"Curious place to make a hideout. Not much foliage to help with cover.. then again if locals are wary of the dead forest for other reasons perhaps it's perfect." Logan muses aloud. He leaves the dead tree be and continues with the others.

Silas the trees in this forest are much more plentiful then you are used to, have grown thick and close together. They choke out the ground and make travel threw them rather difficult but you become accustomed to it fairly quickly. Leading your group threw the trees in the quickest way possible. While you see no humanoid tracks, You do see Wolf tracks. 2 or 3 at your best guest and a decent size as well. This Thicket seems to be their territory which means their Den should be somewhere close by, Keeping your eyes peeled for a potential ambush by the Wolves you press on until you catch a familiar smell in the air. Wood Smoke, there is a low burning campfire roughly 160 feet away from you. 

You all get the scent of the Campfire but are unable to see its source until Silas point it out to you. Sat by the campfire, sharpening a curved blade is a figure wearing a Red Cloak, the hood is down but they are sitting with their back facing you. How do you guys want to handle this?

Geoffrey crouches down as best he can in the dead foliage. "Should we try diplomacy first? I can go in talking, the rest back me up," he whispers. 

Logan gets low as well but also behind a tree. He smiles a bit and whispers back, "Be my guest." he motions very slightly toward the hooded figure.

Hide Action - Stealth 15

"Not great at talking," whispers Silas, "But I'll back you up."  Silas also takes up a position hiding.

Stealth: 13

If you want to Stealth, roll stealth checks.

If you want to try Diplomacy, say your peace followed by a Persuasion check. 

The Individual makes a Perception check. With advantage because of their class.

Perception check: 13

"I'll stay farther away. I'm not very good up close." Alethra gets within 130 ft of him and hides behind a tree, looking around it. 

Stealth: 7

Logan and Alethra, you both simultaneously see a decent hiding spot behind a strong looking tree. Both of you go for it and knock into each other, causing a low hanging branch to snap as Alethra grabs it to steady herself. 

The Individuals head turns to the right slightly and flicks their hood up over their head. They sheath the blade into a scabbard hanging from their waist and stand. Spending a few moments affixing something to their face. Turning you see a face covered in shadow caused by the hood they wear along with a blue scarf, lined with some sort of silver coloring along the edges that completely covers their lower face. Resting their right hand on the hilt of the scimitar, They appear to be looking in your direction. They are aware of your presence now and seem to be waiting. 

The red cloak encompasses almost their entire being as it drapes over the shoulders and flows down onto the ground. You can see pieces of Brown leather armor hiding beneath the cloak. 

Geoffrey nods at the others before standing up and brushing himself off. He begins to walk towards the fire, making as much noise as possible before calling out to the man at the fire, "Well met stranger. I am looking for the Red Hood and I believe you might fit the description. Would you mind if I join you at the fire?" 

Persuasion Check: 19

OCC: Ouch

Geoffrey as your speaking to the Individual (You do not know if it is a male or female) You can tell they are not paying attention to you, rather they are looking right past you at your two newly found comrades who have made alot of noise while trying to remain unseen. While the individual makes no move you do get a sense that their eyesight suddenly fixates on you, while you cannot see their eyes because of the hood. The hairs on the back of your neck stand on end.

"At least three maybe four of you by my count." Their voice is muffled by the scarf and seems to be purposely deepened. "A former Legionnaire and a bunch of mercs." They take a few steps towards you Geoffrey and grip the hilt of their scimitar. "Whatever the bounty is on my head, Its not worth this fight Friend. I suggest you move on before you make a mistake you'll come to regret"  

Geoffrey waves his hand in front of his face as if waving away flies, "I take it I am addressing the Red Hood? I'm not here for the bounty. Which is 500 gold pieces if you are taken alive. I'm here because I'm searching for" Geoffrey's eyes go to the flickering fire behind the Red Hood, and he becomes lost in them for an instant "....well to be honest, I'm not sure what exactly. But when I hear about a mysterious figure getting into the middle of the 11th Legion's camp and summarily striking down its captain with a blade of lightening. And then disappearing. Well that gets my interest." 

He looks around at the forest, "Seeing where you've been hiding out I am even more curious. You didn't kill Gorth for the money. Or the fame of it I think. So who are waiting for? Way I see it a man strikes a hornets nest, they usually'd want to get as far away as possible. Yet here you are in the middle of dead forest sitting around a camp fire as if you don't have a care in the world." 

He throws back his cloak and brings his shield around, planting it in the ground in front of him and leaning on it. "I'd rather this not come to violence. It's why I walked up to talk to you. I've not the stomach for attacking an unknown person while they are resting around the campfire. And I've not the stomach for unnecessary violence. But I don't shy from it either. Might be best for you to answer our questions and come with us. We aren't going to be the only ones looking for you. And the others may decide 250 gold is just as good as 500." 

Logan stays behind the tree either way. The hood guy might know they are there but it still serves as cover, "Sounds like it's going well so far" he says quietly to Clarity.

"It's true I am not interested in either Fame or Fortune, Mine is a higher purpose." The individual strides back to the Fire and moves the seat to face you Geoffrey and the individuals in the Thicket. Grabbing a stick they begin to stoke the fire, the flames begin to build and grow. "Only 500 huh? Im surprised they offer so little for the head of a Captain killer." They throw a small log onto the fire as the flames begin to billow, Plumes of gray smoke erupt from the fire as they Unclasp the scabbard at their side and rest it upon their lap.

The individual turns their head to left slightly and throws the stick into the fire. "I am afraid Im going to have to refuse your offer Legionnaire, Join me at the fire and I will tell you a story." They gesture to a rock next to the fire and offers it to you as a seat Geoffrey.

Silas, you having the highest Passive perception. Hear the sound of a distant howl to the east of you, the direction in which the Individual had looked. 

Geoffrey scoffs, "Perhaps the price is dependent upon the Captain. I've said my piece and you listened politely it would be rude of me not to extend the same courtesy." He says as he warily follows the individual and sits down next to the fire, enjoying the warmth as it soaked into his bones as it had last night in the inn. "Before we begin would you be so kind as to allow me to say a prayer of thanks for the warmth of this fire and the staying of blades." 

Without waiting for an answer, Geoffrey held his hands out to the flames and silently offered a brief prayer to the Eternal Flame. 

Alethra peeks out from behind the tree, her voice carrying some nervousness. "Um, hi. Ma-may I join you? I don't really want to have to stretch to hear the story." She turns to her neighbors. "There's no way in the seven hells they don't know we're over here. And they seem reasonable enough."

The Individual lays the scimitar in the snow beside them and Prays along with you Geoffrey. You are slightly taken aback as you have not met another worshipper of the Eternal Flame, Faeri. Before you can remark on it, you hear Alethra call out.

The individual gestures to the snow beside the Campfire Alethra, With no other seat you are left with the cold ground but they seem welcoming.

"Now that you have said your Prayer and we have another to join us around this fire, Let me tell you a story of a Little Girl and a Wolf." The individual tucks their cloak around them and begins to Tell the story.

"Once there was a Little Girl.....lets call her Red. Red was a happy child with loving parents and all she ever wanted was to make people smile. She danced and sang, even learned to tell a joke or two. Just to see a stranger smile. One night while her parents slept, Red stayed awake. Thinking of other ways to make people smile, People like to eat she thought and so she decided to Bake some bread for the elderly couple down the road a ways. She stayed up all night, trying again and again to bake the perfect Loaf of Bread. Her parents were not happy with Little Red as she had made quite the mess, The yelled and scorned the Girl but never once struck her. Red had never been yelled at before and she didnt like it one bit. So she ran away from their little home and out into the wood. She ran and ran until she could run no more. Huffing and puffing little red sat down and rested her tired legs, her eyes were heavy but no longer teary. The sun was high in the trees and the birds were singing their song. Little Red couldnt help but feel peaceful as she started to drift along. Off into a land of dreams little red went but it was all just a lie. Awaking to a set of snarling teeth in her eyes, A wolf had crept up on the Child as she slept and it meant her harm. Little Red screamed and screamed as the wold tore into her, Trying to sound an alarm. The Wolf tore her innards out and ate them happily. Little Red smiled as she saw the wolf grin, knowing she would die making something smile. Tho the girl did not die, her father had found her and nursed her back to health. It took many years but eventually she sang once more but she was no longer her ordinary self. For when the moon rose and the wolves howled. Little Red settled down for a feast, no longer afraid of the big bad wolf for now she was the beast." 

The individual looks at you Geoffrey and then to you Alethra. "Whats the point of that story?" 

Geoffrey pauses after the story ended, allowing the question to hang in the frigid air as he considers his answer, "I suppose the point of the story, other than little girls shouldn't wander the woods alone, is the evil will take root, no matter the innocence of the soil." 

Samson watches, leaning against a tree. He seems to be lost in thought though, staring at the forest around them.

The Individual claps, Revealing studded leather armor under the red cloak. "Well Done Legionnaire, That is indeed the point of the story. No matter how pure or Innocent the Soul, Evil can and will take root." The Individual lets their hands fall to their lap and looks back towards the east. "Even the best of intentions does not excuse evil. An evil has been done to our Country and I aim to fix it." The individual stands and grabs their scimitar from the ground. 

"If we ever meet again, I shall tell you the second part of the story. You are a good man legionnaire, perhaps that is why you left the Blood Rose." You All Hear a howl at this point and look to the east, the direction of the sound. There you see 2 wolves, snarling and bareing their teeth. Their breath rising as steam in the frosty air and Behind them. The biggest wolf any of you have ever seen, Dwarfing the other two. This wolf is damn near the size of a horse, You have all heard about Dire Wolves but have never actually seen one until now.

The Individual lets out a whistle and the wolves begin to come into the small camp. Striding up to the dire Wolf, They pet the large wolf and turn to face you Geoffrey. "I Am Red Hood and I will do my duty, In the Light of the Eternal Flame" For just a moment Geoffrey, you catch a glimpse of pale Blue eyes under the hood before Red hood turns and walks away.  The Wolves are snarling and Preventing you from following Red Hood but not advancing towards you, they are holding their ground and blocking the path. 

Geoffrey jumps to his feet startled by the appearance of the wolves and the dire wolf, "Wait! Why did you kill Gorth? What did he have to do with this? What is this evil?"