Zork smiles, he knows he has kept the fey at bay with his preparation. Their useless leaves has done nothing but given him a nice forest camouflage.
"Don't worry Grizzly, they won't hurt you, its me they are after, but I will prove them to be their most defiant victim yet." He says to Grizzly while stroking his neck.
Zork follows the group, not taking any initiative at the moment.
Mykael sits mounted on the back of Patoot casually looking about as the party explores. When making camp Mykael tends to follow the same routine each evening: setting up his bedroll and sleeping area, maintaining his weapons and gear, practicing his fighting techniques, then finishing the day with prayer and reading the Acts. On watch he sharpens his sword, gets up occasionally to walk the perimeter of the camp and check on the other members of the party, and contemplates the Acts of Iomedae that he had read earlier.
The second day passes and you exit the forest after an hour. You thoroughly explore the plains with no encounters. Finally the weather seems to have cleared as no rain falls and the clouds gain a lighter tone.
Sunday 26 Desnus
The morning begins with no visitations in the night. Exploration of the plains continues and you come across the grove with the cairn again. Is anyone bothering to approach it considering you've already been there and recorded it?
Over the course of the time Zork plays the role of 'Beastmaster' doing more talking to his horse and dog than he does with everyone else. He does check in with what is happening with the party but he still does not take up a significant roll or voice in the direction as yet.
You pass by the grove, it seems to be correctly placed, and finish the topmost north west corner of your map, swinging around south.
Moonday 27 Desnus
The swathe of grasslands you were instructed to explore here is large, about 1000 square miles, and you've finishes about half by the end of this warm day. You can see the boundary of the forest to the east and south, with more grasslands to the west, outside of the boundary placed by Restov.
Toilday 28 Desnus
This clear and warm day you explore more plains up to the edge of the forest south of you, then following the treeline eastwards.
Wealday 29 Desnus
During the night, with Mykael on middle watch, it rains again. At Theaton's warning everyone had tents up and is relieved as they wake up dry. Theaton believes that it will also rain at midday this day and more tomorrow, with a whole day of rain the day after.
Today you venture a little ways into the forest, on the opposite bank of a river Theaton and Zork explored. The river itself gives of sulfurous vapors, earning it the name Skunk River.
You explore up to the source of the river, a bubbling pond with steam rising off it. You get used to the volcanic stench and it's normal for a hot spring like this. The skeletons of the giant frogs Theaton and Zork fought before are strewn across one edge of the pool and there's no evidence of further activity recently.
Luckily whatever killed those is probably long gone and the scavengers as well. But I do have a question, why is it they employed a group of skilled fighters and mages to map these lands? Wouldn't it have just been easier to send a small contingent of men to deal with the bandit threat and then just hire a team of surveyors?
Theaton says, "Yes it may have been easier but would it have been cheaper. Plus sometimes hiring out to adventures is much easier and cheaper in the long run. As far as the ones who killed these frogs well you are looking at the killers", he indicates Zork and himself". Now lets keep going.