You run outside the cave and around the corner.  You are back on the plateau overlooking the village.  Your heart is beating fast as hell and you are clutching your sword so tightly you will probably have blisters.  Fortunately for you, the humunculi have chosen to run down the path behind their campsite.  You wait outside the cave for a few hours and still they haven't returned from the passageway.  Perhaps they have chosen to travel further in to pursue you?  

 
You return to the cave's interior and are standing at the campfire.  The large passageway on the right side of the chamber is still blocked.  You peer down the passageway in front of you, the one the humunculi chose to go down and you wonder what lies beyond its depths.  However, as you look left you remember there is still an as yet unexplored passageway down in the cavern where the humunculi nearly overwhelmed you.  You aren't going to find the Craxil by standing around here so you are going to have to decide where you want to go from here.

You go Down To The Cavern Where You First Used Your Bow And Try That Passageway

Naturally, you are not going to go down the passageway that your pursuers went down, that's just stupid.  You want to avoid unnecessary conflict after allso you can increase your chances of reaching the Craxil.  This passageway leads you out to a large plateau.  To the right, you can see another several clusters of cave networks populated by humunculi.  To the left you see a step drop off that would land you in the forest the hunters of your village like to use.  In front of you, and in the distance, is a curious looking camp.  You see a couple different campfires and at least two dozen tee-pee style tents down over there.  You can't make out who the inhabitants are though, at least not from here.  Odds are they aren't friendly though.  This is Craxil territory after all.  Of course, the humunculi in the multiple cave clusters over there aren't friendly either so what does it matter?  You still have no leads as to where to find the Craxil but you need to make a decision as to where to go.

You investigate The Camp

You cannot contain your curiosity about this camp but you know you should keep your distance and be careful.  They are likely hostile after all.  You remember that you are out in the open now so the sun will remove any advantage that the shadows had given you in the caves.  You decide to wait until nightfall, then slink in closer to the camp.  There is minimal rock cover but you manage to find a decent place from which to observe their camp.  They are goblins, armed with schimitars and polearms which you assume must be the work of the Craxil. 

 
Even outside the Craxil's domain, goblins are known for their hostility towards humans so approaching them would be stupid.  However, unlike the powerful humunculi you've had to deal with so far, goblins are a weaker enemy you feel confident you could stand against (provided you don't get yourself overwhelmed).  There are about 30 of the foul creatures wandering about the camp, but the one that catches your interest is the shaman.  Decked out in fancy garb and occupying a large tent in the center of the camp, it is clear this one is the leader.  It occurs to you that if they are working for the Craxil then this one might be able to provide you with some much needed leads as to where you can find him.

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
You are confident in your ability to handle a single goblin or perhaps even two if your life depended on it but certainly not the entire camp.  You're just a sneaky swineherd after all.  You wait until midnight, when most of the goblins have retired to sleep.  There are still a handful of night watchmen goblins though, and they will need to be dealt with before you can hope to reach the shaman's tent.  You also shudder at the thought of the shaman unleashing horrid magicks upon you.  Once again, you will have to use the element of surprise to make up for your lack of fighting experience but then... as a sneaky bastard that is your specialty.

 
The first concern is the single goblin standing at the closest entrance to the camp.  He is holding a polearm and needs to be removed before you can get into the camp.  As stated before, you are confident you can take him, but you need to be careful not to wake the rest of the camp in the process.  One idea is to sneak up on him and stab him through the back with your sword before he can react.  Another idea is to try and hit him with an arrow from a distance, then move on to the next target.  Either way, he needs to be removed.

You sneak Up And Stab Him

You might be able to hit the broadside of a barn, but your aim is not sufficient for anything more than a general area.  You don't want to alert the goblin to your presence so you are just going to have to deal with him the old fashioned way.  Under cover of midnight you slink around to the edge of the camp and work your way along the side until you are close.  Despite your apparent lack of skill in fighting and archery you are an absolute master at sneakery.  But enough of such destracting thoughts.  As the goblin turns away you leap forth, cup his mouth with your left hand, and stab him through the back.  You pull the body away from the camp so none of the other goblins will see it.

 
Fortunately for you, none of the goblins seem stirred in the least.  You removed that problem without attracting attention.  Even better, another one of the nightwatchmen goblins has come back to the same post trying to figure out why his comrade is no longer at his post.  This affords you the opportunity to repeat the procedure and return once again.  The way to the central tent still has a few more problems in store for you.  Single goblins patrol the area and there is always at least one patrol goblin within sight range of that tent.  Also, the tent itself has its own nightwatchman who is evidently dedicated to the shaman.  At the very least, you need to kill one of the patrolling goblins to create an opening and the sentry guarding the tent.  With this done, you have a chance at abducting and interrogating the shaman for some much needed information on the Craxil.

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
You have some ideas on the patrolling goblin.  You could attempt to construct a simple foothold trap out of vine and add some barbs from the camp to dig into his foot.  Alternatively, you could wait until he rounds his usual tree and cut him down before the next patrolling goblin comes along.

You construct A Barbed Foothold Trap And Place It In The Patrol's Path

You can't get caught if you aren't around when he trips the trap right?  Well, I suppose you could be, but whatever.  You spend a half hour or so of your time outside the camp constructing this trap.  The knot will tighten the loop around the goblins leg when I pull on the vine so I just need to get back into position and lay the trap.  As predicted, the goblin came back around with his usual path but this time he was a little bit to far to the right.  You pull the loop a bit closer and wait until the next one comes, but he is a bit too far to the left.  After some frustrating trial and error, a patrolling goblin finally steps foot in your loop and you tighten it abruptly around his foot.  At the same time, you quickly drag him towards your hiding spot so you can silence him.  Goblins are particularly light, especially when they are not wearing armor, so you are able to do it fairly easily.  The barbs dug into his foot so deep they nearly too it off.  You silence him with your hand then break his neck.  For a moment, you are amazed at what you have learned to do given you're just a swine herd, but then again... survival makes us capable of many things doesn't it.

 
The next patrolling goblin discovers the sword the last patrolling goblin dropped when you got him.  You are concerned that he's about to raise the alarm but he just mutters "Akt Khazzat nighmam noriet maln" or something along those lines and walks off.  You have no idea what he said, but from his tone of voice, you think he thinks the other watchman is skipping out on his duties.  Shit, does that mean the shaman will be able to speak English?  Surely he will, he's a shaman after all.  He better dammit.

 
You wait for the opening to come again, then quickly maneuver into position to stab the tent's sentry before the next patrol goblin comes around.  You peek inside to see the shaman sleeping (lucky you) and drag the sentry's body inside where it won't be detected.  You've reached the shaman, and he's still asleep, but you can't very well interrogate him here.  You pick up a candlestick from the nearby table and as he's coming to you clock him over the head with it.  You check for a pulse to see if he's dead or unconcious and thankfully, he's just knocked out.  You gag him and bind his arms behind his back because he won't be able to cast spells without his tounge and hand movements.  You use the same patrol opening to escape the camp and return to a spot distant from the camp.  You rouse the shaman to wake up and realize you are probably more scared than he will be.

You time For An Interrogation

Fortunately for you, he does know English as is readily apparent by the curses he chooses to expel regarding your parents.  You glare at him and ask him about the Craxil but he just squeals with laughter as if finding it difficult to take you seriously.  You ask him again and remove the gag so he can answer but then quickly put it back in when he starts trying to chant a spell of some sort.  You punch him and because you're such a wimp it ends up hurting your wrist more than it hurt his face, which only adds to his laughter.  You realize this isn't working as planned so you take him to where you stashed the bodies of the two nightwatchmen you killed at the entrance and draw your sword.  This seems to make a bigger impression upon him.  You take him back further away from the camp and inquire again.  This time he seems more receptive.

 
"The Craxil isn't something you can reason with or just strike down, he's an inspiration to the beastmen of this region.  A unifying force."

 
The shaman goes on to explain that the Craxil has been gathering his strength here for longer than the villagers realized and that the weekly raids for food were little compared to what is being organized.

 
"The Craxil isn't content to leave his children here in the mountains while the humans enjoy the soft lands." The shaman explains.  "He isn't after world domination or anything, but he wants to take a few choice pieces of territory from the humans down below."

 
"What manner of creature is he?"  you demand, keeping your sword out as a reminder of your unspoken threat.

 
"None of us goblins really knows for sure.  The riders deliver his orders to us and they are the only ones who have ever seen him."

 
"The riders?"

 
"Yes, they were once human but umm... not anymore."

 
"You mean they were raised as undead!?!?!"

 
"Heavens no, the Craxil doesn't resort to such disgusting practices.  Rather, they become his thralls after a lengthy, mind breaking ritual.  They do his bidding now."

 
You pause at that comment.  You've heard of mind flayers dominating people's minds like this but they've always been able to do so instantly, without the need for such rituals and practices.  Moreover, Brandolf insisted that the Craxil is a being unlike any that has been seen in this world so far.  You decide to change the topic to discuss the Craxil's location.

 
"Where is the Craxil located?" you ask.

 
"Pff.  Do you even know where YOU are located right now" the shaman says with a chuckle.  "A bit far from home and looking a little lost out here aren't we?"

 
You shove your sword closer to his throat and he ceases to taunt you.

 
"The Craxil resides in an underground cavern that is accessed from a canyon north of here.  When the rocks cease to be this familiar brown and start looking red then you are getting closer.  Even closer still when you begin to see the cactii.  The most direct route is the Redrange pass, though that has some dangers of its own."

 
You are about to inquire further about what else lies in store for you, but you hear the sounds of goblins in the distance and you are worried the shaman may start making noise for them.  You can't afford to be swarmed by goblins right now so you cut his throat and retreat a little until they return to camp.  Fortunately, the path he spoke of can be reached by simply going around the goblin camp from a safe distance and continuing in that direction.  You still have about a full days journey before you get to this "Redrange Pass" and even then you are only at the start of the shaman's directions.  But hey, at least you know where you are going now and have the knowledge that you've been going the right way all this time.  You just really hope that little shit isn't lying to you.

Onward

You've gotten past the bulk of the humunculi and the goblins were refreshingly easy, but as you continue forward you shudder to think at what else may lie in store for you up ahead.  This nondescript plateau had dredged on for quite a while and still no sign of Redridge pass.  Suddently you reach a tunnel and you are dismayed to see a large troll blocking access.  Trolls are even stronger than humunculi so you won't be fighting this one anytime soon.  The tunnel represents the only way through to the other side as an inclimbable rockface extends in both directions along the plateau.  You're gonna have to get through that tunnel one way or another. 

 
You remember that the shaman said that the Craxil uses riders to send its orders out to its minions and that these riders are basically human thralls.  Perhaps you could fake it to get past him.  Another option is your bow.  Trolls are very large creatures and therefore pretty hard to miss, even for you.  A final option is to try and distract it somehow.  You reason that you could cause a lot of commotion in the half-dead vegetation nearby to draw him away from the tunnel, then circle around and make a run for it.

You try To Trick The Troll Into Believing You Are A Thrall

You dawn your poker face and approach the troll expectantly.  You reason that you cannot hope to match a troll's strength but rather take advantage of their lack of intelligence.  As you approach, the troll glares at you and is clearly readying his club for a strike.

 
"I must report back to the Craxil" you announce.  

 
"And who are you to see the Craxil" the troll questions.

 
"I am a rider and have no time for your nonsense.  This report is very important."

 
There is a pause as the troll is thinking over your response.  Clearly, he isn't sure what to say or do in this situation.  It looks like this might actually work.  But then...

 
"Where is your steed?" the troll asks.

 
Shit.  Of course, they're called riders for a reason and you haven't got any ride now do you?  Of all the rotten luck. 

 
"He is ill, suffers the ick" you manage, doubtful as to whether or not this will be taken.

 
At this point the troll isn't buying it.  You wish you had considered this before you attempted to lie.  Hard to take, being outsmarted by a troll.  Even harder to take is the club that has now crushed every bone in your body and left you a mangled mess.

 
THE END