Now that the Windfury harpies had been driven off, the party took some time to search around their lair and see what they could find.
Beyond the harpies' supplies and valuables stolen across a number of raids, there were two things among the supplies that had the party's attention. The first was a number of supply crates stamped by the Venture Co, unscathed to the point where it was hard to tell if they were pilfered or provided. If the goblins had, perhaps, bribed the flock.
The second was an amulet worn by one of the Windfury witches; forged from a dark metal into the shape of a spiked hammer in a blazing ring of fire.
What little they knew of it, was that it was the symbol of an occult sect known as Twilight's Hammer.
Following their time searching the lair, the party reunited with Ruul Eagletalon and the other Braves. Following elated celebrations for their victory and some time spent mending wounds, the party informed the Braves that they had to take the long way back around via the Brambleblade Ravine to Red Cloud Mesa if they were going to recover their mounts.
If they could move fast and keep their pace, they reckoned they would emerge through the other side of the ravine by nightfall.
And when they made their way back through the ravine, they tried to go as sneakily as they could, backtracking the same way they entered. Though Gan Jedi did well in guiding the party as such, their attempts to move sneakily eventually failed.
Another fog came rolling in, their tracks were lost, and when the fog eventually dispersed they found themselves cornered in an open space with brambles blocking their way out. Quillboars appeared along the surrounding ridge; a few of them there visibly, though the party could tell there had to be many more still hiding.
So, Zachariah Hallowhold stepped up to barter a way out. He could tell they were outnumbered. In response, the quillboars barked out a demand for tribute, after which they would leave the party to depart. Though somewhat begrudgingly, Gan and Qalia Sugarfuel set about gathering together what they had that would suit such a tribute. Supplies, first and foremost.
It was a tense moment when the exchange was made, and the party was quick to retreat once the quillboar thornweavers broke their spells and removed the brambles so they could leave.
A few hours later, and they emerged out of the ravine and back onto the lush plains atop the Red Cloud Mesa. They found their mounts, and there settled up a camp as the night was growing late.
The following day, Gan had managed to scout a shortcut that looked like it would allow the party to descend to the plains below without needing to ride the whole way back to Camp Narache and there around. It was a dangerous set of slopes and rocky paths, definitely walked before but only rarely so.
But eventually, the party managed to find their way down. They spent the day trekking across the open plains back to Bloodhoof Village, where they returned late in the evening.
The party raised words to the Outrunners about the Windfury harpies having scattered, and about how the Venture Co goblins seemed to have worked together with them. Two troubles wound together into one, though both of them hopefully dealt with now.
They spent the night at the House of the Outrunners as usual. One thing that quickly caught Qalia's attention was a small, stacked tower of cupcakes on the bar counter. Seemed like the previous bartering for the party's stay was already something Kauth and the others running the house were trying to cash in on!
The next day after, the party was again greeted by the Braves and by Baine Bloodhoof at the Hall of Congregation. Once again, greeted as heroes! They laid out the whole, long story on all that had happened, and again the theory of how the harpies and goblins might have been working together.
This revelation alarmed the tauren greatly, though the pieces did seem to fit together. Later on, the village gathered together in festivity to celebrate the end of their recent turmoil. Chief Baine took center-stage to deliver a rousing speech about all that had happened, before he whisked the party away to give them some monetary awards as well for their work.
After that, the party tracked down Mot Dawnstrider once more at the Soft Creeks Tavern, so he could help them identify the amulet they had gotten hold of from the harpy witches. All that remained for the party now, was to get themselves ready for a journey up to Thunder Bluff.
The time was long overdue to rendezvous with Turuk Thunderhoof and Nim, and learn what they had uncovered in exploring their visions.