The party bids farewell to the shepherds and turns back into the wind. By keeping the wind which has been blowing steadily all day blowing at an angle on their faces they are able to track largely northwest. After about an hour the sun - weak as it was - goes down. The lack of a moon means that it is now completely dark. In response to D.O.R.K.'s request Lukian casts a gentle ball of light to light the way for Golemogote. The party pushes on for another hour or so and as they are trying to find somewhere to camp for the night a bush about 50 yards away suddenly bursts into flame.

Ebonitus bluntly states "We must do what we must do." as he climbs up into the howdah and gets as comfortable as he can and tries to catch some sleep while being gently rocked by Mr G.'s gait.

The moment D.O.R.K spies the burning bush in the distance, her first instinct is to have Mr. G at least slow down further, then grab a javelin. "Hm...... Most unfortunate. It seems neither progress or rest will be had just yet, as we will need to investigate the site. Everyone, do be on your guard." She say to the others, poking one or more awake as necessary beforehand. As Vark and Beedo were currently riding shotgun in the wagon at the time, she daren't try and signal them, least whatever potential dangers ahead might catch it. And so, she silently prayed at least one of them was awake enough to have sighted the fire and gotten ready. Because once everyone was, more or less, D.O.R.K would urge Golemogote towards at least 50ft of the flame prior to stopping altogether. 

As they traveled Devin remained awake and alert, quite the opposite of Aslan, who seemed to spend the vast majority of his time sleeping.

"Well, what do you make of that D?" When the distant bush is suddenly on fire.  "Someone miss with a spell or what?  I suppose we need to investigate as it is clearly on our path."

With that he remains alert to danger and looks around for signs of anything.

Perception 18

D.O.R.K would urge Golemogote towards at least 50ft of the flame prior to stopping altogether. 

As D.O.R.K. urges Golemogote closer to the burning bush another bush about what is now 30 yards away from them suddenly bursts into flame. Those in the party who are awake (D.O.R.K. & Devin at a minimum) notice what seems to look like a trail of fire leap/travel from the first bush to the second bush.

Ebonitus wakes quickly and puts on his helm of telepathy and casts detect thoughts using it to scan the brainwaves around to see what intelligent life there might be nearby (within 30 feet). This includes to see if the goblins are awake.

"I'll investigate," Lukian says, already climbing down from the howdah. As soon as his feet are on the ground, he draws Dawnbringer and calls forth her glowing blade. He lays a hand on his chest and asks for Lathander's protection. A shimmering field appears and surrounds the elf. Carefully, he approaches the second burning bush, looking for anything to clue him into what is going on.

Perception: 12

Ebonitus wakes quickly and puts on his helm of telepathy and casts detect thoughts using it to scan the brainwaves around to see what intelligent life there might be nearby (within 30 feet). This includes to see if the goblins are awake.

Ebonitus is unable to detect any thoughts of nearby creatures.

Lukian carefully approaches the second burning bush, looking for anything to clue him into what is going on.

The second burning bush is 30 yards away - what else if anything - is the rest of the party doing? 

As Ebonitus has not detected any thoughts from the goblins, he whispers to D.o.r.k. "I'll check on Vark and Beedo" and he gets his battle gear ready and slips quietly down from the Howdah and heads to the wagon to alert the goblins. 

D.O.R.K had merely answered Devin with an uncertain shake of the head. But after seeing the fire leap from one bush to another, processors are almost immediately overclocked trying to both process the unnatural phenonom and sift through the varied tactics for dealing with such an unknown but obvious lure. So distracted is she, that unless Lukian gave Mr. G the command to kneel for ease of disembarkment, the cleric of the sun would have to drop down and hopefully not hurt himself in the process. The same for Ebonitus. But, at least he would catch the faintest, if albeit absent-minded nod from the living construct.

Though even then, she never took her eyes off the flames, and eventually began to wonder if it might be a divine sign...

Religion: 25.

As for Beedo and Vark, whenever the earthy cleric would make his way to them, Vark is at least wide-awake and seemed to halfway in the process of getting out the wagon. "Trouble?" He asked simply, gesturing to the lightshow ahead as Beedo's snoring emitted from the wagon. If yet determined to make sure both goblins were alert, Beedo would try to wave Ebonitus off at first, half-mumbling something along th elines of "Ain't our watch yet.." before rolling over. But with enough determination or the enlisting of Vark to help, the more talkative goblin awakens complaining and cursing in a mix of both goblin and common. "Wat now ya mong? Can't ya see some o'v trying to get our beauty sleep?"

Ebonitus shushes Beedo " Keep it down a bit and get your shit together. I think we are under attack." As he sees the Goblin respond, he scans again using Detect Thoughts from the helm of telepathy

As Lukian moves 10 yards closer to the second burning bush another bush about 10 yards closer to him suddenly bursts into flame. Lukian can clearly see a trail of flame from the second burning bush to the newly burning one.

Ebonitus is still unable to detect any thoughts beyond those of the party. 

From the vantage point of up on G Devin watches.  "Does it seem to be marking a trail?  Or creating a ward to keep us away?  I am unsure exactly.  Does it seem to be a line of fire from bush to bush or is it just jumping from bush to bush.  I cannot tell for sure."

"Does it seem to be marking a trail?  Or creating a ward to keep us away?  I am unsure exactly.  Does it seem to be a line of fire from bush to bush or is it just jumping from bush to bush.  I cannot tell for sure."

In Devin's opinion it looks as if something is moving from one bush to another. 

Deciding he'd rather be holding his shield than having a free hand, Lukian readies his shield in his empty hand (AC 20 now). Once prepared, he continues forward, trying to reason what is going on.

Does this look familiar? Nature: 22

It is like nothing that Lukian has come across before.

"Perhaps some sort of fire elemental I wonder?"  Devin muses to himself and then shouts loudly "Hail fire being, identify yourself!  Friend or foe!  We come in peace!"

The creature - if indeed it is a creature - does not respond to Devin's hail.

Beedo's immediate glaring at Ebonitus turned to wariness at the warning. Though after a few seconds of looking around and seeing nothing but the dancing fire in the distance, he looks at Ebonitus, giving him a sort 'Da **** ya own about?' sort of look, before shaking his head and gearing up at the very least. Even Vark, who having already dutifully armed himself, and would follow along beside Mr. G once the group were on the move, looked considerably less tense after a few minutes.

Meanwhile up top, D.O.R.K just shook her head to both of Devin's initial questions, and only looked more pensive at the last one. At the very least, she would urge Mr. G to keep going at a slow pace, and while always staying at least 50 to 60ft away from the freshest source of fire. "I thought perhaps it might be a sign from one of our patrons, but I cannot recall any details confirming it." She said just loud enough for those on the Howdah to hear.

Does the trail disappear after the bush starts burning, or is there a remaining trail that continues to burn from bush to bush?