You need to dispatch with the three grippli keeping watch but you cannot do that in the camp or you will almost certainly get attention.  Therefore, your only real option is to lure them out and eliminate them somehow while they're away from camp.  Even if you do lure them away from their camp though, three grippli are more than a match for you so you are going to have to construct a trap of some sort.  You remember seeing a small drop off in the middle of the path you just came down and that gives you an idea. 

 

 
You take about a dozen of your arrows and plant them firmly in the ground (arrowhead up) at the bottom of the hole you encountered along the path.  You only lightly cover it with what little large leaves and vines you can find, then cover this foliage completely with sand and small rocks (enough to cover the vegetation but not enough to make it fall into the hole).  Your hope is that you will be able to lure your three grippli out here away from the camp and then fall in on top of your arrows.  The only thing left to do is figure out how you are going to lure them away from the camp without them alerting the camp as well.

 
You decide to mimic the sounds of the small prairie dog like creatures out here and toss small pebbles around the corner where they would see them.  You seem to have their attention as they are too bored to really entertain themselves with anything else.   Unfortunately, the prairie dog gag isn't enough to make them come so next you imitate the sound of a ewe while making loud pawing noises at the ground.  For whatever reason, this one gets their attention and they start approaching quietly with their weapons drawn. 

 

You continue making animals noises but move back slowly at the same time.  At point for them is a hunter brandishing a bow.  The other two apparently believe in the sword.  Maybe that's not as atypical for a grippli as you thought.  You are careful to remain unseen but back up slowly and continue leading them forth with animal noises.  Eventually the game is up as the hunter seems to get suspicous and notices you are there.  You turn and run using the indentations in the rockwall to your right to help protect you from arrow fire.  You take your position behind a rock on the other side of the trap and to your glee they are running straight for it. 

 
YES!  The sound of your cover giving way under their weight is music to your ears, as are the ribbits of pain emitted shortly thereafter.  You surmise they are dead until one of them jumps out of the pit with only a leg wound.  He pulls out his sword and glares at you.  You feel like facing him like this, it would be an even match.  Still, you would much prefer some kind of advantage whereever you can get it.  You draw your sword and begin to think carefully about how this is going to go down.

You toss Dirt In His Eyes, Then Attack

There is no shortage of dry dirt and rock all around you and as an amphibian you reason he's probably not to terribly accostomed to that type of thing.  Given his 2 foot stature, you wait for him to make a move then kick dirt in his face.  You reasoned correctly.  The frog's large eyes close down firmly and he is clearly unable to handle himself.  You almost feel sorry for employing such a cheap trick on the little guy.  Almost.

 
With him unable to see and barely able to compose himself, the battle ends pretty quickly.  You return to the edge of the pit and shoot a couple more arrows into your punctured prey for good measure as you don't want any more unexpected surprises to arise when you go in for the capture.  You inch your way back to camp under the midnight moon and make sure to scope the place out anew before making your move.  As you had hoped, the nightwatchmen didn't rouse anyone before they left.  You still don't know about the treetops, but the coast is as clear as its gonna get.

 
You creep through camp where it is darkest and make your way to the captain's tent.  You carefully open the canopy and move inside.  As you had hoped, the captain is still asleep.  You take care to knock him out over the head with a block shaped wooden figurine you find in his tent, then carry him over your shoulder and out of the camp.  Without the three nightwatchmen, it is easy to carry the unconcious 2 ft. lightweight out of camp and out to a safe location.  It takes several hours before he awakes, but when he does you already have his froggie hands and feet bound with cloth torn from his own outfit.

You time To Talk To The Froggie

To be honest, you aren't entirely sure which one of you two is more afraid... him or you.  The grippli struggles in his bindings and begins to make noise which you are quick to silence.  You raise your sword in warning and he begins to quiet down.  Quite frankly, you are amazed that you are actually doing this.  You've never been in a position like this before, doing something like this.  You've always been an underappreciated swineherd your whole life.  You are definitely not used to this sort of thing but you sure as hell don't want your prisoner to realize that.

 
"The Craxil isn't something you can easily kill.  It has united the beastmen in this region of the mountains and aims to provide for its people" the captain starts.

 
"And what exactly is that suppose to mean" you demand.

 
"The humans have driven us beastmen into the barren land of the mountainrange and taken the fertile, soft ground for themselves.  The Craxil wants for us to have good ground.  Human ground.  The Craxil has been organizing us for quite some time now and it is going to help us take what we deserve."

 
"What manner of creature is this Craxil anyway?" you ask, knowing you'll have to face him eventually. 

 
"We don't know, none of us do.  We never see the Craxil, its sends its orders with the riders."

 
"The riders?"

 
"Yes.  They used to be humans but... well... not anymore really."

 
"You mean he's raising them as undead?!?"

 
"No, no, the Craxil would never resort to such deplorable practices.  The Craxil breaks their minds with a ritual that takes days.  When the Craxil finishes, they become thralls."

 
You are truly frightened by this last comment.  It is common knowledge that mind flayers can dominate the minds of others, but they are able to do so instantly.  They don't require a ritual that takes several days to accomplish.  Brandolf did say the Craxil was a completely different creature than anyone has encountered before.

 
"Where can I find the Craxil?" you demand.

 
"The Craxil resides in an underground cavern, accessed from the base of a large canyon up north.  The most direct route is Redridge Pass though I doubt you'll even get there alive.  You'll know you are getting close when all the rocks and dirt are red and the cactii become more numerous."

 
You wanted to ask him more questions, but it seems that his comrades have already noticed his absence and begun looking for him.  You don't see any other choice than to kill him, hide the body, and head north.  But hey, at least you got some valuable information including some general directions.

You moving North

You ponder what the grippli captain said as you continue on your northward journey.  You haven't seen any cactii yet so you surmise you still have a long way to go.  But what other dangers await you?  So far you've encountered humunculi, undead, grippli, and even a beholder.  More amazing is that your sorry swineherding ass has survived this far.  Still, you have to wonder just how many different types of creatures there are under the Craxil's command and what this Craxil even looks like. 

 

Your musings are cut short when your path is suddenly blocked by a very large wolf.  Its eyes glow red and it snarls with both anger and malice evident.  This wolf is no ordinary wolf.  It is huge and it looks like its possessed or something.  You draw your sword preparing to defend yourself but it doesn't attack, it simply stands there staring at you.  You attempt to move to the side and it follows as if to block your path.  You move to the other side and it follows again.  You take a step back and it follows with a step forward.  You aren't sure you even want to know what it will do if you take a step forward, and for once you aren't crazy enough to find out.

 
Suddenly, the creature does something you did not expect.  It speaks. 

 
"Tell me human, do you serve the Craxil?".

 
You are tempted to lie and say yes but then how do you know that is the answer it wants to hear?  Maybe it serves the Craxil or maybe it is its enemy.  Either way, it looks like its going to kill you if you don't share its loyalties so you are going to have to decide what to say.

Yes

You decide to lie and tell the large creature that you are in fact a rider for the Craxil in hopes that it will calm it down a bit.  Quite the opposite.  It seems this wolf is infuriated by the Craxil and the recent beastmen influence in the region.  You try to go back on your word and tell it the truth but its too late.  The massive wolf jumps on you, knocking you on the ground.  It goes immediately for your throat.  You spend the last moments of your life in a state of sheer terror.

 
THE END