On the way to the Sackwald forest....

The King has requested the Royal Geographic Society to map the Sackwald forest. The forest is a royal domain with some parts of the outer forest licensed for timber extraction and coppicing with any areas that are cleared have to be re-planted. While the outer parts of the forest are well known; the inner forest is not. It is a mysterious place and the locals being superstitious rarely go too far into the forest.

Two groups will join up to form an expedition to start work on mapping the inner forest:

• The first group is led by messrs. Randell and Hopkerk, experts in mapping and recently returned from an expedition exploring the jungles of the Yucatan. With them is a guide know as the Woodsman plus some volunteers from Eisen to look after the pack ponies.
• The second group is led by Ernst von Tiddenheim (head of the Department of Supernatural Affairs), accompanied by his wife Eleanor, Esme the white witch, and an escort from the King Jagers comprising Captain Scharfe, Sargeant Harfenist, Corporal Fischer and private Limburger. Also with them is a wagon with supplies looked after by Carla Cranz and a diminutive fellow called Big Hans a friend of Captain Scharfe.

---oXo---

The first group led by the Woodsman, leaves Eisen in the outskirts of the forest, they head north west towards the boundary to the inner forest...

Also on their way taking a different route is the second group, with Scharfe and Big Hans leading the way...

The two groups meet at one of the strangely carved stone boundary markers to the inner forest...

The marker indicates the pathway deeper into the forest.  The expedition will camp nearby before venturing into the forest the next day.

to be continued...