With their new base now safe and beautiful Torch clan is ready to set their plan in motion. With the fireworks loaded up on the dogs the troupe makes their way back to the Licktoad tribe. They sing a song as they walk and distracted by the merry-making don’t notice the smoke until they arrive at the edge of town. The Licktoad huts and hovels are ablaze, plumes of black smoke rise in thick pillars above the swamp. A few cries of anguish and rage can be heard around town, presumably survivors of the devastation. As Torch’s crew move farther into the wreckage they spot a pair of tall pale long-shanks with bloody spears. The two puny humans fall before the might of the Pack. A few other longshanks are dispatched on the way to the chief’s longhouse. If there are no new tribe members to be had here then perhaps they can at least still blow up the chief. Surely such a powerful goblin would never lose to longshanks.
Chief Gutwad’s throne room smells even more or blood and death than usual. Slorb is slumped against the wall, his head is tilted at an unnatural angle and blood dribbles down his chin. The teeter chair is collapsed and in the debris lies a the bloody, but breathing, body of Chief Gutwad. The goblins stand above their fallen chief and laugh. Torch leans down and cries with glee ”Chief Gutwad lives! We still blow him sky high and start our own pack. Maybe not here I think.” The chief tries to speak but chokes on his own bile. After looting the Chief’s treasury the pack sets a pile of boom sticks around Ol’ Fatty and run from the longhouse. With a snap of his fingers Grubble Gruuu sets the moot house aflame. It isn’t long before the fireworks light up as well and the new tribe, still small, watches the display in wonder. Their fascination is broken when Professor Zord, struck by a sudden fit of sanity and intellect. reminds them that the fireworks are sure to bring more longshanks and it may be prudent to leave as quickly as possible.
Torch pack begins it treck back to the ship. Half-way there all three dogs (Dog, Dog-Dog, and Not-Dog) begin to howl and bark. Taking Zord’s hand gently in his teeth Dog-Dog leads the others to a muddy path through the swamp. A large group of longshanks clearly just passed by minutes ago, fifteen at the least, and they are heading straight for the ship. Even Torch must admit that fifteen longshanks warriors may be too many for his little pack. Begrudgingly he makes the decision to turn around and begin the arduous task of finding a new home. Grubble suggests the Birdcruncher tribe may be the best place to start. The trip to the Birdcrunchers is long and hard. Several times the group gets lost. They fight off a terrible bear, angry raccoons, even a small band of adventurers, but Torch Pack is strong and Torch Pack survives.
After a week of travelling you have arrived at the edge of Birdcruncher Territory. You know their village lies a few hours ahead of you but now you need to decide what exactly your plan is when you get there.
