The adventurers eventually find their way to their rooms and settle in for the night..
***
First light comes all too early and with it, the noise of waking employees and patrons throughout the inn, to say nothing of the sounds of the village coming to life. The adventurers have a busy day planned and seem uninterested in enjoying the leisure and luxury their bounty money can provide. Such is the way of adventurers...
First order of business is a meeting with the captain of the town guard. To this end, the party is directed to the Tower of the Guard, a stone watchtower atop the village's highest hill. Approaching the tower, the party sees three town guards atop the tower and two lounging outside the tower's sturdy, iron-reinforced front door. After announcing their business to one of the guards, the party is admitted inside, where they find a handful of guards finishing their morning meal in the mess hall, among them, Baran.
"My men tell me you have brought more ill news from the Tradeway." His tone, like his general demeanor is stern. A few moments after introductions, the adventurers notice Baran has no right hand. His right arms ends in a grisly stump of scar tissue.
"I would hear whatever you have to say..." he brusquely says.
Presumably, the party relates information about the burned waystation, Hallas' family, the half-orc brigands, the skeletons, the imp/raven, Vortigern the Necromancer, Sir Rodegar, the gnolls, missing pilgrims, Ga-awoo-tarr. It is much for Baran to process and the mood within the room darkens as each grim fact is laid bare.
"Ill news indeed," Baran growls. The mess hall is filled with awkward silence for a short time before posing a question:
"Why were you bound to Fairhill?"