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A decision is made to head to Drumlin first. From the instructions given you, traveling back a ways on the caravan road that originally brought you to Goat's Plum Crossing will be the first leg of your journey. Applejack gave you landmarks to look for to know when to head off the road and back into the woods- this time north of the road rather than south of it where Mom's outpost lay. The morning seems peaceful, the full sun warm on your faces as you walk on the road. No one else is seen traveling along this stretch of road this morning. The dogs trot ahead, meandering back and forth to investigate smells on either side of the road.

Once you veer off into the woods, the filtered light through the branches adds a slight chill to the air and to the mood as well. Pine is predominant in this area of the woods- the dramatic shift in the makeup of the woods on this side of the road compared to south is queer. The blanket of pine needles on the ground quieting your steps and adding to the eeriness of your environs. Birdsong is noticeably absent here as well when you think back to your woodland travels south of this road. The occasional mournful hoots of an owl break the silence.

Hennoth speaks up but in a soft voice as if afraid of making too much noise. I haven't been north of the road since all the strangeness started. Cool Water was wiped out and no one knows how or why. Drumlin was untouched and it is as close to the mountains which is almost more strange. This whole area spooks me.

Salt Peter to Hennoth: "Tell us 'bout this Cool Water, lad. 'Ow long ago wars this? 'Ow big a place were she? Whut wen' on thar?"

Couple months ago maybe. One day there was so much smoke and when someone came to check everyone was missing and the village was burned to the ground- nobody knows what happened. I wouldn't go north of the caravan road since then...even if Silring hadn't forbade me. I loved this area. He stops speaking a moment as memories surface of past times here. We played chase and had pine cone wars...

hedgeknight wrote: "Whadaya think he meant by the bucket in the water comment? Is that some kinda code for sommat?"

Travix listens to the boy cleric and Salt Peters conversation with interest as he answers the dwarf.

"Yes, I believe that is so, Graela. Something akin to a secret handshake or some such.

I cant say that I like the eeriness of this wood. It seems a bit too creepy and quiet. Lets keep our wits about us out here."

The mage watches the dogs closely as the group progresses, hoping to spot danger or strange behavior before it is too late.

Tip:

"Aye, there is an unatural feel to this place, but the dogs don't seem to be too disturbed. Animals are usually keen to disturbances. Still, we should keep our wits about us."

Hennoth walks on, pensive, the boy attentive to any small noise. Some feel the dogs will be a reliable barometer for safety. If so, the dogs don't seem especially concerned as they zig-zag around investigating smells and sounds, occasionally trotting off only to return a few minutes later to rejoin the troupe. The soft crunching of pine needles under your feet keeps your trek from being completely silent. The sun, while seemingly bright above, seems so distant through all of those pine branches in the filtered dimness around you. Smells are natural at least- the fresh pine smell helps to calm nerves some.

A sudden, too loud screeching from an owl (at least it sounds like an owl) jolts the poor boy nearly off his feet. The dogs startle and begin barking, each one in a different direction. To your right you see what seems like a broad path, one wide enough for a wagon by the look of it. How strange- a market road here in the middle of this pine forest.

Salt Peter winces at racket the non-halfling members of the party are making, and then winces again when people start talking about "keeping their wits about them." People use that phrase all the time, often directing towards him, but he's never really understood what it meant. He's pretty sure it's just a fancy way of saying, "Stop dancing on the table and entertaining us with your wonderful sea chanties, Salt Peter."

With the owl's cry and sudden appearance of the road, Salt Peter nearly jumps out of his nut-brown hide. "Haints an' speerits! Tha's a faerie road, I reckon!"

Walking along with spear in hand, Graela nearly jumps out of her skin when the hooting sound starts up. Then the dogs start barking and she angrily tries to silence them, grabbing 'em by the collar if she has to. "Hush up, now! Hush up!" she hisses, peering down the newly found road.

Reluctantly the dogs stop barking but still emit low growls as they pace around the party. The road heads to the east and curves to head north- the same direction you are heading. Hennoth, his wooden amulet in hand, prays softly under his breath. Wagon tracks can be seen on the road though you are uncertain how old they may be.

Salt Peter mumbles to himself and counts out points on his fingers and knuckles. "I be tryin' ter re-member if'n walkin' down a fairy road be good luck 'r ill. Thar's stories as go either way."

Travix tries to keep his emotions in check as the chaos starts.

There was no mention of a road, was there? Hennoth, do you ever remember seeing this road in here before? I think we should follow it for a while to see where it leads. There has clearly been someone by here fairly recently if there are still tracks in the dirt.

Hennoth stares at the road nervously. There are two roads through this woods. Neither one is here. Nevertheless the boy moves with the others to move to the road to continue north. His amulet still in one hand, his mouth moves with silent prayer.

Is there anything else you want to do in your current location or do you continue north along this newly found road?

Salt Peter preforms some strange ablutions with the packet of salt and herbs he procured from Silring in an attempt to ward himself from whatever he thinks might be down that road. After a seconds thought, he sprinkles some herbs on the dogs, too. To the others: "Be ye wantin' a mite o' thins?"

So girded, he heads down the road.

Before following along, Travix takes a mental picture of this area. Where does this road actually "start" out here. Are there any more tracks or footprints around other than just the wagon? Where does it look like the wagon tracks originated? Can he get a sense of which direction the wagon was traveling, etc.

He calls out in case they are being watched.

You have our dogs agitated now, so we know you are there. Show yourself to us, we will not harm you! We are just looking for answers out here!

The wizard listens intently for any movement in the nearby foliage.

Tip:

As the chaos erupts, Tip ducks into the nearby bushes. He waits anxiously to see if anything presents itself at Travix's command.

You discovered the road at a bend in its progression, one direction leads to the east and one to the north, and it continues in both directions as far as you can see. The only tracks you can see on the road are from a wagon (or wagons?) and you cannot tell which way they were headed. It could be that nothing else was heavy enough to leave an impression at this point. A blanket of pine needles covers the road, a modest amount in the wagon tracks so your best guess is that the travel through here by wagon was not especially recent.

Travix's call out to the woods is met with silence. From the light filtering through the myriad branches you can see it is almost midday.

Travix speaks in his normal voice again, still ignoring the herb sprinkling.

If the rest of you don't see anything out there, lets just head up this way for a while and see where it leads us, yes?

Thanks for the clarification on the road. Travix is ready to follow it if the others agree.

Graela takes Salty up on his offer of herbs, sprinkling herself and tossing a pinch of salt over her shoulder for luck. "Never can be too careful," she mutters, giving Travix a sideways glance.
With that, she heads on up the pine straw strewn road, spear in hand, the dogs, hopefully in check, and in front of her.

The group cautiously resumes the journey north, now on the newly discovered road. The wagon tracks are visible at times though will periodically disappear under the thick layer of pine needles. The woods are still quiet but nothing seems amiss otherwise. After about an hour of quiet travel the woods start to thin up ahead. A slight bend in the road and then about 40 feet in front of you a woman stands holding a club while a child is preoccupied gathering pine cones from the ground and putting them in a large bag. The woman sees you and then hisses to the child who immediately stands straight and goes to the woman. The woman holds the club in a defensive position and stares at you defiantly, silent and still, while she holds the child behind her.

Travix holds his hands out to the woman in a comforting manner as he slowly walks forward towards her. He speaks to her in a very calming voice, hoping that she can see he means them no harm.

"You have nothing to fear from us, my good woman. We are not orc raiders or a band of marauding goblins. Just 5 weary travelers in search of sausages and exploring this newly found wagon trail."

"What is your name, my dear and from where do you hail?"