Re: Chapter 8: The Road to Skull Gorge
Jorr takes his leave of the adventurers, raising his hand in farewell when he draws some distance away, before finally disappearing off the side of the trail into the woods.
Based on the woodman's estimate, it would take two days of hard travel to reach the Rhest Trail, assuming they stuck to the Old Forest Road...which Jorr strongly recommended as it would be quite difficult to become lost if they strayed any distance from the well marked trail. So, the adventurers begin their trek through the Witchwood, bound east toward more civilized lands and the city of Brindol.
At some point during their first day of travel, the party spots a wyvern gliding across the sky, streaking from north to south. Presumably, the adventurers take cover beneath trees and watch from behind cover. The wyvern is some distance away and doesn't take notice of the party, eventually disappearing out of sight.
Eventually, the sun begins to set and the party finds a suitable spot to make camp for the night. Having established watch rotations already, the party settles into their camp routine. The night passes uneventfully.
The party sets out early the next morning, road weary and dirty from travel. This time of year is merciless in these parts and this is perhaps one of the warmest, muggiest summers in recent memory. In short, it is all the party can do to keep from becoming overheated. Fortunately, numerous creaks and streams run through the woods, so there is little risk of dehydration, but it is miserable nonetheless.
The second day of travel is relatively uneventful, save for a dark column of smoke rising up from the distant southwest. Previously, the smoke had been spotted in the west-northwest. To the southwest lies Drellin's Ferry...
There is nothing the adventurers can do about it now, so they trudge forward along the Old Forest Road, make camp in the evening, and wake the next day to begin travel anew.
Early on the third day, the adventurers break out of the forest into scrubby rolling hills. Soon, they come to an intersection with another trail, this one still having cobblestones here or there, though the road is in poor shape. This must be the Rhest Trail.
Leaving the Old Forest Road behind, the party sets out on the Rhest Trail and arrives, tired and weary, at the large village of Witchcross as the sun is setting. Similar to other villages in the vale, Witchcross is little more than a cluster of buildings around a central market with little defensive fortifications to speak of.
It is early evening when the adventurers arrive at Witchcross and the few people they see out and about do not appear to be in any heightened state of alert. Perhaps they are unaware of the impending peril that is to come their way.