Before the Storm

Yesterday was somewhat interesting. Before leaving our camp and the dead owlbears behind us, I spoke with the group, and the Headsmasher in particular - about his decision not to aid Dormaruk during the battle. He appears to feel an obligation towards Nakor in particular, due to having known him, but not towards myself and the seafaring minotaur, due to not knowing us. It is a strange statement - how can you decide to join a number of complete strangers in battle - or adventure, I suppose - and not trusting fully those by your side? He did make a promise to Dormaruk, which is something at the least. Then we left, travelling in two small groups, as to not make an easy target for ambush.
 
We followed the ogre's trail to a river with a bridge, with a corpse near it. It seemed to be of a man, and in his hands he held a note with two riddles on it, which was an indication of what was to come. Dormaruk went to have a look at the body of water, but was greeted by a troll, who climbed up from what I can guess to be a lair near the riverbank. He introduced himself as Trongdong, and it was made clear that we could only pass the bridge by winning a game of riddles against him, and if we lost, we would be eaten. After deliberation amongst ourselves, I suggested we accept the challenge but also be ready to retreat if we lost. Trongdong also mentioned that he was stationed here under the orders of a mistress, who recently passed alongside an ogre. Unless the troll is mistaken, it appears that the tailor we were hired to rescue may be something else? Perhaps their leader, or someone this band of goblins, ogres, and bugbears believe to be a leader? Trongdong also called me ugly, which is definitely a first. Regardless, the troll was well-acquainted with many riddles of legend, but the Headsmasher managed to conjure a riddle that he could not answer. Trongdong became very angry and destroyed the bridge. Or, cut the ropes at least, and Dormaruk skilfully roped back the bridge and we re-fastened it.
 
A few hours later we came upon a mountain and a cliff. There was a cave entrance guarded by a goblin and an ogre, and both Dormaruk and Nakor believed it best to charge immediately. I talked about how important it is to know your opposition, and proposed that we watch the entrance and its surroundings for a few hours to estimate their numbers. It was begrudgingly accepted by Dormaruk, who went to sleep. So did the Headsmasher. So I and Nakor took the role of observation. We also spoke a bit, and he has no memory of anything before he "saw light, and the ugly face of him" which was the Headsmasher. He did not even know what a family was! However, he does somehow remember speaking with a dragon, but somehow believes that he was born and raised in an inn. I spoke about the White Sentinel Company and of my unit in the Succession Wars, and briefly about our skirmishes and battles with the Chagoryn Khanate and the Kang. Nothing seemed to awake anything in him, but I still believe he hails from the Kang. Further, he calls magic "tricks." I assume he never went to school. I also drew up a plan of attack, to try and demonstrate the benefit of employing tactics to one's advantage. He seemed disinterested, but accepted it. Nakor did suggest to try and goad the ogre into attacking the goblins with his "tricks." It could perhaps work? During our observation we noted two rotations amongst the goblins, and none for the ogre. The rest of the group also saw the map, which will draw out a few of their number into an ambush. Following these goblins' standard lack of organised fighting, I expect the rest to either charge or retreat into their cave. If they hole up inside, they likely expect to lose in an open engagement, so we could either charge inside and crush them or wait them out. I know what approach Dormaruk will take, and do not disagree with it.
 
The watch is over and it is now time to wake the others.