"Depends... on who you ask," Faerieth says, "we call ourselves.... hmmm... I can't think of a word in this tongue that would be a good substitute... Shepard maybe... or guardian... something in-between. The elves call us Firbolg, and I suppose the name stuck."

Jules is slow to repeat the name.
"Fir.. bolg." he writes that down in his journal.
"So, tell me about that, if you could. All of you, in fact. For my records, it's my job to be sure you all have an accurate representation for your deeds and discoveries, but also who you are. I mean, this is history in the making. People are going to want to know who brought light back to Phlan, to say nothing of what else you may uncover." he says, settling in with his quill.

"I mean, if you all don't mind. I'm not trying to be nosy, but it IS my job to be a proper records keeper."

Qiran strokes his chin, wondering if this was his story to tell.  

"My people, a people persecuted, set against each other. First by the illithid and then by our so-called queen. We who seek truth and reconciliation are in need of a new home. . . somewhere on the material plane. I am just one envoy, seeking such a place. If I am able to establish myself here, perhaps I could find such a place for some of my number."

As he speaks, his book levitates in front of him. A spectral red dragon rises from it's cover and looks onward.

"Even if I can't find such a place, opportunities remain, remain for education and growth."

Chroma releases a gruff grunt. Stories were enjoyable from inside a safe tavern, but perhaps she worried too much. She was skilled to have a sharp mind and keen eyes - not a silvered tongue. "I suppose you can consider me a wanderer. I protect others by eliminating what harms others directly," the Dragonborn rumbles. "I trained in a monetary far, far away. Most of my order are sent out to simply aid others." 

Krinix reluctantly shares,

"I came from the land of Thay, though it's a fact I'd rather not get shared around. It is not a good place. I hated the slavery and brutality that was so common there. I wanted to study magic but I was worried about getting entangled with the Red Wizards of Thay. I don't want to be associated with them. Fortunately, I was able to connect with a like-minded mentor who trained me in secret until we found opportunity to leave that land for good."

"My main interest of study is that of the future, how our actions shape it, how we might be able to glimpse and change it..."

Jules writes furiously to keep up with the statements, easily filling a couple of pages. He actually seems to be sketching them, as well, capturing their likeness reasonably well.

"So... what was it that drew you to Phlan? I mean, forgive me if I'm completely off target, but none of you seem to be overly concerned with winning the riches promised by uncovering Phlan's past. Is there something you hope to find here? Again, this is purely for posterity's sake." he says. "If you prefer not to share, you're welcome to tell me to go make friends with a troll covered in butter."

"The... forest is dying," Faerieth says. "We could hear it from home, so I was sent... to find out how to help..."

Qiran cracks a thin grin at Jules, a row of pale, sharp teeth.  But a genuine grin nonetheless.

"I was to attempting to have tact.  Wealth would help.  Wealth is power.  Additionally, easier to bring my people to a place in ruins.  Established, stable place?  Such a place refutes new people."

Krinix hesitates as if choosing his words carefully, finally saying,

"Like I said, I'm basically fleeing my homeland, this seems as good a place as any to make a name for oneself."

"I do not care for riches," Chroma responds, quite adamantly. "My lifestyle and methods of combat do not require it, and I take far greater pleasure in aiding others. If wealth comes my way, I do not hesitate to utilize it for my goals, but I abhor those who simply seek to line their own pockets with more at the expense of others. The looks on those embarking the ship here were ones of greed, and I can see why. Greed often leads to the harm of others, and that is something I cannot tolerate."

Jules muses.
"Well, you will be best friends in Harken, then. He's hoping for a great number of relics to be donated to the archives or the artificer's lab to try and understand the ancient spellcraft used to make some of the items. There's a lot of lost magic buried around us, this is the first time since the Grey Hordes were driven back to the Dragonspire mountain range that any kind of excavation effort has been made. It could make a lot of lives a lot easier." he says.

"Did you find anything else in those tunnels you described?" he asks.

"Lot's of... unnatural things," Faerieth says, "they... were monsters..."

Jules nods his head, writing that down.
"Well, that figures, if the remnants of the old invasion force were surviving down there."
"If I may, we should probably meet with Harken and Jarvo tomorrow morning after a good night's sleep so you can make use of your writs and acquire your equipment if you're heading into the forest. I don't THINK it's too dangerous if Sanharen knows you're coming... and believe me, she will... but since you managed to save some of the trees, she may be more favorable towards you. Plus, none of you are human. I'll just.... stay near the back and keep my mouth shut." he says.

((If you don't want to post a guard, the chances are low that you'll be interrupted in the night.))

((Rolling for tomorrow's weather))

14

Krinix's familiar can keep guard I believe, correct me if I'm wrong?

Your familiar may guard, yes. It will warn you if there's anything it can perceive and will wake Krinix up.

((We're level 2 now right? Since we have enough experiece for it...))

((I made Krinix level 2))

Portent rolls for the next day:

9    20

((Yes, everyone's level 2))

Clouds roll in during the night and the leaves turn over. It's a good thing the shelter was built because the weather begins to turn nasty.

((Chance of encounter roll))

13

((Krinix's familiar perception roll))

16

Nothing happens during the night. You all get a full rest, but the morning greets you with a thunderstorm that's going to make travel miserable, though the party would have less difficulty traversing the forest as it's so thick, you'd be largely sheltered from the wind and rain. The din from the rainfall, however, will increase the CR of all perception rolls until the rain and thunder lets up.

Chroma, forever watchful, offers to assume the role of the party's scout and eyes. She was evidently unbothered by the cold rain from the thunderstorms that would normally require for someone to bundle up in a cloak to stay warm, but her draconic ancestry mutes all but the most frigid cold. It seems she has a compulsion to place herself as the first barrier of defense between hostile enemies and the rest of the party.

Jules tries in vain to light a camp fire to cook a 'civilized breakfast' as he put it, so they have to eat cold rations. The jumpy human peeks out from the shelter that was built and mutters.
"Well, it's certainly not my job to tell you folks where to go or do, but if you were to say, make tracks for the city and stay indoors while shopping for supplies until this misery lets up, I would not at all be opposed." he says, ducking under a second long coat and huddling into the shelter as much as he can all while regretting the amount of goods and materials he brought along but apparently can't bear to part with.