Act 2, Scene 1: "A Flicker of Hope" (Main Game Thread)

[TristenC]

Dawn breaks and the groups begin to stir in the mid-spring air. Elden stretches, having recovered at least his energy from the near-death ordeal the night before.

The former captives begin preparing to move, and Earthaniel speaks quietly to a half-elven woman as they face Eastward; planning their trip towards Lesoger.

[Casters pick your spells for the day please. Still need a couple of rolls/choices made for some recent level-ups. There are guaranteed to be a few more quite soon, it is good to see the party growing ^_^ ]
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It is Dawn, the 23rd in the month of Hanali (also called the month of Emergene by Human reckoning).
The adventure began roughly 10 days ago.

Elden will be accompanying the majority of the captives, and will be ultimately destined for Thel-Jeers.
[7 total With Elden] will be going north (together) across the Great Pit and on to various places :
(3) will swing East to Thel Jeers 3 days by road
(2) will stop in Meadville. (3 -1/2 days by road swinging towards Thel Jeers)
(2) will continue north from Meadville into the forest nearby

If the party accompanies Elden and the others it will be about 7 days round trip, barring any unforseen delays

2 former captives are going south to Bordertown. (4 day round trip for any escorts)

1 iformer captive is going east to Lesoger (Jordek's home town), and will be accompanied by Earthaniel, who will be continuing on to find his tribe and try to convince some to return with him to retrieve Dillosel (Round trip to Lesoger will be 6 days.) Following Earthaniel would be an indeterminate amount of time, and probably not a good option.

The party could also decide not to escort the prisoners home, and in fact almost all of them are now partly armed and with at least one capable fighter (Elden or Earthaniel)

[Nocturno]

After preparing his prayers for the day.

"I would think Border Town would be our best bet to recruit anyone to help us save our friend." He looks around at the group recounting who is going where.

[Jenara]

"Earthaniel." Katten approaches the Elf, hugging him closely, her small muscular body pressed tightly against his, "Be safe, I... I can't leave her, I did it once. I shouldn't do it again." Speaking Elven she drops her head, and steps away from him. "I will go and seek aid. Signa, Signa will help us. Dran and I will go, we back soon."

[Nocturno]

"We will meet here. I will go to Bordertown to seek any aid as well."

[Squirrellord]

"Bordertown" Jordek announces. "I'm with the elf. It's the quickest route to possible allies." Shifting his focus to the Feliz, he continues "I hope you find Signa, I know he meant to meet up with us after that first raid on the goblins near the bridge but I fear he might have been delayed by the trolls he mentioned to the west." Looking at her until he catches her eye, he adds with a wink and a grin "Keep yourself and Dran safe eh? Chitt likes him"

While the rest of the group gets ready to depart, Jordek takes some time to pull Thaddeus to the side. Pulling a dagger from his belt, he attempts to give it to his old neighbor "Just in case. I need you to stay safe as well. I'll be coming back to Lesoger and when I do we'll share a pot of tea and swap some stories." With a haunted look on his visage, he continues speaking "I have to see if I can find out what happened to the other two. Perhaps make amends, perhaps not. I'm not sure." He takes a breath and holds it for a second, then releases it and his mood. Grinning abruptly, he begins rooting around in his pack and pulls out a small packet and hands it to Thaddeus "Tea! For when you get home. You can let me know what you think of my blend!"

[Jenara]

"You two. You stay safe." Rubbing her chin with her paw she grins. "Then I find him. He be safe." She hated leaving these people behind, but she was quicker alone.

[Nocturno]

Happy that the travelers should be mostly covered on their way home, Nocturno will give the Feliz a salute or handshake of sorts.

"No more Fire Shamans on your own, hey?" He will point to her arms.

[Chris1234]

"I, too, will go south, but will need to leave after half a day," says Linar after due thought. "I intend to rejoin you as you return."

[Jenara]

"I hope Return home help. I swim in the pool, no one watch but Dran. I be free." She actually takes his hand, squeezing it in her small paw, "You stay safe."

[TristenC]

Earthaniel hugs his friend in return. May the forest protect you, Ranger. We will meet again soon.

Jordek bids farewell to the Felis, and when Chitt is mentioned the tiny flying squirrel's head appears from the Gnome's shirt! Both Dran and Chitt's noses wiggle, testing the air and catching each others scent one more time before the group prepares to split up.
Jordek searches for Thaddeous, but realizes that the captives freed the previous day must have set off for their homes when the party returned to the goblin lair.

Earthaniel makes his farewells to the others and moves off East with the half-elven woman. Elden gives Nocturno's hand a vigorous shake, Thanks for looking out for me. I guess i'd better train harder. he grins. Next time, I won't let you outdo me. he says with a wink. As the rest say their goodbyes, the human martial artist sets off North with the bulk of the former captives. The tribal teen passes one last look back at Linar, giving the Drow a wave and a somewhat tenuous smile.

The pair traveling with the party introduce themselves as Sherfan Tallin (a half-elven man) and Dirk Woodfin (a human man of middling years).

===
Would anyone like to change up their spells for the day or is everyone keeping the same lineup?

Jen, we can continue Katten's line in the private thread

[Chris1234]

Linar waves back at the youth and, rarest of things, the drow smiles benevolently.
Clutching his holy symbol he mouths, "May Corellon protect you on your journeys through life."

Linar uses an illusion cantrip to show an image of a cresent moon being passed gently from Linar's gesturing hand towards the youth.
"Where'ere ye be, may Corellon go with thee!"

[TristenC]

The tribal youth stares at the illusory symbol as it approaches and then winks out as it reaches him.

Linar, Nocturno and Jordek Make their way Southward with the newly met Sherfan Tallin and Dirk Woodfin.

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Will the party take the road?
Marching order or any other special conditions for travel?

[Nocturno]

Nocturno will walk with the rescued. He will leave scouting to those not in clanky armour.

[Chris1234]

Linar scouts ahead and to the right, returning periodically to check with update the others (and, truth be told, to practise speaking the Common tongue.)

At one point he inquires after everyone's health [in Common]. And then repeats what he meant to say in elvish.

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Is anyone in this group significantly damaged?

[TristenC]

[Jordek is barely scratched, so only missing 1 hp. The captives are scraped up from their labors, but not injured, per se. Nocturno and Linar are at full health]


The Drow leads the way, having made the journey before and being more familiar with the woodlands the farther south they go. The group proceeds through the trees for several hours with no interruption, until around midday; though the thick canopy of trees and the cloudy sky make it difficult to be certain.

==
The road is due East from their current position, and likely the fastest way to reach Bordertown.

Linar's 'errand' lies not far to the West