You motion for silence and begin moving forward, slow and deliberate. The ranger takes point, his movements barely disturbing the undergrowth. You follow his lead, stepping where he steps, avoiding dry branches and loose stones. The sound of Widow's Creek grows louder, water rushing over rocks somewhere to your left. The smoke becomes clearer as you advance, and soon you can smell it, wood smoke mixed with something else. Cooking meat, maybe. The ranger raises his fist. Stop. You crouch low behind a thick stand of bushes and fallen logs. Through the foliage, you see it. - The Camp A clearing beside the creek, perhaps thirty feet across. Three tents, rough canvas stretched over wooden frames. A campfire burns in the center, tended by a figure in dark clothing. Crates and barrels are stacked near the largest tent, partially covered by tarps. And there, leaning against one of the crates, clearly visible even from this distance... A red ship on a white shield. Thornhaven's mark. Your hearts sink. This is it. The stolen goods. - The Occupants You count five people in the camp: - Two near the fire, one tending it, the other sharpening a blade - One by the tents, rifling through a pack - Two more at the edge of the clearing, talking in low voices, hands gesturing toward the forest They're armed. Swords, daggers, a crossbow leaning against a tree. Not soldiers. Not merchants. Bandits. As you watch, one of them laughs at something, the sound carrying through the trees. Relaxed. Confident. They don't expect trouble. The ranger leans close, his voice barely a whisper. "Five that we can see. Could be more in the tents or out on patrol." He points to the crates. "Those are definitely Thornhaven's supplies. Grain, preserved goods by the look of it." He meets your eyes. "What's the play?" 🎯 What Do You Do? - Attack now while they're unprepared. Five against five (or more). Surprise is on your side. - Continue observing. Wait longer, see if more appear, plan a better approach. - Try to capture one who wanders off. Interrogate them, find out who they're working for and why. - Retreat and return with help. You've found the camp and confirmed the theft. Go back to Readingham with this information. - Approach and talk. Risky, but maybe there's more to this story. Demand answers. - Other → as discussed

The decision is made quickly. "We'll check out the camp. If it's connected to the missing supplies, we need to know now." The gray-bearded man nods approvingly. "Good. Be careful out there." he stops for a second and then adds, "Look for a red ship on a white shield, just like our banner, and you'll know those good are ours." The ranger speaks up. "I know Widow's Creek. Dense forest, easy to get turned around if you don't know the trails. Stay close and follow my lead." You gather your gear, check your weapons, and prepare to leave. The woman by the fire presses a small package into your hands. "Bread and dried fish. Not much, but you'll need your strength." You thank them and step back into the empty streets of Thornhaven. - West Through the Forest You leave Thornhaven behind, heading west across open farmland that quickly gives way to thick forest. The ranger moves with practiced ease, reading signs in the terrain you wouldn't even notice. A broken branch here, disturbed moss there, the way the game trails bend. "Stay alert," he says quietly. "If there's a camp ahead, they might have sentries." The forest grows denser. Sunlight filters through the canopy in scattered beams. The sound of running water grows louder. Widow's Creek. The ranger raises a hand, signaling you to stop. He crouches low, studying the ground, then points ahead through the trees. "Smoke. Faint, but it's there." You can barely see it, a thin wisp rising above the treeline perhaps a quarter-mile ahead. The ranger's voice drops to a whisper. "From here, we go quiet. No talking unless necessary. Watch where you step." He looks back at each of you. "How do you want to approach?" 🎯 What Do You Do? - Scout ahead carefully. Move slowly through the forest, stay hidden, observe the camp before revealing yourselves. - Approach openly but carefully. If it's just bandits or travelers, maybe talking is better than sneaking. - Other → as discussed

You look at the ranger and nod. "We accept. Welcome to the group, @Elan Divine He returns the nod, a hint of satisfaction in his weathered face. "Good. You'll need eyes that know these lands." You turn to the others in the room. "You should come back to Readingham with us. It's not safe here. Whatever's happening, the city has walls, guards, protection." The gray-bearded man shakes his head. "We appreciate the offer, but no. Many of our people are out fishing right now, won't be back for days. And this..." He gestures around. "This is our home. We didn't stay this long just to abandon it at the first sign of trouble." like some did... The woman by the fire speaks up, her voice firm despite the fear in her eyes. "We've survived three weeks. We can survive longer if we're careful. Besides, if we all leave, Thornhaven dies for good." - A Lead The younger of the two men leans forward, lowering his voice. "But... there is something you could check. Might be connected to all this." He glances at the others, who nod for him to continue. "About two weeks ago, one of our scouts saw something. A small camp, hidden in the woods between here and Readingham. Off the main road, deliberately concealed." "Northwest of here, maybe half a day's travel. In the thick forest near Widow's Creek. He only spotted it by accident, saw smoke through the trees." The gray-bearded man adds, "We didn't investigate. Didn't have the people or weapons to risk it. Could be bandits, could be deserters, could be..." He trails off. "Could be whatever's been taking our supplies." He looks at you directly. "If you're willing to check it out, it might give you the answers we all need. Are bandits stealing our goods? Or is it something worse?" 🎯 What Do You Do? - Investigate the hidden camp immediately. Head northwest, find this camp, and get answers. - Return to Readingham first. Report to Elara about Thornhaven. - Ask more questions about the camp. - Other → as discussed

While the others search the mill, you position yourself at the entrance, eyes scanning the empty streets. Weapons ready. Senses alert. Minutes pass. Then, movement. A figure emerges from between buildings, moving cautiously toward the mill. Young, male, carrying an empty sack. You turn your head slightly. "Someone's coming." Your comrades move to your side, hands on weapons but not drawn. The young man sees you and freezes. For a heartbeat, no one moves. Then he turns to run. "Wait!" you call out. "Don't run away! We're here to help!" He stops in his tracks, half-turned, uncertain. Slowly, he turns back around and walks over, eyes darting between each of you, taking in your weapons, your marks, your travel-worn appearance. "Who... who are you?" His voice is shaky but not panicked. "We're here to help," you repeat. "What happened here?" He exhales, some of the tension leaving his shoulders. "There are others. I came to get food from the mill. Thought I saw movement earlier and ran." He glances back toward town. "Come. I'll take you to them." - The Southern House He leads you through empty streets to a house at the southern edge of town. A handful of people huddle in the main room. Two older men, a woman with a child, another younger woman clutching a knife, an older woman tending a small fire in the hearth. And sitting near the window, bow across his lap, is a ranger in worn leather, watchful eyes studying you as you enter. They all tense when you appear, but the young man raises his hands. "It's alright. They say they're here to help." - Their Story The older of the two men, gray-bearded and weary, speaks first. "Help? From where? Readingham?" You nod. He laughs bitterly. "About damn time. We haven't gotten any payment in over a month. Caravans stopped coming. Messages stopped. So we stopped sending supplies north." He gestures around the room. "Most people left. Packed up, headed to other towns, figured the capital had cut us off. But some of us stayed. This is our home."

One of you picks up a stone, weighing it in your hand. "Let's see if anyone's home." You draw back and throw. The stone arcs through the morning air and cracks against the mill's wooden wall, loud in the silence. You wait. Nothing. No response. No movement. No sound. You exchange glances, then make your decision. Time to investigate. - Approaching the Mill You move down the hill carefully, weapons ready, eyes scanning the empty streets of Thornhaven as you approach. The mill stands at the eastern edge of town, a sturdy two-story structure built of wood and stone. The wheel is motionless, its paddles dry and still. As you draw closer, one of you kneels, studying the ground. Fresh tracks. Footprints in the soft earth around the mill's entrance. Multiple sets, human-sized, leading away. Recent, from this morning perhaps. The door to the mill hangs slightly ajar. - Inside the Mill You push the door open slowly, hinges creaking. The interior is dim, dusty light filtering through the windows. Sacks of grain are stacked along the walls, some torn open, their contents spilled across the floor. The massive grinding stones sit silent in the center of the room. But something is immediately clear: Someone was here recently. The air still holds warmth, like body heat lingering in a closed space. You can almost feel it, the presence of whoever occupied this place during the night. And on the floor, scratches and footprints in the dust. Beneath it, an arrow points toward the town center. 🎯 What Do You Do? - Search the mill thoroughly. - Follow the tracks immediately. Whoever was here went that way. Find them. - Call out. Maybe whoever was here is still nearby, hiding, watching. - Other → as discussed