Five Leagues: 5

    "I am called Owin of the Green by most" the man said as he stood. "For my rescue, I cannot express enough my thanks to you."
    "None is needed" Alart replied. "You're predicament, in truth, was unknown to us."
    "Aye" laughed Sigwald. "An accident of fate, though a happy one for a change!"
    "No", Owin spoke slowly. "Not an accident of Fate, a Fortune of Fate! I am, as I said, eternally grateful to you all but I must now impose upon you again...and ask a favor, It is of grave importance!"
    Alart and Sigwald changed instantly to more a subdued demeanor. "We will help you Owin, should your cause be just" Alart said.
"Come, we must return to Faygrove with our wounded," Sigwald said. "Tell us of your need along the way."
    The Party quickly made their way back to town, carrying Chevell was now done with such practice that it slowed them not at all. Brold stopped by the blacksmith to collect his standing order for a new helmet before heading to the healer to assist with Chevell. Between the healer, the dwarf, and a fizzy tonic, the man was once again ready to fall in combat.
    "I was hired as a guide, to lead a group to Faygrove", Owin began. "Some folks here, I imagine it's you, have been collecting quite a few of the offered bounties lately. Lord Webborn decided he wanted to meet those people himself."
    "All was well for most of the journey, but last night as we made camp we were attacked. No one heard them coming." Owin lowered his head. "I didn't hear them coming."
    "Those things you saved me from this morning were a part of the group. They split off and trussed me up in the ruins as you found me, but the others took Webborn and his men onward."
    "Are the others like those we fought?" Sigwald inquired.
    "No, though they were no doubt spit up from the same hellish pit." Owin shook his head. "The ones we must face now are huge, horrific beasts. They stand and fight like men, but bear the savage countenance of beasts. They are lead by an archer in a mask, simply a man in appearance, but what must he possess to command such as them?"

    "Do you know where they went" Sir Alart asked.
    "I saw the direction they left in, and I know they are pulling carts and wagons. I know of only one path they can be using." Owin looked thoughtful. "On that path there is a spot where rocks narrow the way, that will force them to slow down and divert their attention to the task." Owin stood as he talked. "I can take us through the woods and get us there before them, if we hurry."
    True to his word, Owin lead the Party swiftly through the woods along deer runs and rabbit trails even those creatures would be hard pressed to spot. Seemingly too quickly Owin called a stop, just at the base of a sharply rising hill. He motioned to his ears, and after a moment the rest of the Party could hear what he could. Squeaking wood, rolling wheels, the shuffling of feet, but also the grunt and huff of larger beasts.

    "We are here," Owin whispered. Crawling slowly through the low brush, he held aside a branch. There on the road was their quarry, Lord Webborn and his men stood chained in a carts, surrounded by the animal men Owin had described.

    Sigwald took over then, his Tactical abilities making him the obvious choice. A simple split ambush, three groups to hit the lead, the tail, and the center at the same time. The confusion would give them an advantage they would need. As a group, the Party slipped in close to the beasts before striking suddenly.

    Sir Alart descended the steep hill quickly to engage the masked leader in combat. But the obsfucated man was much more adept at combat then Alart first suspected. Their blades crashed again and again, the fight dancing the men back and forth.

    At the tail of the column, Warton drew the attention of a beast with an arrow, drawing it away from the cart holding the weapons. Owin and Odmar sprung from the trees to deal with the other beast. Though the creature was fast, and its blades enormous, it fell quickly. It was replaced by a beast from the center just as quickly.

Elman raced through the trees to join the fight, arriving just in time to see Odmar cut down and Owin wounded by a blow from the massive creature. His blows, supported by those of the bleeding Owin, were enough to fell the beast. The victory was hollowed by Owin slumping unmoving to the ground.

Warton had been loosing arrows in to every beast he could see, largely to no effect, but one spectacular shot dropped one creature as it reared to continue its fight with Brold. Left without an opponent, Brold opened the cart and smashed the chain binding Lord Webborn's men.

 

Freed, the men raced for the rear cart that held their weapons, and to free their fellow soldiers and Lord Webbon himself.

 

    Armed once more, Lord Webborn, banner held high, ordered his men forward into the fray! Although valiant, it proved unnecessary. The Party had already cut down almost all of the foul beasts already.

    Brold marched purposefully across the battlefield, smashing down beast after beast until none remained within his sight. His eyes, and his ire, then fell on the masked leader. Crossing the road in bounds, he ended the villain with a single mighty blow of his mace.

    Finally, the last of the creatures fell, though the fighting spirit was a marvel to behold.
Against the odds, the Party was both victorious and alive, and Lord Webborn was free, though there had been a cost.

 Owin of the Green laid covered on a cart for the journey home.

---

Faygrove
Outlaws          Border          Dark Secrets
      5                     5                         6
 The Outlaw danger decreased as a result of the fight, and once again since it seems the masked man was quite influential in the area. So -2 this turn.

Owin of the Green was killed.
Odmar was wounded and will be out for 3 turns.
Chevell was wounded (of course), but Medicinal Herbs, the care of the Healer and Brold, means he's not going to miss any missions.

Loot:
2GP for rescuing the victims (soldiers), a set of throwing knives, and a road map.

I spent a Story Point on this mission to make Lord Webborn and his men available as assistance in the fight, provided that I set them free.