Shavon wakes the group an hour after dawn allowing them ample time to rest, especially those who arrived late.  The group leaves on foot, without mounts, which Shavon explain would get eaten soon anyway and are a liability for this trip.  For three days, Shavon is able to avoid any encounter with hostiles.   Whether this is due to something inherent in Shavon or by skill or just luck is unclear.

On the fourth day he stops at the edge of an overlook.  "Behold, the Cradle of Niaaca."  His hand sweeps around to encompass everything before you.  The Cradle is a valley spread between three mountain ranges forming a rough, rounded triangle of sorts.  In the center of the valley is a giant dome with a ruptured hole at the top.  From here the hole looks tiny, but no doubt up close would be more than a mile across if not more.  Out of the dome a faint mixture of green and blue flows rise up and spread into the atmosphere.

Faint sounds, unknown to any in the group, emanate from the strange trees of the jungle within the valley.

   Aethen surveys the valley with awe.  The massive dome dominates the landscape, dwarfing anything other than the mountains that conceal it from the outside world.  Aethen turns to their guide.

   "Shavon, have you been into this region,"  Aethen asks, waving his hand across the valley before them.  "Or just to its edge?"

[Private to GM: Knowledge Nature on the flora and fauna leading up to this point.  Evidence of significant change/mutation?
00:00, Today: Aethen Ironroot rolled 24 using 1d20+13. Knowledge: Nature check]
This message was last edited by the player at 05:00, Tue 02 Aug 2011.

Shavon winces as if remembering pain.  "I have been within its fringes and once Torhavich and I went inside the dome.  That was long ago."

[Private to Aethen Ironroot:
The flora and fauna up to the edge of the valley are natural as far as you can tell, but vibrant, healthier and stronger than what you are familiar with in the east.  Life is incredibly powerful here.  At the edge of the valley there is a subtle change.  Nothing stands out, but a flower is a different shade than it should be.  Plants grow intertwined that are natural enemies.  Larger plants almost sway in a rhythm, though there is no wind to speak of.  Xamador is warm and humid like an old growth forest in summer.  The Cradle feels down right damp, saturated with moisture, yet the air has a slight chill to it.  Smells are different too, sweeter with an electric tang to them.  Almost as if the flowers were made of human 'candy'.]

Flynn looks strangely at the man before asking a number of questions, "Just how many did you come with, or was it just the two of you? How long would it take for us to reach that cradle? I'd like not to be caught out there for too many nights from how dangerous it seems to be considered... More importantly, are we seriously going to climb that dome to enter this cradle?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:33, Tue 02 Aug 2011.

Your guide smiles at the flurry of questions then says, "there were three of us."

The Invar stares at the lack of other responses, but does not press further, and instead shakes his head. He pulls out his bow and takes a quiver from his bag and hands it to Danathea. [Private to Dathnaea Searii: "These arrows are of cold iron. If anything that seems to reek of magic attacks, use these first, as they should be more potent. Conserve them if you can... And watch Kahmauls back. I'm going to be busy watching this Shavon character. He seems nice, but there is far too much he's not telling us."]

The thief works his way towards the edge of the forest to get a better idea of what might be in there. He makes sure not to be too far to be out of reach of his allies.

[Private to GM:  13:37, Today: Flynn Darktreader rolled 22 using 1d20+6. listen. 13:37, Today: Flynn Darktreader rolled 11 using 1d20+7. spot. ]

Dathnaea nods, then looks out over the valley.  Shavon seems to be waiting for the group to get a good look before moving on around its edge to Torhavich's.

   Aethen smiles at the exchange.

   "Unless someone requires we wait, let us make the best of our light."