A meeting on the road

Expedition

The party reconvened at the tavern, accepting Oswulf's offer, much to the tavern keeper's chagrin. Alfgar awoke first in the very earliest morning, no surprise considering when he had passed out, and was already downstairs eating porridge when the others began waking. Auron found himself to be sharing the chamber with his fellow horned man Roderic, awaking the tiefling with a foul smell before heading to rouse the others. Roderic after clearing his nose, rolled over and went back to sleep. Leutgar woke easily enough, but when they entered to wake Oswulf, who was snoring like a chainsaw, they noted the extreme order with which he kept his belongings, but chose to leave him sleeping.

Auron, upon descending to the tap-room, asked the young man watching the bar about Oswulf the bard, he was informed that the bard had been awake, drinking and holding a party for most of the night, despite having drunk himself to unconsciousness at the same time as the much larger Alfgar... this further roused his suspicions.

They then left for Martel in the morning after breakfasting, the slightly pickled barbarian now suffering an Alfgar-sized hangover.

Auron continues his strange behaviour towards animals, even attempting to convince the party to walk hours north into the untracked forest after dark to reach a water source that “the birds” swore was there... fortunately the other party members were able to dissuade him and they made camp beside the road, making a small fire for comfort and setting the watch, though nothing happened during the night.

It was mid morning the next day when the more perceptive among them began hearing a commotion from up ahead, and hurrying forward, the found themselves looking on the merchant wagons they had come seeking already under attack by a small group of bandits.

The party engaged the bandits, driving them off despite them being joined by reinforcements, leading the bandits to run off into the woods, away from the tree which now burned like a torch, carrying their dead with them, though leaving the party with 3 prisoners.