Forest of Andor/In the trees
Day 2
As the party is discussing how to proceed, they are surprised by another Vine Leshy who bursts out onto on the back of a Gecko no less! With the new arrival introducing himself as Cordon, another would-be hero, also sent by his village in response to the call for help everyone relaxes and gets to know each other before turning in for the night.
After a good nights rest the group descend the great tree and, following directions from the guard at the bottom, head North on a slightly overgrown trail. Shortly, they approach the bog that the tree-guard warned of, and being aware that either direction would suffice to get us to the Fire break, Jadrol chooses the more heavily traversed path to the West.
However as they approaching the junction, Cordon picks out the snuffling noises typical of a boar, whereupon the beast comes charging out of the bushes to the West. Jadrol and Grel attack the Boar, and nimbly avoiding Callas Entangle spell, it comes running up to Jadrol squealing in his face.
Abruptly, 2 more boars appear as if from nowhere to hassle the party.
A crazed boar charges Riva the Gecko, impaling itself on Cordons spear, driving itself on and on and pushing the mounted pair back towards the swamp.
With two Boars killed, the remaining badly injured one flees, leaving a small nest of pups which the party decide to spare. Continuing on the path Calla and Grel spot a foot sticking out of the muddy ground. The limb turns out to be attached to a humanoid in soggy leather armour, and Cordons attempt to interrogate the nearby bushes placed the death at about 2 weeks ago. Is this one of the scouts?
Travelling on, the party encounter someone limping to towards them - an injured Elf. Turns out the elf (Franken) knew the dead scout (John) and agreed to return the pouch of coins to Johns family.
Franken told his story: There were no signs of life and the buildings seem to have been empty for several weeks. He had pressed on, past the firebreak following tracks Northwards, eventually setting up a small camp while he investigated the confusing array of tracks in the valleys to the north. There was so much activity by so many creatures that it was hard to make much sense.
On the third day, a looming sense of dread began to creep on him and something startled him so badly that he decided to head back towards the safety of Oakenspire.
As he was hustling back, something leapt from the trees and charged him from cover. Losing all sense of direction, he fled and he was forced to jump down a cliff into a pool by a waterfall to escape. He landed in the water, but it was shallow and he badly injured his left ankle. He hid and waited for death but the pursuer didn't follow or seek another way down.
Franken was unable to climb back up and retrace his steps due to his ankle so he slowly made his way out of the gulley by following the easier course along it to the South-East/West (depending), eventually returning to the firebreak several miles East/West of where he crossed it Northwards.
With his wounds slightly healed, Franken headed back to Oakenspire to deliver his report in person, and the party continued North