Marc, as usual, gathers up the gear and packs it away.
Searches of the underground area turn up nothing else of interest. Assuming that the group climbs its way to the surface, the forest seems clearer as if a darkness has lifted from it - even the underbrush seems to impede your movement less than on your way here. In the distance you can all hear the sounds of things moving deeper into the forest.
"Shall we go check it out? Or head back?"
Raven shrugs.
"Well, the Darkness appears to have been lifted, so whatever was holding this section of the forest in thrall appears to be gone... but it is probably best to be thorough; I am up for a little bit of exploration, if necessary..."
Marc - From the sounds and the density of the forest you figure that whatever is moving is about a quarter to half a mile from you at the moment. If you head a bit beyond the clearing deeper into the woods you'll notice relatively fresh tracks of what are probably goblins and hobgoblins moving quickly towards the deeper forest.
.
"We should hurray."
"After you."
I'd say that marks the end of the hobgoblin threat to this area. Shall we return to town and let them know?
"So you don't want to go after them? Not worried about them coming back? "
Lucius - You are able to determine the same information as Marc. The forest clearly gets denser as you move inwards and you figure that the creatures are moving in beyond the area that was previously cleared out and occupied.
I'm up for whatever but the hope is that we've taken care of what's been driving the vermin out. I don't particularly relish the idea of trying to permanently rid the woods of goblinoids otherwise we'd be out here for centuries.
"You may have a point there, Haf." Lucius relents. "Let's just head back. Lead the way."
When you head back the trip is much shorter as, even off the path, the underbrush seems to impede your movements less often. Exiting the edge of the forest, any of the haziness seems to have lifted as well and, other than the physical damage, the area and the town look like any other. When you near the barricaded area you can hear mixes of shouting and singing from within, the townspeople seeming a mixture of confused and excited. Once in view you see that they are still hiding behind the barricade, but they motion you all over when they see you.
What is happening? The sick seem to be getting better, a young man shouts as you approach.
Raven smiles warmly at the young man.
"We found and despatched the source of the plague. Things should start to return to normal around here..."
The townspeople seem happy, but many are still afraid. If you move beyond the barricades you'll see that many are still wounded and those that were sick remain quarantined. While they seem hopeful that the plague is truly gone, they are obviously suspicious and, after what they have been through, are worried that things could once again take a turn for the worse at any moment.
I second that. This kind of job makes you miss the simple comforts.
The townspeople thank you, but certainly seem more concerned with rebuilding their town than with you for the moment and don't do anything to prevent you from leaving. Kendall and Bealzius remain behind to help and study respectively and the weather remains good as you all ride out. Assuming you ride towards the guard camp that you passed on the way in, one of the guards tries to flag you down when he sees you approach.
Lucius will greet the guard as he rides closer. "Hail there . We were on our way back home. What did you need?"
The guard looks up at Lucius and scratches his chin.
What happened? We just got a message saying to tell you "Good work, report in immediately."? I guess that means you cleared up whatever was happening here? Did you...uhh...burn down the town?
We would have certainly improved its lot a bit if we had, that's for sure. Hafdan says with a grin. But no, killed the big bad, rescued the damsel, and cured the plague. All in a days work I guess.
I'll leave it to the scholars to explain it. I'm still not sure what was going on. But it seems like we did what we came to do.
"The plague seemed to be caused by a ritual which we disrupted and killed the casters of. That appeared to end the zombie problem that the town was facing. We also dealt with a number of goblins as well."
The guard nods, but still seems a bit lost.
Right then. Well i you have business with powerful wizards I don't want to be holding you up. I'm told to let you leave...so don't let me stand in your way.
With that he steps back towards the small guard camp but remains nearby in case you have any questions for him.
"We should make haste to report back in."Lucius says as he spurs his steed to continue moving.
The trip to Egorian is long, but as the capital of Cheliax, the roads on the way are fairly clear and easy to pass along. Stops to rest and purchase food are plentiful and, seeing the symbols of Cheliax on you all, most people don't bother you at all.
Once you reach the outskirts of Egorian, for those that haven't been to the city before, it is an incredible sight. This is a massive modern metropolis with a sea of people on the outskirts. Slave traders, merchants, hunters, fisherman, the edges of the city are somewhat dirty and very crowded. Pushing your way through you find the low buildings begin to give way to tall towers and well dressed traffic. It is clear, despite rumors otherwise, that this isn't a city of devils. In fact, as you walk, you see nothing that suggests extraplanar residents other than the somewhat disturbing and dark architecture. Still, even in the wealthier areas, there is loud music, partying, and citizens in costumes filing in and out of gambling houses, theaters, and other places of entertainment.
Your directions ask you to meet Keiran in Thrune Square in the center of the city and when you get there, they have clearly set the place up to receive dignitaries. While the general public doesn't seem to care and the streets are not overly crowded, though guards stand at the entrances of the square and some servants and minor nobles are standing around to clap once they realize you are approaching.
Ah, Egorian. It is nice to be back.
Raven absorbs the sights and sounds of the city, enjoying the feeling of finally being back in an actual metropolis.
"Well then, we should not keep our employers waiting. Let's go inside..."
It is a few minutes before Keiran Thrune finally arrives. When he does so he stands at the center of the square and clears his throat, addressing you as well as the gathered nobility.
Welcome heroes of Cheliax. House Thrune has heard of the great deed you have done in freeing the town of Gillamoor of the foul plague designed by the enemies of the Chelish Empire.
The Steward of Isger has provided the promised reward of five thousand gold pieces with an additional one thousand gold pieces for gallantly saving the loyal townspeople. House Thrune supports those that support the allies of Cheliax and Her Majesty Queen Abrogail II has seen fit to open her coffers to you and provide each of you with one thousand gold pieces to outfit yourselves as true heroes of the Empire should be.
He then steps forward, servants coming to provide bags filled with the gold pieces. Talking much more quietly and shaking each of your hands he continues.
What does your group wish to be known as? Her Majesty is quite pleased and wishes the story of your victory to be spread throughout the Empire.
"Her majesty is too generous." Lucius says as he shakes the steward's hand.
Nonsense. Her Majesty is happy to reward those who work so tirelessly to support Her Empire, he says, waving dismissively before continuing. Make sure your moniker is something that can be spoken well. Drive some fear into our enemies.
He waves a bit to the assembled nobles, smiling and clearly making a show of this.
Marc remains silent throughout the proceeding and accepts the reward with a nod.
Hafdan grins happily as the coins are passed forward. Hefting their weight with a nod, he waits to see if anyone has a suggestion for an appropriate team name.
Keiran motions to another servant who brings over a large sack.
These are for you as well. A variety of letters and requests for aid that have been piling up. It seemed, as heroes of the Empire, that you were the best candidates for these letters. Now, go find something in there to busy yourselves with. Should Her Majesty have need of you, I'm sure that she will send for you, Keiran says before smiling and walking away.
If you look in the sack, there are easily hundreds of letters written on all sorts of different papers. It will probably take a while to go through them all and from the fact that he is leaving the square, it doesn't seem that Keiran intends for you to do that here.
Raven turns to the others.
"We then, shall we retire, restock our supplies, and go through the requests to see where we should go next?"
He then gingerly collects the sack, and peers inside...
Let's find an Inn, settle in, and start reading. Should be a long night.
House Thrune doesn't seem to have provided lodging so you (as a group or individually) can choose (and pay for) whatever lodging you would like. Once you start going through the letters, they are clearly a wide range of concerns. Some seem more like prayers than genuine requests but people have asked for everything from better crop cycles, to healing their sick relatives, to lucking into gold. Some even beg for marriage into a noble house. The most credible that you find, however, are the following:
1 - A gnomish architect from Brastlewark has complained that his shipments to the Aspodean Wall of parts and supplies are being stolen by Andoran freedom fighters. He is asking for aid in tracking down the resistance and claims that they are sanctioned by Andoran's government.
2 - A letter has come from a merchant in Corentyn. He claims that a cult of Milani has cropped up somewhere between Corentyn and Macini and is freeing slaves and attacking slave traders coming down the North Track trade route. He suspects that the cult has found support in the local towns and is asking for help rooting out and destroying it before the problem gets larger.
3 - A priest of Sarenrae (who claims to be registered) from Longacre says that he is being unfairly harassed by worshipers of Asmodeus. He asserts that they are bringing forth foul things from the Whisperwood and setting them loose on him and his practitioners.
4 - There are letters from towns near Pezzack claim that the bird people have been seen with massive giants of late. While they haven't attack, supposedly the townspeople are afraid of these growing forces.
"We should talk to this priest of Sarenrae first, so we can clear this up. I don't think the church would appreciate the bad press. Its probably just a misunderstanding. Though doling out justice to some Andoran terrorists sound interesting as well. What do the rest of you think?"
Marc frowns as the letter is read, As much sympathy I have for this priest, I would think the church of Asmodeus can handle it's own image. If it actually becomes a problem for the church, they will send someone to investigate and if not, perhaps we will have the time to act on it. But it seems to me that another government sanctioning attacks on Cheliax or attacks on trade routes would be a bit more of a national problem.
Hafdan shrugs non-commitally. I agree with Marc, the church can more than handle its own business for now. Grinning he picks up one of the letters. And I notice you all are quickly glossing over the bird people. Bird People! I can't be the only one who wants to see what exactly that job entails.
"While I wouldn't mind investigating bird people, they haven't done anything actually antagonistic yet and so can wait until we look into some more pressing concerns. One of which is what could be seen as an act of war on our country by Andoran. We should track down these resistance members mentioned and find out if they are truly goverment sanctioned or not."
Raven arches an eyebrow.
"Personally, as a matter of pride, I would like to sort out the matter with the Sarenraean priest, as bad press for the Church is something I would prefer to avoid...
...However, I agree, we should probably deal with the Andorans first. Sanctioned or not, there behaviour is inexcusable, and could escalate into open warfare, if the situation is not resolved promptly."