Grell lifts the massive maul and points it to the discolouring.

"What our large friend is trying to indicate is a discolouring on one of the trees ahead that seems quite unnatural," Zack says as he also gets out & makes his way over to the tree to investigate (20).

The discoloration, upon closer inspection... appear to be small bits of bark removed from the tree in clumps, revealing the wood underneath. Almost like it was scraped off by some kind of tool. There does not seem to be a coherent pattern to it. The grassy leaf litter on the ground looks disturbed, but due to the amount of stuff on the ground... it is hard to tell by what.

Kalgren takes one look at the tree and puts two and two together in a vague semblance of an idea.

'So,' he addresses the driver, 'how's the local bear population?'

Vigil steps out of the cart as well, keeping a hand on his scimitar at the ready. He tries to look at the branches up in the trees for movement (Perception: 1).

(Boy howdy...My first roll and it's a nat 1)

"Bears are relatively docile around here. They're big sometimes, but generally leave you alone unless you walk in their den." The driver says, shifting his position a bit to look over where the party is.

Vigil is unable to see anything in the branches, just the swaying of leaves. Nothing unnatural that he can see.

Zack makes a note of the markings and bark scratched off. "I'm not sure what's made those marks, but it appears more like a tool, rather than a bear. It's worth keeping in mind though. It may be nothing, or it may be something. But without further information, we've nothing more to take from this, I don't think." He returns to the cart and climbs back in. "Apologies for the interruption in our travels, friends. I am ready to continue, if you all are."

Grell lets out a grunt as he approaches the seemingly harmless tree, the others happy with their assessments. Placing a hand on the bark, the other holding his maul loosely by his side, the hulking Dragonborn snorts again, looking deeper into the woods.

”Maybe nothing...” he says to no one. “... maybe.”

With nothing particular sticking out to him, Grell returns to the cart, heaving himself back on, almost sulking, but ready to continue with their travels.

'We're driving a cart without any attempt at being silent.' Kalgren replied. 'The deer must have heard or smelled us coming. Yet they jumped in front of our wheels because something spooked them enough for them to cross us, most likely a predator animal. And that tree over there looks like it has claw marks on it, some sort of scratching tree. So my money is still on bear.'

He lifted his shoulders and shrugged. 'Or some other big beastie with claws, whatever stalks the forests nowadays.'

Kalgren pulled his legs in to let Grell climb back on the cart. He unloaded his crossbow and placed it back near his back. 'I could have stayed in the city but no...' He muttered underneath his breath.

Vigil listened to Kalgren’s theory as he was climbing back up the cart. As plausible as it sounded, he was still unconvinced. He sat down as the cart was picking back up where it had stopped. He wouldn’t be napping until they reached the village.

After two uneventful hours, the cart comes up the road to a village. It is a quaint little place, fairly compact and in roughly defined quarters. A large chunk of the forest seems to be gone, and replaced with farmland to the south, but otherwise the village is surrounded by trees, with the mountains surrounding the place from the north to the west. The architecture is pretty rustic, and very much human-driven.

"Here we are. Drefeld Village. I'll be dropping you all off in front of the Blue Cask, the inn for the place."

Kalgren observed the village as they wheeled in. It looked to be well in order at first glance. It had that quaint countryside feel to it that made him think of home, in so far his memories were not already bursting at the seems with religious imagery.

When the cart pulled up to the local inn, Kalgren hoisted his backpack off the cart along with his crossbow. 'If you don't mind,' he said to the others, 'I have to get to work.'

He walked to the front of the cart to address the driver. 'Thanks for the ride.' Kalgren said as he tossed him a gold coin. 'Could you tell me where the local religious hotspot is?'

From anyone’s perspective, this village was just your regular run of the mill village where nothing outstanding ever happens. From Vigil’s perspective, this was a prime target for malignant forces. Only once he had investigated would his mind be at ease. 

Climbing out of the cart once they reached the inn, Vigil remembered what the cart driver had told them. "Much appreciated, driver. Is this where I can find that wannabe wizard you mentioned that paid for us?"

Zack nods in agreement, "True. Is the wizard staying at this inn... The Blue Cask..." He makes some notes in his book, then looks around to see what else he can see in the town. What shops, buildings or structures can Zack see (Perception: 13)?

"Probably the temple up there." The driver points over a little further into the village, to a hill where a distinctly Mulan-styled temple can be seen. Complete with the torii gates leading up the stairs to the temple itself. In response to Vigil, he shrugs. "I'm not sure. He owns the place, or so he told me, but he might not be there."

Zack, meanwhile, looking around would see plenty of residential homes, minor shops for the locals, a couple farm houses to the south. A smithy can be seen, smoke rising from its chimney, and what seems to be a carpenter shop of some kind. And somewhere near the center of the village, a large stone polished bright can be seen resting in the central square. The Blue Cask was somewhere roughly halfway from the edge of town and the central square. Most of the buildings are not much more than just the ground floor, excepting the Cask and the shops that Zack can see. Though a little ways away from the Cask, a two-storey building seems to catch his eye. A rustic half-timbered building that might be some sorta library.

Zack makes a note, "I'd like to visit that place at our next convenient time..." he says pointing to the two storey building that he believes is a library. He stops a moment, then looks at the others, "In fact, that may be where our mysterious benefactor is. I have a feeling that place is a library. Perfect spot for a wizard, if you ask me."

Grell clambers out of the back of the cart, thumping into the track below. Slowly taking in the town around him, the Dragonborn reaches into the cart to retrieve his maul and pack, slinging the latter over his shoulder and holding the other in a loose grip at his side. He eyes the inn, but before heading off, gives the cart a loud double-tap with his fist. As the driver turns to see, Grell gives him a curt nod of thanks, before turning and heading towards and into the inn.

"Please let them be serving good food" he mutters to himself. "Grell is so hungry..."

'Can't argue taste.' Kalgren muttered as he looked at the temple in the distance.

He gave a wave to the others. 'You go and do that. I'm going to meet the local priest.' and made his way over to the temple. As he hiked up the hill, he kept an eye open to see which religion Drefeld had a preference for and if he could spot the tiefling priest sooner rather than later.

Perception: 18

As Kalgren makes his way through the village, he is unable to see the tiefling priest sooner. But, he is able to determine that the local temple is dedicated to Chauntea and Lathander in some sort of partnership not commonly seen on the mainland. The temple grounds were rather spacious, all things considered. The buildings on the hill below the temple seem to just, give way to it. As if they know they shouldn't be too close to the hallowed ground.

There are three main buildings on the grounds; being the main temple, some housing quarters perhaps, and a house for the dead.

The rest of you, what do you do?

Seeing Kalgren walk off towards the temple, Zack looks back to the two storey building. "Would anyone else like to join me heading to that building?" he says as he points at the previously mentioned building, "It stands out to me as a possible place to find our wizard benefactor." And he begins walking to the building, checking the other buildings out as he goes.