Jasmine manages to drop the ogre.
The rest of the hobs flee after seeing him go down.
Combat is over for now.
Betto renains on the ground next to the fallen ogre.
Izit casts stabilize on Betto, then follows up with a healing spell channeled through his golden mask.
Refugees from the camp come down and quickly grab anything of use from the caravan and you quickly get back to your secret lair.
You managed to secure a very large amount of food that will last you a good while. 120 provisions were taken from the caravan.
Once you get back to camp you heal your injuries and get some much needed rest.
The next day however you are woken up by some alarmed shouts.
4 men in the camp were killed during the night and their heads were taken leaving only headless bodies. Nobody seems to have seen or heard the murders happen.
Morde kneels down and checks for any tracks.
Standing up he looks at the others he speaks up.
"We have to leave. This place is compromised!"
"Wait a second! If we run off into the woods like headless chickens, the hobbos will pick us off! We need a plan and somewhere to go!"
Morde ponders for a moment.
"Maybe try for the next town? And prepare them for the horde?"
"Aye, let's go for it!"
Izit examines the bodies with growing terror.
"Oh, dear me!" he laments. "Everywhere we go we're hunted! Can't we become the hunters?"
Also the caravan also gave you two masterwork chain shirts,, a masterwork scimitar, 300 feet of silk rope, a healer’s kit, and a crate containing 10 bottles of alchemist’s fire. A lockbox under the wagon seat (Disable Device DC 30 or break dc 25 to open) contains a payroll of 550 gp.
The closest town is on the other side of the river past the hoggoblin camp in phandear you would need to find a way across the river and void being discovered.
Your best solution for a base would be the troglodyte cavern but you would need to defeat the troglodytes for that.
Aubrin provides another possible solution. An old ranger base far to the north-east, at least a weeks journey. The camp was a stronghold for the chernarsardo rangers her old unit. It's a wooden hillfort with watchtowers and in a good defensive position but it's been abandoned nearly ten years now so she doesn't know what state the place is in.
"The old ranger fort sounds good to me. A decade abandoned? The hobbos surely missed it!"
"Ah, yes! But even if they have, there's no telling what other manner of inhabitants have moved in... We should be prepared for hostility."
Izit prepares to depart.
"We can do so. But alas, I am not sure it would solve our problem!"
"Ever since the hobbos showed up, we'd *better* be ready for hostility!"
"Well we do have a lot of provisions so we should be able to make the journey. I will lead you there but before we go you should investigate the deaths last night. See if you can learn anything about who or what killed those men."
"Fair point! So who saw the men last?", Betto asks as he seeks tracks and clues.
Filon stifled a yawn, not even breakfast and trouble already. The yawn quickly became something akin to a gag upon closer examination of.the bodies.
...Why?
He shakes his head, gaining control over his stomach and forcing himself to examine the bodies for any signs of what caused the removal of the head.
Each person was killed with a single precise stab to the heart. The head was then removed with a saw. The people seem to have been targets of opportunity as each was isolated and alone when they were attacked.
You think back and recall the notes you found on the dead hobgolbin scout a few days earlier.
BOUNTY! Phaendar has not been secured to our glorious general’s satisfaction, and in her name I now offer a bounty of 25 pieces of gold to any member of the Ironfang Legion who returns reliable information regarding the location of fugitive human-likes who fled Phaendar. The payment is doubled if you instead return their heads. Live captives may be claimed as slaves! All rewards are doubled for the impudent ringleaders of this band! Return all information or heads to my cur of a son, Sergeant Scarvinious. —Lieutenant Scabvistin
"Wwll damn, we're definitely being hunted!"
Betto spits on the ground in disgust.
Aubrin nods hearing what you found out.
"Not the work of a random footsoldier either. This was a skilled killer. Able to move unseen and to kill without making a sound. We will need to take precaution against an assassin.
For now lets pack camp and start moving.
You travel north for a day and then stop to camp at night.
As the group is making camp Aubrin approaches you.
"You should stay on guard tonight I will do the same. I think our visitor from last night might just try again. Don't forget we are it's primary targets. I've passed the word alone, nobody sleeps alone tonight and all watchers are in groups of three."
"Sounds good to me! We watch each others' backs or we'll be the ones strung up, minus our heads."
Morde smiles a sad smile and adds."I hope Spot will find the culprit when he attacks next time!"
Zelik prepares his spells and adds to the group, "I may be an old man, but I'm no stranger to long nights. I'll take. My turn at watch, just as long as I have enough time to rest to prepare any spells, that is if I use any tonight. Which I hope that I do not."
Filon suggests different combinations of watches.
Something like
Zelik, Luna, Betto, Villager
Jasmine, Izit, Aubrin
Morde, Spot, Filon, Villager
"I think we should keep an eye out for traces of any sorts of tracks in the mornings. Also , are we sure this culprit isn't here, with us. Since we found no evidence among the first murders?"
Betto shakes his head.
"No."
Zelik nods at Betovs curt response and adds nothing. He's right we don't know. I'd wager that he or she for that matter is already among the camp" but he keeps his pessimistic view to himself.
Izit yawns. "On that bright note, I'm going to rest my noggin'!"
During the second watch the assassin attack Aubrin. Coming out of the shadows and trying to stab her in the back. Aubrin however was prepared and avoids the blow.
"Aubrin the green. You've killed many of the brethren, your head will fetch a very high price. says the Assassin a hobgoblin female in black leather armour with a colour shifting cloak.
So Jasmine and Izith are present for the attack. The rest are sleeping and will need some time to arrive. (make a perception to wake up dc10) then decide what equipment you take. Your fatigued if you were sleeping in armour.
Giving spot the get it command Morde just grabs his bow and quiver and
asks for the Focus of the bat, getting darkvision.
Waking up Spot quickly sniffs the air and moves quite purposefully towards the hobgoblin female.
Betto snaps awake, leaps up, and roars as he runs:
"INTRUDERS!!!"
"Silly assassin, you shouldn't make a sound....
Even Uncle Hu knows better then you..."
Jasmine then goes invisible and moves behind the assassin.
Filon rolls over, his nerves having kept his sleep light.
At first he pauses, listening into the dark, then he stands and approaches the commotion.
So everyone woke up.
Aubrin draws her sword but still not accustomed to fighting with her off-hand she misses.
The assassins attacks Aubrin once more but only manages to nick her slightly with her dagger.
Everyone who is not taking time to prepare can jump in now.
Betto sprints forward, eager to flank and batter the killer.
Filon draws his shortbow as he moves in closer to get a clear shot, and then fires at the assassin.
Jasmine attacks from the shadows flanking a assassin
then goes invisible again