Jahren agrees with Fianna, ten minute walk or more from the meeting place would be a good distance to hide their dome, rest and wait.

During their rest, Jahren tries to chat up anyone he doesn't have a great feel for yet, definitely including SinSin.  He is curious to learn about whatever they might share of their skills, their background, their desires, etc., all mostly to try to discern their true character.  While doing so he will clean and tune his non-magical viol, but resist the urge to play.  He does a brief inspection of his bandore as well, but its magical nature keeps it in excellent condition all on its own.  Additionally the bard spends a bit of time writing in his journal as is common for him during down time.

Chen prepares some food for the group, just using what they have with them rather than risk foraging or hunting in a hostile forest. Besides, the plants and creatures he has seen look like they too are affected by the blight on the land, and not very appetizing. Later, poking his head into the dome and seeing that room is scarce, Chen offers to stay outside and watch while the others rest. He finds a comfortable spot and sits cross-legged on the ground, watching and listening to the forest, both to attune with nature and to be wary of approaching threats.

Perception: 4

zzz...

Mirica finished camouflaging the "rock" and joined the crowd insideLike others (or most of them) she was used to all kind of unusual conditions - while fighting you take your rest when you can and where you can. Jahren's chatter worked perfectly as a relaxing background noise, keeping guard was not necessary - all and all it was a good camp and Mirica used it to it's full.

Loane tries her best to take up little space within the bubble. Cramped spaces was not new, especially with her background, though this situation was new. She thanks Chen for the meal, as it was better than eating regular rations, or said creatures and plants outside. The chatter and relative safety puts her at ease, the tenseness going away a bit. Occasionally, she joins into the conversation briefly, though most of the time she seems content to listen. Before going to sleep, she pokes her head out to check on Chen, just to see how he was fairing.

The early evening comes quickly, the darkness in the forest becoming absolute as the sun dips behind the horizon, somewhere beyond the dark forest.  SinSin and Jahren sit quietly chatting, seemingly getting along splendid. The camp has the feel of casual, friendly place filled with allies. And safe. Outside the dome Chen's snoring could potentially rival that of an ogre, and you're all pleased he's not within the dome with you, despite the twinge of guilt.

During the night in this dark place, Chen is woken up a couple times by some rather large creepy crawlies. A handful of spiders the size of cats which he scares off. Something slinks by in the night at some point but is scared off by Chen's size. The hours pass with a handful of minor events, but never feels overly threatening to the large dragonkin. 

The forest lightens with dawn. Mirica is up before others, praying even as you can hardly tell when the sun rises. Slowly though a dim light fills the forest until you can see the dark trees and bushes, the webs, moss, rot and mold clearly. You all find hidden positions near the black tree, with FinFin slinking up amidst the trees tops keeping a watch, while Toc summons an owl to likewise keep an eye out. 

Animals of the woods, including the odd bird come flapping past. You spot rats, spiders, and the occasional bat come sweeping through. Everyone seems quite good at hiding and the animals often come crawling, slithering, and flapping quite close, but none are dangerous enough to cause you concern. Even the snakes that slink through the woods, with their tongues tasting the air, steer clear of the group. 

FinFin spots two men, their cloaks dull brown, their pants green, with leaves stuck to their clothes, sneaking like ghosts through the woods. The approach from the north. She follows them, letting Fianna know as they eventually reach the edge of the clearing.  They glance around for a short time, before eventually they both stand up and walk out of the woods, to stand in the open next to the massive black tree.  "This looks like the place Roz."   Roz glances over, speaking overly loud for a two person conversation, "Tis the place for sure Catch."   Catch looks around, "Well, strangers who got us runnin all over this forest, you gunna come out?"

Grateful for the chance to stretch his cramped muscles, Chen rises from his hiding spot and grins silently at the newcomers.

Jahren emerges from his hiding spot and goes to meet Roz and Catch next to the black tree.   "Greetings, it is good to finally meet you.  I am Jahren, humble servant to the mighty Chen here and his companions.  I am glad to see that you have heeded the warning of the ambush."

Roz and Catch both look at each other and then at Jahren and Chen.  They look them up and down for a few moments, then Roz makes quite a realistic bird call. Mirica recognizes it as a the blue tipped swallow call. Roz looks to Jahren with a grin on his face. "One sec."  

FinFin watches as several more soldiers emerge, moving towards the clearing.  They aren't trying to hide anymore as they emerge from spots. 

Five more warriors emerge from the woods. None of them wear normal 'uniforms', but instead have an eclectic collection of different types of gear and weapons. A soldier with a long pole arm, one with two rapiers and a bandolier of daggers, a soldier in tattered brown studded leather with a broken lute on his back and a heavy crossbow, one with a shard of black in his hand rather than a sword he moves forward, shadows swirling around him.  They come and join the others at the clearing.  Finally a warrior with a thick red beard, wearing scale armor under a brown cloak, with a red plume helm, with the plume torn off approaches.  

He emerges and steps in front of Jahren and Chen.  He has a face that has seen a lot of battle. His eyes are hard, but his face is a thoughtful one. He speaks in a tone that implies he's used to having his orders followed without question, "I'm Sergeant Coon.  Jahren and Chen. Why has my commander told me to leave my task and come find you all in the middle of this forest to talk?  What's all this about then?  And why are we skirting around the edge of the ruins like some scared school children?" 

     "Hi!" Fianna says in a bright, cheery, friendly tone as she steps into view.  "I guess we're past that hiding and being cautious stage then, huh?"  She gives a little wave and flashes a smile.  "You guys hungry?  I'm hungry and by the looks of you all you're hungry.  I got some porcupine jerky in my bag...  We could share!  Why don't we all just hunker down, share a meal and we can explain?"

     "Unless...  Chen, you wouldn't be able to whip up something better than porcupine jerky.  Would you?"

"It is mostly about demons," Mirica stood out of her hiding spot too, allowing the group to get a look before she came closer. "But as of "skirting" - there is a platoon of orc with a handfull of drow in the spot you suggested as a meeting place before, plus three gargoyles as well as a handful of ettercaps. According to one of the drow we managed to ... ask (let's put it like this) - they all were waiting for you there because your regiment managed to annoy one of the green dragons living in this part of the wood. We felt like you might wanted to know."

"I am Mirica Gale. This lovely girl is Fianna and there are few more of us around. Where would you like to talk?"

     "Names," Fianna says quietly, angrily to herself.  "I always forget..."

"Viridianantallax himself also awaits you at the old Elven Court.  Apologies for the interruption to your work, but we felt this warning was worth the trouble.  Would you be willing to exchange intelligence of the current situation here?"

"It's rather impressive. Defeating demons, along with having a dragon and her minions wanting you dead." Loane comments. "We wouldn't wish to have such an... acclaimed group cut down. Our information should be rather useful to your lot. Loane, by the way."

Chen interrupts with a warning and suggestion. Speaking to Coon, he says: Before we get too comfortable, you should know that the dragon was aware you were traveling to the Court, hence the ambush. It's possible, however unlikely, that your communications have been intercepted . If that is so, then they may also be aware of this rendezvous. Perhaps we should depart and find a new location?

Coon takes the new joiners and their comments in stride, his eyes looking back and forth casually, with just an edge of judgement. At the mention of Viridianantallax Sergeant Coon raises an eyebrow. At the comments of demons Coon sets a rather bland face, though its replaced by a serious furrow at Chen's comments.  His eyes dart around in thought.  He then looks like he's listening for a moment then makes a hand motion as if waving away a fly.  Finally he turns around to face the forest, "SilverMark, Wrath, just get out here and stop panicking in hiding." 

Two soldiers who were still well hidden stand up a ways back in the forest and pick their way through the bushes to the clearing. One carries a warhammer and has dull brown hair and eyes over a burnt, tattered uniform, while the other wears a mask across his face nose and mouth and a deep hood. He has purple eyes.  

FinFin, roll perception. 

The one with a mask and purple eyes seems to be calculating, "Sergeant, I'm unsure about the comms interception. I've never heard of such magic and struggle to believe the Captain or Shard are compromised..though I suppose if they discussed it someone could have been listening in." 

The soldier with the warhammer speaks up, "How else could the enemy know where we were going?"  

Sergeant Coon shakes his head, "No, it's not an ambush. It's a defensive move. When the demon squad at the fort never reported in, they must have figured the gig was up."  He pauses, considering this for a moment before continuing.  He doesn't look totally sold on his own theory but continues anyway.  "They figured we were comin here to look for Adlas and are simply preparing to defend their leader from us." 

Toc moves out of the woods at the mention of the name, "Did you say Adlas?"

Sergeant Coon nods to Toc, "Yes, Adlas Sodhese. He's some elf wizard causing some sort of trouble in the woods." 

Toc shakes his head, "Adlas Sodhese is not an elf Wizard, and he's been dead for centuries. He was a powerful Netherese Wizard who died centuries ago battling the armies of Myth Drannor. He'd summoned the Khov’Anilessa....the nefarious three, a trio of powerful Yugaloths to lead his demon forces against us. He was entombed in a prison crypt in Myth Drannor to prevent his rising."

Sergeant Coon shrugs, "Well, according to the demons we got our information from, he's back and causing no end of trouble, and his base is in the Elven Court, near a fountain of a weeping elven maid.  Our plan was to confirm his presence, and then call in the Regiment. But, with these forces here, it seems clear this is where the enemy is based."   He taps his finger on his chin, considering.  

Fianna grits her teeth, she can practically feel the grinding friction of stone chess pieces moving around a board. Though which pieces are being moved, she can't say. 

Loane listens to the Sergeant speak, rubbing at her chin. "Could that crypt of been broken, or the spell around it destroyed to let him rise? Through somehow his own devices or someone else's? Or someone could be using his name for their own purposes. One way or another, it could be a lead why there's demons here. How many did you encounter, and speak to?"

Jahren studies the nine new arrivals, quickly deciding that they are indeed quite capable and the need to question just how they defeated demons seems unimportant now.  He listens to the Sergeant and others and tries to discern if there is any deceit in their voices.

Insight: 29

Unsure if they should relocate or how the enemy could be spying, the bard continues the conversation.  "We were hoping you might give us your account of the capture of these demons.  You were able to question them and get information?   Impressive.  That must have taken some considerable persuasion."

FinFIn perception:  17 Though they have advantage if it relies upon sight, hearing or smell 16

    They are good at hiding, sure enough, Fianna thinks. Though we weren't't bother to look for them, she tells herself.  We knew they'd sneak up and we were fine with that. Still, the purple eyes... What's going on there?  ((Perception to study that soldier, trying to determine if he's not human or if the eyes are a magical effect or... 10

     "They just assumed you were coming here for Adlas, but you weren't.  You were coming here to meet us.  So they just got fantastically lucky with the coincidence?" Fianna asks, skeptical of the story.  She keeps a close eye on this Coons and will try to tap into her insight (( 26 )) to determine if he's that self assured, if he is feigning confidence, or if he is some kind of act altogether.  "Did your demons describe your Adlas to you, Coons?  Perhaps you and Toc could compare and contrast what you know of them?"

As far as Jahren and Fianna can tell the Sergeant seems to be completely forthright. He also doesn't seem to be feigning his self-confidence, he seems just genuinely self-assured and professional.  

As the conversation continues, FinFin's ears tweak and her eyes dart to the tree tops.  From the same direction the 22nd squad came from she sees a branch bounce slightly as if a weight had come upon it, though sees nothing. Glaring at the empty space, she sees flakes of bark being shirked off by some invisible force.  FinFin's tail whips about.  There is an invisible creature in the trees. She reports to Fianna. 

"No, we chose this location because we were coming here to look for Adlas. Why do you think we chose this location for you to meet us at?  It seemed the best location between where we were, and where you were....though honestly we chose two days, but didn't expect you to get here in time."  He meets Jahren's eyes steadily, "I didn't know you lot from anything, so if we happen to 'miss' you in the forest because you took 3 or 4 days to get to our meeting spot, then..." he shrugs.  "Lucky for us you travel with unnatural speed, somehow getting here ahead of us despite us having a head start."  He shrugs it off. "But I think our job is done. It's time to call in the heavy hitters. Clearly Adlas is here, just where the demon said, the Elven Court. We'll be sitting tight and calling the main Regiment here.  With luck these forces stay put for the next five days and the Regiment can lay siege to the location and we can wipe them out."

Toc looks to Loane, "Adlas was dead. His crypt would have had to have been shattered when the city fell upon Myth Drannor. Then someone could have found him and raised him I suppose. But....a rather unlikely string of events. Hopefully instead someone is just using his name, as you suggest, though why someone would is beyond me."  He turns to the Sergeant, "What do you know of this Adlas?  You said Elven wizard? Why? The real Adlas was Netherese, so a shadowfolk." 

The Sergeant shrugs, "We really only got his name out of the demon before it...succumbed to the interrogation. I just assumed it was an elven wizard cause of where we are. I don't really have more information, but he seemed to be indicated "THE" Adlas, though I didn't know that was some long dead famous guy until we met you.  'Adlas Soldhese can be found by the fountain of the weeping maid, in the Elven Court.' That's pretty much it."

Toc shakes his head, with a bit of a smile. "The Elven Court? You probably don't realize that after the fall of the OLD elven court, the actual elven court was moved to Myth Drannor?" 

The Sergeant scratches his head, "But...if he's in Myth Drannor, then....why are these forces here?"

Something seems to be dawning on his face.

"The demons," comments Jahren.  "They were more than happy to send you here, it would seem.  They were the first step of this trap."

"Are we so sure the regiment can handle a green dragon in its natural habitat along with his own army?"