Malbor moves to follow the half elf as quickly as he can. Despite his earlier statement and annoyance with most civilized people it was possible he was more willing to help the kids then he would admit. "I will help regardless of the gold... I have no use for it at this time."

"If I may, what other monsters resides with the swamps to be wary of?" Valar ask, "Before some of us charge in blindly,"  He spares a side view to some of his party. 

"We're taking the gold."  Saralyssa snaps with a glare. She snatches it from the halfling's hand and stomps on out of the place.  "Are you coming or not.  Get your asses in gear folks..."  All this from a pint-sized, red-haired, gnome, her braid swaying as she snaps her head back to glance over her shoulder to the group.

Talos acts mockingly intimidated by the gnome and

"Yes mam" 

Is all he says as he follows her resisting the urge to pat her on the head 

"I believe it will be of we talk and discuss finer details while walking before Saralyssa runs into the forest by herself," Valar said as he places his fork down and stands up in a calm manner and gesture to the door.

"Um, Saralyssa" Talos says as he tries to step in front of the gnome 

"Shouldn't we wait for Keenlyn

To show us where we need to start?"

Gildar sighed, grunting as he made his way to the door, thinking to himself It's always like this... How did I get myself mixed in with such disorder? Not that I mind too much.. it's entertaining but not productive.. and with that, he would address Keelyn patting the man on the shoulder or atleast as high as he could reach. Well M'boy, seems you got your answer. We'll be goin as a group to try to save everyone we can. AND we'll be takin the reward. You can drop the look of disappointment though. You really shouldn't be shocked. As much as we like to help others, we like to not starve either. And a treasury full of good intentions and warm feelings doesn't put food on the table, ale in the belly, or keep the tax collectors at bay. We're being practical. Now, as you can see, some of us are more eager than others, so, get to showin us the way boy.

Throughout his entire little speech, Gildars face was stoic. He meant what he said and he said what he meant, and he wouldn't allow doubt to creep into the guards subconscious. And move it, double time.

Keelyn sighs loudly walking into the street outside and is slightly startled by the giant wolf spider pulling his blades before noticing Henreid astride the beast! Other guards have weapons ready too as the stable master again alerted the guard about the beast waiting outside of the tavern.

"You all sure know how to make yourself known. I don't suggest secret missions," Keelyn teases stowing his blades. "The grease is over here," he adds moving about three hundred yards from the tavern to the swampy tree line. "Here," he points to the black murky goop in the tree line.

It's early evening. The sunlight already struggling to break through the thick canopy of trees in the forest ahead with odd noises coming from within. Keelyn sighs loudly again.

"It's not somewhere I'd wander," Keelyn shivers. "All manner of beasts from hags at the ruins themselves to every manner of beast nature's own creation here in this environment," he gestures towards another wave of odd sounds.

Henreid deftly dismounts Lycosa at the forest's edge and sticks his finger into the black grease. Without a moments hesitation, he rubs it between his fingers, smells it, then tastes it.

<Nature Skill Check to identify the grease> 13

Henreid finds the substance very sticky and slightly slippery oddly enough but even tasting it he can not discern what it's from.

Saralyssa pauses there, as the others look over the grease, and casts mage armor on herself. 

Malbor draw his Warhammer and slowly sets his shield onto his arm as they get near the edge of the town. As he steps owe to the rest of the others he scans the ground for signs of a struggle. "And you all think I eat strange things...." He mutters as he sees Heinreid taste the grease.

Survival to check for anything th guards might have missed.

Survival: 11

Gildar looks at Henreid with a look of bemusement on his otherwise stoic face as everyone peters out into the street. The guard having led them to the first source already. Now me boy... You shouldn't go sticking strange things into your mouth.... Wanna find out if it's grease? Do the smart thing.... he says, pulling out his tinderbox and flints, Kneeling near the 'substance' and raking the flints together to create sparks. Keeping at it until a proper spark lands on the 'grease.'

After-which, he would put them both away regardless of outcome, putting his shield on his shield arm but keeping his weapon holstered for now. As dim light fills his hand until the soft, murky radiance emanates from it. Ready to follow the fighter-types in closely. Readying to cast Beacon of Hope on everyone, including the spider, should any hostilities commence.

Ready to go when you all are. I'll keep you alive. probably.

The 'grease' do not ignite. The trail disappears in the swampy forest ahead but Malbor does not notice anything else other than what Keelyn described.

Smiling back at Gildar, Henreid replies in revelation, "Good idea, I didn't think of that! Then again, I don't have a tinderbox."

He half pats, half pets Gildar's shoulder and leans toward the dwarfs ear. With his back to Lycosa, he whispers, "Lycosa doesn't care much for fire."

He chuckles to himself as he casually strolls to the back of the group and takes the longbow off his back. Though still moving casually, his demeanor changes once his longbow is in his grip. At a slow, deliberate pace, Henreid walks in a squat, scanning everything in the area intently for signs of tracks, trying to develop a mental image.

<Survival Check to look for tracks> 11

He wonders aloud

"So it doesn't burn? Interesting"

He takes a closer look

 Investigation  9

He shakes his head

"I'm not sure what it is maybe some kinda grease spell?"

then he tries to figure if there is any tracks  

Survival   3

Henreid doesn't notice any tracks in the soft marshy earth that leads into the forest.

Talos finds nothing more interesting than a trail of black goop.

Standing and rubbing his eyes with the fingertips of his free hand, Henreid pats his leg and Lycosa comes to him. Looking at Lycosa as he scratches behind her eyes, Henreid speaks to her as much as the party, "I'm a bit off today. I couldn't identify the grease, nor find any tracks in the area. Whomever took the children either covered their trail very well, or did so by some method I've never seen. I'm guessing, but I don't think that grease is natural."

Gildar had shrugged. It was a good and expedient idea. When Henreid leaned in and said what he did he simply responded with Ah.. aye, fair enough on both points, but still coulda asked to borrow one!

As the group seems to stand still, and Henreid begins to move in, Gildar follows close behind. C'mon all, we got some kids to save, and no time to wait. We can be careful but we should actually start moving, like our good friend Hen. Speaking of hen.... could your spider perhaps keep it's nose to the ground? I know they got sensative.. feet, the  can 'feel' things. have 'er keep 'watch' on the things we can't see but she can feel as we press forward? And tis a good thing we can all see in the dark... or atleast I think we call can? he says to no one in particular. Still holding his readied spell. Keeping an eye out as far ahead as possible.

(OOC -you said it was evening but IDK if the sun is up or down still, so.. I'm going to roll at disadvantage, and if its still pretty light, take the lower number, if it's night, take the higher number, Gildar can see out to 120 feet in darkness. Perception check: 8)