Fresh with reinforcements, the party heads back out to the mountains. They march along on the northern side of the ridge. [They pass a gnoll scouting party patrolling on the south ridge.] From the ridge, the party points out their objectives. They note the considerable deforestation along the river. [Ogres are now working away along the sides of the river. By reducing the tree cover, they hope to discourage ambushes in the area.] Jak asks Seth about her past and why she despises gnolls. “The first raid I remember, I was only a small girl. Our hamlet was on the outskirts of Palosen. The war between Aritur and Bendros took most of the men from our village. I heard people screaming as the howls came closer. My mother told me to hide inside the hen house. The screaming, the howls and snarls came closer. I didn’t come out for hours. When I did, there wasn't much left. The smoke still lingered over the mutilated bodies. I found my way to my aunt’s house after that. After that day, I knew someone had to do this. Someone had to fight back. I’ll kill as many as I can, as long as I can.”
Traveling through the woods north of the dam, the party hears a scouting party of 20 gnolls. Assuming it’s just another small group; they spread out and move up for a closer look. The gnolls spot them trying to sneak up and charge. A fierce battle ensues. All would have been lost if not for the foresight of buying some healing potions. Just about the entire party drop at some point, including the dragon. When it’s all over, Jak crushes all the heads. Martin bleeds out as the two priests check their fallen comrades. Squishy finds a brain to consume as the other strip the bodies of gear.
A gnoll patrol returns with most of the mangled and melted bodies they found. A dark cloaked figure parts the crowd and examines the condition of the remains. The smashed heads upsets him. “These wounds are strange. Some of them...look as if they were completely helpless. They injuries here are from a dragon attack; a young dragon.” The gnolls describe the dragon they gave Midel. They now suspect Midel is part of the party conducting these raids. They will not risk any more large patrols. The camps will be left too vulnerable if larger parties are sent out. Patrols will be sent out with the newly arrived trolls as trackers. The gnolls send runners to their allied tribes to attack Midel’s house and the valley below. This treachery will not go unpunished.
Migi has been pickpocketing his way through the bugbear camp. His lucrative bribes keep him above suspicion, for the most part. However, the arrival of three trolls forces him to flee from his routine espionage. Trolls are tough enough to ask for anything; and dumb enough to still rat you out. He wasn’t sure withdrawing was necessary until he heard the patrols talking. Trolls will accompany the scouts and sniff out any intruders in the area. The arrival of ogres to the camp has him equally concerned. Migi returns to his exterior scouting tactics, hiding just beyond the camp. He explains that he has to go check on the incoming supplies. At night he makes camp in a small cave. With enough caltrops and tripwires surrounding his makeshift refuge, maybe nobody will bother him there.
Midel demands an audience with Erol at his tower. Midel accuses him of breaking into his house and stealing a number of items, including a dragon. Erol professes that he knows nothing about any dragon. Furthermore, he has no reason to break into Midel’s house and steal anything he wouldn’t have any use for. Erol warns him of such wild accusations. Several guards died from something Midel was supposed to control, within his own house. Such reckless negligence could be…dangerous in the eyes of the local authorities.
The party returns to Forge Valley. Seth, Baron, and Crade are rewarded 50 gp each for their aid. [Baron reports back to the Temple of St Cuthbert. The priests there grow concerned that someone is indeed trying to raise the old temple. Since they haven’t gotten any news on the growing orc numbers to the west, they still won’t commit any clerics to the east.]
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