"I will ascend, that is if you can promise me a favor. Just a small something to let my soul rest in peace. When you make it back to Smith's Gambit perform that final song for my friend Carlton. Let it hopefully put his soul in peace too. As for me, I lived a good long life with one of the best buddies I could have asked for. Let him know that for me too."

Elisar nodded. “It would be my honour. I will play the song for your friend, Carlton, and will tell him that you are happy and free. And afterwards we will drink until dawn, and he can tell us stories to celebrate your life. Shall I take your lute back to him too? It is too fine to allow nature to simply reclaim it here.”

"My lute is a fine item indeed. It is magical too, though only towards animals. I agree its journey should not end here. Take it as payment from me for doing such a great final deed in my honor and with that I do believe I hear the heavens calling me. Farewell my friends and safe travels." With that Finnious bowed a mighty bow and lifted up higher turning even more transparent as he does until at last he seems to vanish over the feather tree.

Izayah couldn't resist. He rolled his eyes over his shoulder, glancing back at the group. "Oh, trust me, it'd be harder t'get Elisar NOT t'play that song. He had a hand in creatin' it so he'll be MORE'n happy t'perform it." Small pause. "Repeatedly."

He then let out a chuckle and winked at Elisar to show he was partially joking. Then he went to watching out for trouble.

Having remained quiet for this exchange, Tiria can be seen looking up the tree with a look of longing before it turns to one of planning and finally resolve.

The bard's spirit now gone, she notes, "There is still some light, shall we start heading back to the Smith's Gambit?"

Elisar watched as the spirit ascended. "Safe travels, Master Finestar! May the gods guide you on your journey!" Then, as an afterthought he whispered. [Language unknown: "Derce avewitast, whiromtio for wil andiv trenfo laos li e osilis has proillect."]

Once it was out of sight he picked up the lute and held it close. He had wondered if it was indeed magical, and now was curious to find out what it actually did.

When Tiria spoke he nodded. "Aye, I guess we can make some progress before setting up camp for the night."

As the spirit ascends and the group makes to head back, Tusk gathers up his belongings and heads off with them.

With the body now buried and the spirit moved on the group took a look at the sun. It was on the last stretch of the day, but the party decided to push onward just a little further in hopes of making their travel back to Smith's Gambit that much swifter. Try as they might though the group only made it part of the way back to the shore. They would have to travel more the next day to come out of the Rimewood and see their way home to Smith's Gambit. The group was able to make camp under a familiar tree they had come across earlier and while it was thicker that a bunch of the other trees it was still nowhere near as big as the "Pillar of the World".

Izayah lead them for as long as it seemed like they had enough light, then called a halt. "We should set up camp." He tried to find something defensible, and under the tree was about as good as it was going to get.

"I'll take middle watch. Wake me in a few hours." He set up his sleeping arrangements and nodded off pretty quickly. It had been a long day.

After a long day of traveling and that bardic excitement, Tusk sets up his tent, and then settles down at the outside edge of their camp.

"I'll take first watch."

"We will watch second, then."

“I will take the dawn watch,” Elisar stated simply. He was curious to know more about his newly acquired lute. Once camp had been established and he had eaten some food he settled down on the ground, sitting crossed legged with the lute in his lap. For a good hour he at with his eyes closed, humming gently to himself while his hands explored every inch of the musical instrument.

Tiria nods and moves about to gather enough food from the wild to fill their bellies for the cold night ahead. Having done so she returns to their camp site to build the fire enough for cooking.

With their long day now coming to an end the group settled into their positions for the night. They each took comfort in doing their nightly routine then set about watch as the night grew dark. The moon was bright in the sky with few clouds to be seen. Elisar set himself to the task of examining the lute while Tusk sets himself up at the edge of camp awaiting whatever may come, but as the night grew on nothing ever did. Soon it was time to wake the next guard for watch duty, Irsoneic. With senses keen to their surroundings, Irsoneic took his position and paid close attention for his time on watch. Ambience from the forest could be heard, but nothing out of the ordinary. Once again the watch ended with no sign of any danger and it came time for the next one. Izayah was the next to be awoken and take place for his watch. The night drew on now nearing early morning, but still no signs of any danger. At last the final watch came time to take place and Elisar had volunteered for just the task. Elisar sat peacefully waiting just as the others had and just like the others nothing seemed to approach. Through out the night Tiria had been meditating keeping aware of the surroundings that she could. All went well. The night slowly made its transformation into morning with the light of the sun just peeking over the horizon coloring the sky with blues and purples hidden ever so slightly behind the clouds that lazed across it. After a peaceful night the morning had finally arrived and it was time to wake up once again.

Izayah was surprised that nothing had come after them by the tree nor during the night's rest. The Wood was being...kind? Respectful? Just lulling them in to a false sense of security? He woke and stretched, ate a small breakfast and then cleaned up himself and gathered his gear up.

"Right. Let's try t'make it back t'town without gettin' eaten, an' let our employer know the mixed news, yes?"

"Yes, we should fill our bellies and be ready for the long trek back. It was a queerly quiet night so I feel a little paranoid that something is happening out there," Tiria agrees with an almost foreboding tone, looking a little troubled.

As his companions rose and broke their fast, Elisar joined them, reporting that his dawn patrols had seen nothing of interest. "Quiet indeed, as peaceful as the sun's rays peeking through the soft branches overhead."

He ate some trail biscuits and hard cheese, washing it down with some fresh spring water. A hot breakfast would have been nice, but it was best to get on the path sooner rather than later. Shortly he was ready to depart, his belongings packed away in his magical bag.

As he waited for the others to be ready he spoke gently to Tiria, guessing that she would find his news of interest. "In my musings last night and this morning I discovered something quite fascinating." He held up his newly acquired instrument. "This lute is indeed magical, and more so that our departed friend, Finnious realised. It does have the power to charm common beasts as he assumed, but will also enhance the power of any magick tricks that I may try. A most useful item indeed, in the hands of own skilled in its use. This expedition has certainly been very rewarding."

Tusk stirs from his sleep, his joints protesting profusely at the cold. As quickly as he is able, he helps break camp and heads off with the others.

He munches his rations along the way. If they're going to be dull, there's no sense sitting around pretending to enjoy them.

"Onward we go, yes?"

Izayah began to lead the way back towards what passed for civilization around these parts, and was their home.

In response to Elisar's commentary on the lute Tiria says, "If it is able to enhance your ability to cast magic then the dead man's gift to you is quite valuable indeed. Just remember the lesson of Finnious's foolishness; a song might cost your life and it is dangerous to venture into the wilds alone. [Language unknown: M ntles vir me aisssiasee a larta ou acasic e neus andthuica]. Be mindful of who knows you possess such a thing, power invites conflict."

She gently pats the man on the cheek, momentarily seeming much older and more tired than a moment ago but then it passes.

"Onward, as you say Irsoneic, let Aesiah Haemadryll lead our return."

Led by Izayah the group gets underway back thru the Rimewood towards the shore. It feels as though little time passes before the group can start to see water beyond the trees off far in the distance. Hope of returning to Smith's Gambit seems to brighten up the group as they near the edge of the forest.

To Tiria's words of advice he nodded. "Tis true, alas, some men do desire more power than is good for them. Maybe being circumspect is a wise choice."

He kept us a brisk pace as they trekked through the forest. He did his best to follow the trail, but truth was he was reliant on Izayah's unerring sense of direction. Luckily he trusted the fellow, he had proved himself to be a brave warrior and good friend in their adventures together.

When he saw the blue of the water he smiled and gestured. "The sea! That is a welcome sight, we must be close to Smith's Gambit now!" He quickened his pace as they approached the forest's edge, the thought of a hot bath and hot meal (not to mention a hot companion to share them with) re-energised him. He wanted to sing, but restrained himself this time, instead singing a tune within his own head, his feet keeping pace with the lively beat of the song.

Izayah stopped suddenly, eyes narrowing, a frown sliding on to his face. He looked around slowly, as if looking for an ambush about. Then he moved forward, but off a bit from a direct line to Smith's Gambit.

He drew closer to a tree and slowed. Then he crouched down and peered at...something. "Somethin' here. Buried." He began trying to dig it up.

Izayah couched down before one of the medium sized trees and started to dig away the snow. As he did this eventually he and the group could see the buried item looked to be a small brown and silver chest.