In an amazing feat, Big John carries away a whole lot of loot, while he and the rest of the party successfully withdraw, escape and evade any pursuit, screened by a cold drizzle of rain.
"We should get this stuff back to the camp while we can. The extra supplies and tents especially will help, and we can check in on them before heading to the Redoubt. I'm sure it would do them all some good to see that we're all still okay and taking care of them." Faerin says as they trudge through the light rain.
Yaron says, "Depends where we are relative to the redoubt -- if we're nearby, then it makes sense to go there first -- it'll be faster and we'd be less likely to trip over a patrol."
Once he felt he had drawn them hopefully away from the path of his friends he tucked the horn away and head south first then due east to catch up with his friends.
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”I think we need to drop off the gear and get our people and Aubrin in deep someplace where they can hole up and rest. Then we need to find the Rangers and see what help we can get.”
”We looted some good arms and armor now to form up our militia, or at least give them some training so they can defend themselves.”
”Hope we get there soon!”
Breaking contact with the Ironfang Legion scouts (and the rainfall hiding your tracks), you get away clean (and with all that loot!)
Taking several hours traveling west along the overgrown track, you find a couple of subtle blazes on treebark marking your refugee's signs.
Getting off the track...
... you travel another hour winding your way through mazes of treetrunks, alongside dells channeling rainwater downstream and strange menhirs (standing stones) that somehow seem unnatural.
Finally, near a thorny hedge, a couple of refugees throw their fake hedge aside to run up to you cheering.
"You're back! Come in, come in!" They call out, ushering you through a cut in the hedge leading into a tree ring surrounding a flowering clearing with a little rill flowing through it.
The refugees are crowded around what shelter they have against the cold rain. Under carts, some tents, sheets of tarpaulins set up as lean-tos they crowded, muddy and miserable.
Aubrin peeked out a lean-to and waived you over.
Back in the camp and nearing Aubrin he waited til everyone was ready before he spoke.
"When i was out leading them off I noticed a few things. Their scouts were all on foot, I found a quiet hollow and listened for a bit, I dont think they have any cavalry thank the gods for that. They didnt seem to be following me and Sebastion, so i think we got away clean."
He paused and took a long pull from his waterskin.
"Any chance the group ran across a trio of halfling lasses? cute blondes? Well Tilly has honey colored hair but close enough."
He asked but from the tone of his voice it was clear he was starting to lose hope they would find the Applebough sisters.
Faerith smiles as they're enthusiastically welcomed back, her smile only getting wider at the sight of Aubrin. Moving into the lean-to, she gives the ranger a warm, albeit cold and wet, hug. "How are you feeling?"
”Heh! Check it out! With Faerieth’s magic, we were able to carry off a whole Hob campsite, weapons, food, tents, gear and all!”
He shakes hands and looks happy to see the villagers before moving over towards Aubrin.
”Hey. You done slackin off yet? We’re fightin a war out there still you know!?”
He chuckles.
”Good to see you’re still on this side of the dirt ma’am.”
Yaron says, "That's interesting, Sebastian. Implies we can keep ahead of them and keep a mobility edge."
Aubrin sat back gingerly in her improvised canvas camp chair as you all came into her tent. She looks much better than when you left her last, but still not 100%.
"Any chance the group ran across a trio of halfling lasses? cute blondes?"
Aubrin shook her head slowly.
"I'm sorry master Swiftfoot; there have been a handful of refugees that have joined us since you've seen us last, but nobody by that description." She said gently.Moving into the lean-to, she gives the ranger a warm, albeit cold and wet, hug. "How are you feeling?"
"Oof." Aubrin said with a flinch, her hand patting Faerieth lightly on the shoulder. "Better now, seeing you all back here. Still have some healing left to do though." She replied.
”Hey. You done slackin off yet? We’re fightin a war out there still you know!?”
Aubrin smiled briefly.
"Not quite yet. We'll need a bit of time to sort that smelly mess you've brought at the very least. Nice work by the way."She stopped, looking like she has been struck by a thought.
"Not to question your skills, but could you have been followed?" She asked anxiously.
"Darry did a great job of keeping them on a lively chase while we got away, and I used what woodcraft I could to cover our tracks. Looks like he shook them pretty well before heading here. The rain helped a lot as well." Faerieth replies.
Yaron nods, "Took out a scout camp while we were at it."
Aubrin smiled.
"Wonderful work indeed! And we will put your loot to work immediately. The tents in particular.
"It is unfortunate confirmation though. The Ironfang Legion has bridged the Marideth river.
"Did you make contact with the Chernasardo Rangers? What can they do to help?" She asked.
”Not yet Ma’am. We were trying to get you and the civilians to a place of safety first. Things have kind of developed on their own as we went along. Now that we literally hiked off with their whole camp we can ensure you all have viable shelter.”
”Once we get you set up, some of us can try to get to the Rangers.”
”Can you think of any other course of action? I don’t want to sound like a negative Nancy, but I am sure any known strategic site is going to be targeted. The enemy appears to have effective intel and multiple units active in the forest.”
"If they have harmed a single hair on any of the Applebough sisters heads well their will be a whole mess of multiple dead hobs in the forest."
He grumbled mostly to himself. He had to put his mind elsewhere. He couldnt keep thinking of those girls it would eat him up if he did.
"Im not good at much but scouting and lancing.... but anything Sebastian and I can do to help out things here before we go searching for rangers?
"Once we get everything set up here and a decent night's rest, that's our next objective. As John pointed out, it's possible they've already had to deal with the Legion, so no telling what we'll find, but getting to them and whatever help we can gather there is still in the plan." Faerieth confirms.
”I was halfway hoping they would have found you guys while we were gone. Seems like they would have already found us if it were normal times.”
”Can you think of any other course of action?"
Aubrin shook her head.
"I cannot. We need some kind of shelter safe from the winter and safe from the Legion. I'm really hoping the Rangers know somewhere." She replied.".... but anything Sebastian and I can do to help out things here before we go searching for rangers?"
Aubrin smiled at this.
"Well, just your presence is giving the refugees hope..."She smiled.
"But since you asked..." She said, standing up. She beckoned you out of the tent and into the middle of the clearing, where the other refugees have gathered.
Aubrin smiled.
“We wouldn’t have made it this far without you,” she said.
“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 picked up a staff and held it upright in both hands.
A crossbeam has been tied to the top of the staff and a green scarf hung 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 said proudly. “Something to rally us. What do you think?”
"It's perfect!" Faerieth says with a warm smile that seems to chase away the exhaustion and stress for a brief moment. "A solid reminder of what we've managed to achieve as a community so far, and how much more we'll accomplish sticking together."
Yaron smiles, "I.... think it's excellent. And I quite agree -- too often people focus on the immediate needs of survival -- food, water, shelter -- and while they are all important, it's also critical that we give people a reason to want to live."
”How about a badger? The badger has always been a symbol for persistence, confidence and strong will. ... The badger is also a symbol of protection and defense, because this animal is always ready to defend its boundaries. The badger can also symbolize individuality and independence.”
”The badger is very assertive. It always defends its ground, even when faced with bigger and more powerful foes. The symbol of the badger tells us to fight back, even if we have to do it slowly and bit by bit. When cornered, badgers never back down even if they are losing the fight.”
”Thats why the badger is also a symbol of fearlessness. In the animal kingdom, it’s a very small creature —- but it can pack a punch, and it proves that size does not matter when you’re up in a survival situation. Sometimes you might find yourself in competition for something, or defending something that is yours from being taken. Even though you might find yourself disadvantaged, you can still stand tall knowing that it’s he who fights best that wins. Pound for pound.”
”Even when not immediately facing danger the badger digs in and holds on through tough winters, one of the most industrious animals.”
”Badgers would rather die than give up.”
”Uh, oh! You mean the banner is the symbol. Yeah. It’s cool. Maybe we can add a badger to it too some day.”
As John goes on his diatribe about the merits of badgers, Faerieth looks on in a mix of amusement and confusion. Noting the awkward silence, she works to shift the focus, to not lose the momentum of the unveiling of the standard, and what it meant to everyone. ”Maybe we can see if Blondbeard can work a badger onto your shield or something, you seem to identify pretty strongly with them”
"Alright everyone we've got tents, blankets for and a lot of other stuff to get set up, so let's get to work! Everyone gets to have a warm, sheltered night and a solid meal in their bellies tonight!"
Quietly he took the banner from her and tested its weight and heft in his hands. He would have to adjust some straps on his saddle, but he was pretty sure he could carry it into battle with them if need be. After all while he had never led a van of cavalry into battle, he knew how to. The scowl on his face faded as he turned to Aubrin.
"I wont let it fall... you can count of that m'am."
He said softly.
Yaron nods at Faerith's declaration, adding, "And, exclusive to camp tonight, a dashing performer will spin some tales for everyone after dinner..."
”Heh, dinner, a tent, and a show. Well I will take that in compromise.”, Big John says jovially.
Arlen strides into the camp, deep in thought, a brace of small game over his shoulder and a bow in his hand. He glances up to see the rest of the party in the camp and his face breaks into a smile. "You're alive! And you're back! It is so good to see you all again. What have you discovered, and what are we doing next?"
"After leaving off from wherever the witch left us we found the body of a local trapper, murdered by the hobgoblins, that led to the Gristledown Logging Camp . They’d gotten there before us, gutted the camp, and flayed those they found there…so we ended them and brought everything we could back here." Faerieth says, managing to keep her emotions under control in the retelling.
"As far as what next...a good night's rest is at the top of the list."
After a good night of sharing what rations they had with the camp, the heroes of the Hemlock Banner rose with the grey and drizzly morning light. After eating and their various morning activities, they set out to find the Chernasardo Rangers redoubt.
After most of a days travel south through the chilly drizzle of rain in a forest, you all came to the east-west road again. You peek out from a position concealed by brambles.
Yaron hisses in a stage-whisper, "Boots. Walking in step. From the West. Probably Hobgoblins."
"I'm sorry to hear about the camp. There's nothing you could have done." Arlen says to Faerieth.
----
At the east west road, Arlen kneels down to study the mud. A moment later he curses under his breath "Hobnail boot tracks, more and more of them." He says quietly. He turns his head, perking up his ears, and then nods at Yaron's exclamation. "You're right, my friend..."
"Quick! Let's take cover! If it is a small enough band perhaps we can ambush them." he nocks an arrow to his bow and moves to hide behind a tree.
”We should have run into the Rangers by now, their patrols should have been thick in these parts. I assume the Hobs have them occupied. I don’t know how beneficial it would be to ambush this group. It may lead to more forces dispatched into the area. Our refugees would possibly pay the price.”
"Letting them just pass by is likely to lead to them meeting up with others to reinforce them...or we leave them alone, and they move on and kill someone who can't fight them off." Faerieth replies. "Our camp is the better part of a day's travel away in the opposite direction to their focus."
Yaron offers, "Maybe we hide and see how big they are and decide then?"
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When Arlen brought up the camp Darry could only scowl.
"not true, we could have killed even more of the bastards."
Later at the sound of the approaching hobgoblins....
"Baited ambush. You folk hide, Sebastion and I will show ourselves 'run' away and have them follow, you murder the ever loving 'ell out of them, Sebastion and I come crashing in to finish them off. "
At this point you can just see them come around a bend up the road. There seems to be one hobgoblin dressed in muted colors holding a crossbow at port arms, moving alone. He looks around at the trees and underbrush as he marches, and sometimes pauses to down at the road as he moves along. You peg him as a Scout.
As he came up next to your position on the road, you can see eight more hobgoblins in full Ironfang legion uniform, chainmail, caps, spears and shields come around the bend up the road as well. They move in file, marching to the tune of something their sergeant bellows out. These look like the standard hobgoblin soldiers you saw at the sacking of your hometown, Phaendar.
I put all your tokens behind that big rock, but you can be anywhere along the roadway. There's plenty of concealment behind trees, foliage, rocks, etc.
Check your tokens for accuracy.
What do you decide to do?
"Darry, do you think you and Sebastion can run down their scout and take him out while we hit the rest of them?"
" We're taking them out" Arlen confirms in a whisper once the full troop is in sight. He nocks an arrow to his bow as he picks his target...