Ghadmyr crouches to the ground to see if there are any tracks or other signs of the boar, as well as any clues as to other kinds of creatures who have been through here.
The halfling keeps his eyes and ears open, scanning the trees around him.
Ghadmyr finds no clear signs of the boar.
The trail runs to the north (past the hangman tree) or to the south.
"I don't see any tracks. All things being equal, I think we should search the path without the hangman tree first," Ghadmyr says without cracking a smile.
"Talking sense there, Ghadmyr lad."
Healaugh shoulders his hurdy-gurdy, hefts his javelin and heads south.
The group press on down the southern trail, the wood growing darker. The adventurers come to a grove; the trees here are tangled and moss-covered. The path is strewn with a drift of old dry leaves, apparently immune to natural decomposition in the damp atmosphere.
Macmorr looks around the clearing, trying to conceal his nagging superstitious dread.
Actively looking through the leaf litter, Macmoor spies a patch of glittering black moss. It would have been easy to miss otherwise.
Macmoor has heard of this weird plant; it's obliviax, also known as memory moss. It steals memories, specifically spells from the memory of the caster without the victim realising. It's probably a good idea for the arcanists in the party to keep their distance...
"Seen owt?"
Healaugh senses that something has attracted Macmorr's attention.
"Yeah - see that black moss - it'll steal your memories. Bad news for magic guys, so steer clear."
"There are some foul plants growing in this wood." Ghadmyr looks about to try to discern which way to proceed.
Nodding at Macmorr and scowling at the potentially memory threatening plant in a way which assures it that he will not be forgetting what it looks like, Healaugh plods inexorably onwards.
Ghadmyr proceeds to the south as well.
The group continues to the south, and the trail then heads east for perhaps 300 feet or so before turning off again to the north.
Ghadmyr continues searching for any signs of the boar.
"Reet twisty. Seemingly we're going back same way now."
"I think we should continue along this trail for a while longer. As it is, this wood seems a bit dangerous to be wandering off into the trees."
Nature on possible boar tracks (1d20+9=26)
"Likely tha's in right, Ghadmyr, but no harm taking wee look. Gurt beast like that can't just vanish."
We continue on the trail, delving deeper into the wood.
The trail swings east as you head north along a lengthy avenue of tall black trees. You can see that the trees on each side of the route are occupied. For a distance of perhaps 50' or more, batlike creatures hang head down from the branches.
Ghadmyr notes that the creatures have long snouts.
Nature check on long snouty things (1d20+9=22)
"Not so sure as I recollect seeing owt like them before ..."
Ghadmyr looks about warily. Surely this many fell creatures in a wood is peculiar.
Ghadmyr
His voice barely rising above a whisper, Ghadmyr tells everyone, "Those things are stirges. They're nocturnal creatures, so as long as we pass quietly, they shouldn't stir from their sleep. We'll want to stay clear of this area come nightfall, though."
Heeding Ghadmyr's words, Healaugh eases his way uneasily past the dangling stirges.
"... so as long as we pass quietly, they shouldn't stir from their sleep ..."
The group try to keep quiet passing the flock of stirges...
"Tha's gained deft footwork there, Ddraig lad," whispers Healaugh admiringly.
The group creep past as best they can, with Ynyr stumbling over some branches, but they manage to do so without waking up the huge number of stirges roosting in the dark trees.
Ghadmyr continues to stay close to the ground, searching for tracks and signs of the boar.