2495702
2497231

S-Sorry, I´m not good at being...social. *I said, looking away and pulling the hood furhter over my face*

2498664
I land next to Trickster and say, "That's okay, we've got plenty of time to work on that."

2487545
2491326
2495702
(Don´t forget to reply to all of us. Otherwise only a single person will receive the reply and the others don´t know if it´s their turn)

2498664
2498744

"Well, I suppose we'll just have to work on that as we go," I say, keeping my voice friendly. I'd rather not push him beyond his comfort zone before we even leave town for our adventure.

Speaking of which...

"Say, which way are we going, guys?"

2487545, 2501526, 2504169
"I was thinking either North or West. What do you guys think?"

2487545
2509955
2504169

I heard that there are great treasures, hidden in the forests.
*I finaly speak up, looking away from the group*

2487545, 2509963, 2504169
"Same, which is why I suggested it."

2509963
2509966
2487545

"North it is, then," I say. I flash a grin at Tricks (I'll see if he likes the nickname before I start using it, though), glad that he's making progress already. "Are we all ready to go? I've got my bags all packed." To emphasize my point, I tighten the straps on my saddlebags. I look to Lunar Aegis, as he seems to be the most capable warrior here, and see what he has to say.

2487545, 2509963, 2510868
"Same here," I reply, readying my wingblades.
(I'm only calling them wingblades. They're essentially the same as a sword, only mounted on my wings. They're Lunar's preferred weapon in any and all situations.)

2516171 2510868 2509963

Okay, I'm fairly sure I know where you're going to go from here. So! Something along the lines of "We walk North." would be ideal. I'll assume that's what you're doing though and we shall go there.

You enter the forest to the North of Cornstable, for that is what it is called by anypony who knows of its existence. Ponies don't venture in very often for reasons that become abundantly clear the moment you cross its boundaries. The trees are very tall and grow abundantly and densely. The canopy of foliage above your heads almost entirely obscures the sky. The forest is bathed in an eerie black/green light. You can still hear the rain as it batters the canopy, but barely a single drop touches your heads. Strangely, this is the only sound you can hear. If it weren't raining so heavily, you get the feeling there would be no sound at all.

There is something of a path which seems to be leading further in, though it clearly hasn't been used in a long time. Various ferns and branches as well as exposed root systems and unfamiliar flora which have become overgrown make it difficult to divine where the path ends and the wilderness begins. Only 30' (10 meters) in, you reach what looks like a fork, where the path splits in two.

Straight ahead and veering left, a vast, thick trunked tree has been uprooted and lies steadfastly across the path. So tall must this mighty tree have been in its prime that you cannot see either its roots or its crown. Going to your right, the undergrowth is particularly bad. Thorny thickets and questionable looking plant life lies in a much thicker layer here than at any point before. Behind you, you can only just make out the point at which you entered the forest. It manifests as a point of bright white light.

What do you do? (Please don't tell me you're stumped. )

Feel free to ask me any questions and talk amongst yourselves.

2518478
2516171
2510868

*I look at both paths and walk towards the right one* I would suggest to go that way.
*Then I look back at the other two and await their answer*

2516171
2518478
2518656

I wait at the split in the road with a bit of uncertainty.

"I don't know if I like the looks of that path on the right, Tricks. Do you mind if I call you Tricks? If you don't like it, that's fine, though. Er, right, the path- I don't know if we should risk walking through that underbrush, there could be all kinds of poison plants and nasty stuff just waiting for unsuspecting ponies like us. It's also probably the least traveled of the two, because nopony has bothered to maintain it."

2518478, 2518656, 2519192
(First of all, your description of the forest reminds me of the depiction of Mirkwood from the second Hobbit movie. )
"That is a big tree! I have to agree with Quick Fix on this one though, the underbrush does look like a potentially poisonous path."

(Sorry, I had to. )

2534031

*My self-confidence crumbled a bit as my suggestion was rejected and I lowered my head*
W-Well...I just thought....uhm...if you had a t-treasure and wanted to hide it, y-you would hide it somewhere where no one would go...b-but we can go the other way as well if you want.

2534157, 2519192, 2518478
"Hey, listen. Your idea made sense, and we took it under serious consideration. But we'd like to keep everypony safe rather than have something happen to anypony when there was anything we could have done to prevent it from happening. See what I mean? In fact, if we're all okay with the risk involved, I can go either way. It's up to you." With the last sentence I fly halfway up a tree's trunk and watch the path behind us for danger, waiting for the others to respond.

2534157
2534209
Sorry this took so long. Got snowed in at a friend's house overnight, couldn't reply.

"That would make sense. Perhaps I can see if I know anything about what kinds of plants could be lurking around here and if they're harmful or not."
I then step closer to the plants and inspect them, trying to see if I can tell what they are or if they are harmful.

2543139
2534209
2518478

Y-You're right, it w-was a dumb idea.
*I slowly walk towards the other path, my head hanging low*

2543795, 2543139, 2518478
"Hey, Trickster, do you want to learn something I don't tell most ponies?" I ask, flying back down to the ground and landing next to him.

2518478
Sorry, forgot to tag you in 2543139.

2543831
2543943
2518478

S-Sure.

2544341, 2543943, 2518478
"I used to be a lot like you. I was quiet and reserved, and my life was run by naivety. I didn't argue with anypony and always accepted that everypony else's knowledge was superior to my own. I felt this way for a long time, until I almost died on a mission due to my commander's lack in knowledge. That's when I learned that you don't have to follow others blindly. Sometimes, it's better to stick up for your decisions than to accept defeat immediately. After hearing what I just told you, please tell me again which path you think we should take."

2544438
2543943
2518478

I-I would still prefer to go that way, but not a-alone of course.

2544547, 2543943, 2518478
"You won't have to go alone. You have me by your side."

2543139 2544438 2544547

Quick Fix checks the plants to see if he recognises them. There is nothing there which looks overtly dangerous save for a few thorny roots which somepony might trip over or cut themselves on. Travelling through that undergrowth would probably be pretty hard going though, if one were to take proper care.

Still, he concludes, it should be much easier than moving that tree.

2544687
2544547
2544825

Once I finish my inspection, I turn to tell the other two, but pause when I notice their discussion. When it's done, I chime in that the plants don't seem overtly dangerous, except for the thorny roots.

2544687
2544825
2544944

I guess t-then it is decided. Say, Quick, can we go that way?

2549048
2544825
2544687

"Yeah, that way should be okay."

2549048, 2551235, 2544825
"I suppose we should get moving, then," I state simply before walking down the right path.

2549048
2553108
2544825
Haven't heard from Nodoga in a while, so I'll go ahead and post.

I'll follow along as Lunar goes down the path on the right. As we start to get into the undergrowth, I can't conceal my discomfort at all the leaves and plants that I have to wade through.

2577481
2553108
2544825
I was rather busy.

*I follow as the last in the row, not really scared by my surroundings*

2577481, 2577527, 2544825
"So... has anyone heard of any rumors in this part of the forest?"

2544825
2577481
2579965

I-I'm not sure if it's a trustful sorce, b-but an old man told me once that a magical artifact should lay deep down in an old temple in this part of the forest. He didn't knew more details so I j-just thought it were a fairy tale.

2580009, 2577481
I nod to Trickster. "Sounds like as good a place as any to investigate. Now, let's see if we can't find this temple."

2544825
(Approval?)

2580009
2580118
2544825

"No, I haven't heard anything past the normal gossip we heard in town. Anywhere you guys want to look is fine with me."

2583165
2580118
2544825
(Lets wait for iMarcs opinion before we continue)

2544825, 2583165, 2583187
(Agreed.)

2583165
2583187
2586309

Apologies for the late reply. I've been working hard. Rumours are okay, nothing confirmed though since you didn't really speak to anyone in town before you left. I'll see what I can do for you though. You should definitely ask me more questions about the surroundings as I describe them though. You can make better informed decision that way.

For example HotHead could have asked me what was beyond the tree because his character could have flown over it to check. Little things like that. Just immerse yourself completely. Think about what kind of things you would want to know if you were in your character's position.

You follow the path on the right, heading North-east through the forest. Your progress is slow, but steady as you trudge your way through the undergrowth. You are keeping such a close eye on where the path is through the plant-life that you eventually lose track of how far you've come. The forest itself feels as though it is leading you. Fairly abruptly, the path comes to an end. A dead end.

As if this wasn't bad enough, night has fallen around you.

When you look up, the darkness around you is so complete that you cannot see one-another let alone your surroundings. The only sounds are the rustling of the trees and... wait, is that running water? I hope you brought your canteens.

What do you do?

PS. Don't worry, I'm not going to try to screw you. I'll make sure this is entertaining and not too difficult just so that you can get the feel for things first. Thereafter, it'll start getting harder.

2583165, 2583187, 2589002
(I'm assuming we're not too far away from each other, so:)
"Alright, move towards my voice. We need to stick close together."

2583187
2586309
2589002
Duly noted, cap'n. In that regard, I'd like to ask if I could cast Prestidigitation to light up my horn so we can see. If so, I'll do that now in-character.

I can't help feel rather silly for letting nighttime get the drop on me. At least we aren't lost; the fact that we seem to have been going the right way so far gives me a little confidence about our venture.
When Lunar suggests that we stick together, I'll nod. "Good idea."

Just so you know, I'm going to wait for Nodoga to reply before I continue on. I have the responses to each of you written out! Dis gon b gud!

2590795
2589213
2589207
I have the trait "farsighted". Could that mean that I see better in the dark?

2591902
(I believe the way it was meant to be was that you can see further. I'm not sure if it would allow your eyes to pierce darkness. Also, bite me if I use bad grammars and spellings, I'm wring this at 2 in the morning. )

2592537
(Hmm, I'm also half-deaf. That would make it hard to follow your voice)

2583187

My answer to this echoes Hothead112's. I'm certain that far-sighted simply increases your range of view by 5' (about ~1.5m). It doesn't bestow nightvision or infravision.

The darkness is deep and unyielding. Even with your exceptional vision, you cannot penetrate its depths.

2589207

You are not too far away from one-another.

Your party can hear this call which then echoes into the darkness disappearing slowly but surely. There is a splash, then silence.

2589213

I would say that falls under the remit of prestidigitation.

You cast the spell and your horn lights up illuminating an area of 15' (4.5m) around you.

Good thinking. Now that you can see...

Now that you have more than just your ears to rely on, a whole world springs in to being. It's a good thing you had the sense to stop at the dead end. The reason that the path stops where it does comes in to view: a narrow, placid, though admittedly deep stream runs through a small valley which lies directly across your way.

The dilapidated and rotting remains of a rope and slat bridge lie where the path looks like it ought to lead. Trees grow in every other direction as thick, if not thicker, as they had before. They even extend to the banks of the river.

2594085, 2592662, 2589213
"Whoa... Such a picturesque area. Too bad we can't stay here for too long. I suggest we make camp near the river, but not too close."

2594085
Just wanted to clear out every possabilities. Thats all.

2594922
2589213

I agree, and we should decide who takes the first night watch. I would volunteer to do the first shift.
*I offored, looking at the beautiful scenery*

2595658
2594922
2594085

"I don't know, Lunar. There was a splash from the stream as soon as you called out for us... I don't know if it's safe to camp this close to the stream. It's probably a common place for predators to travel through. If we're going to camp, I think we should get to a place that won't be commonly traveled."

2595658 "Alright, you'll take first watch. I suppose I'll take second."

2595784 "You bring up a good point. Okay, let's camp further back in the woods, but still somewhere within easy distance of the stream."

2594085

2597559
2595784
2594085

What about that place?
*I point at a small cave which wasn´t too close and not too far away from the river and it seemed to be easy to defend in the worst case*

2609272, 2595784, 2594085
"Wow, good eyes, Trick! That looks like the perfect campsite! What do you think, Fix?"