"Oh, you know. Talked about our hair and boys and Zira and Gen-ga kissing. As all women do." Erika gives Areon a playful punch on the arm. "But yes. The rain helps lull me to sleep."

She looks to the storm. "Hopefully that will pass before we set out... though we will likely have mud in the roads."

Survival (any idea on what the storm will do?) 14

Erika notices nothing sinister about the dark elf female mercenary. Actually the woman seems to smile nodding at Erika before looking away shrugging a rain slicker made of leather higher on her shoulders. The storm looks powerful but distance only the rain and thunder will reach them.

"Weather could be better," the dark elf calls out to both Areon and Erika. "Haven't seen either of you on the road. You just join up," she adds curiously.

Erika waves in response. She gives a glance to Areon, and walks over several paces so that she does not have to shout but has a comfortable distance. "Yes, and no. This is our first journey this way, though we have been working for Zira for some while now. I am Erika. What should I call you?"

"Vanya," the dark elf replies. "You both look green," she adds grinning. "Goddess no! It's as boring as usual. It's not the first leg you've got to be weary of but the crossroads, the mountain, and Ellyira itself," she explains loudly to Areon. She then looks to Erika adding in a low voice, "Zira is a peacock," she hisses scowling. "Everyone knows her and that she works with the Institute. The bandits might a well as look for her coming through as much as goods," she adds moodily. "She won't tell you but just six months ago she got my friend Joost killed. She's....be wary of her. She thinks the world stops for the name Holbright but if anything mentioned to the wrong people you just become a target," she adds frustratingly at the camp fire to stoke it up. "Your green...just watch your backs," she adds next her tone and expression brooding now.

Erika looks at the dark elf, trying to assess if she's just a bit broody or harbors hostility towards Zira (and/or Zira's companions) Insight 9

"I am sorry to hear about your friend, Vanya. What happened? We will be careful going forward the next few days."

Erika ONLY *whispers*

 "That Gen-ga...well they're a good egg if you excuse the pun being a dragonborn and all. They weren't with us that trip or...," she sighs ruefully, "I think Joost would have made it," she adds with another sigh. "Keeps her in check I think the bronze one...reminds that half-breed she's got something to lose," she finishes looking back into the fire poking it some more.

Areon role a perception check with disadvantage to see if you caught any of the low voices over the fire and storm from your spot.

Erika returns the whisper, not conspiratorally, but acknowledging that Vanya does not want thier voices to travel. Erika's tone is soft, understanding.

"Apologies if this is forward, but... I can tell that you, too, have been painfully reminded of what can be lost. We have a saying, my people... be careful that you do not add more coal to an overflowing hearth, or you may burn down everything around you when they fall out."

She pauses, glancing back at the tent where Zira sleeps.

"You do not have to forgive her, that is your right and choice." She glances back to where her fellow mercenaries are. "But, do not stand so close to the fire that others cannot approach to help." 

She meets Vanya's eyes a moment, then shifts the subject. "How many trips have you made to Ellyira? What is the most interesting thing you have seen?"

"I...I take your meaning but heed my warning. She's bad luck," Vanya replies. "The murals as well as the Ellyrians themselves. You know it's said they only took the best. No regard or barriers for race, class, or creed. They simply wanted the best spell casters regardless of where they came from," she says her tone lifting a bit as she holds up her hand a a dark black wisp of smoke springs up in it and orbits her clenched fist. "The ruins are where I found my patron and they give many gifts...for a price," she adds her tone solemn again as the smoke dissipates. "What are you looking for? I suppose whatever Mad madame Holbright and she tells you eh," she adds with a jerk of her head towards the tent where Zira and the others sleep.

The sun is begining to rise and the inky darkness of the night scatters into a graying haze the storm has settled on the valley the mountain having trapped it on the Pilgrimage Road leading to Zozobra looks gloomy and forbidding.

"I did not join for her glory, no. I have heard that the forces beyond get... strange in Ellyria. In Ygdridan, it is similar. And has caused many deep superstitions in my people."

She looks into the fire a moment, reflecting. "I wish to understand this. And perhaps, eventually, repair some rifts."

She looks at Vanya, questioningly. "Who is your patron, if I may ask?"

"I know them only as the Seeker," Vanya replies. "An inscrutable being who travels the Astral Plane in search of knowledge and secrets. In return for their gifts I am to seek out lore that I can share with the Seeker," she adds smiling. "It's a wonder. Two years ago if you would have said I'd give up my house to protect a bunch of ruin crawling scholars I would have laughed and stabbed you to death," she adds grinning as her fangs show. "But I've learned so much already and planned to learn much more," she nods. "Look the sun rises and so must we. I'll wake my lot. I think it's time for you to do the same," she adds moving to her feet and tossing the stick into the flames. "Watch your back as I pledge to do but mind who you trust at that Institute," she finishes.

"You watch ours, and we can watch yours." She looks at the rising sun. "Always good to have new friends in this world."

Erika nods to Vanya, then leaves the fire. She pops her head into her tent. "The sun is up. I'm going to check to see if we have fresh breakfast sitting in a snare right now."

Molle rolls onto her stomach with a grumble as the tent is woken up. "I haven't sleep like that since the last time I was on the road." She sits up, and rubs her eyes with the palm of her hand. "If you want to wait a minute, I can come check with you after I get my stuff on."

Erika nods packs her own bag back up as she waits for Molle. Hopefully something fresh is in the trap she set last night.

"Watch out," Zira gasps awake with a start. The half-orc/half-elf looks around sheepishly before her expression becomes jovial as usual. "Ugh I hate sleeping on the ground," she says rubbing her neck and shoulders before standing up. 

Zira dresses on her black leathers and gathers her weapons before she exits the tent and goes about her usual routine.

OOC: Areon can totally retroactively roll to have 'overheard' the exchange buy alas not contribute. Everyone else, good morning on your second day on the road.

Ted crawls out of his tent, bleary eyed and clutching his head. “Good morning, please tell me somebody brought some good coffee with them.” He stumbles over his words, his dry tongue sticking to the roof of his mouth. He turns around, shaking Garron to check he’s awake, “Look, Zira’s already ready to hit the road. What a trooper eh! Divination never interested me much, but if I’d have known who was teaching I’d of tried to get some tips on chat up lines and badassary.” 

Garron rolls over in his sleep and groggily wakes up. He barely stifles a yawn as he looks around to see whether the others are awake and realizes that he was shaken awake by Ted. Regardless, he cracks his back once as he stretches and lets out a sigh as he gets up from his bedroll and begins his morning routine. In response to Ted, he groans and says, "Some people are just built differently, besides her elven nature might reduce her need to sleep. I am unfortunately graced with no such power. As far as taking divination classes, I fully agree, Zira probably made those classes a blast."

He mutters a lazy "Good Morning..." to anyone he sees as he goes about getting ready, but he keeps the conversation to a minimum as his head is still throbbing a bit from the drinks that he and Ted had last night. Normally, he doesn't hangover like this, but he drank quite a bit of alcohol last night and he makes a mental note to drink less in the future.

Once everyone is ready and packed up, he hooks the horses up to the wagon and double checks their tacks to ensure that they won't break during the journey. With that he clambers to the front of the wagon and gets ready to steer the horses after the rest of the group.

Molle gets all her equipment back on: leather armor, her weapons, the robe, and her boots. Not the easiest task in a tent, but everything gets more or less on properly. Once done, the half elf steps out of the tent and stretches. She runs a hand through her hair, a quick attempt to make herself have less of a bedhead. Molle walks over to Erika, adjusting her clothes and belt as she walks. "Let's see what breakfast we're going to have. How was your watch?"

Trixi shuddered at Ted's request - it was one of those things she still did not figure out: drylanders poisoned themselves with myriads of different liquids daily, and yet somehow kept going. Coffee was one of these boiling poisons (better than fermented one, but still horrible!). She shook her head and took a long gulp slightly salty water. The girl did not mind breakfast, though.

"Morning!" Energetically as always greeted she everyone who was already awake. "Nice soothing night, nice sunny morning - the road would be great!" She did not need any divination skills to predict that. "Get some salt with this?"

She ate fast, helped to pack the gear and hopped on her place in the wagon, waiting for there big group to start the journey.