For a few copper, you buy a short length of rough, plain
white wool cloth, and cut it into wide strips for use as headbands.
Somebody had to link it:
As to which way to go, The shaken forest looks to be relatively small and the road leading south out of Atkilpeme curves west around it. We should simply be able to go south to the intersection, then east to that road. That way we completely avoid all the dangerous things.
However...before we decide:
Quick price check on horses
That was actually exactly what I was going for. +1 cookie for you!
Mounts can be quite useful, but are also expensive. A pony costs 30 silver- if you buy two, you would be faster over short distances (escaping enemies) but not appreciably faster over long distance. If you had 3 ponies (the third to hold your supplies and distribute your weight) you would travel faster overland, from 24 miles/day to 32. Ponies would indeed be able to accompany you through the forest, you just wouldn't be much faster than if you were on foot for that portion.
The other option would be a light horse. They are much faster than ponies (in fact, they're the fastest available mount) but they cost 75 silver a pop. However, even riding double with Omo you would move faster than on foot, at the 32 mile/day pace. If you managed to secure 3 horses (one for you, Omo, and your supplies) you'd travel at a blistering 48 miles/day. Horses, like ponies, would be able to accompany you through the forest, they would simply be slower.
Neither option would be war-trained, meaning they could spook in tough situations (Calm Animal can solve this situation,) and the costs do not include such niceties as saddles, saddlebags, bridles, etc. Those items are not strictly necessary (especially given your Elvenness) but a pack animal would need something to carry its burden with. Saddlebags only cost 4 silver, but don't hold all too much. A pack saddle would cost 15 silver and allow the animal to carry as much as it can stand up under, which is quite a bit.
Seems like native fauna might be very useful for transportation, in the long run. The lobster wolf seems kind of slow. maybe we'll come across a predator, something that slithers or crawls faster and quieter than any machine through the damp canopies, or across the broad plains.
I would check the price of horses, but I wouldn't rely on them. Horses are often fragile things on alien planets. I speak from experience here.
EDIT: oh whoops. I think this post went on the wrong Topic. XD
*resists urge to include ghostly lobster wolf packs*
south through the haunted forest
What's the benefit of deliberately going through the forest rather than simply following the road around it?
A shorter journey.
More specifically, about 3 days shorter of a journey, assuming you don't have significant trouble in the forest itself. If you get a horse, it'd only save you about a day and a half. Omo's napkin map is rather... rough.