Seeking Solstice

Elyse leaves the tavern after a simple breakfast; the hamlet is small and she hasn’t found any lead on stones and gems. It almost seems that staying two days looking for leads has been a waste of time, but she was tired and needed to rest anyway. Outside of the ‘bigger’ house that double as tavern, she sits on a bench of the central (and only) big open space that works as central square. The very few other people in the square seems to be walking from their houses to their work at the fields.

Some noise of wheels caught her attention. From the square, Elyse can see a one wagon carrying two people leaving the village on the path west, and a second wagon, with white cloth covering its content, parked close to the start of the path. A few meters away from the parked wagon, two women talk. From their clothes, you think one could be a merchant, they seem to be in a heated discussion. Elyse is several houses away so she can’t hear what they are discussing about.

The wagon

As Elyse approaches, she notices that the woman with merchant-like clothes has a dagger at her belt, and the other woman has a sword in its scabbard.
"July, you can't be serious! We already agree on this, and now you want to stay here?" you heard the merchant woman say angrily, just before both turned to face you silently yet, both angry. It's clear that they were arguing and they don't enjoy people hearing their businesses, but they still heard your greetings.

July, the one with the sword immediately change her demeanor, cautiously she starts... "I'm July, and I'm guarding..." but she is interrupted by the merchant "Greetings Elyse of Soltice Jewelers, I am Hazel of Avonley. And you may be able to gain your passages... yes." she seems pensive for a moment, then "You see, my alleged guard here, July, wants to stay a day here. But I have no business here in this forgotten hamlet and must carry on. Yesterday delays were already too much, so I am in need of someone to help me guard the wagon through the forest... And you can also entertain, sure. How fast can we leave?

Please roll 2 different charisma roll. One to convince July to come, the other to approach négociation with Hazel.

Rolls:
Roll 1 adv 3D6 3,2,2
Roll 2 adv 3D6 1,6,6

Even though you can see that July is a bit worried, and not really fond of continuing working with Hazel, she listens to you... You know? I think you are right, if I can visit my family here this next hour and you come travelling with us, I'll be ready within the hour. And with that July runs inside a house close by. Hazel just wave her hand in acceptance, even if reluctantly.

Then Hazel hears your terms for joining as a guard... and laughs. How bold of you to ask for payment! I am doing you a favor accepting you to come with us in exchange of guarding duty. The wagon is only big enough to carry the wares I must deliver, so nobody is sleeping in it, not even myself... we all sleep around a fire or something. She says in a rather high-pitched and annoyed voice. You are starting to get an impression of her now, not a very nice and charming one. Lastly she adds, in a more calculated tone You have helped me with this lazy guard after all, and an extra pair of hands may come useful, perhaps. I can offer you meals from what meal I carry myself. Some bread, cheese and some jerky I dried before. Take it or leave it, just don't waste my time. Not waiting for your answer, Hazel turns around to fix some of the ropes securing the wagon's content... although you get the feeling she is listening with attention to whatever answer you give.

At the top of the post is a pull-down list that is labeled "Post As:" Use it to post as your character, not you the player. It helps keep straight whether it is you saying something or your character saying something.

fixed it... was so focused on getting the roll tool right I forgot to reset to my character.

It's all a learning experience. Just trying to help.

And greatly appreciated. Text and post don't express tone well. I really appreciate you and Psybermage for providing this learning thread.

When you get back, you see Hazel mindlessly, probably boring, checking the horses. July is not back yet, but she isn't expected yet.

So you got some fine breakfast, how nice of you You can't be sure if her tone is thankful or ironic... Something else I may need? Hmm, I could use a new longbow, just in case. But I don't request you to buy me things for this trip, we already have a contract and I'll respect it.

She turns around, finally getting her sight off the horses to look at you seriously My wares? I'll just say that that Base a few days from here needs provisions and I'm happy to provide for the right price, but don't go checking the boxes if you don't want trouble. As for the roads, well, I DID hire you and July, better to be prepared and have no trouble than having trouble unprepared. I trust you'll have July on time though.

After a little while, the party sets a medium pace out of the town. July looks happier, refreshed, even optimistic maybe. She walks to the right of the wagon, while Elyse walks to the left.
Hazel, sitting in the wagon and leading the two horses, still grumbles on low voice. Nobody can actually hear her, but you both are sure it is about leaving way later than she originally wanted.

After a couple of hours, July hastens a bit her pace, just enough to walk around 10 meters ahead of the wagon. Elyse can see is checking for tracks in the road.
Hazels calls out What have you find? Any danger?. July answers fast Not really, seems to be old animal tracks. Nothing to worry so far.. But you notice July continues to check for tracks with attention.

Coming up from under the wagon, Elyse steps under the raptor engaged with Hazel and thrusts up with her short sword. hopefully keeping the Raptor that was engaged with Elyse on herself.

It hasn't been long, but the raptors are getting tired... being only two now, and with the dissolution of the blurry curtain that was in front of them, they realised what has this turned into.

They were 5 raptors attacking 2 defenders, they thought to be easy prey. Now these 2 see that the other 3 are down, and not 2 but 3 enemies are well armed in front of them, swords swinging fast, and now even arrows flying. Odds aren't on their side anymore! Them both turned around to flee.

@Psybermagi

A nearby small cliff with boulders strewn around it looks to be the best option to provide shelter. At least one side will be guarded and you will have a solid point to press against, should the storm prove dangerous. Elyse scouts ahead for the best route for the wagon, that struggles to cover ground once off the road. After 10 minutes of toil the wagon is parked near to the cliff and you unharness the horse and are working to secure the wagon as best you may.

By now the storm is mere moments away and you feel your fears are being confirmed as sections of the clouds glow with eerie lighting and flashes of green, pink, red, and purple lightning are like nothing you have ever seen before.

Give me any last minute preparations before the storm hits.

With the wagon as safe as you can make it you all hunker down to weather out the storm. Hazel begins muttering a prayer with a ferver a devotion you doubt she held yesterday. July still seems out of sorts from the fight but is aware of the danger. More annoyed at her current weakened state than the storm she wraps a heavy blanket under her cloak and settles herself under the wagon in the place what she deems the least likely to get wet.

And then the storm sweeps over you. The leading winds pull and push the tarp. Then the rain comes pouring down. The wind and water continue to batter the tarp and the flapping of this proves too much and one of the ropes to the cliff is pulled free of the anchor. Jumping up you to grab the rope you are instantly drenched but you manage to grab the rope and pull the corner down. Whether the other ropes were anchored better or the new arrangement, though not ideal for you, the rest of the tarp now seems more stable.

As you shift to resecured the tarp so you no longer need to hold it you glance beyond it's protection and see the most unusual thing. The rain is glowing a blueish green and everything is growing at a ridicules rate. Grass is growing about an inch every couple seconds and as you stare in wonder you see bushes and trees visibly fill out. Shaking yourself out of your stupor you start to pull you head back into the tarp when you see a tree bend over and use a couple of its branches to push itself free of the ground and begins to sidle away on roots that now writhe and twist to pull it . . . wherever it is heading. As you duck you head back under the tarp you notice that where the rain fell on you all your aches and pains are gone, the skin is fresh and supple.

Your experiment prices useful but not as you hoped. The rain striking your hands revitalizes them but any in the cup had no effect. Looking closer you realize the glow to the rain fades almost instantly after the rain touches anything. So a sip of the rain itself or simple lying out in it proves beneficial.

Discovering this you encourage the others to drink the rain and they look at you in bafflement. Hazel moved to do as you ask but July just wiggles under the wagon in her attempt to stay dry.

The wind continues to howl and the rain falls and just as you are about to relax a blinding flash of green light with a thunderous roar as the very sure shakes. Blinking you look around and stare as the hill you have been sheltering against begins to shake and move. The tarp finally can't take any more and snaps free of the cliff and it collapses over you. Struggling free you look around and see the hill is now rearranging itself into a vaguely animalistic form well over a hundred feet long and dozens of feet long and climbing to is 'feet'.

Hazel seems reluctant to leave her wagon but the sight of the shifting land mass heightens her self preservation and soon she and July are gathering up a few supplies and moving away from the creature. All three of you feel full of energy and though the rain is cool it does not sap your strength as you are all now soaked. All about you the plants grow at an incredible rate and the animals you see are acting oddly. None act afraid of your presence or bothered by the storm. Most od of all, they all seem somehow off, though at first you can not think why.

Then you pause to gather up and Hazel grabs the reigns and point back to the horse. Turning you look and it takes a moment for you to realize the horse's neck is growing larger, scales are forming on it's hide, and its tail is also fleshing out and lengthening. July catches up and notices what Hazel is pointing out and draws her weapon, backing off before shouting something about killing the beast before it finishes turning into a monster.