'The children have been found and the ones that were still alive were rescued. The others have been given a proper burial. I am sorry that I don't have the full list of names.'
'Captain Frakes took the Flaming Fists that were in Beregost and moved on to report. We've been working to clear up any of the troublesome groups that remained in the area.'
'We appreciate any of the good word that you are willing to tell on our part. We've been gathering as much information as we can on the cult that has been working to sacrifice people. We still have much to learn and appreciate hearing anything that you heard while the ceremonies were being performed.'
"We will tell everyone about your bravery at saving us. You want to come back to the village with us where we can celebrate you as heroes?" he asked curiously as he measures you all up.
His expression darkens when talking about the ceremonies.
"There weren't many, but the men and woman who died in battle were eaten and parts of them sacrificed in the fire in the name of this dark lady. I do not know much, but I remember hearing of this as a ancient dark woreship of a deity that only the savage humanoids still do in this day and age." he explains as he appears to be more booksmart than a mercinary should be.
"Well I for one will go with you Mal. Taking down one more minion of that blasted drow b~@+# can only bring good fortune."
"No my friend we cannot go back to the village now. We must move forward and confront these enemies before their power grows into something we cannot handle".
'But what of the widow? If we press on from here then do we leave her to fate's hands to press on alone?'
'There is also the course to the village that did send message and barter for Evilbane's daughter.'
'I know there is much work for us to do but we need to decide which to do first. We also need to decide upon supplies. Do we have enough food, potions and scrolls to follow this bat winged orc now or should we resupply first?'
Much as we should deal with these Orcs, they can wait, the pressing matter is surely Evilbane's daughter. We should get to the bottom of that. If it takes us to a new village, then we may be able to resupply there.
Looking up at the mountain Mal frowns. He looks back at his friends. "You both provide wise council. Our first priority should be to protect the children, I fear I let my judgment become clouded by anger".
'Then let us pack up what we have gained here. The freed soldiers can report back to Berregost. They'll need more food and rest then we can supply. They'll likely want to try and report events to their higher authorities and we can tell them to give word to the priests and mages of the town. I'm sure the Morning Lord's temple will give them comfort and pass along any word they hear.'
'For us then the open road as we find more word on what evil is brewing that would send slavers to capture a girl.'
Badger will pack gear to head for the town mentioned by the slaver and in the letter for the kidnapping of Evilbane's daughter.
'Then let us pack up what we have gained here. The freed soldiers can report back to Berregost. They'll need more food and rest then we can supply. They'll likely want to try and report events to their higher authorities and we can tell them to give word to the priests and mages of the town. I'm sure the Morning Lord's temple will give them comfort and pass along any word they hear.'
'For us then the open road as we find more word on what evil is brewing that would send slavers to capture a girl.'
Badger will pack gear to head for the town mentioned by the slaver and in the letter for the kidnapping of Evilbane's daughter.
Since you had camped before coming too close to the camp it's roughly noon. It'll take sometime to get to this new village as you are all still in this forest. You have all knocked back these creatures and it'll be sometime before they return.
Badger checks the chest to see if it is locked.
Locks and boxes weren't really his thing. He wasn't known for the subtle approach.
If the chest opened easily then it would be one thing; if it didn't then Badger would use Evilbane and hack the lock from the wood.
Solaria seeing Badger looking at the chest and wondering how to open the thing, offers get TzeTing to carry the chest, until they get somewhere where they can open it more easily.
The chest appears to be unlocked and as you open it you find a collection of 2355 gold coins, backpack, masterwork heavy mace (medium) and 5 masterworked shurikuns.
"Perhaps we should stop at a town and pick up supplies and put this blood gold to good use".
"Yeah sure. Let's escort these gentlemen back to town then, we can pick up supplies and concolidate our plans there."
'Agreed'
The men are all greatful that you decided to take the time to help escort them back to the town. You all feel a presance of having done something good but there's a nagging feeling that you don't believe this retribution would go unpunished.
"So, you saved the kids? How did it happen, where were they?" the man who you assume is the leader of the group asks you as he seems very interested in hearing your story of events and all the others appear eager to learn, hoping to pass the time on they're way back to the town. "Was it true that there was a dragon or something that had taken the kids?"
'It is best that not much is said on where the children were taken and what happened to them. It is enough that the children and their parents know of what has happened and they will have those memories for the rest of their lives. It will do no good having other people passing whispers and stretching stories and only make the children's lives that much harsher.'
'Further, such talk just serves the dark powers by giving strength to the fears they try to generate. Where the children were held is burned and cleansed. It will no longer serve its former owners. The past is cleansed in fire and we move forward knowing the past will not be repeated.'
'This talk of a dragon is the exact thing that I refer to. People get a whisper and make up taller tales by the hour. There was no dragon. The evil was nothing more then the desires of a few twisted men and their sub-ordinates working for money. It doesn't take a dragon to do evil. It only takes mortals with perverted hearts.'
'It is best that not much is said on where the children were taken and what happened to them. It is enough that the children and their parents know of what has happened and they will have those memories for the rest of their lives. It will do no good having other people passing whispers and stretching stories and only make the children's lives that much harsher.'
'Further, such talk just serves the dark powers by giving strength to the fears they try to generate. Where the children were held is burned and cleansed. It will no longer serve its former owners. The past is cleansed in fire and we move forward knowing the past will not be repeated.'
'This talk of a dragon is the exact thing that I refer to. People get a whisper and make up taller tales by the hour. There was no dragon. The evil was nothing more then the desires of a few twisted men and their sub-ordinates working for money. It doesn't take a dragon to do evil. It only takes mortals with perverted hearts.'
"I understand." he nodded as he could see the trouble all of this caused. "We will still toast to you and your bravery." he smiled as they then arrived back on the road heading back to the large villiage. He called out to the guards as they arrived. The guards had looked as if they were rested compared to before where they had all been up pulling out double shifts.
Solaria looks at the items in the party's treasure trove, looking for something special as a present for TzeTing. She uses her arcane knowledge to scan for anything that is special.
Solaria looks at the items in the party's treasure trove, looking for something special as a present for TzeTing. She uses her arcane knowledge to scan for anything that is special.
You notice that the shurikuns are magical, though you can't quite tell what the magical properties are.
Solaria relays to everyone the magical shurikuns, if anyone can use them.