Areon was able to overhear most of the exchange been Vanya and Erika.

¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤

Present morning....

"Weather isn't going to cooperate and it'll be worse the closer we get to the mountain," the druid Altima says with a frown on her face as she comes from the tent that housed herself, the scouts, and the scribes.

She's dressed in green robes with druidic symbols and carries a gnarled branch fashioned into a staff. It has a milky blue crystal affix to the top with vines holding it in place.

"Come now Altima," Zira retorts smirking, "have a care not to scare off our new adventures! So it's some bad weather! We'll be fine and it guarantees less people on the road at least," she adds optimistically.

Walking over to where Gen is crouched down by a cooking fire Zira takes the offered plate of food but passes it to the first party member to approach. She and Gen-ga do this until everyone has a plate in their hands including them but they are the last to eat even making sure to offer to yhe mercenaries who graciously accept the hot breakfast. After breakfast is ate the camp is packed up and an hour later from rising the party gets back on the road. 

OOC: Anyone else have morning tasks before we move on?

As everybody else was packing away, Ted spent the morning with his gaze firmly fixed on his mirror. It was evident in the morning that Ted had slept in is make up but he spent the morning touching it up, highlighting his sharp cheekbones and accentuating his elven nose. He applies a dark, smokey eyeliner and combs his hair over to one side with his hand, showing off his sheer shaved sides. As he applies his perfume he adjust his outfit, spending time making sure it’s just askew enough to look like it’s just thrown on without being messy. Finally, he pulls on his fathers elven boots, their intricate pattern fascinating him as much as when he’d first laid eyes on them. 

(Ooc yes good to go)

Erika smiles. "Calm, thankfully. And the rain stopped. I met one of the mercenaries, the drow woman Vanya. She seems... cautious. And curious."

Erika walks (with Molle if she chose to follow) to gather her traps and whatever animals might have been caught, keeping an eye out for any herbs and berries for the next major meal. Seeing Gen-ga already having breakfast cooking, she will help break down camp after the meal, and settle herself into the wagon, bedroll as a cushion...

OOC Onward!

As people begin to pile into the wagon, Garron quicky finishes the remainder of breakfast and hops into the front of the wagon doing one last check of the tacks and patting the horses. As soon as everyone that is riding in the wagon is inside, and the rest of the caravan begins to move, Garron cracks the reins and begins to urge the horses forward.

(OOC: Ready to move forward!)

"She probably has her reasons. Usually comes with experience." Molle . She walks with Erika, helping her check the traps and collect them.

After they finish that up, she quickly downs her meal, hardly taking the time to taste it. Gen gets a quick thanks, before Molle goes to help with dismantling the camp. She makes sure everything is accounted for, checking her own gear more than twice, and that the fires are properly put out. She saddles up her horse, giving the creature she now lovingly calls 'Trot', plenty of attention before mounting up. She prepares to bring herself up to the side of the cart as they start to head off.

((Ready to roll!))

((Trixi is ready to go))

The day of travel is again uneventful. The weather becoming steadily worse the closer the party gets to the mountain. At twilight Zira insists they push through into nightfall to reach Timbergrove the crossroads where the Pilgrimage Road and the Emerald Way meet connecting the gnome city of Ararosa and the halfling city of Lahiri in the east. The crossroads are alive with people of all races, classes, and ages. All kinds of shops line the streets ranging from simple mercantile to impressive armor and weaponry. There's kiosks boasting foods, herbal, and mountain remedies as well as hawkers calling out their wares from small trays strapped around their necks. Zira, riding along the wagons and other party members on horseback, slows the party to stop at a large inn and tavern called The Raven's Rest that's in the near shadow of the mountain.

"They'll take care of the wagons and horses," Zira explains  as a couple of humans and half-elves come out of the inn's stables to attend to the party as the mercenaries break off from the group attending the equipment. "Bring your gear eh? We'll get rooms," she addresses the party. "But let's try to keep it to four rooms unless you're willing to pay for your own. Gen-ga's being generous with their purse and the institutes only ponies up a few silver for rooms" she adds smiling at the bronze dragonborn who shakes his head.

"I am merely adding to the institutes contribution so we're not staying at the Mad Badger," Gen interjects motioning over their shoulder towards a gloomy looking inn that not half as lively or welcoming as the Raven's Rest ahead.

"Everyone ok with the sleeping arrangements we've already made?" Zira asks stretching a little from the long day's ride smiling at the party.

Garron nods at Zira and looks at Ted, Aeron, and Dalen for a confirmation. Assuming that everyone agrees that last night's sleeping arrangements are amenable, Garron asks the group, "Hey! It looked like there were a ton of cool shops around here and I've never been this far from Zozobra. I'd be interested in checking some of the shops around out if anybody want to come shopping with me?"

Moller counts the heads of the party as they dismount. "Four rooms for the six of us? Eight including you and Gen. Sounds like plenty of room! Don't worry, we'll get ourselves situated." The half elf gives Zira a wink, before clapping her hands together. "We can do rooms of two or three. Trixie, Erika, I'm fine sharing a room with one of the guys if you two want to bunk together."

Garron nudges Molle, "We still have to count the mercenaries and the scholars, I think four to a room should account for everyone though."

"Sure," Trixi did not care much about room arrangements and was happy to bunk again with Erica. At the moment she was as curious as Garron about the shops. "I'll go with you. I bet they sell something found in the ruins too. There are plenty of stories about rare artifacts found in the practically garbage because owners did not have a clue what it is!" By the look of her said rare artifacts were awaiting Trixi at the first peddler.

Garron isn't looking for anything in specific and is more than happy to tag along with Aeron, Trixi or anyone else. However, if he happens to hear anybody claiming to sell healing salves, restorative ointments, or consumable remedies, then he lends them an ear and let Trixi and Aeron continue exploring (assuming they do not stop as well).

With a shrug, Moller decides to tag along in checking out the shop. She glances at any merchandise out in the open, and pokes her head in to the stores others seem interested in. However, she seems to keep a tight leash on her purse. Her interests lie in trying to find unique prices for a dragonchess set, some thieves tools, or or other little fascinating tools.

Zira and Gen-ga decline the invite for shopping but before the party leaves she offers reminder and another warning.

"Take care and remember we're not hiding who we are or what we represent but we're not to discuss or advertise our business either," Zira says her expression and tone firm as her eyes fall on everyone but looking at Ted particularly longer than anyone else her jovial expression returns. "Have fun but don't get swindled," she adds smirking with laughter in her tone as Gen-ga nods to everyone and disappears into the tavern behind Zira.

"We'll stay here," the druid Altima says as the scouts and scribes nod going to the tavern as well.

Dolan, Vanya, and the other mercenary the party has yet to speak to are no where to be seen. They are more than likely securing the excavation equipment with the wagons but they are absent.

OOC: Roll investigation check and name a shop type you're wanting to visit. I've got a table I'm working off of based on your d20 rolls.

Ted jumps off the Wagon with enthusiasm. “Checking out the town? Count me in!” He cries jubilantly. “While we are there we can find out what the nightlife is like around here. It seems pretty cosmopolitan, just like Zozobra, so I think I can get the hang of this place.” He winks at Garron, his excitement at showing off the lifestyle he described over their watch is spread across his face.

At Zira’s remark, Ted scoffs “Please, as if I don’t have more interesting things to talk about than some dusty old institute.” He gives her a suspicious look, she must have been up to far worse than Ted in her past. It’s like she’s keeping an eye on him because she knows him, she IS him, just she gave up the dream and became “responsible” but that fire never really dies. (Ooc Insight check to see if Ted can confirm his suspicions 21)

Once all is unpacked (Ted has no problems with sleeping arrangements) and the shopping group are all gathered outside the Inn, he finds a crate or a ledge to hop on to and make an announcement to the group. 

“Friends, allies, come hither! We’ve spent many a month, toiling and studying. We’ve come to know one another at the very surface, taken a small sip of each others unique brew of what makes you yourself. But tonight. Tonight, that all changes. Tonight we take our alliance beyond what it has been. We transcend from friends to something more akin to family. The gauntlet will make or break us, but I believe we have it in us. The challenge, if you be so brave as to try, starts simply enough. We must discover the name and location of each and every tavern in this fine town. Step two, we must have at least one drink in each of those taverns to claim victory over this town, yes even the Mad Badger, sometimes looks can be deceiving . We finish by crawling back to the Ravens Rest, bonds forged, adventure in our hearts. And from tomorrow, you can claim you had the wildest night with none other than the Dreadbane!”

Ted is not looking for any shop in particular, he is however seeking information on all of the taverns in the area and looking for more exotic shops. (Magic items, shops specifically not found in Zozobra, anything that’s kinda dodgy.) 9 - investigation

Garron rolls his eyes at the end of Ted's proposal but he turns to the rest of the group, all memories of the morning that day gone and says, "I don't know about the rest of you, but a tavern crawl sounds fun to me. I don't have any immediate needs so I shopping was just going to be a diversion for me." He turns to Trixi, who he knows is always excited to learn and try new things and asks, "You in? It'll be a blast." To Ted he says, "Count me in!"

If he has a chance to stop by a shop that is selling healing potions, he will.
Investigation: 16

(OOC: 50% because it is what Garron would do, 50% because that speech was AMAZING!)