"You... want to talk to me?"  The old woman says seeming confused.  She doesn't get much company where she is. "Grim, now you pipe down.  This man wants to talk to me." She says and the dog stops growling.  She opens the door, and continues, "So what brings you to this neck of the woods?  My name is Zavia.  Oh, where are my manners, do come in.  Are those your friends back there?  Come on in.  You look parched.  Can I get you a glass of water."  Zavia tells you about herself.  She is an old crofter who has lived here off the land her whole life and seen her children and grandchildren grow and move away from the wilderness; a granddaughter in Chandler’s Folly visits every few weeks to make sure she has enough to eat, but otherwise she takes care of herself with the aid of Grimwarden, her brindled mastiff. Unfortunately, Grim’s not as young as he once was either.  

Zavia’s house is small – little more than a single room with two chairs, a threadbare rug made of rags, and a fireplace with an iron pot hung beside it. Zavia lets you warm by the fire, and to get a better look at them by the light of her single lantern. 

There’s no real village here and hasn’t been for many years. When the old temple was abandoned, things got a lot worse for the local folk, and when most of them died off or left, the forest ate up what they left behind. You can see the remains of some of the old houses still, but no one but a fool goes in one. Only unnatural things live in such places now.

The old temple is still up on the hill, but folk stay away from it. Some say it’s haunted, some say it’s cursed, but everyone agrees nothing good comes of visiting there, and horrible creatures are said to lurk in the woods nearby. If the First Angel ever watched over Lapo, she turned her eyes away long ago.

Zavia lives about as near as any soul dares to the old temple save for Yeoman Golshan, who staked out his pig farm closer to that site than anyone has in generations. He keeps to himself except when he has meat to sell, though sometimes he allows his farmhands a holiday over in Chandler’s Folly. Everyone thinks Golshan’s mad, but his bacon’s good, so folk trade with him and mind their own business as he minds his.

Hallanann listens to Zavia intently. When she's done with her story, he sincerely thanks her for the hospitality and for her story. He turns to the others and says, "that old temple almost sounds like it might be the next place we should go. It's secluded. No one goes there so it would be easy to hide insidious plans and activities from. What do you all think?"

"Are there any other ruins of more interest than others around here?" Lia asks the old woman.  "The temple you mentioned, but what of the others?  Ruins of a keep, a library, anything else that could be more of interest than others?  Any that have specific tails about them?"

Chikra looks up from where she's been making friends with Grim. "Or has anything changed in the last few days? New noises or rumors, increased sightings of anything unnatural?"

“Has anyone new come into Lapo? Specifically a woman?” Krusk asks Zavia. He’s sitting next to Newa, kinda close so it looks like they’re sitting together.

Vor, having heard about the temple, thinks to himself, 'Ah, Yes! The old temple dodge, hmmm.  Probably all kinds of traps and evil, nasty rotting things that want to eat me.  Wonder why they think I taste good?'

He will always be checking his six, left, right and up.  It is surprising how many don't bother to check up.

"The temple is the only building left standing in the ruins around here, but I wouldn't venture there.  Why you young folks are always looking for 'adventure' when 'danger' what it is.  No one goes near those ruins for good reason. New noises? I haven't heard any new noise since I lost most of my hearing," Zavia chuckles.  It's getting late, and you can see that Zavia is tired. "I'd offer to put you up for the night, but as you can see, my place couldn't hold the lot of you.  You might try Golshan's farm to the north.  He'd let you sleep in his barn, if ye don’t much mind sharing with the pigs and the donkey, that is."

"That sounds unpleasant..." Lia says with a frown at the idea of sleeping in a barn, especially with farm animals.  "I think camping out might be better." She says, glancing to the others.  "Shall we go and check out this temple then?" She asks the others as she prepares to leave.

“Sure, whatever works for you.” Krusk shrugs as he helps Newa to her feet.

Vor looks at the sky, (what time is it?) “Might be we should be plannin’ t’ recconoiter the temple ruins after dawn. Be at dicey t’ run int’ a horde o’ zombies in a dark, yeah?”

"Maybe camp within sight of it, but hidden. If someone is hiding there, they'd likely be moving under cover of night. And if they are dangerous, if we've hidden ourselves, we may be able to see them but not have to engage."

"Chikra, I think that sounds like a good idea, honestly. I am a little concerned about being snuck up on by some undead beast, so we should probably set up a watch rotation. But, so long as we have someone on watch, we should be fine."

(It's pretty late now.  An hour or two before midnight)

Lia - wants to camp

Krusk - is happy go lucky and has a crush on Newa.

Vor - wants to find a place to sleep

Chikra - suggests a camp near the shrine, but hidden.

Hallanann - agrees with Chickra.

Is everyone okay with saying you make camp as Chikra suggests?  If so, who has which watch?  (If you want I'll roll dice to "pull straws")

Vor  says, “I’m a bit to edgy at the moment t’ sleep, so the first watch I’ll be standin’, but first let me string a line o’ small stuff (string) t’ serve fer a bit o’ warnin’ lest there be some real sneaky slinkers round ‘ere.”

He will set out lengths of string between various tempting approach avenues to the camp, so that if they are brushed against or broken, a small branch under tension will be released and make an audible sound to alert the watcher.

Stealth.  16   Sleigh-of-hand.  23

“I like Chikra’s idea of making a camp near the shrine. I’ll take the second watch. I’m fine getting a little less sleep.” Krusk says.

Perception: 11

"Just wake me for the last watch." Lia says with a yawn. She takes some time to get her bedroll set just right, not too close to the others, but not too far away either.

Perception for her watch:  18

Newa can take any watch needed, she only needs minimal sleep.  She won't be able to sleep much anyhow as she is always cautious and aware as possible of her surroundings.

Chikra will help Vor set up traps and guards around the camp, and she'll volunteer to take a watch, as she's got darkvision.

Hallanann will set up his little sleeping area laying out his bedroll and his blanket. He'll volunteer for the third shift of watch. 

Vor - 1st watch  Survival 11, Constitution savings throw to stay awake during watch: 22

Krusk - 2nd watch, Constitution savings throw to stay awake during watch: 20

Hallanann - 3rd watch, Constitution savings throw to stay awake during watch: 18

Newa - any watch (4th), Constitution savings throw to stay awake during watch: 11

Chikra - any watch (5th) [Tooltip Not Found]s set the traps. Constitution savings throw to stay awake during watch: 18

Lia - Last watch (6th), Constitution savings throw to stay awake during watch: 12

who's watch: 1

what you encounter 79