Bazsil shrugs, not sure what to do.
”Let’s return to camp. Not seeing any easy pickings here. We had more luck in the forest.”
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You move back towards the caves, your band of freedom fighters disheartened by the well defended town. As you travel Krowe notices more animal tracks than usual, all heading south and west. Many species and mixes of animals, but you don't see any immediate reason for the exodus. You stop at the weapon cache and notice the same behavior, large numbers of animal tracks, as if they have been displaced by something.
Arriving at the caves, you are greeted by the refugees with smiles and greetings. Later that evening, Aubrin approaches you.
Aubrin smiles. “We wouldn’t have made it this far without you,” she says. “Everyone wants you to know how much we appreciate what you’ve done for us. We’re going to keep pulling together until we find a place to call home. With you on our side, we will find that home. In the meantime, I’ve got something to show you.” Aubrin picks up a staff and holds it upright in both hands. A crossbeam has been tied to the top of the staff and a green scarf hangs down like a banner. Two bristly pine branches lie across the top, tied down to the crossbeam with twine. “We decided we needed a symbol,” she says proudly. “Something to rally us. What do you think?”
Krowe takes special note of the odd animal activity on the way back to camp. Being somewhat new to the world of tracking and survival skills he plans to ask around among the other refugees to see if they might have some insight.
When presented with the banner, Krowe smiles for the first time in a long while.
”It’s a good color design.” He thinks for a moment. ”But we have seen some things in the Fangwood recently that gives me reason to add a symbol that may strike fear into the hobgoblin heart.”
Taking some paper from his supplies, Krowe tells the story of the animal that led them to a successful ambush against a patrol of hobgoblins - and sketches out a wolf in black charcoal.
”The forest is aiding us against this invasion and I propose we call ourselves the Black Wolves of Fangwood to reflect that.”
Faolan walks back to the caves in a bit of a funk. I mean sure, we can take on bands of hobgoblins, but a whole town? He thinks back to what they saw - the size and organization involved in such a short time.
In the same time, they'd found a place to hide, enough food to eat, and were waiting on a weapons deliver to supply their 'army'. Laughable if it weren't so sad.
He felt his skills improving sure, and he felt confident they could take on more than they could just a few days ago. It still felt like pebbles in a raging river. How would they make a bridge to freedom with what little they had?
When he sees the banner, it only lightens his spirits slightly. "Very handsome."
"Black Wolves of Fangwood? Have we seen any black wolves? I thought they were the usual variety, but maybe I'm misremembering. Sure, that's fine I suppose." He agrees to the phrase, and wonders what else the forest can provide...
’Black Wolves? YES! That is who we are! And now these wolves are going to go s&&~ on the hobgob’s floor!” Bazsil exults in the new team name, his fist raising to match his raised smile. ”This is good Krowe! I had no idea you had such a way with words, Krowe!” Bazsil offers a hearty slap on the back.
”We will be the Black Wolves and our howls will strike fear into the hobgobs every time they come into our forest. In the still of the night, they will hear the wolf howl, honey! Sniffing around their doors. In the still of the night, my blade feeling heavy, telling me that I need to kill more!”
Bazsil delights in this.
”We’re going to go s*~@ all over their floors. With blood and their heads.”
Bazsil looks to Bor, then to Faolan, then to Aubrin...
’Now, Aubrin...sorry about that. What did you want to tell us?” Bazsil asks with a inquisitive smile.
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Bor looks on in pride at the sight of the banner. He had been a part of something once. But that was a long time ago, his trust betrayed and left for dead with all of his companions.
This felt different, it IS different. He felt whole, part of an organization again. He smiled. "Yes, Black Wolves of the Fangwood."
He didn't realize Aubrin had more as their return and ceases his elation for a moment. "Is something wrong? What happened?"
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Aubrin seems taken aback by Bazsil's exultant desire to poop on things, however she bears it with the certainty that he is a madman who is at least on her side.
"The Black Wolves of Fangwood it is then. The forest seems to be willing to help. Maybe it just wants us to move back home but I'll be happy for whatever we get. Nothing is wrong. We're safe, we have a plan, and with you four taking on the Legion we should be able to hold out until help arrives. This invasion won't last, it can't. Right?"
She plants the flag near the crystal at the heart of the entrance room.
"Now we'll all see it but the caves stay hidden."
For the rest of the evening you are hailed and praised for your work. Every member of the Black Wolves recounts a tale of your bravery, and it seems each of them remembers some act of yours that saved their life specifically. A small gesture that let them know you were watching out for them. You realize, whether you intended it or not, that you are now heroes to these people, and they are counting on you to lead them home.
Faolan looks at the people and grins. "Yes, for now you must stay hidden."
"But what are we to do? I think it's too soon to plan a frontal assault on Phaendar. We could continue roaming the forest taking out their patrols and gather more intelligence on them. Still, we don't want to bring too much heat to this area either I should think."
He turns to the others, hoping they've seen something he hasn't, "So what's the plan?"
For the rest of the evening you are hailed and praised for your work. Every member of the Black Wolves recounts a tale of your bravery, and it seems each of them remembers some act of yours that saved their life specifically. A small gesture that let them know you were watching out for them. You realize, whether you intended it or not, that you are now heroes to these people, and they are counting on you to lead them home.
Bazsil rejoices in telling the stories, and trying to keep the morale up and positive. He laughs, he tells tall tales, and small tales. He does what he can to promote harmony and teamwork within the group.
Diplomacy
* * *
"So what's the plan?"
Bazsil smiles, thinking hard to answer Faolan's question. "I think my plan is sing louder and swing harder," Bazsil says, practicing with his sword, a steady thumping song on his lips. "I think that's my plan. To sally forth from here and kill a few more patrols, hope to get some more information about their plans. Then, we can try to hurt them where it...where it hurts, I guess," Bazsil grimaces at his own word choices. "Because it's clear that we're not taking back the town anytime soon."
Bazsil ponders.
"Maybe we should just focus on freeing the slaves? A bit of misdirection, some magic...and boom, we get them out."
”Freeing the slaves is ambitious.” Krowe muses. ”But I think we should see if we can infiltrate the town first. See what they have there and how well the slaves are guarded. And what about those gates they had downstream. What are those for?”
”Freeing the slaves is ambitious.” Krowe muses.
”Maybe. Or maybe not. Maybe I just walk in and walk out with them...one per day. I might be able to pull that off. With some luck. Invisibility is a nice tool,” Bazsil responds. ”Might be we can scout them gates too. If we want.”
Bazsil feels that, given time, he might even be able to craft a few scrolls of Invisibility.
"Invisibility huh? Nice! That'll put a spoke in their wheels!" he laughs at the idea of taking one slave a day and freeing them. Slow and steady wins the race.
"OK, let's go back to the bridge and see what our options are after we get another supplies delivery. I want to see the people well armed before we head out. Should only be another day or two I think in any event."
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Stocking a few days provisions you prepare to scout again. Aubrin watches are you prepare.
"Don't be gone too long heroes, Misthome will need your leadership if we're to take Phaendar back."
You move into the Fangwood, again navigating that twisting maze of trees, gullies, and waterways. It's easy to see why these woods are haunted by fey and worse creatures, but you can't help but feel that something has been watching out for you.
You arrive at Phaendar without incident and conceal yourselves to observe the town. You see that the mud cages are used to house the prisoners and slaves, and that not many of these remain. Those that do have been badly abused and most of them do not look like they could survive long in the woods.
The bridge sees several wagons with heavy guard. Your first success has made the Legion cautious, for they have doubled the guard that travels with the wagons. They wagon itself is slowly driven over the bridge and you can hear the wood reinforcement straining. Another stump remover, had you such a thing, would easily bring this new bridge down.
The town itself appears to be heavily reinforced, with hobgoblins troops moving north every day in large groups of 100 or more. Several weeks have passed since they took the town however, and it would appear that they are complacent in their supremacy. The guards do not watch the prisoners carefully and most of the time they seem to be placing bets on whether a wagon makes it across the river without falling in.
Any plan to free the prisoners would need to involve that bridge, there are no other crossings close enough and the prisoners would most likely not survive long enough to use them, especially if you are pursued by hobgoblins.
Faolan looks out at the hobgoblin fortification that used to be a nice frontier town. It’s a shame.
”OK then. Maybe we won’t be able to help those currently imprisoned, until we retake the town. Uh, later. Say, don’t we have an alchemy lab and an alchemist to work it? Maybe we make another bomb and take out this bridge as well? Make ‘em keep rebuilding it.” he shrugs, somehow feeling it’s not enough, but unsure what else to do at this point.
He turns to Bazsil, "How many people can you make invisible?"
Krowe observes the town with a grim expression.
”I think I have enough alchemist fire in this bag to burn the bridge down, but we might need it to rescue prisoners.”
Looking to Baz and Faolan, ”We might be able to rescue a few with invisibility tricks, but the magic needed to counter invisibility is not very difficult and the hobgoblins will eventually figure it out. At that point they will take steps to thwart such tactics. Or worse, set a trap to catch you alone during an attempt.”
Turning his attention back to the town, Krowe says, ”If we want to free them, we’ll need to either do it all at once during a distraction, or stage an accident that makes the hobgoblins think that the prisoners have perished. Perhaps in a fire, or flood, or building collapse.”
Changing subjects, Krowe points off to the north. ”Another problem is the numbers of hobgoblins going north. They are likely planning to attack another town or settlement.”
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"We can't possibly worry about a battle on two fronts but maybe we can stop that attack completely." Bor tries to think out their situation. "If we can get the alchemist to build such a bomb then Bazsil can go invisible. I can make the area around him completely silent for a short time as well. Should be enough for him to get in completely unnoticed."
He turns to Bazsil, "How many people can you make invisible?"
Bazsil shrugs, trying to answer. "Two a day on my own, a few more with scrolls."
Bazsil listens and even understands Krowe's feeling about the invisibility.
"But even if we can get a few out, it will be worth it. Saving two or three now might have put some resources into a response, but maybe we wait a month or two before trying again," Bazsil suggests, not really having any good answers, but willing to do small things until they uncover a bigger thing.
"Besides, getting the right prisoner out might give us a lot of inside scouting. If they could help us identify a weak point from the inside, that would be great."
Bazsil thinks it might be worth the risk to get a few prisoners.
"I can make the area around him completely silent for a short time as well. Should be enough for him to get in completely unnoticed."
"Might be good, also might not last long enough. Besides, I gotta convince them to come with me. Need to speak..."
* * *
”Another problem is the numbers of hobgoblins going north. They are likely planning to attack another town or settlement.”
Bazsil looks at Krowe and smiles. "Yes, another excellent idea. Hitting one of their larger patrols. Perhaps with some help from the rest of Black Wolves. Taking a big patrol out would give them a bit of fear, make them less confident. We could plan for both, I think."
* * *
Bazsil, if left to his own with free time, will scribe some scrolls of Invisibility and Heroism.
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You estimate 150 to 200 prisoners, mostly emaciated and sick. You know the town had around 400 people in residence plus many more traveling for the faire when the attack occurred.
The troops moving north are deeper into Nirmathas, and they will encounter a few small towns before Longshadow, an ore processing town and one of the largest on the Nesmian Plain.
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"With that many prisoners we can surely sneak a few out without anyone noticing." Bor surmises. "I don't even think hobgoblins can count that high."
"Might be good, also might not last long enough. Besides, I gotta convince them to come with me. Need to speak..."
"I meant more for the bomb going off and getting away from that area." Bor points to the bridge. "Silently set it off and move in to free some hostages when they go to investigate it. Shouldn't take long for reports to start flowing."
"I meant more for the bomb going off and getting away from that area." Bor points to the bridge. "Silently set it off and move in to free some hostages when they go to investigate it. Shouldn't take long for reports to start flowing."
Bazsil whistles, completely missing that possibility.
”That’s interesting. We could destroy things silently, huh? That’s very interesting.”
"Look, I'm all for freeing the innocent, but we're going to need a wagon to get them back to camp. They're in no shape to make that walk on their own. They are going to need days or weeks to recover from their abuse."
"So if we're going to do it, I suggest we steal one of their war wagons next time we hit them and position it in the forest not far from here. When we rescue some prisoners, we rush them to the wagon, blow the bridge, and flee into the forest a ways, doubling back, etc. to get back to camp hiding our tracks as best we can."
"All in all, it's a high risk proposal, and it might not work. I dunno what else we can do though, so trying seems to be the only way forward." he frowns, trying to think of some way in which the party could be more aggressive in their stance. He wants to do something to hurt the hobgoblins, not just free a few more locals.
”There might be another way that saves more.” Krowe says after making a mental count of the prisoners. ”Through stealth or subterfuge we may be able to free a handful of people, but what if we instead used our powers to secretly deliver supplies, food, and healing? If we can bolster their strength and morale, we may be able to form a secret army right under the hobgoblin’s noses and stage a revolt that frees all of them at once.”
”Or gets them all killed at once. Couldn’t fit them all in your rat hole anyway. Less mouths you’ll have to feed, and less slaves for the goblins to use as labor. Win, win.”
Faolan takes a critical look at the bridge. "Boy, I'd sure love to work off some of this agitation and take out that garrison." he grins looking at the others.
He thinks a moment, "What if we get them to bring the prisoners to us? I mean, they're going to need more wood, right? All that fortifying they're doing? Maybe they send the prisoners to do some logging, and we take 'em out."
He frowns though as he thinks it through, "Not sure how we make that happen though. OK, let's at least make sure that whomever they send into our forest, gets cut down. I say we wait here for another of their war-wagons. We follow it into the forest a ways, and take it out. Maybe we'll get some more information we can use against them."
"Getting some prisoners free and questioning them would be good too. We charge the bridge, take them out, and send Bazsil invisibly into the town. He gets a prisoner, invisibly, and sneaks back. We carry the person into the forest and learn what they know of Phaendar's current plight."
He grins, "Easy, right?"
Bazsil ponders the options.
"What if we get them to bring the prisoners to us? I mean, they're going to need more wood, right? All that fortifying they're doing? Maybe they send the prisoners to do some logging, and we take 'em out."
Bazsil smashes his palm into his hand in agreement.
"Right. This what I was talking about! We burn down that side of the river...maybe they save the town, maybe they don't. But *if* they do, then they *have* to come to this side to get more wood. Or to rebuild. Or whatever. I think that could work," Bazsil comments, with only some of a smirk on his face.
Bazsil listens to Faolan, then repeats what he said earlier. He *likes* Faolan's plan, but also things getting more information would be good too.
"Besides, getting the right prisoner out might give us a lot of inside scouting. If they could help us identify a weak point from the inside, that would be great."
"Getting some prisoners free and questioning them would be good too. We charge the bridge, take them out, and send Bazsil invisibly into the town. He gets a prisoner, invisibly, and sneaks back. We carry the person into the forest and learn what they know of Phaendar's current plight."
Bazsil grunts.
"It's just too bad that there isn't another way across the river. If we had a back way across the river, then it might be easier to get some villagers out," Bazsil grunts. "But maybe we can use the river to help us get out. Which way do the rivers flow?" Bazsil asks the party.
Krowe listens to the mercs planning mayhem for the hobgoblins and certain death for the prisoners. He can’t imagine rescuing such numbers, escorting them through the woods without being followed, then housing and feeding them in their secret caves.
They’ll get us all killed.
”Not all of us, berk.”
Krowe sighs and rubs his eyes. ”Let’s focus on rescuing one prisoner without raising an alarm. Hopefully they can tell us more about what the hobgoblins’ routines are, and if we can better manipulate them into sending out groups of prisoners for tasks across the river.”
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The river current is swift and flows south and east, joining with the Deepcut River and Inkwater River to flow further east. Crossing at the bridge of Phandar is the only passable location for 50 miles in either direction.
Another day spent watching the camp shows that the hobgoblins are leading small groups into the forest to cut wood.
Bazsil stands, stretching.
”You know, this is what I think we do. We spend a few days preparing ourselves and watching their lumber gathering efforts. Over the next few days, I’m going to work on some scrolls...and I hear that Krowe there can use magic to upgrade our weapons, right?” Bazsil looks to Krowe to confirm. ”I’ll get us some extra ways to be invisible if that’s what we need. I don’t really know yet.”
Bazsil stretches again, his mind really getting going.
”But before we decide how to use those scrolls, we take out a lumber group...try to get us a few prisoners freed who can help us find a weak spot for an attack or a jailbreak or something. I think....I think this is what we need to do. We need to free a prisoner or two so we know what’s going on inside. And I think their lumber groups are the way to go. We may not have to cross the bridge to take them out.”
Krowe nods. ”So be it.”
"Yes, that's an excellent plan. Let's watch, grab a big group, and see what we can learn."
He looks around, "Er, what can I do to help? I'm not very crafty, so I guess I'll watch." he grins and settles in. "We should get a spyglass." he peers at the distant bridge.
Over the next few days, Bazsil will get out his scrolls and inks, scribing up some scrollery like a scribe.
Day 1: Scroll of Invisibility*2
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Bor nods. He knows the others will be busy and he is less than useful when it comes to crafting anything from nothing like Baszil and Krowe. "I can help scout." He clinks around a bit as his armor creaks. "While I may not be very stealthy I can hold off and easily take on one of these hobgoblin patrols. I can work on getting us that wagon if one presents itself."
Krowe takes his time to study the scroll of masterwork transformation. Once done he turns his attention to the mercs weapons and armor.
"While I may not be very stealthy I can hold off and easily take on one of these hobgoblin patrols. I can work on getting us that wagon if one presents itself."
Bazsil nods, trying to be encouraging and hopeful in the scouting matter.
"I'm sure we have some quiet folks with us. Maybe see who's good at being quiet from our people. We don't need the wagon as much as we need intel on the lumber parties, you know? Want to be able to rescue a few of them, we do."
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You make your way back to Misthome, certain at every step you are being followed. The site of those hobgoblins moving across the river and then upstream has unsettled you perhaps, for no new foe appears to hinder your journey.
Having spent several days away observing the residents of Misthome are eager for news, and many volunteer when you speak of your mission. The hunters, Lirosa and Taidel, are best suited to your needs.
Rhyna also approaches with unlooked for aid.
"I crafted these two potions for you. I've not the skill of Oreld but his apprentice and I have setup a space to work on these. Kining has setup the forge and is working on weapons as well, though none as fine as what you already have."
Bazsil smiles at Rhynam, happy to accept aid when it is given.
”Oh! What is this!?” Bazsil holds up the potions. ”What do these do? We should know so that they are put to the best use before, after, or during battle.”
Bazsil seems genuinely appreciative.
”Oh hey! Wow! Great! I didn’t even know these things existed...this will be helpful!” Bazsil goes to find Bor and offer him the potions for the time being. Without a plan besides tracking and scouting any lumber patrols coming into the forest, he hopes Bor doesn’t have to use them. He’ll be spending the next few days at the scribery.
Faolan tries to keep the worst of the Phaendar knowledge from the group, or at least minimizes the hardship if he can.
But he's eager to watch for loggers and free more villagers. He's not extremely stealthy, but he does have some skills with survival and can hide his tracks a little at least. So when he watches, he does so from deeper in the forest and he's more cautious perhaps then the others out of fear of being observed.
He is however, positively giddy about having his shield improved, and does his best not to nag Krowe to do his first... though he does tend to hover a bit in his anticipation.
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Bor nods in agreement with Bazsil. "I'll check around camp and see if I can find any volunteers.
Bor gives Faolan one of the potions before they head out to scout. He asks around camp for stealthy volunteers that can scout a little closer than the pair of them. He explains that they will be nearby in case any trouble does happen with clear instructions on where to retreat back to.
[b]"If you run into trouble or are spotted run back to here. Myself and Faolan will be scouting over here as we slowly push out further. Make it to here and we will ambush whatever is chasing you. Though we are hoping that it doesn't come to that."
Bor comes up with contingency plans as these things never tend to go well in his case.
I think we're trying to locate the logging parties and see what their usual routines are - from a distance in the woods. We're not planning any rescues with just the two of us (and the hunters), just observing from relative safety (we hope).
When we have a sense of their process, we'll get the entire party together, maybe with some support deeper in the forest to help escort the loggers, and then make a raid.
So I think we'd start with something in the forest near Phaendar and watch patiently.
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Moving through the woods a quietly as you're able, though not very, you manage to spot several patrols. Although your stealth is sometimes lacking the hobgoblins aren't even trying, allowing you to go to ground and observe without detection. After a half day of this, you count two wagons and several smaller patrols moving along the path. None of the larger companies of legionnaires has moved though while you observe.
Shortly after your afternoon meal break, Lirosa approaches with a worried look on her face.
"We did some more scouting and found something. Most of the wagons and patrols are turning upriver, but at least one group moved deeper into the forest. We checked and they're following a trail that's been marked with those Legion symbols you showed us before. There's something north of here."