Dreams Into Journey

Valentia hears all the conclusions that Gark has come up with that these new tracks were all leading to here and then stopped, and especially, she takes that information that the last one was one day old. "It's possible we might be a bit too late. The bandits were stopping caravans and it's around here where they did it. If this one is so recent as yesterday, it might've been the exact caravan we were sent here to protect." Once she says that, Valentia takes a thorough look around, trying to spot any signs of the bandits or the carriage itself.

Investigation Check: 18 (Passive Investigation 15)

Lia looks around at the tracks, trying to see if she can tell where everyone went from this point...

Survival:  19

Gark tries to identify who/what made any tracks in the area around the transition point. 

survival 20 

he also lets the pup sniff around the tracks as well to introduce him to different smells

Fearing the worst has happened, Valentia looks deeper into the activity of the tracks. However, her findings come up with something entirely different. Looking at the strides and number of footprints, she concludes that the caravan has been moving at a walking pace, with no indication of a pursuit, or even an attack. She also notices that the footprints that cross the threshold are suddenly cut off at the point of transition.

Lia and Gark combine their efforts to try and ascertain who has been traveling and where they might be. Gark sees that in addition to the six pairs of guards' bootprints and three carriages, there are two more pairs of footprints. Lia is able to find out that each approach to the threshold is separated by a day.

(Out of curiosity, who is actually among the fresher tracks? All or just some? I don't think we established that.)

Gark is walking slowly on both sides of the transition, trying to identify what kinds of folks/creatures made the footprints on each side.

Lia is checking along the sides of the road, trying to see where else they could have gone, she would not be checking the tracks directly on the road, as others appear to have that under control from her perspective.  She would be worried about bandit tracks or whatever else might have waylaid the travelers, or if tracks lead off the road here.

(I'll assume that everyone has been across the transition point in some form or fashion.)

Passive perception 14 or higher:

"Have you lost someth- Wait... You are able to get out?!" A voice asks, surprised, while everyone seems to be looking down at various parts of the ground.

Their attention turns toward three figures, one of them they recognize as a guard.

(Enter new PCs! Introduce yourselves! Also, the person who just spoke was the guard.)

One of the figures is a fairly tall well built individual wearing scale mail armor and carrying a crossbow, a spear awkwardly tied onto his pack which seems quite heavy, bits of various tools poking out the top. He has shoulder length raggedly cut dark hair held back with a strap of leather and a short rough beard to match, as he gazes at the strangers with his hazel eyes he speaks, slowly raising his crossbow not quite at them, “And who are you lot?”

The moment Valentia starts hearing the sounds, she looks up to the source and spots the three figures moments before the guard directs his words to her group. "Get out of what exactly?" The comment didn't seem to make sense in her head, at least at first, but then, when another of them speaks, she looks slightly up to see her fellow human. "My name is Valentia Forestsong. We've been sent by Sargeant Forscal to see to it that the most recent caravans reached their destination safely, who are you?"

“Name’s Oswin Lowshade, we’re escorting the caravan you must be looking for, pleasure to meet you, and don’t mind the help either.”

"Now, hold on there..." the guard interjects, addressing Lia, Gark and Valentia. "How do we know you're actually here to help and not some brigands tryin' to lull us? If you are here on official business, you should have some proof."

"So exactly where is the caravan now?"  Lia asks, looking around. She is a half-elf woman with white hair and wearing clothing of a spell-caster.  She pushes her white hair behind one ear as she glances to you and then around.  "And where exactly did you come from?  I did not notice you approaching..."

"Oh, I have the letter."  Lia says and pulls the letter from the guard back in town from her pocket, handing it over.

Gark stands off to the side and casually picks up the wolf pup sniffing around near his feet. An imposing 6’5” half orc, he’s wearing scale armor and a cloak with a sword at his side.

Gark is content to watch as Val and Lia talk to the guards, giving the wolf pup the occasional rub behind the ears. 

The guard takes the bound parchment and reads through it,  "Can't make head or tails of this... It's Forscal's writing alright! Sorry and thanks, can't be too careful in these parts." He says as he relaxes.

"Caravan is just a quarter-mile down the road..." He answers Lia and points in a direction that cuts though a section of forest. It's barely visible but some white canvas can be seen through the trees. "We saw some movement and we're sure what was going on."

"As for what we're in... I don't know..." He turns to Valentia. " All I know is we've passed the same streams and landmarks in the same order four consecutive times. Until seeing you, all we knew is at some point, we suddenly find ourselves tens of miles down this road. Judging by the way you lot were acting when we saw you, we have found where we keep being sent back."

"From what we are finding here for tracks, it appears that nothing gets past this point in the road."  Lia says, nodding to the road nearby.  "You say you find yourself back down the road and traveling it once again?" She asks, glancing towards the caravan.  "No clue what is causing it though huh?"  She bites her lower lip as she considers the road and the area around it.  "Has to be magical in nature..."

Arcana check:  13

Valentia hears the guard speaking the problem they were having and thinks about it for a second. "Do you have time to wait? If I take ten minutes down right here, I might be able to identify where's the magical barrier, and possibly an idea on how we can make our way past it." Valentia is looking to cast Detect Magic as a ritual again, and if given confirmation that they can wait for her to end it, she'll start as soon as possible.

"I don't think anyone would complain. It's been three days, what's a bit longer?" The guard shrugs, " As long as we make actual progress, I think that all that matters at this point."

Taking this as permission, Valentia takes the time to cast detect magic while Lia extends her senses to accommodate magic and feels a slight charge in the air.

As soon as her ritual is complete, Valentia is able to see a shimmering magenta border between the new and old tracks. More than that, she is able to detect a kind of flow of conjuration magic leading toward the border as if the magic has been radiating from somewhere.

(Sorry I’m late, forgot to subscribe to the channel)

The previously quiet figure on the other side of the guard stands a triton man with smooth green scales the crest towards his gills on his neck  the seriously worn and waterlogged leather armor sits dry and cracked over his chest.  Besides a dagger strapped to his thigh, you don’t notice a weapon.  His blueish green hair is slicked back into a top knot.

“Salutations.” He says upon meeting the party.  “Any assistance I may be, let me know.”  When Valentina asks to detect magic, Andivo does the same.  Along with her.  His solid black eyes flicker and turn blue as he casts detect magic.  Speaking to Valentia “Curious, I wonder what the source is.” as he blinks his eyes individually.

When Val and Andivo identify the location of the border between the new and old tracks, Gark asks Val "We get paid once we escort the caravan to town.  Is there enough room on the side to sneak wagons past that thing?"