Chapter 2, Day 12

You wake in the morning feeling rested and refreshed. You gather your things and bid farewell to the elves, who thank you again for your help and reassure you that in the next day or two your requested items will be delivered by owl rider. A mystic from the clan gives Paws a small gemstone on a thin black cord, "This will help us find you. Be safe."

You set out on the road, aiming to get out of the marshland as swiftly as possible. At the elves recommendation you head for the Rhest Trail, which is an easier passage south than walking through the Witchwoods. The elves informed you that once you reach the first river you will either be forced to trek directly through the woods if you insist on heading straight to your goal, or detour eastward and follow the trail until it the Witchcross, at which point you should take the west fork to Talar (the eastfork leads directly to Brindol).

Unfortunately, about an hour after you leave the elven camp, your plan for a quick departure is halted when you spot a thin plume of black smoke on rising from ahead of you. Following the smoke down you see, about a thousand meters ahead of you, a wooden blocked has been erected on the road. The smoke is coming from what is probably a cookfire. You see figures standing atop the blockade, but from this distance can't quite make out who, or what, they are other than humanoid.

Up ahead a crude, ten-foot palisade of logs has been erected across the road, extending forty feet to either side and completely blocking all passage. A squat, twenty-foot tall watchtower looms in the middle of the palisade. The road ends at a large set of double doors in the base of the tower. You catch a glimpse of movement up in the tower and spy a hobgoblin archer leaning against a post, chin on his chest.

Pawetha determines that there are eight hobgoblins and two ogres stationed here. She can only see the one hobgoblin on the top of the watchtower. The others, including the ogres, are probably inside.

The ground is pretty damp, and the logs the palisade is made out of, from this distance, doesn't look particularly dry. A small fire probably won't get it to start up. A fire anywhere might catch the attention of the guards. There are a few trees scattered along the sides of the road such a distraction could be concealed behind.

Xara doesn't recognize the guard, he's a hobgoblin. Paws detects no movement outside the barraicade.

A tree to the west is set alight as Xara flexes her pyromancy skills. A few moments later there is motion atop the barricade. Then, the gate opens and three hobgoblins with short spears and medium armor featuring bold red hands crudely painted on the front step out. The three guards make their way down the road towards the rising smoke, and you.

You all, even Kaikas, manage to conceal yourselves from the hobgoblins. Xara darts into the marsh and even you lose sight of her. The hobgoblins, true to your expectation suddenly veer off the path and begin working their way through the marshland towards the rising plume of smoke.

There are three, and they don't seem to have noticed you.

The hobgoblins halt for a moment. They look more confused than convinced.