Aubrin asks to meet with you the next morning to discuss what to do next. She is still recovering from her wounds, so she should not leave camp, but she is now well enough to supervise the refugees while you go explore, if needed.
When you sit down with Aubrin, she begins, "Most of these people would never have made it out of town if not for you, thank you. Now, we need to make sure that they have everything they need while we wait to see what the hobgoblins do. We need to make sure everyone has food, shelter, and things to do to keep them from moping. We also should find out more about the area. This temporary camp will work for a little while, but when cold weather comes, we will need something better. Also, we are very vulnerable here to attack."
"I can scout and keep an eye on things but what are our options for more defensible territory?" Ira asks holding his squirming daughter on his lap as they spoke to the woman.
"We probably need to try and find some place that we can make into a shelter. We need to talk to everyone and get all the information we can about local places that we could turn into what we need."
Korvak says while attempting to look a bit Zen while sitting, he is a monk afterall.
Arcavic nods in agreement. "A more permanent, better protected shelter would be ideal. If you know of such a place, we can see about finding it. Regardless, I think we should begin exploring the surrounding area to make sure we are clear from threats. It would not do to have some hobgoblins sneak into the camp and kill us in our sleep."
Cnut nods "Indeed. Temporary shelters are fine for now, but needing to constantly devote effort to maintaining them is a waste in the long term."
Lillie turns towards Valasca "you mentioned that you are used to live in these woods. Do you know of a place that would be easier to defend and suitable for a more permanent camp?
Korvak will go ask everyone he can about what they know of the area and if there are any places that might be suitable to being congerted to long term syelter.
Lillie turns towards Valasca "you mentioned that you are used to live in these woods. Do you know of a place that would be easier to defend and suitable for a more permanent camp?
"It's only recent that I've returned to the area, I'm from a lizardfolk village in fangwood called Spawning Springs, it has ample fish during salmon season. When I returned to the area I saw that maybe 1 in 3 homes in the village were still occupied, I think the Ironfangs took slaves from my people."
Those of you familiar with the area put your heads together and come up with a list of possibilities for a more permanent shelter. Aubrin points out that she knows of a small refuge for Charnisardo rangers near here, and suggests that you make contact with them. There's a small cabin off in the woods, too. There's also a system of caves. You know the general area of each of these, but you don't know exactly where they are.
"Hmmm...I propose that we first make sure that we know what is in our immediate surroundings, then see about getting in touch with the Chernisardo Rangers. Even if we can't use it as permanent shelter for the refugees, they may at least provide them with extra protection. Does that sound good to everyone?"
"It does. I definitely think that making contact with the Chernasardo Rangers would be a good idea."
"Yep them Ranger folk are the best bet I can see."
"The Rangers have my trust"
"A bit on the self-important side, but who isn't these days? Rangers make as much sense as any of the other options for now."
" we should definitely make contact with the rangers, I am a Chernasadro recruit, I was sent to this area and we're just waiting for them to make contact. They are a bit secretive but I am sure that they will help us or at least direct us in the right direction."
As you talk, one of the refugees interrupts your meeting. "A man just showed up at our camp. He was running, and he is very scared."
"Lead on." says Korvak to the refugee and then he follows him.
Valasca tightens her grip on her quarterstaff and follows.
Arcavic sighs. I should have known they'd track us. Out loud, he says, "Let's go hear what has the man so frightened, and see what we can do a bout it." He then stands and motions for the refugee to show them to the man.
You follow the messenger to where a very scared man stands. He is so scared that all he can do is scream. He keeps looking back behind him.
"Sir, my name is Arcavic. You are safe here, now that you are amongst us. Please, sit, have some water, and tell us what it is that has happened."
Do calm down sir, the screaming might draw trouble.
Just in case the screaming has drawn trouble Korvak will keep a look out while the others tend to the man.
Cnut will stay out of the way, realizing that his own gruff nature will be of little use here.
"I... I... I'm Edran. I'm a traveler from Taldor. I was staying at the Taproot in Phaendar when those monsters attacked. I was so scared when I saw the invaders in the streets, but I managed to flee before
being spotted. I even saw a ferocious bugbear with a scarred head tearing a townsperson apart. I can't get his screams out of my head."
Lillie looks around worriedly
'I hope not one is following him, a panicked man is easy to track'
"You've come to the right place, Edran. Here, you will hopefully have a chance to rest and heal your mind. Come, sit. Please, tell us how you came to join us."
A bugbear? Best keep Korvak out of sight.
When you press Edran for more details, he is very vague and only repeats what he already said, together with complaining that he was too scared to notice or remember any more. He can't remember his run to you because of how scared he was.
Arcavic frowns in thought. He could tell Edran was holding something back, particularly since he couldn't remember how he'd gotten there - running blindly through the forest and he just happened to come across their encampment? It had been a couple of days since the attack, as well. No human could run for that long blindly.
Arcavic remembered one of the things his teachers in the Darklands had taught him: fear was exhausting. It drained your energy, broke your concentration, and made it more likely you would make a mistake or fall in blind panic. While fear could drive an escape, it eventually faded out of necessity - or else it killed you.
Arcavic replaces the frown with a smile and says, "Well, you've certainly had an arduous journey. We'll let you rest in a moment. But first, may I check you for any signs of trauma or such? A quick visual examination is all I will need."
If Edran agrees, Arctic's eyes will glow as he scans Edran with his natural gift to see magical auras.
Ira snorts and glances over at Korvak. Being a six foot wings lizard in a population of pink mammals instills a tendency not to judge a book by its cover. He was more interested in how Korvak would react.
Edran nods, clearly too weary to object.
Korvak sensing he should probably join in the conversation analyses the newcomer
Approaching the man and attempting to hunch down a bit to appear less huge.
"I sense thete is more to this story that you are leaving out, please tell us the whole story."
He looks at Korvak. "Well, you see, the way I got out of the inn was that a pixie came and knocked on the window. She said that something bad was coming and that she loved me too much to let me be hurt, so I jumped out the window following her, and I could fly! She led me into the forest, where I watched that bugbear tear the guy apart. Then I couldn't find my pixie friend, and I started running, and I don't know what happened after that until I found you."
"Yes an unconvincing story at best. If you do not wish to tell the truth I shall not trust you and I will keep an eye on you."
Korvak raises to his full height and steps back and away from the man
As Korvak steps away, Edran gets up and runs away.
'that fairy story is hard to believe but not impossible. Father always said that the truth is in the details...'
"that pixie friend of yours, what's her name. So we can tell her were you are if she shows up here."
Arcavic scans Edran with detect magic while saying, "Please don't let him get away. He'll likely blunder into an Iringang patrol and lead them right to us."
Observing from a distance, Cnut sees the man attempt to make a break for it. Knowing that speed will be of the essence, Cnut shifts into his bear form and bounds after the man.
Cnut, you catch up with him almost immediately, because he had to stand up first. What do you want to try to do?
Cnut is acting to chase the man down, I do not see him as any trouble thus I remain where I am..
"It seems he has something to hide after all."
"Or the sight of a looming bugbear after he watched another bugbear rip a man's head off frightened him quite a bit." Arcavic offers a slight sigh of irritation. "I'll have to teach you drow sign language. I was aware he was hiding something, and was in the process of scanning him for magical auras before he bolted. Humans cannot fly naturally, so there would have been some residue of magic from his experience with the pixie, unless he was lying, in which case there would be none, and we would know he still isn't telling the truth. I have seen stranger things occur than what is in his story. Had you known the signs, I would have let you know to stay back and let me handle it. Still, what's done is done. Perhaps if he is lying, having a bear chase him down will sufficiently cow him."
Arcavic notices a slight aura coming off of Edran's backpack, but not off of him.