The chronicle record
Session recap
In a burned clearing, two charred bodies hung high in a tree, remnants of a recent tragedy. As the party surveyed the scene, a wood giant named Herge, who had initially threatened them, listened to Finnetharyn Fimbleshanks assert that they were Nirmathans investigating the aftermath of the fire, not the arsonists. Herge accepted their explanation, revealing his concern over hobgoblins in the forest and sharing that he had fled after mistakenly shooting a sacred boar. The party offered sympathy for his error, but Herge declined their suggestion of seeking help for his vision, insisting he was a wood giant and not suited for caves.
Herge declared the hobgoblins his enemies and promised to confront them with his club and bow. The party recounted their experiences with the Ironfang hobgoblins, emphasizing their suspicion of any local hobgoblin due to the invasion. Herge warned them of trolls in the western forest, particularly Canopy Trolls that ambushed from above. He humorously counted the party as the "Fangwood Six," with him as the seventh, before departing. Afterward, the party examined the burned scene more closely, discovering flasks of alchemist’s fire and arrows indicating a struggle had occurred nearby. Wren and Gundugar Herdtender identified heavy bootprints leading north, suggesting that the fire had been set three days prior but had been contained by some magical intervention. They found remnants of Chernasardo Rangers among the fused corpses and debated following the hobgoblin tracks but ultimately decided to return to Camp to meet a merchant.
Back at Camp, the party engaged in various tasks to bolster their resources, including hunting and crafting, while also warning others about the trolls and the friendly giant they had met. Mira, a young girl in Camp, sought Finn's guidance in music, while Gundugar focused on creating more bombs. When Norby, a trader, returned to Camp, she agreed to buy the party’s bulk loot and brought Finn the battle lute he had requested. After redistributing supplies, the party prepared to venture back into the forest to continue their exploration.
Leading the group north, Wren soon spotted a patrol of hobgoblin scouts. Recognizing their superior training, she identified their leader as a skilled crossbowman. As the scouts opened fire, the party quickly spread out, with Bruneg charging into the fray while Arsène picked off targets from cover. Finn bolstered their efforts with song, and Gundugar unleashed alchemical fire upon the enemy. The battle intensified, with Wren delivering a decisive blow to the hobgoblin leader, allowing Nova to take down another scout.
After defeating the patrol, the party looted the bodies, discovering better gear than they had previously encountered, indicating a nearby base. Continuing through a summer storm, they found signs of fey activity before stumbling upon a human figure in a poncho, only to reveal it as a dead Chernasardo Ranger covered in blue pustules. The corpse exploded into a cloud of poison, summoning a corrupted pixie that attacked the party. Finn attempted to communicate with the pixie, but it responded with hostility. The ensuing battle saw the party coordinating their attacks against the elusive fey. After a fierce exchange, they ultimately defeated the pixie, which lamented their lack of humor before dying. Upon examining the ranger’s body, they confirmed he had been dead for some time, with hobgoblin-made arrows in him. Among the pixie's belongings, they recovered a striking rune, reinforcing the need for ranged options in their ongoing struggles within the forest.