refugees

Faction overview

The refugees are a group of over twenty survivors from the town of Phaendar, who fled after it was overrun and set ablaze by hobgoblins. They are currently camped in Fangwood, lacking proper shelter and sleeping outside. The group is organized into separate teams under the leadership of The Party, with designated roles for gathering food, firewood, scouting, and watch duties. After escaping the hobgoblins, the refugees crossed Phaendar's Bridge into the forest without waiting for Party to regroup. In the forest camp, Aubrin the Green, a wounded leader among the refugees, expressed gratitude to Party for saving the townsfolk and indicated that the refugees were looking to them for leadership. Party began organizing the camp's people into working groups to handle essential tasks. The first day saw Wren's group gathering firewood, while other teams attempted to hunt for food, with varying success. The refugees faced challenges in their new environment, and their morale dropped due to the lack of shelter. Party salvaged supplies and magical items from previous encounters to support the camp.
The refugees are a displaced group residing at the Main Camp in the southern Fangwood. They have shown resilience and camaraderie, improving their mood through shared meals and songs. Recently, they experienced a health crisis, with several members falling ill due to contaminated water from a Shared Waterskin. After Party discarded the contaminated source and warned the refugees, those who were sick began to recover. The refugees actively contribute to camp life by gathering wood, hiding trails, bringing food, and finding livestock. They share resources such as apricots and venison. A sense of community is fostered through activities like tale-telling games, where they express gratitude towards Fangwood Six members. Aubrin acknowledged their unity by presenting an Improvised Banner as a new symbol for the camp.
Tragedy struck when a refugee on night watch was found murdered, prompting Party to investigate. They discovered tracks near the watchpost and returned with a Bounty Notice from a Fahrak. The refugees occupy the cleared Upper Caverns as a makeshift base, sheltering approximately forty people in communal sleeping areas. They have cleaned xulgaths nests, hung torches on the walls, and gathered provisions. Aubrin the Green organizes the group, with Edran fishing at the pool, Jed managing a kitchen to the north, and a named refugee tending mushrooms and greenery. The Ayubarin siblings alternate between watch and rest, while Orin the Captive Alchemist and Keening the dwarven smith have set up work areas near the repaired smithy. They expressed gratitude to Party and indicated their intention to lie low and wait for Chernasardo Rangers. Gundugar described them as PTSD refugees. Party requested trader Norby to announce herself more clearly to avoid alarming the refugees, and she agreed.
The refugees, now referred to as the Phaendar Refugees, are sheltered in a Main Camp and cave Camp, led in part by Aubrin, an ex-member of the Chernasardo Rangers. Camp contains recovered personal belongings from Phaendar, improvised herds and provisions, and a central chamber featuring a remembrance display. The population of refugees is growing, with morale and concealment being important aspects of their situation. After the return of Party with recovered belongings and two rescued wolf cubs, Camp residents examined and reclaimed some items, mourned others, and showed improved morale. Camp placed an unclaimed-items remembrance in the central chamber. The cubs, named Geri and Freki, were attached to Camp members. Provisions were replenished from Hobgoblin Scout stores, herds were expanded, and concealment and watch teams were adjusted. Over the following week, Camp remained well-fed, sheltered, and maintained high morale, although concealment was somewhat reduced by the increasing number of refugees. Aubrin convened Camp leaders and set three priorities: ensure the surrounding Fangwood is safe, learn more about the Ironfang Legion and its plans, and discover what happened to the missing Chernasardo Rangers.
The refugees shelter in the Xulgath caverns while seeking a permanent home. A Chernasardo Ranger reported no secure Fort, citing hostile fey at Fort Ristin, Ironfang Legion and a dragon at the northern Fort, and danger in other locations. Party informed the ranger of the refugees' location and invited the rangers to seek them out if a fort was secured. The surviving ranger agreed to allow the party to stay at the fort on the condition that the refugees are welcomed and the fort is repaired. The party's builders will assist with the repairs. Party then traveled east toward Fort Ristin.