Shadows Behind the Attack
As the carriage rattled along the forest path, Luke's mind couldn't let go of the attack. The assailants weren't monsters, that much was clear. The precision of the arrow, the coordination of the ambush—it all pointed toward something far more sinister.
No wild beast in these lands could wield a bow and arrow with such deadly accuracy. No, this had to be a human attack. Bandits, most likely, Luke thought to himself—a well-planned assault disguised by the eerie reputation of Ashenfen. The stories of missing travellers, mysterious attacks, and dangerous creatures lurking within the trees could easily serve as cover for a group of opportunistic marauders. If anyone went missing here, most would chalk it up to the dangers of the forest and leave it at that.