Healer reveals Angie for the final watch. Angie do you tell Healer what you heard?

Yes, Angie tells Healer, "I heard some noise like clinking metal and a twig snap. Seems unlikely that there would be bandits this close to a town, but better be extra careful just in case." Before going to sleep, Angie grabs a stone and casts light on it. "This will only last for an hour, but if you hear anything in that time, you can throw this towards where you hear it and you may get lucky."

Healer thanks you for the stone.

A few moments before daybreak, Healer hears rustling a short distance from your makeshift camp similar to what Angie described to him earlier. He quietly alerts the rest of you as the sound grows nearer and nearer to the camp. Suddenly, six large human warriors in patch work leather armor emerge from the woods with spears pointed towards you.

Their leader shouts at you, “Halt! By order of the Yska fyrd!”

Angie leaves her mace and shield on her back and keeps her hands open and in a non threatening position. "Hello there," She says, "good morning. We are here in peace and mean you no harm. We are far from home but have already found the people of this land to be wise and fair. We are on our way to the Wildheart. We have been sent on a mission to restore it by the Jarl and the holy man of Grim Village, also Remlaug of Grim Village, also the old bard from our home land that mysteriously teleported us to your beautiful land almost a week ago." Angie smiles at the soldiers. "Everybody wants us to restore the Wildheart."

"But how about you? Is there anything that we can do for you? We are very capable adventurers. Perhaps you have some jobs you would like us to do? Maybe something involving the Wildheart?"

Angie's Persuasion = 11

(If Angie can't persuade them) Steps forward. "And WE are here in the name of the Jarl. Now stand aside and let us attend to our business."

Intimidate: 5

Gobber wakes up from the disturbance and looks around. It takes him a good second to realize what's going on.

(*Yawn*) What's all the racket? Huh?

A few seconds later....

Oh! Do we have guests? Lemme get some things ready.

He takes a few steps to his bag and rummages for some things.

The guard who spoke looks somewhat dumbfounded and awestruck by Angie’s assault of words and Thokein’s presence.

”You there..” pointing to Gobbler “Pull your hand slowly out of that bag..” then addressing Angie, “What.. what proof do you have of these wild claims?”

Angie looks around a bit perplexed. "Well, the Jarl of Grim Village is Jarl Ybentord Silvertooth, and the holy man is Gothi." Angie thinks for another moment. before shrugging, "We can describe them in minute detail, and perform the magic that made them believe we were capable of helping them, but besides for that I am at a loss. What proof would you have of us?"

“You expect us to take strangers on their word in these times? Have you no writ for your task? No token from the Jarl?”

Angie shrugs her soldiers. "We are sorry, sir. We are new to these lands and are unfamiliar with your customs. We were welcomed so warmly by Grim Village, and they were so friendly about accepting our trade and sending us on our way to the Wildheart." Angie's eyes start to tear up a bit and her voice takes on a slightly husky tone. "We had no idea we would need some sort of special writ or token. The Jarl even gave us horses with saddles and a week's worth of supplies. They had a big party for us with drinking and dancing and we all slept together in their big house." Angie sighs a little. "The word Grim must surely be synonymous with kindness and fairness... and fun."

Angie squares her shoulders a bit and pulls herself together. "Sirs, if you don't want us near your lovely town, then we will continue on our way and leave you be. We thank you for getting us an early start on our day. If I were you I would wish us luck in rescuing the guardian of the WildHeart and restoring the forest to its previous state. Being this close to it, I'm guessing you suffer from it's present accursed nature even more than Grim." Angie looks away dreamily, "Dear, delightful Grim."

(Are the horses branded or marked in any way to show the Jarl's ownership?)

As the leader of the guards focuses on Angie another guard hears Thokein’s declaration. His eyes widen and he tries to interrupt his superior, “Uh.. Sir.. umm..“

”Not now.. can’t you see I’m busy...”

”But, sir..”

“Shut up man!”

“But, but Sir.. the nice lady and scary one here are telling the truth.. look at the brands on the horses... they have Silvertooths branding on them...”

”What?” the leaders says as he walks over to the horses to inspect the brand.

”Well, I’ll be.. look it is Silvertooths brand.. I’m sorry.. but, you can’t be too careful these days.. people have been disappearing near Wildheart.. we started to lock the gates at night and have doubled the roving guard. Please, take some rations as an apology and forgive me for being inhospitable. You may of course visit Yska, but know it is just a fishing and farming village, not quite as big as Grim.”

DM Note: Your horses are indeed branded with the Jarl’s symbol. Only way to catch a horse thief. Also you can all add an extra days rations to your inventory.

Healer approaches the guard leader slowly, and a little hunched so as not to be to imposing. 

"We thank you all for the food, and apologize for any disturbance we have caused. If you don't mind, I am curious about these disappearances. Any information you could provide would be much appreciated."

“Not much to tell.. hard to separate fact from fiction.. rumors spread with these sort of things.. all I can tell you is that sometime ago the wood became quite dark and ever since then it hasn’t been safe to travel its paths. None have returned from its depths and those who venture near it say they have seen dark unearthly shapes lurking in the shadows. It’s beyond approach now and we can only shore our defenses and pray to Stormi that whatever lurks there stays there.”

 Gobber goes up to the guards and gives them a pat on the back or thigh (wherever his hands can reach).

"Don't worry lads. I would have done the same if I were you. If the woods are as dangerous as the people of Grim say, then I too would be cautious. I agree with metal folk. How are people "disappearing" near Wildheart? People don't usually disappear like the wind."

“No, that they don’t, yet near Wildheart.. it happens. We haven’t been able to find out more, because those we have sent to investigate haven’t returned either...”

Healer's eyes glow the soft blue of saddness.

"I wish there was more then we could do."

"Don't worry, Healer. We are headed in to investigate, maybe we will find some of them on our way."

“We can escort you into Yska if you’d like, if not then take the northerly road for roughly a days ride then continue northeast.. either way I wish you luck in this endeavor.”

"It sounds like we are most needed in yonder forest." Angie gestures in a general northeastern direction. She turns back to the guards' leader. "I'm sure we all appreciate your tolerance and the difficulty of your situation, however we should probably head to the Wildheart without undue delay." Angie looks for confirmation from her companions.