Chapter 4.2: The Dim Journey to Orlane

The sun is nearly at its zenith when the party rides Rufus' wagon into the forest. At first the trees are sparse, with lots of bushes and shrubs in between, and the the sun is warm on your faces and arms with only intermittent shade. But before the hour is out, the trees have closed in on either side of the road and the sunlight is reduced to a greenish glow through the thick canopy that has formed above the Road. The world of brightness and light is behind you; a cool, dark tunnel stretches ahead into the distance.

The Dim Forest is aptly named.



Though the party has heard about the Jarl family, you have no idea where the crofters' homestead is, other than "nearly a day within the Dim." There is no one else on the Road now, and the undergrowth has crept its way in on either side, so that the Road is definitely narrower than it once was. Deep ruts show where past carts trundled on through winter rains; hardy plants have sprouted in the deeper tracks, and leaves have drifted onto the road in such numbers that you can hardly tell that a Road was even here. Other signs of life abound: creatures scurry and scamper through the bracken on either side, making an ongoing rhythm of small rustling, crashing noises. Leaves and small twigs fall from birds and squirrels moving through the treetops. It is as if the Road had been forgotten, people have vanished, and Nature has come to reclaim its land.

Forgotten? No. Thinking of the mystery of the cult and how traffic to and from the farming community of Orlane has dwindled to almost nothing, you realize that "abandoned" is the better word. People have vanished, and many of them involuntarily.

Eager to make progress, for the first few hours the heroes do not stop except for short breaks to relieve themselves or to rest the oxen. Not long after they enter the forest, they dine on the wagon, taking turns driving the oxen while others eat. Time rolls by as they continue through the deep shade of the trees.

Everyone else is content to let Dell go off by himself as the only one looking for a campsite; they've only known him briefly, but they already explicitly trust him. Surely he'll be fine on his own.

Dell finds the path that leads off to a little homestead with a large house and generous barn. He doesn't get too close, out of respect for not disturbing the occupants. Coming back, he also finds a campsite that his brother had used, a bit closer to Hochoch and into the trees to the south.

The campsite that Dell has found is nestled in among a stand of oaks south of the Road (*). Dell can tell by the ashes of the fire that only a couple of days have passed since it was last used; everyone takes that as an encouraging sign: this may be the place that the Dungeon Busters who came before them used.

Dell is able to confirm this within a few minutes, while Guilbert is helping settle the oxen and the adventurers are unloading their gear from the wagon: apparently from long years' habit, Chase had carved a Boundary Warden blaze on the trunks of two of the oaks. Reynald gathers wood for a fire as Olyena begins preparing Berthold's customary evening meal. She looks uncertainly at the motley crew gathering round her master, and whispers to the baronet: "While we are traveling with them, should I be preparing food for your companions too, my lord?"

* - For your edification, note that this is the campsite that the previous party set on Day 25.

The evening passes pleasantly enough and soon it is full dark. As everyone shares their observations of the trip so far and discusses preparations for their arrival at Orlane, each of you can roll a WIS (insight) check.