Phandalin

With everyone gathered at the edge of the woods Carp begins to lead you along a barely noticeable trail, easily ducking beneath branches, and deftly working his way through the thick undergrowth. In a matter of moments the excited young halfling has outpaced the group and you quickly lose site of the boy.

While Cori frantically searches for traces of his younger brother, Colten and Etch both notice movement in the brush up ahead. Leaves fly and twigs snap as something zig zags through the undergrowth about thirty feet ahead. Behind the commotion two figures approach, "Get back here ya little brat!! We need to talk to you."

The two men, initially startled by Etch's call out to them, quickly turn their attention to the tall armored figure. "That kid yours?" one of them asks. "He needs to stop poking his nose where it ain't belong." The second man notices Colten striding towards them. "Easy there, fancy boy. Wouldn't want ya to get hurt!" he warns as he slowly draws a beat up looking sword. "Or maybe I woulds!"

Just then you here more frantic rustling through the brush as Carp goes tearing between Etch and Colten, "Mooooommmm"

Two more figures can be seen in the distance approaching the first two.

The two men appear confused with all of the questions and look at each other shrugging their shoulders.

"Modus what? What's a modus?" the taller one on the right asks.

"Don't know" the other responds before pointing at Etch. "This one knows who we are. If he was smart at all he'd be running 'bout now"

The two other men join their friends and don't appear to be in the mood for conversation. "Let's just deal with these clowns and get back." All four draw their weapons and rush in.