Derek is pleased to see Lazarus is alert and up on his feet. He replies to his inquiry, "I left the Imperial Army. Differences of opinion regarding the Wildings you might say. I guess I am a deserter now, although I believe they think me dead." Derek smiles sadly at a Lazarus as he continues, "I imagine that if I was discovered, I would be a fugitive with a bounty on my head." 

Despite Derek's sadness, Lazarus maintains his happy demeanor. "Well, that makes two of us! The Empire would surely arrest me on sight if I returned. Unfortunate business- they didn't seem to like the nature of my experimentation. Those old fools would do anything to stop the flow of progress in society. Anyways, I know you have a good sword arm. I'm glad you're here." 

He glances towards his other companions. "Speaking of Wildlings, it seems we have the pleasure to meet some right now. The Empire's been feeding us propaganda about them for years. You must know the truth; what are they really like?" 

Derek smiles as he says, "They are just people, Laz. Just like you or I. No more, no less. The Empire has greatly mistreated them." 

"'Just people'? 'Mistreated'? Interesting use of words, Imperial. Every person slain was a child with parents, siblings; every death was a ripple of anguish through the tribe - no, all the tribes. And here you are, catching up gaily as old friends, talking as if your people's mindless assaults on the land and her people are just minor misteps. As said, you clearly are as bright as the tools you use." Luxaene makes it a point to walk between Laz and Derek, her head high, as she speaks. Her eyes resting on the half-orc for a moment... 

"Let us figure where the Wilderness has us, so we can hurry back to the lives we are meant to have..." Luxaene checks on the nearest dead tree to try and recognise the cause of all this decay.

Nature Check: 6

Lazarus sighs as he listens to Luxene's words. He didn't even say anything to her yet, and she's already angry. He walks up to her and says, 

Derek flinches as Luxene's words and her anguish cut him deeply. He turns to regard her as she walks between he and Lazarus. He remembers a face looking down on him from above. He was sorely hurt at the time. Perhaps it was her. His memory is still too jumbled up to make any sense.

He takes her attack in stoic silence as he continues to search the area, making note of the carved glyphs.

Lazarus, the dim light somewhat blocks your ability to properly discern the strange symbols dotting your surroundings. However, from your studies, you can see some symbols of incredibly dark and potent magic - various symbols of summoning and necromancy can be seen, as well as some odd symbols that resemble the Modify Memory spell, along with several signs that reflect the Mass Healing Word and Mass Suggestion spells.

Luxaene, you don't recognize anything specific about the dead trees that surround this clearing aside from the fact that the greenage looks more like greyage. It could be a wildfire, flood, or any sort of event that led this woods to this state.

Lazarus takes in the symbols, recognizing them as spells of great power. He says to Derek, "I believe these spells are the cause of our loss of memory. They're ancient symbols of great power."

The temptation to explore the cave was too great. There may be some sort of tribal artifact inside which Lazarus could make use of. He just needed to convince his companions to come with him. 

"If we enter the cave, we may find a way to get our memories back. After that, I'm sure we can go on our separate ways." 

Assuming the others agree, Lazarus lights a torch and enters the dark cave. 

“Yes,” Holden grunts as he stands up. “The quicker I can get out of here the better. Let’s explore that cave and figure out what exactly is going on here.”

Luxaene stands approaches the cave, simply looking at Lazarus and shaking her head. The elf lights her mace to a warm bright light. She waits for everyone to group up before continuing...

Derek moves to accompany Lazarus. He pulls out his own torch to light off of Lazarus' torch. He then draws his short sword.

Hush lets the others pass into the cave before quietly following them in.

Holden goes last, wanting to watch his back for more possible threats. 

As the party of companions makes their way into the cave, you notice it's more of an incredibly small and shallow outcropping. A darkly lit entrance backs to a very shallow back; no other tunnels or entrances can be made out. The inner wall of the cave is covered in more of the same runes, swirling across the ceiling and merging with the floor below. The one thing you can make out in the faint light, written in dark red writing is a string of words in intricate and lacy handwriting.

"Slaves of coin, of death and grime,
Toil upon here 'till the end of time.
Free from the shackles of death's demise,
Soon the world shall burn and rise."

Otherwise, the cave has nothing to offer.

"Well that's wonderfully cryptic," Hush says as he finishes reading the writing, "And ominous. Perhaps we should try to track down where that razorback came from? Maybe that'll give us a clue as to our next point of call?"

Lazarus narrows his eyes as he reads the poem. He conceals a dark smile from his companions as he remembers that fateful night when the ghost of his lost love visited him. The night that changed his life forever. 

Yes, I will be free from death's demise, and the world shall burn and rise under my rule, he thinks to himself, completely ignoring the first part of the poem. He keeps those thoughts for later and continues his cheerful facade.

"Hush, wasn't it? Yes, we should backtrack to the Razorback. I believe there was a path of some sort there, and we can follow it until we find our bearings."

Luxaene cocks an eyebrow at the message and tries to recall if she's heard any phrases during her religious upbringing...

Whether she does or not, she follows on the others and hopefully come across someone who can gleam some sense of what's going on. 

Derek follows the others, his torch adding a little light in the darkness. The cryptic poem has him on edge. Perhaps they can backtrack the Razorback's trail to find an alternate exit from this odd area.

Holden nods in agreement, following the rest of the group out of the cave.

As the group makes their way out of the cave, the starlit sky begins to shatter into the multicolored rays of early dawn. Morning mist begins to build, covering the dense forest surrounding you in a mystical shroud. The chilly night air begins to warm to a more comfortable, cool, morning temperature.

(Are you headed towards the path, or is there anything else you would like to do at the moment?)