Brief Recap: Last turn, the party journeyed east. They passed out of Bibi's forest and into the plains east of the Kingdom. After weathering several days of harsh storms, they spied from a great distance a line of orcs (with some wargs, and half orcs on horses) marching human prisoners, some of whom appeared to be forest people. The party decided not to interfere, and continued riding east.

The Journey Continues...

Bronk rides eastward, and the party follows. After another day's ride, they again survey their position relative to the orcs. Bibi flies high into the evening sky, searching back westward whence the party came. Several miles off, she finds the orc band. They have apparently met up with another group of humanoids, bugbears by the look of them. They have formed a large encampment, and the humans are all chained together in the middle of it.

Bibi circles the encampment at a great altitude for safety, relying on her hawk's eyes to discern what is in the encampment. Then she sees another band of what appear to be humanoids making their way to the encampment from the southeast. She flies closer to them and sees that this group includes humans as both slaves and as masters. The human slavers are accompanied by more orcs, and they have about 200 human slaves with them. It appears a great slave swap is about to take place at the encampment. She circles once more, looking for other slavers, but finding none she returns to the company.

[Anne, I assume Bibi tells the others what she sees; if not, please post what she does tell them. If anyone decides to do anything about the slavers, we can alter/omit the next part as necessary.]

* * *

The company breaks camp the next day and heads eastward, also moving in a slightly northern direction to take them closer to the forest where Bibi grew up. They are still a couple weeks' journey from the forest. They make good time, with Humphrey getting into better shape for traveling. He thinks his ass may have grown into a double-callus, for which he is thankful, as he no longer feels as though he is being perpetually bruised by his mount's backbone.

Eventually the company makes it to the outskirts of the forest. The forest of Dunore stretches several hundred leagues east to west, and nearly a third as many north to south. It is vast. But Bibi knows her way through it. She has not yet decided whether to travel near her homeland yet, but such a decision need not yet be made. Once they are a few days into the forest she will be able to decide whether to take a more northerly path, near her people, or a southerly one.

The first night in the forest the company makes camp and sets watch. They have seen nothing but the typical birds and animals, the occasional predatory cat following them briefly as it notices intruders in its hunting grounds. [DM NOTE: nothing bigger than a bobcat.] The night passes without event.

The next morning the company sets out, but before they have traveled half an hour, they begin to see figures distantly through the trees, shadowing them. They can never see more than a fleeting glimpse, but Bibi can tell that they are forest people. There must be several of them watching the party, for one of them to have been seen--or else the party just got lucky. Or, perhaps they wanted to be seen.

Blade quietly asks Bibi, "Are these people any threat to us? Or are they just keeping an eye on us since we are in their territory? Do they have good relations with the Druids of Dunore? "

"Yes, all the people of the forest are the people of the Grand Druid. Their behavior is not unexpected. They want to be sure we are not a danger to the forest. The only thing odd is that they were so easily detected by us. For some reason they must want us to know we are being watched."

Ghotu is undisturbed by the presence of the forest people. He travels with some of the most powerful spellcasters and most deadly fighters west of the Great Divide. Not to mention the magic items they carry. Ghotu is still amazed and impressed with Humphrey's restraint, in not having conquered half the continent by now.

[What does the party do at this point? Continue on, or try to address the watchers? Or something else?]

Humphrey says, "I will find out who these people are, unless you object, Chosen one?" If she does not object, Humphrey goes invisible and stands VERY, VERY still, waiting for them to pass.

"I think that if we simply ask they will probably tell us." Bibi stops her horse and speaks up, loud enough for all to hear "I am the Druid from the northern tribe of the hawks. We pass through your forest on our way to Dunore, seat of the Great Druid, whom I serve. We are no threat to you or the forest. May we continue?"

"I hope they don't try to say no," Humphrey whispers to Ghotu. Then he says visibilitina" and he dissappears.

Posting Instructions: What do you do? If you continue in the same direction as now, you may encounter the marchers. Otherwise you will have to hide until they pass or head another direction, prolonging the journey.

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