The Valley of Ends

Resfaen moves to the front as the attachment of armored halberd wielding guards approach, a small green Grung is sittong on the shoulders of the lead guard before hopping off as the guards come to a stop just short of the party and hopping forward and speak  as the guards spread out to form a loose circle around the party but keeping a distance, "I am Whiz Ran. I was told some strangers may come. I see you pass trials but you did not do it with ease yes? As per traditional, we will afford you a night of shelter as you are strangers yes? Do not speak our village. We don't want the Knights coming yes? Not you could find our village without the Master's guidance yes? Any inquiries yes?"

(Any things you want to ask or just move on? Magic Items are back to normal btw)

“What kind of trial was that? Is it part of this world?” And Onyx gestures around to show the Valey, “Or does it just live here like the rest of us?”

Whiz seem to smack his lips as he thinks for a moment, "It's a trial for our casters to prove their might and to attempt to gain the blessing of the Black Stone Master, who protects us in this I believe you call Sea of Forests yes?. The Master of the Black Stone is a god with dominion over Arcana. He is part of this world but resides with his own world. He is one of the gods exclusive to this world through some believe we are merely a cult yes? We still provide some rest near the village and a scout to take out of the forest. I need a threat yes?"

He look at the lead guard, "Much of village have passed the Master's trials and even have his blessing yes? We do not want trouble but should you trouble us, we have the ability to hunt you down and secure our safety if needed yes?"

Salys releases his grip on his pistol and bows politely from his seat on Bearskr, "We mean you no harm. We were hunting a creature which attacked a settlement and might be a threat to you as well though. An Oblex. We would happily spend the evening in your village before moving off, but I felt you deserved to know of this threat. Somehow it sent us to the land with your god."

"An Oblex? that's the core of it right? Then we do not have a problem as you've killed ut yes? We're have enough fire to kill one if we encounter one and close enough to know if one of us is off. He was probably snatched like many others by the master yes? Its why we have process for strangers like yourself coming and passing through," Whiz explains pointing to the large harden slime orb hanging from Onyx's backpack. 

Whiz looks around the group continued silence and conclude they're done with question before he pulls the shoulder bag around to his front and pulled out a circular brass object and pops it open, "It's morning but I can see you're need sleep. If you follow us, we'll take you to a shelter where you can rest, a guard will be posted. We are willing to trade and sell any items you need, just inform the guards. We will not permit you into the village however We will provide a scout, who will be well protected with spell to take you out of the forest as I do not believe any of you are Scouts,"

Whiz jumps back onto the shoulder of the lead guard and they set off with the remaining guards marching behind the group. After a short walk downhill, a slightly unkept cottage that's closer to the village but still a distance away, inside is a common area with four large bedrooms. (Imgaine if a cottage with a few cobwebs and minor damage but livable). "We will have a guard stationed outside, if you need something, inform them and they'll see what they can do. We will not permit you entry to the village but we consider ourselves at least accommodating to extent for those who passed the Master's trial,"

Refaen looks around the cottage, "I have definitely slept in worse, thank you." Then will move into one of cottage, dropping her gear in a corner and then sitting down in one of the chairs near hear gear.

"If we need anything just open the door and ask the guard I take it? Might as well get this out of the way, we have rations for food, but I am sure we would all love to eat something a bit more fresh than our travel rations, can you provide us some fresh cooked meat, drinks, fruits and some cheeses?" Resfaen asks.

"We see what we can do," Whiz states before hopping off with all but one guard, a hobgoblin in plate armor and a spear. Whiz returns with a package of food on a floasting disc of some kind, holding some died mearts and fruit. 

(The village can provide any spell components and odds and ends you can provide the coin for it> if you have oither idea, do speak up)

Gotch will move into a cottage and prepare to have some downtime as well.

Del will explore the village a bit, checking what’s here.

Salys will head into the cottage and settle down for a good night's sleep, repairing Bearskr.

As Del attempt to exit the cottage, the guard bars his exit with his spear across the threshold, "You are not permit to depart the residence. if there somethging you need, tell me and i'll relay it to the others,"

“We’ve just been through a very strange place, and arrived as captives for all we know. Can’t I just take a peek outside to get some idea that we haven’t been marooned? I promise I won’t bother anyone in the village.” 
persuasion? 7 

Onyx spends his evening practicing quickly drawing arrows mixed in with drawing and throwing daggers.

At one point he talks with their host outside: “You don’t have some daggers or darts with minor enchantments or that return magical after throwing, do you?”

"Nope. I'm under strict orders not to let you or any stranger to the villager explore too far into the village. Our secrecy is our survival," The hobgoblin states, "As you have passed the master's test, you are afforded a level of security and trust but entry is not so easily given. Just get some rest and we'll have a scout show you the way out," '

He listens to Onyx's request before pulling out a copper wire and seem to whisper into it then nodded as he listen to unheard conversation before nodding, "We do not much in magic items nor a need for them. If you seek magic item and strange constructs I've been told to recommending visiting the Gnome Steel Village, (I can not find the name at the moment, referring it to Steel Village for now). We do not have compasses to the village as we have scouts, if you want we can lead you to the village. I understand compasses to the Steel Village is common enough when you get depart from the forest. If you need spell components or scrolls or more general gear, we are easily capable of selling them to you however,"

“How might trust be earned for more freedom to move about?”

"The Master must give you his blessing," The guard states, "You are free to depart the village now if you wish of course if you are so inclined. I can send word you are ready to depart rather than rest,"

“No, we will rest for the night. In the morning, can you bring us to where your master picked us up in the first place? We left our scout and our mounts there and i don’t want to leave them in this forest on their own.” Onyx replies.

(If they don’t have anything here, may i ask Salys for a returning Dagger Infusion if that is a possibility?)

"It is already morning, Your journey brought you to the village during the dawn. The Master's reach is vast, we can not determine where the master took you from. If you have a scout, you may had a destination? If you can provide the coordinate, our Scout can lead you there in the afternoon or possibility night depending on how far you must travel," the guard explains.

(primarily export is spell scrolls)

Resfaen chimes in, "Yes resting a day here should not be an issue and then I agree getting back to our mounts and current scout would be the best idea as we still have our mission to worry about."