My adventures continued for a few days in-game. It's back to the good old days as far as ambush frequency. As in, every other step out in the wildneress, something ambushes you. I had recruited a pair of peasants, who turned out to be married, one of them the son of the lady of the castle I was in. Within two days they were both dead to bandits, and I had dropped my backpack in one fight to give myself the advantage. I've been looking for that site again ever since because it had all my food and money (a lot of money!)
Chronologically;
first there was a cheetah who thought it could take us on
then a kobold bandit ambush that killed three of my companions, including the wife
Then a couple animal ambushes. I got to punch ALL of a lions teeth out at once. It was glorious. I hereby declare it to be a "tooth-splosion," because that's about the best description of what it looked like.
But unfortunately we were ambushed again by bandits. The human group we were trying to kill. That's when I lsot my bag, and the husband died.
I and my last remaining companion were ambushed more than half a dozen times, while trying to find the site of that fight and my bag, and then while trying to sleep.
First it was lions. Whatever, more tooth-splosions!
Then it was a horde of DINGOS. Trying to eat my baby! (dorf spearman companion) We fought them off. Never been more confused or surrounded by so many enemies.
Now, it's hyenas. A massive horde of them just like with the dingos. The dorf got eaten. Didn't have a chance to save him. Now I'm alone in the wilderness in the middle of the night.
Fuck.