True, the group may have left tracks, but they haven't left any that the column of mounted men are likely to cross on their current course.

Also the flyers can report that there aren't any outriders. These aren't invaders in some foreign territory--this is their homeland. They don't seem to be concerned about anyone attacking them.

However, since this is their territory, any sudden boulders and such are likely to attract their attention. Rolling grassy hills, on the other hand, all tend to look alike as there aren't any significant landmarks to go by.

Laying low until the column passes is the best course of action... other than attacking them. The men in the column may not be nice people, but they haven't done anything that the group knows to warrant attacking them.

Borun is able to cast his Silent Image spell to make the group appear like just a continuation of the rolling grassland.

It takes about an hour for the column to pass far enough for the group to continue on.

"And they were overconfident and incompetent" Tilaleria said, releived at the end. "I wonder if that is because  have no serious enemies around here? I've never seen a body of troops that big that didn't have scouts out before..." She bit lip thinking "This is both good and bad. It's good that it we want to ambush them, we can easily. And it's good they didn't seee us. It's bad because their confidence is probably backed by the fact that they probably dominate this area, so much they don't need to worry. Still we should celebrate good fortune when it occurs. Nice spell Borun"

She turned and looked at the others

"We were very lucky then. Is there anything we can do to mean that we can carry on being lucky. We are leaving huge tracks at the moment. Do we care about that sort of thing?" She looked at Radagast who had earlier said that he didn't want to be followed "if so do we want to start leaving fewer tracks?"

"Yes, we've been careless... at least a bit," Radagast concurs with Tilaleria. "However, a few of us have the means to eradicate those tracks, perhaps even leave a false trail."

"From now on, we leave no tracks. Can any of you help with that? I'm more adept at dealing with animals."

Tilaleria nodded at Radagast "Could we not get regular groups of animals to trample across our trail? It would be 'notable' but we will need 'something' to mask the very obvious tracks of the wagon." she thought for a while, but decided that her small skills in magic were of little help, and that most of the others were better at woodscraft than herself, so left it in their capable hands.

Anira was quiet and thoughtful, absently stroking the sleeping squirrel on her shoulder.  There were many spells she could access but none that she knew would be helpful in regards to the wagon tracks.  "I have nothing to help I'm afraid," she finally replied apologetically.  "I would just suggest, if others have not the ability to hide the tracks, that we make haste.  They went a different direction and if we are lucky, they will not come this direction anytime soon."

"Ah, yes... a herd of stampeding squirrels would definitely hide our tracks," Radagast responds to Tilaleria humorously. "Out here, though, prairie dogs might be more likely."

"Seriously, without knowing what animals live on the plains here, any such action would be as much a red flag as our own tracks."

"Elmohtar and Tavaro might be able to hide our tracks, otherwise, Anira is probably correct. The column of riders isn't likely to return this way anytime soon. Besides, I don't know how far they might pursue us. How far does their domain extend?"

"Ride on. Lady Isile and Elmohtar can take turns keeping an eye on the column until we our well out of their probable range."


With that, Radagast climbs back up in Saxon's wagon. He climbs in the back this time, where he finds a fishing pole. He sits on the back and appears to start fishing out the back.

Elmohtar does as his master bids. He will certainly warn the others if the riders change direction, but he is also curious about these people and their goals.

If possible, he will try to eavesdrop on conversations, if there are any.

It's hard for Elmohtar to eavesdrop on the column of soldiers as they are prone to trying to shoot him out of the sky.

However, over the course of the next several hours, he manages to overhear a few snippets.

"Who knew the Brundings would have so much treasure!"
"Too bad their weapons were of such poor quality."
"Made them easy to kill."
"Yeah. Don't know that was such a good idea."
"Know whatcha mean. Leave 'em alive to gather more treasure for the next time we raid them!"
"Ha! Truth! Now there's nothing there."


"So where do you think Relonril will lead us next?"
"Dunno. He's feeling his way. Don't think he's strong enough to challenge Rohan."
"They are a myth! But the Westerlings have lots of treasure."
"Maybe. There could be a reason the Dark Lord never sought the treasure of those mountains."
"What? Dwarves? They just scurry off into their damned tunnels like rats!"


"Think he'll attack the giants?"
"Nah. No point. Wood giants ain't got much treasure. Now mountain giants! That's whole 'nother story!"
"I heard wood giants are peaceful. Not much challenge either."
"Well, yeah, until you get them riled. We could battle them and probably win, but it'd be hard to add them to our ranks."
"Truth there! We'd starve to death tryin' to feed them!"
"And then they'd eat us if they got hungry enough!"

============================================================================

The next two days pass uneventfully as the fellowship travels across the rolling grassy Plains of Rhovanion. There is little to no sign of other people having passed this way in a long time. An occasional small campsite is passed, but they are all months old.

At the end of the second day, you spot a forest ahead. It's still several hours travel away; you won't be able to reach it before sundown.

"How is the indicator for the Ent Wives doing" Tilaleria asked. Going through the forest was likely to slow them down a lot. She looked at the people that could fly "Any sign of an easy way round" she asked, then took a careful look at Saxon's wagon. She really couldn't see how they were going to get a wagon through a forest... maybe they could carry it or something... but that looked unlikely. Still Radagast's sledge looked an unlikely vehicle for going through a forest, and that didn't seem to have any problems. Perhaps Radagast had magics that would help...

"I think we'll have to worry about trying to get around tomorrow since I doubt we can even make it anywhere near the treeline before nightfall," Anira stated, shielding her eyes as she looked at the distance they still had to cover.  "We could press on until dark or even past dark if you wish then I can make the shelter for us again," she offered.

Elmohtar shares with the others the things he has learned from eavesdropping on the raiders. Perhaps his master, or one of his companions, would recognize the name of the raisers' leader, Relonril.

"Perhaps we should look for these tree giants? Their name suggest they might know something about the ent-wives, and in any case, if we can befriend them, they might help us with other information about this strange land."

"Need a way to find them and make friendly contact with them" Tilaleria observed mostly agreeing. Mind you she'd not had much luck inteacting with the Giant folk: in her experience they tended to side with the powers of Morgoth. Still Tree-ents were a good counter example, although they too needed to be approached with caution and respect.

"I have no way of easing the wagon's passage through a forest," Borun said, "but we could go up towards it anyway. When we are close, I could scout ahead into the forest and look for any potential danger."

"Relonril is it? Ha. Probably not his birth name," Radagast said. "It is Elven for 'Platinum Bandit'. I wonder if it was a name given to him, or one that he chose himself. Perhaps some day I shall find out."

"No matter. Even from here, the forest looks... strange. I know not how large it is, but I would hate to have to go around it just the same."

"A friendly giant--that is even more unusual. Perhaps you are right, Elmohtar. These giants may be able to give us information... if nothing else, about what to avoid!"

"Your magic house is eminently useful, Anira! With it, we do not need to worry about making camp. So let us spend another hour or so approaching the forest. Perhaps more details will present themselves to us."

"Yes, Borun, scouting might find us the giants we seek... if they don't swat us like insects."

"Alas, Tilaleria, the only friendly way to approach a giant that I ever heard of was to just jump in its mouth. Keeps them from getting annoyed with you."

He directs Saxon to continue on.

Radagast was being 'wise' again Tilaleria realised. That mostly mean she didn't know what she was saying. "Are you saying that that it is unlikely that we'll could make friendly contact" she asked as they continued onwards, although she still didn't really know what they were going to do with the wagon. Perhaps abandon it at the edge. She had to admit it had come a lot further than she had expected, perhaps one of the other mighty magic using people would have a plan for dealing with it "I have to say I am unhappy with the idea of mind raping by magic" she observed. She'd seen people get casual with the use of controlling and manipulative magics, and in her view that line of magic could lead to the Path of Morgoth faster than anything else "Still perhaps someone has a good idea how we might talk with them. Perhaps capture one. Perhaps do the 'I am tougher than you route'. I've found that often strength talks when working with Morgoth's less intellectual minions in a way that reason and compassion doesn't"

"Aye, Tilaleria, I do not like mind-probing other sentient beings, and I only do it--reluctantly--if the need is dire," Radagast replies to the Elven messenger.

"I was not suggesting that. Perhaps just a friendly gesture would suffice. I confess, I have never heard of these forest giants before."

"How say you, Tavaro? Are you familiar with large folk that live in the woods?"

"Oh I was more referring to those spells that dominate, control, or somehow make the target think you are their 'friend'" Tilaleria said. "I was once under the influence of such a spell, and I have to admit it is not an experience I wish to repeat. I too have not heard of forest giants other than Ents. I think it will be interesting to see if the Hand of Morgoth is upon them. Certainly it seems to upon the rest of this land. The stench of corruption is everywhere"

The forest continues to look stranger as you approach it. About an hour before sunset, you can now see that the trees are all growing in neat rows and columns. They appear to be 30 feet tall or so. Oddly, there is no forest detritus on the ground. No leaves, branches, logs, etc. The trunks are far enough apart that Saxon won't have any problem getting his wagon between the rows.

There don't appear to be branches, either, certainly now with leaves on them. The trees are comprised of large leaves.

It is Radagast that finally figures out what you are all seeing, though possible Saxon and Elmohtar do, too--tobacco plants! Giant tobacco plants!

"Well I know a dwarf, and not a few men, that would like the sight of this" Tilaleria commented. "I have to wonder if it smokes as well as the normal stuff" she examined the forest, and quirked a smile at Saxon "And that's just good news as well"

20:15, Today: Tilaleria rolled 28 using 1d20+18 with rolls of 10.  KNow Nature.

Tilaleria is finally able to put two and two together. Rhovanion is known for its fine wine and its... tobacco. What gets exported is the finished product, not the raw broadleaf, which these certainly are.

And the forest giants are probably voadkyn--wood giants, that cultivate the giant tobacco plants.

"Ahhh, wood giants! Now it makes sense," Arithal commented. "Still think we should try to find them and ask directions?"


The Entwives were still far, far away, as he understood it. It didn't seem likely that the Voadkyn would have any accurate information about where the Entwives were. Even if they did, it'd be suspect.

"Well I see a few futures" Tilaleria observed "They will either attack us on sight or not, then will know something about the Ent Wifes that passed through here thousands of years ago, or they won't"

"I am not a betting girl, but if I was, the change of them not attacking us on sight, and actually knowing something isn't something I would wager any significant sum of money of"

"I guess it boils down to 'do we mind possibly having to kill a lot of Wood Giants'. I personally bear them no ill will at the moment. If any of us feel they are sufficiently versed in Wood Giant lore to try the task of peacefully approaching them, I'd be happy to try. If not, I don't particularly want to leave the ground littered with their corpses as we head on"

"I am no diplomat," Borun commented, "but it may be worth asking them anyway, even with only a small chance of gaining useful information. If they attack us on sight, then they deserve what's coming to them."

"I wouldn't mind challenging a wood giant to a game of cards," Jak chimes in. "But I try to avoid combat of any kind if I can."

"I'm with the Messenger. I say push on. We're collecting valuable information on what lies in this area, though I must confess I don't see much use in that information."

"About the only thing the Voadkyn might tell us is what dangers might lie here in there tobacco forest and perhaps beyond."

"What say you, Old Man?" He directs the last at Radagast.

Anira had been quiet since Tilaleria had brought up mind rape, the insinuation that they would so blithely do something like that not setting well with her.  She could and would do something similar if necessary but she also wasn't going to argue with the woman though so instead had focused on other things.  She did nod in agreement with Borun and Jak, more than willing to continue and deal with problems as they continued on the trail.