Chapter 2: The Creepy Forest

In response to the party’s actions the Dead Lord dematerializes, blending into the foggy background. In the distance from the undead troop you hear the clanks and grates of metal as weapons are unsheathed. From behind the troop a new figure appears. It's a humanoid phantasm wearing all black with a hood that hides its face in darkness. From the way it's holding its hands one might guess it’s a sorcerer of some type.

"My patience is running thin."The hooded figure warns in the same hollow voice of the Dead Lord. "Are you knaves or knights?"
A glowing skeletal hand materializes near Belvedere and points directly at him when these words are spoken. "You, skald, will give me your party’s final answer. I’ll give you a few moments to discuss it among yourselves, I’ve always had the reputation as a man of reason."

Upon the wraith’s prompt Kendal turns to huddle with his companions and states his opinion, "On this specter's terms...which include us having absolutely NO idea what dark magic might bind us in the future--I vote we find a way to get clear of this situation that does not include an oath to this being. Some money for our souls doesn't sound like such a good deal to me. We're resourceful enough to find fortune other, less binding, ways."

Katie's eyes widen at the sudden turn of events, her shock all the more severe as she hadn't noticed the skeletal horde before. A quiet 'eep' escapes her lips before she says quietly to Kendral and the rest of the group (never once taking her eyes off the undead), "I'm with you. This suddenly got more interesting, but not in a good kind of interesting way - the kind I could do without. Too bad we don't have a torch and some salt or we could burn the body...," she muses, voice trailing off.

As she speaks, she rummages in one of her many her belt pouches and finds one of the vials of Holy Water, just in case.

"I believe so Katie. You're right on time."As he turns back to the hanging figure, carefully balancing on Xaka's shoulders, he whispers to Kendral, "Too late, I'm committed."

Reaching for the pocket, he stops in midair. Empty air as it happens. "Aw hell, I messed up," Grimbly mutters under his breath as he sees the dead lord disintegrate into a cloud of dust followed by the unwelcome clanging of weapons being drawn. He hustles down from Xaka's shoulders and prepares to do battle.

"Well...that," refering the vial of holy water she pulled from her pouch, "may become useful any moment Katie."

Xaka lowers Grimbly, and twirls her spear. "Oh good, a fray. I claim to have entirely drifted away for a moment, thinking of that time I smashed the skull of an undead, er, phantasm guy."

Belvedere spins on his heel, breaking from the huddle. He fixes himself as he approaches the specter.

"We’ve put our heads together and found ourselves sorely lacking on knightly titles.

While Ms. Ploshkin here seems to recall that her uncle’s uncle’s brother’s step-sibling once may have held a lord’s title, the connection seems rather… tenuous.

I fear we are but knaves. A dreadfully dangerous breed of scoundrel, too! A ghastly crew, if ever there was one!"

The Skeleton warriors interpose themselves between Belvedere and their master.The woods become more obscure from the mist and total night seems to drop suddenly making it difficult for humans to see

"So, nae it is." His tone reveals his agitation,

"Excellent work Belvedere! You got this! Keep him talking and confused. We got your back," whispers Kendal to the scald—hopefully under the earshot of the wraith—as he slips an arrow into his glowing bow.

There is a tense moment as the Wraith Lord processes Belvedere's words. Then, the skeletal warriors lower their weapons and fade away. The Wraith takes the form of the Lord once again. The apparition bows his head, resigned, then also fades away like the undead troop.

The haze lifts and above the canopy you can see twinkling stars on a periwinkle night sky. The night creatures begin making noises again as the haze disperses with the gruesomes

It is Twilight.
Luna Violacium is almost full giving the background light a purple hue. Those with darkvision see almost as well as daylight but for humans its quite dark.
The sky is clear.
The weather is mild with a distinct chill
The weapons are back to normal

"Well that was interesting. Well done Belvedere. You saved us from a nasty mess. I don't suppose there is any sign of that box?" Grimbly asks as he looks around the area by the hanging tree.

"We should build a fire and set up a watch. I can take the first one if there are no objections."

"Just good sense, isn’t it? I suspect that one will select his words more carefully next time. And his prey…"

With that he clears his throat.

"You’ll hear no objection raised from me, dear Grimbly. I think I’ve done rather well for one day.

Perhaps one of you has a tipple on-hand? Wine, preferably. Red, preferably. But these things are negotiable!"

Looks back up at the hanging figure. "I'm still kinda thinking burning the body or something wouldn't be a bad idea. The next people through here might not be so lucky - err, I mean, clever and persuasive - as we were."

"Not a bad idea Katie. Hopefully, that won't release a new horror."

Grimbly eyes the ground for any kind of kindling to start a fire. A tipple is it, Belvedere? I wish I had something of that nature but alas, I do not."

"Oh, you’re hoping to set it alight now?" Belvedere asks, with a rhetorical air.

"Wouldnt that leave an awful smell for us to sleep with? And gods know what ghastly creatures will be lured by the smell of cooking meat." his face scrunches up as he speaks.

"Better to light it when we depart tomorrow, I’d have thought!"

"I agree that we should not set it on fire until we depart. If a new horror is released from it, we'll hopefully be on our way by the time it emerges. Although, I am not claiming to understand exactly how these things work."

"No objections to you taking first watch Grimbly. Then I'll take second and I'll instruct Moonshadow to warn us warn us of danger through the night."

Before he will try to get rest Kendral will call to Moonshadow and spend some time with his feathered companion before commanding the bird to 'Warn'.

"Alright then. A fire tomorrow it will be." Grimbly grumbles a bit before he starts looking for a good spot to start his watch.

"I'll walk the perimeter and if Kendral will allow, Moonshadow's help. The rest of you can sleep well knowing you're in safe hands and talons. I'll wake you for second watch then, Kendrall."

Xaka leans against the tree, listening to the others chatter. "How much wood did we need for that? Three trees worth?"

She looks around for dead fall she can drag over, then gathers what she thinks is needed.