Concious of the stares, Naomi smiled and waived to folks she thought she might recognize, all the while making sure Thistle stayed very close to her. Seeing the imposing man and his companions approaching, she attemted to look as disarming as possible.
When he asked that they 'announce themselves' she stopped, placing her hand on Thistle's head, to keep the wolf in reach. She smiled. "I'm Naomi Chadwick, my grandfather is a woodsman who lives north of town with my grandma." She gestures back towards Gubble and Elgrin. "This is Gubble and Elgrin, two of my traveling companions." She nods back towards the field with the downed tree. "The rest of us are outside of town watching the animals we brought with us."
Her smile wains, "We've traveling towards Fairhill from Bard's Gate, that's where my folks live, and we came on a massacred farm house yesterday." She nods towards the prisoner. "Then this fellow and some of his companions jumped us. The others ran off and we caught him." She turns and looks at the man. "He told us his friends killed the family and were in waiting for us. The man who hired them knew Gubble here."
She turns and gestures towards her friend, then looks back at the grim looking man "We figured we should bring him to you, along with the animals and what little the family had. Figure we can send the money to relatives or something. If we can learn who the folks were that is."
"Kinship," Guthlag mutters as he listens to Hamish. Being a dock worker and a farmer is similar. The half orc has little understanding of poverty, though he has learned how to use coins.
Violence, he understands well.
"It is harder, sometimes, to hold your hand." He leans against his walking stick and calls Cann close. "Too, it can be hard to hurt someone. There were many in my tribe who could not bear the sight of torture." Guthlag's own eyes are unblinking, one black and green, the other the milky color of the moon. "I knew a warrior, proud, with scars on her face and the strips of flesh from her kills twined in her hair. Yet when another wronged her, and custom said that she must kill him, she balked. She turned away from that death." The druid fixes his eyes on Hamish. "If the law says that this man should die, would you wish another to swing the axe?"
Hamish finishes roping up the animals to the tree and starts rubbing down the old plow horse. He ponders Guthlag's words and he runs the brush along the horses neck and side.
"I...I hope it never gets easy to kill. But killin' children and walking with raisers of the dead. Justice demands something for such deeds." Hamish says shaking his head. His voice quiet, thoughtful as he searches for the words. "There's no question about the difference between takin' a life in the heat of battle verses being the one to lower the axe at the choppin' block."
"A warrior or soldier lives by his skill, his courage mixed with more than a bit of fear, the companions at his side, a faith in fighting for his cause, and of course, the blessings of Lady Luck. The executioner serves either by practical disinterest or fervent belief in the law and justice...or maybe a dark thrill of power over the helpless." He shrugs, runs a hand once again through his hair. [b]"This morning the paths of cause and justice crossed in a shadowed realm."
He looks at Guthlag. "I do not fancy myself a cold blooded killer, but I'd not push to another a task I wouldn't do myself. Perhaps to my better fortune, it is as Elgrin said back in the barn. I am not the law. At least not anymore." He adds, thinking of his time in the Riverwatch and the bandits they'd leave dangling in the wind as warning to others who thought piracy along the trade routes would serve them well. "It is the sheriff's duty to determine and to execute whatever punishment is deemed just. If the sheriff wasn't so close...well...then I'd guess things would've gotten a bit more tricky."
"He told us his friends killed the family and were in waiting for us. The man who hired them knew Gubble here."
And killing the family wasn't enough for his friends. As part of a trap for our Band, the Necromancer with him raised the bodies of the murdered family as undead to attack us.
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Gubble hoped the words of a local would disarm the hostility of the current stares, so he kept his tongue where it belonged, until he was needed to fill in some details "He was a wizard's apprentice when I knew him, not a killer of families, and desecrator of their bodies. Vortigern is his name. He is dangerous, but he has what he wants now so our dearest hope is that he has no reason to threaten you and yours again." he stops and waits for the authorities reactions. His bird on his shoulder lets out a little peep.
The man's eyes go wide and wider as the group tells the tale - "Well met to the three of you. I am Baran, and I am the captain of the Guard. It seems you have done a good deed in bringing this one to us..." - he begins, but the female elf suddenly speaks up - "And why were you traveling to Fairhill in the first place?" - she blurts out.
"Lauriel..." - the man raises an eyebrow, but she insists - "No Baran, they could be making all this up as far as we know, we need at least verify their story before believing them" - she seems adamant.
"Of course" - the man replies somewhat tiredly, then turning to a few of the guards, he points at the prisoner - "Take this one to the tower, I will have a word with him later" - then back to the elf - "Take Ryder, Edgarda, and Edison, and follow the road - I have a bad feeling this might well be the Harlow farm..."
With a grim look, he turns back on the group - "Were there... Children?"
Gubble nods sadly. "Three." the images of their bodies will never leave his mind. For a moment, those flood his mind, along with the guilt knowing they would still be alive if it wasn't for him, no matter that it wasn't him that did the dead. It is truly suffocating in that moment.
No, you can't stop, you can't curl up, Please. His mind tries, begs, pleads, and then finally, pushes him to keep talking.
"W- We brought their livestock with us, the ones we could herd, waiting with the rest of our Band outside of the cities limit. And a box, with what we believe is their life savings. For their next of kin."
"We'll take take you to where they are at." he knows they would pass by them anyway, since the way to the far is the way they came in, but they need to collect the others anyway.
Raising an eyebrow at the elf's outburst, Naomi almost blurted out one didn't need to have an excuse to visit family. But as the captain spoke calmly she resisted the urge to interrupt. Instead, she turned towards Thistle to make sure the wolf wasn't being distracted. Sitting beside her, Thistle looked up and thumped her tail a couple of times.
Nodding as Gubble answers 'Three' Naomi shrugs about the box and begins to fish out the old rag with the embroidered 'PS' which was holding silver and copper coin. Extending the bundle to the Baran, she adds. "All the cloths were embroidered with a 'PS' if that helps." She nods down towards the bundle. "We thought their family should have anything of value."
Gubble nods sadly. "Three." the images of their bodies will never leave his mind.
"Damn it" - the captain grits his teeth, and a hushed murmur goes through the remaining guards all around him.
The elf scowls - "I will go right now" - she offers a curt, cold nod at the three of you, and goes back toward the tower.
"Go with care!" - Baran urges her, and turns back to you.
"W- We brought their livestock with us, the ones we could herd, waiting with the rest of our Band outside of the cities limit. And a box, with what we believe is their life savings. For their next of kin."
"We'll take take you to where they are at." he knows they would pass by them anyway, since the way to the far is the way they came in, but they need to collect the others anyway.
"I don't think they have any next of kin around here. We'll see what we can find out though"
Nodding as Gubble answers 'Three' Naomi shrugs about the box and begins to fish out the old rag with the embroidered 'PS' which was holding silver and copper coin. Extending the bundle to the Baran, she adds. "All the cloths were embroidered with a 'PS' if that helps." She nods down towards the bundle. "We thought their family should have anything of value."
"Those must have belonged to Philippa, before she married Greysen" - he gripped tight the bundle in his hands - "Evil business this is... Thank you Miss" - staring momentarily at Naomi, he then addressed his guards - "The four of you go get the livestock and bring them to the pen at the tower. Bring also the rest of the... Band?" - he looked inquisitively at Gubble, then at Naomi and Elgrin - "Would you three mind walking with me to the tower of the guard? Your friends will meet us there. And I have a few more questions"
"Of course" Gubble agrees to the walk, but his look to his companions with a raised brown tells them he is only answering for himself.
As he walks quickly, since big legs not used to little legs have a tendency to walk too fast "A Band is a dream really. A group brought together by fate, connected by deeds, and eventually..." he pauses in his speech, thinking back to everything. Fate swam in his head, grandeous plans, but in the end they were "Just adventurers. Sorry, a band is just a group of adventurers."
"You had questions?"
Frowning, somehow hearing the names of the people even made the situation sadder, Naomi realized the captain had paused. About to remind him her name was Chadwick and that she had family in town, he turned and began to speak with his guards.
Following along behind Gubble and the captain, Naomi rolled her eyes as the earnest halfling answered the question by calling them a band of adventurers. The term had so many connotations she hoped it didn't give the captain the wrong image.
She paused wondering what the right term would be. They were checking on the potentially dangerous home of Gubble's mentor's friend. Their intent was to make sure it was safe, which was a good thing. But they also intended to take anything they found of value. Shrugging to herself, Maybe they were just adventurers after all.
Guthlag watches the livestock carefully so that they do not wander far. "The sheriff will kill this man, then?" The half orc has a dim understanding of what a sheriff is. "Or an executioner. But either way, you will be relived. We all will." Guthlag stands, lost in thought for a long moment. "If there were no law here," he says at last, "I could do this thing."
Questions? Of course, we're happy to answer any you might have.
Elgrin walks along with Naomi and Gubble happy that the Captain is taking this seriously, as it rightfully deserves.
Guthlag watches the livestock carefully so that they do not wander far. "The sheriff will kill this man, then?" The half orc has a dim understanding of what a sheriff is. "Or an executioner. But either way, you will be relived. We all will." Guthlag stands, lost in thought for a long moment. "If there were no law here," he says at last, "I could do this thing."
Hamish shrugs uncertainly to Guthlag's first question. "Far as I know, the penalty for any kind of banditry along the Tradeway is death." He says offering a handfull of oats to Snowbell. "But ultimately it depends on the sheriff. Some stand by the law, while others...bend it to their own purposes or ignore it altogether if persuaded by enough coin or power." Another shrug. "If this Vortigern has enough money to spend, it's possible the bandit will walk free. But the fact they murdered a local family and used necromancy, that'll be hard to cover up. Unless, of course, they manage to kill all of us." He adds with a wide grin.
Wiping his mule slobbered hand on his pants he gives the half-orc another smile. "Aye, well if there were no law, then you'd probably have to wrestle Elgrin for the duty of taking the man's head. A knight, blessed by church and gods such as he is, would likely see it as his divine duty to administer some kind of punishment."
Turning to the big brawler Hamish tilts his head toward Guthlag. "And what do you think Jalros?" He asks. "Do you have strong feelings on the law, punishments or the administration of such things?"
With his eyes focused on the land in front of them, Jalros hears the question but doesn't respond initially, his mind whirling with thoughts on the subject.
Finally cutting his attention over at them both, "I believe the law should do what it's supposed to do and do it properly. Unfortunately, that does not always happen." He pauses, staring blankly a moment, before finally continuing with, "While I do not have a high opinion of the law, due to the potential corruption you speak of Hamish, and also due to its lack of thoroughness at times, I do believe it is necessary to keep the peace."
"You had questions?"
Questions? Of course, we're happy to answer any you might have.
"Yes, I do have a few" - the captain pondered - "You said you knew this man from before, yes?" - he turns to Gubble as they move - "Did you find any clue as to why they would murder the Harlows? You said also he has what he wants now... Did he murder and rob them? They were a modest family..." - he shakes his head.
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Some time after Gubble, Naomi and Elgrin have gone into Fairhill, a group of armored men carrying spears approaches you - they have mismatching clothes and no uniforms, but all wear green surcoats with a small sliver bowl emblazoned on the left breast - "Well met strangers!" - the lead one calls out when they approach - a man in his thirties with black hair and beard, and a strong voice - "Are you the companions of one Naomi Chadwick?! You are to accompany us the tower of the guard to meet with your traveling companions and the Captain" - he explained - "You are to bear witness of the recent events at the Harlow farm. The animals are to be brought too"
"Not from them, but from me. The Harlows were... an ambush." the halfling has a weary hate in his voice. "It was an magical artifact and no I have no idea how he knew I had it."
Hamish eyes the group a bit warily until they mention Naomi, at which point he breathes a heavy sigh of relief.
"Well met and aye." He says happily. "We are indeed companions and fellow travelers with good Naomi." His waving hand includes both Jalros and Guthlag as part of that company.
"I'm Hamish Macrae, out of Bard's Gate. A pleasure to meet you, although I wish it were under happier circumstances." He adds, the smile disappearing as he starts to loosen the various ropes keeping the animals tied to the fallen tree. "They've been docile enough beasts on the way here. I hope you'll be able to see them to a new and decent home."
Guthlag gathers the animals together. "How long must I remain in town?" He asks. The surrounding farmland is not suitable to let Cann roam free. There is still time to venture a few miles into the woods and set up a shelter, if things in town proceed quickly.
"Not from them, but from me. The Harlows were... an ambush." the halfling has a weary hate in his voice. "It was an magical artifact and no I have no idea how he knew I had it."
"So this was all set up to take something from you...?" - Baran stops, a deep frown on his face - "And he succeeded" - he seems to be digesting the information, and continues walking again with a pensive look - "Do you have any reasons to believe he might still be in the region? Perhaps even in Fairhill?"
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The lead guard nodded back at Hamish - "I am Erben" - and motioned two of the others to assist with driving the beasts into Fairhill proper - "And most likely the animals will be auctioned, if no claimant is found for them"
Guthlag gathers the animals together. "How long must I remain in town?" He asks.
The man seems slightly confused by the question - "How long..? I am thinking once the Captain is done with your group, you should be able to leave. Shouldn't take long I am thinking... We've been having some orcs roaming around the countryside of late, causing trouble. But I don't think he will hold that against you" - he shrugged.
"I doubt it. This is the nearest town and while I was in shattered heap, the others were still fighting on when Vortigern left the fight, as they others tell me." Gubble explains "We can collectively attempt to provide a good description so you can keep a look out for him?"
As they walk towards the 'tower of the guard' Naomi listens to Gubble's revelations. This was the first she was hearing about a 'magical artifact' she bit her tongue resisting the urge to comment about it being difficult to protect something that you weren't aware of. Not wanting to dwell on the fact that the 'enemy' had more information about something that had been hidden from the 'band,' she turns her attention to Thistle; who had started sniffing something in the street. Snapping her fingers, she told the wolf "پاشنه خار" Thistle, for her part, recognizing the seriousness in Naomi's voice, drooped her ears and followed along.
Raising an eyebrow as Gubble answered the captain of the guard. She agreed the necromancer probably wasn't in the town, but he was headed towards the tower same as them. She breathed a sigh; town was certainly closer to the tower than the farmstead was. She understood why Gubble would be resistant to telling the captain about the tower. But this was the town her grandparents lived in, and it was close enough to the tower and the necromancer. What if they didn't stop him, what if he released his evil here where her family lived. Speaking softly, she encouraged her friend. "Gubble, we have to tell him about the tower."
Gubble looks up into the concerned eyes of Naomi, and nods after a moment of thought. "You might think it foolish, but we were headed to the old wizard's tower near this town, once owned by a practitioner named Eralion.
Our plan was a systematic and cautious clearing of the dangers within." the little wizard takes off his glasses and rubs his eyes. "Now the most logical assumption is that Vortigern has decided on the same goal, which I doubt will be systematic or cautious." the now clean glasses get pushed back up his nose, and his kind gaze looks back at the sheriff "We don't know what is in the tower, it might be nothing more than traps and spells, but just in case, please be on guard."
"Indeed," Guthlag says quietly. "How close, and how late?" The half orc is concerned that, should he let his wolf roam, anyone who knows who he is might spot her. But he might still take some distance from town and sleep alone in the woods. It's best to be safe.
"We don't know what is in the tower, it might be nothing more than traps and spells, but just in case, please be on guard."
Elgrin looks confused as Gubble says "please be on guard" to the Sheriff.
and he blurts out to Gubble Wait...We're still going to the tower, aren't we? We can't let this Necromancer get away with this.
The possibility that we wouldn't be the ones to go after the Necromancer and bring him to justice hadn't occurred to Elgrin. Although it definitely should have, since they're currently having this conversation with the Sheriff.
Gubble blinked in surprise at Elgrin's blurting "Of course!" the thought of turning back was foreign to him, Fate was Fate,but after the question settled her decided that was unfair. "I mean, I am. Each member of the band will need to make that same choice." but clarification was needed further, once his brain went back to his words "We failed to stop him once, a fact we have to accept. If we do so again, these people might be in danger. That is the purpose of the warning."
Nodding in agreement with Gubble, "That is why I asked you to tell the captain about the tower, it was your secret to tell, but if Eralion is there then he is closer to town than desired. I believe it is even now more important that we continue our mission."
She looks up at the Captain then back at Gubble, "Assuming we are not detained that is. Before we go, I would like to check in on my grandparents. Then I will continue with you to secure the tower and deal with the necromancer."
"Pleased to meet you Erben." Hamish says to the local constable as he starts moving the animals into town. His eyes flick toward Guthlag when the man mentions the troubles with orcs. Not an uncommon occurrence by any means. Various bands and tribes had been raiding the lowlands since forever as far as Hamish could recall. Hearing that the sheriff could see beyond an individual's background allowed Hamish to release a small sigh of relief. There were plenty of constables or sheriffs who wouldn't treat the orc with such fairness.
"We've not run into any orcs." He says, but then pulls out the small tattered raven banner they'd acquired from the men who'd attacked one of the caravans. "But we've run into plenty of bandits." He shows the man the ragged rag of a symbol. "Have you run into any scoundrels wearing this crude bit of heraldry? It was worn by some men who attacked a caravan just west of Bard's Gate." Hamish gives the man a knowing look. "Fortunately we were close and quick enough to intervene, unfortunately, none were left in any condition to answer questions."
It was a long shot. There was a whole forest between the two incidents. Still Vortigern worked with a raven familiar. The symbol was that of a raven. A raven watched as they stayed in the waystop stockade. Could it be the necromancer is trying to establish himself as High Lord of the Forest or some other nonsense? A tower not far from Fairhill would give him a potent base of operations for such an endeavor.
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”Eralion..? I know that name…” - the Captain furrows his brow in thought as you provide him with more details, and another soldier pipes in - ”Isn’t that the wizard they talk about around here in the village sometimes Sir?” - he questions - ”The one s’posed to have built that old ruined keep off in the forest? I wouldn’t go near it meself. Like the old saying goes, ‘Happy is the village whose wizards are all ashes’
Baran chuckled - ”Yep, that is the one”
Nodding in agreement with Gubble, "That is why I asked you to tell the captain about the tower, it was your secret to tell, but if Eralion is there then he is closer to town than desired. I believe it is even now more important that we continue our mission."
She looks up at the Captain then back at Gubble, "Assuming we are not detained that is. Before we go, I would like to check in on my grandparents. Then I will continue with you to secure the tower and deal with the necromancer."
”You are not detained, but I cannot let you go right away” - he replied to Naomi- ”I am sure your grandparents will be happy to see you, as I have heard them talk about their wondrous granddaughter more than once” - he nodded - ”I will let you all go about your business as soon as possible though Miss Chadwick”
You all continued walking for a few more moments, then saw Lauriel riding back in the opposite direction, accompanied by three other guards also on horseback. She raised a hand in greeting the captain and continued along her way.
”So your plan is to continue and investigate the old ruined keep?” - the captain added right after, turning this time to Elgrin and Gubble - ”And as you said, you are not sure about what you will find there, but you think there is a possibility it might spell danger to Fairhill?”
—————
"How close, and how late?"
”Close enough to have some leaving their farms and coming to find a place to stay in Fairhill, and our lieutenant Lauriel making us run patrols one after the other” - some of the guards chuckled.
"We've not run into any orcs." He says, but then pulls out the small tattered raven banner they'd acquired from the men who'd attacked one of the caravans. "But we've run into plenty of bandits." He shows the man the ragged rag of a symbol. "Have you run into any scoundrels wearing this crude bit of heraldry? It was worn by some men who attacked a caravan just west of Bard's Gate." Hamish gives the man a knowing look. "Fortunately we were close and quick enough to intervene, unfortunately, none were left in any condition to answer questions."
There was a murmur among the guards when they saw the symbol, but a stern look from Erben silenced them - ”Good thing you left none standing” - he growled - ”But neither me or any here…” - he turned back to the gathered patrol for a moment, then back at you - ”Are at liberty to discuss this matter Sir. Make sure to raise it with the Captain, and he will decide if there is anything to be shared or not”
Gubble's jaw dropped open at the local saying. He knew they were not loved, but wished to be dead is quite another matter. He stops walking, waits for the others to stop, and says Clearly "Yes, there might be danger, just as there might be danger in an unsettled hill about to slid into a house, or a fungus that is beginning to creep into the crops, or anything where intelligent beings dwell going wrong. We came to help with it, if we can, all of us, even Me. A wizard." he might be small, but that moment he doesn't seem as much. He paused for another moment, then resumed his walk.
Hamish quirks an eyebrow and Erben's reaction to the shabby cloth and its shabby symbol. For now he just nods in understanding. "I'll be sure to." He says, not intending to push the matter further. Not now anyway.
'Happy is the village whose wizards are all ashes?' Frowning at the soldier's comment, Naomi gives Baran a cold look when he chuckles. As he answers her question about being detained, she straightens her stance and lifts her nose a little, "Yes, everyone has heard of my older sister, Valda." She glares at the soldier who'd told the rhythm. "She practices magic." Turning away from the soldier, she continued walking, Valda was considered a bard and her magic was different than wizards, but it was still magic.
As Gubble answered the captain's question about continuing on, Naomi nodded in agreement. when he was done speaking, she addressed her friend. "Once were done with our statements, I'd like to go see my grandparents. You all would be invited to meet them, but if you want to rest here in town I would understand."
Some of the guards frown when they hear the halfling's proclamation about being a wizard and Naomi's words about Valda, but they do not offer any more comments.
"I am sure the lad meant no offense" - Baran raised an eyebrow at the guards as both Gubble and Naomi bristled at the saying - "In any case it is understood you do not know if the keep poses a threat or not. Thank you for the warning nonetheless. I will do my best to be on the lookout, but please be discrete about this information around the village - I want to avoid a panic" - he added to Gubble - "And thank you also for your intention to help"
Shortly after you arrive at the tower of the guard - it is a stone building with iron-reinforced doors, most likely from where the garrison monitors folks approaching the town, due to its advantageous position at the highest point in Fairhill. The tower has three upper levels, and peeking through the crenellations at the top you can see the tip of what is probably a ballista.
As you enter, you can see the furnishings on the ground floor of the spacious structure are spartan - a desk, a table and multiple chairs, some cabinets, a weapons rack, some kegs, a lit stove of some sort where a large coffee mug sits for heating, its smell filling your nostrils as you enter.
"Please take a sit, so we can wait for your companions - would you like some coffee? It is not fresh, but should be tasty enough" - Baran offered, then turned specifically to Naomi - "Wanted to ask about your wolf - is he tame?"
----------
Your group is led through Fairhill toward the tower of the guard, drawing a lot of curious looks and pointing fingers. On the way you pass by a group of three guards led by an elvish woman. She looks you over, then offers a curt nod to Erben - "The others are already at the guard tower" - without waiting for a reply, she continues in the direction from whence you came.
"Who was that?" Hamish asks Erben, his eyes following the stern elf. He assumed the others the elf referred to were Naomi, Gubble and Elgrin, although he couldn't be sure by the woman's dour visage whether they were all being greeted as friends or potential suspects.
Taking a seat, Naomi shakes her head at the offer of coffee. When the Captain asks if Thistle was tame, Naomi shrugs, "As tame as I am, at least when she's with me."
Taking a seat, Naomi shakes her head at the offer of coffee. When the Captain asks if Thistle was tame, Naomi shrugs, "As tame as I am, at least when she's with me."
"I am not exactly sure what that means?" - the Captain retorted - "Does he or she need a muzzle? Will I be getting complains of people about missing chicken?" - he smiled.
"Who was that?" Hamish asks Erben, his eyes following the stern elf. He assumed the others the elf referred to were Naomi, Gubble and Elgrin, although he couldn't be sure by the woman's dour visage whether they were all being greeted as friends or potential suspects.
"That right there was Lauriel Sir" - the man replied - "Our lieutenant"
Gubble accepts the coffee with grace, and finds a seat with less so. Humans don't see the need for properly sized furniture.
"If the villagers are fleeing their farms, perhaps I should not be venturing far." Guthlag closes his eyes and smells the village again.
As the group gathers at the guard tower, Guthlag ponders the warriors around him. Not at liberty to discuss the Crow. The Fancy Shield may have a deal with the captain here too. He draws his scythe slowly and puts it by the door to the tower, beside his pack. But it cannot be that everyone here is in on a conspiracy. Scratching at leaves that have been stuck between his toes since the band left the farm that morning, Guthlag eyes the watchtower. I cannot say what this Crow may be.
Before entering, Guthlag finds a suitable place to tie Cann. As much as she is his, she is wild. He joins the others quietly, standing behind Gubble and curling his lips at the captain.
Realizing she'd been shorter with the captain than she intended, Naomi smiled. The man would have no way of knowing that Thistle grew up in the shadow of 'Bard's Gate' and that she'd probably behave better in civilized society than most of the people from Fairhil. Patting Thistle on the head, "She's tame enough and follows my directions. She may consider chasing the occasional chicken, but I'll keep an eye on her, so there will be no need for a muzzle."
"Understood" - Baran nodded at Naomi's explanations.
In the meanwhile, it does not take long for Erben to lead the rest of the group to the tower - the animals are secured in pens outside, and you are all led inside, where Gubble, Naomi and Elgrin await you, accompanied by the Captain of the Guard.
"Please enter and take a seat" - he bids you - "I am Captain Baran, and I lead the Fairhill guard" - he speaks to the 'newcomers' directly - "I have already received the gist of what has happened from your traveling companions and, as you probably might have seen, have dispatched my lieutenant to verify the farmhouse..."
After a brief pause, he grabs the coffee pot, as well as extra mugs, and places them all in the table before you - "Feel free to have some"
Then he proceeds in recounting what has been shared with him by Gubble, Naomi and Elgrin, as well as reiterating his concerns about what threat this whole 'thing' may pose to the the village and its inhabitants. He repeats the request for discretion in discussing the subject around town, and makes sure to register everyone's names.
Once one of the other guards informs him about Cann, he urges Guthlag to make sure the wolf is tame enough to be moving around the village, and thanks him for having him tied outside for now - "I understand it may not be easy for a wild beast to be tied up" - he nodded.
"You are free to go" - Baran exhaled once the bureaucracies were finished with - "I know there will be some dissenting voices, but my simple soldier mind cannot fathom a reason why you would be bringing all of this to our attention if you had played a guilty part in these events" - he shrugged with some tiredness - "And since I am the Captain, the matter is settled for now" - the man added - "If you are planning on staying the night, we have two inns who offer rooms - the Drunken Cockatrice, and the Cask and Flagon. One of those should be able to put you up for the night, if you are so inclined"
He stood up, looking around at all of you - "If you have nothing more to add to the testimony you already offered, then I thank you again for your actions. I hope you will stay for at least a few days to enjoy Fairhill's hospitality"
Dipping his head politely, Hamish introduces himself and listens quietly to the Captain. The thought of a warm bed and hot meal after all of the cold nights on the road and last nights somber stay at the farmhouse brings a smile to the man's face. He's about ready to leave with the others when he stops abruptly and turns back to Baran.
Pulling the small wooden box rattling with coins from his pack, he hands it to the sheriff. "We discovered this among the families belongings. If they've kin in the area it seemed best the money should go to them, else maybe there's an orphans fund or something similar it could be given to. Either way, we thought you'd be the one to know best where it should go. It isn't much." He says, shaking his head sadly that all the farmer and his family had worked for all their lives boiled down to nothing more than a few coins and a few head of stock.
Relieved that the captain of the watch didn't seem to share his soldiers views of wizards, Noami smiles when he says they are free to go. Watching as Hamish pulls the box out of his pack, Naomi nods approvingly. Standing she turns to the others. "I'm going to go visit my grandparents, the've got a cottage just north of town nearer the forest." Gesturing that general direction. "If anyone wants to meet them I'm sure they wouldn't mind, but they wouldn't have room for all of us to stay. So you'd have to come back to town for the evening."
As they leave the guard tower she asks, "Do you think we'll stay beyond tommorow morning? I know the captain said he hoped we'd stay a few days, but it feels like we need to get to the wizard's tower as quickly as possible."
Pulling the small wooden box rattling with coins from his pack, he hands it to the sheriff. "We discovered this among the families belongings. If they've kin in the area it seemed best the money should go to them, else maybe there's an orphans fund or something similar it could be given to. Either way, we thought you'd be the one to know best where it should go. It isn't much." He says, shaking his head sadly that all the farmer and his family had worked for all their lives boiled down to nothing more than a few coins and a few head of stock.
"No kin in the region that I am aware of, but I will make inquiries" - Captain Baran took the box, staring at it for a while - "Life hasn't gotten any easier around here for the past two years or so - I am sure there will be no lack of people needing any support they can find" - he added, turning back to Hamish - "I will make sure it goes where it should, regardless of how much"
"I will go with you Naomi. It should be safe enough, if you elders live there." The half orc gathers Cann and prepares to follow her. "Do they have a garden?"
With a nod to the captain and his business finished, Hamish wishes the best to Naomi and heads for a meal and a hot bath at the Cask and Flagon. Choosing the second of the two options in town being the direct result of his trust of inns named after monstrous birds ebbing to a low point since their encounter with the blood sucking stirges back in the forest.
Back stories are important, so Gubble smiles brightly at the invitation to meet Naomi's grandparents. "I would be honored." he says with complete sincerity.
Jalros pours himself a bit of coffee and drinks it sparingly as he listens in on the conversation. Having nothing to add, Jalros rises when it's time to depart and leaves his half-drunk coffee upon the table.
"If anyone wants to meet them I'm sure they wouldn't mind, but they wouldn't have room for all of us to stay. So you'd have to come back to town for the evening."
"No thank you, Naomi. I will be at the Cask and Flagon if anyone needs me." Barring anything else from the others, Jalros gets directions and takes his leave.
Back stories are important...
Nodding to Guthlag, Naomi smiles, thinking about the small homestead. "Why yes, they do, like most folks they keep a small farm. My grandfather spends a fair amount of time gathering and chopping wood to sell. But between he and Grandma, they keep a garden, a small orchard, a few chickens, a couple pigs and a goat." Her smile widens, "And it's far enough out of town that Cann and Thistle can run free and not worry about bothering anyone." She chuckles, "Just don't let Cann near the barn cat, he's grumpy."
Nodding to Gubble, she realized her friend sounded completely sincere, "I think you'll like them, real 'salt of the earth' Folks, and they like company." She furrows her brow in a fake frown, waggling her finger, "But don't be surprised if they try and rope you into singing. It was Grandma that got my dad interested in music at such a young age that he became a bard." She smiled wistfully, thinking about one of her first memories. Grandma lifting her on her lap and helping her hold a lute. The instrument almost as big as her, the sound of the strings as grandma showed her how to pick, the smell of the wood stove smoke in grandma's hair as she bent over her. Naomi nodded, "Yeah, you'll like them a lot."
As the group started to split up, Noami made a mental note that the boys were headed to the 'Cask and Flagon' Waiving to Jalros, she adds. "It sounds like the right spot."
Elgrin goes along with Jalros and Hamish to the Cask and Flagon.