3. Wyvern Tor

Boggart smiles upon seeing Alex up and about. Puck weaves his luminous form around the man's legs in a rambunctious greeting.

"Good morning, friend. I see that rest has treated you kindly, and I as well. Should we call on the Tezrins before we depart? We may need to ask to borrow a mule in addition to Gertrude, now that I think about it."

"I wonder how long they will take to come back." says Igrem to his companion, eagerly eating the food Redhawk was able to bring back after having cooked it.

"I hope nothing will happen to them, but, should that happen, we must decide how long we should wait before being on the move ourselves. What do you think?"

Absolutely, Boggart, we should tell the Tezrins and then head right back to our friends.

Their course decided, Boggart heads to the main house and knocks on the door in search of Narth to inform him of developments and petition to borrow a mule for use in owlbear carcass transport.

Boggart, you find Narth already awake and beginning another day's work around the farm. The old merchant-turned-farmer listens intently as you and Alex quickly bring him up to date: the owlbear, the battle, the split in the party, and the need to recover the carcass.

Though visibly impressed by the feat, his thoughts never stray far from Joren. Even so, he agrees that there is little more his family can safely do for the moment. Until you return with better information, any attempt to organize a search would likely end in needless bloodshed.

He decides to wait another day or two, trusting your company to uncover what happened before Tomas forces the neighboring farmers into rash action.

When you ask about transporting the owlbear, Narth readily agrees. He lends you one of the farm's mules without hesitation, explaining that you can use it alongside Gertrude to haul the carcass back here. Once the owlbear has been brought to the farm, the borrowed mule can remain with the Tezrins while you continue on to Phandalin with only your own wagon and Gertrude.

---

Taking a swig of water to wash down the food he is eating he look Igrem."I would say by at least mid-day tomorrow. I hope they are back sooner. I have the traps out. Maybe I should gather some dry sticks to put along any paths or game trails so we might hear a snap. Sorta like an early warning system."

Igrem nods. "Yes, we should do that. Can I be of any help?"

"I think it best if you stay with the kill just in case. It won't take me long and I won't be far so if the need arise yell for me." Redhawk will then move off to complete the task. Thinking to himself I forgot my bells a string for trips. I will have to remember those when we go back to town.

"Thank you again, master Tezrin," Boggart says and bows. The pair of adventurers gather their things and hitch Gertrude and Daisy (the borrowed mule) to the cart, departing with haste back the way they came. Hopefully, the return trip will be free of complication...

Alex and Boggart, you gather your belongings, harness Gertrude and Daisy to the wagon, and set off at a steady pace toward the eastern hills.

The return journey proves far easier than the previous evening's forced march.

---

Afternoon, 30th of Ches
Igrem and Redhawk, your long vigil finally comes to an end. From your concealed position, you spot the familiar wagon cresting the rocky rise. Gertrude plods faithfully at the harness, while a second mule walks beside her, pulling its share of the load.

A few moments later, Alex and Boggart emerge on foot.

The preserved owlbear lies untouched by scavengers or strangers. For the first time since yesterday afternoon, the company is together again.

"Well, folks, it seems we only have a few days grace from the Tezrins, but we need those days to shlep the carcass to Phandalin if we want to maximize the return on our near mortal investment, no?"

"Welcome back. Sounds good to me let's load up and move out. Or shall we stay here tonight and move out in the morning. Or could we make it back to the farm today and move out in the morning?"

Boggart, Igrem, you can:
1. Advance halfway (1 hex) and camp closer to the farm. This will reduce the total travel time without requiring a forced march.
2. Stay here for one shift (doing something else), camp, and leave in the morning. This will allow you to use your traps and knowledge of the terrain from yesterday.
3. Make a forced march through the night and the wilderness and reach Narth's farm at night.

"I would vote we stay hear tonight . I have secured this place pretty well and can put out a couple more snares if need be. We still have moose to eat and things that I have foraged."

"Sounds good to me." says Igrem. He chuckles: "It seems I am getting used to this kind of life!"

The late afternoon is yours to spend as you wish. The owlbear remains safely preserved by Igrem's magic, and the traps Redhawk placed yesterday still guard the approaches.

Perhaps you might search the surrounding hills for useful resources, inspect or prepare equipment, share stories around a small fire, or simply rest after the ordeal.

Once the shift is over, you can make camp and settle in for the night. I guess the party follows its usual watch order, with Igrem taking first watch, followed by the others in their customary rotation, right?

"I'll take first watch, then. I'd like to get an early start tomorrow; I'm anxious to see this task done," Boggart says.

Redhawk will take it easy, sharpen his sword, dagger, arrow heads and rest up. He and Igrem had a long night the night before with just the two of them. He will take which ever watch the others don't want.

Igrem catches up with his companion when they come back, and spends his time between studying and checking the status of the beast's remains. When the night is over, he is ready to go early, eager to finally leave this place!

Alex takes the midnight watch, as is his wont. The night and half a day he spent in the Tezrin's eiderdown was remarkably refreshing. Moreover, the seriousness of the encounter with the owlbear, and the closeness he came to Tymora's loving embrace, reinforced the need for further training in both the martial and stealthy arts.