[The mounted guards return to the keep.]
The party wakes up and decides to skirt the trees until they reach the river. This is where Elf & Jak were ambushed a few weeks ago. They pass 4 farmers pushing 2 carts of cabbages, carrots, and radishes. Some of the farmers are skittish around the party. They say they don’t know anything about the bandits. The mercenaries buy a few vegetables as they pass. The party reaches the river area where Squishy soaks for an hour.
Mary can hear a few birds take off deeper in the forest. [Birds are scared off as the watch is changed on the lookout tree near the bandit camp.] The party decides to cut into the forest. Several small trails are in the area. Jak hears a horse in the distant northwest. Squishy spots a piece of meat hanging from a rope to the northeast. [5’ deep pit trap] Jak shoots the meat and it swings on the rope. Nothing happens and the party continues north to find a well-worn west-east trail stretching along the foot of the mountains. Elf hears some commotion to the west [where the remaining bandits have spotted the party and are getting ready to leave.] Squishy & Solaera spot a low rope across the path. Taylor follows the rope to some scraps of metal. There is a small landslide of rocks along the path to the east. [The bandits use this as a distraction to draw people away.] Elf throws two rocks at the cans to see what happens. A bandit cries out and a few horses can be heard riding off.
The Erythnul Priest came through the other day. He suspects that his cover has been blown and cannot safely stay within the Keep. By chance, he is ambushed by the bandits on his way back to report his progress. He makes them a lucrative offer: watch the Keep and report everything that they see to him. The bandits have gone to Forge Valley to sell the skins and find out what they can about the Erythnul priest.
Nothing too significant remains. A cask of wine is still here along with 3 bedrolls on the ground. Many other places look slept in, but everything is gone. Smaller paths can be found leading off to the N, NE, E, and SW.
The party runs after the sound of horses led by Jak and Frawn. [The bandits are setting traps behind them. One bandit gets caught on a branch momentarily.] The party hears someone cry out and start a hard ride again. Jak spots a piece of torn cloth and heads off in that direction. Jak runs right into a spring pole trap and is hit in the face by a branch.
The party breaks out into a clearing by the river and spots one bandit riding away. The bandit takes a magic missile. His horse takes an arrow and a crossbow bolt, but keeps riding. Another bandit bolts around the corner and they ride out of sight.
The party follows the river to the edge of the clearing to see the bandits far off. "Well, they’re gone. Do we chase after them or wait for them back at the camp?" While discussing what to do next, some of the mercenaries spot a dust cloud to the northwest. [Mounted guards returning to the Keep spot the party and the two horsemen bolting. Five guards take off after the two bandits.] The others hear a strange bleeting near a patch of trees. The party decides to find out what the noise is. They see a baby lizardman crying near some pine trees. One of the guards raises his crossbow. Just then long arms reach out from the trees and grab it.
Spider Trees:
The spiders have not noticed the party. Jak decides to light an arrow and catch the webbing on fire. [Three Large Spiders become agitated by the quickly spreading flames and exit the woods.] The spiders charge the party and a long combat ensues. Jak, Mike, and Frawn suffer from poisonous bites. Elf, Mike, and Demnek each down a spider. Mike and Taylor lose their swords during the fight. The fire continues to engorge the webbing through the pine trees. Jak throws the orc head in the fire. It's caused him enough trouble. [The growing plume of smoke attracts the attention of everyone: the bandit lookout, the Keep, and the guard patrol. The remaining guards on patrol ride towards the party. But the river and the marsh lay between them. It will take some time to cross]
The party searches the spiders and waits for the fire to die down. [The treasure from the encounter is all in the woods.] The party notice the horsemen coming. They decide to flee back into the woods. [The Sergeant of the Watch fires two long shots at his fleeing quarry. Frantic that he will yet again lose the bandits in the wood, he strikes his foot with a third hasty shot.]
The party returns to the Bandit Camp to spend the night. The mercenaries stand around looking at the camp. They examine it one more time and load their crossbows. "What is it?" They point down to the 3 bed rolls. "Only 2 two people rode off." Squishy & Jak stay on watch. A bandit (Mel) comes back from the tree lookout point. Mel was supposed to be relieved hours ago. He stops and waits. Squishy hears someone in the dark and uses his ESP. Mel is wondering who is in camp now and if it is safe to come back. After Taylor, Mary, Frawn, and Elf are awoken, they line up and await something to happen...
Frawn gets tired of waiting. He tells Taylor to fire on his signal. He casts light on a bolt which Taylor fires immediately. The lit bolt startles Mel who tries to get back to his horse & ride away. Taylor shoots him. Mary manages to spook the horse. In the confusion, Squishy mind blasts them both.
Squishy charms Mel and then conceals thoughts on Elf. Solara casts cure light wounds on Mel and goes back to sleep. The rest of the party questions Mel about the bandit group. He talks about the lookout tree to the north; the approximate number of bandits, bandits went to town, the two bandits that may have been captured. Elf tries to convince him that he leads them to the tree. Mary climbs the tree and mans the lookout all night. Elf says they are here to help and suggest attacking the watch patrols. Mel is convinced enough to lead the party to the other encampment on the eastern edge of the forest.
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