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Lug disappears off to the north through the undergrowth. To be continued in his private thread.

Chase sequences take multiple hours (note that if a flight is unsuccessful, and the enemy doesn't manage to engage, you can do one more flight roll per day to keep trying to shake the tail).

Varas hands the reins to Zirina and takes a quick nip from his healing flask. "Watch over Mustard. I'll be back!"

He runs with Lug through the forest.

I believe I only used that mechanic in dungeon environments, and still plan to--if not, shame on me for messing up consistency, but this is how I plan to do it for wilderness in general.

Right! Good call, that was a great fight.

Lug and Varas have disappeared in the distance in pursuit of the orcs. After a few moments, the tumult dies down and only the sound of sporadic fires can be heard. They are likely to be gone a while.

What is the party's next move?

Nihilius leads the two hobbled goblins on his lead rope until they reach the Centaur's clearing or otherwise get clear of danger. With Lug and Varas running off, he looks expectantly at Valorei.

May 2, 1 VC - 5:10pm

The party continues onward through the forest, and finds that the fires are somewhat fewer and less intense as they go further west, though smoke continues to rise above the level of the canopy to the east, signaling exactly what they are not sure.

Finally after another hour and a half of travel, the group sights the jarban grove in the distance. The goblins immediately set about howling, clawing at their bonds and urging to be let free, to be executed, anything but to be taken to the cursed grove.

Ruwyn quirks an eyebrow.

"It seems there's nothing these goblins loathe
More than the centaur's jarban grove!
I worry for their mental health
When they meet the half-horse-man himself..."

Valorei calls to the goblins, speaking in goblin himself,

Goblin:

The goblins, despite the rebuke, continue clamoring for escape, horrible raw welts appearing on their arms where they're bound as they yank and pull. After a moment, Xavro appears between two of the jarban trunks and hails the party with one upraised hand. "I see that great drama accompanied your journey. It seems too soon for you to have found your companions, but I must ask: we're you successful?"

Ruwyn stands tall as she can, ignoring the goblin's clamoring. Having never formally addressed the centaur before, she clears her throat nervously first.

"Not the best of days. The forest is ablaze."

Dorvar smiles a particularly malicious grin when he hears the goblins beg to be executed.

In goblin, so that the prisoners can hear:
The dwarf looks at their prisoners and scowls, continuing in goblin.

Valorei gives a slight bow to Xavro before answering Dorvar in Goblin,

Goblin: After answering the dwarf he turns back to the goblins, his voice raising with a harsh tone,

Goblin:

The goblins hardly seem to notice Valorei's words, staring with mouths agape at the figure of Xavro as it approaches. They wriggle and struggle, but stop screaming.

The ancient centaur seems a bit annoyed that the goblins have been brought under threat of violence to the borders of his grove, and that those involved with restraining them are less interested in interacting with him than with making threats.

"I see that you continue to be busy with your bloody work. I shall leave you to it. Be warned that any coming among the roots and boles of the jarban grove with violence in their hearts will sorely rue the trespass."

He turns and retreats back to the crumbling square tower at the heart of the grove.

Dorvar

The dwarf shrugs. I'm staying outside again, so I'll keep my violence, thank you.

Marge and Dog find a quiet place in the grove to set themselves down for a rest. She closes her eyes, hoping to temporarily shut out the chaos of recent hours.

May 2, 1 VC - 7:40pm

The party waits, apparently in conflict about what to do about the goblins, hoping not to have lost two of their members during the chase into the woods this afternoon. Marge and dog have a pleasant chat with the centaur in the shade of the trees, but the druid seems uneasy at both the natural events occurring around the grove and the presence of the goblins and their captors right at the edge of his territory. He keeps a pleasant smile and even tone, but his eyes continually flick toward Dorvar, Niles, Valorei and the two goblins, all of whom seem locked in a silent struggle of life and death despite the relative quiet of the afternoon.

Finally, the sun begins to fall behind the trees in the west and Xavro indicates to Marge that she can either remain with her allies for the evening, or stay in the grove, but must decide before the sun sets.

"They no longer are a worry, as we aren't approaching the finger," says Nihilus as he begins to untie them. "Let them flee for their lives. They don't intend to follow us into the grove, in any case, while we wait for Lug."