Forest Ambush

This encounter is found at The Fool challenge. It is also the first encounter of the challenge by default.

## Event

*You've stumbled many miles through this forest in search of the thieves who robbed you. Though exhausted and hungry, you are determined to reclaim your father's amulet.*

**A 4 of Greed card is drawn, as well as "The Leader"**

*You finally catch sight of the thieves hacking at a large tree and arguing among themselves.*

1. Move closer to eavesdrop.
**Chance Cards Gambit (3 Success and 1 Failure, shuffled once at slow speed)**
Success
*Creeping forward, you overhear their leader spouting orders.*

*It's simple," he says. "The idiots walk down the road, you push over the tree and jump out. They'll be too scared to put up a fight, and we'll get rich.*

*Why don't we just jump out and stab 'em?" one retorts.*

*Another hooded figure chimes in. "Yeah, corpses don't put up a fight, either.*

*Frustration rises in the leader's voice. "The Empire doesn't care if a few farmers lose some sprouts, but drop a corpse on the Royal Road and the place will be filled with soldiers before you've even spent the coin. We don't need that trouble. Now, quiet. Here they come."*

**A 3 of Toil card is drawn**

*You soon spot a group of farmers coming around the corner, bringing their wares to market.*

*The thieves fell the tree into the path of the unsuspecting farmers and leap out, weapons brandished.*

*"Give us all your food!"*

A. Leap to the farmers' defence.
*You draw your weapon with practiced skill.*

*"Well," you hear the leader's voice, "you lads handle this. I'll meet you when you're done."*

**The player enters combat against the Thieves with the aid of the farmers**

*The farmers fumble in their haversacks in gratitude. "Thank you, adventurer. I'm sure that after they took our food they would have taken our lives, as well.*

**The player receives 2 Food Gain Cards**

*You fall on the food with a sigh, shoveling bread into your mouth to quell your hunger. Your satisfaction only lasts a moment before you realize your father's amulet is not among the takings.*

**The player consumes 1 Food.**

*Their leader must still have it!*

*You set to your feet, determined to find him.*

B.Offer to help the farmers, warning them it won't come for free.
*"We have no gold!" shriek the terrified farmers, "but half our crop is yours if you protect us."*

*The thieves eye you nervously. The farmers look at you hopefully.*

1.Accept
*You draw your weapon with practiced skill.*

**The player enters combat against the Thieves with the help of the farmers**

*With the brigands dispatched, the farmers turn to you. "I hope your price doesn't prove too high. If the next harvest comes short we'll starve regardless."*

**The player receive 2 Food Gain Cards**

*You fall on the food with a sigh, shoveling bread into your mouth to quell your hunger. Your satisfaction only lasts a moment before you realize your father's amulet is not among the takings.*

**The player consumes 1 Food.**

*Their leader must still have it!*

*You set to your feet, determined to find him.*

2. Ask for more.
*"More! You're as much of a scoundrel as they are, if not worse. At least they do not hide behind honour!" The farmers have the gall to spit at your feet before running away.*

*As you reach for a share of the spoils, you realize you're surrounded.*

*You can't just turn up and take what's rightfully ours," barks one of the thugs.*

*Yeah, you didn't even help chop the tree down!"*

*You draw your weapon with practiced skill.*

*"Well," you hear the leader's voice, "you lads handle this. I'll meet you when you're done."*

**Enter combat with the Thieves**

*You end up alone in the forest, surrounded by a fallen tree, a pile of bodies, and some food.*

**The player receive 4 Food Gain Cards**

*You fall on the food with a sigh, shoveling bread into your mouth to quell your hunger. Your satisfaction only lasts a moment before you realize your father's amulet is not among the takings.*

**The player consumes 1 Food.**

*Their leader must still have it!*

*You set to your feet, determined to find him.*

C. Help the thieves with their extortion.
*You take your place beside the thieves, glowering. The farmers quickly size you up, decide that discretion is the better part of valour, and flee.*

*As you reach for a share of the spoils, you realize you're surrounded.*

*You can't just turn up and take what's rightfully ours," barks one of the thugs.*

*Yeah, you didn't even help chop the tree down!"*

*You draw your weapon with practiced skill.*

*"Well," you hear the leader's voice, "you lads handle this. I'll meet you when you're done."*

**Enter combat with the Thieves**

*You end up alone in the forest, surrounded by a fallen tree, a pile of bodies, and some food.*

**The player receives 2 Food Gain Cards**

*You fall on the food with a sigh, shoveling bread into your mouth to quell your hunger. Your satisfaction only lasts a moment before you realize your father's amulet is not among the takings.*

**The player consumes 1 Food.**

*Their leader must still have it!*

*You set to your feet, determined to find him.*

Failure
*You try to eavesdrop on the conspiring thieves but their voices are muffled by the bushes. You shuffle closer to get a better view.*

**A 3 of Toil card is drawn**

*You soon spot a group of farmers coming around the corner, bringing their wares to market.*

*The thieves fell the tree into the path of the unsuspecting farmers and leap out, weapons brandished.*

*"Give us all your food!"*

**Event proceeds in the same manner as a Success after choice 1**

2. Keep your distance
Same as a Success after choice 1.