"That makes some sense, Baolo. Change the rules of the game on them! I like it! Is there something we can use as bait to lure them in, I wonder?"
"They own the jungle. They know it. We know it. Damned long-ears. Going into the jungle after them is a very dangerous proposition, but just sitting here behind these walls will surely prove our end. We have to figure out a way to make our defense an offense before they get tired of waiting and overwhelm us."
Spinnaker Jon nodded sagely, lighting his pipe again.
"Following them into the jungle; not a good idea.
"But as for What to do instead, well, if I knew the answer to that I would be a rich and care free man."
The mercenaries do not give chase. One of the remaining commanders, Boraz, approaches you and kicks the corpse of the wild elf. "These elves are not stupid. They are targeting our commanders with guerrilla hit and run tactics. Usually, they kill three of us to one of theirs, but today, it was even, 1:1. I thank you all for that. However, we can't keep up this war of attrition. Our numbers are gradually decreasing. I hope we can survive long enough to get out of here alive. I have no idea where these elves' camp may be. Thanks again."
With that, Boraz leaves you and the mercenaries proceed to say their respects over the fallen commander and proceed to bury him. What do rest of you do? Back to guard duty? Something else?
"How long until we leave? If its more than a few days then I say we go out after them. Hunting wild elves in a jungle might be crazy, but staying here waiting to die is just stupid."
Captain Esteban tells you the River Queen's repairs will take about a week.
Spinnaker Jon winced.
"Aye. But they'll have eyes on the camp. How do we get out without being observed? Because I surely don't have enough smokesticks for that." He said, blowing another smoke ring.
"Could we talk the higher ups in the camp into creating a distraction somehow? That might let us sneak out, so we could look around without being followed."
Does anyone have anything to eat? Bel says as he gnaws on some leather
"Bet ya can find somthin' back at camp Belsiard. Shimye-Magalla can make us quiet, but not invisible. I'm good in da woods tho."
Spinnaker Jon nodded.
"Yeah, thats the right of it. We'll get the garrison to make a ruckus, and I can make some ghost sounds and even a ghost light off in a false direction too."
"Ya mon, good plan. Let's get them ta help us out."
Ialda falls in line. "If you don't give us some. Sort of distraction, those elves will pick us off easy peasy. If we can sneak out, then we can try to find their camp. That's our best play."
Aid another diplomacy
Distraction and hunting. Good plan.
So you manage to convince Mynafee the Station Manager to go hunting for elves, especially since you won't be sacrificing any of his men to do it. The mercenaries provide distractions of shoring up the north side of the perimeter and you sneak off.
Spinnaker Jon does what he can to try to find the enemy, but he is not particularly woodscrafty...
Survival
Ialda follows Jon and does her best to find the trail the elves must have left somewhere.
Baolo works with Jon and Ialda searching for any sign of the elves.
Thrynn was discouraged from learning the woodsy skills as a boy and is not skilled at tracking. He tries anyway.
Bel just wanders along munching on some hard tack from the camp. He is not particularly, stealthy or observant.
Unfortunately, the party cannot find any trails worth tracking, as it appears these jungle elves were quite intelligent about covering their tracks. With no other recourse and rather than wander aimlessly in the jungle, the party returns to the camp.
The party receives some accolades from the civilians at the camp, even though it is frowned upon by the mercenaries, for their role in driving off the elves. You continue on with your duties for the day. The dead elf's decomposing head is removed from his body and placed with the other heads to scare off the attackers.
At night, after sharing a meal, where you again receive supportive glances from the civilians, you retire to your rooms.
Baolo picks up the note on his bed and shows it to Ialda, "Whatcha tink mon? Midnight rendezvous?"
"That's how it sounds to me. At least it gives us something to do, rather than chasing after these disappearing elves!"
"I tink we bettah bring da whole gang tho. Dis place worries me."