6. The Stone Wood

[tumblingdice]

Day 16, Loshdain, Thaumont 16th, Dymrak Forest, dawn

A steady rain snaps you, grudgingly, out of the best night's sleep you can remember. A harsh wind whistles through the trees, and you're forced to huddle over a cold breakfast with no fire. Your horses slop up the soaked oats you left out dry minutes before. You find no pleasant distractions to keep you from investigating the valley, and its strange petrified forest right away.

Facing south, you can see that the Stone Wood extends as far as you can see to your left (east). You can't be sure from your present location, but it seems to continue to your right (west) for another mile or so. One thing you can be sure of, however, is that you don't see any indication of a petrified forest on Vlack the dead hobgoblin's map.

Yet, somehow, here it is.

Actions?

[greyarea]

Tret, rogue

If we're in, we're in deep. Let's head west. I'll take the van.

[tumblingdice]

Tret, are you trying to go around the forest, or into it?

[greyarea]

Tret, rogue

Let's head right in.

[kipper]

Renardius (Cleric)

Renardius nods approvingly at Tret's boldness.

[badams30]

Athelstan - Fighter

Athelstan also nods in approval of Tret's plan.
He reverses his cloak so that the bright blue and duchal crest are prominently visible on the back, and he adjusts his gear, finally departing into the wood with the others.
He mumbles as they enter "No more lurking about in the dark, it's time to go toe to toe with whomever is behind this."

OOC: Of course there's no proof that heading in here will catch the culprits either, but to Athelstan's small brain, this is better than digging through goblin poop and junk in their lairs...

[tumblingdice]

Following Tret's lead, you enter the Stone Wood. This petrified forest is an eerie and silent place, with little or no color to relieve the gray stone of the stiff, blighted trees and undergrowth. The trees were transformed while in full leaf, and now form a dense, opaque canopy which draws a shadowy, twilight gloom over the forest floor. Occasional columns of rainwater drip on to the forest floor from holes in the foliage above, collecting in shallow pools created over the centuries by erosion.

The only living things here are patches of pale moss and lichen on the tree-trunks and limp, web-like creepers hanging like shrouds from the branches. Occasionally, you catch sight in the dim light of what you think is a deer, or a fox, or even a boar. The creatures stand utterly still, though, and upon closer inspection, you realize that they are as lifeless as the trees.

You manage to keep control of your horses, though not without effort. Occasionally, you need to dismount and smash through petrified undergrowth with your weapons in order to continue. After about half an hour, you come upon what appears to be a trail. To your left it heads southeast, winding further into the forest. To your right, it goes northwest, back toward the edge of the wood.

Actions?

[greyarea]

Tret, rogue

Tret follows the trail southeast, deeper into the forest. He motions to the others to follow.

[kipper]

Renardius (Cleric)

Renardius follows, a grim expression on his face.

[badams30]

Athelstan

Athelstan follows along as well, keeping a watchful eye as he goes...