Friday 6 July 1280, Morning through Noon (The Aftermath)

Following the battle Gaven steps aside and gives a benediction to the Light.

Sinking to the ground in utter exhaustion Duran takes a long drink from his water skin.

After giving some orders to his men, Belloc rides up to the party, with a wide grin on his face. "Well done, well done!" he says.

As Captain Belloc approaches, Duran pushes himself off the ground and with Gaven rejoins the others.

The captain climbs down from his horse. "I was a bit worried about our center, but your distractions and your blows to the enemy's flank were more timely than I could have hoped."

Gaven says: "We were blessed by the Light to drive away chaos this night."

Varros looks to Belloc and adds: "Thank you captain, it was touch and go there at first, the fire creature could have been the death of us all."

The captain nods. "Certainly so. I also suspect," he continues, looking at Oloc, "that the flaming beast's flight was of your doing. I'm not sure how we would have dealt with that creature without taking far greater casualties than we did.

In response to Belloc's praises the young Mage only shakes his head. "I was fortunate. My spell was ineffective, but it was enough to break the concentration of the hobgoblin spell caster. All those who use spells have such a weakness."

"Like many of his kind, the hobgoblin mage undoubtedly reached beyond the limits of his power, and when you cast your spell, successful or not, it cost him. At any rate, you've all definitely earned an even more substantial bonus than I had originally planned to give you – and you shall have it."

Out of nowhere, Karnak flies down to land on Varros's shoulder. He appears to have darkened goblin blood on his talons and beak. Varros turns his attention to Karnak and hands him his usual reward for a job well done then rubs the feathers on the raven's neck, "Well done Karnak! It looks like you had a part in the battle as well. Good job my friend."

The captain looks around. "For now, my men are exhausted. Our plan is to return to the Northstar inn, take a few hours sleep, and then return to town. Will you join us? The road will be safer if we all travel together. Besides, you look like you could use a few hours' rest as well."

"Captain Belloc, I agree it would be best to travel together," says Gaven.

Oloc, too, wholeheartedly accepts the offer of escort back to the inn. He desires a good rest, a meal, and then to sit down and discuss plans to investigate the ruins!

Duran also adds: "I would welcome the rest Captain. You may want to send someone to let the farmers know they can return to their homes. The poor fellows are frightened enough as it is."

"Not to worry," replies the captain. "I've already send a message to Eric Fallow. Come. If you are ready let us depart."

Belloc's men are just finishing their cleanup and the sun inches over the eastern horizon. He gives them the orders to move out, and the entire weary battalion sets out. Captain Belloc remains dismounted and walks along with you.

The party marches from the battlefield (hex 8), southeast along the road to the Northstar inn (hex 40)

Varros engages Belloc in conversation, praising him on his leadership, valor and bravery in the battle. The fighter also makes inquirires regarding the ruins, Mayor Adsul and Karnak.

"The mayor..." begins Belloc thoughtfully and quietly. "The mayor is an administrator. And a good one, I believe. But, as an administrator, his ways are not a soldier's ways. As you already know, for example, we differ on the question of prisoners and interrogations. But he does not share everything with me. It may be that discretion and the keeping of one's own counsel are essential qualities for an administrator, just as decisiveness is vital in a commander and obedience is necessary for the man-at-arms. What I do know is that Adsul runs the town well. The citizens are happy with his policies. And while my men and I could always do with more resources than we have, Adsul ensures that we have the equipment we need to keep the town proper secure, and even strike out into the surrounding countryside if need be."

When Varros mentions the keep, Belloc stretches his arm back and points to the ruin-crowned hill you passed earlier, now more clearly visible in the light of the rising sun. "As I'm sure you've surmised, your ruins sit on top of that hill. And though you have praised me for my valor and bravery, if you enter there, then you are a more courageous man than I." The captain rubs his chin. "I'd guess most of what folk tell you about that place consists only of fairy tales. I've not met many men who actually have been inside. It is for certain an unpleasant place. And if you wonder why our goblins cut a wide path around it, rather than using it for shelter, I can tell you that I've heard – from men I find reliable – that there are a tribe of kobolds and a clan of morlocks living in there. They say the former hate the goblins, while the latter love them – cooked and seasoned." Belloc chuckles softly at his own little joke, then adds more seriously: "You'll need to be careful in there."

In response to Varros' inquiry about Karnak, the captain says: "Karnak has been in the service of Fairbrook for many years. Our ravens are soldiers – they have a strong sense of duty and a great deal of courage, as you no doubt noticed from the blood on his beak and talons after our battle. He will continue to serve Fairbrook, I am sure, for many years." Belloc looks up at the raven flying above you. "I sense though, that he has developed a strong connection to you in a very short time. Quite remarkable really. I wouldn't be surprised if he returned to seek you out from time to time in the future."

*****

An uneventful four-hour march brings you back to the Northstar, where you find a few of the farmers, including Eric Fallow, disassembling the barricades built the day before and putting Harlon's inn back in order. You are welcomed with slaps on the back, and Harlon feeds you a hearty breakfast, then gives you a room to get some rest. After a few hours sleep, he serves you a filling lunch too, all on the house, in exchange for the service you've rendered the locals, and he tells you that you are welcome to stay for dinner and the night as well.

During lunch, Captain Belloc and Eric Fallow share your table, as do the halflings Filbert and Hazel.

As lunch draws to a close, Belloc calls for his quartermaster, and makes some inquiries of him. You overhear the word "inventory" but nothing else of their quiet conversation. The quartermaster leaves the inn, then returns a few moments later with three small purses in his hands.

"This," says Belloc, handing you the first pouch "is the scouting fee we agreed upon. And this," he say holding out the second bag, "is the bonus I promised you for keeping on after we met up here at the Northstar. And lastly," he sets the third small sack on the table, "this too is for you, as payment for your outstanding service in the battle."

Opening the first two bags you find 300 gold coins in one and 500 in the other. As you open the third bag, Belloc explains: "That belonged to the goblins. Having returned the pillaged items to the locals from whom they were stolen, there was much left over in the way of weapons and jewelry that evidently belonged to the goblins themselves. The laws of Fairbrook allow my men and me to keep shares of any such plunder, and I have decided that you are entitled to a share equal to my own. I have consulted with my quartermaster and he tells me this is equivalent to four times my portion – a share equaling mine for each of you."

Emptying the third purse, you discover twelve small, beautiful, dark red gems. Looking across the table, Filbert points out: "Those are fine gems, indeed. Each of those should certainly fetch you 200 gold coins.

*************************
OOC: Actions?

XP and Treasure Tally

Monster XP

12 goblins = 120

1 hobgoblin mage = 60

1 fire elemental = 400               

Total Monster XP = 580

Individual XP: 145 xp for each of you

Treasure

300 gp (scouting fee)

500 gp (scouting bonus)

2400 gp in gems (200 gp x 12; plunder share)

2 gp, 7 sp (found on goblins in woods)

8 gp (for the two goblin short swords)*      

Total Treasure Value: 3210.7 gp

Individual Treasure: 802 gp, 6 sp, 8 cp for each of you **

*I assumed you sold off the short swords to Belloc's quartermaster

**I assume you're dividing the treasure equally among the four of you

You can go ahead and add your monster xp to your character sheets now. Remember to add in any bonus to which you are entitled when you put this onto your sheets. And Dan, don't forget to add your 25 xp "Zulu" bonus! :)

For treasure xp, you'll have to wait until you spend it. You'll need to go back to Fairbrook to buy gear or spend any substantial sums (or to simply bank your coin). Once you make expenditures, you'll be able to add the xp for that to your character sheets as well (again remembering to add any bonus to which your are entitled).

4 July 1280, Afternoon (Meeting Captain Belloc)

Duran and Oloc, not feeling the need to answer for Gaven's actions, allow Gaven to speak for himself.

Gaven, however, explains things to the captain, with Varros adding a word or nod as necessary to support or fill in the story:

"Well met Captain Belloc, I am Gaven, acolyte of Light. I apologize if my action causes you added stress. The guard asked 'why are you bringing the goblin into town?', suggesting that the goblin was unwelcome and would impede our re-entry. I simply rectified the situation, thus fulfilling my oath to the Light," Gaven pauses to bow his head before continuing.

"It's just as well," says Belloc. "Personally I prefer them dead. The mayor claims to have some unusual technique for...intelligence gathering. Frankly I don't see how it can be all that effective – at least not more so than ordinary techniques. But it's not my place to question. I'm a soldier and the subtleties of interrogation are not my area of expertise."

"You would have received no useful information from the runt of the goblin litter anyway," continues Gaven. "While he was able to aid us in surprising the rest of the force, he had no useful intelligence on the goblin's purpose."

Varros shows the captain the trophies as proof that the rest of the scouting force was slain.

Duran lets the others do the talking as he looks around the room. As he looks he tries to see if he can make out anything of importance on the desk or maps of the Captain.

Gaven motions to Oloc, "Oloc's arcane arts are likely better than any method you would have to extract information from the goblin."

Gaven pulls the note found on Grimtooth's body and hands it to Belloc, "This, however, was found on the hobgoblin leading the mission. Oloc translated it to say 'Main force gathering on north bank. Scout enemy positions only. Do not engage or take prisoners. – Bloodfang'."

Oloc, too, then speaks, confirming the translation and stressing the need for the captain to take the goblin threat seriously.

Gaven pauses to allow the information and Oloc's confirmation of the translation to sink in.

The captain nods. "We've been aware of increased goblin activity," he says. "But what you're showing me is more detailed than our current information."

Belloc notices Duran glancing around at the maps (which Duran recognizes as all being of various points around Fairbrook). The captain gestures for Duran, and the rest of you, to join him as he walks to the large wall map and points out areas where other small free companies have picked up goblin activity.

"We've gotten sightings here, along the road to Woodfield, as well as over here, on the route toward Stag Hollow. Small parties, in each case, assumed to be scouts. But your group is the first to bring back concrete intelligence of the goblins' intentions."

"It seems the goblins mobilize under hobgoblins," Gaven adds. "This is very serious indeed. While I cannot speak for my comrades, I offer my services to you, as your goals and mine certainly overlap. I shall also say my comrades wanted to bring the goblin to you and were against my slaying of the goblin, Light forgive them."

On this last point, Varros adds, to the captain, that Gaven is a good sort who perhaps loves the light a bit more than most.

"What's done is done," says the captain. "As I say, for myself, I'd rather see the creature dead. And as for the mayor....I will smooth things over with him."

Gaven finishes by saying, "I hope my explanation is satisfactory, and if so, my duties require me to bring Miss Elsie to her home, to seek out Bill Barley's father to deliver news on his son's demise."

"For this there is no need," responds Belloc. "I sent the guards who brought you to bring the parents here. They should arrive before we finish our business. As for your offer of service..." The captain pauses for a second as he looks over the party as whole.

"If you truly are interested, I've a mind to hire your company as scouts. Your job would simply be to locate the main body of the goblin host, and once they've been spotted, communicate their location to me by raven.* We will of course supply you with a map, and the bird. I believe I can narrow down the area you'd need to cover."

"I would expect you to depart no later than tomorrow dawn. That would give you some time to rest, reequip, and take care of any other pre-departure business."

"Indeed, replies Gaven, "I would like to return with haste to the temple to pray for guidance."

The captain nods. "The pay for the mission is 50 gold up front, so you can purchase any equipment you may need, and another 250 if you successfully locate the goblin host. Even if you fail to find them, you'll be paid 50 gold on your return simply for your trouble."

"And remember, this would be a reconnaissance mission only. My expectation is that you simply locate the enemy, not take on the full raiding contingent in combat. Once we know where the villains are, I can quickly muster a body of men-at-arms able to make short work of 100 goblins. What say you?"

*************************

OOC: Actions?

*Ravens in the West Kingdom: Some ravens are found who understand human (and demi-human) speech, and who can communicate simple ideas to those experienced enough to understand them. Not all ravens possess this ability of course. Legend holds that some ancient mage may well have enchanted a coven of ravens in his keeping with intelligence and true speech, and that some measure of these gifts was passed down through their descendants all the way to the present day. This is, of course, not certain. But the fact is that some ravens, although fewer and fewer in number, still possess an ability to communicate with men, elves, dwarves and halflings. It is no doubt of one of these birds that Belloc speaks.