The chronicle record
Session recap
The kitchen of the reclaimed fort was filled with the scent of sandwiches being prepared by a one-legged halfling ranger, bloodied yet resolute. He humorously inspected the meat, dismissing any notion of it being human or hobgoblin. When Finnetharyn Fimbleshanks asked about dragons, the halfling recounted a bog dragon that had attacked the fort, supported by a band of Ironfang Legion. He revealed his injury, showing them a crude crutch made from a broken table board, and shared tales of other Chernasardo Rangers, including Fort Trevalay, which was accessible only by three wooden bridges, one of which he believed was trapped. He also mentioned Fort Nunder, a small supply post with an underground vault he had never entered. The halfling expressed hope for survivors, recalling that several rangers had been kept alive by the hobgoblins before the fey took over. After declining his food but accepting apples, Fangwood Six decided to return to their Cave Camp to rest and plan their next steps.
Upon returning to camp, the party found the atmosphere positive, with residents busy and summer weather favorable. They were welcomed back and congratulated for their efforts in ensuring safety. The party recounted their experiences, explaining how they had cleared a ranger fort from Ironfang Legion and Fey, and discussed the dragon problem at the northern fort. Wren noted the bog dragon's acid breath and disease-carrying ability, leading the party to conclude that an immediate attack on the dragon was too risky. They decided to explore the western supply fort first. During their time at camp, Gundugar Herdtender crafted a magical spoon capable of purifying and stretching food, enhancing their supplies. After three days of preparation, the party set out westward, intending to visit the supply fort and possibly The Hermit along the way. As they traveled through the western forest, they discovered signs of trees that had uprooted themselves, suspecting something unusual was afoot. They encountered two trappers who warned them about increasing hobgoblin activity and the presence of canopy trolls, which hunted in packs and were vulnerable to fire.
As the party pressed on, Wren spotted a band of canopy trolls moving through the treetops. Finnetharyn quickly bolstered the party with magic, and Wren recognized the trolls as less intelligent than true trolls, noting their regenerative abilities could be halted by fire or acid. The trolls descended upon the party, attacking with claws and stings. Vendel Coldblade suffered a painful affliction from a troll's sting, while the party retaliated with concentrated attacks. Bruneg provided ranged support, Gundugar unleashed fiery bombs, and Wren shot down trolls at close range. Finnetharyn dazzled several trolls with magic, causing panic among them, while the party worked together to cut down the remaining threats.
After the ambush, the party assessed Vendel's condition, concluding it was a disease rather than a wound. They decided to continue toward The Hermit for a safer resting place. Upon reaching The Hermit's hut, they were greeted warmly, and The Hermit shared troubling tales of moving trees and Ironfang Legion. He described a tree that had walked away on rootlike feet and warned the party about Ironfang Legion he had dealt with. The party learned that the moving tree had gone north, and they decided to follow its trail. North of The Hermit's hut, they found fresh tracks of a moving tree leading to a rocky pond surrounded by cherry trees. When Finnetharyn greeted the trees in Fey, a deep voice responded, revealing the guardian of the forest, Longfrond. The party sought permission to be in the glade, explaining their intentions to help the wandering tree. However, Longfrond was distrustful, mistaking them for hobgoblin invaders. Despite their efforts to prove their intentions, Longfrond remained unconvinced, sharing its experiences with Ironfang Legion and warning them of a dragon named Ibzairiak, which had plagued the forest for nearly a century.
Leaving Longfrond's glade, the party continued westward, finding tracks of human-sized creatures moving south. They followed the tracks to an abandoned campsite, where they discovered hobgoblin corpses and signs of a struggle. Before they could fully investigate, they were confronted by giant porcupine-like creatures defending their territory. The party engaged in a fierce battle, employing ranged tactics to avoid the dangers of the porcupines' quills. After defeating the creatures, they searched the campsite, uncovering kits of supplies and confirming that trolls had been in the area, further solidifying their suspicions about the hobgoblins' movements.