“Found another body!” Sacha yells to her companions, “It’s a dark elf! With red . . . eyes.”

Sacha hesitates upon seeing the Drow’s red eyes. Lolthsworn are bad news. Growing up, she heard stories of Drow raiders feeding Wood Elf children to their pet spiders. Worried that disturbing the body might somehow summon more drow or invoke the wrath of Lolth, she leaves the body. 

“Maybe this Drow was a member of a raiding party? Could it have attacked this group? This Orc must have died pretty recently. I don’t see signs of scavenging.”

“What a waste,” Sacha shakes her head, “All lives are precious. We should clear the road and figure out what to do with the bodies.”

OOC: If no one else wants the chain shirt, Sacha would take it. It would increase her AC by 1. 

Ylis pushes half of the rings towards Ayo with a stick. She shrugs, "The owner doesn't need them anymore and well, if they are for all of us then..." She shrugs again. The blood on the rings grosses her out. She wishes there was a way to magic them clean. 

She takes a used ration wrapper and nudges the rings onto it before tying it up. That'll do for now. "Self! Remember to clean the rings!"

Jacaranda watched Sacha as she moved confidently around the ambush site, they were both Children of the Green but Saschas northern home seemed so much harsher than her own...though she knew the jungle had dangers of its own.

" If everyone has collected the weapons, armour and treasure they require we should move on before our screaming friend gets too curious."

Maggie approaches the group. “Pardon my interruption, but might I inquire if anyone here harbors intentions concerning the axe or the war hammer? These formidable tools of devastation are exceptionally suited for an individual of my stature, and it would be remiss of me not to express my interest should the champions show no inclination towards them.”

Morgan glances at the imposing ogre, with a smile. He gestures as if to say "suit yourself," while his eyes scan the area around the wagon, searching for any signs of the attackers or... anything still watching.

"What attacked these people might be waiting for us up the road," he says. "I agree with Jacaranda, we should move. I’d hate for us to become the next looting stop for the wagon behind us."

“What of that chest?” Irvan points to the overturned box still in the ditch with his dagger. “Shall I…?” He then mimics Morgan’s gesture. “Too?”

Ylis goes up to the chest and tries to muscle it open "Urrrrgghh!...*pant* *pant*...yeah somebody else has to try that."

Maggie easily rights the chest with one massive hand. Irvan looks to Ylis and confidently unfurls his thieve’s tools. In half a minute the chest is open and Irvan looks to Ylis for approval, a proud grin across his face.

The chest is opened and inside is a bag of gems, a sleeve of 20 gold bars (valued at 10 gold each), and a rather large bag of gold (683). Also inside is a decorative dagger, an ornate rapier, and two changes of very fine clothes. 

Ylis recognizes a crest on the bag of gold. It matches a strange patch on the shoulder of the fine satin jacket she tied to her staff like a banner: a silver rose wreathed in green vines and strange red crystals.

Morgan studies the crest, trying to recall if he's seen it before. (History check: 3)

He shrugs and casually points at the pile of gold.
"So… if nobody wants that, can I suit myself?"

Without waiting for an answer, he grins, looks at Sacha:
"I'll help you with the bodies. But let's be quick."

“Where are you from again, Morgan?” Sacha asks, pulling the Orc’s body further from the road and double checking the pockets. While working she notices the gold and stares in awe. She had never seen so much in all her years on Exandria. After taking a second, she starts to drag the wagon off the road. 

“Because I’m sure you know the protocol for this situation better than I. How should we dispose of the bodies? We’re not near a farm and don’t have time, so we can’t do my people’s burial rites. And I’d rather not touch the drow.”

DM: Morgan knows crests mean things, but ¯\_ (ツ)_/¯

DM: Sacha, Perception Check for the pocket pursuing, please. 

Investigation: 0

Quote from Erik_Soong >>

The chest is opened and inside is a bag of gems, a sleeve of 20 gold bars (valued at 10 gold each), and a rather large bag of gold (683). Also inside is a decorative dagger, an ornate rapier, and two changes of very fine clothes. 

Ylis recognizes a crest on the bag of gold. It matches a strange patch on the shoulder of the fine satin jacket she tied to her staff like a banner: a silver rose wreathed in green vines and strange red crystals.

 "You know we're pretty broke and probably still owe a bit to that horse dude. BUT! That symbol on the bag matches this one," she points to the jacket on her staff. "Whoever lost their jacket probably owns the money.

.... "Aw man, maybe one of these dudes is the owner of the jacket." After thinking for a bit she says, "Maybe we can keep the jacket and the money together until we find somebody that actually owns the money." She looks at the others. "We can split up the other things equally, I don't know if any of the Fellowship use fancy stickers like those." indicating the weapons.

Ylis then pokes her fingers in the bag of gems and counts them.

DM: There are a variety of gems that, in total, are worth about 700 gold. 

Randa is nervously pacing the edge of the scene, " Take what you want. We need to get going."

Her eyes scan through the shadowed spaces between the trunks, shade obscured by needleless lower branches and bracken.

( If her previous Perception check is still in play use that otherwise, 18)

After Ylis splits the bars and gems, giving Ayo half, she loads the box (with help) into the wagon with the sack of gold. In explanation she says "Maybe we'll find these silver rose folks and they will be thankful to get their money back."

She hands the fancy weapons over to Ayo's group unless somebody wants them (a dagger and a rapier). The clothes will also go into the wagon. 

*edit* Finally, she will use mold earth to bury the bodies and lay a blessing of the Moon Weaver upon them, hoping they have peace in the afterlife.

When the road is clear, she will shout, "Onward Rumble!" then flick the reins and begin to sing.

"Put one hoof in front of the other
And soon you'll be trotting down the road
You put one hoof in front of the other
And soon you'll be trotting out of town!"

The two wagons roll along, leaving behind the sad remnants of a merchant and guard, or perhaps some noble with retainers. It fades from view as the night settles in. It was dark during the day, with the trees twisting their branches over each other like woven fabric. Now however, the darkness is stark. Randa and Ylis’ Light spells create bubbles of light, but total blackness beyond it.

The light burns bright against the small hills that line either side of the road, and illuminates the ditches before that, but the forest beyond feels close, oppressive, strangling. This is not the welcoming woods that some are familiar with. This is a small band of trees that found a way to thrive in the magical aftermath of the Calamity. These trees have hard souls. They are looming, unfriendly things.

The forest stretches on for some time and eventually Ayo’s stamina begins to flag. Her head bobs as sleep takes hold of her while she rides and not even the flatulence of Hee and Haw are enough to rouse her. Dermot recommends the two groups set up camp for the night and soon, the wagons are pulled off on the side of the road and camp made.

Sleep is elusive for you all. Even the most woodland among you feels the air thick and choking as you stare up at the lowest branches that breech the edge of the light spells. In the forest over the ridge, you hear the rustling of creatures much like you had throughout the day; you are being watched by many. Some curious, some hungry, some murderous besides.

You all gain a long rest, though you all can remember better nights in outwardly less hospitable locations. You break camp down sluggishly and load up with less energy than the day before but you can feel the end of the forest is near, and do your best to make haste.

DM: Long Rest achieved, for extra clarity.

After several hours of morning travel in the dimly lit forest, you see a light at the end of a long tunnel-the exit to the forest and the return to the vast, open wastes of Xhorhas.

As you draw closer, you can see flashes across the glimmer of light ahead. Drawing closer still, you hear screams and shouts. Rumble’s wounded pride at having done so little of value in the previous fight drives him on, and the wagon bumps along the road at a running pace. Ayo quickly falls behind as Hee and Haw were quite content with their performance during the last battle; they stayed well clear of the fight and are here to make music today because of it. They are driven to a quicker pace only because of Ayo’s insistence.

Rumble pulls to a stop 30ft from what turns out to be a battle! Six Kryn soldiers, three drow, one human, and two orcs, are fighting a massive horned creature. It stands 10ft tall, orange and tan, with darkened spikes running from its head down its back. It stands upright, but has the general proportions of a toad. It also has a powerful stench that assaults your nose even at this distance. It looks to the Fellowship and grins wide as the soldier rally.

“You there! Help us!” One of the drow says, a captain of this squad by the look of his armor-artful symbols etched into the helm and edges of the otherwise standard armor. You hear Ayo snap the reins, urging Hee and Haw along and demanding that you don’t get yourselves killed without her.

DM: Whether you are helping or allowing the soldiers to serve as a distraction while you scoot on by, roll Initiative!

OOC: Just wanted to pop in and say after every rest, long or short, Ylis will think of something inspiring to say, sing, or dance. This gives the Fellowship and Rumble 8 THP.

"A new day is born and you should grin! Be thankful that we are not on the other cart, the one of passing wind!" to which Hee and Haw fart in acknowledgment.

Now on with the show....

-------------------

Ylis Initiative 21

When getting ready for the night, Sacha removes her arms and battle clothing, undoes her hair, and finds a small clearing in the woods where she can guard the camp. When the sky is dark and the camp sleeps, she meets up with Jacaranda. 

Standing near her, Sacha uses the butt of her spear to dig a small trench in the dirt. She sticks her feet in the trench and buries them and continuously casts druidcraft to create a small breeze on her head, whipping her hair up wildly. Faintly visible through her tunic, the world tree tattoo on her back glows green. In this state, Sacha looks strangely reminiscent of a tree on a windy day. Roots in the ground, trunk strong and unmoving, and long branches whipping around wildly in the wind. Connecting the Three Worlds; Under, Middle, and Upper, an echo of the World Tree. 

Not whispering, but speaking in a voice low enough it won’t disturb the parties’ sleep, she says, 

“Does sleep disturb you, too? I grew up in an all-elven community. The wildlife and our pets would sleep, of course, but until recently I never considered the fact that it’s something people do. It must be unpleasant, losing awareness like that. I always thought of it as being similar to death, albeit a shy one.” 

In the morning, Sacha eats a ration and gets ready for the day. She ties up her hair, dons her new armor, and readies her spear and shield. While on the road, she casts druidcraft regularly on the local flora, causing flowers to bloom, seeds to germinate, and leaves to fall from the trees. She occasionally inspects the health of the trees and state of the underbrush. If the forest’s floor is covered in an excessive amount of dead leaves she makes a mental note that they part of the forest is in need of burning, but takes no action. They’re on a mission and she can’t waste time starting small forest fires. 

However, once they leave the forest, Sacha sighs with relief. For the first time in her life, she is glad to have left a forest. 

Sacha will gladly help the Kryn fight off this demon-frog-thing. Readying her spear and shield, she leaps to action. 

Initiative: 16

Jacaranda nodded to Sascha in response, she supposed her home wasn't so different to Saschas except for the humidity, thickness of foliage and the appearance of their dwellings.  She had not given much thought to how the sleep of the others differed to her own....contemplation......

.....................................

As they approached the conflict she tried to identify the creature but felt it was likely some unnatural Calamity remnant like the gloomstalkers....

Initiative- 10

Nature- 17