression even in death. It almost seems to be composed of shadow, constantly in motion and spilling onto the earth. 

If Ylis can see anything, she thinks, Yeah, that's not creepy at all.

"It's OK Rumble buddy, they're just checking it out. Nothing to worry about. Nope."

She takes a look around in case whatever killed the thing is still around. Some kind of dead thing lying by the side of the road filled with arrows? Yup no problem there.

Ylis Perception Check 25

Merek gets down from the cart and moves over to inspect the creature with the others. His brow furrows at the shifting shadowy make up of the creature. He tries to think of what kind of thing this is, and whether or not it's magical in nature.

"How disconcerting. I hope we don't meet any of these that are still alive."

He scans the area to see where it might've come from.

DM: Give me an Arcana Check. 

Quote from Wysperra >>

If Ylis can see anything, she thinks, Yeah, that's not creepy at all.

"It's OK Rumble buddy, they're just checking it out. Nothing to worry about. Nope."

She takes a look around in case whatever killed the thing is still around. Some kind of dead thing lying by the side of the road filled with arrows? Yup no problem there.

Ylis Perception Check 25

 Ylis scans the area while Rumble turns an unconcerned eye toward her. He grunts to indicate his disinterest. Meanwhile, Ylis finds that despite the setting sun, the open landscape in most directions is free of anything of note. The forest ahead of them however, has tightly packed trees. There is a slight widening of the road however, enough that a wagon might move past another that is parked, but otherwise, the trees are too dense to pull the wagon off road once you are on it within the forest. Ylis does note a single blue sparkle by one of the first trees near the entrance of the woods. 

Quote from Nemes1s >>

Merek gets down from the cart and moves over to inspect the creature with the others. His brow furrows at the shifting shadowy make up of the creature. He tries to think of what kind of thing this is, and whether or not it's magical in nature.

"How disconcerting. I hope we don't meet any of these that are still alive."

He scans the area to see where it might've come from.

 Merek recognizes the creature. A gloomstalker – a creature from the time of the Calamity. The finer details of this creature escape him, it was so long ago where he learned of these creatures and it was not directly related to his area of study anyway. What he does remember is that these creatures are entirely evil, rarely travel alone, and it is good for his fellow travelers that this one had met its end before it could harm them.

Looking around, there is no much nearby that seems capable of being its hovel, though it is hard to tell with the sun setting and light growing scarce. The forest ahead is possible, though it could just as easily be some cave on the unnamed mountains about a day’s travel ahead, or some fissure in the ground nearby that he cannot quite see. 

When the group regroups, Ylis shares her insights, "Hey guys, up ahead there," pointing at the hillock "there's a stand of trees that are kind of tight so we wouldn't be able to pull over. Seeing as it's almost night, do we want to pull up the forest and camp outside or go inside and block the road a little?"

She shrugs, "Can't tell if we'd make it all the way through by nightfall. Ooh ooh ooh and right there," shutting one eye and sticking out her tongue, she points, "there is a shiny blue thing. See it?"

"Huh, maybe I just made it obvious that we spotted an ambush?" She shrugs and pulls out her staff giving it curly cues of green enchantment (casting Shillelagh)

Jacaranda recoils from the unnatural creature, looking up she follows Ylis line of sight toward the woods, " Perhaps we make camp at the edge of the woods?  It will mean a little overhead protection if this thing has any fellows.....but we may be caught between danger from woods and skies at once."

She tried to pinpoint the glimmer Ylis detected but couldn't make anything out.

" I'd like to use fire so this couple doesn't bring predators toward the road but I doubt anything natural would eat that foulness....and the smoke may bring unwelcome attention."

Joy nods along with Ylis' and Randa's suggestions, crossing her arms and giving a small shiver as she remembers the feeling of utter wrongness when she touched the creature.

"Yes, I don't want to meet any living versions of that...whatever it was." Somehow she doubts they'll be that lucky, but avoiding the ambush Ylis warns of is the paladin's main concern for now. "Let's set up camp where we have room to act and stick together. I can take first watch."

Ayo hops off the seat of her wagon while everyone else is a bit slower to engage. She rushes up to the three, Joy, Ylis, and Randa. "What is it? It must be magical, right? Living smoke? Err... Once living smoke?" She probs the carcass with her spear, her weapon of choice. When it doesn't move, she probes it harder, until her spear penetrates the flesh. She pulls her spear free to inspect it. Expecting blood, she finds only wispy smoke curling off the head of the spear, which coils around the tip and then evaporates. "Huh." 

Galsariad approaches the body, where Merek is crouching and still searching his mind for details. Galsariad attempts to imitate the quiet wizard. He circles the body, examining the arrows and humming to himself. 

Irvan seems to have no interest at all in the discovery. He lounges in the wagon alone, after Maggie, Dermot, and Entropy climb out. Maggie finds her way to Ayo immediately, as a mother to her young. Dermot frets and scans the skies, muttering about how unfair it is to encounter monstrosities just outside of the city. Entropy's sword is out, point toward the sky. She looks quite excited by the prospect of fighting some abomination.

"Hey! Is the skin or head still good, or is it too full of holes?!"

Ylis doesn't know what the thing was, but maybe there is a bounty for them or maybe the hide is worth something....

DM: Ylis, please give me a Nature Check. 

Ayo leans over to look at the beast again. "My spear didn't seem to get any blood on it. It has a hide, but also doesn't."

Ylis Nature check 17

Ylis would know that this creature is has a pelt that has never been on any market that she is aware of. Indeed, it seems impossible to carve any hide off the creature before it dissipates into smoke. However, Ylis has heard rumors of how certain creatures of smoke are sought after, and special vials are used to contain their essence once killed and sold for a handsome price. It could very well be this thing here, but Ylis is not quite sure if it is since she doesn't know exactly what it is. Ylis is pretty sure an alchemist kit would be needed for such delicate work on a creature that is not entirely on this plane. However, the unbroken arrows seem to be in good shape for anyone in need of them.

Separately, the blue glint once again catches Ylis' eye at the base of a tree right next to the entrance of the forest. The moonlight seems to be caught in something shiny.