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Erico Caravellino {Human Thief Lvl: 6 HP: 15/15 AC 8}:

"Yes, it is perhaps best to avoid the Hobgoblins at this time."

The party watches the hobgoblins, discussing a plan of action. The hobgoblins, for their part, are now watching you closely from across the small plaza, perhaps eyeing your horses. Most seem to have spears, and while many were distracted before, they are all alert, now. The ones who you originally saw looking at you, guards, perhaps, move to screen a group near the center.

One hobgoblin in that central group, larger than the rest, and likely the leader, barks something to his followers in an animalistic voice. The hobgoblins react to the command, but aren't (yet) moving towards you.

Phoebe and Diana shall dismount and begin to back away from the hobgoblins.

Erico Caravellino {Human Thief Lvl: 6 HP: 15/15 AC 8}:

Erico will back away as well, still mounted.

A well placed missile volley and a charge would scatter them just fine.

Mumbles Ludwig under his heavy helmet but Damiane agrees with the rest saying we Have more important things to do!


And so the guard backs away slowly, making sure to stay between Damiane and the visible Hobgoblins. None of them will dismount.

Lucius nocks an arrow, but keeps his bow trained away from the hobgoblins. He guides his mount to move away from the hobgoblins with his knees and keeping his eyes roaming all around.

Be on your guard everyone. There may be more of them about.

Zaid follows Lucius. He sweeps the ground ahead with his eyes to sense if the hobgoblins passed through from this direction. If they did, he looks to see if any might have split off from the main band.

The group exhibits caution, retreating slowly from the hobgoblin band. As you move away, you see that the hobgoblins were loading things into canoes at the riverbank on the other side of the plaza. As you move south, around the plaza, they show no sign of following, but after you have moved out of sight, you hear whooping calls come up from the direction of the plaza, probably signals from the band to others in the area, though you have no way of interpreting them.

You are note faced with the question... How far down river will you go before crossing, or will you stay on the near side of the river? You've made about 10 miles today, and could reasonably make about 6 more on lightly wooded terrain like this without "force marching" and starting to wear out the horses.

Let's stick to the river and cross it as soon as possible. Following it for too long only puts us further away from our goal..

Says Damiane.

The nameless river is fairly shallow, going to maybe 2-3 feet deep right now, but it is wide, about 300 feet across here. This river does not appear on the traders map, but rather only on the "local map", about 2 hexes west of Blackspell. It is fed by the Ered Mar mountain runoff, which is only beginning, and it it's freezing cold.

Ah, guess I was misapprehending where we were. Bad Explorer.

Agreed, m'lady. We should get a little away from the hobgoblins and then get across.

Erico Caravellino {Human Thief Lvl: 6 HP: 15/15 AC 8}:

"Yes, a little more away from the Hobgoblins then we will traverse the river."

The group heads upriver a bit, then finds a nice spot to ford. The crossing is not difficult, and the horses don't seem to be too bothered by the cold water. On the other side of the river, the ground gets hillier, but is not especially hard going. You see no further sign of the hobgoblins, though occasionally you hear calls suggesting that there are others out there. The days forage doesn't produce much of value, unfortunately.

You make camp and set watches in a defensible spot. The night is cold, but passes quietly. The next day, a strong, icy wind blows from the west, making it feel cold, though there are no storm clouds on the horizon. As you are preparing to leave, another band of orange-faced hobgoblins, some 30 strong, stumbles through the forest right into your campsite! They are clad in black leather and red, armed with spears. They pause about 30 feet away and those in the front raise their spears and start barking at you in hobgoblin.

Actions!

Erico Caravellino {Human Thief Lvl: 6 HP: 15/15 AC 8}:

Erico assumes a defensive poster & awaits an interpretation of what the Hobgoblins said.

What are these mongrels barking about? ask Damiane with an annoyed look on her face.

Todd: