(Where are you planning on resting?)

(good question. Should we rest here, or walk out of the cave.)

Nellie would suggest going back to an area we've cleared out with the fewest amount of branching paths

Falynn nods and adds to Nellie's suggestion. "We can still keep watches to avoid more conflict, but staying in a safer place inside the cave helps it further, since we're away from the zombies and hidden from the threats from outside."

(Are you all going to take a rest outside?  If so, are you taking a short or long rest?)

(I was trying to drive us to sleep inside the cave in the first room we entered, so still close to the cave's opening. For the other question, a long rest while good to let Falynn recover a whole half of her spell slots (one), means having to rest for 7 more hours, and I know the HP of the ones who were damaged will probably be fully healed after the short rest anyways. I don't have a definitive answer, I was just giving the pros and cons to see if I made it easier on the others to decide.)

(Any objections to that, everyone?)

(I'm fine with resting at the cave's entrance). 

(Sounds great)

You all retreat to the first room in the cave.  On the first watch shift, you hear a slight crunching of leaves outside . . .

(Cue Throst!)

"Who's there? If you are adventurers, I mean you no harm. If you are ill, I can help you". A figure in full chainmail walks up to the cave's entrance. He peers in, raising a shield and mace slightly upwards as if preparing for an attack.

"I have come to investigate news of a plague in this area, if this too is your purpose I believe we can find some common ground"

Throst stands at slightly above average height with an average build. He has curling purple horns on his forehead, as well as dead, white eyes. His face, in stark contrast with the otherworldliness of his horns and eyes, is a standard tan. The rest of his body is covered by his armor and clothing. He appears on edge, and his voice sounds like he's trying to make it slightly deeper than usual.

Nessie, the aarakocra, approaches. "I'm hurt."

Throst gestures the Aarakocra forward, "Come here, this might sting a bit but it will help your wounds heal"

If she comes closer, Throst tries to bind her injuries to facilitate healing. Medicine: 5

(I'm not sure of what the extent of your injuries are, I think they're just from the rock fall, correct?)

"Now, what are you all doing out here at Lance Rock? I came upon a tied up bandit and the corpses of his friends earlier, I suppose that was your work? I let the last one go, if you were wondering."

(Since Nessie was the one who responded first, I'll assume she was the one on the first watch, and make my response out of that.)

Falynn, the elven druid, wakes up to the sound of clatter made by the armor. She rubs her eyes, and notices the newcomer, stopping to hear him first before she spoke. "Oh, hello. My name is Falynn Hanali, and I seem to be the voice of this group, even though I'm no leader. We are indeed the ones responsible for the bandit's incident, and we're also searching for the plague's news, which I think we found it..." She points to inside the cave, believing the zombies existed exactly because of the plague they mentioned. 

"Hm, about the bandit, he was a criminal, we planned on taking him to justice, and you knew that, right? You just said he was a bandit, why let him free? About the corpses, we had no intention of killing anyone, it just happened..."

"My name is Throst. Interesting, I came for the disease but there seems to be a bit more than that here. Necromancy, you say? I suppose that gives me another reason to stick around."

Throst rubs his hand on his chin, pondering this for a second. 

"As for your bandit, I found him unconscious and half dead of exposure. I dislike needless suffering, and as he was already disarmed and dis-companioned I believed him no threat. I gave him some food and drink, as well as some 'encouragement' to return to town, and sent him on his way. For the others, well, death may come from the decisions we make, and crime is often a fatal decision. I believe it would be best for my original purpose if I were to go with you. I would join you, if you will take me"

Throst inclines his head slightly in an informal bow, returning his mace to his side and resting his shield on the ground.

“Thank you. If it’s all the same I’m going to sleep now.”

she lies down and rolls over to get comfy before turning her head slightly. 

“I’m Nessie. Good night.”

"Correct, I appreciate your point of view of the situation, and I'd be glad to let you enter our group, no point in going in the same direction with the same objective, but staying separate, right?" 

"But as I said, I'm no leader, I am the newest member of the group so far, I don't think I can just say you're in and be done with it." Falynn looks back toward her group, trying to see if she'd get any aprovement or disaprovement, but she notices Nessie already fell asleep, responding by shaking her head.

Throst glances at Nessie, mildly surprised by the ease with which she fell asleep.

"Well, if you are all so tired perhaps I should let you rest. I'll take my rest outside the cave's entrance, and when everyone in your group wakes you may make the decision together. A night under the stars is sometimes a blessed thing"

He turns and begins to walk out of the cave, preparing to place his bedroll to the side of the cave's entrance, so that it's not within direct line of sight of the inside of the cave. If no other party member awakens, he pulls a small red crystal orb out of his pack and examines it for an hour, watching the mouth of the cave carefully, and then sleeps.

(sorry folks, thanksgiving stuff, welcome aboard Throst)

Hansel watches the tiefling for a moment, then casts his gaze over the camp before he sits and takes the first watch of the rest.