Gaelin had visibly wilted when her earlier attempts didn't result in any conversations, and had returned to picking at her bread loaf.  When the woman speaks she once again brightens and response quickly.
"I, myself, am on a journey of personal tests of my spiritual and physical growth.  At least that is what my Sensai told me when he strongly suggested I leave the monastery and travel the earth on my own.  It's quite unusual for a the Sensai to determine a disciple has nothing further to learn at the monastery having been there for as few month as I, but, well, I am a very smart person.  I do miss my fellow disciples, we had such wonderful conversations and discussions that lasted for hours on end.  I do hope you are wrong about more joining us, this whole traveling on my own is quite lonely and I would thoroughly enjoy having more people to talk with.  Even about their exceedingly trivial lives.  It is not their fault their lives are boring and they are mired in ignorance."

The woman replies, "Yes others lives are quite trivial aren't they. Here I have a started an Inn out in the middle of nowhere and am having troubles but like you said trivial. I have a roof over my head and I can feed myself. What about these other fine folks here do you think any of them would be willing to travel with you? Seems like everyone is heading North at the moment."

Fenlen snaps out of his reverie for a moment when hearing the woman's question. Seeing an opportunity to hear some interesting tales from the taverngoers, and share some of his own, he joins the conversation.

"Elves are collectors of experiences. Memories. I've traveled from Evermeet to get here. I intend to wander the world of humans for a time, to see what it has to show me. I'm 'going in the direction the wind blows,' as they say."

Gaius finishes his prayer, stands up and heads over to Gaelin.

"I too am headed North. When are looking to leave? Should our timelines cross I would be honored to accompany you North."

"I am far more interested in traveling in the company of such remarkable companions than any specific departure time frame.  I am traveling with a destiny, not a destination, as my Sensai said before I departed the monastery.  Maybe we can take some of this quite passable bread for eating on the road.  Since it already tastes stale, spending days in a backpack will not decrease our enjoyment any."  Gaelin replies with exuberant hand gestures and accidentally hit the woman with a small piece of bread that flies off of her loaf.  It is obvious that she can barely contain her excitement at having someone to talk to for the long, long miles ahead.

If you are all going north, i'd be obliged to travel along with you all. numbers are better in lands I haven't been in, but i hear there is good fishing, and plentiful nature.

Fenlen raises his hand and calls out, "If you've need of company and a comrade-in-arms, I served in Evermeet's defenses for some time. I can be of use to you."

He stands up, putting his hand on the shoulder of a patron sitting next to him. "I think this will be exciting. I was looking for something to keep me busy for a while. We elves live a long time, you know."

Aye, even longer than us, but i'm always glad to have company, as long as yea know how to keep quiet when a line is cast

Morbek then lets out a large boisterous laugh

Chomski raises his eyes from his tankard to size up the group forming around Gaelin.

"Headed north, you say? I've been meaning to check out my brother's lab at the university near Neverwinter. I suppose this is as good an excuse as any to finally make the trek. Count me in."

"Evermeet?"  Gaelin squeaks as she jumps to her feet.  "I've never met anyone who has actually been to Evermeet before.  My parents plan to go there right before they die, but did not have any details to share on the kingdom itself.  You must tell me everything.  They said my uncle moved to Evermeet when I was young, turns out he actually moved to Baulder's Gate and became a bard, much to their embarrassment.  I was never allowed to take harp lessons after he left.  Thanks uncle."

As our party swaps stories not too late into the evening one by one they find a warm corner to hole up and drift off to sleep.

When morning arises there is a small spread of meat, cheeses, ale and breads. The small band eats and packs up some of the food for the road.

As they step out into the day they find it gloomy and it appears to get thicker to the North.

They all start the trek together toward Neverwinter. They are not on the road long when the fog becomes thick and it is difficult to see very far around them. However those that are familiar with the area seem to think they have traveled farther than where they expect the Triboar Trail should be.

You press on and start to see black pools of water standing like dark mirrors in and around the muddy roadway. Giant trees loom on both sides of the road, their branches clawing at the mist. There shouldn't be trees on the western side of the road should there?

You press on into the fog as it spills out of the forest to swallow up the road behind you. Ahead, jutting from the impenetrable woods on both sides of the road, are high stone buttresses looming gray in the fog. Huge iron gates hang on the stonework. Dew clings with cold tenacity to the rusted bars. Two headless statues of armed guardians flank the gate, their heads now lying among the weeds at their feet. They greet you only with silence. You know for sure there are not supposed to be any structures of this type here on the High Road.


This message was last edited by the GM at 02:28, Wed 08 July 2020.

I'd like to roll perception to see if I see anything moving, or any religious runes.
OOC: 1d20+1 (17)

Gaius approaches the huge gate to take a closer look there is a terrible screeching groaning sound. You all grab your weapons in anticipation of some horrible creature about to bound from the fog but realize it is the hinges of the huge gate as it starts to swing open on their own.

You stand there in disbelief and look through the open portal. There appears to be more road with encroaching trees and thick fog as your companion on the other side.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:24, Wed 08 July 2020.

"How strange," Fenlen says, looking at the statues. "Is it normal for humans to decapitate their own statues?" He looks at the gates in the distance, feeling uneasy.

Gaelin relaxes after realizing it was just the gate, peeks her head out from behind her companions and lowers her spear.  "Humans seem to do all sorts of random things.  But whoever decided to take these heads off of these particular statues was very determined.  They also seem to have built a keep in the middle of the road."  She says quietly.  Then bites her lower lip.  "Should we go in?  Someone, thing, has issued us an invitation."  She says, not moving any closer to the gate.

Gaius, realizing everyone's hesitation tells the group to move forward and moves to the gates while keeping a watchful eye for traps and creatures.

OOC: Perception roll - 1d20+1 - 9

The Group moves forward. AS you move through the gates towering trees, whose tops are lost in heavy gray mist, block out all but a death-gray light. The tree trunks are unnaturally close to one another, and the woods have the silence of a forgotten grave, yet exude the feeling of an unvoiced scream. Even though there is silence around you you feel as though the noise you make is amplified for anything that may be listening.

As you continue down the muddied and gloomy road you catch the scent of death on the air. It is close and seems to be coming from the right hand side of the road.

Morbek falls in line with the party, hand on his scimitar, shield strapped to his arm. he looks a the trees  and forest, wondering if all is well out there.

"Hrm, seams like something is odd here"


OOC: nature check (examine the forest in general)
1d20 + 3 = 14

Morbek peers off in through the trees. He catches a glimpse of crows fluttering and fighting over something in the underbrush perhaps that is where the smell is coming from. Off in the distance you hear the howl of a wolf. You also feel as if the fog is pushing in on you and that the shadows are watching.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:09, Thu 09 July 2020.

With the scent of death on the right side of the track, Gaelin moves as far left as the trail will allow and grips her spear nervously.  "T-T-T-This r-r-reminds me of a book I o-o-once read."  she says uncharacteristically quietly.  She then stops abruptly. "Wait now that I think about it, that book was actually about dolphins.".  Then she catches up with the group.

OoC;  Roll(1d20)+2: 1,+2 Total:3 - History check

In reply to Gaelin Morfir (msg # 28):

"i like dolphins, they tell you where the big fish are"

As Chompski bounds up to the group cursing his tiny legs, he makes a perception check (followed by an investigation after that shitty roll) and nocks his slingshot while aiming to the right of the group.

"Smart creatures, those dolphins. They'll surely outlive us 'higher beings' one day."

OOC: perception 1d20+3 (6), investigation 1d20+6 (14)
This message was last edited by the player at 00:22, Thu 09 July 2020.

Gaelin turns to the Dwarf, as if to launch into a long explanation of the unique species detailed in the tome.  However, after she opens her mouth to talk, she quickly shuts it and turns back to the trail.  The oppressive silence of the alien forest is too much for her to break even for a discussion of rare sea mammals.

Chompski believes that whatever the stench is it is coming from where the crows are fighting and fluttering about.

"It's just a hunch, but I'm gonna guess that stench coming from where those crows are isn't a coincidence. Do we dare see what recently died, or continue down the path?"