"Good either way - let's travel", Garu says excitedly.

Abraxas CON Save (+ Aura of Protection): 18
Harmony CON Save (+ Aura of Protection): 9
Garu CON Save: 12
Simeon CON Save (+ Aura of Protection): 7

Following Benedict's directions, you enter a door at the end of the hall with a simple teleportation circle inscribed on the floor of the small room inside. Stepping in, you feel yourselves rushed away from your present location, rapidly pulled and twisted through the arcane passage. Instantly, you are standing amidst a bed of flowers, under the purple-hued skies of Galasir. Like your previous trip, the circle is guarded by a pair of panda-like Varin who nod politely at your arrival, and you feel slightly lighter in the thinner air.

Surrounding the well-tended flower garden are a few short barricades, forming a guard area much smaller than the outpost by the mountains that you arrived in last time. The ironically named Dark Ocean, with its pure white waters, surrounds the area on three sides. Grass-filled plains fill your vision further ahead, leading toward a large mountain range that crosses the horizon from end to end.

For Simeon:

"Greetings, kind Varin," Abraxas says. "We seek the village of Ranik, nestled against that mountain range, not far from the Wysto village? Any thing you can tell us about it?" Abraxas nods toward the Varins. Once he has gathered any information he can, Abraxas will start down the peninsula toward the grasslands and the mountains beyond them.

Abraxas Survival: 11

"Greetings. I don't know much," the Varin says slowly in return, scratching the fur at his chin. "Not much about their village, anyway. They are small. Deal with them occasionally. They come here to trade, when the harvest comes. Hoppy little ones. Nice enough. Couldn't harm me. Never try to, though."

It becomes evident soon enough that Benedict either underestimated the distance from this teleporter to the village or forgot to mention just how much longer the trek through the plains would be. The weather is pleasant enough, the stronger heat mitigated by a gentle breeze throughout the day, but throughout the day, the village does not come into view. Finally, as night falls, the keener eyes in the party spot a collection of wooden structures in a small forest at the base of the approaching mountain range.

OOC: Does the party wish to camp for the night, or press forward to the village with a forced march (requires CON saves to avoid exhaustion)?

Harmony was amazed by the flowers and purple-hued skies here before seeing the panda-like Varin, smiling and waving. She sighs, seeing the pure white waters and thinking about how beautiful Galasir is. She was glad to hear from the Varin that the Ranik are nice before they set off for their village. Despite how much farther the village was than they thought, she stayed positive about it and luckily the weather was good as well. But it was getting to be night and figured that it would be a good time to get some sleep and finally make use of her new spell. "Let's camp for the night. I learned a new spell, it will give us shelter and keep us safe while we sleep. Plenty of room too since there's only four of us! But you need to be right next to me when I cast it, otherwise you won't be let in. Come on!" Harmony would let everyone know and gesture them all to stand next to her, waiting until everyone is next to her before casting Leomund's Tiny Hut, the interior dimly lit and baby pink in color on the outside of course.

Garu stands beside Harmony, awaiting an uneventful night's sleep.

"Wonderful spell, Harmony," Abraxas says. He will stand next to her, having enjoyed the day of walking, especially the long grasses. 

The air within the hut is as warm as the night air, but much less humid. It's a cramped, but dry and pleasant atmosphere inside.

The night passes peacefully by, and when the morning light brightens the purple sky the village within the trees is clearer.

OOC: Characters have gained the benefits of a long rest. Removed a day of rations from Abraxas and Harmony's inventory. Garu and Simeon have no rations, so removed a second day of rations from Abraxas and Harmony. Let me know if that should change. Garu and Simeon can prepare a different set of spells for the day if they would like.

Garu prays to Tylyn for her spells, kneeling to the direction of the sunrise. She heavily draws in the air and allows a smile to come across her face.

Abraxas stretches when he wakes, makes notes of his dreams and yesterday's events in his journal, sharpens a quill or two, and recalls his cantrips. When he wakes he is completely alert and ready for the day. "On to the village?" he says, and assuming the others are following, continues towards the mountains. 

You reach the village in less than two hours. The weather is only slightly colder than the day before, and the village is bustling with activity. The frog folk stop and stare as their visitors walk by, some waving and others ushering children away or behind them for safety. They resemble the bullywugs of Toril, but are taller and leaner in comparison, with brighter skin that holds more of a sheen in the sunlight. Most are tending to farmland, working hard.

Eventually one calls out to you in Common, strangely accented by well spoken. "Are you here for trade? You wouldn't happen to be from the Order of Skogyr, would you?"

Harmony saw the village, seeing all the Ranik with their bright shinier skin as she hears the one, nodding and smiling. "Yeah, we're here from the Order of the Skogyr to help out. We are the brave warriors who defended the Wysto after all!" she said back to the Ranik happily.

"You are serious?" The Ranik asks with wide eyes, "I didn't actually think it would be you! Skogyr blusters so much about how short handed they are."

"Well? I am Gupry. Come, come. We have prepared lodging for you while you are here." The froglike man hops toward the mountains and fills you in along the way, pointing up toward the range.

"These mountains shelter our village. They keep away the predators from the forest on the other side, and allow us a place to defend ourselves if anything should ever attack. The only danger they present are the peryton that nest within. They are a terrible menace, swooping down from above so quickly you cannot see them. If it were up to them, they would gore us all and carry us to their young for feed."

"We are protected from them by a ritual that wards the village and our farms. It is the most powerful magic we possess. We perform the ritual once every twenty years, and all it requires is a clutch of peryton eggs. It is a rite of passage...our bravest warriors climb the mountains. Some never return, but those that bring the eggs for the ritual are treated to a great feast. The ward is fading once again, and the ritual needs to be performed soon, but...this time..."

Gupry stares toward the peaks for a moment. "None of our warriors returned. It is the first time that has ever happened. We argued for tendays about whether or not to break tradition, but...then the Wysto spoke with us of the brave heroes who saved their village, and turned away the water demons." His eyes gleam as he turns to you and finishes, "Please help us! We have set aside fifty gold pieces for each of you, and have set aside a home that you can use."

Garu holds her hand over her mouth in a display of disbelief. “A predatory bird and you ritually take their eggs for protection? Not one to judge but that seems harsh.”

Abraxas says, "None of your warriors . . . are there dangers besides the peryton? Also, tell me about this ritual! How do the eggs become a protection?" He thinks for a moment. "As I understand it, our goal would be to gather an egg for you. Do you you also want us to find your warriors?"

Harmony listened to Gupry as they walked, nodding back. "Thank you. Yeah, of course we'll get those eggs and find out what happened to those warriors." she then said back to him, smiling.

"It may seem harsh to you but it is the guarantee of our survival," Gupry says. "Compared to the alternatives, a few eggs does not seem so tragic."

To Abraxas, he says, "I cannot say. We do not traverse the mountain often, but the peryton are numerous. As for the ritual, it has been passed down by our ancestors and I do not fully understand it. It is a ritual of warding that requires the eggs of the beast that we wish to ward against. It will require more than only a single egg. We will need a whole clutch; three or four should suffice."

"If you can find them, then yes. Please bring them home. But if they could return of their own volition...they would be here."

"Let's say we help you and get you the eggs. What becomes of you when the magic fades the next time? What is it about this space that forces you to be here and steal their eggs for protective magic versus living more in a state of balance with your environment?", Garu posits thoughtfully.

Abraxas says, "If possible, I would like to purchase rations from your town? Then, if my colleagues are in agreement, we can start into the mountains. Which direction, specifically, do you recommend?"

Garu has a look of consternation on her face. “I guess I could use some rations as well.”