12/19/2020

The Day Begins...
 
We are going to spend 14 gp to buy supplies for the were's and leave those supplies on the side of the road for them to pick up. This amounts to 2 weeks of supplies for the 5 of them. We also trade the dozen tonics to purchase livestock for them. A very large crow is waiting on the side of the road while we drop off the supplies. It does not speak to us. We also see a greying red-coated timberwolf (Hank) start picking up the supplies. Off to the races...
 
Approaching the Incantori Mountains, we see encampments full of equipment that I recognize as the equipment for building the railroad. There is a heavy water supply which the equipment requires. There are small merchants hocking their wares, underprepared engineers as their main customers. As our camp is getting set up, I follow along with Melfina in reconnoitering the encampment, in the interest of talking to the tradesfolk present. ~6PM so there is 30-45 min of sun left. Melfina and I are looking for different things amongst the camp, she for dangers, and me for folks to talk to, foreman and the like, to gather intel. Note: the trees are different here, more ancient. My PER allows me to see workers, not tradesmen; low-level folk at first. There are some craftsmen spotted upon prolonged observation, and I identify a gnomish guy who seems to be carrying blueprints. I approach the gnome and begin to talk to him, trying to ask questions. I assist him in carrying his load back to his camp. People do seem to get out of his way. His name is Jericho Tinkerbottom, and works for Locomotion. He's the on-site foreman. We go to the work planning tent, and I fill him in on what has happened back in the city, with Elon. Two other gnomes and a human are inside. He initially is shocked, then angry because Elon was supposed to be out there way earlier and now Jericho has to deal with all of this shit. I ask him about the dragonborn, which he has seen none of, because he's busy as shit. There is some sort of security (Isabelle, an intern, can maybe point us there). The team has been held up here for a few days because of an issue at the worksite, maybe with a dragon. He thinks it may just be goblins or pissed-off elves instead. Jericho calls the human in the tent to go find Isabelle.
 
Melfina is talking to a male person named Daisy, and asking questions about our quarry. At some point Spike bites him. It doesn't go well, but Melfina does learn something.
 
As the sun goes down, I'm getting drunkish. Rosy-cheeked Isabelle comes into the tent, in a merry mood. Jericho makes a PLB sound. She offers to lead me to the Head of Security, at a brisk pace. Head to a dour tent, greeted by a stern half-orc woman. Her name is Grokna, HeadSec. I send Isabelle off to hang out with Melfina. I ask her about the dragonborn. 5 nights ago, a pale HUMAN man came through, who was standoffish and kept himself apart. I get all that I can from her, and head back to share the information.
 
Melfina is going to ask some more questions. The person is shady and hiding something. We all head back and debrief. Rorin and I are on first watch. There are not the same woodland noises, but we do hear continuous movement from the other camp near the end of our shift. On to second shift, Melfina and Madra. Before third shift, we pause for me. Sleep has come easier to me than it has since leaving the city, but I'm still out-of-sorts. The noise of the nearby encampment reminds me of home. I have an urge to leave, to escape, an oppressive force around me. A pale white fright approaches me, appearing as a single one of my spirit guardians. It's eyes are voids into endless reality. It prompts me to follow, down shifting, turning, endless forest paths. There is a gap, a way out! I see the familiar walls of my city. The world fast-forwards around me and I am before the statue of Lady Constance. I stare upon her, and she shifts, and speaks to me. "You have wandered far, my dearest. I can see the wilderness has taken to you. I am still with you, even out there in the wilds. Your path may lead you to question your faith, and my history may not be perfectly clean. I see the shadow in the halls of my temple, a shadow I know. Take care with who you trust. You will be a good source in the future. Until you come back to my domain, know that your home is safe and in good order. (the shop flashes before me, and seems well-off) Just be careful..." I feel more rested than I have in ages. I take so much solace in the care of My Lady. Out in the wilds, I have been adrift, without toilet paper. 3rd shift we come back and roll for initiative. Druss hears some chittering noises. Gnolls are afoot. We absolutely demolish them. Rorin, Madra, and I go check on the main camp. Grokna has also savagely murdered some gnolls. She expresses concern that these gnolls are so ragged, and wonders that there may be something wrong in the woods, then takes her leave.
 
We have a short rest with breakfast and head out. As we exit the camp, we can see it goes on a lot longer than we thought it would. It seems to be a network of camp burbs all sort of connected loosely. About a half-day of travel in, and we reach the end of this network. Hailed by some merchants, only Druss stops to talk to them. They mention that they were told not to go forward any more until the soldiers returned, as there were rumors of a dragon ahead. The road ahead of us is completely vacant. The forest and such is preternaturally quiet. Ominous. End the days travel about 4 hours from the actual work site. I again struggle to try to put up my tent. Rorin and I are on first watch again, and it is super duper hella quiet. The night feels gross and icky and cold. Our watch is uneventful. The girls go second again. They eventually hear the soft crunching of leaves and quiet footsteps. A familiar female hooded figure sits down at the fire with them. It is the merchant girl that Melfina spoke with earlier. She claims to have many names, and Melfina sees some Elvish ears peaking out of the hood. She calls herself Evangela at this point. She's sure that there isn't a dragon, and thinks it is probably hiding in a lake in the mountains. It is an aquatic creature for sure. She says to be quick with our swords. The area has been inhospitable to humanoids a long time, so creatures have flourished here which otherwise would not have been able. She reveals herself to be an associate of the Undertow. She moves her hand and shapes the fire into a multi-headed lizard with no wings, a hydra. She shifts it again into a tower with a massive peak, nearly hidden in the mountains around it. It shifts another time, into a mountain pass that has been damaged or altered, akin to demolition work. She waves again and the imagery disappears. Druss is up for third shift. A female figure sits down with him as well. She seems to know Druss and moreso Max, this time giving the name Lilith.
 
Morning time brings another breakfast. About a half-day of travel to get to the work site. It's getting colder the more we make it into the mountain area proper. We can hear the operation at work from a good bit out. We then see a sprawling encampment, populated sparsely by about a dozen people. They go defensive as we approach until they note our humanoid appearance, and then they return to their jobs. Firecrotch approaches us and asks about Elon and the Marquis. Elon is here? And alive? SUS. We can certainly see a figure approaching that looks to be Elon.
 
END SESSION