<div class="floatleft">(https://cdna.artstation.com/p/assets/images/images/000/959/028/large/jore-escalera-dungeonmastersub01.jpg?1437008046)</div><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 28pt;">DM</span><br/><hr/><br/>Following a, thankfully, uneventful night (beyond the obvious debauchery), just as Ezikariel promised the group made their way at the cracking of dawn. The morn air had a distinct chill upon it that the previous day lacked, enough so that the first hour or so before the sun bore down its heat more heavily, the group could watch their breaths bellow out in thin white plumes of mist. They trekked northward, through harsher and harsher lands as the wagon only barely held together at points. Extra weight became too overbearing for it at a certain point as the group resolved to walk on foot and allow the horses to continue pulling the wagon along without added pressure as it maneuvered over the unforgiving, unlevel hills and rocky soil hidden beneath knee-high grasses.<br/><br/>Past noon and burgeoning into the eve, the party spotted the first trees they'd seen since setting up camp the previous night. White birch dotted the plains ahead for miles upon end, and the only sound that was elicited was the gentle rustling of their green leaves and the songs of birds move to and fro from branch to branch overhead. Ezi stopped a moment to examine each and everyone as they passed.<br/><br/>"Ah, I found it," Ezi said as she ran her soft olive fingers across the large "E" she had carved into the tree weeks earlier to track their path back out of the wood. Now it was coming in handy to find her way back to the tomb itself.<br/><br/><div class="floatright">(https://www.rolepages.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/cave-event-open.jpg)</div>That tree led to another, and then another. Before the party could really even realize it, they at some point had transitioned from plainland into a dim, mossy wood that was heightened in its foreboding nature by the rapidly setting sun. White birch eventually gave way to twisted oak and willow.<br/><br/>The closer they got, the more distinctly uncomfortable Ezikariel became, moving from leading the front to shuffling towards the back of the train of bodies marching forward. It became a tougher task for Kayla to navigate the wagon over the gnarled roots that emerged  here and there virtually everwhere, but at a slow to moderate pace it was doable.<br/><br/>"There..." Ezi muttered as she rounded an enormous oak that it would've taken Orlith and two others to lock hands around, and pointed towards a distinct stone building jutting upwards from the ground. The first man-made object they'd seen in the last day. As they grew closer it became clear that the stone formed a high arching, ten foot tall doorway, but the entire structure had long been grown over. It looked as if recent disturbances had left many of the thorny weeds and branched covering the open doorway into darkness, cut and carved away to create a path. Thick cobwebs now stood in their place.<br/><br/>"Yes, that's the tomb," Isabela agreed, looking equally nervous at the gaping maw of pitch black before them. Those possessing darkvision are capable of making out small details, such as the slow descent of stairs just beyond the entrance and unlit wall sconces on either side of the passage way, but unfortunately no matter how hard they strain, Kayla and Isabella can make out nothing.<br/><br/>"I think we should leave the priestesses here, tied up. They could become a liability within," Ezi motioned to a nearby tree not five paces from the entrance itself.<br/><br/>"But Mistress, we may need their healing. Especially after what happened..." Isabella stopped herself and looked down, averting her gaze from Ezi in the moment. Ezi sighed with a large heave of her chest.<br/><br/>"I suppose you're right... perhaps we should bring the hafling. I don't trust the blue one," Ezi said as she narrowed her eyes at Iclyn. "Kayla, if you would be so kind?" Ezi said to the warrior woman, suggesting she should tie the blue Tiefling up for the time being. Ezi sauntered towards Orlith and Selena.<br/><br/>"There are... beasts within the tomb that assailed us the last time we attempted to enter. But I trust it won't be a problem for someone of your stature," she nervously stated, though it wasn't clear whether it was Orlith who was making her nervous or something else entirely. "You are clearly the most formidable among us, so we will follow your lead down."<br/><br/>Isabella untied the rope that attached Wren's bound hands to the wagon and wrapped the end around her own hand, tying it tight to make sure she couldn't break free in a sudden bolt. Isabella drew close to her when she had a chance and her Mistress was distracted talking to Orlith.<br/><br/>"I'm truly sorry about all of this. I wish things had not happened as they did, but I promise I'll try to keep you and your friend safe."