OOC: Randa has it =)

Poke around in the bag and see how much we got then add it to the party inventory.

DM: The bag the captain gave contains 50 gold. A fair amount, considering it is coming from the pockets of the soldiers themselves. 

The next few days are uneventful, boring even, as you have little to look at other than the mostly barren wasteland. The Calamity impacted what is now the region of Xhorhas the most, a war of gods and the world’s most powerful mortals have carved up what is known as the Wastes. Little grows here. Mostly it is a landscape of grayish rock, dust, and the odd petrified tree, which stands as a monument to the aforementioned ancient war.

In the night, you can see distant creatures out and about. Moaning, sad things. Remnants. Ylis can see what appears to be a humanoid creature walking in the distance, its own body appearing to be a bag that binds its arm and masks its face. It stumbles along, uttering muffled cries as it struggles against its own flesh.

The day before arriving at the Emerald Loop, the two parties come upon another corpse in the road. In fact, several corpses. One is clearly a demon. This one is an udaak, a four-armed, ape-like beast. Spears and axes still are buried in its body and it is slowing dissolving into black ichor, much like the hezrou you encountered before. There are also about 30 bodies, mostly human, adorned in hide armor, and the bodies of horses, surrounding the demon corpse.

As the party picks through the bodies, not much of value can be found, but Ylis does manage to come across a dagger of exceptional make still buried in the melting body of the udaak. There is an inscription on the blade’s handle that reads ‘Kierchaly Wastewalker’. Notably, Irvan seems only mildly interested in the corpses littering the field and does not join some of the others in going through the bodies for valuables.

Days later, a large stand of trees rises out of the barren wasteland. The leaves of dozens of towering oaks rustle in the breeze, and the scent of a bonfire wafts from a trail of smoke rising from somewhere ahead. The path through the trees is deeply rutted by the work of countless wagon wheels. A wooden sign posted at the head of the path bears the decorated shepherd’s crook that is the holy symbol of Melora the Wild Mother, and the words “Emerald Loop Caravan Stop.”

L1: Entrance to the Clearing
L2: Big Yuyo
L3: Ox Corral
L4: Adventurers’ Camp
L5: Bonfire

The forest pathway opens into a large clearing, nearly a hundred feet across. Music, laughter, and the savory aromas of fresh-cooked food and woodsmoke drift through the air. On the west side of the clearing stands a full-grown horizonback tortoise. On its back is the homestead of a family of goblins, who are making repairs to the structure. On the other side of the clearing, seven covered wagons encircle a bonfire, and a rope fence has been set up north of this encampment to contain the wagons’ oxen.

Ayo parks her wagon with the others and pulls Hee and Haw to the Ox Corral. They resist her now, not because they don't actually want to go, but because they seem to be enjoying her struggling to pull both along as she yanks on the reins and grunts curses at them. Once she gets them in the pen, they seem quite content in it and wander off to mingle with the oxen there. Ayo wipes sweat from her forehead and leans against the fencing, catching her breath. The rest of her crew get out and stretch their legs, exploring the camp to see what he here for them. Certainly a major change of scenery if nothing else, and potentially stimulating conversation with fellow travelers and merchants. 

DM: Long Rest achieved and Ylis, please add a +1 Dagger to the party inventory. 

Morgan yawns loudly, stretching his arms above his head.
“Finally, some life!”

He flips his top hat onto his head and leaps from the still-moving wagon with a grin.
“Don’t wait up for me!” he calls over his shoulder.

For a moment, he considers heading straight to the music and the adventurers to ask about the road ahead to Bazzoxan... but then his gaze lands on the massive Horizonback tortoise.
A giant tortoise is a giant tortoise.
“Well, priorities…” he murmurs with a smirk.

He strolls toward the great creature, eyes wide with admiration, taking in the slow grace of its movements and the structure built upon its shell.
Switching to Goblin, he offers a polite bow.
“Greetings, mighty traveler... and to those who ride with you!”

On the way to the caravan stop Ylis takes some time to draw a silver rose wreathed in green vines and strange red crystals. 

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

"Whoop whoop!" Ylis lets out a cheer at reaching a place which isn't a blanket of dreary. She relaxes a little, surely this place will be safer than the road, surely.

Ylis parks the wagon near Ayo's and walks Rumble over to the animals, making him promise to behave himself. 

She takes some time to clean the gunk off of the golden rings, then looks for Irvan. She could use a friend when looking for somebody to sell the rings to.