After a quiet morning and afternoon sleeping and resting in the camp, the group decided that since nobody is probably going to come back for it, they decide to take the tent with them. A few curious glances are cast in their direction as they shove the tent in the bag of holding. Raenerys decides to walk around the camp, trying to find someone who might know where Archmage Elara Shadowfoot's tower can be found, but after asking around, nobody is quite sure where that is.
Miryks decides to head for a stroll into the forest to gather some moss in order to make a disguise down the road, while Quill disguises herself as a dapper older gentleman to go ask the innkeeper if he might know where their destination is. As she walks into the tavern she can see Kael eating and drinking with some new friends, before she announces that she has to head off, as she’s needed elsewhere.
Quill approaches the innkeeper, asking about where Elara Shadowfoot can be found, and after conferring with one of the barmaids, they tell her that she lives near the town of Kestrel's Roots, a small town at the foot of the mountain range west of here. The fastest way there would be to travel through the forest, taking a left when they come to a fork in the road, but the recommendation is to take the long way around.
She thanks the innkeeper and the barmaid for the information, then takes her leave, just as she bumps into Kael outside. Still in disguise, she asks where the orc is headed, but Kael is heading south, away from their destination. It doesn’t seem like she is in a hurry, as she takes her time preparing the horse for the carriage, and calmly gathers her stuff to head on her journey. Quill worries about what Kael has been sent to do, but they don’t have time to worry about it, as they have to relay the news of Legion to Elara.
When Quill returns to Raenerys and Gaia, Miryks comes walking out of the woods, having found a decent supply of moss to make a disguise with. They decide to stock up on some food from the nearby hunter’s market, seeing as the journey will be several days. After buying some dried meat, they gather their horses and set out through the forest, heading towards Kestrel’s Roots.
𐡸
The first day of the journey goes by without incident, as they are still on the main road heading through the forest. A few passerbys tell of trolls on the road ahead, but they are easily outrun if one is quick and smart enough. Not long after starting their journey the sun falls below the horizon, seeing as they spent most of the day sleeping to catch up from the night before, so they decide to make camp and stay put for the night to get the circadian rhythm back on track.
Gaia decides to take to the skies to take a look around the area to try to discern how long the journey will take through the woods. High in the sky in the cold autumn air, she can see the mountains in the distance, past the edge of the forest. It’s a long journey, and should take at least three or four more days. In the distance she can see movement in the trees from something big, but more interestingly, she can see a large “hole” in the forest a bit to the south-west.
Meanwhile, the rest of the party is making the tent ready for the night, with Raenerys doing as little work as possible, but still help by holding up the tent. After Gaia returns she tells the others about the mysterious void in the forest. They all think it might be worth checking out, but at the same time, they don’t have time for a detour, considering they want to bring the information about Legion to Elara as soon as possible. Miryks decides to ask the nearby animals what they can tell her about the hole in the ground.
A small rabbit answers the call, and comes jumping out from behind a tree. Miryks asks what it knows about the hole in the ground, but the rabbit is uncomfortable speaking of it, saying that all animals stay away from the area, as those who venture inside don’t return. It then scuttles away, leaving behind a confused, but intrigued party who is dying to know what treasures can be found within, but they decide to instead head back in that direction later.
During the rest, Gaia sits down to try to get in touch with whatever deity has “chosen” her for her task. As she sits down, Raenerys feels her patron, who has been present, suddenly retreat from her, leaving her empty. Gaia feels a presence approach, signalled by a warm wind blowing gently through the camp. She tries to reach out, but gets no more response. As the presence retreats, Raenerys' patron returns, saying that they don’t like being near when “they” get close, unwilling to elaborate who it is.
𐡸
The next day they continue to travel west, coming across a fork in the road, just as expected. There is a sign that says it is a shortcut to Kestrel’s Roots, but it is marked by a skull, as if to signal that the road is dangerous. Not wanting to waste time, they venture left, heading into the overgrown and poorly maintained road. They get the uncomfortable feeling of being watched, but think little of it.
At the end of the day they make camp again, making sure to keep watch in case something dangerous comes close. As two of them keep watch while the others sleep, they hear a large wooshing sound. Massive wings blow air down throughout the forest, and something large perches on top of a nearby tree, but the dense foliage prevents them from seeing what it is. The two who are sleeping are awoken by the noise, and they talk amongst themselves, wondering if they should investigate, but having heard rumors about dragons venturing in the area, they decide against it, as they feel they are not ready to take on such a threat.
After a few minutes, the being takes off, and Raenerys can see a massive feathered wing sweep across the moon above them through the little spaces in the trees above. Gaia decides to fly up to the treetops to see if she can find any clue about what it might be, spotting a massive colorful feather having been left behind. Although it is almost two meters and heavy, she drags it down to the others, who identify it as the feather of a Roc, a massive bird of prey who they have little chance surviving against. They return to their rest, but are more cautious for the rest of the night.
The next morning, they continue on the dense path to the west, and soon Miryks notice vibration in the ground, almost as if someone is running. The others notice Miryks looking around, and they suddenly spot two massive trolls running straight in their direction. The party hurries their horses into a gallop, hoping to outrun the trolls, but they keep pace. Raenerys uses her terrifying abilities to slow them down, but they soon shake it off, while Miryks tries to slow them down with grasping vines. Gaia spots an old, large tree ahead, and takes out her falchion to cut it down, while Quill uses some fog to make it hard for the trolls to avoid it. Miryks summons a large vine for good measure, and it is successful, causing the trolls to fall behind a good distance.
But the trolls are relentless, and the party realize that they will be caught if they don’t find a way to stop them for good. Miryks and Gaia takes out whatever rations they have left, throwing them on the ground behind them, hoping it is enough to make the trolls give up. One of the trolls runs past, but is caught in the arm by the other who points to the meat on the ground. They both sit down to feast on the rations, allowing the party to escape what presumably was the trolls’ territory.
About an hour later, they come across a raging river, wide and strong. There was once a bridge here, but it has never been maintained, so only the foundations remain. The current won’t be an issue for Gaia’s horse, but the others are smaller and will most likely be pulled beneath the water from the strong stream. Thinking quickly, Quill decides to open a portal for each horse, allowing them to cross safely, while Gaia helps Raenerys across, Quill and Miryks make their own way over by flying themselves.
They continue west, and as night falls again, they make camp once more. Gaia and Miryks are keeping watch, when they spot five sets of glowing eyes that surround them. One of the beings gets closer, revealing itself to be a large wolf, looking hungrily at the party. Miryks, who can speak to beasts and plants, tells them that this is a fight they won’t win, but the wolf is too hungry to care. They pair take out the rest of the rations they have, offering it to the wolves, who seem to accept this offering. The other wolves take what they can carry in their mouths, before retreating. No more beasts accost them for the night, as the sun finally shines across the treetops.
𐡸
The next two days go without incident, as they finally make their way out of the forest. They soon come across some travelers as they reach another fork in the road, one leading north, while their destination is straight ahead. A merchant, coming from Frostleaf, is heading to Kestrel’s Roots himself, and offers to sell the party some more rations, seeing as they have run out. They ask how to get to Frostleaf from where they are now, so the merchant takes out a map and shows them where they are, and the fastest way through the mountain pass. They thank the merchant, then gallop ahead towards Kestrel’s Roots.
After another day of traveling, they finally reach their destination just as the sun is about to set. A quaint little town between the mountains, surrounded by a forest, next to a river, with colorful roofs and solid brick housing greets them warmly. Far above in the mountainside, there is a beautiful white tower, presumably their destination. There is a large temple in the center of town, and they soon find an inn that would allow them to rest for the night. After hitching their horses outside, they step into the tavern, finding it to be half-full, with people from town eating supper. The innkeeper, a firbolg named Hedra, greets them, and helps them with finding a room to share.
As Hedra leads them to their room she tells them about the area, with the temple in the center of town being devoted to Nuesis, who is rumored to sometimes visits the town to speak to his followers, but she is not sure if she believes that rumor. The party asks her about the tower, and she confirms that Elara Shadowfoot lives there, but if they have come to see her then they are out of luck, as she rarely grants audiences and even more rarely comes to the town to visit. She recommends writing a petition to her for an audience if their quest is important, and offers to have one of the local couriers run up and deliver it tonight.
Afterwards, the party is offered to take a bath in the washroom in the back. Quill and Raenerys writes up a letter while the others clean up, before taking their baths themselves. A local boy, Bill, tall and muscular, offers to run up to the tower for a handful of gold, which they give him. Quill offers to tell tales to the locals for the night, prompting Hedra to give a discount on their food and stay.
As the letter is sent off with Bill, Gaia takes a stroll down the street to visit the temple. There are a few people inside, with an elderly woman overseeing the temple. Gaia asks for guidance, wanting to know if Nuesis has chosen her, as she has awoken with unknown powers she can’t explain other than them being from a deity. The elderly cleric offers to let Gaia touch Nuesis’ symbol on top of his altar, and as she does, she can feel the smell and taste of the salty sea. The elderly cleric smiles at her, saying she has her answer. Gaia returns to the others, still unsure what it all means.
After a few hours, Bill returns with news from the tower. The archmage will see them on the morrow.