Menace in the Zarek Valley - Alla strikes back

Heading towards the goblin tribe, Solid studies the demon skull; and then one night he wakes up screaming and sweating. No idea how or why is this relevant.

And then wolves attack at night.

They are thoroughly beaten, and a few escape, howling into the night.

Moving deeper into the forests, the adventurers encounter a squirrel crucified on crossed sticks. This scares the party into summoning the warlock's familiar to scout ahead. It soon returns having discovered a scene of battle. The party advanced into a clearing where they discover a row of goblin corpses, laid out nicely, with leaves on their eyes. On the other side of the clearing, a large pile of goblin and orc corpses has been set aflame, and is now reduced to a smoking ruin.

As the adventurers advance ever deeper into the forests, they come upon a large party of orcs and goblins. They contemplate their next course of action, just as another band of goblins emerges from the other side of the clearing and attacks the first party.

The attacking band is lead by a towering human-like woman, dressed in animal furs and swinging a huge axe. Besides her fights an old goblin, carrying shield and warhammer.

The adventurers join the fray, helping out the barbarian woman against incoming reinforcements. She fought with no regard to her own life; after one serious injury, she threw down her axe, allowed bestial features to take over, and ripped out the throat of one orc.[1]

Players from the 4E campaign[2] recognized Alla at this point. Fortunately, she also recognized Ireth, pulling her into a bearhug.

With battle done, the two parties sit down for dinner, and they fill each other in. Alla leads her poorly equipped, but definitely capable goblins on a mission to free them from oppression by stronger monsters, such as orcs and hobgoblins. Here, she ran into unexpected trouble: a large man (or, at least, humanoid) in red plate who lords over the local tribes and uses them as a staging ground for other monsters emerging from the mountains, launching attack after attack on the human settlement. The adventurers quickly agree to help bring down the chief of the goblins, promising to let Alla take them over.

[1] Establishing that she is not one to mess with.

[2] And, maybe, a couple of long time readers.