Glasses:

Continuing to use his control of the elements to swirl around them and keep the mosquitoes off as best as possible, the Professor says, "I would rather get through this swamp before bedding down for the night.  Fang, how many hours' march are we to dry land?"

"Fang, do you think the Troll can still find us?" Reassurance for the lizardman would make Maxine breath easier. "I'd say we stay. It was a long day already, and we better begin to set up camp while there is still light. Unless there is a perfect solid piece of land very near, we can not wandering the swamp in the darkness."

Shae would pull out their map to consult with the group. “How far are we from a possible better location? Is there one?” She’d wave away a mosquito from her nose. Shae would also take a good look at their surroundings in hopes she could get a hint as to what kind of weather they could expect throughout the night.  “And will the weather be with us? How will others fair in the dark?” She’d rhyme off so thoughts out loud. 

Earlier at the sleeping troll …

Fang stands at the edge of the river, another arrow knocked and ready to fire, as he watches the troll stumble forward out of the river and land on their side of the bank quickly falling fast asleep. Fang puts his arrow back in his quiver as Mushu flies over and lands on his shoulder. Holding up his hand Fang says “Not now. … Yes, I see you put the giant creature to sleep and I couldn’t even hit it. Thanks for pointing that out.” Mushu meanwhile is practically prancing on Fang’s shoulder, clearly over the moon about his success. Fang continues, “Let’s not forget how differently things went in the Kobold Lair”. At this the tiny pseudodragon seems to deflate, at least a little, then playfully rubs its head against Fang’s and flies north scouting the groups intended direction of travel and relaying information back to Fang. As the group heads north away from the troll, Fang laments that the troll wasn’t defeated in battle.’What an amazing trophy that would have made’ Fang thinks to himself, ‘I would have been the only one in the tribe with such a trophy’. Seeing the mangled jungle beast with the clearly snapped spine. Fang tries to recall what the beast is. Nature 18 Fang also wishes they had time for him to collect something from this beast as well. Even though it isn’t his kill, he doesn’t like seeing any of this animal go to waste. Though there is little time to stop. Fang would follow behind Shae, a bit begrudgingly, but at least with her in front of him he didn’t need to worry about where she was or if she was about to do something reckless. ‘I would rather not die trying to protect the one that saved me,’ Fang thinks watching the warlock navigate through the jungle with very little input from him.

Currently at the possible campsite …

Fang looks around the group thinking to himself, ‘This group of fleshy ones can’t keep going much further and this area isn’t the greatest spot to make camp for the night.’ “I’ll see if I can find a more suitable spot to camp for the night” Survival: 17 (doubled proficiency bonus per natural explorer feature.) Fang addresses both Glasses and Maxine with a slight hesitation in his voice, “I’m unsure how much further, give me a few moments and I’ll look for a more suitable campsite and Bolt(Maxine), we’ve covered a lot of ground since encountering the troll. It would be unlikely to have followed us. Even so we should remain watchful.” With that Fang sets off to attempt to locate a better spot hearing Shae’s words as he departs on ponders them during his search. Hopeful he will quickly find something nearby.

Glasses:

Earlier in the day...

”Yes, good job Mushu, both with the recon and putting the troll to sleep,” the Professor states, overhearing Fang’s comments.  Turning to Fang, he adds, “It looks to me that your arrow is sticking out of the troll’s back right now, Fang.  You may have missed your first shot, but it gave me the opportunity to hurl your arrow at the creature from behind.”  With a smile, Snively concludes, “Working together we are more capable than any of us individually.”

Fang, you've never seen such a beast in all your years as a hunter, and it looks truely fearsome. 

You're familiar with swampy terrain, and you know that what was dry now could well be ankle deep under water come morning and a rising tide. Scouting out around you though, you find nothing after twenty minutes of searching, and return to the little dry spot.

Maxine, you notice that you have little to no trouble finding your footing in the dark, compared to the others. 

Shae, from what you can tell, there were very few clouds on the horizon when the sun set, hopefully indicating that the weather will be dry at least for the night. The sky is clear now too, so you have at least the moonlight to go by.

"Well. We better have double watches up if this be it"

Maxine, been quite sure they are about to stay here (and if  not - just to kill time while waiting) busied herself with camp arranging. It was clear that at least initial fire would have to be magical, then if they dry enough peat near it, it can be used for conventional fire. So that is what she was trying to do - a sort of a pit for the fire (to conceal it from the eyes of potential predators around) and getting some peat to dry it up. Wandering away, she did not realize for some time, that it is far less problematic to see the way, than she expected. She checked the sky - it was getting quite dark indeed! She returned to the fire - better, but not by much. If that was the part of her transformation - that was the good one (or may be she did have some dwarven blood in her and it just kicked in? No matter, the point is - it worked).

She would not risk to bet others lives on it (so, did not insist on taking darkest hours of watching) but never before she enjoyed her night watch so much.

Glasses:

Sighing, the Professor says, “I’ll get to work then.”  Using his mastery over water and earth, he makes a flat, dry camp on the island with a perimeter berm.  He includes a raised platform for their heavier items so that they can be easily slid off or onto the floating disk, then performs the Alarm ritual to cover the area.  Starting a fire in the center (or tending it if others have started it), Snively settles in for the night.  He makes notes in his journal about the troll and the ape creature, cross referencing with his Gazetteer. After dinner and conversation, he prepares to sleep for the night.

Nature check on the ape like beast using the Gazetteer: 20

After looking up at the sky, Shae would simply add. “We have clear skies until morning. So we should remain dry overnight.” She would look back to the map. When others were done with it as well, she’d store it away. She would not comment one way or the other on whether they should stay or go. Shae would just pace while she waited. 

Berrus will take a later watch

Fang thinks back on something Glasses said earlier as camp is mostly set up when he returns between Maxine and Glasses combined efforts, it was fairly comfortable. Much better at any rate, then the shelters he had made for himself while hunting at night. ‘Working together we are more capable than any of us individually’ Fang lets out a small snort, what would the small creature had done if I hadn’t missed. ... Still he does have a point, without their combined efforts the hags would most likely still be alive.

Hearing his stomach rumble Fang realizes he forgot to, in their haste to outrun a troll, gather any food for dinner. ‘I suppose these berries will have to do for tonight. It’s too late to go hunting in unfamiliar territory’ Goodberry “May nature’s bounty nourish us this evening” Fang goes around the group and distributes 9 of the berries and keeps one for himself.

Fang watches Shae curiously wondering why she insists on walking with no real purpose in the same spot repeatedly. Fang offers to take first watch since most everyone else appears to be bedding down for the evening.

Perception 20

When Fang volunteers for first watch Berrus speaks  "Wake me for the second round, or if ye spot anything"   with that he lays down by the fire

Fan nods I’m acknowledgement and watches the dwarf lay down by the fire before going on watch. Fang has Mushu perch on his shoulder facing the opposite direction, that way they can see more of their surroundings at once. Mushu Perception:21

****when its time

Bessus starts a little when Fang awakens him then nods and begins patrolling the campsite

Perception: 13

Shae would have paced for a little while before letting out a sigh and kicking a rock. She’d eventually settle, sitting with her back to the fire and arms wrapped around her knees as she’d stare up at the moon. The scholar would take a night watch if it wasn’t too late for her to contribute.  She’ll accept her berry from Fang, but wouldn’t eat it, turning it over in her hand a couple times before looking back out to the sky. Shae would eventually go to sleep.

Professor, you look through your Gazetteer and discover a diagram that seems pretty close to the creature you found:

A girallon looks like an oversized, four-armed ape with gray skin and white fur. Although they are adept climbers, these half-ton creatures shy away from scaling trees that can’t support their bulk. Instead, they stalk the forest floor, lurk in narrow ravines or shallow caves, or hide in ruined sites while waiting for prey to come near.

There doesn't seem to be much more information on the creatures however, apart from a note that they are thought to be very aggressive and extremely territorial, though not very social creatures.

You all bed down in the shelter, very glad for the Professor's efforts to make the camp as comfortable as possible. After warming yourselves by the fire and eating Fang's goodberries, most of you bed down for the night. Fang's watch passes without incident, but about halfway through Berrus' watch, he is approached by Thessalandra:

"Sorry to startle you Berrus, but I just woke up, and that usually only happens when danger lurks nearby... I don't want to cost the others their sleep, but I'd be glad if we could check the surroundings, just to make sure." Before she has finished, the Professor wakes too, as something has trigerred his alarm spell.

"Aye lets take a look around then" Berrus tells Thessalandra

Glasses:

The Professor casts Mage Armor and then magically manipulates the fire to shed more light, hoping to see what might be nearby that has set off his spell.  Nodding at Berrus and Thessalandra, he says, "I'll keep watch here while you look around.  It has to be close if it set off my alarm spell."

Perception:  13

Mushu hearing the commotion, flits over to the burly dwarf landing on his head(helmet). As he does so your mind is filled with the image of the sleeping troll from earlier followed by laughter and ‘helping’. Mushu faces the opposite direction that Berrus travels keeping all of his senses trained for the slightest disturbance. Perception: 16