As he heard Grib's voice, Kevahl relaxed, waving the others forward. Still quietly, he moved up until he could see Grib in the tree.

"Nice chatting with you, but i must be on my way to the southern forests. Goodbye, goblin." He smiled at him, then hopped to a different branch and the leaped to land on a different tree's branch. He would continue maneuvering like this to move swiftly through the forest, as he soon disappeared from sight.

Kevahl nodded, and waved to Grib as soon as he was in sight..

Tega was the first to hear anything. "Book, horse hooves." Most the Gnolls at Books tent heard the Orcs and Goblins screaming about Elves. Books Cliff near the skunk trail put them on the far end of the attack.

tega and Hyep looked at Book. Book shook his head no. "We leave, Gor has his guards from the tribe. Too many hunters out." Two of the Gnolls that had come grabbed their axes and ran to help. Gor had been paying them quite a bit, so they would protect him. That left Tega, Hyep, and a 3rd with Book as a centaur crashed up the hill impaling the 3rd on its lance. The Gnoll pulled the lance from the centaurs hands as it fell lifeless.

Book looked at Hyep and shook his staff. Hyep lept ont he Centaur as the Shamans magic coursed through him and his beserke rage coupled to make Hyeps brute strength rivaling legend.

Hyep tore the centaurs arm from socket and blugeoned it to death with its own arm.

"We go, before the elves." Book lept down the cliff followed by Tega and Hyep." Book had spent 20 years on his own discovering the secrets of his magics, so leaving the doomed camp didn't phase him at all.

"Where we go Book?" Tega had what the Gnolls would consider a soft voice. Book grinned back. "Hide till night, then we have advantage. We find survivors then, or head up hills, whichever better."

The three Gnolls set down the human road, only Hyep leaving tracks. Tega was a novice ranger compared to the half-orc but still experienced enough not to leave footprints. The Elf war party wouldn't send more than a single tracker after a lone set of Gnoll prints and humans were not traveling this late in the day.

The encroaching darkness was always an ally.

Grib started back "Dwarves scared away any possible game. It also means there more activity in woods then I like. Lets get that wagon fixed and get back to camp fast. This was six dwarves who knows how many other groups of them are out here."
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Mukzul "Range weapons and long handled weapons! Those be riders coming! Aim for the animal legs!" He was wondering where Gor was he shouldn't be issuing orders himself. But the old Orc knew how to fight so he stood awaiting for the riders to show. That was when the first appeared "CENTAR! Still Aim for the legs! Same weakness!" Then he charged the coming centar roaring his own battle cry swinging his hammer for the front legs.

Tega nudged Hyep and pointed. the two stopped. Tega spoke first. "Hoof prints cross here" Book looked at the location the young ranger pointed at. "Good catch. So they came from there?" Tega nodded. Centaurs and Wood Elves were amazing at covering their tracks, but it was a large party and a Ranger knew what to look for. Book had been lost in thought or he may have seen it himself. Hyep finally decided he wanted to do something. "Book, we kill stragglers when they come back."

Book nodded. He was a Shaman, he only led when asked to, he hated leading. "Tega, where do we ambush from?"

Tega sniffed. "This path used often. Thought it was just wild horse path, centaurs rare, but I smell weapon grease, this them. They will travel back the same way, it their nature to have one way into and out of groves."

Book looked at the Barbarian and ranger, well they had taken out a Minotaur together and dispatched a Centaur within a minute. Well he would survive, and do his best to make sure his clan survived until it looked helpless. "We will kill the stragglers who either are retreating, or returning with spoils of war."

Gnolls were odd creatures, they stood as tall as basketball players, but could hide like hobbits given time to prepare. Tega looked at Hyeps weaponry, for most races they would call it a gladius, he called it a toothpick. It was all he had grabbed when Book signaled the escape. "Hyep you hide here"

Tega took the time to conceal Hyep near the path in a rocky undercrop. She nodded. Her work was excellent. Book waved off Tega. He fell back into Hay high grass just outside the treeline and bent down. He would be out of melee range so he hid himself easily. His fur blending in with the grass.

Tega took up position further into the centaur path. She could pick off any who returned to help Hyeps victims, or block off the escape of any who escaped his knife.

The Gnolls were ready. Their loyalty to the other races was thin. But they owed blood for blood. Baruks raiding party had freed them, they would exact a heavy toll on the woodland races for killing baruks tribe.

Three more rays of frost struck centaurs as they tried to get past Mukzul. Through a gap Yasmi saw a clump of Elves, with only fallen orcs and goblins amongst them. She moved in, and from her staff a spray of flame went out at chest height - which was about hip high for the taller Elves. She then fell back behind Mukzul.
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After tying off the last knot, Kevahl said, "Lift that corner again, please!" It was almost a command, despite the polite phrasing. He tipped up the wheel and made ready to slip it onto the axle.

Grozz kept himself busy by assisting Kevahl with the wagon. He needed to do that because something felt... off. But he couldn't figure out what it was. And that's what worried him the most.

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Having given Baruk proper warning, Skore had started back up the skunk path a few minutes before the attack began. But unlike his descent, he was not moving at his top speed. He took his time and communed with nature along the way.

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Julia's head whipped up as she heard Mukzul yelling about the camp being under attack. She squatted and placed her hand against the ground and could feel the approaching rumble of whatever was charging the camp. She looked over to the other slaves in the tent. "Quickly, out the back! Stay together and make for the woods! Cenya, lead them to the upthrust rocks in the clearing fifteen minutes from camp. I'll gather who I can and meet you there. Evard, take Dooley and gather what you can from the food tent, then follow Cenya."

Cenya the halfling and Evard, another human, both nodded. They were her trusted lieutenants in the bizarre little union the slaves had succeeded in forming. That was mainly because they reported to Tark, a fat and elderly Orc who fed Gor bullshit about the conditions the slaves lived in. If Gor had his say, the slaves wouldn't have their large tent, beds, lanterns, or access to the food and supply tents. Julia thanked the gods every day for Tark and his somewhat caring nature.

She shoved her bed over a few paces and dug into the soft earth directly underneath where the bedpost would have rested. After an inch or so, she uncovered a wooden box. Engraved on the box in a childish scrawl were the words: Tu Julia frum Gruug.

Though some thought it odd, Julia had loved Gruug as much as she could have loved any other man. While he had put on a coarse and brutish appearance around the other orcs, he'd always been so sweet and bashful around her after she'd been 'given' to him. It was that behavior that endeared him to her and she eventually fell in love with him. The day she had told him she was pregnant with Grozz was one of the happiest of their lives. And on the day that she had been forced to watch as he was killed, a part of her heart had died with him.

The days after his death were a blur of pain and degradation. When she'd finally been allowed to return to the slave area, she'd found the box under her pillow. Gruug had obviously put it there the day he'd been killed. Through her tears, she'd opened the box to find two finely-crafted daggers. As she picked them up, a cold feeling had swept through her and she'd gripped the daggers tight, swearing to never be helpless ever again.

Julia's mind snapped back to the present and she yanked the daggers out of the box, slipping them into the forearm sheaths that were hidden by the voluminous sleeves of her dress. She looked at the box and contemplated taking it, but realized she had to travel light. So she closed it and covered it back up, then pulled the bed back into place.

As Julia approached the back flaps of the tent, her ears registered the snap of a bow string. She crouched and gently spread the tentflaps. There was an elf almost directly outside and it was taking pot shots at the slaves that were attempting to flee. It had already killed old Sonya, who appeared to have been trying to protect little Karlo, a recent addition. It looked like Sonya had fallen atop the boy, and then he'd been shot trying to get out from underneath her body.

A rage lit within Julia and she silently drew her daggers, springing upward to drive them underneath the elf's light armor and into its kidneys. The elf made a strangled and high-pitched gasp, then slumped to the ground dead. She cleaned the daggers on the tent flap, then slid them home. She registered motion off to her right and drew the right-hand dagger blindingly fast, throwing it in the same motion. The dagger impacted the elf's left eye and she dropped like a sack of potatoes, her half-pulled bow firing an arrow into the dirt. Julia strode over and yanked the dagger from its grisly sheath, then cleaned it again. She set off into the forest, stopping long enough to close Sonya's eyes, only to discover that Karlo was still alive. She rolled the old woman over and said a quick prayer, then picked up the little boy and disappeared into the trees.

Yasmi saw the arrows go into Mukzul's back, and the goblins cut down by the elves, and knew there was only one thing to do. She cast two magic missiles into the elf that had shot Mukzul, threw up her shield spell and ran. She had noticed the Human slave escaping into the woods, that seemed as good a direction to go as any...
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Kevahl was still pounding in the last cotter when Baruk gave the order to move out. He gave it one last [I]whack[/I] and jumped into wagon. He pulled the bolt out of the shoulder of the guard he'd shot and passed it to Grib. "Be ready to use the arbalest if we need to, I'm going to lead the horses." Night was falling, and the horses would move faster if someone who could see in the dark guided them around obstacles. From his pack he withdrew two apples, sprinted ahead of the horses, and let them get the scent of the apples, using it to lead them along the clearest path while Grozz drove them.

Grib jumped onto the back of the wagon and took the bolt adding it to the others. "Alright" He held the Arbalest looking it over now that he had it he was trying to think of reasons not to give it back. He did think of shooting Kevahl when his back was turned, then again Baruk would be quite angry about that. Something about Honor or such nonsense. Sighing he settled down on a crate. Blinking he looked at the bound body of the woman's dead brother drawing one of his knives he cut the cloth. Humans tend to leave some personal items with the dead. Stupid humans not like a dead body needs a sword or even clothing.

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Mukzul had one advantage he was skilled fighter and still physically powerful. The disadvantage was the only protection he had was his thick leather smith apron. "The Archers! Someone get those bloody elves! Poison your weapons even a scratch then can be helpful!" He ran for his forge and the weapons rack there, he needed better protection and there was a shield ready.

A group of centaurs wheeled and trampled a small grouping of Orcs and Goblins. They had lost many brothers already but now the elves were doing what elves did best, firing deadly volleys into the low races.

The two surviving Gnolls who were guarding Gor were being hard pressed until one of the two Gnolls from Books camp that had managed to survive this long joined them. One barked asking about Book or better yet Hyep. The newcomer barked back that they had killed a Centaur and went over the skunk trail wall just as the flight of arrows found their marks.

Most the Gor camp fighters who were not shot down by the treeline elves were being pressed back behind Gors walls. to avoid looking like pin cushions.

The smithy fighters didn't have as much luck finding cover. Very few of the Goblins fighting near the big smith survived the first volley.

The other group of flankers was at home in the woods. They moved faster than the mislabeled slaves. The slower slaves taking arrows to the back before they had a chance to surrender, or even know they were being pursued.

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meanwhile:

Books ambush party waited. The Gnolls sensitive ears every once and awhile picking up faint screams. The Orcs had been caught flat footed and unprepared, but they might survive he thought to himself. Well once the elves came back through and Hyep had his fill of killing he would go back and patch up survivors.

Sighing Grib passed the Arbalest back to Kevahl "The bolt in it already been poisoned with a centipede poison. It would make moving harder who ever is wounded by the bolt." He passed over the other bolts as well. Kevahl was the better shot it was better for him to use the thing then Grib. He drew his new daggers and went into the woods sneaking up on elves was hard given how they themselves use sneak methods. He made sure his daggers got a fresh coat of poison he would need every advantage he could get. So of course he went for the ones most distracted.

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Mukzul charged back into battle this time with a shield and a sword. His swings were slightly sloppy one handed swords weren't his best skill that was his hammer, but he couldn't use a shield with it. "Get the Lamps! Throw them at the elves! Set them ablaze!"

Kevahl would've pointed out that the horses couldn't see, and would move faster with someone leading them, but they quite obviously trusted Grozz more than he'd thought they would. He accepted the arbalest back from Grib, and took the warning about the centipede poison. He looked for the heaviest armor among their enemies and loosed the poisoned bolt, then leaned back to maximize his cover while he worked the winch to draw back the steel cable.
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Unencumbered, Yasmi caught up with Julia, Goblins being generally as fast as larger bipeds like Humans. No obvious rendezvous point being in sight, she called out, "Keep running, they're already moving through the woods!"

Grib waited then he got a shot. Baruk Javelin was a good distraction. So Grib moved in and jumped onto the back of one of the archers and drove his blade into the elf's neck.

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Mukzul knew he would die this day. His breath came harder and harder one of the arrows must have damaged his lungs. The Elf before him would be his undoing so He didn't hold anything back it was a good death. Sword struck sword, sword striking shield all there was is him and the Elf. Ligi changed that for a moment the elf focus was split, Ligi went down. No he would not have his death be taken from him! The glory of combat the fire burning in his veins. He tried to roar again but blood splattered out of his mouth. Still he fought on increasing his attack on the elf. There was one move the elf wouldn't expect, one move that would end both their lives. There it was Mukzul didn't try to block the blade as it went into his gut instead he charged forward and brought his shield to block the other blade as his sword went for the killing blow at the Elf's ribcage right for the heart. Coughing blood in the face of the elf "It's a good day to die."

Grozz soon caught the elves, who were busy taking shots at the slaves that they had pinned down. He began to approach the fight methodically, until he heard his mother's screaming voice. "STOP FIRING! THESE PEOPLE ARE SLAVES! FOR THE SAKE OF THE GODS, STOP FIRING!!!"

Her voice sent him into a full-on orc battle rage and he charged the elven contingent from his concealed spot in a copse of trees. There were seven elves and Grozz moved amongst them like an avenging ghost. The first two never even saw him coming and his falcata caught the first one high, the axe-like sword cutting into the armpit of her bow arm and carving upwards to exit on the other side of her neck. The second one was hit low, the falcata severing both legs just below the buttocks.

The other five elves wheeled and fired on Grozz, but he leaped up and scrambled into a tree faster than anyone they'd ever seen. So busy were they concentrating on where he'd disappeared that they didn't expect him to drop down on the other side of their formation. Their first realization came when the tips of his swords exited the chest of his third kill, the elf having just enough time to look down before Grozz pulled outward and ripped the elves torso asunder. He then charged though the fountain of blood and swung his twin falcatas, taking off the heads of two more elves.

The final two elves were the leader of this seven-elf contingent and his lieutenant. They began backing away from the enraged half-orc, both firing arrows at him. He spun away from the flight path of the arrows and threw one of his falcatas, which caught the lieutenant in the gut, the blade burying itself deep. Her arms went numb and she dropped the bow as Grozz advanced on her to repossess his blade. It was then that the leader's arrow hit Grozz in the lower ribs. Grozz grunted with pain, but whirled on the leader.

The leader turned to flee, only to find Julia's twin daggers at his throat. "Stand down, son." she said, looking over the elves shoulder at Grozz. The half-orc approached slowly and laid the blade of one falcata against the elf's neck, then used the other to carefully hook his shortbow and yank it out of his hand, throwing it to the side. That blade's tip was then brought to rest in the hollow of the elf's back.

Julia locked eyes with the commander. She spoke in rusty Elven, the pain in her voice plainly evident. "Why, by the grace of the god's, would you kill slaves?"

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From a tent, Skore had watched Baruk's fight with the Gor and the centaur. He'd been busy choking an elf at the time, but he was still able to witness the killing blow dealt to both great creatures. Casting aside the unconscious elf, which was now tied to a heavy wooden chest with all of its fingers broken and unusable, Skore exited the tent and tackled a retreating elf. The two of them landed with the elf on her belly and Skore atop her torso, his knees under her armpits. One fist lashed out, the knuckles driving knife-like into her spine, shocking her system and leaving her unable to move. Then the other knife hand impacted the side of her neck with such force that it ruptured the external and internal jugular veins on that side. A deep purple bruise immediately formed and spread outwards as her life fluid was pumped into the surrounding tissues.

Skore began to get up, but he took pity when the elf began whimpering. He reached down and snapped her neck, then stood and moved on.

The flanking wood elves near the smithy shot enough volleys to provide cover for their shredded main force. They blended back into the woods like melting snow in the desert. As quickly as they attacked they had retreated. Not even a rustle of leaves betraying they had ever been there.

The reserves commander that had been near Gor's Palace cursed as he led his elves silently through the woods and across the human road. They would bring news back and recruit the local humans to finish the job. They might not have won, but they took two or three for every one they had lost. Who could have anticipated such a lean tribe having that many prize fighters left.

The smithy flankers fell in step. The elf held up his hand signaling 8. They had killed 8 of the goblins and only lost 1 of their archers at some point. Not bad.

Returning with only 10. This would be a day of mourning.

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Tega saw them first, despite being the furthest down the path. Most the ones with blades looked worse for ware, while the ones with bows seemed sad.

Tega stood and drew back her great bow. The bow groaned at the pull weight. Tega let loose her arrow and grinned as it launched the Commander off his feet and straight backwards. The elf wouldn't have even felt the pain he was dead that fast.

Tega took off down the path.

The remaining elves charged after the lone female gnoll. Just as the third or fourth one passed by the rocks on the centaur path Hyep exploded into their ranks. Thrusting his gladius through the neck and out the armpit of the first elf he clamped down his jaws on the face of the 2nd.

A few of the elves were responding. How did the day go from them getting a surprise attack on these brutes to being ambushed themselves?

Book stood and shook his staff at the elves. As they drew back their bowstrings their bows snapped. Book sneared at them.

Hyep didn't pause. He knew Books magics, Hyep wrenched the gladius out of his first victim and lept on the two with the now broken bows.

meanwhile tega had turned and shot again. The arrow went a little low and only shattered her targets pelvis instead of killing him. The other elf only had a sword but dropped it to pick up his comrades bow. He shot back at Tega. The female Gnoll howled in rage as the arrow found its mark in her cheek. The elf grabbed his friend and carrying him over his shoulders disapeared off the centaur path. Tega bit down snapping the arrow and spit out the mid section as well as a few teeth it had dislodged.

The last three elves tried to run. Their only viable direction towards book.

Book started laughing an oddly spooky tune.and all three elves went wide eyed and stumbled eventually coming to a full stop just in front of him.

Hyep had tried to catch up but stood still similarly enthralled.

Book gently took the elves equipment, all the time chanting his hyena like laugh. Then he lashed the elves hands behind their backs. The old Gnoll let his spell drop. the elves shook their heads and looked around in dismay. They were captives.

Book looked at Tegas face as she came jogging up. "You be fine, save magic for worse hurts." Tega nodded and helped Hyep secure lead collars around the three elves necks. "What we do with them Book?" Book looked at them and smiled viciously. "Slaves, food, whatever we want."

The three Gnolls began walking back to the encampment. It would take them about twenty minutes.

Grib walked out of the woods with a limp. He has a cut where a lucky Elf got him, he spotted Gor and Baruk "Well seems Gor won't be getting any blood offerings this time. No telling if some of the Elves got away. We in trouble... Chief Baruk."

Kevahl took the time to cock the arbalest again, and went back to tracking. He found the tracks of several elves and followed them to place where Grozz had killed all but one. He nodded to Yasmi and Julia, and addressed Grozz. "Any more of them out this way?"

The Gnoll trio with their slaves in tow wound up the path. Hyep grunted when he saw the lifeless form of the smithy. He had been impressed with his ability to reshape metal. Books only comment was "Got old" Tega nodded agreeing with both at the same time.

Walking into camp Book took note of how many bodies were strewn about. Finally coming to a stop near the now formerly Gor's palace Book addressed Baruk. "So where you taking band?" Book used the undercommon word for band instead of tribe as a way to note how few survivors there were. Book didn't address the fact that he had prisoners, despite them blatantly standing behind the three Gnolls.

The one Gnoll who had survived at the palace tent limped over to the trio. Book barked something in Gnollish and touched his staff end to the Gnolls chest. The seeping wound sealing shut instantly. The Gnoll howled in delight and flexed its torso. Hyep took stock of the Gnoll situation. "Four bad, need find more Gnolls." Tega who was uncommonly soft spoken shook her head in agreement. Book looked at the two and back to Baruk. "Our blood debt payed Baruk, if our tasks don't align we set off."

The elf began to purse his lips to spit in Julia's face, but then felt the tip of Grozz's blade pushing harder into his spine and thought better of it. Instead, he snorted derisively and a cocky sneer graced his lips. "Hrrrmph! Slaves? Do not lie to me, human. We saw you slay two of our own. You are nothing but sellswords who would sink so low as to work for Orcs. How pathetic you humans can be at times."

Julia's hands began to shake with rage and she almost slit his throat then and there, but she controlled herself. "I killed those two because they were shooting escaping SLAVES! Grozz, bring him."

Julia set off towards the meeting place, with Grozz forcing the elf along, using the sword at his neck and his spine to coerce him. They soon reached the rock outcropping and Julia gave the all-clear whistle. Evard and Dooley were the first to emerge. Both of them had managed to procure shortbows, but they appeared to only have three arrows between the two of them. The rest of the slaves emerged slowly, most of the women comforting the human and half-orc children. The men stood in front of the women and children, some armed with branches, some with tools, and others with their fists.

Julia then turned back to the elf, a fire burning in her eyes. "DO THESE LOOK LIKE SELLSWORDS TO YOU!?!"

The elf blanched for the barest of moments, then recovered his cocky sneer. "They must have divested themselves of their arms and armor so they could put on this little show. I will not be fooled."

Julia snorted with disgust and got in the elf's face. "Let him go, Grozz. He can report back to his tribe about the slaughtering of human sellswords if he wishes. But if he has even a whit of honor or integrity, he'll own up to his mistake and make sure that the rest of his band knows too."

Grozz nodded and led the elf off into the woods. After five minutes of walking, they stopped. Behind the elf's back, Grozz prepared two leather straps, then circled until he was off to the elf's side. One sword was now back in its sheath, but the other was still in Grozz's hand, against the elf's ribs. "She said I should let you go. She didn't say how many pieces you should be in."

With that, Grozz brought his falcata back and swung mightily, removing the elf's left hand at the wrist. The elf cried out and fell to his knees. Grozz immediately tied the largest leather strap around the elf's wrist to cut off blood flow. Then he put away his falcata and produced a kukri. He grabbed the elf's right hand and removed his index finger, at which the elf cried out for a second time. "Unless you find a healer soon, you will NEVER fire a bow again. Run along now."

The elf looked at Grozz with hatred in his eyes, then stumbled off dizzily. Grozz snorted and went back to the rock outcropping after throwing the hand away, but keeping the finger as a souvenir.

Book nodded. If this new chief didn't see the practicality of employing his tribemates on their travel to wherever they were going so be it. Turning to the fourth Gnoll, Igak was his name Book barked a few things in their native tongue. The fourth Gnoll growled once but looked at Hyep and laid his ears back.

"We going, taking what Gor owes." Hyep and Igak went into Gors tent and each grabbed the pay the gnolls had earned, all the gnolls. Hyep called from the tent. "It mostly goblin gold" Book barked back to not worry it would be good where they were going.

The two large gnolls emerged with small sacks filled to near bursting. It was fair spoils from past month. Meanwhile Tega went to the armory. She turned the old dead smithy over so his face would point to the sky. "Meet the birds with eyes open" She looked up to see the carrion birds already doing their lazy circles having been drawn by the smell of blood. She grabbed Hyeps other weapon of choice off of the smiths anvil. He had been straightening out one of the spokes of the Gnolls trident.

Once all four gnolls were gathered Book looked at the small gathering of Orcs and Goblins. 'We go through marsh to desert. Find more Gnolls between the two. Hyep ready to challenge. Two elves escaped past Tega, you probably have until morning before they are back in greater number."

The four Gnolls turned to leave towards the marsh lands.

Grozz soon arrived back at the rock outcropping and looked over the huddled mass. He'd never really approved of slavery, but he didn't possess the strength or resources to change things in the tribe, so he contented himself with the fact that the slaves were treated fairly well thanks to Tark.

His mother approached him and hugged him for dear life. He winced as she accidentally brushed what was left of the arrow in his lower ribs. He'd broken most of the shaft off, but the head was still in there. "Are you alright, son?" she asked, looking up into his eyes.

"As well as I can be, mother. What should we do now?" he answered.

"If you feel up to it, I think you should head back to the tribe. We were only able to get a little food, two shortbows, and a few arrows. We've already spoken and we simply will not be able to survive on our own. Not with such meager supplies and several of us injured." she said, looking around.

Grozz nodded and carefully hugged her again, then set off for the camp. He was back within ten minutes and he headed to the center of camp to see what had changed due to the raid.

Leave or stay with the tribe. That was Gribs thinking, first he still has no idea where the caves his original clan was living in. Two he would be out on his own even the other goblins in this group were of a different clan. He was better off now that he picked up some woods survival skills, was it enough? "Okay Chief, good thing we got that new wagon. Might want to get that wheel fully fixed first thought." He headed to his tent to begin packing.

Grozz approached Baruk after his announcement. He spoke in Orcish. "What do you want to do about the slaves? Some are dead, but my mother kept the rest together and they're gathered about a mile west of here."

Grozz nodded and turned around to head back into the woods. He grasped at his side as his arrow wound twinged, but he pushed past the pain and kept going. The walk to the rocks took about ten minutes and he spoke with his mother, explaining the situation. With Grozz then standing off to the side, the adult humans conversed amongst themselves.

Julia returned to Grozz's side after a few minutes. "Some of them are willing to stay with the tribe and attempt to live together under Baruk's rule. But most of them would rather head to Imet. It's only a day's walk from the camp. There's no way you'd ever be accepted in Imet, so I'll be staying with you, of course. As will the rest of the half-orc children and their mothers. The rest that are staying are those who don't have anyone to return to and anyone who's only ever known the tribe."

Grozz nodded and gathered the humans up and led them back to the camp. All told, he'd probably been gone about half an hour.

Grib hurried about in his arms were a few bottles of wine. Unlike others he wasn't packing he was hiding them among the rubble. Seeing someone go for one of the bottles he hid "Don't Touch! That gift for Elf scum! They drink a little they get squirts, they drink lots they stop breathing. Either way they don't follow us." Once he was done hiding his poisoned wine he then headed for the front of the group to scout ahead like Baruk ordered.

Kevahl smiled at the "presents" Grib was leaving. "Good idea, that wine. May they drink deeply. So, scout separately to cover more ground, or together to watch each other's backs?"

"Agreed. Wait just a bit." Kevahl made sure his box - everything that he had, but didn't usually take with him while out in the woods, mostly nails and other bits of metal and tools for his tinkering - was on the wagon, then he rejoined Grib and started out to scout the trail ahead.

Grib went around the new camp checking for spots someone could hide. Then hearing that there was fresh fish he approached Baruk's eating circle. "Looks good not many places scout could hide." He sat down and opened a bottle of wine he haven't poisoned and took a drink then passed it on. "Wine warm but still good."

Grozz had passed the orders for the slaves to be fed from the crates on to his mother and Evard, then disappeared into the woods. He was back forty-five minutes later with a 170 lb buck across his shoulders. Within another forty-five minutes it was skinned, cleaned, and cooking over the fire.

Kevahl snorted. "Good thing you didn't bring this up until you only had the ones who wanted to stay with us. Before, some might've said they wanted to stay, just to get weapons. And maybe use'm on us."

"But if'n we arm them, they can't be slaves anymore, can they?" Kevahl smiled towards Grozz, thinking that may have been the half-Orc's plan...

Grib picked up a stick and poked the fire. "Human tribe members might be useful. Could enter human city and buy goods. To risky to go into small towns and villages, larger groups of humans less they pay attention to who in the walls." He then munched on his own fish eating it nearly raw "I start using bow when scouting."

Grozz nodded to Baruk and stepped away from the fire. He walked over to where the human were sitting. He was immediately mobbed by several children, both human and half-orc, begging for "pick-em-ups". Grozz relented and crooked his arms so that the kids could jump up and hang from his forearms while lifting their legs up. He swung his torso back and forth, the children squealing with glee. After thirty seconds or so of this, Julia hollered for the kids to leave him alone and they scattered like mice. Grozz then headed in his mother's direction.

A few minutes later, he returned to the campfire with Julia, Evard, and Dooley in tow. He showed them where they could sit, then stood behind his mother.

Grib had the last night duty when it was darkest so he was up when the Boar was captured. Then when he returned to camp Baruk handed him the banner. Grib scratched his nose a bit as he looked at it. He understood the idea of clan and tribe symbols they were often painted on the walls marking territory in the caves he grew up in. The idea of wasting cloth for it was something he still hasn't got use to. Not wanting to insult the tribe and Baruk personally he followed suit and attached the banner to his weapons strap.

Kevahl approached the clearing from the left and above, all of his weaponry secured. It would take time to ready the arbalest if he was spotted, but if he didn't have time, well, that was why he carried swords. In any case, the point was to spot, not to be spotted...

The tree he was in had looked like it would be the last one he could reach before the clearing, and sure enough, there was a gap ahead. Kevahl eased forward, slowly and silently, until he could see into the clearing...

Grozz was on the opposite edge of the clearing from Kevahl, his shortbow at the ready if he was spotted. Setting the bow down, he cupped his hands and loosed the call of a bird that didn't live in this part of the country. If Grib and Kevahl heard the sound, they would know he was ready to attack.

Grib looked over to Kevahl then pointed to his eyes then held up three fingers. The message was simple 'I see three' Grib then looked again careful of not looking at the fire as he tried to figure out which of the humans was the look out, there the one on the north side. Indeed the lookout had a crossbow. He motioned to Kevahl then at the lookout better to get that one with the arbalest. Grib drew two daggers then pointed to himself and to one of the men that was closest to him. Then he heard Grozz bird call nodding it seems they were ready.

Kevahl was almost finished cocking the arbalest, so he made his own bird call and abandoned stealth. Two more turns finished cocking, and he laid the bolt in the groove and found the crossbowman again. A heartbeat later the bolt was flying towards the crossbowman's chest...