Following their meeting with Town Speaker Norro Wiston and Captain Soranna Anitah, the party spends the remainder of the evening preparing to depart the next morning. They have had very little downtime, in fact none, since returning from Terrelton, but given the urgency of the situation, this is understandable. A palpable tension hangs in the air as nervous citizens attempt to go about their business as though this were any other day, but cautious glances toward the Dawn Way suggest otherwise.

The next morning arrives warm and clear promising another sweltering day ahead, though instead of spending it on the open road, this day promises a trek through a warm forest with a mix of oaks, subtropical evergreens and plenty of undergrowth. Specifically, the party decides to forego the easier but longer route along the Dawn Way, in favor of a more discrete trek through the Witchwood on The Witch Trail.

Departing town, the party follows a footpath leading from the fields north of Drellin's Ferry into the Witchwood. The footpath is quite narrow in parts, though it is fairly easy to follow Captain Anitah's directions. After traveling along the footpath for about an hours, the party comes to a fork in the trail and veers westward, per the Captain's instructions. The trail parallels a creek, the proximity of which attracts teeming swarms of gnats, chiggers and ticks and the adventurers spend an exorbitant amount of time doing their best to ward off the blood-thirsty pests.

After another hour or so, the trail leads past a small cabin in a deep forest glade. A ramshackle front porch is littered with fishing baskets and skinning frames. The cabin overlooks a dark bayou or lake, with old gray cedar trees draped in moss rising out of the water. An old skiff is tied up on the shore nearby, and a little smoke curls from the fieldstone chimney. Jorr's cabin.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:16, Wed 02 Aug 2017.

 The journey into the Witch wood on the so-called witch trail, was fraught with perils. But in this case, the perils where the insects that attempted to suck the group dry, before they even got the scent of a Hobgoblin.

 Marklin was at the front of the small band, playing the role of van guard, if they ran into trouble. When they arrived at what speared to be the dwelling of the man they sought, The Warrior raised his spear to call a halt. He pointed to the house and looked to the Dwarf. “ Do ye wish to give the place the once over, afore we all go blundering  in?”

Sarah adds a look of slight discomfort to her usual repertoire of glumness.

"We don't need to look like we're getting ready to storm his house," Eoni pointed out distractedly as she waved a leafy branch around her head.  The bugs were atrocious and she was regretting the decision to forgo the more established route.  Her boots were soaked, her dress was muddy again, and she'd nearly dunked herself crossing that last stream.  She was just thankful they hadn't got lost.

Or rather she hoped this was the right cabin.

"Just stay here and I'll see if he's home.  I don't think anyone's sent word that we'd be coming and we want his help.  So try to look friendly."

Still waving her leaves, Eoni approached the cabin to knock.

"Hello?" she called tentatively as she closed on the building.  "We're looking for Jorr.  We were sent by the town and we hope you could guide us through the Witchwood to find the hobgoblin raiders."

 When Eboni started giving orders and started to head for the cabin, Marklin barred her progress with the haft of his spear. “I don’t offer spiritual advice, so ye don’t offer advice on tactics, woman.”

Eoni's approach and call of 'hello' causes a trio of dogs let out a chorus of agitated bays. A moment later, three big hunting dogs emerge from under the porch, where they had been lying to escape the oppressive sun. The dogs charge out from their slumbering position, growling and snapping ferociously as they advance on the adventurers...

OOC: Everyone please make a d6 Spot check and describe your response to the three dogs.

23:45, Today: Aldara rolled 5 using 1d6 ((5)).

Aldara Spot Check.</Goldenrod>

Instinctively, Aldara jerks a hand towards one of her daggers, but pauses.

23:49, Today: Aldara rolled <goldenrod>13,2 using 1d20+1,1d4 ((12,2)).

ONLY IF THE DOGS ARE NOT CALLED OFF or they draw blood first will Aldara throw a dagger.

"Stop!" Eoni shouted at the others as she backed away from the cabin, looking for a tree to climb.  "Don't hurt them!  We need his help!"

Eoni Daflin rolled 4 using 1d6 with rolls of 4.  Big Dogs!

" Eoni, ye are a fool. Get behind me." Said Marklin, as he got between the Priestess and the dogs, ready to defend her and himself, if needs be.

From her position (now, where did that girl go?) Sarah does nothing but watch in case the dogs come at her.  Which seems unlikely, but still . . .


07:53, Today: Sarah rolled 1 using 1d6 with rolls of 1.  spot check.

09:10, Today: Marklin rolled 5 using 1d6 with rolls of 5.  Spot check roll.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:11, Thu 03 Aug 2017.

"Moradin's beard!" Valthur takes a step back, keeping his axe ready while hoping he won't have to use it.

00:08, Today: Valthur Ironhelm rolled 2 using 1d6 with rolls of 2.  Spot check.

[Private to Sarah: Shortly after the three hounds begin baying, Sarah hears movement within the cabin, creaky floorboards, and then sees a weatherbeaten man peering through a shuttered window.]

The dogs continue to advance, snarling and yapping the whole time, then the cabin door opens and a lean woodman of indeterminate age steps onto the porch. He has a seamed, leathery look to his face and arms, and a big curved knife sits in a sheath strapped to one thigh. "Don't get many visitors out here," he rasps above the barking dogs, all three of which close to a distance of about 10 feet from the adventurers.

"Quiet!" he yells at the hounds. This has the desired effect. "Who're you, and what d'ya want with me?" he inquires while scratching his side.
This message was last edited by the GM at 10:37, Fri 04 Aug 2017.

"Hello," Eoni started again, trying to ignore the dogs and the state of her attire.  Her composure was not at its best.

"My name is Eoni, Sister of Avandra.  We have been sent by the town to seek out the hobgoblin raiders that have been plaguing the roads.  Speaker Wiston mentioned that you were familiar with the Witchwood and your assistance would be invaluable.

"We would like to hire you to help us search them out.  Is this something we could discuss?"

She smiled and tried to look hopeful.  On the plus side, Marklin hadn't speared one of his dogs.

 Marklin let the "Captain" do the talking while he watched those dogs.

Jorr squints while casting his eyes over each adventurer in turn. His hounds have now ceased barking, though all three are quite attentive and still on high alert for any sudden movement.

Upon hearing the adventurers' purpose, Jorr responds, "Blasted goblins! I just can't stand'em! Wood's rotten with 'em right now!"

"Yeah, I know these woods like the back of my hand," he admits with no shortage of pride. "Been livin' here for probably as long as you been breathin'!"

He considers Eoni's final request for a few moments before answering, "All righty. But I aint lookin' to get myself killed. I want 5 gold a day...or 10 if you've got a mind to go off someplace dangerous."

Eoni looked to the others for confirmation before replying to Jorr, "Yes, we can accept those terms."

She stepped out from behind Marklin to continue.

"We're hoping to catch them unaware, preferably in small bands that we could handle.  We'll have to run if there are too many.

"If you could help us scout them out and find good places to ambush them, I think that would be our first step."

"Well, I seen worg riders and trouble makers all over, especially along the Dawn Way. So you won't have to look to hard there."

"Along Swift Creek, Cold Creek, or Skull Creek...you're sure to find 'em lurking about any one of them," he says.

"Moving up and down the Dwan Way for a while yet," he says while swatting a gnat that had been feasting on his forearm. "Don't know about small groups though. That might be a tall order. These aint been like the normal rabble that come through. Got some organization to them," he confides.

Aldara's hand drops, and while Eoni negotiates the sorceress just looks from dog to dog, and then finally to Jorr himself.  Then, she looks to Sarah, but returns to Jorr when he mentions that these bandits are more than ordinary rabble.

"We've heard talk of sorcerous types in their ranks.  Do you have any more information?  Are these just embellishments?"
This message was last edited by the player at 23:13, Sat 05 Aug 2017.

Jorr shrugs in response to Aldara's question and responds, "Don't know nothin' 'bout that. Just know I seen and heard large groups of them muckin' about on the Dawn Way. Must have a camp somewhere."

After swatting away a cloud of gnats, he continues, "They come from up yonder in the Wyrmsmokes, but seems like they brought a big war party to the Wood. Maybe they came down the Old Forest Road, or might be they came by the Skull Gorge. My money's on Skull Gorge. Could also be holed up in Vraath's Keep. Just the sort of thing those damned goblins would go and do!"

"What's a Vraath Keep?"

"You're kiddin' me, right?" Jorr asks Marklin somewhat incredulously.

Jorr proceeds to briefly tell the party about Vraath's Keep. Vraath Keep was once an important stronghold along the Dawn Way, the Rhestilor soldiers stationed there the primary defenders of the region. Their presence kept the road safe for merchants to travel.

The last lord of the keep before the fall of Rhest, Amery Vraath, laid claim to the entire Witchwood after his kingdom dissolved into petty baronies. Lord Vraath waged an aggressive campaign to tame the Witchwood and rid it of its evil reputation. Chief among his targets were a tribe of forest giants that dwelt deep in the woods. The tribe was known as the Twistusks and they generally kept to themselves, raiding the Dawn Way only occasionally.

Lord Vraath was successful in routing the Twistusks from their ancestral homes and enjoyed a brief period of peace following the campaign. But the Twistusks eventually had their revenge and sacked the keep. The captured soldiers were taken away and eaten. All except Lord Vraath. Rumor has he it he fled somewhere deep within the dungeon during the giants' siege, his remains never found. Rumors persist that Lord Vraath haunts the ruin and that those that dare to travel the Dawn Way at night say they sometimes hear the sounds of his anguished cries.

"So if'n those goblins are crazy enough to hole up there, let's hope Vraath's ghost's givin' 'em a what for!" he puts in emphatically.

"Sounds as good a place as any. Let's go" Said Marklin,with his usual lack of patience.

To Marklin's question, Aldara can only gape.  She gives Jorr a look as if to say "this is what we have to deal with every day".  Her normally pale skin goes a couple of shades paler at the woodsman's account, and for so very many reasons.

Eoni was glad they hadn't followed their original plan to investigate Vraath Keep after returning from Terrelton.  If it were the foothold for this war band in the Witchwood, things would not have gone well.

"We can't go directly to the keep," Eoni pointed out.  "There's likely to be well more than we can handle.  Let's try to find a smaller group to test our strength and work up to locating their stronghold.

"Is there somewhere we'd find the least of them passing by and form an ambush?" she asked of Jorr.  Perhaps along some of the smaller tributaries he'd mentioned.

She was no tactician but it seemed that if they hid along a trail and surprised a smaller group, they'd have the best chance of success.