The Hellbug
 
 Spoiler: The Legend of Artus Thraxes 
Centuries ago, petty despots and warlords fought over the remains of a forsworn empire. Some were righteous, some wicked. Some wished to claim legitimacy of what came before them, some hoped hoped to carve out their own piece of land to lord over, and some just wanted to take what could be taken and damn the rest. And for all but the victors, the ones that could come to a place where they could set aside the torch and blade, all that remains now are their stories and their graves. General Artus Thraxes was one such warlord.

In most ways, Thraxes was just like other contemporary would-be conquerors. He was a shrewd tactician, a great warrior in his own right, and he commanded the loyalty of hundreds of soldiers willing to fight for a share in his throne. Where he differed, though, was in his command of a powerful magic. It is said that he possessed a helmet that was impervious to any weapon and, more curiously, could lay a spell on anyone, even his worst enemies, that would bind their will to his own. It wasn't enough, though, and rumors of this power united enemies against him. Reportedly searching for something greater, he marched his army south into the wilderness, and none of them were ever seen again.
 


It's been four days since Threeforks and a week before that since the manor in Thrysburg.  Even if you doubted Councilor August Greylock's story, the coin in your pocket already and the exorbitant sum he had promised, 4000 gold coins, made it clear that he certainly thinks that his sources are accurate and trustworthy, and the extensive collection of antiques and relics that he proudly exhibited guaranteed that he's good for the money.  Of course, he's the cousin of the Duke so his means are of no surprise.  But maybe that's not why you're here.

The Austral Marches, a practically unsettled stretch of wilderness bounded by the Cantons to the north, the territory of Alta Verina to the west, the Godstomb Mountains to the south, and wilderness all the way across the high plains to the east, practically to the other side of the world.  It's easy to see why it's unsettled.  The last three days have been a trek through some of the greyest moor you've ever seen.  It'd be fit for nothing more than grazing, but there aren't enough people around to keep the wild beasts at bay, and so it's just a homestead here and there, surely each owned by someone who just couldn't stand other folks.  Even on the road, the last three nights have been spent under the stars, or they would have been if the clouds, always threatening rain, had let up.

Earlier today, the sharp-eyed among your number were able to point out in the distance the closest of the Godstomb Mountains, and the perpetually-snowcapped peaks behind them, deeper in the range.  They've vanished since the rain began around midday, though, and for the last three hours it's been the same grey you've gotten used to on the trip.  But the land has changed recently.  There's been cultivated land, or recently cultivated, at least.  This late in the year the harvest is already in, and the hedgerows merely separate empty fields and those with what must be fruit-bearing trees.  Muddy footpaths occasionally lead to sod-and-stone homes that sit close enough to the road for access but far enough to not invite curious travelers.

One structure is different.  Coming over the top of a slight rise, you find yourselves looking down at a group of buildings, four in total, sturdily built of timber and stone.  A man-and-a-half tall stone wall bounds the complex, separating it from the orchard that surrounds it.  An open gate faces the road, which you can see further on forks, with one branch leading further south and the other turning towards the east.  Smoke puffs from the chimney of the largest building, promising warm and dry, and, furthermore, this looks like your destination.  There's a letter in your pocket from Councilman Greylock addressed for an Adrienne, an agent of his who he promised would meet you at the crossroads inn: Flint's Trading Post.
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(18)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  2/2
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Web
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  3/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -   
 
  

Gladius sat astride his horse. The creature was a hardy breed that seldom tired - the same couldn't be said for its rider though. Being close to their first stop of this journey was certainly a welcome sight. They had made good time all in all - having roads and an able guide, knowledgeable of the wilds helped. Being on campaign, riding from crisis to crisis had been the sole content of the last third of his life - and despite the misery, he missed it greatly. Being out here again with a group of like minded individuals almost let him forget the darkness of the last year. The order crumbling, murders in the ranks, discovering that the general had been in fact possessed and replaced with an unspeakable horror...

He forcefully suppressed the memory. Sometimes he wondered if the resistance to sleep magic that his elven heritage granted him, was just the result of his nightmares waking him up so often.

Sitting a bit straighter in the saddle, he called out to the Orc Barbarian in the lead:

  "Have you been to the trading post before? Are the accommodations any good?"  
J-H
      
   <span style="font-family: Century

Gothic">  Jebediah Fortuna    
 Halfling Shadow Sorcerer 
 AC: 12 HP: 44/44 
 PPer: 13 PInv: 10 PIst: 10  
 Conditions: -- 
 Concentrating: --  
 
  
 "Good or not, it's still a roof, a warm bed, and likely a bath."   Jebediah smiles slightly, rubbing his always-chilled hands together.   "I've been on many journeys, and the first night back at civilization is always a relief, whether it's a fancy inn or a ramshackle tavern." 
agignac
      
     Laula   
 Goliath Twilight Cleric 
 AC: 19 HP: 51/51 
 PPer: 13 PInv: 10 PIst: 10  
 Channel Divinity: 2/2 
 Steps of the Night: 3/3 
 Conditions: -- 
 Concentrating: --  
 
  

Laula trod along the road with her new companions, trying not to mentally complain to Hibernius. She pulled her bearskin cloak tighter around her, shivering. These moors were cool, but not the clean, crisp cold of the mountains. A wet cold, that crept in under her furs and into her bones.

And the Austral Marches are boring. Gently rolling moors, grey sky above, grey-green heathers on the ground. She could see why it was uninhabited. Who would choose to live here?

As the complex came into sight, she took in the buildings, the wall, and the fork in the road. She came to a sudden halt and squinted her eyes (causing the tribal markings around her face to change shape), looking for signs. There was nothing particularly noteworthy, other than the question of where they quarried the stone from. There! The nearest orchard tree had five branches on the near side, all pointing in the direction of the Inn. Five branches for five travellers. Even if one of them was only half-sized. Maybe even one third sized. Still.

Nodding her head decisively, Laula said,  " This is a good place for us to stay ."  Her voice is deep, but surprisingly lyrical. She probably sang with a pleasant tenor voice.
Awful
  Izillia of the Silver Nails  
  Half Elf Forge Cleric 6 
 AC:  20  | HP:  45/45  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Channel Divinity:  2/2
 Harness Divine Power (1):  2/2
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -  

The armoured priestess was sat on her placid-faced mule, the iron of her splint-and-breastplate clattering slightly with every step the beast took. The young elf's arms were nearly bare, and the silver nails hammered through the right one caught the sun in glints and glimmers. The rain was plinking against her armour. The hideous, demon-faced iron mask had been moved to the top of her head, so it shaded her face from the rain and revealed her forge-tanned face.

The rain. Urgh. It was probably going to wash the ash out of her hair, and she'd have to dye it again. An iron-grey crow, not that far removed in colouration than the marches around them, perched on her head.

Izillia hadn't really been paying attention to the journey. The grey expanse had been terribly dull to travel through. At the sight of it, she perked up.

  "Oh, the trading post?"   she chirped excitedly. Her voice was fast, the words tumbling over each other in their enthusiasm to get out; there was still a hint of that lilting elven musicality in there, but mostly it was hidden beneath her Canton accent.  "Fiiiiinally!"  
The crow on her head angled its beady eyes. When it spoke, it's voice was a smooth, deep thing, the words curling like a cat's claws.
  "Smoke from the chimney. There are inhabitants, at least. It remains to be seen if the one we are to meet is there."  
Izallia nodded before she looked around. Her guileless red eyes settled on the other cleric: the lanky Goliath.
  "Miss Layla! Do you think they'll have a big enough bed for you? You're very long."   
Dr.Samurai
Orson moves beside Gladius,   I can't speak for the inside, but the stables are usually good enough. Though the horses get a bit spooked when you're trying to keep warm, and it might be tough to hide the five of us through the night.   He gives a sidelong glance to the warrior and then cracks a toothy grin,   It'll have what you need, but nothing the land doesn't already provide.  
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(18)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  2/2
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Web
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  3/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -   
 
  

Gladius nodded.


  "What I want is a strong cup of tea, a hot bath and a good nights sleep - but admittedly, I want that basically at all times. I'll settle for a warm meal and a roof over my head for the night."  

He looked around:  "Seems really like the end of civilization. Going forward, I imagine it's just getting harder."   He glanced sideways at Orson:   "Not to knock your excellent mushroom stew or anything. Just in case we are caught out in a wasteland or something."  

He urged the horse forward:   "Let's get on then and meet this Arienne. I'm very interested to learn what she found out about our goal."  
agignac
      
      Laula    
 AC: 19 HP: 51/51 
 PPer: 13 PInv: 10 PIst: 10  
 Channel Divinity: 2/2 
 Steps of the Night: 3/3 
 Conditions: -- 
 Concentrating: --  
 
  
Izillia's question made Laula think for a moment. She said,   "It's a good thing that I bend. Why do you flatlanders put your beds up off the floor? In the mountains, our mats are on the floor, so even it is easy to accommodate different 'lengths' of people. Also, you are giving vermin a place to hide. Very peculiar. But I will sleep well enough."  

The cleric of Hibernius still didn't know what to make of the forge cleric and her grim mask and her crow and the nails in her arms. At first she'd thought them all an omen of ill-portent, but the girl seemed friendly and cheerful beyond expectation. Remembering her Bumpa's caution to observe before judgement, she endeavored to do so.
The Hellbug
The group of travelers continues to converse as they approach and, seeing no one at the gate, enter the trading post.  Inside the walls, muddy paths connect the buildings and the pair of entrances, the other of which lies exactly opposite the road.  Of the buildings, one is a currently unmoving mill connected what could possibly be a residence, another is marked by the hoofprints at its door as a barn, one looks to be a storehouse of some sort, and, finally, the one producing the smoke seen from afar is a large, stone, two-story building with a worn sign above the door announcing itself as "Flint's Trading Post," probably a bunkhouse.  The sound of voices drifts out from behind the door, and outside a cloaked man looks up from where he's gathering split logs from a stack under an awning.  His hood is pulled down far enough that all that can be seen is a bushy beard, and, after an evaluating look, he goes back to his work.

 "Welcome!"  a voice booms from behind a bar in an unmistakably northern accent when the travelers enter,  "hang your cloaks, find yourselves a seat, and warm yourself; it's barely fit for the wolves out there.  I'll be with you in a moment."   It belongs to a middle-aged man with an intensely-receding hairline and well-maintained mustache who's in the middle of, together with what looks from behind to be an elf, lifting a keg onto a rack behind the bar.  The rest of the common room is clean but spare.  It's benches around simple tables, but a fire roars in an oversized stone fireplace, above which is mounted the snarling head of an owlbear.  The sources of the voices from outside are a group of a half-dozen grizzled-looking individuals huddled around a dice game and a trio of dwarves who are taking a meal one table over.

There are a few looks at the newcomers, some longer than others, and they particularly linger over Laula and Jebediah, but only the dark-skinned human woman nearest the fire, her well-worn tunic and breeches not matching her dirty-but-clearly-new shoes, doesn't quickly go back to her business.  Instead, she sheathes her knife, sets it and the half-finished figurine she had been carving on the mantel, and approaches the five new arrivals, grabbing a bag from where it rested on the floor next to her as she does so.  From this bag, she produces a small cloth embroidered with the Greylocks' coat of arms and presents it to them,.

 "I can't imagine you're not the ones I'm waiting for,"  she announces, confident and direct.
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(18)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  2/2
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  3/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -   
 
  

Gladius had taken a moment to clean his boots of the yard's muck with a gesture and a word before entering the common room. As they were approached immediately, he asked:

  "Are you Arienne?
Pleasure to meet you. We are indeed the surveyor group.    Is there somewhere more private, where we can talk about the details of the mission?" 

The last sentence he spoke in a much more subdued voice and made sure to keep his hand in front of his mouth. The last thing they needed where a rival group trying to steal what they found.
J-H
      
      Jebediah Fortuna    
 Halfling Shadow Sorcerer 
 AC: 12 HP: 44/44 
 PPer: 13 PInv: 10 PIst: 10  
 Conditions: -- 
 Concentrating: --  
 
  

Jebediah silently raises an eyebrow at the un-guarded gate.   "No guard, no watch.  It must be pretty safe around here." 

A bit of unspoken tension goes out of him when they reach the trading post and find that it is, indeed, inhabited by the living.  As they enter and he feels the gaze of several upon him, he does what many halflings do - try to look small and unthreatening.  It's not like he can do anything about his hair or eyes.  With Arienne's quick approach, it seems that they have already found the person they are looking for.
agignac
      
      Laula    
 AC: 19 HP: 51/51 
 PPer: 13 PInv: 10 PIst: 10  
 Channel Divinity: 2/2 
 Steps of the Night: 3/3 
 Conditions: -- 
 Concentrating: --  
 
  
Laula likes the look of the inside of the inn. It's not so very different from what she'd see at home, even if everything is at 2/3 proper size. The owlbear over the fireplace catches her eye, and it seems to her that its staring down at the whittling woman with suspicion. When the woman stands and announces herself to be their contact, Laula frowns.  Is this the one we're to meet? Clearly she's not to be completely trusted,  she thinks. The goliath woman nods her thanks to the owlbear and its warning, and she turns her attention to Arienne and her words, alert for treachery.
Awful
  Izillia of the Silver Nails  
  Half Elf Forge Cleric 6 
 AC:  20  | HP:  45/45  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Channel Divinity:  2/2
 Harness Divine Power (1):  2/2
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -  

The half elf shook herself like a dog when she stepped in, splattering water everywhere but drying herself to a surprising quantity. When hailed by the bartender, she called back excitedly.
  "Can we get drinks? I want beer! Wait! Do you have coffee?"   
  "Focus,"   snapped the crow on her head, and she subsided a little. The next words were telepathic, rattling through her skull like the clattering of machines.   &lt;No guards outside. Is he confident? Or is it a trap? What of these other guests? We should have scouted first. Foolish.&gt;  
  "Right, right..."    

More carefully, she glanced around, taking in the others.

Vallarc said everyone always had an angle. What does it look like? What's out of place?
Her red eyes took in the scene.

 
 Spoiler: rolls 

 (1d20+6)[ 13 ]  perception or insight, whichever you think is best, looking for anything suspicious or out of place.
 
The Hellbug
 
 Spoiler: Izillia 
Nothing seems especially out of the ordinary for an inn or boarding-house.  None of the patrons appear to be armed with anything more than a dagger, and the folks playing dice, though a little on the loud side, don't seem hostile, merely a little drunk.  If anything is strange, the place seems rather prosperous for something this combination of remote and, as you were to understand, poorly-traveled.
 

 "One...moment," the welcoming man responds to Izillia's request, groaning at the weight of the barrel, but the woman before the newcomers is already beckoning them onward.

 "Indeed I am,"  she answers crisply,  "representative of Lord August Greylock.  You may follow me."   Without further delay, she spins around and leads the party up a set of stairs to one what looks like a half dozen rooms on the upper floor.  Inside, it's furnished with just a desk and a bed, and, since the ceiling slopes down to the eaves with the roof, it's a bit cramped with six occupants.  Leaning against the bed seems to be the woman's belongings in a pair of saddle bags alongside a leather jerkin, coat of mail, and a sheathed longsword.

 "As you identified, Arienne,"  the woman finally introduces herself, "first, I was under the impression you would be carrying a letter for me from the Lord Greylock?  I'll need that before we discuss anything further.  And"--she motions towards the scant space in the room-- "if one or two of you can speak for your group, the rest of you can head back downstairs.  The lodgings aren't perfect for this sort of thing.  Make yourselves comfortable, have a drink.  As long as I'm here, my lord will make sure you're well cared for."   For emphasis, the councilor's representative tips a coin purse on the desk just enough to reveal that the coins within are gold, rather than silver.
Awful
  Izillia of the Silver Nails  
  Half Elf Forge Cleric 6 
 AC:  20  | HP:  45/45  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Channel Divinity:  2/2
 Harness Divine Power (1):  2/2
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -  
  "Ok!"   
A moment more of communication and the crow flapped to the tabletop with a flurry of steel-grey wings. With a cheerful wave, Izillia turned and headed for the potential of beer, coffee, or an unholy mixture of the two...? The sounds of her clattering down the stairs to the common room chattered their way back up. Vallarc, left behind, stared at the representative, the white pinpricks of his eyes unblinking.

Whoever was speaking for the group would do it beneath his merciless gaze.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
 
Dr.Samurai
      
  Orson 
  Orc Totem Warrior Barbarian 6 
 AC:  16  | HP:  65/65  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +3(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  -1  | Wis:  -1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  12 |  PIn:  9 |  PInv:  9
 Rages:  4/4 |  Raging:  -- |  Reckless:  --
 Resistances:  --
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Wanderer, Aspect of the Elk
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
As the group approaches the trading post, Jebediah silently raises an eyebrow at the un-guarded gate. "No guard, no watch. It must be pretty safe around here."

  No place is truly safe with people around,   Orson provides,   Be on your guard.   Given his size and height, and Laula being taller than even him, Orson suspects the group will make quite an impression and anyone with thoughts to cause trouble will have quick second thoughts. But the guide was ever cautious when meeting new people.

When Arienne introduces herself and beckons them upstairs, Orson's eyes narrow. He looks back to the patrons, seemingly minding their own business, and then up the stairs.   You know I'm a bit tired from the road, don't think I can make those stairs just yet,   he says with a sheepish smile,   I'll take you up on that offer   he calls to the barkeep.   I'll be down here,   he says to the others, and takes a seat near the stairs up.
J-H
 Jebediah 
Jebediah stays.  A room that's cramped for others still has space for him.   "Thank you for covering our lodging.  It'll be nice to spend a night someplace with a bath and a bed." 
After she's looked over the letter...  "What leads do you have for us?" 
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(18)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  2/2
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  3/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -   
 
  

Gladius took two scrolls from his pack, revealing the aforementioned letter as well as his own officers patent:

  "I'm Gladius Septimus. These are my identification papers and here is my seal.

If this alleviates your security concerns, let's move on to the briefing. No doubt my companions will spare no effort to lower the outpost's stocks of booze and food considerably.

So what can you tell us about the lay of the land and our mission?"  
agignac
Laula bumped her head on the door frame, then stood hunched over in the room. When their contact suggested they split up, she frowned again.  What is she up to?  As Izillia left to join Orson, Laula said,   "Jebediah, a word?"   When the halfling followed her into the hallway, she said,   "I would call on Hibernius's blessing to make your words more weighty with her. Will you allow this?"  

((Assuming he agrees)) She placed the fingers of her left hand on his throat, and put her other hand on her amulet.   "May your words be as splendid as the raiment of the Golden Eagle."  

((Casting Eagle's splendor on Jebediah. Advantage on CHA throws for an hour.))

She then plodded carefully down the narrow stairs, ducking her head. She joined the others at the table and said,   "What type of ale do you recommend in a place like this?"  
The Hellbug
 Jebediah and Gladius (and Vallarc) 

Arienne accepts both items from Gladius.  The patent she scans quickly, turning it over once to check the back before returning it, and for the sealed envelope her dagger comes out again, the dexterous application of which frees the letter within.  Gladius and Jebediah's questions goes unanswered as her eyes dart back and forth across the paper, but it mustn't be long, because she soon folds it up and places it in a pocket in her tunic.

 "Gladius and, well, I doubt you're an Ogreson so you must be Jebediah.  Well met,"  she finally says,  "and right to business.  Excellent."   

As she continues, the way she speaks seems almost rehearsed.   "As you probably heard in detail, Lord Greylock believes that the Helm lies somewhere to the south of here, before the Godstomb Mountains.  I can provide you with a translated copy of his source, a deserter from General Thraxes' army--one of the lucky ones, if the legend is to be believed."   She reaches into the bag again an produces a collection of notes, bound in thread.   "Acquired from the library of the Order of the Sagittate Eye at no small expense." 
 "But you can look at that on your own time.  So far, all our people can construct of Thraxes' path is that he went south, and it's unlikely he hit the mountains, although it's possible he could have.  Finding it is your job, though.  I've only talked to some of the people around here.  There are no accurate maps of the area; everyone sticks to the road if they move around.  If you follow it west, there's nothing practically all the way to Alta Verina, but by the southern branch it's about fifteen miles to Culger's Landing, just a fishing village but about the only other souls in the region.  I didn't ask around too much, but those hunters downstairs do their work in the woods south of here." 
 "But finding the Helm is  your  job,"  she continues, raising an eyebrow,  "mine is to oversee and make you're supplied when you head out.  I've already talked to Flint, and he's not allergic to coin.  He'll have you supplied with as much food as you can carry, and as long as I'm here, I'll cover your boarding expenses.  I shouldn't leave for another week or so, but eventually I'll need to attend to errands elsewhere.  Questions?" 
 
 Spoiler: Religion 12 
The Order of the Sagittate Eye is a scholastic order in the service of Hibernius that makes it their business to acquire any tome, text, correspondence, or missive, really anything written, they can get their hands on.  It's rumored that among their library in Eriness, the City of Towers, is the most extensive in the whole world, but they are very tight-lipped about its contents.  In fact, they sustain themselves monetarily by selling the privilege of perusing and copying from their collection to the wealthy.  Entry can also be bought by delivering them a work they don't yet have a copy of.
 
 Spoiler: Religion 18 
The library in Eriness isn't their only campus, merely the only one whose location isn't a closely-guarded secret of the order.  Their patron, a sphinx and priestess of Hibernius called Diontha (the Unblinking), is extremely paranoid and could never allow all of that knowledge be in one place, lest it be destroyed or fall into 'unworthy' hands.
 

 

 Orson, Izillia, and Laula 

Back down at the bar, the keg is in place and the elf has disappeared, but the middle-aged barkeep is present and ready for the three adventurers.   "Flint,"  he introduces himself in a clear, friendly voice and, now that you're closer it's obvious that he's missing about half of his left ear and his arms are scored with scars,  "you'll be the ones the soldier was waiting for.  I've got beer and cider.  Most would recommend the cider.  Kellam's practically a wizard with anything apples.  I'm afraid I can't do coffee.  Wish I could, but it's only luck that brings any this far south."   He points with his thumb towards a big cauldron behind him.   "There's stew if you're hungry.  It's not totally finished yet, but it shouldn't kill ya.  Where are y'all from?" 
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(18)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  3/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -   
 
  

Gladius flipped through the documents, before answering:

  "Are we the only ones and/or the first ones to be send out on this mission? Who else knows about the deserter's documents - besides the translator. What's the monster situation in that area? Anything specific we should be wary about?"  
 
 Spoiler 

Religion
 (1d20+5)[ 23 ] 
 
J-H
      
      Jebediah Fortuna    
 Halfling Shadow Sorcerer 
 AC: 12 HP: 44/44 
 PPer: 13 PInv: 10 PIst: 10  
 Conditions: -- 
 Concentrating: --  
 
  

Jebediah stands on his tip-toes to see the documents, but can't quite.  Maybe later.  Religious studies wasn't something he really dealt with, beyond the basic obligations everyone has.

 "The hunters can tell us about animals, I suppose.  Any more recent leads?  An army doesn't just vanish without leaving a lot of armor, weapons, and even trash behind." 
The Hellbug
 Gladius, Jebediah, and Vallarc 

Flipping through the translated diary, Gladius can immediately see it's not the kind of document from which anything useful can be gleaned from just a glance.  It's pages and pages long and rife with translator's notes.  The original writer is noted at the beginning, though: a junior officer by the name of Jonas Evern.

The merchant noble's representative pauses before answering Gladius's barrage of questions.   "You are the first that Lord Greylock has sent,"  she answers, a tinge of annoyance in her voice,  "but if you know the Order, then you know they wouldn't have shared that with us under the best of circumstances.  There's no telling if they've shown that document to anyone else, nor how long they've even had it." 
 "As for the wildlife: I'm no expert.  The moment you step foot off that road, you're in unmapped wilderness, and from the little I've heard, the locals keep it that way.  So dangerous?  Probably yes.  Need I remind you of the very generous bounty my lord has offered you?" 

Arienne shakes her head with a small amount of exasperation.   "No, it normally does not,"  she agrees with Jebediah,  "but when it marches into the wilderness and never returns, there's no telling where those things end up.  Add to that four hundred years and only this diary to narrow it down to less than tens of thousands of leagues and maybe it does." 
 
 Spoiler: History 13 
The Everns are still an extant family, in the south-eastern canton of Sousurret.  Whether they have any relation to  this  Evern is entirely unguessable.
 

 
 Spoiler: Sense Motive 14 
Arienne's pause at Gladius's questioning is suspicious, seeming to be more than just annoyance or a moment to recall the answers to this questions.  Sure enough, you notice a twitch in left hand and,you can tell her attention goes to the letter in her pocket just for a moment before she answers.
 
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(18)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  3/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -   
 
  

Gladius frowned:

  "You seem annoyed about doing your job and answering our questions. Is there anything you'd like to tell us?
To answer your - very impertinent - question: We wouldn't be asking about what lays ahead if we weren't prepared to forge ahead. So keep to the facts if you please. It's fine if you don't know the answers. But you should be as invested in the success of this mission as we are. So, tell us - what else do you know that we should know about this mission."  
Dr.Samurai
      
  Orson 
  Orc Totem Warrior Barbarian 6 
 AC:  16  | HP:  65/65  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +3(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  -1  | Wis:  -1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  12 |  PIn:  9 |  PInv:  9
 Rages:  4/4 |  Raging:  -- |  Reckless:  --
 Resistances:  --
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Wanderer, Aspect of the Elk
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
  Orson,   the half orc says,   A cider and stew will do.  

Once Flint has a moment, Orson will ask him,   We're venturing further out from here, anything you can tell us about the wilderness from here?  
The Hellbug
 Gladius, Jebediah, and Vallarc 
 "I am  annoyed  because...,"  Arienne starts but seems to think better of it, shakes her head, and continues with a deep breath,  "no, that's not worth it.  I've already provided you with everything useful I've been able to uncover, and I've answered your questions.  I'll see to it that your supplies are prepared by tomorrow"   She closes her bag and stands, motioning towards the door.   "Now please excuse me, I have business to attend to." 
 Orson, Laula, and Izillia 

The stew is exactly as promised, but the cider is excellent: dry, a little tart, and delicious.   "That right here is wilderness enough for me?"  Flint answers with a grin,  "but seriously, it's dangerous and most don't go far from the roads.  Even on the roads, it's best not to travel alone.  There's all sorts of things that would prey on lone travelers: wolves, giant ants...there's even a wyvern nest somewhere out there, it flies over from time to time.  Rosa and her people" --he points towards the gamblers-- "go south and east into the woods all the time, probably know them better than anyone.  Well, maybe except Jethro.  He's the roadwarden outta Alta Verina, but I haven't seen him since summer." 
 "It gets swampier down by Culger's Landing, and I don't think they get out much, except onto the lake.  Don't think anyone does much exploring out west; the road gets real close to the mountains and I imagine they ain't easy to navigate."  The barkeep pauses, considering his next words before continuing warily.   "There  was  a winery out that way, name o' Lortan, you lot aren't here about that , are ya?" 
 
 Spoiler: Histoy 10, advantage if from Alta Verina 
The Roadwardens are a fixture of less-populated areas adjacent to the Alta Verina's sphere of influence.  Their stated purpose is to travel the roads and make them safe, keep them clear, and generally be helpful to small settlements and travelers, but it's well-known that they wouldn't exist if they weren't reporting back to the city, which uses their information to advance its merchant and material interests.  The amount that they balance these two responsibilities varies from roadwarden to roadwarden and about the only blanket statement that can be said about them is that any veteran roadwarden is surely self-reliant and resilient, if nothing else.
 
agignac
In the mountains, the only fruiting plants they had to ferment were the small berries from conifer trees, and the tuber-like roots of summer flowers. The resulting alcohol was strong, harsh, and got the job done. Alcohol made from edible food seemed like an almost sinful luxury. Laula had heard of ale before coming down to the lowlands, but had never tried it; after all, wheat was for bread. She liked it, though found it so weak as to barely be fit to be called alcohol. But alcohol made from from apples? She'd never even heard of such a thing.   "A cider please! And a large bowl of stew."  

She found the cider very to her liking, and ordered another after tasting her first. She listened to Flint's description of the local dangers, nodding sagely. Wolves were a problem everywhere.   "Giant ants? How big do they get?"   There were all sorts of monstrous sized creatures in the mountains, but ants were new to her.

At the mention of Roadwardens, Laula thought back to what she'd learned about them. A tough sort of people, for a lowlander, as she recalled.  "Is that unusual, not to see this Jethro in a year?" 
 Winery. Wine - alcohol made from grapes.  Something else she was curious to try. She'd never eaten a grape before either.   "We are not here about Lortan,"    she asked,  "but we would be interested to hear about it. Was it ants?"  
Dr.Samurai
      
  Orson 
  Orc Totem Warrior Barbarian 6 
 AC:  16  | HP:  65/65  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +3(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  -1  | Wis:  -1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  12 |  PIn:  9 |  PInv:  9
 Rages:  4/4 |  Raging:  -- |  Reckless:  --
 Resistances:  --
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Wanderer, Aspect of the Elk
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
Orson eyes Rosa and the others, but waits to hear what Flint's thoughts are on this man Jethro and on the winery before introducing himself. There are many reasons a traveler may not show up for some time, but any information can help the group right now.
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(18)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  3/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -   
 
  

Gladius raised an eyebrow and looked at Jebediah, prompting the charismatic halfling to probe the prickly agent. He stood ready to support whatever yarn the sorcerer would spin.

Meanwhile he looked into translation, trying to make sense of what had prompted this expedition to be put together.

  "We'll be out of your hair momentarily."  
J-H
      
      Jebediah Fortuna    
 Halfling Shadow Sorcerer 
 AC: 12 HP: 44/44 
 PPer: 13 PInv: 10 PIst: 10  
 Conditions: -- 
 Concentrating: --  
 
  
 "After hundreds of years, why now?  We overheard a rumor about someone else looking for it.  Was there a new lead, or a rumor that you haven't shared because it's uncertain?"    Jebediah prods, weaving in a falsehood to try to elicit more details.
 
 Spoiler: Deception 

The rumor about someone else looking for it is made up.
Deception  (1d20+6)[ 17 ] 
 
Awful
  Izillia of the Silver Nails  
  Half Elf Forge Cleric 6 
 AC:  20  | HP:  45/45  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Channel Divinity:  2/2
 Harness Divine Power (1):  2/2
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -  

Izillia, once provided with the relevant stew and cider, tucked in with gusto, to the extent ont might wonder if it even touched the sides.
  "And tell me about the wyvern!"    she burst in. Her eyes shone with excitement. A wyvern... They were like little dragons! So cool! She wanted to make something with it!
  "And give me some more stew!"   
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
 
The Hellbug
 Gladius, Jebediah, and Vallarc 

Before Jebediah speaks, Arienne had looked like she was about to follow the pair (and the bird, who she's sure to wait for) out of the room, but the halfling's words stop her.   "Where and when did you hear this?"  she asks gravely,  "I've heard nothing about this from Lord August.  Please, tell me what you heard."   She sits back down and gestures for her guests to stay.

 Laula, Izillia, and Orson 
 "Not unusual at all, but I wouldn't be surprised if we see him soon, though.  Hardly ever see him less than once a season, but if he decided to bed down for the winter early somewhere, he might not get around until spring,"  the innkeep explains,  "as for the giant ants, the workers are about the size of the small dog, but the warriors can be as big as a pony.  At least that's what I've seen, but that wasn't around here.  Rosa thinks they come up from under the mountains; I'll pay for proof of any you kill.  Anything to keep them from..." 

That's as far as Flint gets before he's interrupted by Izillia.  He puts up his hands in a show of surrender before scooping up her bowl.   "Hold on, Miss, there's plenty to go around!"  he exclaims with a chuckle , but dutifully fills the bowl as he answers her question.   "All I know is that it flies up from the south.  People blame it for lost cattle, but nobody's actually seen it take any.  Could just as easily be wolves." 
 "And Lortan?  Good.  Best to keep away from it.  Anyone with any sense stays away.  Only one that's walked out of there since it went quiet is Jethro."   The innkeep taps the ladle inside the cauldron and hangs it on the wall.  When he turns back to his guests, it looks like he's going to return Izillia's bowl, but he stops short, pulling it just out of reach.   "But I don't think I got either of your names,"  he states amiably but determinedly,  "where are y'all from?" 
J-H
 Jebediah 
 "You know Lord Greylocke hired us individually, I think as a mix of asking around and maybe a few open advertisements.  I haven't asked how the others were found, but I know he found me as a referral from a merchant.  While he was assembling the group, a friend of a friend mentioned something about someone pulling together a group to go look for something down in the jungle.  It could have been a garbled version of Lord Greylocke's request, but it sounded like the person doing the hiring was not from Alta Verina, so I think it was someone else.
Third-hand information and it might not be related... but if someone else is after the same Helm, that interferes with our payday and we'd like to know any suspicions, hints, or less-reliable info you may have run across and discounted." 
Dr.Samurai
      
  Orson 
  Orc Totem Warrior Barbarian 6 
 AC:  16  | HP:  65/65  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +3(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  -1  | Wis:  -1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  12 |  PIn:  9 |  PInv:  9
 Rages:  4/4 |  Raging:  -- |  Reckless:  --
 Resistances:  --
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Wanderer, Aspect of the Elk
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
Orson lets out a burp,   Oh, that's good cider,   he says.   Orson Ogreson. I'm from all around, you can say, though this will be the farthest south I've been so far.   He spoons through the stew looking for more meat,   Have you seen the roadwarden since he went to the vineyard, or do you think something happened to him there?  
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(18)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  3/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -   
 
  

Gladius just nodded at Jebediah's story:

  "So, what is it you aren't saying?"  
agignac
      
      Laula    
 AC: 19 HP: 51/51 
 PPer: 13 PInv: 10 PIst: 10  
 Channel Divinity: 2/2 
 Steps of the Night: 3/3 
 Conditions: -- 
 Concentrating: --  
 
  
  "I am Laula, called Starchaser of the Clan Kalagalia. Daughter to Paer and Hania. I have travelled from the Twilight Peaks to the north and west of here."  

She considered the issue of giant ants. Dogs she was familiar with, but they didn't have ponies in the Twilight Peaks. She had seen many of the round-hooved creatures since coming to the lowlands, but didn't have a good understanding of the difference between horses, ponies, foals, stallions and the myriad other names humans used for these beasts of burden. All, however, were a good size.

  "What proof would you need for a kill? A head? A claw? A portrait of the beast?"  
The Hellbug
 Gladius, Jebediah, and the Demon Crow 

Arienne visibly relaxes as the halfling finishes reporting his suspicions, but her annoyance returns when Gladius presses her.   "Nothing that concerns you,"  she assures him and turns to Jebediah,  "if they're talking about the jungle, they're going the wrong way.  It sounds like it's just the inevitable rumors stirred up by recruiting adventurers.  It's already been accounted for.  I'll just remain here a few more days to make sure any that followed you are taken care of.  You won't need to worry about any of that...moreso if you find the Helm quickly." 
 Izillia, Laula, and Orson 
 "The best,"  Flint responds to the orc proudly,  "and of course we have.  That was years ago.  First thing he did was try to find out what happened to ole' Bram, that was his predecessor.  That'd be nine years ago now.  Said he found nothing; no sign of Bram, the search party, or the Lortan-folk--like they were there one minute and gone the next.  Scared the hell out of him he said." 
 "But the ants: they've got those funny little things on their heads."   The innkeep puts his hands to his forehead to mime antennae.   "I'll give you a silver drake for every pair of 'em.  Don't want them to even think about planting a colony near here." 
Awful
  Izillia of the Silver Nails  
  Half Elf Forge Cleric 6 
 AC:  20  | HP:  45/45  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Channel Divinity:  2/2
 Harness Divine Power (1):  2/2
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -  

Deprived of the stew, Izzilia finally introduced herself.
  "Izillia!"    She grinned toothily. Holding up her right arm, she tapped one of the gleaming silver spikes rammed through.
  "Of the Silver Nails! I'm from the Canton of Stecheri. And I'm a Priestess! I'm an accredited cleric-smith of the Gildchapel of Autumna! And this- oh, yeah, he's still upstairs. Never mind."   
Her shoulders slumped a little at the absence of her guardian and/or pet. The young woman seemed biologically incapable of being down for too long, however, and she rocked forward on her stool.
  "This is a pretty nice place, Mister! You must get some interesting sorts through here!"   

---

Said crow was currently staring very hard at the untrustworthy Arienne, though not speaking. Why tip his (metaphorical) hand? Something about the woman was brushing his feathers the wrong way entirely.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
 
Dr.Samurai
      
  Orson 
  Orc Totem Warrior Barbarian 6 
 AC:  16  | HP:  65/65  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +3(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  -1  | Wis:  -1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  12 |  PIn:  9 |  PInv:  9
 Rages:  4/4 |  Raging:  -- |  Reckless:  --
 Resistances:  --
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Wanderer, Aspect of the Elk
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
Orson mulls over the strange request, wondering if the ants are intelligent and could recognize the dead body parts.   So Flint, what drives Risa and her crew into the woods south of here?  
The Hellbug
 Izillia, Orson, and Laula 
 "I do!  Makes up for the scarceness of them!"  the innkeep agrees with a chuckle, finally sliding the now-full bowl of stew back to Izillia.  He checks on the fire under the cauldron as moves on to answering Orson's question.   "Don't think anything's driving them, they're the hunters after all--" 

Flint is interrupted by a muffled voice calling from down the hallway.   "That'd be Kellam.  Sounds like I'm needed,"  he excuses himself,  "why don't you ask them yourselves?"   He steps out of sight and leaves the three alone at the bar.
Dr.Samurai
      
  Orson 
  Orc Totem Warrior Barbarian 6 
 AC:  16  | HP:  65/65  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +3(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  -1  | Wis:  -1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  12 |  PIn:  9 |  PInv:  9
 Rages:  4/4 |  Raging:  -- |  Reckless:  --
 Resistances:  --
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Wanderer, Aspect of the Elk
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
Orson pounds back the rest of the cider,   Good idea,   he says. He stands and walks over to where the others are and pulls over a seat, pointing quickly at Risa,   Risa, right? Orson Ogreson. My group and I are venturing out from here and Flint tells us you and your crew have some experience in the woods south of here. I haven't been in these parts. Wondering if you could give us a lay of the land. Flint's told us about some big ol' ants, and a wyvern already.  
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(18)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  3/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -   
 
  

Gladius gave up and took the texts with him down the stairs. Moving out of the room he said:

  "I'll study the content - I might be back with more questions."  

Somehow that sounded like a threat.

Heading down to the bar, he asked for tea or a herbal infusion as well as stew, sat down on a table and began reading, but gave up on it after only a few minutes and focused on the food.

 
 Spoiler 

Investigation  (1d20+3)[ 6 ] 
 
agignac
Laula stood to follow Orson, then sat again. She didn't know how friendly the hunters would be, and too many new people might tip them towards unfriendliness. Instead, she saw Gladius return and asked him,   "What did you learn?"  
The Hellbug
 Gladius, Jebediah, and the bird 

The merchant lord's representative nods at Gladius's words.   "Good, if that's all there is, like I said, business to attend to,"  she says, standing and preparing to follow Gladius and Jebediah out of her room.  Before she leaves the room, she looks to the demonic familiar.   "That means you too, creature." 

Once everyone's out, Arienne locks the door behind her and follows them downstairs, where she walks to the door with purpose and heads out into the rain.

 
 Spoiler: Gladius 
It appears that calling the collected documents is a journal bit of a misnomer, as it appears that a good chunk of it is a collection of Jonas Evern's letters, apparently unsent since there are no replies.  What this means is that sorting out useful information for tracking the army's movements is difficult to sort out, since it must be sorted out from complaints about the weather and food, declarations of how much he misses his betrothed back home (who appears to be an Amelia), questioning what his grandfather would do in a situation like this, and so on.  What you do notice is that, by his reckoning, morale was high at the beginning of their march southward, as it was obvious that the coalition against General Thraxes was proof of the strength of his forces.  He wasn't far from being powerful enough that a decisive victory against any of his enemies would be enough to splinter their alliance.
 

 In the Common Room 

It's no mean feat to find a hole among the half-dozen gambling hunters, but Orson eventually manages to pull up a chair.  A brusque  'hold on'  is all he gets from their leader, a stocky not-quite-middle-aged human woman with an absolute tangle of brown hair and a bright red scarf.  The reason if obvious; every person around the table is tense as one of the hunters shakes wooden cup and tosses a pair of dice onto the table.  They land on a two and a three.

There's a chorus of groans and cheers, and coins and valuables exchanged with a large portion of them sliding towards the woman Orson pointed to.    "Rosa,"   she corrects,  "and yeah, better than anyone, but what makes you think I'm interested in sharing for free?  It's my livelihood, after all." 
Dr.Samurai
      
  Orson 
  Orc Totem Warrior Barbarian 6 
 AC:  16  | HP:  65/65  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +3(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  -1  | Wis:  -1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  12 |  PIn:  9 |  PInv:  9
 Rages:  4/4 |  Raging:  -- |  Reckless:  --
 Resistances:  --
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Wanderer, Aspect of the Elk
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
  Hey Rosa, we're not hunters. I'm not asking you to take us anywhere. Just wondering about the terrain, anything to look out for, that's all. From one guide to another.   Orson seems earnest, and like he doesn't understand the ask for payment.
Awful
  Izillia of the Silver Nails  
  Half Elf Forge Cleric 6 
 AC:  20  | HP:  45/45  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Channel Divinity:  2/2
 Harness Divine Power (1):  2/2
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -  
  "Bye, Miss!"    Izillia calls after the departing woman, then smiles as Vellarc appears with fluttering leaps. Retaking his pride-of-place on her head, he stared after the leaving woman with grim eyes.
 "I do not trust that creature. Where does she go on such a time? Hers is not the role to search." 
He gave a sharp caw of disgust.
  "Maybe she was here for something else originally?"    Izillia suggested, picking out shreds of meat from the stew to offer to her crow. Vellarc did not, objectively, need to eat, but he would still partake of meat. He blamed the psychosomatic resonance of an animal form; Izillia just thought he liked the flavour. He gave a dismissive grunt to Izillia's suggestion, and she let the matter lapse while she spooned at undistinguishable vegetables.

Seeing Gladius and Laula congregate to examine the paperwork, Vellarc told her to go over; she slid in next to the bladesinger with a clatter of maille. Her eyebrows rose at the sight of all the assorted letters, declarations, and chaff, and she picked one at random

She lasted approximately seven words before she gave up.

She slumped back, chair rocking dangerously, and shoved the paperwork further away again.
  "No wonder no one's found it, if they gotta read a billion boring letters."   
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Literally got a 0 for investigation
 
J-H
 Jebediah 
 "As long as Gladius can figure it out, that just means less competition for us.  What'd you find out down here?  Anything helpful, or are we just going to be wandering around in the wilds hoping for some luck?" 
The Hellbug
 In the Common Room 

Izillia gets no response from Arienne who is unfaltering in her course towards the door.

______

The table is quiet as Rosa squints warily at Orson, gauging if he's pulling some kind of deception.  Apparently, she decides he isn't because she relaxes and scoops up the dice, at which point the chatter resumes.   "Sure, from one guide to another,"  she replies,  "do you play?  Why don't you stick around for a round, meet the lads and lasses here?  Your friends too, if they fancy.  We can chat over a game." 

When she grins, she reveals a rather nasty-looking chipped canine.  The gesture does less to put you at ease than she may intend.
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(18)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  3/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -   
 
  

Gladius decided - after finishing his meal in record time - to start from the end, looking at the last correspondence first, to get a feel for the position the writer was in and possibly where the army was.
  "Worse than deciphering old spell books...   he muttered to himself.
Dr.Samurai
      
  Orson 
  Orc Totem Warrior Barbarian 6 
 AC:  16  | HP:  65/65  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +3(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  -1  | Wis:  -1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  12 |  PIn:  9 |  PInv:  9
 Rages:  4/4 |  Raging:  -- |  Reckless:  --
 Resistances:  --
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Wanderer, Aspect of the Elk
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
Orson looks relieved when Rosa agrees, but then like a cat slipping into water when she asks him to play,   I don't get to play many games out in the wild,   he offers apologetically,   but I can play a... round.   He looks back at the others,   Anyone want to join in?  
J-H
 Jebediah 
The halfling walks over to the table.   "Dice?  Sure.  I'll roll a few."  He examines the dice surreptitiously, checking to see if he can tell whether or not they're honest.

 
 Spoiler: rolls 

I really don't know how to talk "dice gambling." Poker has antes, dice has...wagers?
Investigation and Perception are both at +0
Deception is +6 if it's relevant (poker?)
And Halfling Luck + Bountiful luck let Jebediah or Orson reroll a 1 on an ability check each round, so we have a slight edge over time assuming everyone is rolling with the same modifiers.  It's probably worth around 2.5%, which is a "house edge" grade difference over time.
 
Awful
  Izillia of the Silver Nails  
  Half Elf Forge Cleric 6 
 AC:  20  | HP:  45/45  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Channel Divinity:  2/2
 Harness Divine Power (1):  2/2
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -  
  "I'll play! I'll play!"   
Izillia, seeing an opportunity to get away from the papers, eagerly dragged a chair up to join the game.
She briefly clapped her hands together in prayer, inclining her head as she mumbled quickly.
  "Great and terrible Autumna, who wraps chains of silver around the throat of the world; grant me fortune."   
She looked up and grinned.
  "Let's play!"   
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

16 in the dice roller channel
 
[/QUOTE]
agignac
Laula, having spent a good portion of her training trying to decipher old religious texts, sat next to Gladius, ignoring the game behind her.   "Pass some to me, I'll help."  
  investigation  - (1d20)[ 11 ] 
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(18)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  3/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -   
 
  

Gladius looked up and smiled:
  "Thanks, appreciated. Here I sorted them by date. I started going backwards. And here are my notes."  
The Hellbug
 The Dice Game 

Both Izillia and Jebediah get wary looks from the hunters as they sit down, but only one goes so far as to say anything.

 "Hey, nobody said anything about bringing in any spooky crap like that!"  says one of the younger of their number, a human man with a shaved head.

 "Ah, shut your superstitious mouth, Tavert"  shoots a eyepatch-wearing halfling, who graciously pushes the dice to the newcomers across from him for them to test,  "next you'll be saying it's Cerise's fault it's raining." 
 "You don't pray for good weather after..." 

A woman, younger-looking and fairer-skinned than Rosa, cuts Tavert off in a sharp voice:  "Just be glad it's not snow yet." 
 "Quiet all,"  Rosa says,  "that's enough of that.  If they pay, they play." 

Silence them she does, and the game begins.  It's a simple one, just a game of rolling dice with all the players betting on outcomes.  The hunters are eager to take side bets, especially among themselves, and Orson recognizes this sort of drinking and dicing as the usual behavior of people with high-risk outdoor professions like himself when they're barred by the weather.  Alongside the opening rolls, the adventurers discover that this is Rosa's operation.  She collects a crew of hunters, comes down to Flint's Trading post in the spring, hunts through the summer and autumn, and packs up for warmer climates in the winter when it's more dangerous and the game is scarce.  This crew will be in the process of dispersing over the next month or so, depending on what they take in that time.  It's a risky job, and it's normal that not all the hunters that set out in the spring make it all the way through the season, though fatalities are rare.  This year's crew is lucky enough to still be fully intact, though the later part of the year is the most dangerous since the predators become more aggressive as they fatten up for the winter.

On the subject of terrain and the creatures that live around here, Rosa has this to say:  "We work the woods south of here.  There's a little bit game east, but it gets swampy quickly to the north and west, so unless you're looking for a nasty fight with a crocodilian, there's no use hunting it.  We're mostly taking deer, beaver, boar, bear...whatever we can get without too much risk.  Got a dire boar this year, but I wouldn't go after that without a good crew.  The locals over in Culger's Landing aren't worth pissing off so we mostly leave them be, and it's all swamp down towards the Lake of Teeth anyway.  So, south of here.  About a day's hike into the forest, there's a river--goes all the way out towards that old winery from what I've heard.  We don't hunt past it and I've only explored further a handful of times late in the season.  It's more woods past that and denser, easy to get lost.  Haven't been back down there since I did just that.  Got lucky that I found a dried riverbed and followed it back.  Saw the damnedest thing while I did, too: a bridge, made of stone, spanning the whole valley of that old river.  Didn't know anyone ever lived down here but, whoever they are, they're long gone." 

There's pushback from her crew, clearly they think she's just making it up, but Rosa just shrugs and continues to play.  As for the game, the newcomer's fortunes are good, and each finishes the round a bit richer than they started, though it's the one-eyed halfling that walks away with the most.

 
 Spoiler: Money 
The round cost 3 silver pieces to play.  The winnings are as follows: hunter three 6sp,  Izillia 5sp 2cp, Jeb 4sp 5cp, Orson 4sp , hunter 1 breaks even, Rosa 2 sp, hunter two 1sp 5cp, hunter 5 8cp, hunter 4 loses it all.
 
J-H
 Jebediah 
Jebediah's up for another round if anyone else is.   "Any markings on the bridge to say who built it, or how big they were?  Could be old..."  referring to when the halflings once ruled.  He asks a few other general questions, like about what they specifically look for when hunting - furs, meat, tusks, etc. - out of a mix of general interest and to cover his real interest in the bridge as a clue.
The Hellbug
 The Journal Investigators 

With the little bit of a start Gladius has gotten, Laula is able to make progress deciphering the collected documents.  First of all, she learns that the army was extremely well-provisioned, as they expected to be marching for weeks without stopping.  Second, she learns that Jonas Evern, as a junior officer, was not made privy to the exact goal of the army's march southward.  He assumes that it must be some sort of weapon.  It was known that one of the general's closest companions, a cleric of Estivala by the called Lucius Lightcaller--some of the soldiers believed him a saint though Jonas seems to have doubted it--was the one guiding him, though it wasn't known whether this was by some secret information or direct revelation from his goddess.  Third, Jonas did know that the army was to travel as if for war.  Whatever they were after, it belonged to people, though who they were either wasn't known or wasn't publicized to the troops.
The Hellbug
 The Dice Game 

Three of the hunters give up, including the superstitious Tavert and Cerise, who ultimately was the most unfortunate loser of the last round, but the the one-eyed halfling and a demon-touched woman, who has constantly fiddled with a wide-brimmed hat that covers her horns since the newcomers arrived, stick around, and Rosa seems happy to have a captive audience.

 "Nothing that looked like language, and  I  wasn't sticking around to check.  It was  old , and I ain't poking around anything like that when I'm alone and lost, no way.  Could be cursed or who knows what,"  the lead hunter replies, absentmindedly rattling the dice around in the cup as she waits for things to start again,  "it was probably really something back when whoever it was built it, though.  It went across the whole valley, or did at one point, and I bet you coulda got six riders side by side up on the top of it." 
 "And yeah, it's mostly pelts, tusks, bones.  No sense in taking meat back so we use that ourselves.  Sometimes we keep a head for mounting.  Plenty of lords out there happy to put something like that up and tell the story of how they bravely put down a local rogue dire wolf."   She chuckles.   "But, seeing you're apparently not competition for me, what are you all here for?  And are we going to get this game going?" 
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Anyone who wants to stay in the game, let me know.
 
J-H
 Jebediah 
 "Drawing maps.  Not me, but one of the others.  Anything worth visiting that isn't on a general map?  Gold mines or the like?"   He smiles disarmingly, making it clear that he's joking and not taking the map-drawing too seriously, and that it's certainly no secret.
 
 Spoiler 

Deception  (1d20+6)[ 15 ]  or   (1d20+6)[ 15 ] 
Dice gambling roll  (1d20)[ 16 ]  rerolling any 1s, same for an ally.
 
Dr.Samurai
      
  Orson 
  Orc Totem Warrior Barbarian 6 
 AC:  16  | HP:  65/65  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +3(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  -1  | Wis:  -1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  12 |  PIn:  9 |  PInv:  9
 Rages:  4/4 |  Raging:  -- |  Reckless:  --
 Resistances:  --
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Wanderer, Aspect of the Elk
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
  That'd be me,   Orson says as Jeb mentions a map-maker. Orson looks at his winnings, up at the others, then reconsiders,   I'm not one for losing my hard earned coin on games of chance. I think I'm out.   He stands from the table, nods to Rosa and the others,   Thanks for the game, and the information. May the Coyote watch over your travels... and your games,   he says, with his own toothy grin.
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(18)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  3/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -   
 
  

Gladius made a few notes, speaking to Laula as he wrote:
  "The good news is, following the track of such a large army can't be too difficult. I bet there are still remains of all the trash a typical armored company leaves in its wake. My guess is they wanted to raid a settlement of some kind in the mountains.
The bad news is: They never came back, so we can expect a fair bit of danger there."  
The Hellbug
 The Dice Players 
 "So some rich lord-type thinks there's more than forests and beasts out there?"  Rosa more states than questions,  "well, they're welcome to think that.  My guess is you all'll soon be proving them wrong.  Wouldn't joke about the gold, though" --she nods towards the dwarves at the other table-- "good money's that's what they're here about." 

And the game begins again.  The one-eyed halfling seems to have all the luck again, and Jebediah helps him support the rumor that their kind is just born lucky.  Rosa is the loser this time, and she groans as she loses the last of her wager.   "Errrr, not my night,"  she says,  "maybe just as well, if the rain's stopped we'll need to be up early.  Nice to meet you all, and if you need a guide, I ain't cheap, but I doubt anyone knows the land better."   With that, the other two players also dismiss themselves, the halfling with a friendly grin and the tiefling with barely more than a mumble.

The common room is pretty much cleared out.  Flint has only just let the adventurers know that they'll be staying in the same room as the hunters besides Rosa, a large bunkroom with more than a dozen beds, when Arienne returns, wet from the rain.  She sternly wishes anyone left in the common room goodnight before heading upstairs.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
  Same as last time for the gambling with a 3sp buy in.  In this case the winings are: halfling hunter 6sp,  Jebediah 4.5sp , tiefling hunter breaks even,  Izillia 1.5sp , Rosa nothing.  If y'all have nothing else you want to do tonight, I can move us to the morning.
 
The Hellbug
 The Next Morning, Day 2 

With the rain having stopped at some point in the night, Rosa and the hunters are up before dawn.  They quietly wish any of the newcomers luck and set out towards the east.  In the common room, Flint has a pot of porridge bubbling, and that with a cup of cider for warmth makes breakfast.

It's slightly past daybreak when Arienne finally lets the adventurers know that everything is prepared for them, time enough for everyone to see that there's hardly a cloud in the sky.  The ground is still muddy, but the cool clear day that seems to be promised should hopefully settle that by this afternoon.  This time, the councilman's representative is attired as formally as a messenger might be; she wears a cloak and tabard stitched with the duke's coat of arms over mail, and the sword that was spied last night hangs on her hip.  Nearby, leaning up against the inn where an overhang protects a small shrine to the Four, are sacks of more than enough provisions for the adventurers to carry in the form of dried meat and fruit, hard bread and nuts, grain for porridge, and a small bag of spices, an unnecessary luxury.

 "Take whatever you need,"  Arienne invites them,  "and one more thing."   She holds out a piece of cloth that looks something like an oversized handkerchief and a quill.   "Wrap anything in this and my lord's wizards will be able to locate it, and this quill has the magic to send exactly one message to me.  Write it on any surface and it will appear here as well."    She produces and shows the small leather bound book that will receive any such message.   "Swift travels and best of luck." 

Once at the gate, now opened for the morning, the sparse farmland around Flint's Trading Post spreads in all directions, with only a hint of the forest you were promised to the south visible from where you stand and, far beyond that, the distant mountains.  The road heads away in three ways: north whence you came from, south (and west you've been told), and southeast.  A sign designates that these go towards Threeforks, Alta Verina, and Culger's Landing, respectively.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
And we're off!  Time to decide where we're all going!  I calculate that the party can carry 30 person-days of supplies, so help yourselves to that.  If there are any last minute things to be taken care of here, do it now, but other than that, it's to the map I've got in the discord!
 
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(18)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  3/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -  
 Rations available:  30 person-days [/size] 
 
  

Gladius took the offered items and stowed them in his pack.
He made also sure to inventory the rations before everyone packed them away to their respective ability.
  "Thanks. We'll be on our way then... "  

Once outside, he got his horse and smirked grimly:  "Wouldn't be the first time I had to eat one of you to get back." 
To the others he said:   "Right, let's follow the road south as long as it lasts - and keep your eyes' open for signs of that army's passing."  
J-H
 Jebediah 
Jebediah brings plenty of food along.  There's a reason halflings have a reputation for multiple meals - they eat what a big person does, but with smaller stomachs.
 After loading his saddle bags to slightly overflowing with food, he adds more to his pockets, then pulls himself atop his pony, a slightly laborious process involving a convenient mounting post as a step.  
 "After this long, I don't think there will be much evidence.  Even trees will have grown back, won't they?" 
Dr.Samurai
      
  Orson 
  Orc Totem Warrior Barbarian 6 
 AC:  16  | HP:  65/65  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +3(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  -1  | Wis:  -1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  12 |  PIn:  9 |  PInv:  9
 Rages:  4/4 |  Raging:  -- |  Reckless:  --
 Resistances:  --
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Wanderer, Aspect of the Elk
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
Orson packs up along with the others and prepares to head out. He sidles up to Jeb and Gladius,   So what'd she say about where we're headed? Any clues other than  south ?
  
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(18)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  3/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -  
 Rations available:  30 person-days [/size] 
 
  

Gladius shrugged:
  "Not necessarily. A large enough camp can leave some impressive devastation. But I was more thinking about graffiti on large rocks or carvings in trees - things that stupid young people leave behind to show the world they exist... or rather existed. "  

He shook his head at Orsons question:   "Our contact was less than forthcoming. In fact, we suspect that she might have held something significant back. So far our study of the documents hasn't given us any additional information either. We'll have to wait and see if we can find any landmarks mentioned in the letters. Although we haven't found any mention yet."  
agignac
Laula was impressed by the magic items that their contact handed over. She understood little of the type of magic that wizards did. She was happy enough to pray to Hibernius for the blessings He allowed her to wield.

The day was clear, her pack was full of rations, and she had doughty companions at her side. It was a good day for travel. Laula stood a moment at the crossroads, considering the options. The breeze blew ripples in the puddles left over from yesterday's rain. There were slightly more puddles to the south, but they were all on one side of the road, easily avoided. A clear sign.

  "We should travel along the south road."  
Dr.Samurai
      
  Orson 
  Orc Totem Warrior Barbarian 6 
 AC:  16  | HP:  65/65  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +3(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  -1  | Wis:  -1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  12 |  PIn:  9 |  PInv:  9
 Rages:  4/4 |  Raging:  -- |  Reckless:  --
 Resistances:  --
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Wanderer, Aspect of the Elk
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
  Hmm... well if we think that strange bridge Rosa mentioned is our best bet, then we're headed south for 'bout a day, 'til we hit the river. Then west from there, out past the winery. Thing is, something strange happened at that winery some years back according to Flint; whole town went missing, and the search party, and the previous road warden. Gone without a trace. Mentioned large ants, and a wyvern that flies in some times, but whatever it was, we'll need to be on guard.  
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(18)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  3/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -  
 Rations available:  30 person-days [/size] 
 
  

Gladius perked up:
  "Interesting. A vineyard usually exists over many generations. And soldiers are a thirsty lot. The chances are slim that we find anything, but I'm pretty sure no fighting force would let an opportunity for wine go by. Let's head there."  
Awful
  Izillia of the Silver Nails  
  Half Elf Forge Cleric 6 
 AC:  20  | HP:  45/45  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Channel Divinity:  2/2
 Harness Divine Power (1):  2/2
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -  

Izillia was surprisingly quiet as her mule clip-clopped along: it seemed she wasn't a morning person. She
  "It seems kind of creepy, though,"    said the woman with a hideous iron mask, nails through her arm and a talking demon crow.   "And it's not like any of them are about who remember the army, even before they all got eaten by ghosts or ants. Or ant ghosts."   
She looked up. Vallarc was up there: providing an early warning system, just a grey glint in the sky.
  "I guess we can check it if we're passing by."   
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Vallarc will fly above the party, providing a - heh - birds eye view to see any trouble before it gets close.
 
The Hellbug
Seeing that the road turns towards the west, the party abandons it and heads south towards the forest and, hopefully, the bridge that Rosa had mentioned.  The grasslands are just as boring as those to the north were but soon patches of trees become a carpet of them, and it's not long before there's no sign of anything but the woods.  The beasts of burden are no longer an asset as they pick their way through the undergrowth, but luckily it's less thick this late in the year and they aren't yet a liability.  Forty or fifty feet overhead are the tops of the trees (mostly beech, ash, and maple), but, all but the slowest stragglers having dropped most of their leaves, there's not much shade from the pale sunlight.

It continues like this all morning, and they see signs of some larger animals, scat from what must be a large canine in particular tells a tale of predators in these woods, but the group doesn't see much more than squirrels and the birds that don't fly north for gentler weather during the winter except for a trio of deer that stare at the two-legged travelers for a moment before bounding away, white tails straight up.

Thanks to Orson's magic, the adventurers make excellent time, and it's not long after noon that they hear running water and see that what looked like it might just be another clearing turns out to be a river, presumably the one that Rosa claimed the hunters hardly ever cross.  It's not small--about a hundred twenty feet across--and its murkiness makes gauging its depth impossible though it's flow is pretty lazy.  The sound, it turns out, is from a smaller tributary not more than three hundred feet upstream to the west which tumbles down one last set of rapids before joining the larger body of water from its north side.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Map's in the discord.  You've found the river.  It's not long after midday.
 
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(18)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  3/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -  
 Rations available:  30 person-days [/size] 
 
  
  "Let's take a short break and then cross the stream at an opportune point while we have the light to do so safely."  
Gladius got down from his horse and began hobbling it so it could graze without getting lost.
J-H
      
      Jebediah Fortuna    
 Halfling Shadow Sorcerer 
 AC: 12 HP: 44/44 
 PPer: 13 PInv: 10 PIst: 10  
 Conditions: -- 
 Concentrating: --  
 
  

Unless there have been rumors of sharks, crocodiles, etc., Jebediah finds a nice rock near the river to sit on, so he can soak his feet in the running water while eating his lunch.  The chill doesn't bother him.   "We're making good time so far."   He considers commenting on the lack of giant ants or threatening beasts, but knows better than to test his luck by doing so.
Awful
  Izillia of the Silver Nails  
  Half Elf Forge Cleric 6 
 AC:  20  | HP:  45/45  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Channel Divinity:  2/2
 Harness Divine Power (1):  2/2
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -  

Izillia found a convenient treestump, long shattered by some ancient force, and gnawed on some ham that had been smoked so long it resembled a stone.
  "Don't fall in!"    She called helpfully to Jebidiah.   "I bet a river like this has some big fish. Ooh, and maybe some river trolls!"   
Vallarc fluttered down, seeing they were stopping, alighting on her head as usual.
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
 
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(18)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  3/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -
 Rations available:  30 person-days   
 
  

While his horse grazed, Gladius began to prepare a small ritual, scanning the surroundings. Then, with little flourish, he produced a small owl on his palm.
  "I know, it's not night time yet, but I need you to scout out a mile downstream and a mile upstream, if there is any place where we can ford the river. I hate to put a horse on a boat."  

With that, the small owl flew off. Only then, did he unpack some of his rations too.

 
 Spoiler 

Whenever we stop for a bit, Gladius will use Detect Magic as Ritual, to look around for anything magical or any signs for the army passing here and leaving magical marks on the landscape.

The familiar usually stays hidden in the pocket dimension the spell provides.

If there is no fordable place within reach, I'll pull out the magic boat and we will have to make two trips.
 
Dr.Samurai
      
  Orson 
  Orc Totem Warrior Barbarian 6 
 AC:  16  | HP:  65/65  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +3(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  -1  | Wis:  -1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  12 |  PIn:  9 |  PInv:  9
 Rages:  4/4 |  Raging:  -- |  Reckless:  --
 Resistances:  --
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Wanderer, Aspect of the Elk
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
Orson grins as Jeb comments on making good time. It is always the advantage Orson has over other guides. When you grow up in the wilderness, you know how to navigate them better than anyone that grew up in civilization.

While Gladius sends his familiar off and begins a ritual, Orson himself kneels on the shore of the river and begins to focus. After a span of minutes, he opens his eyes, then quietly scans the area for any wildlife, hoping to glean some information from the inhabitants of the area.

 
 Spoiler: Speak with Animals 

  Ritual   - Speak With Animals

Once cast, Orson will search for beasts, or lure them over with crumbs from his ration. If he finds any...

Giant Ants - Orson will ask if these are nearby or on the other side of the river, to the animal's knowledge. He will describe them as big as the pony (points to pony) and pantomime antennae and pincers and mention they have six legs.

Wyvern - Orson will ask if the wyvern is ever seen flying around here, and in which directions, pointing to each direction. Wyvern will be described as a big lizard but with wings where the front legs are, and very dangerous.

River - Orson will ask if there are creatures in the river big enough to harm him. (Not sure if he can speak to fish through the air/water barrier.)

Spell lasts for 10 minutes.
 
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(18)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  3/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -
 Rations available:  30 person-days   
 
  

When the owl returned, Gladius made it vanish just as it had appeared.
  "There seems to be no fordable place in a one mile radius. So now we have to decide: move to the west to find the winery or cross here directly. I have a magic boat, but it will take at least two trips to get everything across. That makes us vulnerable while we are at it.
I'm still interested in the old winery, so that would be my suggestion."  

He looked questioningly at his companions.
Dr.Samurai
      
  Orson 
  Orc Totem Warrior Barbarian 6 
 AC:  16  | HP:  65/65  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +3(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  -1  | Wis:  -1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  12 |  PIn:  9 |  PInv:  9
 Rages:  4/4 |  Raging:  -- |  Reckless:  --
 Resistances:  --
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Wanderer, Aspect of the Elk
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
Orson bids the muskrat farewell,   Go with the cunning of Grandfather Rat,   he says. He claps his hand free of crumbs and dirt and mud and stands up.   We should be okay crossing the river I think, the little muskrat says there's not much to be feared in the waters here. Downriver and upriver are a different story. She's sighted the wyvern that Flint and Rosa mentioned, flying north and south just like they said. But according to her seems like it's roosting somewhere upriver from here. Down the river, where it starts to get swampy, she's seen some type of crocodile creature. Little rat's clever enough to know the waters there are too cold for most of the reptiles she knows. And there's leeches down there. Big ones.  

He gathers his pack to continue traveling,   I say we cross the river here, and look for that weird bridge Rosa mentioned. If that lead goes cold, we check out the winery upriver. But my thinking is we don't risk the wyvern unless we come up short 'cross the river.  
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(18)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  3/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -
 Rations available:  30 person-days   
 
  

Gladius nodded
  "You are the guide. Alright. I'll ferry the mule and the horse first. Orson, you are the hardiest of our lot - can you keep watch on the other side, while I fetch the rest?"  

When no objections came, Gladius pulled out the small boat figure and began the process of enlarging it to functional size.
J-H
 Jebediah 
Jebediah looks at the boat cautiously, and stays near the middle.  It's not a widely-advertised fact, but halflings don't have much leverage to swim well, and drown easier than other species.  It's one of the reasons why they were known for their army, but not their navy.

 This post brought to you by recently re-reading Fellowship of the Ring.  Frodo's parents drowned, and most halflings do not swim. 
Dr.Samurai
      
  Orson 
  Orc Totem Warrior Barbarian 6 
 AC:  16  | HP:  65/65  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +3(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  -1  | Wis:  -1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  12 |  PIn:  9 |  PInv:  9
 Rages:  4/4 |  Raging:  -- |  Reckless:  --
 Resistances:  --
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Wanderer, Aspect of the Elk
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
  Hey I just lead the way, but we can all decide what direction that's in,   he says with a smile.   Anyways, I'll keep the herd safe while you lot make it across.  
Awful
  Izillia of the Silver Nails  
  Half Elf Forge Cleric 6 
 AC:  20  | HP:  45/45  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Channel Divinity:  2/2
 Harness Divine Power (1):  2/2
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -  
 "The vineyard is secondary,"  said the crow.  "We should attempt to find the bridge, as you say." 
  "Yeah! Maybe we can hunt the wyvern after? People always talk about dragonscale armour, but wyverns are almost as good, maybe. I want to try!"    Izillia chirped. She'd spent her time faffing about after demolishing her rations, and was eager to cross and get moving again. The notion of being in a little boat while clad in large quantities of metal armour didn't seem to worry her at all.
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
 
agignac
      
      Laula    
 AC: 19 HP: 51/51 
 PPer: 13 PInv: 10 PIst: 10  
 Channel Divinity: 2/2 
 Steps of the Night: 3/3 
 Conditions: -- 
 Concentrating: --  
 
  

Laula watched Gladius grow a boat from a toy in fascination.   "Your arcane magic is very versatile! Can you do that with any object? Can you shrink them down again?"  

She felt herself bristle as the wizard gave Orson the job of guarding the others, as if the handsome half-orc would be better at it than she would. She immediately quashed the feeling as prideful and unworthy. She knew she could and would work to protect the others, and that was all that mattered.

The crossing in the magical boat was interesting, and she was a bit disappointed that it was so short. Still, she was glad not to have to swim through the reportedly leech-infested river.

Seeing Jebediah look apprehensive about the water, she sat next to him, ready to help should the boat tip over. However, the trip was uneventful.

Once they were all unloaded on the other side, she studied the terrain carefully, looking for signs. Not seeing any, she waited for the others to weigh in. Moving to Izillia's side, she said,   "How long have you travelled with your familiar? I have never heard of one speaking so plainly before. Is this common, where you are from?"  
Awful
  Izillia of the Silver Nails  
  Half Elf Forge Cleric 6 
 AC:  20  | HP:  45/45  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Channel Divinity:  2/2
 Harness Divine Power (1):  2/2
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -  

As the lanky Laula moved next to Izillia, both her and the crow glanced to look at her. The forge cleric gave a wide grin.
  "Vellarc's been my friend for ages! I was like real small when the grey-eyed man found me and gave me him, and he's been my friend ever since!"   
She reached up and grabbed him, ruffling his head feathers with her scarred fingers. The crow bore this treatment with icy calm.
 "For your question, Goliath,"  he rumbled with his deep, smooth voice,  "I am no ordinary familiar, as with the base spirit that the spellsword binds. A much greater devil has soul-bound me to this child, as guide and ward." 
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
 
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(18)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  3/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -
 Rations available:  30 person-days   
 
  

Gladius concentrated on stearing the vessel, but answered Laula when he could:
  "Not quite. There are three kinds of magic objects. Merely enchanted ones by spell or effect, we call those enchanted objects, objects permanently infused with magical energy, what we'd call a magic item and arcane or divinely infused creations, most often with its own personality, which we call artifacts. This boat is a magic item, able to change its size and mass. It's not my personal magic, but the magic of the boat itself.
My own spell canon is somewhat focused on combat applications as well as some useful ritual spells. I could probably learn to resize objects and creatures, but it would require my concentration and energy, so I never invested the necessary time to acquire such a spell.

And yes, my familiar is just a spirit of limited capabilities, nontheless a quite useful tool to have in any given arsenal."  

When they had all reached the other side safely, he put the boat back to its original size and stowed it in his backpack, before getting back on his horse, riding very carefully through the wooded area.
agignac
 "Enchanted object, magic item, artifact,"  Laula murmured, committing the definitions to memory. Truly, her knowledge of all things arcane was woefully lacking.   "And you learn spells from books? You write them down, and study them? You must be very clever. I am grateful that Hibernius does not require such intellect from his clerics."  

 
 Originally Posted by Awful 
 As the lanky Laula moved next to Izillia, both her and the crow glanced to look at her. The forge cleric gave a wide grin.
  "Vellarc's been my friend for ages! I was like real small when the grey-eyed man found me and gave me him, and he's been my friend ever since!"   
She reached up and grabbed him, ruffling his head feathers with her scarred fingers. The crow bore this treatment with icy calm.
 "For your question, Goliath,"  he rumbled with his deep, smooth voice,  "I am no ordinary familiar, as with the base spirit that the spellsword binds. A much greater devil has soul-bound me to this child, as guide and ward."  
 

Laula was startled when the crow spoke directly to her. Even more so, when it admitted to being a devil! For a moment she considered whether she should be offended, or afraid.   The girl follows Autumna, who consorts with devils and demons. Even as my lord Hibernius uses those from the celestial realm as his servants.   Still, the realization that they were travelling with a demon, one that was bound to an even higher devil, was unsettling. Laula bowed her head formally to the crow-shaped demon, and said,   "Apologies, Vellarc, for speaking about you as though you weren't here. Thank you for answering my question."  
Awful
  Izillia of the Silver Nails  
  Half Elf Forge Cleric 6 
 AC:  20  | HP:  45/45  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Channel Divinity:  2/2
 Harness Divine Power (1):  2/2
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -  

The crow's beady eyes stared at the Goliath for a moment, before his head swivelled to look at his own cleric.
 "Take heed, girl,"  he growled to Izillia.  "At least this cleric knows how to treat a devil of Autumna with respect - and she having offered herself to the Darkness King!" 
Izillia laughed and kissed the bird between the eyes before returning him to his normal seat on her head.
  "What about you, miss Layla?"    she asked.   "Why Hibernicus?"   
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
 
Dr.Samurai
      
  Orson 
  Orc Totem Warrior Barbarian 6 
 AC:  16  | HP:  65/65  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +3(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  -1  | Wis:  -1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  12 |  PIn:  9 |  PInv:  9
 Rages:  4/4 |  Raging:  -- |  Reckless:  --
 Resistances:  --
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Wanderer, Aspect of the Elk
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
Orson keeps an eye out for any signs of danger while Gladius returns to the others and ferries them back. He passes the time making small talk with Molly and the horse,   ... but it wasn't a mule, it was a donkey, and it was my pack brothers that took it down. You only eat plants so you don't really know about not letting things go to waste. Anyway, that was a long time ago and I don't really-- Oh, here come the others.   He moves to pull the boat as much onto the shore as possible, and help the others hop landside.   So, should get swampy out that way,   he says nodding easterly.   Rosa said it was a dry riverbed, so I'm thinking we make our way that way,   he points in a southwesterly direction,   Unless you gleaned anything else from those papers you got.  
The Hellbug
With the river easily crossed thanks to Gladius's pocket boat, the explorers continue on their way south, chatting as they go and keeping a lookout for the dried riverbed that Rosa had mentioned and the bridge that supposedly crosses it.  As they travel, there are signs that the terrain will become wetter and more marshy to the east so Orson leads the party on a more westerly course, sticking to the drier forest.

Late in the day the travellers come over a slight rise and are able to look down into a shallow valley packed densely with birches and ironwoods.  The undergrowth is still thick despite being leafless, but they can still make out, at the bottom of the valley, the unmistakable contours of a riverbed some 350 feet away, running east and west.  A cool gust blows through the bare tree branches, and Gladius's horse flicks its ears restlessly.

 
 Spoiler: Izillia, passive perception 
You make out a small noise, barely perceptible over the wind: a low squeaking and cooing.  Looking towards it, there's a clearing on the hillside about 90 feet away and, though it's obscured by intervening underbrush, there's movement and then more.  Straining your eyes, you see a feathered face and beak connected to an ursine body, no, there are two of them tumbling over each other!  Owlbear cubs!  And it looks like the party has already alerted them somewhat.  First one, then the other looks in your direction, and the closer one begins to curiously stalk towards the closest edge of the glade.
 
Awful
  Izillia of the Silver Nails  
  Half Elf Forge Cleric 6 
 AC:  20  | HP:  45/45  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Channel Divinity:  2/2
 Harness Divine Power (1):  2/2
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -  

Izillia looked into the valley, quietly singing to herself, when abruptly she stopped. For a moment, all merriment fled her face: it was as cold and merciless as the iron mask she carried.
  "Hold,"    she barked. She stared into the undergrowth, and then the spell was broken; she made an awww sound and smiled widely.
  "Look, little owl bear cubs! They're coming to have a look at us! What little cuties!"   
 "Foolish girl!"  Vellarc snapped.  "To arms - they're not gentle creatures, and like as not their parent is nearby!" 
At this, Izillia nodded, and dismounting Molly, she settled her feet on the ground and slid out her wickedly flanged mace.
  "Heads up! Danger, that way!"    she pointed with the mace.
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
 
Dr.Samurai
      
  Orson 
  Orc Totem Warrior Barbarian 6 
 AC:  16  | HP:  65/65  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +3(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  -1  | Wis:  -1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  12 |  PIn:  9 |  PInv:  9
 Rages:  4/4 |  Raging:  -- |  Reckless:  --
 Resistances:  --
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Wanderer, Aspect of the Elk
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
Orson looks to where Izillia points,   We need to shoo them away, but momma's probably not that far behind. Might not be able to avoid a fight,   he says.
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(18)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  3/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -
 Rations available:  30 person-days   
 
  

Gladius looked up in alarm:
  "Retreat, quickly! Jebediah, give me your hand, we need to run. Quickly!"  

He was confident, that the group could deal with an Owl bear - but not without cost.

So he turned his horse around and reached out to the halfling to help him up
The Hellbug
Sure enough, with Izillia pointing them out, the rest of the party can easily, through the undergrowth, make out the pair of owlbear cubs in a small glade whose edge is less than a hundred feet across the hillside from where the adventurers now stand.  Once merely interested in the sound of the interlopers, it's now obvious that one of the cubs has caught sight of them, and it, with the shameless roughness of a child, brushes past its sibling before approaching past the edge of the glade with cautious curiosity.
Dr.Samurai
      
  Orson 
  Orc Totem Warrior Barbarian 6 
 AC:  16  | HP:  65/65  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +3(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  -1  | Wis:  -1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  12 |  PIn:  9 |  PInv:  9
 Rages:  4/4 |  Raging:  -- |  Reckless:  --
 Resistances:  --
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Wanderer, Aspect of the Elk
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
  Gladius is right,   Orson hisses,   let's get out of sight, and keep quiet.  
J-H
 Jebediah 
Jebediah grabs Gladius' hand and accepts the pull up to the horse.
agignac
Laula ignored the girl's mispronunciation of her name, but couldn't ignore her ignorance about her god.   "It's Hibernius. And as for why...I never really thought about it. It didn't seem like a choice. I wasn't shopping for gods. I was always drawn to twilight, to night, to winter. It's more like, I was born to it. And yourself? Did you "choose" to dedicate your life to Autumna?"  

***

Laula had been engrossed in her conversation with Izillia, and hadn't noticed the approaching beasts. It was a testament to the girl's powers of perception that she had been the first to spot them. For a moment, the twilight cleric just stared. The cubs were bigger than the ones she'd seen in the mountains, and she didn't doubt that their mother was correspondingly bigger as well. When Gladius said to turn around, she did so willingly, moving quickly.
Awful
  Izillia of the Silver Nails  
  Half Elf Forge Cleric 6 
 AC:  20  | HP:  45/45  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Channel Divinity:  2/2
 Harness Divine Power (1):  2/2
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -  

With reluctance, Izillia began jogging away, pulling the mule with her.
 "Faster,"  ordered Vellarc, but Molly would only go at the speed she'd go: Izillia grumbled, but her speed didn't really change.
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
 
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(18)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  3/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -
 Rations available:  30 person-days   
 
  

Gladius heaved Jebediah into the saddle behind him. Seeing Izilla's donkey being stubborn, he called out to the forge cleric
  "Get on the donkey's back - As soon as it smells the owlbears, it's going to haul ass."  
Dr.Samurai
      
  Orson 
  Orc Totem Warrior Barbarian 6 
 AC:  16  | HP:  65/65  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +3(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  -1  | Wis:  -1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  12 |  PIn:  9 |  PInv:  9
 Rages:  4/4 |  Raging:  -- |  Reckless:  --
 Resistances:  --
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Wanderer, Aspect of the Elk
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
  Her name is Molly!   Orson calls back,   and shame on you for not naming your horse!  
The Hellbug
Faced with the fearless approach of the owlbearlets and the obvious consequences that contact with the, frankly, adorable creatures could have, the adventurers decide that all-out flight is the best option.  They retreat quickly, Gladius on his horse leading the way, followed closely by Laula and Orson on foot, while Jeb, on his short legs, and Izillia, fighting against Molly's stubbornness, lag behind.  The sudden movement spooks the young owlbears, and both retreat back towards the glade, cooing in alarm.  A rumbling sound through the undergrowth from uphill broadcasts the actions of exactly what the party had feared.

Gladius slows his horse to help Jebediah, but needs to grab him by the pack to help lift him into the saddle.  A flap pops open, and, though the halfling manages to end up safely mounted, the valuable rations he had stowed there spill onto the ground.  Molly, meanwhile, finally realizes the danger of the situation and brays and tries to bolt, but, judging by the crashing footfalls of the enraged parent, it's too late for Izillia to just outrun the oncoming owlbear.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Alright, we're taking turns now.  The situation is this: the party is forty feet ahead of Izillia, who is now about 120 feet from the clearing.  From behind her and to the right, though (through the undergrowth) is an adult owlbear, trailing her by fifty feet.  The terrain is such that your retreat path is along the valley's side, running parallel to the dried riverbed below, and the owlbear is coming from slightly uphill.  Everyone except for Jeb and Izillia wins initiative.   Due to spillage, Jeb's losing two person-day's worth of rations if they aren't recovered.
 

 
 Spoiler: Everyone Except Jeb Passive Perception 
While it's tense and the approach form the owlbear is anything but quiet, your ears pick up the sound of another set of heavy, quadrupedal footfalls moving quickly towards the scene from down the hill and behind you.  If they don't slow down, it will be mere moments (on the scale of 20 seconds or so) before their originator arrives.
 
Dr.Samurai
      
  Orson 
  Orc Totem Warrior Barbarian 6 
 AC:  16  | HP:  65/65  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +3(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  -1  | Wis:  -1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  12 |  PIn:  9 |  PInv:  9
 Rages:  3/4 |  Raging:  Yes |  Reckless:  --
 Resistances:  B/P/S
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Wanderer, Aspect of the Elk
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
Orson hears the unmistakable approach of an adult owlbear. He chances a glance back and spots Molly and Izillia too far back to outrun the owlbear. A primal growl roils up and the half-orc quickly pivots and begins running back with a primal shout, a challenge to the approaching creature, no, creatures, something else was approaching. He runs past Izillia and plants himself between the group and whatever else might be coming,   Something else coming from down the valley, it'll be hear in less than half a minute!   His voice is gruff and he stands ready to confront anything. It almost seems like he will fight bare-handed, but then he draws his longsword, almost as an afterthought.

 
 Spoiler: Turn 1 

  Bonus Action   - Rage
Speed increases by 15ft
  Move   - Move 45ft back toward Izillia, should put Orson 5ft past her.
  Action   - Dodge
  Object Interaction   - Draw Longsword
 
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(18)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  3/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -
 Rations available:  30 person-days   
 
  

Gladius cursed. He called out to Jebediah:
  "I'm going to hit the thing with a mind sliver - if you have a nice spell to capitalize on that, do so. Web would be great."  

With that, he turned the horse around, pulled out his crossbow and fired at the owlbear, adding a migraine curse for good measure, before turning around again to get back to the others.

 
 Spoiler 

Riding with 60ft speed - move 30ft back to be within 60ft of the owlbear

 (1d20+8)[ 28 ] , damage  (1d8+5)[ 7 ] , if crit  (1d8)[ 3 ] 
Using Blade Singer Feature to use a cantrip instead of a second attack

Mind Sliver Int Save DC 14  (2d6)[ 7 ] , - (1d4)[ 2 ]  to its next save

Turn around again, to ride 30ft back to arrive back where I started, have the mount use dash to move another 60ft forward.
 
agignac
  "Oh!"   Laula exclaimed in surprise, when Orson turned back.   "I thought we were running."   Then she realized Izillia was lagging, and she stopped as well. Hearing the second set of footsteps, she said,   "Perhaps the owlbear father?"  

She hated to destroy such a beautiful family, but she would hate to see the family kill her companions even more. Maybe they could convince the parents to leave before they were killed.   "Try not to kill them!"   she calls out, moving a little closer to Orson and Izillia.   "Perhaps we can drive them off when they realize we are not easy prey."  

When she was close enough, she prayed,   "Mighty Hibernius, aid my companions, that they may resist the claws and teeth of this foe."  
 
 Spoiler: ooc 

Casting Aid on Izillia, the mule, and Orson. Your spell bolsters your allies with toughness and resolve. Choose up to three creatures within range. Each target’s hit point maximum and current hit points increase by 5 for the duration.
 
The Hellbug
Gladius peppers the approaching owlbear with spell and bolt while Orson moves to intercept it and Laula magically buttresses those most likely to be attacked.  The beast falls upon the orc with an enraged roar that peppers him with foul-smelling spittle, attacking with both beak and claw with stunning ferocity, but, focusing entirely on defense, he is able to ward away its blows.  There are only glimpses of the pair of juvenile owlbears in the clearing beyond, though their flight has stopped with the appearance of their parent.  The sounds from lower down the hill are clear to everyone now, and there are glimpses through the trees of a significantly larger creature of feather and fur.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Both attacks miss our raging orc, thanks to his fancy footwork, and both of Red's attacks land for  17 damage .  The owlbear is now in melee with Orson, and a second, larger owlbear is visible 100 feet away down the hillside.  Momma's here.  Izillia, remember your Athletics (12) test if you want to hold onto Molly, with disadvantage if you only use one hand.
 
J-H
      
      Jebediah Fortuna    
 Halfling Shadow Sorcerer 
 AC: 12 HP: 44/44 
 PPer: 13 PInv: 10 PIst: 10  
 Conditions: -- 
 Concentrating: Fear  
 
  

As Jebediah gets closer to the owlbear again, he casts a spell on it, humming a strange, haunting tune that seems to echo across the clearing.
 
 Spoiler 

Dismount and walk 25', or get carried back, or have Orson drag the owlbear closer.
Wis DC 14
Owlbear Wis save  (1d20)[ 15 ] +??- (1d4)[ 2 ]  from Mind Spike.
You awaken the sense of mortality in one creature you can see within range. A construct or an undead is immune to this effect. The target must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or become frightened of you until the spell ends. The frightened target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.
 
Dr.Samurai
      
  Orson 
  Orc Totem Warrior Barbarian 6 
 AC:  16  | HP:  65/65  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +3(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  -1  | Wis:  -1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  12 |  PIn:  9 |  PInv:  9
 Rages:  3/4 |  Raging:  Yes |  Reckless:  No
 Resistances:  B/P/S
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Wanderer, Aspect of the Elk
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
Orson fends off beak and claws and lashes out in retaliation, striking at the angry owlbear. He isn't trying to kill the creature, but hoping the fear from the pain will drive it away.

 
 Spoiler: Turn 2 

  Action   - Attack Owlbear
  Attack  - (1d20+7)[ 18 ] 
  Versatile Slashing Damage  - (1d10+6)[ 11 ] 
  Extra Attack  - (1d20+7)[ 8 ] 
  Versatile Slashing Damage  - (1d10+6)[ 13 ] 

I doubt it is enough to finish the owlbear but if it is Orson is choosing to knock it unconscious rather than kill it.
 
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(18)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  3/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -
 Rations available:  30 person-days   
 
  

Gladius, at a relative save distance, made a gesture and his owl appeared on his shoulder:
  "Talk to the Owl bear, maybe it can understand you, that we mean them no harm and just want to get away from here."  

On his command, the owl started hooting angrily.

 
 Spoiler 

Owl familiar ini
 (1d20+1)[ 13 ] 

Charisma check owl
 (1d20-2)[ 11 ] 
 
agignac
  "Oh no, oh dear,"   Laula murmured, as the fight continued. The owlbear was bleeding, but clearly not willing to stop defending it's family.

  "Hibernius, give this magnificent creature a healing sleep, that we might not kill it."  
 
 Spoiler: ooc 

Casting Sleep. Can put 5d8 hp of creatures asleep.
 (5d8)[ 19 ] 
 
Awful
  Izillia of the Silver Nails  
  Half Elf Forge Cleric 6 
 AC:  20  | HP:  45+5/45+5  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Channel Divinity:  2/2
 Harness Divine Power (1):  2/2
 Active Effects:  Laula's Aid
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -  

Izillia was trying to hold shield, mace, and Molly; three hands worth, but only two hands to do so, and the normally placid mule was frantic at the smell of the predators.

Letting the mule go with a click of her tongue, Izillia turned to meet the foe - only for mister Green to sprint past and engage the owlbear.

Pausing only to shift her mask round to cover her face, Izillia twirled her mace in her grip and headed towards the enemy.

With a grin (not that it could be seen) she drove the mace into the injured beast's beak with a clang that sounded like thunder, driving the beast physically back with brute force - before she stepped back, shield up, in the way she had been taught as a youth.

 "An acceptable strike,"  Vellarc growled.  "Finish it." 
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Move: move to owlbear, clock it one, then move back as far as her move will take her. Doesn't provoke AoO because...
Action:
Booming mace on the owlbear.
27 to hit, 10 bludgeoning, 5 thunder, an extra 2d8 if it moves.
Crusher feat knocks it 5ft backwards.
 
The Hellbug
Together, Orson and Izillia, having allowed Molly to frantically flee up the hill, attack the owlbear together, the orc scoring a long and deep gash down the creature's right foreleg while the elf's mace sends it reeling with what looks like a broken jaw.  Before it can leap back into the fray, though--and it looks ready to despite its wounds--Laula's enchantment falls over the bloodied owlbear, and it stumbles just once before collapsing into a deep slumber.

Just then, though, the crashing through the woods reaches a crescendo as the mother owlbear arrives on the scene.  Nearly half-again as large as the now-ensorcelled male owlbear, the creature is terrifying and striking in equal measure.  She's mid-bellow when the sorcerous halfling casts his spell, and it trails off into into a growl.  Whatever her reasons, be they her offsprings' relative safety, Jeb's spell, Gladius's familiar's fluttering and hooting or all of these, she soon settles into a low stance near her slumbering mate and between the adventurers and the cubs.  While she still looks imminently hostile, it doesn't look like she's keen on charging into the fray with all of them for the moment.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Between the attacks and the Sleep, papa bear's down, and Jeb's Mind Spike connects on newly-arrived mama bear.  She dashes in but pauses near her downed mate, defensively.
 While she's still big and hostile, she's not attacking.
 
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(18)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  3/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -
 Rations available:  30 person-days   
 
  

Gladius held up a hand:
  "Alright, lets retreat, slowly and carefully, no sudden movements."  

The owl stopped hooting and flew back on his shoulder, while his horse obediently moved away slowly, despite being a bit jittery.
Dr.Samurai
      
  Orson 
  Orc Totem Warrior Barbarian 6 
 AC:  16  | HP:  65/65  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +3(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  -1  | Wis:  -1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  12 |  PIn:  9 |  PInv:  9
 Rages:  3/4 |  Raging:  Yes |  Reckless:  No
 Resistances:  B/P/S
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Wanderer, Aspect of the Elk
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
Orson, confident in his ability to fight the owlbear bare-handed if need be, sheathes his sword and puts his palms up, backing away slowly but prepared to defend himself.

 
 Spoiler: Turn 3 
  Object Interaction   - Sheathe sword.
  Action   - Dodge (or Disengage if Owlbear is adjacent to Orson)
  Move   - Move away, in Molly's direction, 55ft
 
agignac
Laula breathes a sigh of relief as the others begin to back away from the owlbear family. She also turns to leave, thanking Hibernius with a prayer as she does so.
J-H
 Jebediah 

Jebediah retreats slowly, keeping his concentration on the spell.  He's not sure what the Owlbear is seeing, but as long as it's stopping her from making a meal of them...
agignac
They back away from the owlbear family as Jeb explains that although they sometimes hunt people, they probably won't while caring for their young. As they reach what they believe to be a safe distance, Orson and Gladius begin looking for a good place to set up camp. Laula and Izillia call upon Hibernius and Autumna to guide their efforts. Laula found herself grinning at the young cleric, and wondered if their gods felt any competition - would one of them guide the guides to better success?
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(18)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  3/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -
 Rations available:  30 person-days   
 
  

Once at a safe distance, Gladius turned to Orson:
  "We probably should make camp. I'll send out my familiar to scout from the air for a suitable place."  
 
 Spoiler 

Help action to the survival check of whoever has the best skill in that regard
 
Dr.Samurai
      
  Orson 
  Orc Totem Warrior Barbarian 6 
 AC:  16  | HP:  65/65  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +3(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  -1  | Wis:  -1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  12 |  PIn:  9 |  PInv:  9
 Rages:  3/4 |  Raging:  No |  Reckless:  No
 Resistances:  --
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Wanderer, Aspect of the Elk
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
Orson doubles back the way they came and with everyone's help searches for a place to camp for the night.

 
 Spoiler 
Not sure we need a survival check for this but here it is with Advantage from Gladius' help and the bonus from Guidance. In addition, Orson has the Wanderer feature if that is helpful (You have an excellent memory for maps and geography, and you can always recall the general layout of terrain, settlements, and other features around you.).

  Survival  - (1d20+2)[ 8 ] ,   Advantage  - (1d20+2)[ 4 ]  +   Guidance  - (1d4)[ 4 ] 
 
Awful
[QUOTE=Awful;26051582]  Izillia of the Silver Nails  
  Half Elf Forge Cleric 6 
 AC:  20  | HP:  45+5/45+5  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Channel Divinity:  2/2
 Harness Divine Power (1):  2/2
 Active Effects:  Laula's Aid
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -  

Izillia backed away from the owlbears, a little disappointed.
  "Bye, owlbears!"   She called, the mask adding a peculiar growling quality to each word.   "I'll make you into a cloak next time! Or maybe a rug!"  

---

As they headed off, Molly recovered and patted affectionately, Izillia glanced up and caught a grin from the other cleric. She grinned back at the larger, older woman, even if she didn't know what the other was smiling about. It was good to see! The grey giant had been solemn and withdrawn so far compared to the exuberant forge cleric - but then, so was almost everyone.
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
 
The Hellbug
Only once the owlbears are out of sight can the party (besides Izillia) take a breath.  With the sunlight rapidly fading, two priorities become apparent: find the mule and make camp.  Molly proves to be pretty easy to find.  She didn't have too much of a head start and soon Izillia spots her confusedly stamping about a small clearing nearby.

Orson is also able to find a suitable-looking camp: a flat spot at the top of a small ravine that offers better-than-average sightlines of the surrounding forest, and there's a small creek in the ravine that provides plentiful fresh water.  Additionally, he's sure that the steepness of the climb down should dissuade any large animals from drinking in this particular spot.

The night is cool and dry and passes uneventfully through each adventurer's watch.  In the morning, a cloudless sky and a slight breeze promise excellent weather for exploring further, and it's less than an hour before the party has arrived again at the dry riverbed, this time with no owlbears in sight.

 
 Spoiler: Perception 17 
I'll let the first person who makes the roll know what they notice.
 

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
That should knock off 5 person-days of rations plus the 2 Jeb dropped for -7 total.  You're back at the dried riverbed, this time in it.  It travels east and west.
 
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(18)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  3/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -
 Rations available:  23 person-days   
 
  

Gladius had rested well, with his owl familiar keeping watch through the night. Now he stretched and looked around for anything to enrich their rations.

 
 Spoiler 

Perception
 (1d20+3)[ 4 ] ,  (1d20+3)[ 21 ]  advantage through help action from familiar
 
J-H
Jebediah gets a good night's sleep on the road, and is ready to be off in the morning.  He hopes they don't see the owlbears again.
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(18)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  3/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -
 Rations available:  23 person-days   
 
  

Gladius greeted Jebediah as one of the first awake:

 "Hope you slept well. I've got the feeling, we were watched last night. By someone with an owl familiar not unlike myself. Could be a hag, a druid or some other magical resident in the woods. So keep your eyes open. We might be followed." 
Dr.Samurai
      
  Orson 
  Orc Totem Warrior Barbarian 6 
 AC:  16  | HP:  65/65  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +3(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  -1  | Wis:  -1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  12 |  PIn:  9 |  PInv:  9
 Rages:  4/4 |  Raging:  No |  Reckless:  No
 Resistances:  --
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Wanderer, Aspect of the Elk
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
  How can you tell a regular owl from a... uh, familiar owl?   Orson asks.
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(18)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  3/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -
 Rations available:  23 person-days   
 
  
 "With great difficulty. Mainly because it was watching us too purposefully. Having your own familiar gives you certain experiences to see behavioral patterns." 
Gladius replied, but ammended:

 "I could be wrong of course, but better to be more vigilant than less." 
Dr.Samurai
      
  Orson 
  Orc Totem Warrior Barbarian 6 
 AC:  16  | HP:  65/65  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +3(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  -1  | Wis:  -1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  12 |  PIn:  9 |  PInv:  9
 Rages:  4/4 |  Raging:  No |  Reckless:  No
 Resistances:  --
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Wanderer, Aspect of the Elk
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
Orson nods thoughtfully,   Yeah, that makes sense. Shoulda been hunting, not sittin' there watching us.   
Awful
  Izillia of the Silver Nails  
  Half Elf Forge Cleric 6 
 AC:  20  | HP:  45/45  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Channel Divinity:  2/2
 Harness Divine Power (1):  2/2
 Active Effects: 
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -  

Izillia hummed thoughtfully. She was doing her morning exercises: she was doing one-armed pushups, Vellarc sharply counting each one.
 "Fifty-seven. Fifty-eight- 
  "Did they mention any droods-"   
 "Druids. Sixty-one-"  Vellarc corrected.
   "-Yeah that, back in the tavern? "  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
 
agignac
In the morning, Laula spends some time in silent meditation, reflecting on the teachings of Hibernius. She cleans herself in the river, with no thoughts of modesty. As she dons her armour and her bear-skin cloak, she frowns a little at the clear sky. It will be warm today. She misses the biting breeze of the mountains. Her bear-skins are impressive, but very warm. She wonders if the owlbear skin would be cooler. Do feathers conserve heat as well as fur?

  "Would you truly make an owlbear rug?"   she asks Izillia.  " Would the feathers be very comfortable to stand on? " 

As Gladius warns them of their avian spy, she asks,  " Should we shoot the creature next time we see it? Or are these druids holy people? "  She wondered if they were similar to the shamans of her home.
J-H
 Jebediah 
 "Better to be watched by something we know about than something we don't.  It's not like there's much to hide except where we're going, and something that can command the birds can keep an eye on that anyhow."   Jebediah shrugs.   "It didn't attack us.  No sense starting a fight where there's not one." 
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(18)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  3/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -
 Rations available:  23 person-days   
 
  
 "Let's just keep an eye open for now. Come on everybody, we have a lot of ground to cover." 
Gladius readied his horse, made sure it was well fed and got up in the saddle.
Awful
  Izillia of the Silver Nails  
  Half Elf Forge Cleric 6 
 AC:  20  | HP:  45/45  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Channel Divinity:  2/2
 Harness Divine Power (1):  2/2
 Active Effects: 
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -  

Izillia nodded at Laula's question.
  "You put in feathers in pillows, right? So probably, yeah."   
It was only once she'd finished her hundred that she rose to mount up and get on the road.
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
 
The Hellbug
 Morning, Day 3 

The adventurers wake to another chilly morning and, content to stay on the lookout for any strangely-acting wildlife, set out for the dried riverbed again, retracing their retreat from the previous evening in reverse.  It's not long before they find it, this time with no sign of owlbears.  Getting a closer look at it this time, it looks like the river that used to flow here ran west to east, just like the one they had crossed yesterday, but, judging from its width and where its banks seem to have laid, was smaller by about a third.

Rosa's directions are easy to follow, even if the unevenness of the rocks making up the riverbed make it no quicker to travel through than the forest around it.  In fact, the horses would be at risk of breaking an ankle if they moved at any great speed.  It's still only an hour or two when the party spots what Rosa described: the ruins of a huge bridge that must have once spanned the valley.

It's made of smooth red stone, although it looks like it might be topped with white, even if it's impossible to see the surface on top of it due to solid rails that would hide it from view from even the tops of all but the taller trees.  The arches that support it are nearly 80 feet tall where the middle of the river would be and look like they used to go end to end all the way from one side of the valley to the other, a good 600 feet in total.  It's as wide as Rosa claimed, looking like it would be able to easily support two carts passing by each other, although that clearly hasn't been the case for a long time; now great sections of it are missing, with the tops of some of the arches having collapsed, and what still stands is covered in creepers and ivy.  The ends of the bridge look accessible by climbing up out of the riverbed and up the sides of the valley, but walking to the middle looks impossible due to the damage.

There is one detail that seems more immediately relevant.  Near one of the tremendous arches is the charred remains of a bonfire, a circle of ash and blackened wood a god ten feet across.  Nearby, under the arch, the undergrowth is smashed and tramped down, making a path about twelve feet wide that goes parallel to the bridge, north up the side of the valley, and out of sight.
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(18)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  3/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -
 Rations available:  23 person-days   
 
  
 "Seems like we aren't alone with our expedition Let's see what we can find out about them. 

Gladius dismounted and began methodically to search the ground for any clues about who or what had made a bonfire here and to what purpose.

 
 Spoiler 

 (1d20+3)[ 17 ]  Investigation
 
J-H
Jebediah cautiously looks for tracks... and checks to see if the remnants of the fire are still warm.
 
 Spoiler 

Survival  (1d20+3)[ 15 ] 
 
Dr.Samurai
      
  Orson 
  Orc Totem Warrior Barbarian 6 
 AC:  16  | HP:  65/65  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +3(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  -1  | Wis:  -1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  12 |  PIn:  9 |  PInv:  9
 Rages:  4/4 |  Raging:  No |  Reckless:  No
 Resistances:  --
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Wanderer, Aspect of the Elk
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
While the others inspect, Orson once again focuses his senses to speak with the beasts of the wild. Once his meditation is complete, he calls out to any creatures that can hear him to come over for a snack if they'll speak to him for a little bit.

 
 Spoiler 
Cast Speak with Animals as a ritual.
 
The Hellbug
Gladius and Jebediah get right to investigating.  They are both immediately drawn to the remains of the fire.  It's indeed still warm, and stirring it slightly reveals embers still glowing under the upper layer of ash.  They also stir up something else: charred animal bones.

From there, their paths diverge.  Gladius investigates the sheltered area under the bridge and discovers a tamped down area that looks like a creature or creatures laid in for sleeping.  He also finds in the mud nearby a massive bare-footed humanoid footprint.  It's almost 3 feet long but other than its enormous size is unremarkable.

The halfling instead looks at the trampled down path.  Among it, he finds a pair of grooves running in parallel about 10 feet apart, like those the wheels of a carriage would make in soft ground but wider.  He determines that it would be simple for him to follow the trail if he wished.

Meanwhile, Orson prepares to find an animal to speak to once again.  He manages to lure a crow, one of the half-dozen occasionally-cawing birds that sit atop the ruined bridge, which alights on the ground a cautious distance from the orc, pecks at the crumbs he's left, and regards him curiously but warily.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Almost the same as last time: Animal Handling, using either Wis or Cha, to deal with the crow.  No advantage this time.
 
Dr.Samurai
      
  Orson 
  Orc Totem Warrior Barbarian 6 
 AC:  16  | HP:  65/65  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +3(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  -1  | Wis:  -1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  12 |  PIn:  9 |  PInv:  9
 Rages:  3/4 |  Raging:  No |  Reckless:  No
 Resistances:  --
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Wanderer, Aspect of the Elk
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
  Hello friend!   Orson says to the crow,   What luck to find one of your kind here, the cleverest of birds. Be calm, my friends and I will not hurt you. We want to know about the creatures that were here before. They must have left lot of food to pick on in their wake.  
 
 Spoiler: Animal Handling 
  Animal Handling  - (1d20+2)[ 15 ] 
 
agignac
Laula stared at the footprint with amazement. She thought her feet were big, but this was something else entirely.   "Giants?"   she mused.

  history  - (1d20)[ 10 ] 
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(18)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  3/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -
 Rations available:  23 person-days   
 
  
 "Looks like we'll have to be even more careful, or we might end up stomped. Though a cart indicates at least some level of industriousness. If it comes to a meeting, let's try to talk our way out first. 

Gladius got back on his horse when it looked like the others were finished with their investigations.
The Hellbug
 We're Speaking Crow 

The crow appears to approve of Orson's complimenting.  It flaps up to a nearby branch and proudly raises its head, but, when questioned about the camp's residents, the bird is clearly annoyed.   "No, none!  The enormous one hides it!"  the corvid caws,  "keeps it all for itself when it shouldn't even  be  here.  Fells trees, lights up the night, and hides food!  Not like you." 

The crow's tone makes it clear that Orson is clearly far preferable to whatever's been staying here, but it still continues, now more seriously.   "You shouldn't be here either.  No good.  Best go." 
agignac
 " Giants ,"  she repeated, more confidant.  " Too big for ogres, or even trolls. Maybe hill giants - very aggressive. Or stone...even bigger. " 

Laula looks up to the others, then stands.  " Are we going to follow them? " 
Dr.Samurai
      
  Orson 
  Orc Totem Warrior Barbarian 6 
 AC:  16  | HP:  65/65  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +3(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  -1  | Wis:  -1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  12 |  PIn:  9 |  PInv:  9
 Rages:  3/4 |  Raging:  No |  Reckless:  No
 Resistances:  --
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Wanderer, Aspect of the Elk
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
 Crow Talk 
  Sound like a greedy lot, not like me and my friends here,   Orson says, letting the crow continue eating.   How big is the enormous one.. like that tall over there, or that tall?   Orson asks, pointing to different sized trees,   and how many of them were there?  

After the crow answers, Orson says,   I thought we were getting along well, why do you think we should leave?  
The Hellbug
 More Crow Talk 
 "Just one, but big, very big.  Bigger than any of you,"  the crow answers excitedly,  "as big as...that one" --the bird gestures toward a tree that's more than 20 feet tall-- "but wider.  Wings stretch out just as wide.  And brings its nest along with it." 
 "No no no,"  it replies with a shake of its head when Orson presses on why the party should depart,  "you should  want  to leave.  For own good.  Or you could become like the asleep-never-sleeping.  Bad for you bad for us.  Can't make the enormous one go so we watch." 
Dr.Samurai
      
  Orson 
  Orc Totem Warrior Barbarian 6 
 AC:  16  | HP:  65/65  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +3(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  -1  | Wis:  -1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  12 |  PIn:  9 |  PInv:  9
 Rages:  3/4 |  Raging:  No |  Reckless:  No
 Resistances:  --
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Wanderer, Aspect of the Elk
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
 Crow Talk 
  Wow, that is big,   Orson agrees,   Is he like this?   Orson asks, pulling on his loose clothing,   Or more like this, shiny and hard?   He knocks on Izillia's armor.

  Hmm... the asleep-never-sleeping... what does that looks like? Like when something dies, but keeps moving? How come it doesn't happen to you?  
Awful
  Izillia of the Silver Nails  
  Half Elf Forge Cleric 6 
 AC:  20  | HP:  45/45  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Channel Divinity:  2/2
 Harness Divine Power (1):  2/2
 Active Effects: 
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -  

Izillia eyes sparkles at the sight of the footprint.
  "Giants! Are you cousins, Miss Laula?"   
She excitedly continued after the other cleric gave her thoughts.
  "I met a fire giant once! Through the church. They like smithing a lot, too! He was sort of rude, though. Also, very wide."   

She grinned at Orson as he clanked on her armour.
 "If you wish to demonstrate a hard material, rap her skull,"  Vellarc interjected.  "Adamant pales in density." 
  "Awww, thanks!"   
The bird made a noise that was sorted of a sigh, translated through beak.
[/Spoiler]
The Hellbug
 Final Crow Talk 

The crow looks thoughtfully between Orson and Izillia (while specifically avoiding the cleric's familiar) before alighting on Orson and picking at his sleeve with its beak.   "Like this!" 

It's clearly difficult for the bird to find words for what it's saying, but it answers anyway.   "Fall asleep, but keep moving, then never sleep again.  Safe here, not safe further..."   Suddenly, one of the other crows from atop the bridge, which descended to a tree branch about 20 feet above the party during the conversation, interrupts Orson's crow with a piercing caw, which the orc can precisely interpret:

 "No more!" 

The crow on Orson's shoulder jumps in surprise.  As soon as it's regained its composure, it leaves him with merely a  "go! leave!"  before flapping off to be followed by the interrupting corvid.
Dr.Samurai
      
  Orson 
  Orc Totem Warrior Barbarian 6 
 AC:  16  | HP:  65/65  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +3(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  -1  | Wis:  -1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  12 |  PIn:  9 |  PInv:  9
 Rages:  3/4 |  Raging:  No |  Reckless:  No
 Resistances:  --
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Wanderer, Aspect of the Elk
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
  Wait!   Orson calls in crow speech as the crow flaps away,   How does it happen?!   He shakes his head as the crow flies away. He rejoins the others.

  Well, not much that we didn't know. According to the crow, the creature that was here was about as tall as that tree, with a wingspan to match. So big. It said it was carrying it's nest with it, that must be the cart. It's not armored, at least as far as the crow can tell.   He looks thoughtful, almost concerned, then continues,   The crow said we shouldn't be here, and we should want to leave. It said that creatures that go further fall to the asleep-never-sleeping... they go to sleep, then they keep moving and never go to sleep again. I asked if they looked dead but it didn't say. Then it told us to leave, that it wasn't safe, and fled.  

Orson looks south, after the cart wheel tracks, and remains pensive. A hint of concern plays on his face, for someone that just talked to a bird.   Crows are clever,   he says,   we should heed the warning. I'm not saying we stop, but there may be more at play here than some missing soldiers and a helmet.  
Awful
  Izillia of the Silver Nails  
  Half Elf Forge Cleric 6 
 AC:  20  | HP:  45/45  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Channel Divinity:  2/2
 Harness Divine Power (1):  2/2
 Active Effects: 
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -  
  "Ok,"    Izillia said easily.  "So what should we do differently because of learning that? If there's nothing to be done, no point in worrying."   
J-H
 Jebediah 
 "The really big person here might have useful information, or we might just be snacks for him... or her.  This sleeping thing though, that sounds like powerful magic.  We should probably check it out, but with light feet and wary eyes."   Jebediah gazes south.  Whether it's the helm or something else, whatever can cause what the crow described to Orson is going to be powerful, and therefore worth something to someone.
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(18)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  3/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -
 Rations available:  23 person-days   
 
  
 "It will be difficult to explain to our employer, that we turned around because of a cryptic warning from a random crow. We'll probably regret it, but then again, potential regret is no valid reason for inaction. Let's press on and keep our eyes even more open for danger. 

Gladius replied, turning south towards their goal.
Dr.Samurai
      
  Orson 
  Orc Totem Warrior Barbarian 6 
 AC:  16  | HP:  65/65  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +3(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  -1  | Wis:  -1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  12 |  PIn:  9 |  PInv:  9
 Rages:  3/4 |  Raging:  No |  Reckless:  No
 Resistances:  --
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Wanderer, Aspect of the Elk
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
  I agree, Jeb,   Orson says,   Let's keep moving.  
Dr.Samurai
      
  Orson 
  Orc Totem Warrior Barbarian 6 
 AC:  16  | HP:  65/65  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +3(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  -1  | Wis:  -1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  12 |  PIn:  9 |  PInv:  9
 Rages:  3/4 |  Raging:  No |  Reckless:  No
 Resistances:  --
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Wanderer, Aspect of the Elk
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
Orson proceeds forward with trepidation.

 
 Spoiler: Stealth 
  Stealth  - (1d20+6)[ 23 ] 
 
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(18)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  3/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -
 Rations available:  23 person-days   
 
  

Gladius got down from his horse again and made sure to lead it in such a way as to minimize its noise

 
 Spoiler 

Gladius Stealth

 (1d20+8)[ 9 ] 

Horse Stealth, with advantage through help action

 (1d20)[ 1 ] , (1d20)[ 3 ] 
 
The Hellbug
The party turns south and climbs up out of the valley with the dried river and past the remains of the ancient stone bridge, leaving the giant's camp behind them.  Though they choose not to heed the crow's advice, they do continue more cautiously, slowing down their pace considerably.  As far as they can tell, the forest continues for miles in every direction and it feels like it's getting thicker as they move south.  In fact, that's definitely what's happening, and ashes and birches give way to maples and ancient oaks.  At one point, they run into a one of these so big that it would take the whole party to wrap their arms around its mighty trunk.  Looking up into its mostly-bare branches, the morning sun makes for a dazzling display as its light is scattered into tiny rainbows by the dew on the hundreds of otherwise-imperceptible spider webs that bedeck it.

The adventurers continue their trek into the afternoon, and the woods still don't give way.  There is one other harmless curiosity, however: a small meadow on a hillside whose grasses and plants appear to be divided into distinctly divided thirds.  Standing in the middle where all three borders meet, Jebediah and Orson realize that one of them extends perfectly east and the other two go directly northwest and southwest respectively.  Furthermore, the orc realizes that it may not look like it now, but the varieties are such that each section contains plants that flower in one color.  No one can find any signs of cultivation, though, and the plants are native ones and seem entirely mundane.

Later as the sun begins to set, though, and the party begins to look for a place to rest, they come across a further wonder: a wall, 20 feet high, of white stone, so smooth they can barely tell the grooves between the large bricks that make it up.  The surrounding forest grows much taller than the wall, but not a single vine or creeper hangs onto it.  It extends to the east and west as far as the eye can see in the dimming light.

 
 Spoiler: Passive Perception Izillia 
While you haven't been exactly tripping over wildlife in your trek through the forest over the past two days, probably because of the noise a party of your size necessarily makes, there have always been sounds: birdsong, woodpeckers hammering on trees, squirrels cracking through nuts, and the rustle of small animals' feet on freshly-fallen leaves.  It's not totally gone, but you're sure that the sounds have diminished significantly in the last 5 miles or so and, comparing to last evening, it doesn't feel like it's just the approaching nightfall that's to blame.
 
Dr.Samurai
      
  Orson 
  Orc Totem Warrior Barbarian 6 
 AC:  16  | HP:  65/65  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +3(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  -1  | Wis:  -1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  12 |  PIn:  9 |  PInv:  9
 Rages:  3/4 |  Raging:  No |  Reckless:  No
 Resistances:  --
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Wanderer, Aspect of the Elk
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
  Don't see any signs of someone cultivating this field, looks normal for the most part. But if we were here at the right time, while  the flowers are blooming, well that section would be perfectly white, that one like a sky blue, and that one orange. Strange that the plants would grow into sections like that, but I don't see the mark of any hands or tools...
  
J-H
      
 
   
 Jebediah Fortuna  
  
 Halfling Shadow Sorcerer 
 AC: 12 HP: 44/44 
 PPer: 13 PInv: 10 PIst: 10  
 Conditions: -- 
 Concentrating: --  
 
  

Jebediah pictures the field in his head, like Vellarc might see it.   "Three colors in a pattern.  That seems artificial, and old.  We may be on the right track." 
 
 Spoiler: Is it a flag? 

History  (1d20)[ 16 ] 
 


When they reach the great wall, he checks to make sure it's not poisonous to plants or otherwise magical, and is instead just well-made and very smooth.
 
 Spoiler 

Arcana or Survival?  (1d20+3)[ 13 ] 
Both have the same modifier, not sure which is more appropriate.
 

 "Nothing's growing on it, not even vines.  Vines grow everywhere."   Jebediah shakes his head.   "It might be fine, but I'm not going to be the first one to touch it.  It should be a good spot to camp near, though.  Fewer ways for anything to sneak up on us." 
Dr.Samurai
      
  Orson 
  Orc Totem Warrior Barbarian 6 
 AC:  16  | HP:  65/65  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +3(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  -1  | Wis:  -1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  12 |  PIn:  9 |  PInv:  9
 Rages:  3/4 |  Raging:  No |  Reckless:  No
 Resistances:  --
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Wanderer, Aspect of the Elk
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
Orson looks at Jeb and that back at the wall and realizes the halfling is right,   Yeah, nothing's touching the wall. That's strange.   He looks around for a tree to climb to get a glance over the wall.
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(18)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  3/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -
 Rations available:  23 person-days   
 
  

Gladius looked at the wall and frowned:  "Amazing that no-one mentioned that - it's pretty hard to miss from a bird's eye view. Speaking of which..." 

He gestured, calling forth his owl again. With a push he sent it up in the air, gripping his horse for support.

 "I'm watching through the owl's eyes, any second now..." 
 
 Spoiler 

Arcana roll

 (1d20+6)[ 10 ] 

Afterwards Detect Magic (and if necessary Identify) as rituals to learn more about the wall
 
Awful
  Izillia of the Silver Nails  
  Half Elf Forge Cleric 6 
 AC:  20  | HP:  45/45  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Channel Divinity:  2/2
 Harness Divine Power (1):  2/2
 Active Effects: 
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -  
  "Did you notice?"    Izillia said suddenly.  "Barely any bugs, or birds. Less and less over the last few hours. A field like this should be buzzing."   
Dr.Samurai
      
  Orson 
  Orc Totem Warrior Barbarian 6 
 AC:  16  | HP:  65/65  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +3(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  -1  | Wis:  -1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  12 |  PIn:  9 |  PInv:  9
 Rages:  3/4 |  Raging:  No |  Reckless:  No
 Resistances:  --
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Wanderer, Aspect of the Elk
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
Orson once again turns his sense to the observations of the group; Izillia was right, no birdsong or the buzzing of bees and other insects.   This doesn't feel right. No critters around, and this massive wall just sitting here, keeping the plants at bay. The crow was right, things are gettin' weird this far south.   He moves over to Gladius on the horse,   Hey, be careful. If there aint birds around here, your owl's gonna stick out like a sore thumb up there.  
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(18)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  3/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -
 Rations available:  23 person-days   
 
  

Gladius replied:  "I'll be careful, but this spirit construct is replaceable..." 

He closed his eyes and began to describe

 "The wall has a 5 foot walkway up top, not overly wide, the crenelations on either side are purely decorative, nothing that would actually be of use in a siege. I can't make out start or beginning, the trees are covering it up in the distance. The other side is heavily infested with creepers and vines. The south side is completely coated. But they stop pretty precisely three feet from the top of it. The plants seem to have greatly deteriorated the structure. I don't know if it's a magical effect or simply a contact poison in the stone, but I'll investigate further." 

He opened is eyes again, the owl returned and Gladius began to set up another ritual.

 
 Spoiler 

Detect Magic (and if necessary Identify)
 
agignac
Laula looked at the meadow with curiosity. She can't see what Orson sees, but she believes him. None of the flowers that bloom high in the mountains are also found down here. But surely strange for them to be so carefully divided, especially without a gardener to continually tend them.    "Could this be the work of Estivala? The blossoms are the domain of summer, are they not? Or perhaps Malovern's spring?"  
 
 Spoiler: ooc and rolls 

  religion  - (1d20+3)[ 23 ]  Ever heard of anything like this having a religious source/meaning?
 


The wall was even more peculiar. So perfect from this side, so barren of plant life. And from the report of Gladius's owl, heavily damaged on the other side.   "So, now we need to decide - do we go around it, or over it?"   She began to look carefully around her, to see if Hibernius left her a sign indicating the best way forward.
Dr.Samurai
      
  Orson 
  Orc Totem Warrior Barbarian 6 
 AC:  16  | HP:  65/65  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +3(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  -1  | Wis:  -1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  12 |  PIn:  9 |  PInv:  9
 Rages:  3/4 |  Raging:  No |  Reckless:  No
 Resistances:  --
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Wanderer, Aspect of the Elk
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
Gladius' description of the other side of the wall is strange, but they are obviously dealing with something old and magical.   That there is the question,   he says to Laula, regarding the wall.   It sounds like slim pickings around here,   he says, looking around,   but I'll see if there's a local that can tell us how far this wall goes and if we can just hop over.  
 
 Spoiler 
Ritual cast Speak with Animals and call out to any beast with the inclination to have a conversation. Using bits of ration to help and saying there's some snacks for anyone that will speak.
 
The Hellbug
As the other discuss the findings so far in the fading light, Orson and Gladius prepare their rituals.

When the wizard finishes his, he quickly acclimates to and blocks out the auras coming from his allies and their various magical trinkets and focuses on the wall.  Sure enough, it radiates a steady abjuration aura, but there's definitely something strange about it that he can't quite put his finger on...

 
 Spoiler: OOC for Gladius 
You can roll Arcana in the OOC thread for more.
 


The orc, on the other hand, grabs some food and starts looking around for an animal to chat with.  It proves much more difficult than his last two attempts, and its minutes before he can even get the attention of any creature at all.  But his persistence pays off when he finds a fox, ribs visible under its fur, padding through the undergrowth.  Thinking this the perfect opportunity, Orson offers his morsel and a greeting, and the fox does stop and consider it for a moment but then hisses and scampers off.  It's strange, though: with the time of year it is, an animal in that condition risks not making it through the winter at all.
Dr.Samurai
      
  Orson 
  Orc Totem Warrior Barbarian 6 
 AC:  16  | HP:  65/65  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +3(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  -1  | Wis:  -1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  12 |  PIn:  9 |  PInv:  9
 Rages:  3/4 |  Raging:  No |  Reckless:  No
 Resistances:  --
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Wanderer, Aspect of the Elk
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
  Can't make heads or tails of that,   Orson says as the fox slinks away,   That fox is likely not to make it to the spring, it should have taken the food. Something is interfering with the natural order here, beyond this wall and the plants.  
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(18)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  3/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -
 Rations available:  23 person-days   
 
  

Gladius replied:  "The wall is an obstacle, but not an insurmountable one. Still, I'd prefer not to leave my horse behind. Let's see how far this stretches first, before entering an enclosure that potentially was made to contain something that we don't want to meet." 

He indicated to the West:  "I suggest we head that way and see if there is any kind of thoroughfare or end to the wall - but first, let's find a decent camping ground." 
Dr.Samurai
      
  Orson 
  Orc Totem Warrior Barbarian 6 
 AC:  16  | HP:  65/65  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +3(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  -1  | Wis:  -1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  12 |  PIn:  9 |  PInv:  9
 Rages:  3/4 |  Raging:  No |  Reckless:  No
 Resistances:  --
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Wanderer, Aspect of the Elk
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
Orson searches for a spot to camp with the help of the others.

 
 Spoiler: Survival 
  Survival  - (1d20+2)[ 14 ] ,   Advantage from Help  - (1d20+2)[ 16 ]  +   Guidance  - (1d4)[ 1 ] 

There was major controversy over Orson's meager bonus, so add +1 if it's Jeb or Izillia making the roll instead 😎.
 
agignac
Distracted, Laula prays for guidance as Orson searches for a safe campsite. She searches in vain for a sign, but nothing is clear. Are those pebbles on the ground to the west sort of in the shape of an arrow, urging them that direction? Or is that a claw, warning of danger? The first star of the night twinkles over head, urging her over the wall. But the fox fled east. Were they meant to follow it? Or was its poor condition a warning of danger?

Stymied, Laula watched the shadows lengthen. This was  her  time, Hibernius's time, and she should know what to do. Frowining, she sat at the campsite and munched on a ration bar, trying to understand the puzzle that was the wall.

  arcana  - (1d20)[ 18 ] 
The Hellbug
With night approaching quickly, Orson again sets about looking for a good spot for camping and, again, he is successful, finding spot a short ways to the east in the shadow of the wall that is sheltered by it and a scrubby evergreen, within a short walk of a small pond that, while not necessarily looking like it's safe to drink, will certainly provide water that can be boiled.  The nice little nook provides ample shelter from the wind and the light rain that begins just as people are starting to bed down.

 
 Spoiler: For Izillia only 
Izillia is unlucky enough to draw one of the watches deepest in the night.  It is not at all exciting, and she can reflect again on how  quiet  everything in these woods is.
 But there's a waning half-moon reflected on the small pond, and the stars that are visible through the tree branches are, at least, pretty.  It turns out that its these celestial bodies that tip her off to something wrong.  It's actually practically totally luck.  Out of the corner of her eye, the cleric notices a shape blocking the reflection of said moon on the pond's surface about 80 feet away.  It's moving slowly but, as she squints, she can see that it's definitely a humanoid shape, moving slowly and absolutely silently towards her and the party.  The shape pauses for a moment when it is spotted and then begins moving more quickly towards Izillia.  In the split second she has to react, the cleric can see that 'it' is probably actually a 'she' and that she's carrying in one hand a long weapon, some sort of spear or staff.
 
Awful
  Izillia of the Silver Nails  
  Half Elf Forge Cleric 6 
 AC:  20  | HP:  45/45  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Channel Divinity:  2/2
 Harness Divine Power (1):  2/2
 Active Effects: 
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -  

Izillia had been humming quietly to herself as she whiled away the night watch, occasionally quietly conversing with Vellarc. At least the moon on the pond was pretty - and, oh, that was an assassin!

 "Girl-"  Vellarc began to hiss.
  "I know!"   

No one approached a camp at night without introducing themselves: they were fair game. She grinned and rose to her feet, spinning her mace in her grip before bringing it across her shield in a crashing boom, once, twice, thrice!

  "Let's play, miss!"    Izillia called merrily to the figure.   "I'll shatter your bones and knock you dead!"   

Vellarc took flight and clapped upwards twenty feet, looking around with his beady unnatural eyes for more approaching murderers-to-be.

Izillia raised her hammer again, and brought it down - and when it hit the ground, it made a deep and resonating boom, like an anvil dropping - or a heart stopping.

 
 Spoiler: ooc 

Izillia hammers on her shield to wake up everyone then casts Toll the Dead: DC14 con or take  (2d8)[ 9 ]  necrotic
Vellarc flies 20 feet up and looks around.
 
The Hellbug
In getting close enough to cast her spell, Izillia gets a better look at the interloper: she's a woman, shorter and slighter than the average human and with a narrow face and pointed ears.  She wears nothing but a tunic, improbably made of leaves and cinched with a willow branch, and a pair of bracelets of wound branchlets.  Most telling about her, though, is her hair, which, depending on how it moves, is either that, or a cascade of oak leaves down her back.  The dryad's weapon is a knobbly spear made entirely of wood.

It's hard to tell if it's the spell or the noise or both that causes her to pause once more, but, when she moves again, it's as though she's unharmed.  She doesn't continue towards Izillia but instead turns towards a nearby tree, looking hurried but not panicked.  She reaches out to it with her empty hand, but, instead of touching it, the dryad sinks into the tree without breaking her stride.  She does slow, though, as though its solidity is only a suggestion.  Once she's totally passed into its bark, she's gone.

Vallarc doesn't notice any other attackers, and Izillia's hammering quickly wakes the other adventurers.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
She made her save so no damage and then she stepped into the tree and disappeared.
 
J-H
 Jebediah 
Jebediah hops up, his eyes piercing the night as he looks for movement.   "What is it?  Where?" 
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(18)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  3/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -
 Rations available:  23 person-days   
 
  

Gladius awoke with a start, his rapier drawn even before he had opened his eyes fully.

Looking around he asked  "What's going on, where are the attackers?" 
While freeing himself from his sleeping bag and getting to his feet.

The little owl appeared and flew up in the night.
Dr.Samurai
      
  Orson 
  Orc Totem Warrior Barbarian 6 
 AC:  16  | HP:  65/65  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +3(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  -1  | Wis:  -1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  12 |  PIn:  9 |  PInv:  9
 Rages:  3/4 |  Raging:  No |  Reckless:  No
 Resistances:  --
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Wanderer, Aspect of the Elk
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
Orson scrambles to his feet,   Wolves?!   He looks toward where Izillia seems to be facing but seeing nothing he continues to glance around for a threat. Not seeing anything immediate, he goes into his pack, grabs a torch, and proceeds to light it,   Izillia, what happened?  
agignac
      
      Laula    
 AC: 19 HP: 51/51 
 PPer: 13 PInv: 10 PIst: 10  
 Channel Divinity: 2/2 
 Steps of the Night: 3/3 
 Conditions: -- 
 Concentrating: --  
 
  
Laula sits straight up, the alarm having woken her from a dream. The moonlight bathes the area in soft light, and her very keen eyes catch movement near the pond. She jumps to her feet, ready to do battle, but then the figure vanishes behind a tree. No...into a tree?

The goliath moves towards the tree, trying to determine where the potential enemy had gone.
The Hellbug
Even with every roused adventurer's eyes on the surrounding forest, it seems like the nocturnal visitor has managed to slip away into the darkness.  And perhaps she would have, if she hadn't looked back to check for pursuers.  It's Laula's god-blessed sight that catches it: the light from Orson's torch hits the dryad's eyes just right and, just for the slightest moment and only barely, they reflect like a cat's in the dark.  The cleric can then see that she's in the middle of moving eastward 150 feet away, keeping low and moving slowly, on a path from a knobbly oak on the pond's far edge to a fir tree that looks like it grew up between cracks in a boulder and has since pried it apart.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
It feel appropriate to let y'all act here.  No initiative, but have a turn.
 
Awful
  Izillia of the Silver Nails  
  Half Elf Forge Cleric 6 
 AC:  20  | HP:  45/45  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Channel Divinity:  2/2
 Harness Divine Power (1):  2/2
 Active Effects: 
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -  
 "A dryad with a spear tried sneaking up on us,"  Vellarc growled above.  "She went into that tree. Obnoxious tree witches!" 
  "I hope she hasn't been frightened away already..."    Izillia muttered. She rested her mace on her shoulder for a moment, looking put out at another fight unfinished.

 
 Spoiler: ooc 

Letting Laula act first as per discord
 
agignac
  "She's there, "  Laula said softly, pointing a finger at the interloper. The tree-lady was creeping away, perhaps realizing this was a fight she couldn't win.  " Wait !"  she cried louder.  " Speak with us about this place, and we won't harm you! " 
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(18)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  3/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -
 Rations available:  23 person-days   
 
  

Gladius repeated Laula's message in Elvish, assuming that a Dryad might understand that language beside their Sylvan mother tongue:

 "We don't want to hurt you, but we will if we must. Speak to us as a friend, or perish as our enemy." 

It was admittedly a much freer translation than Laula might have intended. Just to be prepared he used a little spell to harden his skin against attack

 
 Spoiler 

Casting Bladeward while aiming with my crossbow.
 
The Hellbug
The dryad looks back once more when Laula and Gladius call out to her, but if she understands what either of them say, she doesn't give any indication it.  Instead, she gives up on stealth and trusts in her speed instead, bolting for the rock-splitting fir at a full sprint.  This time she makes no attempt to hide herself and, just as she effortlessly passes into the tree, she emerges from an elm more than 50 feet away and keeps going.  The tree-bound fey isn't slow, but she's no faster than a mortal woman of her size.  However, with her tree-jumping trick she gets close to even outstripping even Laula's prodigious night-vision in seconds.

 
 Spoiler 
She's 260 feet away and clearly has no interest in sticking around.  At this point it's either let her go or spend some resources and roll some dice.
 
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(18)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  3/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -
 Rations available:  23 person-days   
 
  

More out of reflex than any conscious decision, Gladius fired his crossbow, not expecting to hit.

 "Not worth going after her - not while she can appear basically in any tree behind you."
 
 
 Spoiler 

Shoot with disadvantage
 (1d20+8)[ 20 ] /[/roll]1d20+8[/roll] damage  (1d8+5)[ 9 ] 
 (1d20+8)[ 11 ] /[/roll]1d20+8[/roll] damage  (1d8+5)[ 13 ] 
 
Dr.Samurai
      
  Orson 
  Orc Totem Warrior Barbarian 6 
 AC:  16  | HP:  65/65  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +3(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  -1  | Wis:  -1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  12 |  PIn:  9 |  PInv:  9
 Rages:  3/4 |  Raging:  No |  Reckless:  No
 Resistances:  --
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Wanderer, Aspect of the Elk
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
Orson looks to where Laula points and immediately feels his instincts take over. He can catch her, he knows it. The clack of a crossbow going off snaps him free of the hunt before it can start, and he hears Gladius say,  Not worth going after her - not while she can appear basically in any tree behind you. 

Orson looks at the half-elf, then back to where the dryad was getting away.   You're right, it would be difficult to know which way to go while keeping up with her speed. And the tree witches play tricks of the mind as well.   Orson shakes his head; he still hadn't learned the lesson his pack tried to instill in him all those years ago -- stay with the group, don't run off on your own. He clears his throat,   Is everyone alright otherwise? Doesn't seem like she made it into our camp.  
The Hellbug
One of Gladius's bolts flies harmlessly off into the woods.  The second, though, is a glancing hit to the back of the fleeing dryad, near her shoulder, but it deflects unnaturally off of her tunic.  Her next two steps are stumbling ones from the impact, but she continues her flight and soon disappears entirely into the night.  Thinking the interloper won't come back for more, the party gets back to resting.

And they are right.  Come morning, there's no sign of any more nocturnal visitors.  Last night's sporadic showers have settled into a light rain, but fortunately it already feels like it has brought with it an unseasonable warmness so it won't be too uncomfortable.

As for the surroundings, they remain the same as the night before.  The quiet forest, the pond, the wall that extends out of sight in both directions, nothing has changed.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Something I haven't mentioned is that, although your traveling has been up and down through hilly woodland mostly, there's been a definitely up-ness to your traveling.
 
J-H
 Jebediah 
 "If the plants and dryads are unfriendly, that could explain the wall.  Of course, why they're unfriendly is another question.  East or west?"   Jebediah looks at the wall, assuming that the group is going to try to find a way around it or a gate of some sort.
Dr.Samurai
      
  Orson 
  Orc Totem Warrior Barbarian 6 
 AC:  16  | HP:  65/65  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +3(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  -1  | Wis:  -1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  12 |  PIn:  9 |  PInv:  9
 Rages:  3/4 |  Raging:  No |  Reckless:  No
 Resistances:  --
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Wanderer, Aspect of the Elk
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
  What about just going over?   Orson asks,   You saw that bridge, it was massive. What if this wall just goes on and on and we're chasing our tails trying to find a way around?  
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(18)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  3/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -
 Rations available:  17 person-days   
 
  
 "We would have to leave horse and donkey behind - much sooner than I hoped. And with those dryads around, I don't expect them to be here when we come back. Let's head east first and see how much of the area this actually spans. If we can't find an edge two days out, we can climb the wall - by then our reserves will be low enough that we don't need the added capacity of the beasts of burden."
 
Gladius answered in his usual, rational, calm tone.
agignac
Laula eyed the horse, trying to determine if she could get them it the wall.   "If we have time to make a pulley, we could bring your beast. But perhaps it is too dense on the other side to ride it. " 

Moving towards the wall, she placed her hand flat upon it, not even considering that it could be dangerous. After all, she wasn't a plant person.   "What is beyond, that it was deemed necessary to keep dryads and their kin away? Could it have something to do with the sleeping sickness the crow mentioned?"   She closed her eyes a moment, as if trying to see through the wall into the woods beyond.

She thought that Gladius's plan was probably the best.   "It could be that the helm is to the east, and not the south. If an army came this way, would it have scaled the wall? Or did the wall come after? We have too many questions, and no answers. East is just as good a direction as any other."  
Awful
  Izillia of the Silver Nails  
  Half Elf Forge Cleric 6 
 AC:  20  | HP:  45/45  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Channel Divinity:  2/2
 Harness Divine Power (1):  2/2
 Active Effects: 
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -  
  "I'm not leaving Molly behind!"    Izillia exclaimed, patting the mule on the snout and shooting Gladius and Orson a dirty look.  "If we need mechanisms for a pulley, I can make that easy enough, in an hour. But I think we should follow the wall."   
 
 Spoiler: ooc 

...
 
Dr.Samurai
      
  Orson 
  Orc Totem Warrior Barbarian 6 
 AC:  16  | HP:  65/65  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +3(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  -1  | Wis:  -1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  12 |  PIn:  9 |  PInv:  9
 Rages:  3/4 |  Raging:  No |  Reckless:  No
 Resistances:  --
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Wanderer, Aspect of the Elk
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
  East huh?   Orson says looking in that direction,   At this elevation, we won't be heading so much into the swamps. Alright, let's get moving then.  
The Hellbug
 Morning Day 3 

The party sets out to the east, following along wall (now proven to not be harmful to the touch).  There are ups and downs, but the structure, imposing by its length if not its height, just goes with it.  It's a little curious that there are no gorges deep enough for it to be rendered ineffective, but it's not so strange that it isn't just coincidence.  The area around the wall stays much the same, forest on the adventurers' side, forest on the other.  By scouting with their flying familiars, the party can see that the vines and creepers clinging to the other side of the wall are intermittent: they only seem to be consolidated in areas where there are cracks or other damage to the masonry and, as they progress along it, they become rarer and rarer, even in spots that would follow this recognized pattern.

The relic-seekers move slowly and carefully, but they realize that, because of its plant clearing effect, they can travel along the wall practically as quickly as if they were on open terrain so they make good time.  And so it is that late morning, having traveled about 5 miles, they encounter something strange: music.  It's the sound of a single flautist playing a simple, somber tune.  The musician isn't visible through the trees, but a group of twelve or so crows sit in the branches of the same tree some 150 feet ahead, making no attempt to conceal the fact that they are watching the party intently.  A few caws later, the music suddenly halts.  A moment later, a familiar figure stands up and reveals herself from behind the same tree, tucking a wooden flute into her belt and grasping the same knobbly spear from last night in her other hand.  She's flanked by a pair of mountain lions and a brown bear.

 "You leave.  You go no more further,"  the dryad commands, gesturing north with her spear.  Her voice is ethereal and authoritative, the latter seems forced in her clearly rehearsed words.  The predators at her side step forward with a growl, leaving no doubt of the threat even if her command of the common tongue is weak.

 
 Spoiler: Insight 13, Gladius has advantage from background 
The spear, the predators, the calm flute playing; the dryad is clearly presenting a threat, but it seems almost  too  calculated.  This person is definitely one who does not favor inflicting violence; if it were her first choice she would have brought such allies last night.  Words and appearances are clearly the weapons she's comfortable with, although there's no doubt the threat is a material one.
 

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
If there's anything you want to do that's one action worth of stuff, you have a chance between hearing the music and being confronted.
 
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(18)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  3/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -
 Rations available:  17 person-days   
 
  

Gladius kept a neutral expression when he answered, calmly and as friendly as he could manage:
 "We come in peace. Why do you want us to go away? Can we make a bargain to our mutual benefit? If you tell us your reasons, we would certainly be much more inclined to follow your wishes. Likewise, if you know our reasons we might find a compromise that is acceptable to you." 
Dr.Samurai
      
  Orson 
  Orc Totem Warrior Barbarian 6 
 AC:  16  | HP:  65/65  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +3(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  -1  | Wis:  -1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  12 |  PIn:  9 |  PInv:  9
 Rages:  3/4 |  Raging:  No |  Reckless:  No
 Resistances:  --
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Wanderer, Aspect of the Elk
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
Orson sets his pack down smiles a friendly smile at the dryad. Gladius has the right approach; the dryad does not want to fight the group if she can avoid it. He waits to hear her response before joining the conversation.
J-H
 Jebediah 
Jebediah waits, placing himself almost out of sight behind the others.  He can hit all of the creatures with a single fireball, if needed... but they are far enough away that they would be foolish to attack.
The Hellbug
 "No, you  go !"  the dryad replies, jabbing northward with her spear emphatically,  "you go or you...you die!"   Despite this, it's clear that, while she was listening to Gladius's questions and considering his words, she just didn't understand them.

She begins to say something else in a different tongue, obviously her native one by how much more clearly and confidently she speaks it.  By her inquiring look afterwards, it was probably a question, but not one of the adventurers can understand the language.  Those who speak Elven, though, can recognize enough of the sounds and flow to recognize it as Sylvan and confirm that it was a question of some kind.  She repeats the same words, miming something coming from her mouth and then tapping her ear.
Dr.Samurai
      
  Orson 
  Orc Totem Warrior Barbarian 6 
 AC:  16  | HP:  65/65  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +3(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  -1  | Wis:  -1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  12 |  PIn:  9 |  PInv:  9
 Rages:  3/4 |  Raging:  No |  Reckless:  No
 Resistances:  --
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Wanderer, Aspect of the Elk
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
  Any of you catchin' what she's saying, cause I'm not,   Orson says. He takes a step forward, to indicate that he will be speaking now, and says to her,   We wanna walk away from here without coming to blows, just like you do. Maybe I can talk to the bear, and the bear can talk to you, and then you talk to the bear and the bear talks back at me,   he suggests, pantomiming her own movements of something coming from his mouth, to the bear's ears, then the bear's mouth to her ears, and  all the way back.   I'm gonna need a few minutes to do it,   he says, almost to himself.   How do I tell her I'm gonna need a few minutes?   he asks the others.
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(18)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  3/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -
 Rations available:  17 person-days   
 
  

Gladius turned half to the others to translate
 "She speaks a bit Elvish, but I don't think she understands me. I'll try to illustrate my words." 


Turning to her, he said:

 "We. Want. No. Kill" 
With a simple gesture, he conjured an illusory image in his hand showing an elvish looking figure shaking hands with a vaguely dryad looking figure.
To be sure, he added a pantomime after each word (pointing to their group, making a "give me" motion, shaking his head vigorously, before making stabing motions)

 "We. Want. Deal" 
This time he conjured the image with each figure handing over a packet.

 "Move. Through. Your. Space. In. Peace." 
He showed a group moving with a sun overhead and dryads walking around them, waving them goodbye.

 "Give. You. Thing." 
He showed the group handing something over.

 You. Wait. We. Speak. Clear. Soon. 
The Hellbug
The dryad looks frustrated when Orson replies to her common, but she watches with interest as he mimes using the bear as an interpreter.  The third time he repeats it, there's a look of realization on her face.  She nods vigorously, then turns to the bear beside her and says something in her strange language.  When she's done, the bear huffs and growls, but without his spell, Orson can't make heads or tails of it.  The dryad looks on expectantly, her excitement fading again as no one replies, but Orson beginning his ritual placates her yet again.

While everyone is waiting, she squints at Gladius's illusions.  The tree-bound fey, along with her animal entourage, cautiously approaches the party but doesn't seem willing to come closer than 60 feet.  Judging by her reaction, only his first statement seems to make much of an impression.   "I want you no die,"  she replies earnestly,  "beast stay beast die.  You stay you die." 

Seeing that there might be a better alternative, though, she doesn't engage much more with the illusions.  Instead, she raises her flute once again and begins to play the same somber tune as before, waiting for Orson to make the first move.
agignac
Laula watches with surprise and growing respect as Gladius uses illusions to communicate with the dryad. She wishes she had thought to ask Hibernius for the power to understand all tongues. She rarely needs it, and didn't think of it that morning.  Tomorrow I'll start praying for it. 

However, it was clear that between the wizard's illusions, and their guides impending animal-speak, they would be able to communicate soon. She watched Orson's preparations with interest, only barely able to restrain herself from interrupting with questions about his process.
Dr.Samurai
      
  Orson 
  Orc Totem Warrior Barbarian 6 
 AC:  16  | HP:  65/65  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +3(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  -1  | Wis:  -1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  12 |  PIn:  9 |  PInv:  9
 Rages:  3/4 |  Raging:  No |  Reckless:  No
 Resistances:  --
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Wanderer, Aspect of the Elk
 Conditions:  Speak with Animals   
 
  
Orson blocks out the rest of the chatter and focuses inward, back to the time he lived among his first pack. The wolves had a magic that allowed him to communicate with them. As he grew away from the wilds, he lost that magic, but with effort he was able to call it back. His eyes open, and he looks to Molly and Horse,   Don't worry, I know they look fierce but they're just here to talk.  

He nods to the bear and lions and gives deference to them,   Mighty bear and lions, thank you for speaking. Now, we show no fangs or claws, I show my neck so we may speak.   Orson cranes his head and pulls his collar down, exposing his neck to show that he is submitting for the time being so they can speak.   We are not looking for trouble, but your friend keeps making us prey, sneaking on us last night and again now. Makes us think she is predator. We do not want to fight; no fangs, no claws. But please tell us, why are you here?   With the question, Orson's gaze shifts from the bears and lions to the dryad herself.
The Hellbug
The bear turns its head towards the dryad and, through huffs and groans, relays Orson's message to her, practically exactly as he had said it.  The fey gives the party a peculiar look before saying her own piece in her sylvan language to the bear.  Once she's done, she looks back at Orson expectantly while the creature somewhat sleepily interprets:  "I am Last Leaves of Autumn that Cling Desperately to the Branch in the Face of Winter's Chill" --the orc gets the distinct impression this name is more elegantly rendered in Sylvan-- "mortals of your tongue have called me Amaia before.  These woods are my home, where I have lived for more seasons than I can count, and I could not be anywhere else.  If you mean to ask why I am before you, then it is because there is great danger in the forest beyond the wall to you and all who live here and that one act of compassion deserves another.  A better question would be why you, the outsiders, are here." 
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(18)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  3/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -
 Rations available:  17 person-days   
 
  

Gladius waited for Ondros to retranslate and told him:

 "Say that we are searching for the remains of an army that went through this area to prevent a powerful artifact falling in the wrong hands." 
Dr.Samurai
      
  Orson 
  Orc Totem Warrior Barbarian 6 
 AC:  16  | HP:  65/65  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +3(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  -1  | Wis:  -1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  12 |  PIn:  9 |  PInv:  9
 Rages:  3/4 |  Raging:  No |  Reckless:  No
 Resistances:  --
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Wanderer, Aspect of the Elk
 Conditions:  Speak with Animals   
 
  
Orson smiles, enchanted by the dryad despite no magic being used on him,   You have a strong name, and it suits your tenacity. North of here, in the wilds outside of the Cantons, I am known as Large Hare That Runs With Wolves. But in the cities of men, I am called Orson Ogreson.   He pauses,   Act of compassion... do you mean the family of owlbears? We did not mean to run into them, and I am thankful we were able to go around them without the cubs losing their parents. You can see, we are not here to cause harm.

A crow gave me a similar warning to you, that we should go no further. I wonder if the reason we are here is the same thing that is bothering you. We are looking for the remains of an army that came through here many many seasons ago. A long time ago. We're wondering if they might have gone over this wall or around it. But we need to find where they went.  
agignac
      
      Laula    
 AC: 19 HP: 51/51 
 PPer: 13 PInv: 10 PIst: 10  
 Channel Divinity: 2/2 
 Steps of the Night: 3/3 
 Conditions: -- 
 Concentrating: --  
 
  
Laula didn't know what Orson was saying, but she cut in with,   "Ask her what the danger is. Is it a creature, or an effect, or what? Is it the sleeping not sleeping thing? Is the wall to keep her out, or it in? Why did she attack us last night, only to warn us today?"   She bit off her stream of questions with no little effort.
The Hellbug
The dryad nods when the bear repeats Orson's message.   "Yes, and thank you for that, Orson Ogreson,"  she replies,  "it's rare for a pair of cubs to both last this long already and without both parents one would almost certainly be lost and trying to support both would risk the other as well." 

It's difficult to exactly match the tree-nymph's gestures with her words since the interpretation comes after, but it seems like the shake of her head matches with her next response.  She delivers this grimly, a warning to frighten away the curious.   "You should have listened to that crow already: none claimed by the Carrion Woods beyond that wall ever return.  It's an unnatural place.  The trees won't speak to us, and living creatures sleep and never waken, but are drawn deeper into the woods where they perish.  I've never seen an army pass by, but the dead-that-walk in the Carrion Woods are like one in number.  Why are you looking for an army?  Was it yours?  Did you lose it?" 
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(18)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  3/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -
 Rations available:  17 person-days   
 
  

Gladius watched and listened, leaving Orson the task of answering. Now he chimed in:

 "Please ask if this wall continues on through the whole valley or if there is a way around without crossing the danger zone." 
Dr.Samurai
      
  Orson 
  Orc Totem Warrior Barbarian 6 
 AC:  16  | HP:  65/65  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +3(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  -1  | Wis:  -1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  12 |  PIn:  9 |  PInv:  9
 Rages:  3/4 |  Raging:  No |  Reckless:  No
 Resistances:  --
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Wanderer, Aspect of the Elk
 Conditions:  Speak with Animals   
 
  
  No, we did not lose the army, it would have passed through here long before we were born. The army was carrying an object that we are seeking to retrieve and bring back with us.   Orson gives a sidelong glance to the others as they tell him what to say and ask,   Unfortunately, listening to the crow is not an option, we have to finish this mission. Before we bumped into you, we were looking for maybe a gate through these walls or a way around them; do you know how far the wall goes or if there is a way around, or do we just go over? We are wondering if the wall was built to keep creatures out, or something in. Do you know who built it? The crow also called this danger the asleep-never-sleeping; what is it? Is a creature that does this, or the land? Anything you can tell us can help us survive.  

Orson then sees where Gladius' bolt had grazed the dryad the night before,   Do you need us to tend to that? I have a healer's kit.  
Awful
  Izillia of the Silver Nails  
  Half Elf Forge Cleric 6 
 AC:  20  | HP:  45/45  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Channel Divinity:  2/2
 Harness Divine Power (1):  2/2
 Active Effects: 
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -  

Izillia merely shifted in place, her mace resting on her shoulder. She heaved a jaw-cracking yawn. There was no fighting to be done, and the slow method of communication led to her struggling to hold interest. Vellarc could fill her in on any important details later, anyway.
The Hellbug
Amaia meets Orson's barrage of questions with pursed lips.  She begins to say something to the bear, perhaps a reply, but soon waves her hand and shakes her head, and the bear repeats nothing of whatever she had told it.  Instead, the dryad descends on one knee next to one of the lions and strokes from its head down its spine while softly telling it something more in her fairy tongue.  When she stands, the two mountain lions back up to about as far away from the dryad and the bear as the party stands but on her opposite side.  Next, in time with a wave of her hand, wind blows away the fallen leaves from the ground at her feet, and Amaia proceeds to begin to trace something in the dirt with the dull end of her spear.  When she finishes she looks up and beckons for Orson to come closer in Common.

 "Orson.  You come.  You look." 

When the orc approaches, he sees that the dryad has drawn a simple representation of the wall and surrounding forest.  On one side of the wall there's a circle, larger than any of the crude trees she's sketched for the forest.  The bear translates for her, this time delivering what she says sentence by sentence.   "I do not know who built the wall or for what purpose, but it protects us--has already protected you--from the call of the Carrion Woods.  The call is like sunlight and the wall like a tree's canopy, it shades us here and keeps us safe" --here Amaia uses the butt of her spear to illustrate something like sunbeams coming from the circle beyond the wall and how they radiate out but are stopped by the wall-- "I do not know why it is so, but beyond its edges people and animals are drawn from further.  One end is not far from here" --she points behind her-- "which is why I must stop you now.  The other is a day's walk in the other direction, with a gate near its end." 
 "But you mustn't go further, I beg, no matter what it is you seek.  Those that are taken die, but the woods themselves keep them moving, and with each one the call goes out a little further.  I have never heard it but if it grows I fear I will.  I was told used to have a mother and more sisters beyond the wall, and there were people too, but that was before I remember, and they are silent now.  You look like capable people, but that hasn't saved any who have tried in the past.  I do not want to hurt you, but if you cannot be convinced then I must, for every living thing in these woods."   She waits for Orson's response patiently.
Dr.Samurai
      
  Orson 
  Orc Totem Warrior Barbarian 6 
 AC:  16  | HP:  65/65  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +3(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  -1  | Wis:  -1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  12 |  PIn:  9 |  PInv:  9
 Rages:  3/4 |  Raging:  No |  Reckless:  No
 Resistances:  --
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Wanderer, Aspect of the Elk
 Conditions:  Speak with Animals   
 
  
Orson frowns as Amaia explains the drawing in the soil.   Amaia, you are a sincere and powerful guardian of these woods. The forest and its inhabitants are lucky to have you. Please let me speak with the others and explain it to them.   With that, Orson returns to the group and explains what Amaia has told him,   The wall doesn't go on all the way. We're close to the end of it in this direction, which is why Amaia stopped us. She's adamant that we can't continue, and will attack us if we try. There's something on the other side of the wall, that she calls the Calling. The woods on that side are called the Carrion Woods. She says the calling draws creatures toward it, and once they get near, they succumb to that... sleep-never-sleeping that the crow mentioned; they go to "sleep", but the calling keeps them moving and animated. She says each time it takes a creature in this way, it gets stronger, which is why she won't let us pass. I don't know if our mission takes us in this direction, but there is a gate at the other end of this wall, west from here, that we could cross.   He adds,   She's trying to avoid violence here, so I think we should too.
  
agignac
Laula cranes her head, trying to see what the dryad is showing Orson. When he explains the situation, she says,   "Can you ask what happens if we go past the edge of the wall, but don't turn south? Are we allowed to go further west, or further east?"   She thinks a moment, then says,   "This is a pretty clear sign that we should not be going this way. No matter what, we should at least turn around and approach from the other direction."  
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(18)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  3/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -
 Rations available:  17 person-days   
 
  
 
"Interesting, it's just a wall that ends at one point to prevent the emanation of whatever this call is. It would be interesting to experiment with its effects. For the moment let's avoid the area. The helm could very well be connected with the effect, but we don't want to upset our hosts. Tell them we'll head west and won't go further south until we are out of reach. Maybe I can find the necessary material for an identify spell. That might give us some hint how to beat that effect" 
Gladius replied after the translation.
Dr.Samurai
      
  Orson 
  Orc Totem Warrior Barbarian 6 
 AC:  16  | HP:  65/65  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +3(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  -1  | Wis:  -1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  12 |  PIn:  9 |  PInv:  9
 Rages:  3/4 |  Raging:  No |  Reckless:  No
 Resistances:  --
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Wanderer, Aspect of the Elk
 Conditions:  Speak with Animals   
 
  
Orson explains further,   The wall blocks the Calling here; she said it was like the canopy shading the ground from the sun. Past the edges of the wall the Calling goes out further. That's why she's not letting us go any further this way.  

To Gladius he nods and waits for the others to chime in.   Actually...   Orson returns to Amaia and says to the bear,   The others are speaking, I think we are going to turn around. Whatever is in the Carrion Woods, we are not prepared to deal with. On our way here, we came across the camp of a giant. Very big. Can you tell me if there are more of them, or what other beings we may run into out this way? We will probably head west from here, toward the mountains. It will be good to know who else is out here and what they are like.  
The Hellbug
Amaia looks relieved, then excited when the bear relays Ondros's words to her.  Her response, too, is animated, though the interpreter doesn't do a good job of conveying it.

  "Oh, thank every god there is!  I truly hoped I wouldn't need to stop you with force,"   she says,   "unfortunately, I cannot wander far from the tree to which I'm bound so I can't say too much about the other way from the wall.  Luckily, my sister lives that way.  In fact, I haven't spoken with her in a long time so I'd like to ask as a favor that if you go that way you bring my regards.  It would be to your benefit as well.  She won't allow you to pass into the Carrion Woods either, and she's far fiercer than I am, but with my blessing I'm sure she won't harm you."  
  "As for the giant,"   she continues with a frown,   "I haven't seen more than just him, but he came from the lake a moon and a half ago and chops wood like more than a score of your kind.  I've wanted to get rid of him, but he's stayed too far away for me to do so personally.  He's too big for anything else so all my friends can do is watch."  
Dr.Samurai
      
  Orson 
  Orc Totem Warrior Barbarian 6 
 AC:  16  | HP:  65/65  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +3(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  -1  | Wis:  -1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  12 |  PIn:  9 |  PInv:  9
 Rages:  3/4 |  Raging:  No |  Reckless:  No
 Resistances:  --
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Wanderer, Aspect of the Elk
 Conditions:  Speak with Animals   
 
  
Orson points to a spot in the drawing, further east from the wall,   Is that the lake there?  

A moment later he says,   We'll be sure to check in with your sister and give your regards. Shame about your tree, it would have been nice if you could join us while we were in the woods at least. But hey, if there's other things need doing, we're hired hands of a sort. It's a good group so far,   Orson says, looking back at the others,   We might be able to take care of a problem if you need it. That giant's long gone it seems, heading north from the bridge. But maybe there's something else? Actually, I heard there's a wyvern that flies around here... does that thing fly south of this wall?  
The Hellbug
Amaia raises an eyebrow and there's amusement on her face when the bear interprets her next words.

 "If I came with you, who would stop foolish travelers from wandering into the Carrion Woods to their deaths?"  she asks,  "nobody, I suspect.  And how could I wish to join you if I don't even know what you seek?  I don't need to know exactly, you're clearly honorable folk, but at least, for all your questions I have answered, tell me this: which is it?  Valuable, dangerous, or judged so useless it's not worth describing to me?"   Despite her restraint, it's clear that the dryad is extremely curious about what you're after.

Only once Orson has answered that does she continue.   "Yes, the lake is that way,"  the dryad answers, pointing eastward,  "the waters go for a long, long way; no bird would risk flying directly across it.  As for the wyvern, it's not one but a pair.  They can't hunt here, the trees are too thick, but they must have a nest in the mountains far beyond the wall."   She points a finger up towards the treetops.   "You can see the closest ones if you climb." 
 "The giant, though,"  she goes on,  "I hope you're correct, and he's gone, but if you only saw where he sleeps then he may have just been away felling more trees to add to his tree-corpse-pile" --this last word is delivered with venom-- "if he is not and you come upon him, I would be gracious if you drove him out.  He's destructive and a risk if he wanders into the Calling.  I don't have many things you would find valuable, but I do have the potion" --or is it 'poison?'-- "I had planned for him.  He's too large for it anyway, but you carry weapons; you could find a use for it." 
 "Oh, and I'm sorry about last night,"  she adds,  "I didn't mean for any of you to get hurt, and I thought that you might be more receptive to the danger if the warning came from one of your own." 

As she finishes answering the orc's questions, Amaia places her spear on the ground and squats down next to it.  She holds it down with one hand and pinches near the blunt end with the other.  The wood gives like a potter's clay in her hand and soon she has separated the last inch or so and shaped it into a wooden disk.  It's peculiar, though, because, unlike if the end had been sawed off, there heartwood doesn't show through, bark encases every side of it.  Another moment's worth of work and she traces an elaborate symbol onto one of the disk's faces and hands it to Orson.

 "This is my sign,"  the dryad explains,  "show it to my sister, she's called Jakinde, and she'll know you mean no harm." 
Dr.Samurai
      
  Orson 
  Orc Totem Warrior Barbarian 6 
 AC:  16  | HP:  65/65  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +3(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  -1  | Wis:  -1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  12 |  PIn:  9 |  PInv:  9
 Rages:  3/4 |  Raging:  No |  Reckless:  No
 Resistances:  --
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Wanderer, Aspect of the Elk
 Conditions:  Speak with Animals   
 
  
Amaia raises an eyebrow and there's amusement on her face when the bear interprets her next words.

 "If I came with you, who would stop foolish travelers from wandering into the Carrion Woods to their deaths?"  she asks,  "nobody, I suspect." 

Orson looks from the bear to the dryad with a roguish grin,   Can't blame a guy for mentioning it,   he says.

 "And how could I wish to join you if I don't even know what you seek? I don't need to know exactly, you're clearly honorable folk, but at least, for all your questions I have answered, tell me this: which is it? Valuable, dangerous, or judged so useless it's not worth describing to me?"  Despite her restraint, it's clear that the dryad is extremely curious about what you're after.

  Hmm...   Orson thinks on it,   I'd say it's probably a combination of both valuable and dangerous. Definitely dangerous in the wrong han---,   Orson stops mid-sentence. He had never given the helm's powers much thought; it was a job. He looks back to the group and wonders if any of them had considered the power of the helm, and bringing it back to where people in power can use it.   Uh, yeah, valuable and dangerous I think,   he says, turning back to Amaia with a reassuring look.

  Well if you think that potion will help, we'll take it, and we'll explain to the giant in no uncertain terms that he needs to find a new home,   he nods to her,   You can count on it. And hey look, sorry about all this,   Orson says, gesturing to the group and the wall,   We didn't know.  
 "Oh, and I'm sorry about last night,"  she adds,  "I didn't mean for any of you to get hurt, and I thought that you might be more receptive to the danger if the warning came from one of your own." 

Orson blinks,   Uh, well, I don't think that would have worked out like you were thinking. Glad it all fell together the way it did, even if Gladius almost got you with his crossbow.   He takes the token from Amaia,   We'll let your sister know. Say listen, I find it useful to speak to the creatures here and listen to what they have to say but yesterday we came upon a fox. Poor thing looked starved, and not ready for the winter. It gnashed at me and took off. You know what that's about? Any ways I can get the animals around here to speak with me? Apart from the ones walking around with pretty ladies.  
The Hellbug
'Dangerous and valuable' gets a nod from the dryad, but she presses no more on it.

About the potion, though, Amaia  'ah ahs'  and shakes her head.  The bear translates what she says next:  "I'll give you the potion  if  you drive him away.  It's not easy to make." 

The orc's 'pretty lady' comment brings a modest smile to the dryad's lips, but her response is still negative.   "No, I'm afraid I can't.  In the shadow of a presence like we have here, they can't help but be skittish,"  she says,  "and whether you can speak to them or not, you're foreign to them, and untrustworthy.  I'll let those loyal to me know that you can be trusted, though."   She pauses after this assurance, then adds, seemingly for Orson's sake,  "I'll keep both eyes open for that fox, too.  You don't need to worry about them." 
 "Is that all?"  she asks,  "whatever you're looking for sounds very important, and I don't want to delay you, but you should return when you're done.  I haven't seen anyone like you in ages, and you didn't get a chance to tell me about where you're from.  I'd like to hear it from every one of you, not just Orson."   The dryad tilts her head and gazes intently at the adventurers and, for a single moment, she's not a fey tree-woman but something far greater but in that shape: a far-off land, majestic and unattainable but only separated from you by a thin veil of leaves, begging to be discovered, a monarch, noble and powerful, that must be obeyed, a sunrise, serene and perfectly beautiful, that must be protected at all costs.

But it's only for a moment, and as the five adventurers' held breaths are released together, their eyes confirm that it must have been a trick.  Though she's grinning, Amaia is the same small woman that she was before.   "Good luck for you all,"  she bids in her halting common.
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(18)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  3/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -
 Rations available:  17 person-days   
 
  
 "So, we are heading north and talk to the giant to stop deforestating the area? Fine by me. We are low on rations anyway, so we can just as well go for another food run." 
Gladius said to his colleagues.
Dr.Samurai
      
  Orson 
  Orc Totem Warrior Barbarian 6 
 AC:  16  | HP:  65/65  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +3(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  -1  | Wis:  -1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  12 |  PIn:  9 |  PInv:  9
 Rages:  3/4 |  Raging:  No |  Reckless:  No
 Resistances:  --
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Wanderer, Aspect of the Elk
 Conditions:  Speak with Animals   
 
  
Orson stands, seemingly stunned by the brief vision of what he had seen, a glimpse of a place that he knows he has never been, and yet that made his heart alight with the notion of returning to it. Amaia's voice brings him back to his senses,  Good luck for you all. 
  You as well Last Leaves of Autumn that Cling Desperately to the Branch in the Face of Winter's Chill. Hopefully we meet again soon.  

Back with the others, Gladius says,  "So, we are heading north and talk to the giant to stop deforestating the area? Fine by me. We are low on rations anyway, so we can just as well go for another food run." 
  Well, I thought you guys might want to head west from here, so I told her we'd give her regards to her sister. That will take us towards the mountains. She thinks the wyverns nest there, there's two of 'em. And the vineyard is that way, though I think back north.  
Dr.Samurai
      
  Orson 
  Orc Totem Warrior Barbarian 6 
 AC:  16  | HP:  65/65  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +3(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  -1  | Wis:  -1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  12 |  PIn:  9 |  PInv:  9
 Rages:  3/4 |  Raging:  No |  Reckless:  No
 Resistances:  --
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Wanderer, Aspect of the Elk
 Conditions:  Speak with Animals   
 
  
  Her sister's this way. Let's relay the message, and see what she has to say as well. Amaia can't tell us much about anything outside her range here, so her sister may know more about what's west.   Orson starts trekking west toward the other end of the wall.
agignac
Laula stares in awe at the brief glimpse she gets of the dryad. It is there and gone so quickly that she isn't sure if the vision was gifted to her by Hibernius, or the dryad herself. She barely has time to bow her respects to the wood nymph, and then she's gone.

She wonders what the dryad's sister will be like.   "Yes, let's go west. Perhaps we can learn more about this "Calling". Maybe, if we learn enough, we can even do something about it."  

The goliath follows Orson back the way they came, to the west.
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(18)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  3/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -
 Rations available:  17 person-days   
 
  

Gladius got back on his horse, nodded towards the dryad and followed Orson
The Hellbug
 "Wait!  I forget thing!"  Amaia calls out as the party turns to leave.  She jogs up behind them with her interpreter in tow.  She reaches into a pouch on her belt, take's Orson's wrist and presses into his hand a handful of small red berries.   "A gift,"  she says through the bear,  "they will stave off hunger for a day.  When you reach the other end of the wall, don't hide yourselves.  And make sure to make it obvious that you have my blessing.  Jakinde will find you." 
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
It's enough Goodberries for everyone!
 


The trek back along the wall is uneventful at first--it's just reversing the party's steps but more swiftly--and by early afternoon the adventurers again come across the place they had made their camp the night before between the wall and the pond.  The light rain from the morning has shown no sign of letting up so the departure form there seems eerily similar to the one they had previously made. This feeling is hardly lessened given the fact that the terrain is much the same to the west as it was to the east: rolling hills through woodlands, strangely bereft of animal life.

Most of the way through the afternoon, though, they finally come upon something notable.  The wall, of which the sections have been pretty much identical so far, is broken up by a pair of ornamental towers raising about 6 feet above its top that flank a gate made of two large wooden doors.  The doors are decorated with engravings, featuring flowing geometric designs surrounding a pair of large stylized elven figures facing each other, one on each door.  In one hand, they each hold a spear and in the other they meet their opposite palm-to-palm in the middle.  The door, like the wall, looks untouched by time despite being made of wood.

More curious, though, are a pair of skeletons nearby.  One sits slumped against one of the towers, its rusted iron helmet crooked on its head.  The other is supported, back against the wall, by a pair of large nails driven through the hands at the end of its outstretched arms, one in each door.  The bottom half of the skeleton from the hips down has fallen off and lies on the ground below it, but it looks like the upper half is about at the height that the deceased would have stood at if they were alive.
agignac
Laula stared at the strange scene in silence for a moment.   "Strange that they are in such different positions."   She moved forward cautiously, and began to examine the bodies.
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(18)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  3/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -
 Rations available:  17 person-days   
 
  
 "Careful, could be undead - it's suspicious that no animals have tried to pick them apart yet." 


Gladius waved his hand and spoke a word to unleash a wave of psychic energy against the armored skeleton, testing for a reaction.

 
 Spoiler 


DC 14 Int save or  (2d6)[ 7 ] psychic damage - unless they are really dead bodies and therefore objects, immune to psychic damage

Investigation check

 (1d20+6)[ 15 ] 
 
J-H
 Jebediah 

Jebediah stays at a safe distance of about 20 feet and looks at the bones, trying to figure out what killed them, and if the nails are wood or metal.
Survival  (1d20+3)[ 10 ] 
The Hellbug
Gladius's spell has no effect on the old bones, supporting the conclusion that they are just that and not something more nefarious.  Still, the others are cautious as they approach the gate.

Jebediah stops short and focuses on the nails and the causes of death.  He can't tell anything about how they died, unless the nails were lethal to the one pinned to the door, but he can see that the nails themselves are some kind of metal and appear to have some sort of pattern, maybe writing, on them.  He does notice something else as well: a small patch of mushrooms growing in the east tower's shadow, not far from the lower half of the impaled skeleton.  They have ruddy brownish caps with tiny, tiny blue spots on them.  They look interesting but harmless.

Laula is still wary but willing to get a closer look.  The skeletons look medium-sized although the one on the door is a little bit on the short end.  Neither is squat enough to be a dwarf and neither has the distinctive canines of an orc so, if they are a common people, the skeletons probably belonged to humans or elves.  She can't rule out the possibility, however, of them belonging to some rarer people.  Those whose births are touched by the gods wouldn't necessarily show their lineage by their skeletons alone, and, in fact, with Amaia on her mind, the goliath realizes she doesn't know enough about something like a dryad to rule them out, either.

Looking for a cause of death turns up very little.  These skeletons are  extremely  old.  There's not even a clue that there was ever flesh on them.  The one has the obvious nails through its hands, but that wouldn't be lethal on its own and it's more likely that the lower half fell off after some amount of decay had occurred.  The other one has a smashed femur but no other sign of damage.  Now that she's closer, Laula also notices that the sitting, helmeted skeleton also has a rusted mace and bits of armor near it, though whatever once connected them is long gone, and the one nailed to the wall has a bracelet of extremely fine silver chain around its right wrist.
Dr.Samurai
      
  Orson 
  Orc Totem Warrior Barbarian 6 
 AC:  16  | HP:  65/65  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +3(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  -1  | Wis:  -1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  12 |  PIn:  9 |  PInv:  9
 Rages:  3/4 |  Raging:  No |  Reckless:  No
 Resistances:  --
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Wanderer, Aspect of the Elk
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
  That old huh? How long do dryads live? Amaia mentioned her sister was a bit more uh... fierce than she is.   He clears his throat, then calls out, holding the disk out,   Jakinde?  
Awful
  Izillia of the Silver Nails  
  Half Elf Forge Cleric 6 
 AC:  20  | HP:  45/45  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Channel Divinity:  2/2
 Harness Divine Power (1):  2/2
 Active Effects: 
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -  

Izillia, having dismounted, wandered closer to the nailed up skeleton.
 "Interesting,"  said Vellarc.
  "I wonder why they nailed this skellington to the door?"   Izillis murmured, then yelped as Yellarc pecked her on the skull.
 "Dolt! No doubt it was when they were alive. But the question remains: why?" 
Her eyes fell on the fine silver chain. Izillia had both fine and crude smithing talents; she blinked in interest.
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(18)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  3/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -
 Rations available:  17 person-days   
 
  

When no immediate danger came from the skeletons, Gladius went also closer to investigate, taking especial interest in the silver bracelet

"Usually, if someone is nailed to something, it's meant as a warning not to venture further, because if you do, you'll be nailed to whatever you wanted to cross. Same principle as with heads on pikes." He observed. Them being able to rot relatively undisturbed lets me believe there is a supernatural component as well, that works against animals as well."

 
 Spoiler 

 (1d20+6)[ 25 ]  Investigation of the bracelet
 
J-H
 Jebediah 

"Look, there's some Waxy Slumbercaps.  We can sell those."  Assuming it looks safe, Jebediah walks quietly over to them, opens his pack, retrieves his towel, and starts plucking the mushrooms and wrapping them up in it.
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(18)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  3/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -
 Rations available:  17 person-days   
 
  

Gladius looked up from his investigation to nod to Jebediah:
 "I've got some experience with herbology. I'll take care of them." 
agignac
After pointing out the bracelet, Laula is happy to let Gladius examine it. Shrugging, she stands up.   "Whatever happened here, it happened long ago. I cannot tell if this one died on the door, or was nailed here after. Either way, it is certainly a warning."   She looks at the towers again, and the wooden doors with their intricate carvings.   "These don't seem particularly unfriendly. The elves do seem to be guards of some sort, but their positions are not menacing."   The goliath trailed off, realizing she didn't know enough about elven culture to really make any assumptions. Turning to the two half-elves in the party, she asked,   "Gladius, Izillia, do you have any experience with carvings like this?"  

Regardless, they still had a decision to make.   "Do we plan to keep our word to Amalia? Do we keep travelling on this side of the wall?"  
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(18)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  3/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -
 Rations available:  17 person-days   
 
  

Gladius answered Laula:
 "We certainly shouldn't disregard the warning - at least not until we have found a way to shield us against its influence. The carvings are next on my list, but unless there's elven script hidden within, I probably won't be able to learn something pertinent." 
The Hellbug
As the rest of the party steps closer to investigate, there is no reply to Orson's call, hostile or not.  There's no sign the adventurers are anything other than entirely alone.

Gladius and Izillia also approach the impaled skeleton, the mercenary's eyes drawn to the its jewelry.  The bracelet is made of silver, and its links are extremely fine, each practically as small as the eye of a needle.  Even now there's not a hint of tarnish on it.  Finding a way to get it off its wearer initially proves difficult; it can't be slid off the hand without removing the nail and the links all seem identical.  However, Gladius's close investigation of the item bears fruit.  As he carefully runs his fingers along its length, there's a suddenly a click, and it separates at one of the links and slips into the elf's hands.  Further investigation reveals that putting the two ends back together will magically re-fuse them, and pinching his fingers around that spot for a couple seconds releases it again.

The smith, however, is more interested in the nails.  As the party noticed before, the nails are driven through the skeleton's hands and into the door.  They  look  like they're made of iron, but they're whole, with no sign of rust or deformation where the hammer would have struck them, the former of which would be strange if they've been here as long as the other skeleton with its rusted gear.  Most interesting, though, is that there are symbols written on the pair of nails, identical on each.  They're not the letters of any language but arcane script.  These particular characters are associated with abjuration magic, specifically warding spells.
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(18)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  3/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -
 Rations available:  17 person-days   
 
  

Gladius whistled surprised:
 "The nails are enchanted or maybe even full blown artifacts. The bracelet has also magic in it - though I'm not sure if it has powers beyond just a very neat lock. I'll have to spend some time analyzing it - unless Izilla can create a focus for me to use an identification ritual." 
agignac
Laula nodded at Septimus's words.   "Very well. When you have finished your inspection, let us continue on. Perhaps we will find the dryad's sister before dark."   She lay a hand on his shoulder and murmured a prayer to Hibernius.  (Casting guidance for inspection of the doors). 

She had to admit, that though she was curious about what lay beyond the wall, she wasn't in a hurry to cross over.   Mysteries enough on this side, without ignoring the warnings of an ally.   She considered laying the bodies here to rest, but didn't want to risk disturbing what might be an important warning or ritual. Instead, she contented herself with praying over the remains, asking for peace for the long-dead souls.
Dr.Samurai
      
  Orson 
  Orc Totem Warrior Barbarian 6 
 AC:  16  | HP:  65/65  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +3(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  -1  | Wis:  -1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  12 |  PIn:  9 |  PInv:  9
 Rages:  3/4 |  Raging:  No |  Reckless:  No
 Resistances:  --
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Wanderer, Aspect of the Elk
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
Orson keeps watch as the others investigate the skeletal remains and the items affixed to them. It doesn't appear to be the work of the dryad.
Awful
[QUOTE=Awful;26069320]  Izillia of the Silver Nails  
  Half Elf Forge Cleric 6 
 AC:  20  | HP:  45/45  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Channel Divinity:  2/2
 Harness Divine Power (1):  2/2
 Active Effects: 
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -  

Izillia nodded at the talk of it being a ward.
 "Definitely warding magic. Abjuration,"  said Vellarc.  "Do any of you have paper and ink? We should make an imprint of it while we have the chance. It could be useful." 
Izillia straightened up and stretched languidly, spine cracking. She glanced at the other half-elf when she heard her name.
  "Give me a hundred gold's worth of metal and I can try,"    she said doubtfully.   "Maybe a cheap tin frame for it or something. But it's not really metalwork, is it? It's, like, clam poop, and the objects I can create with just the Boss' blessing are meant to be tools and stuff."   
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(18)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  3/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -
 Rations available:  17 person-days   
 
  

Gladius nodded:
 "I'll keep my eyes open and collect the necessary materials - ironically, the stuff I want to identify likely would be worth enough to use in your ritual.

Anyways, let's see what the doors can tell us." 
 
 Spoiler 

Arcana or investigation check

 (1d20+6)[ 10 ] + (1d4)[ 2 ] 
 
The Hellbug
Gladius's investigation of the door doesn't reveal anything that wasn't already suspected.  As Laula already observed, the design on the door depicts armed guards, but there's nothing particularly threatening about their posture.  The message appears to be what could be thought about any wall and door: this is our territory, and you are only welcome at our behest.

Beyond the enchantments on the wall, which it shares, the door itself seems entirely mundane.  The woodworking and detail, however, are as impeccable as the wall itself.
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(18)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  3/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -
 Rations available:  17 person-days   
 
  

Gladius told the others about what he was able to find out.
 "For the moment let's heed the warning and move on. With any luck, the giant knows something about the phenomenon - or has enough metal with him that we can create an identification focus. If I can learn more about the wall, maybe we can replicate it's properties and fashion ourselves protective helmets." 

He got up and headed for his horse.
agignac
Laula nods, murmuring a final prayer over the dead. She picks up her pack and continues along the wall towards the west. As they walk, she asks Gladius,   "What is this identification focus you need? I have never heard of such a thing."  
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(18)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  3/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -
 Rations available:  17 person-days   
 
  

Gladius gestured to the wall:
 "The spell requires a material component as part of its casting. In this case a pearl worth about 100 gold. I used to have access to one as part of the order, but nowadays it's not that easy to get your hands on one. Some magic theorists speculate that it is necessary to temporarily boost your wisdom to actually understand the output of the divination. Personally, I think it's just another way the spell designer made it harder for apprentices to set up shop for themselves, adding a few more years of low paid understudy work to your average wizard's CV. Otherwise the spell would specify the size or weight of the pearl and not it's value." 
J-H
      
      Jebediah Fortuna    
 Halfling Shadow Sorcerer 
 AC: 12 HP: 44/44 
 PPer: 13 PInv: 10 PIst: 10  
 Conditions: -- 
 Concentrating: --  
 
  

Jebediah adds his opinion.   "I think it acts like a lens or prism for the information to pass through.  My magic isn't oriented towards doing that sort of thing, but it seems like the wizards who spend a lot of time bent over books and trying to get information by magic usually need some sort of external aid." 
The Hellbug
The adventurers continue towards the sinking sun, taking with them the silver bracelet and a rubbing of the nails but otherwise leaving the grisly scene at the gate undisturbed.  The forest continues to extend to the west, the same as it's been for the earlier parts of the day, but, as the evening shadows begin to lengthen, the party reaches the end of the wall.  It ends suddenly, going from standing at its full height, seemingly untouched by time, to chest-high rubble worn by wind and rain and years in only a hundred paces, though there continue to be signs of where it once stood for as far as the eye can see, remains of its foundation or chunks of weathered but obviously-cut stone sticking out through the carpet of autumn leaves.  The full party can now appreciate what Gladius could see before through his familiar's eyes: creepers cling to the south side of the fortification in such a way as though they're searching for any purchase they might find.  Where the wall is in ruin, they cascade over the top of whatever is left like a wave that crashes into a promontory and sends spray up and over it.

The eerie silence of the day continues--there's not an animal in sight at the wall's end, not even a squirrel rustling through the leaves--and though Orson has cautiously kept Amaia's token close at hand, there's no sign of another dryad.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
I'm not at home so I can't update the map quite yet, but it's more forest in the next tile. Also, that's the end of normal travel for the day.
 
Dr.Samurai
      
  Orson 
  Orc Totem Warrior Barbarian 6 
 AC:  16  | HP:  65/65  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +3(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  -1  | Wis:  -1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  12 |  PIn:  9 |  PInv:  9
 Rages:  3/4 |  Raging:  No |  Reckless:  No
 Resistances:  --
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Wanderer, Aspect of the Elk
 Conditions:  --
 Inspiration:  Yes  
 
  
  As good a place as any to camp for the night,   Orson says. He looks about,   Amaia waited until we were all mostly asleep. She said her sister is fiercer than she is, so not sure if that means she'll ambush us now, or sick her animals on us in the night, or what. But we should be careful. I think Jeb is right about having two people on watch. I'll take a first shift.   He sets up his bedroll near the wall and takes his dinner with the others before before eventually sitting to begin his watch.
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(18)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  3/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -
 Rations available:  17 person-days   
 
  

Gladius nodded to Sabian:
 "I'll share first shift with you - I'll also keep my owl out during the night. We all should just make sure not to step out from the shadow of the remaining wall. We don't want to turn into sleepwalkers. Remember that - especially if we need to flee or chase during the night." 
The Hellbug
And so the party sets camp in the shadow of the decaying wall, setting watches of two to hopefully disuade any nighttime visitors.  The orc and the wizard take the first watch.

 
 Spoiler: Gladius and Orson 
Clouds from the drizzle earlier in the day mean that the night is dark as well as quiet.  Every rustle in the fallen leaves or gust through the trees is magnified by the silence, but the two watchmen don't spot anything amiss during their portion of the night.  When they go to wake the next watch, Jebediah awakens easily but Laula is another story.  In her sleep, her brow is furrowed and her skin, despite the chill in the air, is covered in sweat.  It's not until she is physically shaken that they can rouse her.
 

 
 Spoiler: Izillia 
Sleep doesn't necessarily come easily in the wilderness of the Austral Marches, but come it must after a long day of travel.  During the night, you have a peculiar nightmare.  You find yourself alone in pitch-blackness, so dark that not even your darkvision can penetrate it.  With arms outstretched you can feel that it's a tunnel of some kind with walls of packed dirt permeated by rough roots.  Suddenly, there's a glimmer of light in the distance and you feel a silent call, a strange compulsion tugging at your mind like tweezers pulling at your consciousness itself.  You are able to resist its pull, however, and the dream ends when you awake.
 

 
 Spoiler: Jebediah 
Sleep doesn't necessarily come easily in the wilderness of the Austral Marches, but come it must after a long day of travel.  During the night, you have a peculiar nightmare.  You find yourself alone in pitch-blackness, so dark that not even your darkvision can penetrate it.  With arms outstretched you can feel that it's a tunnel of some kind with walls of packed dirt permeated by rough roots.  Suddenly, there's a glimmer of light in the distance and you feel a silent call, a strange compulsion tugging at your mind like tweezers pulling at your consciousness itself.  You are able to resist its pull, however, and the dream ends when you awake, roused by Orson and Gladius.  Your watchmate, however, doesn't awaken so easily...
 

 
 Spoiler: Laula 
You don't know when you fell asleep, but your night is plagued by terror.  You find yourself in a sea of blackness, in which the only thing you can see is your own sleeping body, lying exactly how you fell asleep not ten paces from you.  It begins to stir and wake, and a dreadful thought goes through your head: if you're here, and that's your body, then who's doing the moving?
 Suddenly, you realize that you are bound at the ankles and wrists by something with a bark-like texture.  You begin to struggle, but no amount of strength can break the bindings as you watch your own body sit up and...

You wake, roused by Orson and Gladius, covered in cold sweat and with shaking hands.  Whatever that was was more than a nightmare, and, though you seem physically fine, your mind is reeling form it.  3 Psychic damage. 
 
J-H
 Jebediah 
 "Well, that was a strange dream, but not the worst.  Something about being underground in the dark."   Jebediah wakes up for his watch without much trouble.
Dr.Samurai
      
  Orson 
  Orc Totem Warrior Barbarian 6 
 AC:  16  | HP:  65/65  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +3(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  -1  | Wis:  -1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  12 |  PIn:  9 |  PInv:  9
 Rages:  3/4 |  Raging:  No |  Reckless:  No
 Resistances:  --
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Wanderer, Aspect of the Elk
 Conditions:  --
 Inspiration:  Yes  
 
  
Orson watches as Gladius rouses Laula from her sleep. When he sees her open her eyes, he is relieved to see it was only a nightmare. He turns back to Jeb and hands him the token,   Amaia, the other dryad, said her sister will recognize this as a sign of Amaia's favor, so I'd keep it out in plain sight while you're on watch, in case her sister comes around.   When Jeb mentions the strange dream, he frowns and glances back at Laula. He asks Jeb,   Is that normal, for you to have strange dreams like that? Premonitions or something?  
J-H
 Jebediah 
 "Here, no.  When I was in the Shadowlands... yes."   Jebediah seems reluctant to say more about his time there, moving away and looking out into the night instead.
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(18)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  3/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -
 Rations available:  17 person-days   
 
  

Gladius had spent part of his watch with conducting another ritual to detect magic and examine the bracelet. When it was time to wake Laula, he frowned at her state. Reluctant he shook her to free her from whatever nightmare had gripped her.
 "The influence from beyond the wall isn't sufficiently blocked anymore - at least that's my guess. The dryad was right to warn us. Though I suspect that going to sleep is the trigger for the influence to manifest. It would be interesting to see if the influence makes you sleepy as well. Likewise if one time exposure is enough to trigger the effect, or if you could walk in, take a look around and walk out again as long as you don't go to sleep in the zone. Come tomorrow we probably should head north and keep the wall between us." 
 
 Spoiler 


Detect magic and Arcana to identify enchantments on the bracelet

 (1d20+6)[ 24 ] 
 
agignac
Laula sits, wrapped in her blanket, sipping water and still shaking.   "That was...more than a nightmare. I could see my body beside me, sitting up, preparing to walk. And I was bound tightly, unable to move, to cry out. If that is what happens to the sleepwalkers..."   she shivered.   "We would do well to avoid this area."  

Finally, she gets herself under control, and shakes off the blanket.   "We should get away from the Calling. Let us go north tomorrow. But for now, I can watch."  
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(18)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  3/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -
 Rations available:  17 person-days   
 
  

Gladius yawned:
 "I agree. Nevertheless, I'll have to brave the nightmares now. I'm pretty knackered. Good night." 
 
 Spoiler 


Rolled Wisdom Save 21 and 23
 
Awful
  Izillia of the Silver Nails  
  Half Elf Forge Cleric 6 
 AC:  20  | HP:  45/45  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Channel Divinity:  2/2
 Harness Divine Power (1):  2/2
 Active Effects: 
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -  

Izillia woke from her sleep, Vellarc hugged between her mighty arms like a child's toy. After the required stretches, press-ups, and playful bickering l, she sat back and considered her dream.
  "I think I dreamed of the Helm,"    she said.   "It wasn't very interesting as dreams go."   
Dr.Samurai
      
  Orson 
  Orc Totem Warrior Barbarian 6 
 AC:  16  | HP:  65/65  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +3(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  -1  | Wis:  -1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  12 |  PIn:  9 |  PInv:  9
 Rages:  3/4 |  Raging:  No |  Reckless:  No
 Resistances:  --
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Wanderer, Aspect of the Elk
 Conditions:  --
 Inspiration:  Yes  
 
  
  The Shadowlands?   Orson asks, but Laula's recounting of her dream distracts him briefly. He sets his mind to ask Jeb about it another time and simply nods when both Laula and Galdius suggest heading north the next day.

As he sets down to sleep, Orson looks back to the others,   Hey, if you see me stirring, wake me! I don't need to be seeing my body beside me... walking in, the shadowplace or something...   He is dozing before he finishes his thought.

 
 Spoiler: Wisdom Saving Throw 
Rolled a 14 on Discord.
 
The Hellbug
With the watch handed off despite the adventurers' nightmares, the party, excepting Jebediah and Laula, who begin their long and uneventful watch, go to sleep.  They wake Izillia as scheduled, and she too has nothing of interest happen for the rest of the night.

 
 Spoiler: Orson 
During the night, you have a peculiar nightmare. You find yourself alone in pitch-blackness, so dark that not even your darkvision can penetrate it. With arms outstretched you can feel that it's a tunnel of some kind with walls of packed dirt permeated by rough roots. Suddenly, there's a glimmer of light in the distance and you feel a silent call, a strange compulsion tugging at your mind like tweezers pulling at your consciousness itself. You are able to resist its pull, however, and the dream ends when you awake.
 

 
 Spoiler: Gladius 
During the night, you have a peculiar nightmare. You find yourself alone in pitch-blackness, so dark that not even your darkvision can penetrate it. With arms outstretched you can feel that it's a tunnel of some kind with walls of packed dirt permeated by rough roots. Suddenly, there's a glimmer of light in the distance and you feel a silent call, a strange compulsion tugging at your mind like tweezers pulling at your consciousness itself. You are able to resist its pull, however, and the dream ends when you awake.
 


As the sun rises the next morning, the clouds from the previous days are totally gone.  Dew sparkles on the trees' remaining leaves, and there's a little bit of humidity in the air--it feels like it's going to be unseasonably warm.  As for the terrain, the party still stands in the rubble and remains of the old wall, and the forest continues in every direction.  To the west, though, the upward slope towards the nearby mountains becomes more noticeable.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Need to know where you're going.
 
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(18)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  3/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -
 Rations available:  17 person-days   
 
  

When in the morning the discussion about the next steps and direction of travel came up, Gladius said:  "I vote to move towards the old winery and then find the giant. We'll need all the goodwill of the dryads, before we should dare ignore their warnings. I also need to analyze the wall to find out which properties can shield us from the influence beyond it. For that I need a pearl. Once we have the knowledge, we can proceed to arm ourselves against the effect.
If we move into the area now, we have a fifty:fifty chance of succumbing to the sleepwalker effect even while we are awake. I don't like those odds - they are far to close too fair." 
Dr.Samurai
      
  Orson 
  Orc Totem Warrior Barbarian 6 
 AC:  16  | HP:  65/65  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +3(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  -1  | Wis:  -1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  12 |  PIn:  9 |  PInv:  9
 Rages:  3/4 |  Raging:  No |  Reckless:  No
 Resistances:  --
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Wanderer, Aspect of the Elk
 Conditions:  --
 Inspiration:  Yes  
 
  
Orson sighs,   I think you're right. I,   he looks to the others,   I had a strange dream. I was in a tunnel, underground. It was a darkness so deep I couldn't see anything. I could only feel the dirt and roots around me.   He pauses,   Then... there was a light, some distance away I think, it was hard to tell. And when the light was there there was something calling me, but it wasn't a voice. It was more like... a feeling, pulling me. I... I didn't go. I just woke up.  

He shakes the vision of the dreams away,   Not sure what it means. Could it be the helm? Or something else?  
J-H
 Jebediah 
 "That sounds like my dream, also.  I suppose we need to find the dryad, but this is the best lead we have.  I think we'll end up investigating it at some point." 
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(18)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  3/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -
 Rations available:  17 person-days   
 
  

Gladius said:  "Same dream here. My current hypotheses is that the helm was incorporated by some kind of plant or plant monster that is forcefully creating gardeners for itself." 
Dr.Samurai
      
  Orson 
  Orc Totem Warrior Barbarian 6 
 AC:  16  | HP:  65/65  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +3(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  -1  | Wis:  -1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  12 |  PIn:  9 |  PInv:  9
 Rages:  3/4 |  Raging:  No |  Reckless:  No
 Resistances:  --
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Wanderer, Aspect of the Elk
 Conditions:  --
 Inspiration:  Yes  
 
  
  So how do we investigate this thing without falling to it? Sounds like we need to go to the other side of the wall, but the helm is already reaching us. Maybe we need more information...
  
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(18)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  3/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -
 Rations available:  17 person-days   
 
  

Gladius said:  "That's what I'm saying. Analyze. Strategize. Atomize.
We'll have to take a detour to achieve this." 
agignac
      
      Laula    
 AC: 19 HP: 51/51 
 PPer: 13 PInv: 10 PIst: 10  
 Channel Divinity: 2/2 
 Steps of the Night: 3/3 
 Conditions: -- 
 Concentrating: --  
 
  

Laula listened carefully to what the others were saying.  " Do you really think a plant, or a plant creature, could have done such a thing? If so, surely we can just burn the helm out of it. If we can get to it still as ourselves, of course."   She shuddered again, a small part of her still struggling against the nightmare that had rattled her so badly.  " I wonder if this is what happened at the winery. If it is west of here, and the wall is not protecting it, perhaps all the people just sleep-walked away. I think we are more likely to find clues there than with a wandering giant."  
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(18)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  3/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -
 Rations available:  11 person-days   
 
  

Gladius replied:  "It could be any number of things, but yes, generally speaking once we find a way to protect us against its influence, we only have to deal with the thousands of sleepwalkers inside the wall. Though that's nothing a few fireballs can't solve.

The wandering giant is a problem for the dryads - if we can convince him to leave their forest alone, we might gain enough goodwill that they will help us actively. And since the giant hasn't become a sleepwalker, he might actually know a way to protect himself.
But it doesn't matter too much - winery and giant are both valid targets for investigation. The vineyard has the advantage that we don't have to chase it, so no disagreement from my side to visit it first." 
The Hellbug
Wanting to look for Amaya's fellow dryad and also put distance between themselves and the source of their nightmares, the adventurers set out northward from their camp among the wall's rubble.  The forest swiftly becomes sparser as they hike and by midmorning the party leaves it behind for a browning meadowland with intermittent patches of trees.  The sun is out and already feels warm, promising that, as predicted, the day will threaten to be humid and warm if not outright hot for the clothes they've worn so far by afternoon.  Additionally, they leave the uncanny stillness behind and birdsong once again punctuates the remote silence around the party.

It's not long before the adventurers once again come upon a lazily-flowing river, about a hundred feet across.  Just upstream to the west, they also notice a swiftly-flowing, crystal-clear creek that adds its water to the larger waterway.
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(18)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  3/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -
 Rations available:  11 person-days   
 
  
  "Time for another boat trip. We'll go in the same order as before, bringing the animals last." 
Gladius went about pulling out the folding boat and readied it for a trip across the water.
Dr.Samurai
      
  Orson 
  Orc Totem Warrior Barbarian 6 
 AC:  16  | HP:  65/65  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +3(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  -1  | Wis:  -1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  12 |  PIn:  9 |  PInv:  9
 Rages:  3/4 |  Raging:  No |  Reckless:  No
 Resistances:  --
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Wanderer, Aspect of the Elk
 Conditions:  --
 Inspiration:  Yes  
 
  
  Animals?   Orson says,   She's Molly, and you need to name your horse, or I'm gonna name him for you.   Orson waits with the animals as Gladius ferries the others across,   So what's your name?   he asks the horse,   What do you want to be called?  
 
 Spoiler 
Cast Speak With Animals as a ritual while waiting for the boat (if there's time), and asking the horse what it would like to be called.
 
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(18)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  3/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -
 Rations available:  11 person-days   
 
  
  "No it doesn't. It's not about what it's called, but what it is. Horse embodies the spirit of Horse. Calling it anything else, diminishes that." 
Gladius smiled and pulled up his sleeve to reveal a tattoo of flowing lines that looked like they were moving.  "It's what a horse be..." 
The Hellbug
 
 Spoiler: Horse Talk for Orson 
Gladius's horse looks up from where it's been grazing on the river bank.   "Horse,"  it responds matter-of-fact-ly, echoing its master,  "Rider calls me Horse and I call him Rider."   Without any further explanation, the beast goes right back to its grazing.
 


The river crossing is as simple as the last one was, thanks to Gladius's folding boat, and soon the party is back on the move in earnest.  They head north, and as they do the trees become sparser and sparser until they're solidly in high prairie-land.  The terrain is similar to what they experienced on the way to Flint's Trading post, but the sunshine casts it in a less-dismal light, even if it means its warm enough to sweat.  Calf-high grass going brown with the season stretches between low, long rolling hills, and with the forest behind them, the Godstomb Mountains are once again visible to the south and southwest.  High in the sky, the adventurers can occasionally see V's of migratory birds journeying towards warmer climes.

The journey continues this way until almost evening, when the party reaches the crest of a hill and sees a road stretching to the northeast and southwest.  Furthermore, in the clear weather it's easy to see a single thin line of smoke drifting up into the sky to the same northeast, its source some miles away.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
You've moved enough that if you want to do any more traveling today without rolls, you've got one hex off the road or two on.
 
Dr.Samurai
      
  Orson 
  Orc Totem Warrior Barbarian 6 
 AC:  16  | HP:  65/65  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +3(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  -1  | Wis:  -1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  12 |  PIn:  9 |  PInv:  9
 Rages:  3/4 |  Raging:  No |  Reckless:  No
 Resistances:  --
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Wanderer, Aspect of the Elk
 Conditions:  --
 Inspiration:  Yes  
 
  
  What do you say, follow the road for a bit?   Orson asks the others.
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(18)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  3/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -
 Rations available:  11 person-days   
 
  
  "Sure, let's find out what's smoking over there while we have some daylight left." 
Gladius nodded toward the thin smoke trail.
agignac
      
      Laula    
 AC: 19 HP: 51/51 
 PPer: 13 PInv: 10 PIst: 10  
 Channel Divinity: 2/2 
 Steps of the Night: 3/3 
 Conditions: -- 
 Concentrating: --  
 
  
Laela plodded along the road in the sunshine, dripping with sweat. Her bearskin cloak was far too warm for the weather, but she wasn't uncomfortable enough to take it off. Not yet.

When they came upon the road, she spun in a slow circle, trying to get her bearings. Looking to the right, she said,   "Isn't that back the way we came? Perhaps the smoke is coming from the inn?"   These wide-open skies confused her - in the mountains, you could never see so far (unless you were at the top, and who lived there aside from shamans?).

She looked to the south west, and her eyes were drawn to an elegant line of geese flying south, their "V" nearly perfect. They were pointing along the road, and was as clear a sign as she'd had in days.   "I think we should go left here,"   she said.
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(18)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  3/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -
 Rations available:  11 person-days   
 
  
  "No, the outpost is another day or two out. I'd say we follow the road some more to see what's out there. Best case, it's a bunch of hunters and we can restock our rations." 
Gladius replied
J-H
 Jebediah 

Jebediah peers at Orson's map.  He tries to figure out which way might be best, but can't come to a decision, other than the previously discussed plan of working their way around the...whatever...south of the wall.
Dr.Samurai
      
  Orson 
  Orc Totem Warrior Barbarian 6 
 AC:  16  | HP:  65/65  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +3(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  -1  | Wis:  -1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  12 |  PIn:  9 |  PInv:  9
 Rages:  3/4 |  Raging:  No |  Reckless:  No
 Resistances:  --
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Wanderer, Aspect of the Elk
 Conditions:  --
 Inspiration:  Yes  
 
  
Orson shakes his head,   We can forage on the way to the vineyard Gladius. Hunters won't help us find what we're looking for. I say we move down the road, southwest.  
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(18)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  3/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -
 Rations available:  11 person-days   
 
  
  "Alright, than let's ignore that and head back to the south." 
Gladius replied with a shrug.
The Hellbug
The party settles on following the road to the southwest.  They make excellent time, their pace accelerated by Orson's strange magical endurance.  Just as the day begins to slip into Autumna's domain, they come across a fork in the road, where a post with vaguely-arrow-shaped signs tells the way.  The main road mostly goes east and west, the former being the path the adventurers have just arrived from, labeled 'Flint's' by carving, and the latter going off towards the hills to the west, labeled 'Alta Verina'.  The other road goes south, though 'road' may be overgenerous.  It's narrow and overrun with grass and weeds.  It may once have been as wide as the east-west road, but disuse has allowed it to be reclaimed by the prairielands. The sign pointing in it's direction is labelled with a picture of a skull flanked by a pair of X's.  All the signs have an amateur feel to their design--clearly aesthetic was not in the mind of their creator and they're carved with a crude hand--but they wouldn't last more than a year or two so someone must replace them frequently.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
One more road hex available, including the path to the south.
 
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(18)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  3/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -
 Rations available:  11 person-days   
 
  
  "A dangerous place - could be the vineyard, overgrown by assassine vines. Let's take a look but be very careful - don't get ambushed by bloodsucking weeds." 
Gladius moved his horse towards the dangerous road.
Dr.Samurai
      
  Orson 
  Orc Totem Warrior Barbarian 6 
 AC:  16  | HP:  65/65  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +3(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  -1  | Wis:  -1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  12 |  PIn:  9 |  PInv:  9
 Rages:  3/4 |  Raging:  No |  Reckless:  No
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Wanderer, Aspect of the Elk
 Inspiration:  1/1
 Resistances:  --
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
Orson nods,   Makes sense to me,   and joins Gladius on the road heading south.
The Hellbug
The party only makes it a few miles down the overgrown road before they begin to feel the fatigue of having marched all day, and they settle down on its side for the night.  The watches are set, the adventurers rest, and there's nothing more worrying than the howls of wolves throughout the dark hours.  The weather, however, takes a change for the colder, much colder.

When they wake, there's the barest hint of frost on every bush and blade of grass, and a light fog hangs in the air.  Despite this, the cooler weather promises easier hiking and they set off southward down the path, realizing that they are now a little more than halfway through their food supply.

As they move southward, it becomes hillier, and not much more than an hour has passed before they crest one of these long rolling hills and see that the fog become much thicker.  It's hard to see the surrounding terrain and absolutely impossible to see anything more than two hundred feet away, but the path continues onward out of sight.  As is so common when the weather takes a turn this way, the surrounding world is eerily silent.

Not much further onward, particular overgrown bushes and vines flanking the road begin to form a familiar pattern.  Though unkempt, they make parallel rows that curve with the contours of the hill and run out of sight to both the left and right.  And then, in front of the adventurers, there's an outline in the fog: a wooden gateway (though there's no sign of walls around it, seeming purely decorative) across the road.  From the beam across the top, a sign dangles, tilted, by a single chain, though it has a rotting sibling resting face-down on the ground below it.  It proclaims in carved and painted letters: "Lortan."
J-H
 Jebediah 
Jebediah keeps his voice low, feeling like any sound will carry.   "This must be the winery.  Any reason to not walk straight in?" 
Dr.Samurai
      
  Orson 
  Orc Totem Warrior Barbarian 6 
 AC:  16  | HP:  65/65  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +3(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  -1  | Wis:  -1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  12 |  PIn:  9 |  PInv:  9
 Rages:  3/4 |  Raging:  No |  Reckless:  No
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Wanderer, Aspect of the Elk
 Inspiration:  1/1
 Resistances:  --
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
Orson whispers back,   I can think of a few, but we took the job so let's do the job.   He takes the time to listen for anything nearby before crossing underneath the gateway and into Lortan.

 
 Spoiler: Perception 
Not sure if we're doing passive perception or not, so rolling a perception check here. He's basically stopping short, checking/listening around, and then moving forward.
  Perception  - (1d20+2)[ 14 ] 
 
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(18)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  3/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -
 Rations available:  11 person-days   
 
  
 "Interesting. Yeah, let's head for the main building." 
Gladius scanned the area for clues what might have happened here.

 
 Spoiler 

Investigation
 (1d20+6)[ 9 ] 
 
agignac
Laula was glad for the change in the weather; she was a much more comfortable temperature in the frost than in the sun. The fog was inconvenient, but nothing to worry about. Her village was often banked in fog, and here you didn't have to worry about getting lost and falling off a mountain.

When they came to the sign, she felt a curious sense of relief. At least the winery was still here, even if it was deserted. It had assumed the shape of a haunting in her imagination, perhaps only present under a new moon, or at the solstice. She picked up the second shingle, looking at what it once proclaimed.

The cleric then moved cautiously into through the gates, trying to move as quietly as she could. She looks around carefully, for any sign of tracks or disturbance.
The Hellbug
The party steps up to the gate, and Laula reaches down to flip over over the 'Lortan' sign's twin.  Predictably, it merely reads 'Winery' in letters faded on the rotten wood, the other half of what would have once perhaps been a cheery greeting to visitors.  Now, however, it's no such thing, as the winery has clearly been long abandoned.  The only thing obvious for now is the lack of people; there are no signs that can be seen of any dangerous beast, residue from a powerful spell, or violent struggle among the residents themselves.  Orson doesn't hear anything that's a cause for concern except silence itself.

What can be seen through the fog is a trio of buildings in an overgrown, poorly-kept compound.  The closest is a little left of directly in front of the party, a home that would be modest by city standards but whose brick construction must be something of a luxury out here.  It's two stories tall with a shingled roof and a turret on the front.  A little out of place is the wing stretching back from it that looks like an expansion of the house.  It's only one story high, takes up a larger space than the home, and is made entirely of wood.

The second closest building is obviously, by its sliding doors big enough to fit a carriage and ruts still in dirt near its entrance from such a vehicles wheels, a stable.

Finally, a little further into the compound looks to be a building with a larger floor plan than either the home or the barn, only one (tall) story and lacking windows entirely.  It too features large double doors visible from the 'Lortan' sign, but not large enough to fir a carriage like the barn.

All three buildings have obviously seen better days, but the brick house is faring the best, and the barn's roof looks moments away from collapsing in places.  The fog prevents sight past the third building.

 
 Spoiler: Orson 
Thanks to his magic cloak, Orson's sight pierces directly through the fog.  He can see that the overgrown vineyard surrounds the group of buildings on all sides, putting them in a more-cleared area about 300 feet on a side.  In addition, he can see that there's a fourth building, the smallest of the four, out past the large mystery building.  It's notable for being made of wood but having a large clay chimney.

Outside the compound, the formerly cultivated area goes almost a quarter mile in every direction, with that on the side opposite the entrance terminating in a line of trees and a drop down into a gulley.
 
J-H
 Jebediah 
 "It looks empty.  What exactly are we hoping to find here aside from small rodents?" 
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(18)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  3/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -
 Rations available:  11 person-days   
 
  
 "Ideally a diary describing the army passing through here. But I'd be happy enough with learning what happened to this place. Let's start searching the main building and keep our guard up." 
Gladius replied while getting down from his horse and marching toward the building.
agignac
Laula's eyes couldn't pierce the fog like Orson's could, but she believed his description of the area beyond their sight.   "I wonder what sort of building needs a chimney at a winery? Do they make their own bottles?"  

She considered checking it out, but her eyes kept being drawn back to the largest of the three buildings. No windows, but such a large building. Perhaps where they stored the wine or grapes? She knew almost nothing about turning fruit into alcohol. She found herself moving towards it, and allowed herself to follow her feelings. She paused outside the big doors and looked for signs of disturbance, and listened for sounds from within.
J-H
 Jebediah 
 "If we're looking for documents, the house is more likely to have them."   If anyone comes with him, he'll head to the house, pausing to listen outside the door.
If nobody else is interested, he'll stay with the group at the largest building.
Awful
  Izillia of the Silver Nails  
  Half Elf Forge Cleric 6 
 AC:  20  | HP:  45/45  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Channel Divinity:  2/2
 Harness Divine Power (1):  2/2
 Active Effects: 
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -  

As they had passed through the doorway to the vineyard, Izillia had slid from her mule and drew her mace. Now she spun it easily in one hand, occasionally swiping at any likely looking patch of weeds.

  "Maybe they have a little forge? Place like this would want to be able to make their own tools. Maybe barrel hoops and stuff like that. Drudge-forge."  

She took another look around, not seeing much in the way of clues.
  "When was this place abandoned again? Paper and parchment probably all ended up as snacks for silverfish by now."  
 
 Spoiler: ooc 
 
The Hellbug
Stepping around the house, Gladius finds three more entrances, a door to the back of the main house structure and one on either side of the wing coming off the back.  There are also various windows, some broken and some still whole, not far above ground level, but the panes are dirty enough that only the broken ones can be seen through.  From these, he can see that a study in the turret and a spacious dining room beyond, both even beyond disrepair, make up the left side of the house.  The moldy and battered rugs and furniture, though, and even a harpsichord, make it clear that, especially for somewhere so remote, this home was built at extremely considerable expense.  Putting his ear to the front door, Jeb hears nothing.

Laula, though, heads for the largest building.  It's about a story and a half tall, and as was noticed earlier, doesn't have an obvious purpose from the outside.  Moving around the periphery, she finds a pair of human-sized doors on the outside, one on the north and one on the south side, opposite each other, three large doors on the east side of the building, and an open doorway, large enough to fit a cart or carriage, on the western side.  Inside this is a room with wide walkway, raised about three feet, around its periphery, leaving room on the dirt floor for a pair of wagons to be pulled in.  Raised walkway has a single double-door, open, that goes further into building.  As she listens, the cleric hears what sounds like a dull, rhythmic thudding coming from within.

Outside, and it may just be because the fog and the stillness lend the abandoned vineyard an especially spooky air, Orson and Izillia can't shake the feeling that they're being watched.
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(18)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  3/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -
 Rations available:  11 person-days   
 
  

Gladius called to the others:
 "I'm going in - someone cover my rear. Also, pick up every scrap of metal you come about - we still need to construct a pearl for the identification spell." 
Once the others were ready, he carefully opened up the front door.
J-H
Jebediah follows about 20' behind Gladius, listening for anything in the silence.
agignac
Laula eases back from the building and returns to Izillia and Orson.   "There's a strange sound in there, like a thudding. Will you come with me to see what it is?"  
Dr.Samurai
      
  Orson 
  Orc Totem Warrior Barbarian 6 
 AC:  16  | HP:  65/65  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +3(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  -1  | Wis:  -1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  12 |  PIn:  9 |  PInv:  9
 Rages:  3/4 |  Raging:  No |  Reckless:  No
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Wanderer, Aspect of the Elk
 Inspiration:  1/1
 Resistances:  --
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
Orson leans over to Izillia and says in hushed tones,   My vision can pierce the mist, and yet I don't see anyone lurking around. But I sense as if we're being watched.   He peers around, trying to spot what is making him feel unease. When Luala comes back over, she mentions a thudding in the large building, Orson says,   I feel like we're being watched. We should rejoin with the others in case something is here lurking around. Then we can all go investigate that sound together.   He goes to rejoin with Gladius and Jebediah.

 
 Spoiler: Perception 
  Perception  - (1d20+2)[ 16 ] 
 
agignac
Laula looked down at Izillia, frowning.   "Do the men of the lowlands always band together like this? Are we expected to fall in line and follow?"   Her low voice held a hint of a growl.
Awful
  Izillia of the Silver Nails  
  Half Elf Forge Cleric 6 
 AC:  20  | HP:  45/45  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Channel Divinity:  2/2
 Harness Divine Power (1):  2/2
 Active Effects: 
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -  

Izillia laughed at Orson padded off. She'd felt the feeling, too, but it didn't frighten her. If it was hiding, it meant it wasn't sure it could attack and win, which meant she'd be willing to give an attempt at clobbering it.

  "Scaredy-cats, aren't they! He wants us to go around together, almost holding hands! He's right there's something watching, but we're hardly miles off if one of the group needs help. Vellarc?"  

The crow nodded his slate-grey head in resignation.
 "He is correct not to split forces in dangerous places. I will stay with them, so communication is not lost. Be careful, you foolish girl." 

With that he flapped after Orson, who would find the demonic crow landing on his head with much-aggrevied cawing.
 "Ho, green-skin,"  the crow rumbled.  "Let us go to the others." 

Back with the other cleric, Izillia grinned up at the much larger woman. She checked her shield was seated well on her arm, muttered a brief prayer and tapped herself on the breastplate, and gave a confident nod.

  "Let's check it out!"  
 
 Spoiler: ooc 

Vellarc goes with Orson so the two groups can communicate.

Izillia casts Guidance on herself and goes with big lady.

24 for perception
 
agignac
Grinning in such a way that the lithoderms on her cheeks seemed to writhe, Laula nodded once.  " Yes, good. Let us continue. "  She leads the way to the open door, nodding silently inside, listening intently to see if she can learn anything else about the sound.

  perception  - (1d20+3)[ 6 ] 
Dr.Samurai
      
  Orson 
  Orc Totem Warrior Barbarian 6 
 AC:  16  | HP:  65/65  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +3(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  -1  | Wis:  -1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  12 |  PIn:  9 |  PInv:  9
 Rages:  3/4 |  Raging:  No |  Reckless:  No
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Wanderer, Aspect of the Elk
 Inspiration:  1/1
 Resistances:  --
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
Luala's growling and Izillia's laughter stand out in the complete stillness of the vineyard. Orson turns to see them mocking him and shakes his head. At a younger time, he would have rushed ahead by himself to prove a point. But the young wolf had learned this lesson many times before. He continues to Jeb and Gladius but is startled by Vellarc landing on his head.

 Ho, green-skin,  the crow rumbles.  Let us go to the others. 

Orson swats the bird away,   Get off! And don't call me that. I don't take orders from you demon bird. You should tell the girls over there that I think there's something in the barn, second level. Not sure what, but I'm sure I saw something moving up there. I'm going to let Jeb and Gladius know.   He meets up with Jeb and relays the information to him.
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(18)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  3/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -
 Rations available:  11 person-days   
 
  

Gladius turned and listened to Orson:  "Alright, securing the whole place now is probably a good idea. Even better if we are not splitting the party in the process." 
He left the building and moved towards the large barn, keeping an eye open for the movement Orson mentioned.
Dr.Samurai
      
  Orson 
  Orc Totem Warrior Barbarian 6 
 AC:  16  | HP:  65/65  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +3(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  -1  | Wis:  -1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  12 |  PIn:  9 |  PInv:  9
 Rages:  3/4 |  Raging:  No |  Reckless:  No
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Wanderer, Aspect of the Elk
 Inspiration:  1/1
 Resistances:  --
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
  Well, Luala and Izillia insist on taking a jaunt to that building there,   Orson says, pointing to the southeast building.   I think I saw something in the barn there,   he points to the second story of the barn west of them.
J-H
 Jebediah 
Jebediah follows Gladius and Orson towards the barn, trying to look nonchalant.

 
 Spoiler: nothing wrong here 

Deception  (1d20+6)[ 18 ]  "we don't suspect anything, don't worry" body language to make whoever or whatever not think we're onto it.
 
The Hellbug
The front door to the house opens into a sad and disused entrance hall.  Immediately to the right, stairs hug the wall and wind up to the second floor.  On the left is a wide doorway that goes into the aforementioned study, beyond which a dining room is visible, whose table is cracked in the middle from where a chandelier has fallen from the ceiling.  The past these two features, the entrance terminates in a hall tree with mirror so dusty that your reflections aren't visible from the door.  To its left looks to be a connecting passage to the dining room and to its right is a corridor that goes deeper into the home.  Anything made of wood (the staircase's rail, the bench that sits beneath it, and the hall tree, for example) hasn't endured the elements well, and every surface is covered in a layer of dirt and dust.  This makes the set of bare footprints, sized appropriately human, that trace a path into the study extremely obvious.

Orson's warning, though, gets the men of the party moving towards the barn.  Pretending to just be investigating out of curiosity, they keep a weather eye on the window above the large doorway, but don't see any additional signs of movement.  The large sliding door is open enough for anyone (even Laula, those present expect) to slip through, and it moves if pushed on, but it moves badly on its rusty rail.  Inside is a large room whose main feature is three vehicles, a pair of wagons and a horse-drawn carriage.  Leaning around its edges are farming tools, everything from pitchforks to buckets to shears to scythes, and equipment for the vehicles.  The room is big enough to fill the building by width but not by height so there must be another one above.  The only other exit is another sliding door in the center on the far side of the room, this one smaller but still large enough to lead a horse through.  A small window sits in the middle of it at head level.
Dr.Samurai
      
  Orson 
  Orc Totem Warrior Barbarian 6 
 AC:  16  | HP:  65/65  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +3(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  -1  | Wis:  -1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  12 |  PIn:  9 |  PInv:  9
 Rages:  3/4 |  Raging:  No |  Reckless:  No
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Wanderer, Aspect of the Elk
 Inspiration:  1/1
 Resistances:  --
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
Orson points a finger up to the ceiling, indicating the creature he saw is upstairs. He points to the sliding door with the window, but before finding the way up, he assists with searching the bottom level.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
  Action   - Help action on Gladius' perception or investigation check.
 
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(18)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  3/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -
 Rations available:  11 person-days   
 
  

Gladius looked around carefully, noting every detail that might tell them who lived here. The bare feet were a pretty striking clue  "Hello! Anybody home? We come in peace. Please show yourself." 

He shrugged to his companions. It was worth a try to avoid hostilities

 
 Spoiler 

Investigation
  (1d20+6)[ 14 ] , adv.  (1d20+6)[ 20 ] 
 
The Hellbug
Izillia listens for a moment before she and Laula venture further into the building past the loading dock.  The thudding that the other cleric mentioned is easy to hear, but the half elf picks up something else.  Yes, it's a thudding, but she picks up a...squishiness to is?  It's not a tool being bashed into something rhythmically, it's something fleshy.

The two walk through the doorway to find a hallway stretching away the building's length to the left and right, undecorated except for sparsely-intervalled torch sconces.  Currently, they're on a platform of sorts, raised to match the elevated part of the loading dock behind them.  To their left, a shallow ramp brings it back to ground level, to their right, four steps.  The hallway is longer on their right, featuring another hallway and, further on, a large doorway, both on the opposite side from where they entered.  It ends in a shabby door.  To their left, in the ramp direction, there's a large doorway on the right side of the hallway.  It's from here that the thudding seems to emanate.
agignac
Laula motions Izillia to follow her and moves down the ramp towards the sound of the thudding. She stops at the door and checks to see if there's a keyhole or some way of seeing inside. She also listens carefully to see if she can figure out anything more about the sound.
The Hellbug
In the house, Gladius's words had echoed unanswered: if there was anyone there, they weren't introducing themselves.

But now he and Orson get to work investigating the vehicle-room in the barn.  At first, he doesn't find anything out of the ordinary--just farm tools and bits and bobs for the wagons--but that changes when he takes a look at the carriage.  Unlike the simple construction of the other vehicles, this one is clearly built to impress, from its edges adorned with fine woodworking and the leather upholstery of the seats inside.  The compartment for cargo is empty, but while searching the interior, Gladius finds a hidden compartment, opened by fiddling with the bottom of an interior lamp.  Inside are a trio of identical liquid-filled vials, identified as potions of Feign Death.

_________

In the other building, Laula peeks her head through the empty arched doorway.  Past it is a large room, and the adventurer's eyes are immediately drawn to the casks it contains.  Eight huge ones (the diameter of their tops must be more than six feet across!) sit slightly raised off the ground by wooden mountings.  They sit in two rows, leaving three aisles (one between them and two between each and the wall) going to the other side of the room.  Scattered the room's periphery with no particular pattern there are smaller barrels of about the same size as you saw Flint handling days ago, some on the ground and some in racks that go three high.  The thudding noise sounds like it's coming from the far side of the room where can be seen, though the middle aisle, another large open doorway going into another room.
J-H
 Jebediah 
The halfling looks at the potions.   "An odd choice - for someone trying to trick people, perhaps?  A confidence game?" 
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(18)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  3/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -
 Rations available:  11 person-days   
 
  

Gladius scratched his head:  "I have to admit, that is the last thing I'd have expected to find inside an expensive coach like this. Maybe, we can sell them later. Let's go on and search the rest of the building. Carefully."
 
agignac
Laula looks at Izillia and raises an eyebrow. Presumably the enormous casks, and the smaller ones, were full of wine. For a moment she wondered if there were functional wagons in the barn that they could use to haul these away. It would be a shame to let it all spoil. Then she shook her head, disappointed in herself for thinking about wine when people had died, and the cause was still unknown.

Trying to move silently, she motions through to the area were the squishy thumping was coming from. She can't figure out what's making the sound, though all manner of grim scenarios play through her head. She moves to the wall and skirts the large barrels, wanting to keep the wall at her back/side, so that she can't be come upon from two directions at once.
The Hellbug
Gladius opens the singular door going out from the vehicle room, revealing what looks to be the rest of the barn.  To the left and right, a central aisle, extends all the way towards a large door at the end of each wing of the building, above which is a small loft.  In each direction, ten stalls, each enterable by a door that's solid up to about belly-height and wooden bars above and large enough for livestock to pass through, surround the aisle.  The stalls are absent in the middle part of the building where the adventurers now stand, replaced the vehicle-holding room they just came out of, and a pair of human-sized doors on the other side of the aisle.  Additionally, to their right is a ladder going up to a larger loft above the vehicle-room.

Laula creeps closer to the thumping noise, doing her best to stay silent and hidden--not an easy task for someone of her size in a building sized for humans.  The first thing she notices as she proceeds down the aisle is a terrible smell, like the stink of a diseased animal mixed with alcohol and a fruity sweetness, that increases swiftly in potency as she approaches the sound.  The floor, she also notices, is stained purplish near the tap of each of the large kegs.

Before she can give this much more thought, the thumping stops.  There's a shuffling and the sound of skin rubbing on stone, and, from the end of the aisle she's sneaking down, a huge head pokes around the corner of the furthest large cask.  It's hideously ugly, with lumpy features, thin greasy hair, and a forehead black-red with blood from a nasty gash there.  The creature blinks his dim, bloodshot eyes and, with an enormous groan, gets to his feet, his head almost scratching the ceiling as he towers over even Laula.  Wearing nothing more than a long loincloth, scars are visible all over the monstrous giant's grey-green, knobby, almost stone-textured skin, and even as Laula and Izillia watch, the flesh on his forehead knits together and soon is as if, apart from the blood, there had never been a wound there.  It's a troll, and a big one at that.

 "Ungh, no.  Not again.  Stay away!"  he groans again, his words in Giant, but, even still, he licks his lips before stumbling towards the pair of women with arms outstretched, clearly intent on making them his meal!

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
I'll have some maps up tonight, but it's going to be initiative for Laula and Izillia so feel free to roll that.  The situation is that he's at the end of the leftmost aisle, about 40 feet distant from Laula, while Izillia's 20 feet behind her.
 
Dr.Samurai
      
  Orson 
  Orc Totem Warrior Barbarian 6 
 AC:  16  | HP:  65/65  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +3(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  -1  | Wis:  -1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  12 |  PIn:  9 |  PInv:  9
 Rages:  3/4 |  Raging:  No |  Reckless:  No
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Wanderer, Aspect of the Elk
 Inspiration:  1/1
 Resistances:  --
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
Orson raises an eyebrow when the others explain what the poison does,   Why would anyone want to appear dead?   he whispers back. The question is rhetorical, and the group moves into the next room. Orson looks up and down the corridor at the stalls, but points again to the loft space and quietly climbs the stairs.

 
 Spoiler: Stealth, if applicable. 
  Stealth  - (1d20+6)[ 17 ] 
 
J-H
 Jebediah 
 "The stables.  Not exactly the most interesting place, but if the wagon had hidden potions, who knows what else there may be?" 
The Hellbug
Leaving Jebediah's question unanswered, Orson quietly climbs his way up the ladder, hoping not to give himself away to anything or anyone hiding there, guessing that this must be where the window he spied earlier must lead.  When he pulls himself silently up to the top he sees a dusty floor, hay...and a woman, or something like a mortal woman.  Many of her features are covered by simple wooden armor, but what isn't, most notably her hair that takes the shape of hundreds of pine needles, identifies her as another dryad.  Compared to Amaia, though, she's taller and more muscled, her skin slightly darker, and she grips her sword, a large blade made entirely of wood, with more confidence than the other dryad ever managed to project with her spear.

Behind a fearsome wooden mask, the dryad's surprised eyes meet Orson's.  Her sword, though, is already at the ready--it looks like she was ready for the adventurers but didn't hear Orson sneaking up the ladder--and she recovers faster than the orc does.  With a shrill warcry, she steps forward and kicks at the ladder and barbarian with an unshod foot, sending them both toppling to the floor below before raising her sword and preparing to follow.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Orson falls to the floor taking  (2d6)[ 9 ]  damage and landing prone, and the dryad moves to the ledge, preparing to jump down and continue the attack.  Orson's in the next block, but I need initiative rolls from Jeb and Gladius.  20 or better and you go with Orson, less than that and you're after the dryad again.
 
Dr.Samurai
      
  Orson 
  Orc Totem Warrior Barbarian 6 
 AC:  16  | HP:  65/65  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +3(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  -1  | Wis:  -1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  12 |  PIn:  9 |  PInv:  9
 Rages:  3/4 |  Raging:  No |  Reckless:  No
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Wanderer, Aspect of the Elk
 Inspiration:  1/1
 Resistances:  --
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
Orson's reflexes are sharper than most, and his strength remarkable. In this case, it amounts to him quickly gripping the ladder even harder as he falls backward onto the stable floor. He struggles to catch his breath with the wind knocked out of him, all the while fishing for the token Amaia had given them. Standing, he holds up the token so the dryad can see, and says through short breaths and gritted teeth,   J-Jakinde? We are friends to your sister, Amaia... uh, Last Leaves of Autumn that Cling Desperately to the Branch in the Face of Winter's Chill.  
The Hellbug
 Grape Processing Building 

Before either of them can muster a reaction, the troll reaches for one of the small casks (though they'd still be far too large and heavy for a normal human to lift if they were full), lifts it above his head, and hurls it at Laula.  She steps to the side and uses her shield to fend off the glancing blow, but, even luckily empty, the force behind the throw pushes her back a half step as the projectile barrels into the wall and smashes into pieces.  The troll pauses, then an ecstatic grin spreads across his hideous face.   "You're rrreal!"  he bellows triumphantly in slurred giant,  "Meat to eat!  B-bones to crunch!" 

He charges at the pair of clerics, closing the distance quickly.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
He attacks, misses, and moves.  He's 20 feet from Laula at this point.
 

 Barn 

The dryad stares at the token for a long moment.  Just as the adventurers are beginning to doubt that she understands even that, she lowers her sword.   "Hmph, that appears to be true.  None of you could have forced that from her,"  she responds in accented but competent common, pointing to the charm.  Her voice is cold and authoritative.

 "And I  am  Jakinde.  Why are you here?  If you met my sister, you were in a place none of your people should be.  Tell me: did she fail to tell her new mortal pets that their short lives are in danger here?  It would be irresponsible of her but not unprecedented."  
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(18)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  3/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -
 Rations available:  11 person-days   
 
  

Gladius put his rapier away and stepped forward, extending a hand to help Orson up:  "Good day to you.
We are searching for a way to protect ourselves from the sleepwalker curse, so we can find it's source and hopefully end it.
We have a hypothesis, how it came about. As one of the remaining settlements in the south we hoped to find some answers here.
Are any allies of you around here? Our friends went to explore in the other building. We wouldn't want them to clash.

And no, your sister didn't warn us about this place."
 
The Hellbug
 Barn 
 "She told you about the Calling and still you remain?"  Jakinde replies incredulously,  "you  do  have a death wish.  I  should  just kill you now; it would spare you the trouble and deny the enemy its tools..." 

It's difficult to tell what's going on in her mind behind her mask.  Maybe she's sizing the adventurers up and estimating her odds in battle or maybe thinking about something else, but the dryad makes no move to follow through on her threat.  After a brief moment, Jakinde speaks again.   "But Amaia, for all her flaws, isn't stupid.  If she gave you that, she thought you worth sparing from me.  And maybe it's a sign; your kind's talent for rampant destruction could be useful today,"  she muses bitterly.

 "I have no allies.  What allies I could have had, Amaia excluded, have long been taken from me,"  the dryad answers.  She pulls off her mask, revealing elfin features similar to Amaia's but more severe, and with brown eyes to her green.  One of her eyes, however, is terribly bloodshot, and there are deep bags under both of them.

 "You already know I am Jakinde, who are you?" 
 
 Spoiler: Insight 14 
Unlike Amaia, her threats of violence are definitely not bluster, and you are certain that it is her first choice when dealing with interlopers near the wall.  However, whatever grudge she seems to hold against mortals isn't the only reason for her attitude.  There's something off about the dryad.  It's not that she's being untruthful, but she's hiding something.
 
J-H
      
      Jebediah Fortuna    
 Halfling Shadow Sorcerer 
 AC: 12 HP: 44/44 
 PPer: 13 PInv: 10 PIst: 10  
 Conditions: -- 
 Concentrating: --  
 
  
 "I'm Jebediah Fortuna."   Halflings are less threatening, right?   "My companions and I believe something we are looking for may be at the heart of the sleeper curse, and we're hoping to find a safe way to withstand it.  Can you at least tell us more about what we face?  We haven't been able to find much information, and it's hard to fight something you don't understand.

Are you willing to help us?  I think we can trust that any information you give us will be accurate.  The white wall appears to have been constructed some time ago, and I'm sure you have learned much over your lifespan." 
 
 Spoiler: Flattery 

Persuasion  (1d20+3)[ 4 ]  to give her the chance to grace us with her knowledge and experience
 edit: guess that was too over the top 
 
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(18)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  3/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -
 Rations available:  11 person-days   
 
  

Gladius nodded:
 "Indeed. I am Gladius Septimus. And to add to my companion: We reached the wall and turned back to come here. So we did heed your sister's warnings as we heed yours. If we work together, we might be able to rid your lands of this curse.
I don't want to pry, but why did you make an old winery your home? Is there something we could do in turn for you for your help?" 
 
 Spoiler 

Using Help Action to give Jebediah advantage
 (1d20+3)[ 5 ] 
 
Dr.Samurai
      
  Orson 
  Orc Totem Warrior Barbarian 6 
 AC:  16  | HP:  65/65  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +3(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  -1  | Wis:  -1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  12 |  PIn:  9 |  PInv:  9
 Rages:  3/4 |  Raging:  No |  Reckless:  No
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Wanderer, Aspect of the Elk
 Inspiration:  1/1
 Resistances:  --
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
Orson moves his arm in a circle to test his shoulder, then checks his ribs, which are still hurting from the fall,   I'm Large Hare That Runs With Wolves, but you can call me Orson. You're fast,   he says,   but then again you were sneaking around,   he mutters to himself. He seems more concerned with his pride than with the dryad's fierce display and threat of violence. Orson allows the conversation to continue without adding anything for now.
agignac
Laula gasped as the cask shatters with the force of the troll's blow.   "Oh, I think this might be beyond the two of us!"   she cries to Izillia.   "Get out of here!"  

However, she doesn't take her own advice. Moving towards the troll, she reaches out a hand to touch the wine-sodden skin.   "Hibernius curse you, you drunk menace."  

She then readied herself to see if the creature would shake off her Lord's influence, or succumb to it.

 
 Spoiler: ooc 
Bestow Curse: You touch a creature, and that creature must succeed on a DC 14 Wisdom saving throw or become cursed for the duration of the spell. While cursed, the target must make a Wisdom saving throw at the start of each of its turns. If it fails, it wastes its action that turn doing nothing.
 
The Hellbug
 In the barn 
 "I think you misunderstand me,"  Jakinde says, frowning at the attempted flattery.

The dryad hops down from her perch, landing lightly among the three adventurers.  Like most people, she towers over Jebediah, but even Gladius has half a foot on her, not to speak of Orson at all.  She's clearly not intimidated by their size or numbers, though, and continues icily:  "I have a task that you are more suited to than me.  If you cooperate, you will have paid me back a single leaf in all the forest for the damage that your people have done me.  It was you mortals that doomed this valley, and there is no protection against the Calling.  Greater beings than you have tried to banish it and failed.  Any knowledge I give you will only spur you on in this foolish quest, which would kill you and more." 

The dryad pauses and leaves a moment for her words to sink in, then sighs and, when she speaks again, her tone softens.   "I have watched the blight in those woods claim every one of my sisters save one,"  she confesses,  "if you wish to leave and never return, I would allow it with respect to her wishes.  Otherwise, the task: I need you to burn all your people's edifice here on this hill to the ground." 
 
 Spoiler: Perception 13 
Now that she's closer, another detail is apparent.  Jakinde mostly appears young and healthy, if tired, aside form the bloodshot eye.  However, her left hand looks withered and the veins in her left arm arm visible and varicose, like those of someone much older than she appears.
 
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(18)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  3/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -
 Rations available:  11 person-days   
 
  

Gladius nodded again:
 "We can certainly do that for you - though we'd ask the chance to search the place first - we are in need of any bit of metal, we can lay our hands on. Afterwards, we'd be happy to help you with that task." 
Dr.Samurai
      
  Orson 
  Orc Totem Warrior Barbarian 6 
 AC:  16  | HP:  65/65  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +3(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  -1  | Wis:  -1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  12 |  PIn:  9 |  PInv:  9
 Rages:  3/4 |  Raging:  No |  Reckless:  No
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Wanderer, Aspect of the Elk
 Inspiration:  1/1
 Resistances:  --
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
As Jakinde alights onto the floor in the midst of Orson and the others, the orc takes a reflexive step backward to create space between them,   Relax dryad,   he says. His teeth are showing, but not from a smile. While Amaia had attacked the group, her bearing was different to her sister, different enough for Orson to approach her without violence. Jakinde is different. Orson grew up recognizing predator and prey, and Jakinde clearly sees herself as predator, and the others as prey. That has to change.

  Let's get something straight before we continue these negotiations... we don't owe you anything. My people have never been down in these parts, and this is my first time this far south. Nothing that happened here has anything to do with us, so there's no debt to pay here. Especially since I've been poked and cut by nettles and thorns, and hit in the head by falling pine cones, and I'm not laying any of that at your feet.  

He slips the token over his head like a necklace, but almost as if donning a shield,   Now tell me something,   he says, pointing to her left arm and hand,   Are you Amaia's older sister, or is something else causing that withering that we might be able to help you with?  
The Hellbug
 Barn
 
Jakinde pivots to shield her left arm from view, but it's a reflexive gesture that only makes its ailment more obvious.  She frowns as she slowly returns her arm to her side, revealing the extent of the damage.  From the elbow down, mostly covered by a wooden bracer, her arm is atrophied, the hand at the end almost decrepit, in stark contrast to the rest of the dryad's physique.  Her gaze passes across each of the halfling and the two warriors, and she considers her next words carefully.

 "Yes to both,"  the dryad answers regretfully, holding out her hand so that it can be easily seen,  "but the former has nothing to do with it, and nothing can be done about this." 
 "I'm dying.  The blight has spread too far, and the tree to which I'm bound is in its domain.  And without a tree and without others of my kind, death is an inevitability.  I expect my time to be measured in days at this point."   She delivers this news grimly.  If she was ever sad or afraid at her inevitable demise, it has passed, replaced with resolve.

 "It's why I'm here,"  Jakinde continues to explain,  "the people who were taken here should have been safe from the Calling, but it was too distant for me to visit safely before.  Now there is nothing to lose, but there is a barrier of some kind protecting one building, and all of them are too large for me to tear down piece by piece.  Thus: you and your fire." 
Dr.Samurai
      
  Orson 
  Orc Totem Warrior Barbarian 6 
 AC:  16  | HP:  65/65  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +3(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  -1  | Wis:  -1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  12 |  PIn:  9 |  PInv:  9
 Rages:  3/4 |  Raging:  No |  Reckless:  No
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Wanderer, Aspect of the Elk
 Inspiration:  1/1
 Resistances:  --
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
Orson's bearing softens a little; he remembers when one of the pack became ill or lame. It was only a matter of time before they perished. It wasn't until the orcs had taken him in that he had a concept of injuries or illnesses being overcome. The thought occurs to him now as he looks at Jakinde's arm.

  Is the blight the same as the calling, or something else? Because we can find out what's causing it if it's something else. If it's the calling, well, that might be what we're trying to find in the first place.

And sorry Jakinde, but I'm not catching your meaning about the vineyard. If the people were safe here, what happened to them? And what does burning the buildings down get you?  
Awful
  Izillia of the Silver Nails  
  Half Elf Forge Cleric 6 
 AC:  20  | HP:  45/45  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Channel Divinity:  2/2
 Harness Divine Power (1):  2/2
 Active Effects: 
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -  

At the sight of the troll, Izillia's eyes sparkled.

  "Oh, this is something worth fighting!"   
She clashed her mace on her shield in excitement.
  "Right, Vellarc!? Oh, right."  
Mentally, her voice rang out to her soul-bound demonic companion.
  &lt;Vellarc! We found a big stinker of a troll! Something to fight!&gt;  

---

In the group, the crow had watched silently and scornfully as the others had talked with the dying dryad. Now he interrupted with his deep, smooth voice.
 "To interrupt this discussion brings me great sorrow, but my hard-headed ward and the minion of Hibernus have encountered a - to quote - 'big stinker of a troll'." 
He twitched his beak in that compulsive way of birds.
 "No doubt they are in mortal combat as we speak."
 

---

  "What?"   Izillia yelped. "Why would I run away if you're staying?"

That was definitely a big troll, though.
What did trolls need to die? Fire and sunlight. But the sun was outside and wine wasn't flammable.

She could put fire on a weapon, though. Her own mace was magic; her friend's probably wasn't.

Doing exactly the opposite of what she'd just been told, she began heading towards Laula, shield and mace held tightly.
  "Hold on,"   she called cheerfully.   "I know how to kill it!"  

As she ran, she cheerfully bellowed out a clanging magic word, and battered upon her shield with her mace: and on the troll, the sound seemed to deepen into a awful lifeless roar. Simultaneously, a ghostly image formed and swung a great club at the troll's thick skull.

 
 Spoiler 

Move: move closer to Laula. My understanding is she's too far to reach this turn?
Action: troll must DC14 wis save or take 9 necrotic damage.
Ba: cast spiritual weapon. 13 to hit, 6 damage
 
agignac
Laula turned to run after she bestowed her curse, and nearly crashed into the incoming woman.  " No! I was just slowing it down, "  she cried, but it was too late.
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(18)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  3/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -
 Rations available:  11 person-days   
 
  

Gladius turned to the bird with alarm:
 "What? A troll? 
With a glare he turned to the dryad:
 "You didn't think to mention that a fragging troll lives here? And you have the temerity to question your sister's judgement?" 

With that he turned on his heel and ran towards the building, the others had gone to.
J-H
 Jebediah 
 "Talk later!"  Jebediah dashes after Gladius, although his shorter legs mean he's not quite as fast.
Dr.Samurai
      
  Orson 
  Orc Totem Warrior Barbarian 6 
 AC:  16  | HP:  65/65  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +3(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  -1  | Wis:  -1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  12 |  PIn:  9 |  PInv:  9
 Rages:  3/4 |  Raging:  No |  Reckless:  No
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Wanderer, Aspect of the Elk
 Inspiration:  1/1
 Resistances:  --
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
  Wait!   Orson calls after the others, but they are already leaving the barn. Orson turns to Jakinde,   Is the troll friendly to you or a foe?   He speaks quickly,   Your sister gave us a chance because we spared an owlbear family that attacked us. But she mentioned a giant that gave the forest trouble. We're here to help and I want to know what you know.   He waits for a response but is clearly leaving as soon as Jakinde offers an answer.

 
 Spoiler: Athletics 
  Athletics  - (1d20+7)[ 21 ] 
 
The Hellbug
 Processing Building 

The troll blinks blearily, it's drunken grin turning into an open-mouthed gape when Laula deflects the cask.  And then the goliath is on him.  Though the intoxicated giant barely seems to notice her curse, it is clearly effective, as is Izillia's magic, or at least some of it.  The radiant club deflects off of the trolls rough back, but the death-toll clearly hurts him.  Sores open on his flesh and for a moment it looks like the troll is choking, but a moment later he vomits a bucketful of dark blood.  It splatters all around him, and the little bit that lands on Laula makes her skin sear in pain.  The creature's blood is corrosive to her flesh!

Even as she's still recoiling, the troll's wounds knit back together, and he raises both of its mighty fists and drunkenly swings them down to crush the goliath.  The attack is dangerous for the creature's great strength but blunted by its inebriated stupor, and she easily avoids it.  Failing that, he lurches at Laula once more, gnashing at her with huge, blunt teeth.  She manages to fend him off yet again, but his breath is hot and disgusting, and she can smell the tang of his poisonous blood on it.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Curse hits but he succeeds the save to act.  Izillia's hammer misses, but the baddie takes damage from her cantrip, triggering the splash of poisonous blood all around him (you'll take the damage if you're adjacent).  He attacks Laula with two fists and a bite, but, disadvantaged by his own drunkenness, misses everything
 
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(18)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  3/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -
 Rations available:  11 person-days   
 
  

While Gladius ran, he called his familiar to his shoulder.  "Get ready to dissolve." 
 
 Spoiler 


As soon as we are close enough:

Action: Call Familiar from pocket dimension
Bonus Action: Cast Dragon's Breath on the owl - choosing acid breath.

Command Owl to move in breath at the troll and otherwise stay out of it's reach in the rafters.
 
The Hellbug
 Barn 
 "The Calling reached them even though it should have been too distant.  Something is wrong here and it..." 

Jakinde gets no further in her explanation before she is interrupted by Vallarc, and Gladius and Jebediah sprint off back out past the wagons.  When Orson turns back to the dryad, she's baring her teeth at the wizard's parting barb.  Her glare suddenly shifts to the orc, but her expression softens almost to grim amusement at his words.

 " That's  all it took?  She truly hasn't changed,"  the warrior-dryad muses, her tone patronizing but also a bit nostalgic.   "I would never be an ally of such a foul creature,"  she answers,  "go, help your friends.  And don't die.  We will speak again when they are safe." 
agignac
Having been sprayed by something acid, Laula yelped and backed up further.   "Let's get out of this maze. Fight it in the open."   She moved away from the troll, trying to get out of the building, and back to the others.
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(18)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  2/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  3/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -
 Rations available:  11 person-days   
 
  

The little owl zoomed away, hurtling towards the open door of the barn, while Gladius jogged after her, albeit a bit slower.

 
 Spoiler 


Ini for the owl

 (1d20+1)[ 11 ] 

DC 14 Dex Save vs.  (3d6)[ 14 ]  acid damage, half with successful save.


 
 Spoiler: Dragon's Breath 

XGE
p154
Level 2 Transmutation
Casting Time: Bonus action
Range: Touch
Components: V, S, M (a hot pepper)
Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute
You touch one willing creature and imbue it with the power to spew magical energy from its mouth, provided it has one. Choose acid, cold, fire, lightning, or poison. Until the spell ends, the creature can use an action to exhale energy of the chosen type in a 15-foot cone. Each creature in that area must make a Dexterity saving throw, taking 3d6 damage of the chosen type on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
 


Owl has enough movement to get within 15 ft, spit acid and take cover out of reach.
 
Awful
  Izillia of the Silver Nails  
  Half Elf Forge Cleric 6 
 AC:  20  | HP:  45/45  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Channel Divinity:  2/2
 Harness Divine Power (1):  2/2
 Active Effects: 
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -  
  "Eh?"   she asked, momentarily looking put out at the thought of running from another fight.   "Well, alright."  

Obediently she began jogging back along the corridor. She casually clanged her mace against her shield, but when the spectral hammer did the same against the troll's skill, the sloppy motion meant no real damage was done.

 
 Spoiler 

Move: move closer to Laula. Dash to catch up, or take the dodge action if that's not necessary.
Action: see above
Ba: Spiritual weapon.
 
The Hellbug
 Processing Building 

The troll grabs wildly at Laula as she flees, but he's too slow and only catches empty air.  With a grunt, he chases after the retreating clerics, but his first step lands strangely and, when he tries to steady himself, his hand finds a weak spot in the wall and it goes right through, and so does his arm, all the way up to his shoulder--luck so bad it must surely be the result of Laula's curse.  The troll bellows and frees himself quickly, but, when he turns to follow, Laula and Izillia are already well on their way.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Missed his attack of opportunity and failed save against curse so he only got to move for that round.
 


_________

 Moments Later, Outside 

Izillia hustles out of the loading dock with Laula right on her heels.  They can hear the troll noisily giving chase, but Hibernius's curse and Izillia's spiritual club must be doing their jobs, because it sounds like he may not have even made it out of the barrel room.  Gladius's owl awaits them at the door, having slowed when it noticed the two retreating women, and they can see the mercenary himself about 50 feet distant, coming from the barn.  Jebediah is just ahead of him, and Orson not far behind, gaining very quickly.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
I kind of skipped a round here since it was going to be all running.  Y'all are in easy shouting distance now and, to make things easy, you're all on the same initiative.  I'll have a map to show where the troll is relative to you.
 
agignac
Laula feels a surprising sensation of relief as she sees the three men running towards her and Izillia.  " A drunk troll, "  she shouts, pointing unnecessarily backwards.  " He's following us. I've slowed him down some, but I think this will take all of us ." 

The goliath tries to position herself so that she can be ready once the troll comes out, but not be in the front line.
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(18)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  2/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  3/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -
 Rations available:  11 person-days   
 
  

Gladius called out:  "Alright, remember: Only sunlight is an instant danger for a troll, but you can hurt it enough by regular means to subdue it. Fire works because it compounds damage, outpacing its regeneration and consuming bodymass. Once it's reduced enough it starves.
They like to mutate, so be aware it could have some nasty tricks. Keep your distance." 

With that, he go ready, called out to his owl to ready a breath attack and raised his crossbow.

 
 Spoiler 

Ini for Gladius  (1d20+5)[ 19 ] 
 
J-H
      
      Jebediah Fortuna    
 Halfling Shadow Sorcerer 
 AC: 12 HP: 44/44 
 PPer: 13 PInv: 10 PIst: 10  
 Conditions: -- 
 Concentrating: --  
 
  
As the hulking troll comes into view, the air around it darkens and chills slightly, as Jebediah summons dark energies to sap its speed.
 
 Spoiler 

Frostbite, Con DC 14.  On a failed save, take  (2d6)[ 8 ]  cold damage and have disadvantage on its next weapon attack roll (which includes natural weapons) before the end of its next turn.
 
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(20)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  2/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  3/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -
 Rations available:  11 person-days   
 
  

Gladius began to move slowly, performing the ancient steps of the blade dance, while his owl got ready to unleash it's breath weapon

 
 Spoiler 

See owl actions in previous post

Gladius
Bonus action: Blade Dance

Crossbow bolt
 (1d20+8)[ 23 ]  damage  (1d8+5)[ 8 ] , if crit  (1d8)[ 1 ] 
Cantrip as extra attack
Mind Sliver  (2d6)[ 5 ]  psychic if DC 14 Int save fails - also  (1d4)[ 1 ]  penalty on next saving throw

Keeping distance from the troll with 40ft movement
 
The Hellbug
The adventurers are ready when the lowers his head and squeezes his way through the doorway and steps onto the raised platform in the loading dock.  Jebediah and Gladius both unleash spells on the creature.  Although he shrugs off the halfling's cold, the troll holds a hand to his head and his ugly features scrunch in pain from the wizard's mental assault.  And it doesn't get better.  The crossbow quarrel catches him in the throat, and he's hopeless at avoiding the owl's magical acid breath.  This last attack causes him to bellow in pain, and blood both drips from his crossbow wounds and oozes from the acid burns.  When it hits the ground, the stone and dirt are unharmed, but it sizzles and eats away at anything else it touches.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Like I said in the OOC, you all have initiative, but I already have already recorded the results from Jeb's and Gladius's turns.  Right now the main group of the party is about thirty feet from the troll, with Gladius's bird a little closer and the wizard himself 10 (Or 40?) feet behind.  The troll took  27 damage  here.  Oh, also Izillia's spectral weapon is still floating just behind the troll.
 
agignac
Still concentrating on Hibernius's curse, Laula had limited options. She raised on hand to the sky, calling to her god,   "Hibernius, guide my bolt of your holy energy, that we may slay our enemy."   She then points at the troll, and a flash of light streaks towards it.

 
 Spoiler: rolls 

  guiding bolt upcast  - (1d20+6)[ 9 ] 
  damage  - (5d6)[ 18 ] 
Next attack on it has advantage if it hits
 
Dr.Samurai
      
  Orson 
  Orc Totem Warrior Barbarian 6 
 AC:  16  | HP:  65/65  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +3(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  -1  | Wis:  -1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  12 |  PIn:  9 |  PInv:  9
 Rages:  2/4 |  Raging:  Yes |  Reckless:  Yes
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Wanderer, Aspect of the Elk
 Inspiration:  1/1
 Resistances:  Bludgeoning, Piercing, Slashing
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
A primal fury washes over Orson as the massive troll emerges from the structure. The orc runs forward, drawing his longsword, and slashes the troll with a snarl.

 
 Spoiler: Turn 1 

  Bonus Action   - Rage (Speed 55ft)
  Object Interaction   - Draw Longsword
  Move   - Move adjacent to troll
  Action   - Recklessly Attack Troll
  Longsword Attack  - (1d20+7)[ 27 ]  or   Advantage  - (1d20+7)[ 13 ] 
  Slashing  - (1d10+6)[ 13 ] 
  Extra Attack  - (1d20+7)[ 23 ]  or   Advantage  - (1d20+7)[ 11 ] 
  Slashing  - (1d10+6)[ 9 ] 
 
Awful
  Izillia of the Silver Nails  
  Half Elf Forge Cleric 6 
 AC:  20  | HP:  45/45  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  3/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Channel Divinity:  2/2
 Harness Divine Power (1):  2/2
 Active Effects: 
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -  

Izillia was about to step forward when she paused. She clicked her fingers and then raised her non-nail studded arm to her mouth. She bit.

  "Hungry and bitter ones beneath!"   she yelled, a faint red smear around her lips.   "Smell the blood of Autumna's chosen!"  

Dark shapes began to flit in the air - cruel and hungry shapes that slinked between the blink of eyes.

She grinned and stepped forward.
The shadows reached for the troll's meat.

 
 Spoiler 

Move: move closer to the troll by 20 feet.
Action: cast spiritual guardians.

Wis saves. It should hit the troll when she steps closer and then when it becomes it's turn. A save makes the relevant number half damage.
16 necro damage moving closer, 15 on its turn start.

The troll is also slowed, if that becomes relevant.

Ba: Spiritual weapon. 23 to hit, 10 force damage.
 
The Hellbug
The troll, only able to resist Laula and Jebediah's spells, staggers from the adventurers' assault, both magical and mundane.  He clearly did not expect this much of a fight and, as he raises his arm to shield himself from the blows, Orson is there to cut it clean off!  It writhes on the floor for a moment before going still, and the ill-formed giant bellows in pain, but, as before, vile blood gushes forth from the wound and splatters on Orson, leaving sores wherever it touches the orc's body.

Cursed, outmatched, and in pain, the troll stumbles back through the doorway and into the building, heading back towards the fermenting room the clerics had initially found him in.  The troll's skin practically crawls as his unnatural regeneration works to keep up with his wounds, which are so widespread that flesh flows this way and that, unable heal everything at once.  Nevertheless, as he goes the adventurers can already see the nub of his severed arm twisting and roiling as a new limb begins to take form, albeit slowly.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Troll failed his curse save again so long story short is that Laula missed, and he resisted Jeb's cantrip and Izillia's spirit guardians, taking half damage form the latter.  Everything else hit for a total of  83 damage .  He is still regenerating, but he's in really bad shape and it's not as fast as it was when it was just Izillia.  Orson gets  21 poison damage  total.  Troll moves back into the hallway towards the room Izillia and Laula found him in but only about 20 feet.  Still, it's out of sight of everyone except Orson at the door.  Our orc is also entitled to an attack of opportunity if he'd like it.
 
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(20)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  2/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  2/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -
 Rations available:  11 person-days   
 
  

Gladius saw the ogre withdraw and called out:  "Don't let up, we'll have to do this all over again if it recovers too much. Owl get him!" 
At once the tiny little owl followed, spitting acid and flying away again immediately.

Gladius followed until he had line of sight to shoot again, before moving into cover.

 
 Spoiler 



Gladius
Crossbow bolt

 (1d20+8)[ 22 ] , damage  (1d8+5)[ 13 ] , if crit  (1d8)[ 8 ] 

Mind sliver INT DC 16 or take  (2d6)[ 7 ]  Psychic

Owl: Dex DC 16 save for half damage
 (3d6)[ 14 ]  acid

Troll has -1d4 to his save if the Mind sliver hits: Edit rolled a 1 on discord
 
agignac
 " Hey! "  Laula cried in annoyance as the troll tried to flee. She ran with the others towards the door, trying to get line of sight on the troll. Her last spell had missed, but Hibernius favored the persistent.   "Lord of Winter, guide my hand and my mind!"  

A second bolt of light, the colour of twilight, streaks towards the troll. This times her aim is true, and the light strikes the troll, burning him with brightness.

 (1d20+6)[ 21 ] 

[roll=damage]6d6[/roll]
Dr.Samurai
      
  Orson 
  Orc Totem Warrior Barbarian 6 
 AC:  16  | HP:  44/65  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +3(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  -1  | Wis:  -1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  12 |  PIn:  9 |  PInv:  9
 Rages:  2/4 |  Raging:  Yes |  Reckless:  Yes
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Wanderer, Aspect of the Elk
 Inspiration:  1/1
 Resistances:  Bludgeoning, Piercing, Slashing
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
Orson recoils at the poison blood splashing over him.   Easier said than done!   Orson calls back at Gladius' shout to keep up the pressure.   It splashes poison blood every time it's struck!  

Despite his protests, the orc rushes after the troll.

 
 Spoiler: Turn 1 Reaction 
  Opportunity Attack  - (1d20+7)[ 14 ] 
  Slashing  - (1d10+6)[ 13 ] 
 

 
 Spoiler: Turn 2 
  Move   - 20ft to reach troll (?)
  Action   - Recklessly Attack Troll
  Unarmed Strike  - (1d20+7)[ 24 ]  or   Advantage  - (1d20+7)[ 8 ] 
  Bludgeoning  - (1d4+6)[ 9 ] 
  Bonus Action   - Grapple (Tavern Brawler)
  Athletics  - (1d20+7)[ 13 ]  or   Advantage  - (1d20+7)[ 8 ] 
  Move   - Move around troll to get behind it (keeping adjacent) 15ft (?)
  Move   - Move back into corridor 10ft (using remaining 20ft of movement because Troll is grappled)
  Unarmed Strike  - (1d20+7)[ 22 ]  or   Advantage  - (1d20+7)[ 27 ] 
  Bludgeoning  - (1d4+6)[ 7 ]  -  Crusher  - Push Troll forward 1 square (Orson no longer adjacent)
 
J-H
      
      Jebediah Fortuna    
 Halfling Shadow Sorcerer 
 AC: 12 HP: 44/44 
 PPer: 13 PInv: 10 PIst: 10  
 Conditions: -- 
 Concentrating: --  
 
  

Jebediah jogs closer, not willing to let the troll out of his sight.  He conjures a ball of acid from nothing over its head.
 
 Spoiler 

Acid Splash,  (2d6)[ 4 ]  acid damage, Dex DC 14 negates
 
The Hellbug
Fist, blade, arrow, and spell prove to be too much for the troll and, after being tossed by the poison-blood-spattered Orson back towards the rest of the orc's companion, the fearsome creature collapses.  For almost half a minute, its body writhes on the ground as its flesh attempts to knit itself back together, but finally, with one final spasm, it stills, its re-growing arm halted still half-formed.  Felled just as Gladius said it could be.  Once again the adventurers are left in the silence of the abandoned, fog-shrouded winery.

 
 Spoiler 
Combat over, he ded.  Orson takes  9 more poison damage  from one more splash.
 
J-H
 Jebediah 
 "So..."   Jebediah breaks the silence.   "You found a troll?"
 
Dr.Samurai
      
  Orson 
  Orc Totem Warrior Barbarian 6 
 AC:  16  | HP:  35/65  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +3(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  -1  | Wis:  -1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  12 |  PIn:  9 |  PInv:  9
 Rages:  2/4 |  Raging:  No |  Reckless:  No
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Wanderer, Aspect of the Elk
 Inspiration:  1/1
 Resistances:  --
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
Orson watches the death spasms until the troll is no longer moving. He snorts at Jeb's dry sense of humor, but moving stings around his neck and jaw and he remembers the poison blood that had been burning him with each blow against the troll.   Ow, this burns  , he says. He wipes the blood on the longsword before sheathing it, then carefully wipes the troll's blood from his skin, though it is now mostly inert,   Nasty defenses.  
agignac
Laula wiped sweat from her brow, and the remains of the troll's acidic blood.  " Indeed we did. And I see now that I was unwise to let you be split from us. Moving forward we should stay together. "  Seeing the many seeping wounds on Orson, Laula moves forward to call upon Hibernius's healing. However, she stops for a moment, considering.

 " Did you find anything dangerous? My bond with my lord is like a weave that has grown thin, and I worry I don't be able to call on him many more times before I am able to properly rest. "  She wasn't used to not feeling renewed at the end of a rest, and assumed it was the cursed and dangerous nature of this land.
Dr.Samurai
      
  Orson 
  Orc Totem Warrior Barbarian 6 
 AC:  16  | HP:  35/65  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +3(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  -1  | Wis:  -1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  12 |  PIn:  9 |  PInv:  9
 Rages:  2/4 |  Raging:  No |  Reckless:  No
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Wanderer, Aspect of the Elk
 Inspiration:  1/1
 Resistances:  --
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
  Dangerous? Yeah, but I think she's going to help us. She needs our help. It's Jakinde, Amaia's sister. She's in a bad way, and thinks something here may be spreading the Calling. Wants us to burn the buildings down. We were just about to get into it when the demon bird told us about the troll.
  
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(20)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  2/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  2/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -
 Rations available:  11 person-days   
 
  

Gladius sent the owl to finish dissolving the ogre, while he talked with the others:

 "A learning opportunity for all of us. Let's get back to the dryad and finish talking. And to reiterate: Before we burn anything down, we need to collect all the metal we can find, so we can create the divination focus. Also, we are still looking for written evidence about what happened here. There's a reason I had my bird use acid instead of fire to deal with the troll.

Maybe one of our clerics can convince Jakinde to be more forthcoming." 
 
 Spoiler 

The owl keeps attacking the corpse of the troll to make sure it has failed all its death saves - and to dissolve its poisonous corps
 
agignac
      
      Laula    
 AC: 19 HP: 48/56 
 PPer: 13 PInv: 10 PIst: 10  
 Channel Divinity: 2/2 
 Steps of the Night: 3/3 
 Spell slots: 1st 3/4; 2nd 0/3; 3rd 0/3 
 Conditions: -- 
 Concentrating: --  
 
  

Laula considered Orson and Gladius's words, and decided it wiser to call upon Hibernius for healing now rather than wait. Raising her hands to the sky, she intoned,  " Hibernius, lend me your vitality that I may heal the hurts of our company. "  A strange aura filled the air around the cleric, shadowy and with a faint smell of frost. She moved to Orson and said,   "Hibernius's blessing on you, my friend."  
 
 Spoiler: spell 
Aura of Vitality. 2d6 hp per round for 10 rounds. Should be enough to get Orson back up to full. Want us to roll it out? I'll let him get up to full first, then if there's any left Laula will allow herself to heal.
 
Dr.Samurai
      
  Orson 
  Orc Totem Warrior Barbarian 6 
 AC:  16  | HP:  65/65  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +3(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  -1  | Wis:  -1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  12 |  PIn:  9 |  PInv:  9
 Rages:  2/4 |  Raging:  No |  Reckless:  No
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Wanderer, Aspect of the Elk
 Inspiration:  1/1
 Resistances:  --
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
  Thank you Laula,   Orson says, having to crane his neck to look the goliath in the eye. He puts a hand up to Gladius,   I think Jakinde is forthcoming. She was about to tell us about what's going on here. We just got interrupted is all. Let's go introduce her to the others and figure out what she has to say.
  
The Hellbug
As the adventurers discuss their next steps forward, Gladius's familiar continues to belch acid at the troll's corpse.  By the time the spell ends, much of its flesh is completely dissolved, leaving a stinking mass of what used to be guts and muscle clinging to a bone-white skeleton.
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(20)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  2/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  2/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -
 Rations available:  11 person-days   
 
  

Gladius led the others back to the dryad:

 "The troll's dead. Now, where were we? Oh right, you asked us to burn this whole place down, but didn't say why, beyond some condescending comment. Please share your motivation, so we lowly mortals can understand." 
Dr.Samurai
      
  Orson 
  Orc Totem Warrior Barbarian 6 
 AC:  16  | HP:  65/65  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +3(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  -1  | Wis:  -1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  12 |  PIn:  9 |  PInv:  9
 Rages:  2/4 |  Raging:  No |  Reckless:  No
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Wanderer, Aspect of the Elk
 Inspiration:  1/1
 Resistances:  --
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
   Gladius!    Orson barks. He gives the half-elf a frustrated look,   So much for leaving it to the clerics.  
  The troll fight has everyone a bit piqued,   Orson offers to Jakinde with roguish grin,   it's dead now. This is Laula, and that's Izillia. This is Jakinde,   he says to the women,   Amaia's sister.   He turns back to the dryad,   Before we were interrupted, you were mentioning how the Calling shouldn't be able to reach out this far, but that something around here is wrong.  
agignac
Laula bows her head to the dryad.   "It is an honour to meet you, sister of Amaia. Your sister aided us and showed us mercy, because of mercy we showed a family of owlbears. We would help with the Calling if we can. Can you tell us more about what happened here?"  
J-H
 Jebediah 
The halfling pitches in to help persuade the dryad.   "Yes, we were interrupted before we could get a full understanding." 
The Hellbug
Jakinde is practically right where the party left her.  They find the dryad sitting up on the edge of the loft, one leg dangling lazily over the edge.  Though she has dispensed with the mask at this point, her wooden blade lies close at hand, and, even at rest, her posture is like that of a great cat: there's no doubt she could pounce at a moment's notice.  In fact, after Gladius's greeting, the curl of her lip gives away that she might be thinking about it.

But civility wins for the moment, and Jakinde ignores his barb.  Laula hardly gets any better.   "Yes, more of you,"  she says dismissively,  "I'm already aware of my sister's ill-advised clemency." 

Regardless, though, she continues.   "But you're  sure  you killed it?"  the treeless dryad asks,  "trolls can survive practically anything, if you weren't aware.  And yes, something around here is wrong.  For one, there are miles between here and the edge of the Calling's grasp...and yet the people here were taken by it.  I'm certain of that but no more.  And second, that building where you discovered the troll?  I cannot approach it.  Every other one of your ruins allows me, but that one will not.  So: this is an evil place, and it needs to be destroyed." 
 
 Spoiler: Insight 13 
It doesn't appear that Jakinde is lying, but her certainty that it was the Calling that killed the winery's people seems strange.
 
Dr.Samurai
      
  Orson 
  Orc Totem Warrior Barbarian 6 
 AC:  16  | HP:  65/65  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +3(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  -1  | Wis:  -1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  12 |  PIn:  9 |  PInv:  9
 Rages:  2/4 |  Raging:  No |  Reckless:  No
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Wanderer, Aspect of the Elk
 Inspiration:  1/1
 Resistances:  --
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
  Well, Gladius' bird there melted it with some sort of acid, down to its bones.   Orson looks pensive,   What makes you so sure this is the work of the Calling? Doesn't that leave shambling types lingering around? Looks like it might have been something else here that left this place in ruins.  
J-H
 Jebediah 

Jebediah purses his lips at the declaration that any place she cannot approach must be evil.  There are wards that keep out celestial, fiend, and fey alike.  For such a place to be protected...   "If that building is warded somehow, we should investigate it further." 
agignac
Politely, Laula asked,   "How are you certain it was the calling? Is it because there are no bodies? Did you witness it, or come on it later? Anything you can tell us might help if we're to destroy the Calling itself."  
The Hellbug
 "I know because I personally killed as many as I could as they went to join their master,"  Jakinde answers.  The dryad's eyes narrow and her grip on her sword tenses, cautiously anticipating an attack from the adventurers.

 "Their deaths were already all but assured,"  she continues,  "none taken into Carrion Woods' thrall could possibly survive." 
 
 Spoiler: Insight 10 
Regardless of the actual veracity of her claim, Jakinde is not lying.
 
Dr.Samurai
      
  Orson 
  Orc Totem Warrior Barbarian 6 
 AC:  16  | HP:  65/65  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +3(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  -1  | Wis:  -1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  12 |  PIn:  9 |  PInv:  9
 Rages:  2/4 |  Raging:  No |  Reckless:  No
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Wanderer, Aspect of the Elk
 Inspiration:  1/1
 Resistances:  --
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
Orson nods and puts up a placating hand,   We had no connection to the people here.   He thinks on it more,   This is helpful. I tried to get information from the critters round here and, well, what they said was limited. Who is the Carrion King, and what do people in the thrall of his Calling look and act like? The animals call it the Sleep Never Sleeping.  
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(20)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  2/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  2/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -
 Rations available:  11 person-days   
 
  

Gladius kept his mouth shut and let the others do the talking.

He felt an intense dislike for the Dryad, and stepped back a bit, testing if it was a proximity effect.  'Nope, can't stand her just the same even with greater distance.' 
The Hellbug
The dryad relaxes the grip on her sword but frowns at Orson's words.   "Have you listened to a word I've said?  Your curiosity is like a wisp in a mire: it will lead you on but only to your death.  I have seen it before in your kind, over and over--this knowledge would breed confidence but not understanding and thence: greater destruction,"  she chides, more frustrated than contemptuous,  "and, as I've said, I wish to respect my sister's wishes concerning your lives.  Focus, instead, on here.  You've said you wish to help me, and this is how you may: go where I cannot, discover what evil lies here, and destroy it or burn it all to the ground if you cannot." 
agignac
Laula nods as the dryad speaks of killing the people who worked here. Surely that was a mercy, based on what they've learned of the Calling.   "Yes, I understand your caution. We will not take your concern lightly, and we will move with care. But we have a mission to complete, and it seems to be connected to this Calling. The fact that Hibernius has put your and your sister in our path is surely a sign that they are connected. We will do as you ask, and drive out or burn down what evil remains in this place. But in return, I ask that you tell us as much as you can, despite your misgivings. We are headed into the mire, as you say, anyway. The knowledge you share may save us from perishing there."  
Dr.Samurai
      
  Orson 
  Orc Totem Warrior Barbarian 6 
 AC:  16  | HP:  65/65  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +3(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  -1  | Wis:  -1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  12 |  PIn:  9 |  PInv:  9
 Rages:  2/4 |  Raging:  No |  Reckless:  No
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Wanderer, Aspect of the Elk
 Inspiration:  1/1
 Resistances:  --
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
Jakinde's tone does not appear to have an effect on Orson, plenty of creatures live in mires, including humanfolk and others,   Alright then, let's investigate where the troll was and get to the bottom of this mystery. Everyone ready, or should we make any preparations first?  
The Hellbug
Jakinde's eyes linger on Laula as the dryad considers her demand.  She rises partway, reaching a catlike crouch, the balls of her feet on the edge of the loft, and lifts her blade to rest it casually across her shoulders.   "If a god placed me in your path, who is to say that it wasn't so that you would heed my warning and flee?  Or to tell you that you are on the wrong path entirely?"  she asks with a cynical sneer,  "it would be simpler, after all.  And what god would wish the fate of the walking dead on his followers?  Or this blight" --she holds out her withered arm as a demonstration-- "on the land." 
 
 Spoiler: Religion 10 
The fey, notoriously, pay the deities of mortals little heed.  They themselves are immortal as well, and the gods do little to intervene in their world, though they have the power to do so.  A mortal priest, for example, can still cast their miracles in fairy.

 
 Spoiler: if result was 14 or higher... 
However, those bound to the mortal world are far more likely to worship and give deference to them, for reasons either pragmatic or spiritual.  Nymphs are a good example of this since they are always bound to some feature of the natural world, over which the gods reign supreme.  Theologically, then, it makes sense that an oread  might be devoted to Autumna, a nereid to Malovern, or a dryad to Estivala since they are so intrinsically linked to a part of that deity's portfolio.  This varies on an individual basis but is not uncommon.
 

 
J-H
 Jebediah 
 "Let's check out the building... I assume any  other  trolls would have made their way out by now, so it's probably safe for us." 
He keeps the others between himself and the dryad.
agignac
Laula knew that the fey often ignored the gods - what need had immortal creatures for religion? However, the fey tied to the land, as naiads and dryads were, often did worship dieties that aligned with their aspects. Laula wasn't one to judge- there were many ways of living, and who was to say that one way was better than another.  " You are a philosopher, "  she noted.  " Had we more time, and you the desire, and would pour us some wine, light the fire, and speak of the ways of gods and nature deep into the night. " 

The blight on the dryads arm, however, was interesting.  " When we destroy whatever is disturbing you so, I would examine your arm, if you allow it. Perhaps I will be able to help you. " 

She turned back to the building the troll had been squatting in.  " Shall we see what other mysteries lie within? " 
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(20)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  2/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  2/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -
 Rations available:  11 person-days   
 
  

Gladius nodded and moved along to the barn of the troll. Outside he said:  "Give me 10 minutes - I need to do a little ritual to detect magic" 
Dr.Samurai
      
  Orson 
  Orc Totem Warrior Barbarian 6 
 AC:  16  | HP:  65/65  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +3(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  -1  | Wis:  -1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  12 |  PIn:  9 |  PInv:  9
 Rages:  2/4 |  Raging:  No |  Reckless:  No
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Wanderer, Aspect of the Elk
 Inspiration:  1/1
 Resistances:  --
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
As Gladius performs his ritual, Orson performs his own, in case there are animals within that might have more information.

 
 Spoiler 
Ritually cast Speak with Animals.
 
The Hellbug
 "Just an observer, one with no desire to mingle with any of your kind, philosopher or otherwise,"  Jakinde corrects the cleric icily,  "and, as I already told your companions, I know what is killing me, and it is long past time anything can be done about it.  A dryad without a tree is dead on two feet.  If the gods wished to intervene, they have had many of your lifetimes to do so." 

As much as it looks like she is going to decline the goliath's offer of aid, though, the dryad raises a finger to tap on her lip thoughtfully.   "But if it speeds you along, there is no harm in trying...after you cleanse this place, that is.  It won't make a difference, but it is acceptable." 

_____________________

The whole way back to the grape processing building, the adventurers can practically feel Jakinde's gaze, but the dryad moves no further than the barn entrance and is no longer visible by the time they reach the troll's corpse.  The scene in the loading dock and adjacent hallway is unchanged since they were last here minutes ago, with the giant's horrid remains lying in the hallway between it and the room with the huge barrels Izillia and Laula had found him in earlier.

Orson and Gladius cast their spells, and the wizard detects nothing except what he's learned to filter out from his companions and their gear.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Map's still up in the Discord, though obviously the troll is dead and just inside the hallway near your entrance now.
 
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(20)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  2/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  2/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -
 Rations available:  11 person-days   
 
  

Gladius looked around: "Let's search this place systematically - we keep to the left side of the wall and move through the whole building - making sure there are no other creatures hiding there. When we are sure it's clear, we can take a closer look at whatever is inside." 
Dr.Samurai
      
  Orson 
  Orc Totem Warrior Barbarian 6 
 AC:  16  | HP:  65/65  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +3(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  -1  | Wis:  -1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  12 |  PIn:  9 |  PInv:  9
 Rages:  2/4 |  Raging:  No |  Reckless:  No
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Wanderer, Aspect of the Elk
 Inspiration:  1/1
 Resistances:  --
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
Orson considers Gladius' thorough suggestion,   Hmm, sounds like a plan Gladius.   The orc keeps an eye out for signs of any rodents or birds that might have made their homes here to pick off the troll's scraps.
agignac
While the men cast their spells, Laula collects the mostly-acid-cleaned skull carefully, and looks for some water to clean it further. If the innkeep was willing to pay for giant ant-enna, perhaps he'd be willing to pay for this.

Once they were ready, she nodded to the others. With Orson in the lead, she touches his shoulder lightly, saying,  " Hibernius, guide this warrior through the perils ahead. " 
 
 Spoiler: ooc 
Casting guidance on Orson, or whoever else is in the lead.
 
The Hellbug
By the time the rest of the adventurers are ready to move on, Laula has done a respectable job of cleaning off the troll skull--enough that it isn't gross to carry but will need more work (and time, bones don't bleach themselves) before it's a presentable trophy.  There is a small problem, though: the skull isn't so heavy that it's difficult to carry, but it definitely takes two hands and is too bulky to be dropped into a backpack.

Orson, for his efforts, doesn't find signs of a single animal larger than a bug.  There are cobwebs, to be sure, but not even vermin like rats, mice, or crows seem to be around.  In fact, the orc is certain he hasn't seen any sign of them since the party entered the vineyard.  Jakinde and the troll, thus far, seem to have been entirely alone.

As for exploring, the adventurers start off by following Laula and Izillia's initial path into the room with the giant barrels.  Except for the signs of the scuffle with the troll, it is unchanged since they were last here: three rows of the giant barrels on mountings and smaller casks around the periphery.  On the eastern side is a foul-smelling pile of the softest things that could be easily found, mostly grass, moldy sacks, and pieces of barrels for structure: the troll's bed.  Nearby is his refuse and, at what would be his sitting level, the dark red mark from where he had been pounding his head against the wall.  It is not alone; a half dozen other places nearby have the same bloodstain.  Everything throughout is marred by stains of spilled wine and smells of alcohol.

There are two exits from the room.  One on the east goes into another production room, at a glance containing a number of large wooden basins and more casks, and the other on the south side goes across a short landing across which is another doorway that exits into the long east-west hallway that traverses most of the building.  To the right from the landing, though, a wide hallway slopes downward practically to the building's edge, where it ends in a thick, 10-foot-wide double-door.
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(20)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  2/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  2/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -
 Rations available:  11 person-days   
 
  

Gladius nodded to Jebediah:  "Let's search the cellar next. Be careful though without regular ventilation, wine cellars can fill with foul air that you can't breath - if you feel dizzy and can't get air, get out immediately. 
J-H
 Jebediah 
 "Air more foul than that troll's stench?  I don't think I'd want to go down there until it was aired out!  But let's see what is there.  There must be some sort of wards out there.

By the way, now that she can't hear us, does anyone else feel like Jakinde would murder us with no compunction if she didn't need us?  She seems as violent as any bandit I've ever run across." 
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(20)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  2/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  2/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -
 Rations available:  11 person-days   
 
  

Gladius thought for a moment and nodded:  "Pretty much. She strikes me as a veteran that has lost all hope to win the war and now is just trying to delay the inevitable. Not a particularly healthy way to live. 
Dr.Samurai
      
  Orson 
  Orc Totem Warrior Barbarian 6 
 AC:  16  | HP:  65/65  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +3(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  -1  | Wis:  -1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  12 |  PIn:  9 |  PInv:  9
 Rages:  2/4 |  Raging:  No |  Reckless:  No
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Wanderer, Aspect of the Elk
 Inspiration:  1/1
 Resistances:  --
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
Orson thinks about it,   When we left Amaia, I caught a glimpse of her, or more like... what she really was. It was vast, primal. I think they're much more powerful than they appear. Maybe she looks at us the way others look at things like rats or magpies.  
J-H
 Jebediah 
 "I'm not sure it's safe to leave her alive... not for us, but for others who might not be able to fight her off." 
agignac
Laula thought about the dryads, and what little she knew about the fey. A bit of a conundrum, given that fey are immortal, but dryads and their kind are bound to living things that must therefore, one day, die. As the others casually discussed murdering Jakinde, Laula said,   "Absolutely not! She is no more a danger than we are. Which is to say, plenty dangerous to the wrong folk. But we are certainly not going to murder her because she might one day pose a threat to somebody. By that reasoning, we should all kill each other! No, let's focus on finding whatever is hiding in this place, and leave the poor dryad alone."  

She motioned for them to continue on, to the cellar, if that's where Gladius wanted to start.
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(20)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  2/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  2/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -
 Rations available:  11 person-days   
 
  

Gladius replied:  "Well, by her own admission, she killed the residents here - suspecting that the call is irreversible - instead of containing them and trying to free them.
But I agree - we shouldn't judge her, we just have to be wary and keep ourselves save from her. If the confrontation comes I'm sure we don't have to force it. Others who come here have to ignore the same warning signs as we did - so it's on their own peril." 
Dr.Samurai
      
  Orson 
  Orc Totem Warrior Barbarian 6 
 AC:  16  | HP:  65/65  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +3(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  -1  | Wis:  -1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  12 |  PIn:  9 |  PInv:  9
 Rages:  2/4 |  Raging:  No |  Reckless:  No
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Wanderer, Aspect of the Elk
 Inspiration:  1/1
 Resistances:  --
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
  Well, as the story goes, they were cast out by the other fairy lords as a punishment, so stands to reason they might be a bit disagreeable. But in fairness to them, they normally stay in virgin woods, so if you run afoul of one, it's probably your fault. Case in point,   Orson gestures to the group.

  Anyways, we should just focus on what's here and see if it's connected to the Helm in any way.   
The Hellbug
The party muscles down to pull at the huge wooden doors, which open slowly and surely, and its members find looking into a dark cellar.    On it sit an ink pot, set of quills, and a couple of candles and a striker.  The room doesn't extend more than twenty-five feet ahead of the adventurers, but the most of the cellar extends behind the group to the right and left--the ramp seems to be situated in the east most quarter of the massive room, which probably takes up almost the same amount of space as the building above.  The floor is packed dirt, but the ceiling is tall enough that even Laula is comfortable, supported by repeating columns and cobweb-covered arches that rib the chamber.  The floor is packed dirt, but bricks reinforce the walls.

And what does it hold?  Rows and rows of barrels, piled three high on simple racks.  The aisles between them can't be more than ten feet wide, and they're tall enough that they can't be seen over. This, along with the columns and arches, makes the room feel claustrophobic and mazelike despite its size.  A table immediately to the right upon entering holds one functional-looking lantern among a a handful of broken ones, and to the left are a desk and a broken chair and just past them the tools of a coopers trade hang on the wall (the other side of the wall from the ramp).  Not far from the entrance, one of the barrel-racks is wrecked, its contents spilled upon the ground.

The air is still, but doesn't seem dangerous.  The whole party can see to the north and south walls, which are some 50 feet away, but, turning to the east, the lines of barrels fade into the gloom.

 
 Spoiler: Laula and Jeb 
With their improved darkvision, two of the party members see further.  Starting at about one hundred feet to the east, you see something draped across the floor and clinging to the barrels: creepers and ivy, a thick layer of them, and looking thicker as it gets deeper into the cellar.

 
 Spoiler: Laula 
The cleric of Hibernius can see all the way to the eastern edge of the room, where the vines and ivy get thicker and thicker, even sporting large flowers whose color is indistinct to her god-gifted vision.  She can't even see to the stone of the wall 160 feet away, though, as a thick curtain of ivy covers the whole thing.
 

 
J-H
 Jebediah 
 "Over there, to the east... things are growing down here.  Does anyone else see it?  There shouldn't be things growing in a cellar..." 
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(20)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  2/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  2/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -
 Rations available:  11 person-days   
 
  

Gladius followed Jeb's direction with his gaze and sent his owl ahead to scout, borrowing it's senses.  "Don't move closer for now. If it's a strand from the plant behind the wall, it could effect us if we get too close. My familiar wasn't influenced the last time, so I think it should be able to examine it through my link." 
The Hellbug
Gladius's owl takes flight, plunging deeper into the darkness of the cellar.  Within moments, it passes too deep into the gloom for Orson and Izillia to follow.

 
 Spoiler: Jeb and Laula 
But the sorcerer and the cleric of Hibernius can see further.  The owl keeps going, swooping to avoid the archways while staying as high as possible.  It progresses far enough to be above the ivy and then, suddenly, silently, shudders and limply crashes towards the floor, its body disintegrating into nothing more than dust before it even touches the ground.   
 Spoiler: Arcana 10 
The familiar's physical form is dead, its dissolution normal since the bound spirit can no longer hold itself on this plane.
 

 

 
 Spoiler: Gladius 
The wizard sees the owl's scouting through its eyes.  It flies down towards the far end of the cellar, staying as high as it can while swooping under each of the supporting archways.
 It's not far before he can see the ivy-and-vine covered wall that marks its end, some 160 feet away from where the wizard himself stands.  The owl continues along the cellar's length, now flying over the area within the subterranean plant's reach.  Suddenly, there is nothing and, after brief moment of disorientation, Gladius's senses are returned to his own body.  His familiar is dead.
 

 
 Spoiler: Gladius, Laula, and Jebediah only, Perception 14 with disadvantage (countered by the owl's keen senses for Gladius) 
Just before the owl was killed, almost imperceptibly in the cold palette of darkvision, there was movement on the floor beneath it: a slight shiver in the ivy, originating at the far end of the cellar.
 

 
 Spoiler: OOC (just reporting damage) 
Gladius's owl familiar takes 4 psychic damage and instantly dies.
 
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(20)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  2/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  2/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -
 Rations available:  11 person-days   
 
  

Gladius massaged his temples - losing his familiar came with a headache - though likely less than if he had went there himself.  "Psychic attack. The plants are definitely connected. I'm of a mind to fireball that whole thing and soft through the ashes for clues. I certainly wouldn't recommend going closer." 
J-H
 Jebediah 
 "Does it seem like the same thing we saw along the wall, and in our dreams?" 
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(20)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  2/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  2/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -
 Rations available:  11 person-days   
 
  

Gladius shook his head:  "No idea, the attack came too sudden to make out details. But I'm pretty sure it's connected. Likely, when it noticed it couldn't dominate the bird, it decided to destroy it instead.
So, Fireball anyone?" 
agignac
Laula stares into the darkness, so used to her extended ability to see in the dark that she forgets that others cannot see as far as she can. The strange plant growth is surely unnatural, considering how dark it is down here. And that flower! She can't see colour, but even in grey it is glorious. Then the owl flies forward.   "Wait!"   she cries, but it's too late.  " Oh no!"   the little fae creature has gone completely, not longer bound to this body, it seemed to dissolve and disappear.

  "How could such a large plant thrive down here, away from the sun? Either it is magically sustained, or not a plant at all. And why is it only at the back, and hasn't spread further? I agree, it needs to be destroyed. But can we safely learn anything about it first? Shall we light a lantern, to see it more fully?"  
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(20)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  2/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  2/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -
 Rations available:  11 person-days   
 
  

Gladius replied:  "If one of you is able to cast the light can trip I can shoot a bolt down range to illuminate the plant. Hopefully, that won't cause a growth spurt." 
Awful
  Izillia of the Silver Nails  
  Half Elf Forge Cleric 6 
 AC:  20  | HP:  45/45  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  2/3  | 3rd:  2/3
 Channel Divinity:  2/2
 Harness Divine Power (1):  2/2
 Active Effects: 
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -  

With sudden violence, the crow drove it's beak into Izillia's head.
  "Yowch!" 
"Pay attention, child!"
 "Right, right..."   she muttered.   "Yeah, pass it over."  

She made a little grabby motion with her nail-impaled arm, and given the bolt, murmured a few words and struck it against the wall like a match. It started glowing a hot red-tinted light.

  "Here!"   She chirruped.
 
"Why so many broken lanterns?"  Vellarc rumbled.  "Be cautious with that light." 
 
 Spoiler 

Cast light on a bolt.
 
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(20)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  2/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  2/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -
 Rations available:  11 person-days   
 
  

Gladius aimed down range and fired the bolt towards the wall:  "I'm keeping a fireball on standby. Let's see what we can see." 
The Hellbug
Gladius's illuminated bolt soars across the cellar before hitting the far wall and falling to the plant-covered floor revealing the rest of the room, at least momentarily, to those without enhanced dark sight.  The basement's end is about 160 feet away, with the lines of barrels going all the way to its farthest depths.  Starting 100 feet in, vines and creepers cling to the ground, archway supports, and barrels, becoming thicker towards the back wall--they look like they might even eventually be knee-deep for Jeb.  It all looks to the be the same kind of plant--all the vines have the same small, dark-green, palm-of-your-hand-shaped leaves, slightly glossy in the light--but despite this, deeper in, probably not reaching any further than 30 feet from the back wall, flowers of two different varieties decorate the vines.  The more abundant are smaller and look like those of dogwoods, with petals pink on the interior fading to yellow at they edges, while the larger look like iris flowers, dark violet rimmed by bright orange.  The latter are notable for their size--each is almost eight inches across--and are strangely spaced from each other, with none of them within fifteen feet of another of the same type.

The bolt merely rests where it has fallen near the wall.  There's no sign that the plants have responded to it.

 
 Spoiler: Nature 14 
While different kinds of flowers on the same plant is possible, it's quite uncommon.  However, it's easy to do for a horticulturalist through mundane botanical tampering, to speak nothing of magic.
 

 
 Spoiler: Perception 12 
The basement is silent except for the party's own breathing and speaking, but you hear from above a far-off-sounding noise: that of something scraping along stone.
 
Pyrophilios
[QUOTE=Pyrophilios;26118201]      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(20)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  2/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  2/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -
 Rations available:  11 person-days   
 
  

Gladius frowned:  "Did you hear that? Sounds like someone trying to block our way out here. Quick, upstairs." 

With that, he turned back and ran upwards to the doors.
agignac
Laula studied the flowers in the light. The colours were beautiful (though it felt disloyal to think it), but there was something unsettling about them. The large ones, especially, were spaced so evenly apart. It made no sense to her. To Orson, she said,   "Have you ever seen anything like that before? Could they be responsible for the death of the little fey owl? It seemed to simply fall apart; I saw no vine or flower move to attack it."  

Then she heard the strange scraping sound from above.   "Wait!"   she cried to Gladius, as he dashed away.  " Drat that human. He's always running off, expecting everybody to simply follow along like a trained wolf pup."   She looked at the others and said,  " I'm not convinced that sound is a trap, but it might be an attempt to split us up again. Should we follow?"  
Awful
  Izillia of the Silver Nails  
  Half Elf Forge Cleric 6 
 AC:  20  | HP:  45/45  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  2/3  | 3rd:  2/3
 Channel Divinity:  2/2
 Harness Divine Power (1):  2/2
 Active Effects: 
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -  

Izillia nodded wisely.

  "It's definitely... A plant, alright."   

She shrugged a little at Laura's question.

  "The plant isn't going anywhere, and we might need to throw him in a trap or something later, so let's go with him. I do hear something, after all."   

Whistling merrily, she slung her mace onto her shoulder and jogged after the half elf.

 
 Spoiler 

Cast light on a bolt.
 
J-H
 Jebediah 
The halfling follows the two women upstairs.   "Last time we split up, didn't we end up finding a troll?  Maybe there's another one." 
Dr.Samurai
      
  Orson 
  Orc Totem Warrior Barbarian 6 
 AC:  16  | HP:  65/65  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +3(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  -1  | Wis:  -1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  12 |  PIn:  9 |  PInv:  9
 Rages:  2/4 |  Raging:  No |  Reckless:  No
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Wanderer, Aspect of the Elk
 Inspiration:  1/1
 Resistances:  --
 Conditions:  --   
 
  
Orson shrugs,   I haven't seen plant like that with two different flowers.   A thought occurs to him; what are the chances that some natural or plant-like creature is stopping a dryad from entering the barn? Was Jakinde deceiving them, and sending them into a trap? His thoughts are interrupted by Gladius sprinting toward a noise. Orson chances another glance at the vines before following the others upstairs.
The Hellbug
The adventurers, hearing the noise from above, retreat from the basement and its uncanny herbage.  When they get to the top of the ramp, it's now audible to everyone, a rhythmic stomp...scrape...stomp...scrape, coming from the right and behind them, where they initially entered the building.  Turning the corner into the building-spanning hallway, they're just in time to catch a familiar sight, or what used to be one.

They find the hulking shape that was once the troll is again turning the corner towards them, standing again against all reason, but it's clearly not the same creature.  The most obvious difference is that it's entirely skinless, just muscle clinging to pearl-white bone and its battered guts hanging where its belly used to be.  In fact, the adventurers can see it becoming more enfleshed as they watch, with its bony left leg, which was clearly the cause of the scraping, becoming surer and surer of step as muscle creeps down to its foot.  Furthermore, at the creature's height is nothing at all, and it wields its formerly-detached skull like a lantern, though it's in the process of fusing entirely with its arm.  Finally, a pair of cartilaginous tendrils have sprouted from the horrible corpse's back, each tipped with a human-arm-length bone spike.

It holds out its still mostly-bone head as though it still has eyes, and it's clear that it sights the party as it immediately begins charging at the adventurers, this time its only sounds the thud of its feet on the ground or scrape of a limb on the stone wall.

 
 Spoiler 
Initiative time!  I've got a map in the discord but your frontmost character, Red we'll say since he led the way, is 60 feet down a ten foot wide fallway from the horrible troll monstrosity.
 Enjoy!  Initiative 9+ goes first, everyone else after the monster.  I also need a DC 12 Wisdom save for each character or they're frightened for one round.
 
Dr.Samurai
      
  Orson 
  Orc Totem Warrior Barbarian 6 
 AC:  16  | HP:  65/65  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +3(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  -1  | Wis:  -1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  12 |  PIn:  9 |  PInv:  9
 Rages:  2/4 |  Raging:  No |  Reckless:  No
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Wanderer, Aspect of the Elk
 Inspiration:  1/1
 Resistances:  --
 Conditions:  Frightened   
 
  
Orson is catching up to the others and then spots the troll horror, dragging it's ruined body and stitching together before his eyes. The sight is unsettling, and he thinks back to Jakinde's warning that the troll is difficult to kill. He wonders how they can stop it once and for all. His hesitation costs him, as he isn't able to overtake Gladius and the troll lurches forward, quicker than should be possible. He draws a javelin and throws it.

 
 Spoiler: Turn 1 
  Object Interaction   - Draw Javelin
  Action   - Attack Troll Horror (Disadvantage from Frightened/Range)
  Attack  - (1d20+7)[ 12 ]  or   Disadvantage  - (1d20+7)[ 8 ] 
  Piercing  - (1d6+4)[ 5 ] 
 
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(20)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  2/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  2/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  -
 Rations available:  11 person-days   
 
  


Confronted with the troll's reanimated remains, Gladius went for his usual approach: crossbow and psychic attacks, while falling back along the corridor.

 
 Spoiler 

 (1d20+8)[ 18 ]  damage  (1d8+5)[ 12 ] , if crit  (1d8)[ 6 ] 
Mind sliver  (2d6)[ 5 ]  psychic DC 14 Int save negates
Move back 30ft
 
agignac
Laula just stopped and stared at the creature that was regenerating before her eyes.   "Hard to kill? That's a fact,"   she murmured as the skin-less horror stumped down the hall. She wondered what would have happened if she'd kept the skull with her, instead of leaving it by the door to the building. So busy was her mind that it took several seconds to realize they had to fight it again.
Awful
  Izillia of the Silver Nails  
  Half Elf Forge Cleric 6 
 AC:  20  | HP:  45/45  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  2/3  | 3rd:  2/3
 Channel Divinity:  2/2
 Harness Divine Power (1):  2/2
 Active Effects:  Bless
 Concentrating:  Bless
 Conditions:  -  

Izillia gasped in delight.

  "That's so cool! Miss Layla, have you ever seen anything like that!?"   

She grinned and clanged her mace against her shield, raising her already-loud voice in a prayer chant.

  "Thus spake Autumna unto the disciples: the sword is a prayer! If they won't bow their head, chop their neck! If they won't kneel, take their legs! Kill!"   

The violent energy leaked out, chattering its teeth within Orson and Laula.

 
 Spoiler 

Cast Bless on herself, Orson, and Layla.
 
The Hellbug
Orson's javelin only glances off the troll horror's skeleton, but Gladius's crossbow quarrel finds its mark, burying deep in the muscles of its shoulder.  His spell, however, is entirely ineffective; his psychic lance finds no mind to drive into, and the creature lumbers forward towards the party as if he never cast it.  The elf backs down the hallway into a chamber he's already seen from the fermentation room, the one with the huge tubs.

Holding its arm-head out in front of it, the monstrosity advances down the corridor in no particular rush.  Alongside its footsteps, there's a clack as Gladius's bolt falls to the ground, pushed free from from the monster's wound, which looks like it will soon be closed entirely by its regenerating flesh.  Unlike before, this thing that was a troll doesn't seem to be in any rush.  Its whip-like cartilage appendages hover like cobras following a charmer's pipe until suddenly they flick forward, hurling the bone-spines at the end at Orson and Izillia.  The orc manages to evade his, but the spine thrown at the cleric finds a gap in her armor and painfully lodges itself in her.  Any movement irritates the puncturing projectile, and she can feel that it's sharp but brittle, a bone-construct that could only be a weapon.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
The troll horror takes 12 damage from the crossbow but regenerates 10HP on its turn for a  net of 2 damage .  It automatically makes its Int save to take no damage from the spell.  It moves forward 30 feet, halving the distance to the front of the party, and hurls bone-spines from its tentacle-whip-things, hitting  Izillia for 6 piercing damage .  The spine also sticks in the wound, causing Izillia to take
 2d6 damage if she moves more than 15ft in a round (the damage of this effect is per-spine).  A spine can be removed as an action, but the patient will take 2d6 damage if the remover fails a DC 14 medicine test.  Turns to you all.
 
J-H
      
      Jebediah Fortuna    
 Halfling Shadow Sorcerer 
 AC: 12 HP: 44/44 
 PPer: 13 PInv: 10 PIst: 10  
 Conditions: -- 
 Concentrating: Earthen Grasp  
 
  

Jebediah's pale skin gets slightly paler at the sight of the creature, not that anyone would notice.  An inky-black wolf leaps forward out of nothing, attacking the troll from one side.  A gigantic hand of brown dirt reaches forth from the ground on the troll's other side, grabbing at it.
 
 Spoiler 

Expend 3 sorcery points to summon Hound of Ill Omen.
It uses the statistics of a Dire Wolf but with +3 temporary HP (total 40hp)
Attack  (1d20+5)[ 8 ]  for  (2d6+3)[ 12 ]  piercing damage, and DC 13 Str save or be knocked prone.
Since it's adjacent to the troll, the troll has disadvantage on Jebediah's spells.

Earthen Grasp

 You choose a 5-foot-square unoccupied space on the ground that you can see within range. A Medium hand made from compacted soil rises there and reaches for one creature you can see within 5 feet of it. The target must make a Strength saving throw. On a failed save, the target takes 2d6 bludgeoning damage and is restrained for the spell’s duration.

As an action, you can cause the hand to crush the restrained target, who must make a Strength saving throw. It takes 2d6 bludgeoning damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.

To break out, the restrained target can use its action to make a Strength check against your spell save DC. On a success, the target escapes and is no longer restrained by the hand.

As an action, you can cause the hand to reach for a different creature or to move to a different unoccupied space within range. The hand releases a restrained target if you do either. 

Str save DC 14, with disadvantage.
If the save fails  (2d6)[ 8 ]  damage plus restraint.
 
agignac
Laula stared at the troll as it shrugged off magical assault.   It's changed,   she realized. This wasn't regeneration. Or at least, not just that. This was undead.

Lifting her shield, with Hibernius's holy symbol on it, she prayed,   "Lord of Winter, turn the eyes of this unholy terror away from us, that we may destroy this affront to nature."  
 
 Spoiler: ooc 
Turn undead, WIS DC 14
 
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(22)  | HP:  38/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  2/3  | 3rd:  3/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  1/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  Haste 10/10
 Conditions:  -
 Rations available:  11 person-days   
 
  


Gladius began his dance once again, improving his speed, before zooming in to attack the troll abomination in a flurry of stabs and slashes.

 
 Spoiler 

Bonus Action Blade Song
Action casting Haste
Move in to troll to attack with extra action
Use Booming Blade

 (1d20+8)[ 11 ] , damage  (1d8+5)[ 10 ] + (1d8)[ 7 ]  thunder, if crit  (1d8)[ 1 ] 
If the troll moves further  (2d8)[ 7 ]  thunder damage
 
Awful
  Izillia of the Silver Nails  
  Half Elf Forge Cleric 6 
 AC:  20  | HP:  39/45  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  2/3  | 3rd:  2/3
 Channel Divinity:  2/2
 Harness Divine Power (1):  2/2
 Active Effects:  Bless, bone spike, spiritual weapon
 Concentrating:  Bless
 Conditions:  -  

Izillia looked down at the bone spike in her abdomen - and laughed, raucous and fierce.

  "Gyahahaa! It's not a fight unless you get bloody! Here!"   

She called forth her spectral bludgeon, and hammered painful magic at the troll-thing, stamping slowly towards the foe.
 
 Spoiler 

Passes the concentration save.

Move 15ft towards the horror
Action: toll the dead. DC14 or take 16necrotic.
Ba: spiritual weapon. Rolled a 10 to hit, which I assume is a miss - let me know otherwise.
 
Dr.Samurai
      
  Orson 
  Orc Totem Warrior Barbarian 6 
 AC:  16  | HP:  65/65  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +3(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  -1  | Wis:  -1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  12 |  PIn:  9 |  PInv:  9
 Rages:  1/4 |  Raging:  Yes |  Reckless:  No
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Wanderer, Aspect of the Elk
 Inspiration:  1/1
 Resistances:  Bludgeoning, Piercing, Slashing
 Conditions:  Raging, Blessed   
 
  
Orson shakes away the fear and growls, summoning his rage and charging headlong into the troll. He draws his longsword and swings with a two-handed grip, trying to sever the creature's growing limbs and appendages.

 
 Spoiler: Turn 2 
  Bonus Action   - Rage (Speed now 55ft)
  Object Interaction   - Draw Longsword
  Move   - Move adjacent to Troll
  Action   - Attack Troll
  Longsword Attack  - (1d20+7)[ 9 ]  +   Bless  - (1d4)[ 4 ] 
  Slashing  - (1d10+6)[ 10 ] 
  Extra Attack  - (1d20+7)[ 12 ]  +   Bless  - (1d4)[ 2 ] 
  Slashing  - (1d10+6)[ 12 ] 
 
The Hellbug
Fortune does not favor the adventurers, and despite the undead horror's size and relative ungainliness, it fends them all off except for Jebediah's hound and Orson's blade, which each cut deep into its fresh flesh.  It seems like, in this monster's case, there's more of that, though, and it no longer even reacts with pain as it did when it was alive.  Instead, it responds with a mighty counterattack, jabbing it's arm-mounted head at the hound to bite at it and raking its bony claw at the orc, wounding both.

At the same time, its pair of whip-like appendages flail this way and that so quickly that they're impossible to follow, within seconds filling the whole hallway around the former troll with a rain of stinging blows.  They settle and return to their cobra-like hovering just as quickly, but the adventurers can now see that the spines that it previously flung have fully regrown.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Troll takes  22 damage  between the dog and Orson, regens 10 like usual.  It attacks the dog and Orson for for  7 piercing  and  11 slashing  damage respectively.  Next, the whip-attack.
 All creatures within 10 feet of the troll-horror take  (2d6)[ 7 ]  piercing damage,  DC 14 dex save for half .
 
J-H
      
      Jebediah Fortuna    
 Halfling Shadow Sorcerer 
 AC: 12 HP: 44/44 
 PPer: 13 PInv: 10 PIst: 10  
 Conditions: -- 
 Concentrating: Earthen Grasp  
 
  
Hound HP: 33/40

The shadowy hound of ill omen is struck, and leaks inky blackness onto the creature's spines.  The dog doesn't bark, but simply attacks again with a silent snarl.  Its dark fangs sink into the creature's thigh, but don't unbalance the troll.  Jebediah's conjured hand has better luck, wrapping itself around the troll's waist and lifting it slightly off the ground.  The troll is now restrained.
 
 Spoiler 

Attack, with advantage from pack tactics:   (1d20+5)[ 17 ]  or   (1d20+5)[ 17 ]  for  (2d6+3)[ 7 ]  piercing, and DC 13 Str save or be knocked prone.
Since it's adjacent to the troll, the troll has disadvantage on Jebediah's spells.


 
 Originally Posted by Earthen Grasp 
 You choose a 5-foot-square unoccupied space on the ground that you can see within range. A Medium hand made from compacted soil rises there and reaches for one creature you can see within 5 feet of it. The target must make a Strength saving throw. On a failed save, the target takes 2d6 bludgeoning damage and is restrained for the spell’s duration.

As an action, you can cause the hand to crush the restrained target, who must make a Strength saving throw. It takes 2d6 bludgeoning damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.

To break out, the restrained target can use its action to make a Strength check against your spell save DC. On a success, the target escapes and is no longer restrained by the hand.

As an action, you can cause the hand to reach for a different creature or to move to a different unoccupied space within range. The hand releases a restrained target if you do either. 
 

Str save DC 14, with disadvantage.
If the save fails  (2d6)[ 4 ]  damage plus restraint.
 
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(22)  | HP:  35/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  2/3  | 3rd:  2/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  1/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  Haste 10/10
 Conditions:  -
 Rations available:  11 person-days   
 
  


Gladius found himself grazed by the bonespikes but continued his attack with furious speed, gaining momentum by the second before moving out of reach of the monster, risking a parting strike

 
 Spoiler 

Booming Blade
 (1d20+8)[ 15 ] , damage  (1d8+5)[ 13 ]  + (1d8)[ 8 ]  thunder, if crit  (2d8)[ 10 ]   Edit: advantage rolls in Discord 15, 9 
If the troll moves  (2d8)[ 4 ]  thunder

 (1d20+8)[ 15 ] , damage  (1d8+5)[ 11 ] , if crit  (1d8)[ 1 ]   Edit: advantage rolls in Discord 10, 14 
 (1d20+8)[ 10 ] , damage  (1d8+5)[ 7 ] , if crit  (1d8)[ 4 ]   Edit: advantage rolls in Discord 24, 23 

moving out of reach, risking an OA to trigger the reaction, so the others can move away as well.

Movement is now 40ft back
 
Dr.Samurai
      
  Orson 
  Orc Totem Warrior Barbarian 6 
 AC:  16  | HP:  57/65  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +3(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  -1  | Wis:  -1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  12 |  PIn:  9 |  PInv:  9
 Rages:  1/4 |  Raging:  Yes |  Reckless:  No
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Wanderer, Aspect of the Elk
 Inspiration:  1/1
 Resistances:  Bludgeoning, Piercing, Slashing
 Conditions:  Raging, Blessed   
 
  
  Nice work Jeb!   Orson calls out, as the halfling's magic restrains the troll monster. Orson keeps up the offensive with his longsword,   How'd you say we stop it from regenerating again?   he asks Gladius.

 
 Spoiler: Turn 3 
  Action   - Attack Restrained Troll
  Longsword Attack  - (1d20+7)[ 26 ]  or   Advantage  - (1d20+7)[ 10 ]  +   Bless  - (1d4)[ 2 ] 
  Slashing  - (1d10+6)[ 8 ] 
  Extra Attack  - (1d20+7)[ 17 ]  or   Advantage  - (1d20+7)[ 14 ]  +   Bless  - (1d4)[ 3 ] 
  Slashing  - (1d10+6)[ 7 ] 
  Move   - Retreat 30ft
 
agignac
Laula watched in horror as her companions were impaled by brittle spines.   Those would need to be taken out carefully  , she realized. But not now. Now they had to kill this thing again.

Raising a hand to her amulet, she called upon her inner sorcery to regain some of her more powerful magics. Feeling herself embued with a little more power, she called up Hibernius to help her destroy this demon of bones and flesh and spikes. A bolt of purple light shot from her the palm of her hand towards the undead horror.

 
 Spoiler: ooc 

Bonus action: Sorcery point to regain a 2nd level spell slot
Action: Casting Guiding bolt, 15 to hit, 20 damage
 
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(22)  | HP:  15/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  2/3  | 3rd:  2/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  1/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  Lethargy
 Rations available:  11 person-days   
 
  


Gladius reeled from the strike that shattered his concentration and made him unable to move for a few crucial seconds. With painful slowness he answered Orson:

 "Acid didn't work, next we'll have to try fire. Frag, this hurts." 
Awful
  Izillia of the Silver Nails  
  Half Elf Forge Cleric 6 
 AC:  20  | HP:  39/45  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  2/3  | 3rd:  2/3
 Channel Divinity:  2/2
 Harness Divine Power (1):  2/2
 Active Effects:  Bless, bone spike, spiritual weapon
 Concentrating:  Bless
 Conditions:  -  

With another gesture, she pointed her mace and fired a forge-bright bolt, like molten metal, to splash against the troll, just as her spiritual weapon swung down.
 
 Spoiler 

Passes the concentration save.

Move: -
Action: guiding bolt. 20 to hit, 19 radiant damage
Ba: spiritual weapon. 27 to hit, 4 force damage.
 
The Hellbug
Held captive by Jebediah's conjured stone hand, the reanimated troll makes and easy target for the adventurers.  Orson and Gladius join the shadowy dog and, aided by rage and magic, their blades cut deep into the monstrosity's flesh.  The creature obviously feels no pain, but the damage to bone, sinew and muscle are too much for its regenerative abilities to match, and there are signs of damage in its movements regardless.

It looks like the tide might turn again, though, when Gladius trusts in his speed and skill to lead a retreat, hoping to deny the bound troll any targets, but the horror's whip-appendages seem entirely unaffected by its hobbled state and, as if with a mind of its own, one of them lashes out and catches the elf in a moment of distraction.  It jabs it's devilishly sharp but fragile tip deep into the soldier's shoulder, where it breaks off and leaves painful shards embedded.  Additionally, he loses his concentration on the spell that's propelling him, and the borrowed speed catches up with him, leaving him dazed and almost in the creature's reach.

Luckily, a magical barrage from Izillia and Laula puts any attempts at that to rest, and, still grabbed by the stone hand, the undead monstrosity falls to the ground, even its cartilaginous tentacles going limp beside it.  However, it's flesh continues to crawl and limbs continue to twitch--it even looks like the growing flesh may be accelerating in its convalescence!

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Wooo, I think pretty much everything hit that round.  Regardless, the total was  108 damage  (121 total if you subtract out the regeneration by my math).  He's down...but it doesn't look like he's out.  We're going to stay in combat for now because this guy definitely still could be a threat.  Additionally, Red takes  20 damage  from the critical hit on the opportunity attack and ends concentration; he can't move or take actions this round.
 
J-H
Jebediah's shadowy hound vanishes, its mission complete.  The earthen hand continues to pin the troll down, while Jebediah conjures steady splashes of acid on it.
agignac
Laula spared a moment to wish that she commanded fire. The troll was down, again, but it's flesh would not lie still. She called upon Hibernius's radiance to hopefully keep the undead abomination from knitting itself back together.   "What do we do? Burn it? Do we drag it out, or risk burning the building before we finish downstairs?"  
 
 Spoiler: ooc 
Casting Word of Radiance    damage  - (2d6)[ 5 ] 
 
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(22)  | HP:  15/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  2/3  | 3rd:  2/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  1/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  Lethargy
 Rations available:  11 person-days   
 
  


Gladius managed to press out the words:

 "Keep the damage going. I'll be back with you shortly and deliver the necessary flames." 
Dr.Samurai
      
  Orson 
  Orc Totem Warrior Barbarian 6 
 AC:  16  | HP:  57/65  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +3(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  -1  | Wis:  -1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  12 |  PIn:  9 |  PInv:  9
 Rages:  1/4 |  Raging:  Yes |  Reckless:  No
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Wanderer, Aspect of the Elk
 Inspiration:  1/1
 Resistances:  Bludgeoning, Piercing, Slashing
 Conditions:  Raging, Blessed   
 
  
Orson returns back to the regenerating mass and slashes at the moving tendons and muscle fibers with his sword,   Whatever we do we gotta do it fast!  
 
 Spoiler: Turn 4 

  Move   - Return to Troll
  Action   - Attack Restrained Troll
  Longsword Attack  - (1d20+7)[ 22 ]  or   Advantage  - (1d20+7)[ 24 ]  +   Bless  - (1d4)[ 1 ] 
  Slashing  - (1d10+6)[ 12 ] 
  Extra Attack  - (1d20+7)[ 10 ]  or   Advantage  - (1d20+7)[ 12 ]  +   Bless  - (1d4)[ 4 ] 
  Slashing  - (1d10+6)[ 16 ] 
 
agignac
Laula suddenly got a flash of inspiration. At least, she hoped that's what it was.   "Could this be part of the "sleep, not sleeping"? Maybe it's the plants below brining this poor creature back. Perhaps we need to burn everything together. Let's drag it downstairs, and douse everything with oil."   She called on Hibernius to guide another bolt of radiant energy at it, to prevent it from waking up.

 
 Spoiler: ooc 
Let's keep those who can blast with magic keep doing so as the others drag it downstairs, then burn it all!!!
 
Awful
  Izillia of the Silver Nails  
  Half Elf Forge Cleric 6 
 AC:  20  | HP:  39/45  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  2/3  | 3rd:  2/3
 Channel Divinity:  2/2
 Harness Divine Power (1):  2/2
 Active Effects:  Bless, bone spike, spiritual weapon
 Concentrating:  Bless
 Conditions:  -  
  "Wasn't there an oil barrel by the lanterns? I'll go- actually, wait."  
The cleric stared down at the bone spike in her abdomen, and gave it a exploratory wiggle with one hand, breathed in, then stuck two fingers in the wound and pulled it out with a horrendous  splortch!  sound.
  "There we go!"   She chirped happily, gore slicking off the spike.   "Be right back!"  
 
 Spoiler 


Move: go get the oil barrel!
Action: passed the medcheck to remove the spike.
Ba: spiritual weapon. Blap the corpse
 
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(22)  | HP:  15/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  1/3  | 3rd:  2/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  1/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  -
 Conditions:  Lethargy
 Rations available:  11 person-days   
 
  

Gladius finally was able to move and act again:
 "Orson, I'm giving you the ability to breath fire, Jebediah, it would probably be a good idea to hurl a fireball at the plant. I'd do it myself, but first I need to peel that bone spike out of my leg." 
 
 Spoiler 

Dragons Breath lvl. 2 slot for Orson
Medicine check on myself  (1d20+3)[ 19 ] 
 
The Hellbug
The party continues to attack the incapacitated but regenerating undead troll with spell and sword.  Orson's enraged hacking seems the most effective, and together they manage to outpace its regeneration for now.  However, it shows absolutely no signs of stopping.  Izillia remembers seeing a barrel of oil down in the cellar and after pulling the spine from herself, a crude but ultimately effective procedure in her case, takes off back towards and down the ramp.  Finally, Gladius's time debt is paid, and he's back in the action.

The monstrosity's flesh writhes and flows to try to construct itself into a moveable state, not slowing down even a bit.  Additionally, the pair of bone-whips start to twitch again.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Damage outpaces regeneration so it's still down, but with such frenzied hacking there's no way Orson can keep this up forever.  Izillia moves 30 feet and gets within 60 feet of the bottom of the ramp, everyone else is still out in the hallway.
 
Dr.Samurai
      
  Orson 
  Orc Totem Warrior Barbarian 6 
 AC:  16  | HP:  57/65  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +3(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  -1  | Wis:  -1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  12 |  PIn:  9 |  PInv:  9
 Rages:  1/4 |  Raging:  Yes |  Reckless:  No
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Wanderer, Aspect of the Elk
 Inspiration:  1/1
 Resistances:  Bludgeoning, Piercing, Slashing
 Conditions:  Raging, Blessed   
 
  
  Right behind you!   Orson shouts to Izillia. He punches a writhing tendon away from him and snakes his arm around a forming mass, gripping it tight. Slashing away with his longsword, he drags the thing after Izillia.

 
 Spoiler: Turn 5 
  Action   - Attack Restrained Troll Abomination
  Unarmed Strike  - (1d20+7)[ 22 ]  or   Advantage  - (1d20+7)[ 17 ]  +   Bless  - (1d4)[ 2 ] 
  Bludgeoning  - (1d4+6)[ 8 ] 
  Bonus Action   - Tavern Brawler Grapple
  Athletics  - (1d20+7)[ 20 ]  or   Athletics  - (1d20+7)[ 17 ] 
  Extra Attack  - (1d20+7)[ 17 ]  or   Advantage  - (1d20+7)[ 20 ]  +   Bless  - (1d4)[ 4 ] 
  Slashing  - (1d8+6)[ 7 ] 
  Move   - Move 25ft toward Izillia (50ft divided in half due to dragging an enemy)

NOTE: Tavern Brawler triggers on a hit. If unarmed strike is a miss, then Extra Attack is an unarmed strike instead of a longsword attack.
 
The Hellbug
Laula and Orson continue to blast and slash at the regenerating mass, respectively, and the orc starts to haul the the writhing corpse down the hallway towards the ramp to the cellar, an astounding feat given the troll's size but made possible by the the barbarian's great strength.  He makes it past both the goliath cleric, Jeb,  and Gladius, who, now recovered, much more carefully but just as successfully removes the bone splinters from his wound and quickly casts a spell to aid Orson.  All three need to step aside to the edge of the hallway to allow passage.  The halfling, though, repositions his conjured stone hand to keep it within reach of the undead monstrosity in case anything should happen.

Meanwhile, one room over Izillia rushes down the ramp and back into the cellar.  And there it is, just like she remembered: a small keg of oil.  Giving it a shake, she finds it almost full!

Again, the adventurers' damage is enough to outstrip the corpse's ability to knit itself back together.

 
 Spoiler: Passive Perception 10, not Izillia 
However, it looks like the rate at which it's regenerating appears to be accelerating!
 

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Troll's still down.  The  40 damage  from Orson and Laula made sure of that.  Orson hauls it just short of the doorway to the ramp-room.  All other spells and whatnot are successful.  So we've got Orson almost at the door at the top of the ramp, Gladius, Laula, and Jeb all within about 15 feet behind him, and Izillia not far inside the big doorway at the bottom of the ramp.  Note: the ramp is about 60 feet long.
 
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(22)  | HP:  15/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  1/3  | 3rd:  2/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  1/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  Dragon's Breath on Orson
 Conditions: 
 Rations available:  11 person-days   
 
  

Gladius frowned when he saw where his companions were dragging the corpse:
 "Stop! Dragging it into darkness is not a good idea - drag it out under free sky, away from the plant. If our hypotheses is correct than it's the source of the things power. Can't you see, it's regeneration accelerates. We can't get closer to it anyway, or risk getting mind blasted." 

Being able to move again, he followed the others down the ramp - and when in position, hurled a fireball at the distant plant at the end of the cellar.

 
 Spoiler 

 (8d6)[ 31 ]  Fire DC 14 Dex save (should auto-fail for an immobile plant)
 
agignac
Laula stopped as Gladius made his argument. She had thought to burn the things together, to save resources. But perhaps he was right, and bringing them together was more dangerous.   "Understood. You burn the plant. We'll get him outside and burn him there."  

She kept up her assault with Hibernius's help, blasting at the corpse.
Dr.Samurai
      
  Orson 
  Orc Totem Warrior Barbarian 6 
 AC:  16  | HP:  57/65  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +3(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  -1  | Wis:  -1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  12 |  PIn:  9 |  PInv:  9
 Rages:  1/4 |  Raging:  Yes |  Reckless:  No
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Wanderer, Aspect of the Elk
 Inspiration:  1/1
 Resistances:  Bludgeoning, Piercing, Slashing
 Conditions:  Raging, Blessed   
 
  
  Relax Gladius, we're still in control here.   Orson grunts and reverses course, dragging the regenerating mass towards the outside. Instead of slashing at it with his sword, he remembers that Gladius had bestowed a magical attack on him.   Let's see how this spell works,   Orson says, and breathes a blast of fire onto the troll.

 
 Spoiler: Turn 6 

  Move   - Drag mass 25ft toward nearest exit (assuming Gladius mentioned the door that DM commented on)
  Action   - Breathe Fire on the Troll
  Fire Damage  - (3d6)[ 9 ] 
 
J-H
 Jebediah 
Jebediah peers into the basement, his superior darkvision allowing him to assess the plant's reaction to the fireball spell.
Awful
  Izillia of the Silver Nails  
  Half Elf Forge Cleric 6 
 AC:  20  | HP:  39/45  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  2/3  | 3rd:  2/3
 Channel Divinity:  2/2
 Harness Divine Power (1):  2/2
 Active Effects:  Bless, spiritual weapon
 Concentrating:  Bless
 Conditions:  -  

Jogging back with the barrel hefted over one shoulder, Izillia triumphantly called out.
  "Got the oil!" [/B]
Seeing it being dragged outside, she followed to dump the oil over it for incendiary purposes.
The Hellbug
The adventurers run every which way, split between trying to launch a magical attack on the cellar-plant and getting the undead monstrosity's corpse outside while keeping it from regenerating.  Izillia, cask in hand, passes both Gladius and Jeb running the other way on the ramp as she ascends, the elf's long strides easily outstripping the halfling's short legs.

Meanwhile, up on the ground floor Orson manages to drag the regenerating corpse about halfway to an exterior door Gladius had mentioned in the room with the grape-crushing vats, although his and Laula's attacks only  barely  keep up with the troll terror's regeneration.  The corpse doesn't seem to be especially harmed by fire in particular, but engulfing it entirely with the attack makes the orc's flame breath more potent than he would otherwise have guessed.  Still, its regenerating flesh shows no signs of stopping, and its whip-like appendages start to writhe once again.  It is abundantly clear, though, that this conventional method for killing a troll will not be effective in this case.  It.  Will.  Not.  Die.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Together, Orson and Laula do  33 damage  to the troll-corpse (it has vulnerability to AoE damage) which keeps it down for now.  Movement except for Izillia's is already shown in the Discord, and she just dashes to the top of the ramp.  I'll update the map tonight.  Notably, Jeb will need to dash in order to get around the corner to see where Gladius wants to fireball, and Gladius can reach fireballing range of the lit area without dashing.  Orson made it halfway to the door last turn so he's just a move away from being outside.
 
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(22)  | HP:  15/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  1/3  | 3rd:  2/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  1/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  Dragon's Breath on Orson
 Conditions: 
 Rations available:  11 person-days   
 
  

Gladius finally reached the bottom of the ramp and got sight of the plant at the end of the cellar. With some trepidation, he followed the fireball with his eyes until it exploded


 
 Spoiler 

31 Fire damage - rolled in previous post.
 
agignac
Laula couldn't believe how fast the dead/undead troll was trying to regenerate. This was truly unholy.  " If burning the plant doesn't stop him, we may need to run, "   she panted, as she helped drag the un-corpse outside. Once there, she used the last bit of her holy energy to call upon Hibernius; a final bolt of energy flew to the troll, hopefully preventing it from waking up.   "Get the oil on it, burn it!"  
The Hellbug
Down in the cellar, Jebediah arrives just in time to see Gladius launch his spell at the part of mat of beflowered ivy illuminated by the light-enchanted bolt.  There's a flash of light, blinding in the cellar's darkness, and a bang as the fireball explodes, blasting plant, flowers, shelves, and casks.  For a split second, both can see the ivy writhe unnaturally, but it's too bright to see much more.  There's the sound of wood splinters on stone and wood as the dark returns, then silence.  When they the pair can see again, the light of the bolt, which seems to have been destroyed, is gone.  A moment passes, and then there's a sound like a low exhalation from the far end of the cellar.

 
 Spoiler: Jeb only 
With his superior darkvision, Jeb can see that Gladius's fireball seems to have been extremely effective at blasting apart shelves and scorching the plant.  A half dozen of the larger, iris-like flowers lie wilted among the spilled wine and cask-and-shelf rubble where his spell landed.  Additionally, he can see the source of that low sound: the smaller flowers, all of them that he can see, seem to be rhythmically moving as though the entire plant-mass were breathing.
 


Upstairs, Orson, Laula, and Izillia here the blast.  Immediately, the regenerating undead troll starts writing as though in pain.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Still need turns from Izillia and Orson.
 
J-H
 Jeb 
 "That hurt it!  But the plant is moving, like it's breathing."   Jebediah calls upstairs as loudly as possible.   "Let's do that again!" 
Dr.Samurai
      
  Orson 
  Orc Totem Warrior Barbarian 6 
 AC:  16  | HP:  57/65  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +3(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  -1  | Wis:  -1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  12 |  PIn:  9 |  PInv:  9
 Rages:  1/4 |  Raging:  Yes |  Reckless:  No
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Wanderer, Aspect of the Elk
 Inspiration:  1/1
 Resistances:  Bludgeoning, Piercing, Slashing
 Conditions:  Raging, Blessed   
 
  
  Yeah Jeb, whatever you did is working!   Orson calls out to the halfling,   It's hurtin' this thing!   He keeps dragging the creature away from the source of its power and breathes another gout of fire at it.

 
 Spoiler: Turn 7 

  Move   - Drag mass 25ft toward nearest exit
  Action   - Breathe Fire on the Troll
  Fire  - (3d6)[ 9 ] 
 
Awful
  Izillia of the Silver Nails  
  Half Elf Forge Cleric 6 
 AC:  20  | HP:  39/45  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  2/3  | 3rd:  2/3
 Channel Divinity:  2/2
 Harness Divine Power (1):  2/2
 Active Effects:  Bless, spiritual weapon
 Concentrating:  Bless
 Conditions:  -  
  "Oil u oooppp !" [/B]
Lifting the barrel to hurl it forth, Izillia discovered a fundamental flaw with her plan.

Running about with a poorly sealed barrel of oil meant it was, in fact, covered in oil.

Things covered in oil were slippery.

The barrel gleefully sprang for freedom, and things went downhill from there.
The Hellbug
Izillia's heave does connect with the troll corpse, but the cask  is  slippery and she can't avoid covering herself and Orson in the slick oil as well.  Additionally, among the thing's thrashing, its whip-appendage finally stills...then strikes!  As if with a mind of its own, it launches its pointed tip at Orson with such force that the limb entirely rips itself free from the corpse's shoulder.  Like with his allies, its fragile point buries itself deep in the orc's flesh.

Until now, though its flesh has writhed and its wounds have healed, the undead monstrosity has offered no resistance to Orson's dragging or the adventurers' attacks except for its dogged accelerating regeneration--a quality whose potency truly needs to be seen to be believed.  Suddenly, though, an oil-slicked arm reaches up to contest the orc's grasp and, a moment later, its legs flex and they're working again as well.  It's only the barbarian's continued effort at grappling the beast that keeps it from getting to its feet immediately.

But the thing has changed.  No longer does it sport the pair of cartilaginous tentacles--one lies discarded on the ground and the other is still going through its final death-rattle where it launched itself at Orson--but instead it has grown bone in the way a warrior would be covered with armor.  Its former head at the end of its left arm has lost all of its facial features besides its eyes, leaving it to be a huge, mace-like bludgeon, and its right arm is totally covered with the bone-stuff, topped by a mountainous reinforced shoulder.

As these features totally take shape, the creature is ready to do battle again, but its regeneration slows to the previous level it was at when it still walked.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Already had my post for Jeb and Gladius; they are downstairs (see the map, which shows the ivy-covered and damaged areas, respectively.  Technically only Jeb can see that far into the darkness but Gladius would have seen for a moment during the flash).  For Izillia, Orson, and Laula:  Orson takes  13 piercing  damage from the attack, and has the embedded spine we've seen before.  Izillia, Orson, and the troll are absolutely covered in flammable oil, enough that taking any fire damage will cause them to be set aflame for 2d6 fire damage per turn.  Putting out the flames will require an action and either a help action from another character or a DC10 Dex save.  Additionally, they have advantage on attempts to escape grapples (and the defense roll against being grappled).  The troll is still currently prone, injured, grappled, and victim of the glowing light from Laula's spell.  Everyone's up.
 
Dr.Samurai
      
  Orson 
  Orc Totem Warrior Barbarian 6 
 AC:  16  | HP:  51/65  | HD:  6/6
 Str:  +7  |   Dex:  +3(Adv)  | Con:  +6  | Int:  -1  | Wis:  -1  | Cha:  -1
 PP:  12 |  PIn:  9 |  PInv:  9
 Rages:  1/4 |  Raging:  Yes |  Reckless:  No
 Traits:  Darkvision 60ft, Wanderer, Aspect of the Elk
 Inspiration:  1/1
 Resistances:  Bludgeoning, Piercing, Slashing
 Conditions:  Raging, Blessed, Dragon's Breath  
 
  
Orson keeps his grip on the abomination but turns away as the oil cask hits them both and covers him in oil. With his face turned away, he feels something stab him deep. He cries out in pain and shouts,   Dangit Izillia, now's not the time to be reckless!   The creature now begins to assimilate into an armored form, and Orson wonders if he spoke too soon when he told Jeb harming the plant was working. He still has Gladius' spell enchanting him, but dares not light the creature on fire now that he is covered in oil. He goes back to his sword to cut this thing back into pieces, and drags it as far as he can before the spur buried in him stops him,   Whatever you're doing you need to do it faster!  
 
 Spoiler: Turn 8 

  Action   - Attack Abomination
  Longsword Attack  - (1d20+7)[ 26 ]  or   Advantage  - (1d20+7)[ 21 ]  +   Bless  - (1d4)[ 2 ] 
  Slashing  - (1d8+6)[ 10 ] 
  Extra Attack  - (1d20+7)[ 12 ]  or   Advantage  - (1d20+7)[ 27 ]  +   Bless  - (1d4)[ 3 ] 
  Slashing  - (1d8+6)[ 10 ] 
  Move   - Drag creature 5ft (10ft of movement)
 
J-H
      
      Jebediah Fortuna    
 Halfling Shadow Sorcerer 
 AC: 12 HP: 44/44 
 PPer: 13 PInv: 10 PIst: 10  
 Conditions: -- 
 Concentrating: Earthen Grasp  
 
  

Jebediah advances into the basement, looking for the best place to fireball the plant.  He chants magical words, then flings a ball of shadowy flames at the plants.  It explodes with a dull roar that makes the items on the shelves shake and clatter.
 
 Spoiler 

Move up to 25' further in and using 120' darkvision to identify where to place the Fireball so it hits as much plant matter as possible.
 (8d6)[ 25 ] 
 
Pyrophilios
      
  Gladius Septimus 
  Half Elf Wizard Bladesinger 6 
 AC:  17(22)  | HP:  15/38  | HD:  6/6
 Spell Slots:   1st:  4/4  | 2nd:  1/3  | 3rd:  1/3
 Spells Prepared: 
1st - Longstrider, Mage Armor, shield
2nd - Misty Step, Shadowblade, See Invisibility, Dragon's Breath
3rd - Fly, Haste, Fireball
 Bladesongs:  1/3
 Arcane Recovery (3):  1/1
 Active Effects:  -
 Concentrating:  Dragon's Breath on Orson
 Conditions: 
 Rations available:  11 person-days   
 
  
 "Jeb, tell me where to aim, I'm getting another fireball ready." 
Gladius took a moment to concentrate and created another bead of flame between his palms

 
 Spoiler 

 (8d6)[ 29 ] 
 
agignac
  "Oh no! "  Laula realizes that the other cleric has made the situation much more dangerous. They didn't dare use fire while the others were so close and covered in oil. She was exhausted, her ability to call on Hibernius reduced to mere cantrips. She considered stepping in and using her mace, but she knew that even her cantrips were likely to be more effective.

She points to the bony horror and the dolorous sound of bells fills the air.

 
 Spoiler 
Casting Toll the Dead. Wis Save DC 14, or take   damage  - (2d8)[ 11 ]  unless it's not at max HP, in which case   damage  - (2d12)[ 14 ] 
 