[Chapter 1.03] The Churlwood Forest
That Evening...
The night the party goes to sleep they are woken with a start by the wailing ghost of Roderic emerging from the floor in the center of their room.
"IT'S...COMING..."
Roderic's ghost repeats that over and over again for several minutes. He does not respond to any attacks or inquiries. In fact he seems completely unaware that there are people around him. After wailing about for some time he finally slowly dips back into the floor.
Outside their room several other patrons and the innkeeper inquire about what happened but with Roderic's ghost gone and giving up no useful information everyone eventually goes back to sleep.
After their midnight visitation waking up at morning's light was easier for some and much more difficult for others. They have a long hike ahead if they don't want to spend more nights in the Churlwood then they have to.
Their first leg of the journey is to go five miles North along the river to the ferry crossing. They could charter a boat to go directly across but if the goal is to follow the patrol then it seemed wisest to follow the patrol's path.
The party finds a part of the Chavali River that grows shallow and two rows of wooden pilings protrude from the water. What was originally intended as a bridge to connect to some other trade roads had been abandoned for years after being partially constructed.
Hallen Rosker, an old day laborer, secured a rope to the pilings and built herself a raft that she can use to ferry people from one side to the other for just a few coppers a trip. As the party approaches Hallen is just setting up a folding chair next to her raft. When she sees the party approach she smiles and waves them toward he.
"Hello there! Are you looking to cross the river? Only 4 coppers for the lot of you! Come on over and share your story with old Hallen here."
She seemed warm and friendly, someone who's job kept her away from people and someone who was eager to swap stories with as many people as she could.