The hunt for Oderick continues as the party push deeper into the forest, following the trail with the help of Lurch’s keen nose.

Before long, they hear voices.

Armed men are moving through the woods, searching for someone. But who? Oderick? The party? Someone else entirely?

Keeping to the shadows, the company observe the strangers and quickly realise they’re not locals. Their accents are unfamiliar, their appearance unusual, and they seem to have come from lands far beyond the wilderness the party now finds themselves in.

Naturally, the Guild decide the best course of action is an ambush.

The attack is successful, if not entirely tidy. While Haldir and The Lonely attempt to take one of the men alive for questioning, Bungo contributes in the only way he knows how—by shooting him with an arrow.

The opportunity for answers dies with him.

Still, the party manage to gather one valuable clue before the bodies cool: the name Valtir.

Who he is, and why these men were searching the woods, remains a mystery.

Searching the corpses yields another lead. The coins they carry bear the mark of Minas Tirith, suggesting these strangers have travelled a very long way to be here.

But the biggest discovery is yet to come.

Determined to scout ahead, Haldir climbs a tree.

Very slowly.

After spending an impressive amount of time both climbing and counting, he finally spots the enemy encampment.

And it’s far larger than anyone expected.

At least fifty men.

Suddenly, the party begin to wonder whether they’re hunting a fugitive…

Or marching straight into an army.