Organize watches for the night. Ask details about the ambush, where did they leave, what weapons and equipment did they have, etc. and get a good night rest. Set out for Kings castle early next morning, but have someone wake us even earlier so we can send few people gather rest of the berries for breakfast.
make improvised weapons out of wood and stone
Now that some of the men are starting to fall asleep, you set a rotation of five men to keep watch and manage the fire. You order the final watch to wake you up when their rotation is halfway through. You take part in the first watch yourself. Around an hour in, you hear the sound of movement. Fear the bandits' return, you arm yourself with a nearby branch. Having the others do the same, you spend a few tense minutes waiting. Eventually, the sound fades away and your men relax. It had to have been a small animal, surely?
Six hours later, one of the dawn watch awakens you, as you had asked. He reports that nothing had happened during the night, and the sound hadn't returned. Waking three other men, including one of the foragers from yesterday, you set off towards the berries. Arriving fifteen minutes later, you discover that there's fewer left than your people said. Oliver suggests that a bear may have eaten some of the berries last night. He explains that you might have even heard that bear when you were on watch. Agreeing, you and the men gather what's left and head back. There was only enough there to bring back two bags, but it should be more than enough for the morning meal. The men enjoy the berries, and enjoy it even more when they realize the berries haven't made anyone keel over. After everyone has finished, you have them see if there are any sticks or rocks they can use as weapons. Most come up empty; a few find branches they can use a staffs and one finds a sharp rock to use as a kind of dagger. Unfortunately, you don't have time to make spears or anything out of the forest debris. As for yourself, you find a heavy stick to use as an improvised club.
With everyone more or less armed, you begin marching towards King Horace's castle: Castle Lauffe. You're still in the woods by the time you break for lunch. While everyone's getting their food, you ask Sir Oliver about the bandits. He tells you that you were one of the first to go down under the slinger's fire. When you ask about their equipment, he replies,"They had some iron weapons. Spears, quite a few swords, and an axe or two. Emerson, I saw, had twin steel shortswords. None of that fake, cheap steel, either. He had real Drael steel swords. Most of them, however, were using daggers or clubs; what you would expect on bandits. Armor-wise, they had some leather armor and mostly regular clothes. A few of them, like Emerson, were wearing chainmail over their leather. Kind of like what we're wearing now." You ask where they left to. "Where to exactly? I can't say. They left in the same direction we were told their lair is, so I'd assume that's right." You go to leave when Oliver calls to you. "Oh yeah! I forgot to mention - they have slingers too!" He shows off a toothy grin while you shake your head and walk away.
You finally stop at the edge of the forest. While your men eat and make camp, you ponder what to do. Your supplies aren't limitless, and you could make it to your castle within two days of traveling. From there, you could continue on to Castle Lauffe, or send a messenger with the news.
You have half a day's worth of hardtack and water, left to you by the bandits. You also have 11 bundles of the juicy berries your men found, adding around another 1 and a half days to your supplies. With rationing, you could probably extend it another day if you need to.
You Command:
Signate McGibbons - 1 - (dismounted)(Happy)
Men at Arms - 9 (some armed)(Happy)
Knights - 19 - (some armed, dismounted)(Happy)
Head: Iron Skullcap - Dented
Body: Chainmail over Leather
Boots: Leather Marching Boots
Weapon: Improvised Club
Is second person okay? I can change to third if you guys think it would be better.