Terrance grimaces at the revelation that the 'tapeworm' was in fact Briar and directing his thoughts inwards once again, "That is a cruel trick you have played on me lass, If we are to travel together I would request that you stay out of my head unless it is a matter of utmost urgency. A dwarf's thoughts are his own and not for any hoo-nanny and fog-gobbler who comes along with a whiff of magic." He hawks and spits on the ground showing his distaste.

Not wanting to dwell on Briar's trickery he turns to Ducolis' revelation. "A fish floundering in a storm, but I daresay there could be something there. Have you found anything out about the language you heard in the 20 years since or is the single word 'beyond' all you have to go on? Clearly this meeting with the old man could be beneficial to us all."

Turning back to Briar and Hanzo, Terrance asks "Seeing as you two actually spoke to the fellow is there any chance you learned his name? I'm getting tired of calling him an old man, makes me feel my age to call a man a third my age old."

Briar listens to Ducolis tales of the storm and turns to Hanzo and points at Ducolis, "sounds like you two may have more in common than you both know, something to explore in greater detail at least." Briar turns to Ducolis, "thank you for being honest and sharing your encounter with us and for your assistance last night in the cemetery."

She looks at Terrance filled with remorse and shame, "I am truly sorry... I shall respect your wish then and refrain from engaging in mind speak with you. As for the old man's name I know not, but I will tell you all what I do know."

The little silver-haired Hedge Witch goes on then to add a few more details, "I did not get a chance to speak to the old man at the tavern for very long but he did tell me about a dog bringing him a magic robe with a note attached that would allow travel beyond but that not long after the robe was stolen! He had no idea who may have taken it or sent it to him for that matter."

"I wanted to examine and read the note for myself but there was no time. I don't know but even then I felt as if my sister was somehow connected but have no proof of such. I have suspicions that my sister could have assumed the form of the dog or drafted the note, perhaps both, perhaps neither. For my own peace of mind, I just want to be sure."

"Later, with Hanzo, we first encountered the mysterious stranger you all battled in the cemetery but earlier in the alley where you found us amidst all the blood. He had mistaken me for my twin sister and meant to force me to return with him to his family which he said my sister had recently been a part of but she had betrayed them in some, perhaps she stole the robe from them and gave it to the old man, I know not. But once the stranger discovered I was not my sister he fled before we could learn more. We tried to follow him but were cut off by his pet snake, that we killed in the alley... all the blood you saw belonged to it."

"Then for reasons, I know not, he came back for me hinting to me that he killed the ox in retribution for Hanzo killing his snake and sought to carry me off raving he was going punish me and make me his apprentice. It was clear he knew my sister but does not have her now or knows her current location. The family he spoke of, I do not if know if its a real family, a crime family of some sort or a coven of mystics. But he mentioned knowing where the robe of stars as he called it was located so I believe that he or his family are the ones who stole the robe from the old man and have it now. But for some reason or another whatever their plans it is not sufficient. I suspect they either need my sister or me, or both of to do something with it or why else seek us out if they have the robe. We are nothing special, that I do know, perhaps my sister stole something they need along with the robe and my being out on the streets is causing them too much confusion in finding her."

"At the very least it's all interconnected but some of the pieces are missing. I don't know if there are other parties involved but I suspect this to be the case, call it just a feeling. There is much more to all this and I very much think there may we be several different groups of interested parties seeking the possess the robe or squabbling over it. Or the family itself is fractured and they are betraying each other. I wanted to take the mysterious stranger's hand or the blade he dropped but when the city guards came upon us there was no time and I was afraid that if I took them, the guards would find them and send me to my death in the arena. I had hoped to take them to the old man to see if he could use them to scry our mysterious stranger so that we could find him again. And yes the guards said they were taking him the arena but I don't believe that he will make it there. As clever as he is, he will escape or his family will come for him. No doubt we... I will see him again when he comes once again for me."

Briar stops, her tale coming to an abrupt end as she looks around at them all, "that's it, that's the little I know or have managed to piece together... so please don't send me away, help me to find my sister, please." she begs... Briar once more looks at Terrance, several tears running silently down her cheek before turning to Hanzo to wrap her arms around him seeking to feel safe in his strong arms.

Terrance takes a moment to process all this information. "Well lass sounds like you've had a tough run of it. A robe that allows travel beyond sounds particularly dangerous, any fool could trigger that. Hopeful the old fellow will be able to point us in the direction of it and any clues that could find your sister. I daresay I will lend my aid, at the very least so long as our paths are on the same road."

"I also agree that if that mysterious stranger was part of an organisation we will not have seen the last of them. Perhaps we would have done better to have silenced him more permanently. Alas what's done is done, I shall keep my eyes and ears open for such a threat from now on." 

@Ser Hanzo @DatGirlCelestia

While she is thinking of it, Briar takes the time now to immediately go to her backpack and takes out one of her three Healer's Kit and asks Hanzo to carry it for her in his pack to help reduce the load she is carrying and so that not all the group's kits are located all in just one bag, easy to lose or something. Additionally, it will allow him and/or anyone else to make use of it if someone is injured and dying i.e. at 0 HP to stabilize them.

Hanzo holds Briar tight as she cries before she speeds off to her pack. “Of course I’ll hold onto one for you.” Hanzo replies with a smile and adds the kit to his pack.

Hanzo turns to Terrance... “Thank you for agreeing to help, and if anyone is interested I do know where they’re sending the stranger. He’s being taken to the arena, the guard said they have an opponent already set up for him, they don’t think he’ll survive very long. But if we’d like we could head there after talking with the old man just to make sure?”

*Zaroc*

Patting his belly, "Well then, the Light Giver isn't getting any brighter. Shall we carry on then?"

@Hanzo

"If the arena takes care of him that will solve part of the problem, I doubt we would have got much more information out of him. It may well be worth checking after our visit with the old man although there may be more pressing matter by that point."

Looking around the campsite Terrance believes everyone to be happy with each others explanations and introductions. "Aye Zaroc, I couldnt have put it better myself." He gestures for Hanzo and Briar to lead the way.

After quickly cleaning up the camp area Briar hurries to catch up with Hanzo to walk beside him as he leads the group on its way... to the meeting spot with the old man.

The party travels Northeast along the road, the smell of morning dew filling their nostrils, as the wide open fields of knee high grass, glisten with droplets of water. Though trees are sparse, occasionally they pass a lone oak, towering majestically over the plains like a watchful protector. Small shrubs dot the landscape, and further in the distance to the north, windmills and farm houses are just barely visible. To the south, the trees are all the more rare as the land approaches the sea, which is just out of sight. As they proceed, the trees and shrubs become increasingly dense, and the party can see they are closing in on wilder areas. At this point, Hanzo knows they are only about a mile from the meeting place. Approaching what is known as The Rockwood Bridge.

On Hanzo's suggestion Terrance will scout ahead keeping an eye out for anymore people like the mysterious man who could attack the party, he will also examine the bridge as they get closer to see if he knows of its origin if it's dwarven made etc and what it is made from.

Perception 19

(Would you like me to roll anything to check the bridge History, insight, investigation etc)

@everyone

”We’re roughly a mile from where the old man told me he would be. Could someone scout ahead in case anyone beat us here and set up a trap/ambush?”

@Terrance

As you near the bridge, you see many humanoid frogs of various colors hopping away across the river, some jumping into the river and swimming out of sight. The bridge is well built, but not dwarven. Across the bridge, the road splits going north to the Iso Mountains, and South to the southern coast. Thick forrest lies due east off the beaten path across the bridge.

https://pin.it/qpvbpekvzxotpw

Zaroc casts barkskin upon himself and transforms into a boar, following next to terrence

Once Terrance is sure the bridge is secure he will bang his warhammer against his shield making a loud clanging noise so that the others know the coast is clear and then await the arrival of the party and the old man.

@Terrance and Zaroc

You hear desperate moaning coming from underneath the bridge.

Hearing the moaning Terrance will ready his weapon and signal to Zaroc. He will then try to sneak down and see what is going on.

Stealth 5

Zaroc follows, but only goes to the end of the bridge, remaining approximately 25 ft behind Terrence. He also looks around for any threats 

Perception 14

Rocks tumble and twigs snap as the stout, heavily armored dwarf clumsily tramples down the embankment. 

@Zaroc

You notice a set of feet sticking out into view. Clearly the moaning is coming from a body laying under the bridge.

@Terrance

After you compose yourself, you see the old man, surrounded by his belongings, laying flat on his back motionless, still moaning desperately.