1.3 - The Old Mine

We found Toman in a shed near the goat pens, mending a damaged snare trap. He confirmed that he had seen the stranger, and what's more he had just seen two men standing watch near the camp a few days ago. He told us that there was an old charcoal burner's trail that led near the old mine. He wouldn't go with to the camp of course, but agreed to show us the way to the trailhead.

We set out after dark. We didn't want any sign of our approach so we agreed no torches or lanterns; the other men and I stumbled several times, but Sera moved as naturally through the dark as she did through the day. She is certainly something.

Once we came to the charcoal burner's trail progress was even slower. Now in amongst the trees we barely had even the light of the moon to aid us, and Toman left us at the trailhead as agreed so we had no more guide. Eventually we saw a small fire with two men keeping lookout on the trail. Seems there were more than just the two at the camp itself. One of them we could see had a bow handy, and I knew it would be dangerous to approach, but we had to get past them to continue. I asked Sera to sneak around the back and take out the archer, then I would rush in and finish the other one off in the confusion.

It was a good plan, but unfortunately one them was able to raise a shout before I could silence him. We were not sure if we were close enough to the camp that anyone heard, but we couldn't risk letting them fully mobilize. We took off along the trail in a rush, but that was a bad call when it was so dark and the trail was hard to follow. We came to an escarpment below the camp, and saw three more men at the top with lanterns, clearly searching for us. I turned to call a halt, and that's when I realized we had gotten split up somewhere, and were spread out along the base of the steep slope. I was the furthest forward, and with these watchers fast approaching I couldn't wait for the others to find me. I found a good sized stone and threw it as hard as I could further down the path. It bounced off tree with a solid thunk and skittered a few more rocks along the ground. Two of the watchers broke off to investigate, I used that opportunity to rush the third and combat started.

He saw me coming, tried to get back into a defensive position, but he didn't have time before I was on him - I raised my shield, knocked his spear to the side, brought my axe down and he dropped. The other two would definitely have heard, I needed to get on them, now! I turned too quickly though and got tripped up on the first one's legs as he fell. Spitting curses, I got back up and charged forward but it was overcompensation. I wound up between them and I'm in a bad position. All I could do was try and hold out until the others get here. Somehow I managed to hold them off and regain my footing, I saw Brynn coming up fast, Sera and the Commander not far behind. Not fast enough - I take a spear in the leg, but luckily it was just a glancing blow. Brynn arrived, stabbed the second watcher in the back and I brought my axe down on his shoulder and he was out of the fight. The third one broke, started running back to the camp, but I was faster. I took him down but it wasn't satisfying. I was angry and embarrassed that I let myself get tripped and trapped, but I we could finally move into the camp.

It was dark and quiet in the camp, the only building still intact was what must have been the overseer's hut: stone, with a wooden roof rather than thatch. The rest lay in ruins. Surprised by the lack of resistance in the camp proper we moved up to the hut and took positions outside the door. I broke it down, saw movement in the dark, tackled and restrained. It was over in an instant, too quick really, the man I pinned wasn't resisting at all.

Brynn lit a lantern and we finally got a look at the man in the hut, the man we were chasing, or so we thought. It seems he was not the true leader, but just in charge of this camp. Our captive told us that the camp was being used to store supplies, and the lights and sounds of mining that the people of Thornhollow heard were a ruse to keep them well away. Also that our target was here but moved on about a week ago.

I felt the job was done here, we found the missing caravan and even tracked down that the supplies were raided and brought here. We kill this man, head back to town, and get paid, but the Commander cut in: he wanted to know where the man in charge was going and this was probably the only chance to find out. Leave it to a soldier to want to do the right thing. The camp master agreed to tell us where we could find the leader and we had a name: Hakon Varr, but he wanted freedom as well as safety. Ultimately the Commander decided we'd have to take him back with us and let the Ward decide his fate.