Cherub gets a teary-eyed "aaaaw?" look and flies over to glomp the heartfelt Drow!  "Wow!  What a meaningful gift!  You deserve kisses!"

She'll give cheek kisses if the Drow doesn't turn them down.

Toothix looks impressed.  "Now there's something you don't see every day."

The bird nods to Igatho and sings, "Let the bodies hit the... flooooor!"

Nina accepts the kisses from the small cherub blushing bright purple.

Nina looks back to Alexis and nods, "Nothing in return is required, but you friendship is welcome."

Nina reaches for the small cherub in an effort to pat and rub her head if she will allow it.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:12, Fri 17 July 2015.

Alexis also blushes at watching Cherub kiss Nina. She wishes she could be so bold, but being adult has its own rules and expectations. Her face is red, though. Less from the kisses she just saw and more from the gift sinking in. "So... to the mayor's." Alexis turns away and heads out, hiding the fact her eyes were getting watery.

Igatho follows along as soon as Lucky or Cherub head out.

Once the group gets the the mayor's office, Alexis inquires. The mayor explains. (More to come next time)

  Kyle is not going to comment on turning so red you can't see her freckles, as gifting knives is much preferable to them trying to stab eachother with knives.

  "You can consider the meaning of friendship on the way back then, if needed."

"Sounds dangerous," Toothix says to the mayor, "No wonder we're the only ones willing to even try.  So exactly how much money is our risking our lives for your sakes worth, then?"

Cherub rolls her eyes but is still smiling.  "You can't put a price on life."

"We are the heroes of our time!" the bird sings.

"Tales of Heroes and Legends are all well and good, but heroics and goodwill will not put coin in our pocket and ale in our belly.

Nina's face softens and a small smile crosses her face as the cherub lets her pat its head.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:58, Tue 21 July 2015.

Alexis glances at Nina. "For the most part, perhaps..."

Igatho says in response to Kyle, "Friendship means you like someone!"

Once the mayor is addressed, he explains. "200 gold. That is the reward for returning the people who have been captured so far. But if you want 200 more, the Hand has also stolen some of the town's treasures. These treasures are of very high sentimental value to this town and it would be worth a lot to our people to have them back."

Alexis is not about to argue that people are worth more than town treasures. That probably has little to do with the reward being set at its current amount.

  Kyle looks over to Mister Person (catch all term for Toothix McLucky Kitauheimers), and says "That's more than I expected for the gallery pieces.  They may be of historical value, but hardly anyone comes to see them these days."

  He looks back to the Mayor, and asks "How many are known to be missing, and has it been determined who those are?"

Jack would suffice if Kyle bothers to ask.  Cherub giggles and reaches to pet the drow.  "And friendship means pets!"

"Money, money, money, money, money...  Money!" the bird sings.

"Need someone better at bargaining," Toothix mutters to himself.

He transforms into a dwarf with a green beard.

"Tell ya what.  200 if we recover any or all of the people alive.  200 for all the stolen items, busted or otherwise.  And if we shatter the tribe that attacked you while we're at it, killing their leader and all, we get a bonus."

Nina looks to Toothix and back to Alexis, "I will follow your lead in this, I have no experience negotiating with humans."

She accepts the pats from the cherub increasingly intrigued by the adorable creature.

Nina steps to were only Alexis and few others of the group can hear her away from the Mayor."The negotiations from my home are harsh and rarely end without bloodshed."

The mayor gives Green Beard a "seriously?" expression and says, "I... nobody expected you to be able to completely root out and eliminate the Hand. If that happens, you can be sure there will be a bonus of some kind. However..."

He rests his forehead on his hand. "I fear the worst for the captives... that 200 gp reward is for the return of or information on any or all of the missing people. There is no reward if no one comes back alive. I hate to make that the terms, but without it, more bloodthirsty adventurers would just go there, slay everything and everyone... and lazy ones would leave and come back with a concocted story on the fate of the villagers without ever even setting foot in the enemy stronghold. Hope you understand... That said, the 200 gold reward for the treasure is for ALL of it. Bring only a portion back and you will only get a portion of that 200."

Alexis didn't flinch from either Green Beard's or the Mayor's negotiations. She glances at Nina when she comments about bloody negotiations and nods. She responds in a hushed tone, "Your kind has a reputation of such, yes. Which reminds me... despite the gift you gave me, I would like to ask that you stay as close to me as possible, Nina. I don't want you to get ambushed by well-meaning people and then hurt or killed before I can explain you are not like the others..."

Igatho giggles, leaning in close. "Why are we whispering?"

---

Literally did a search through the whole adventure PDF and found no mention of gold reward for dealing with the Hand. Only for rescuing the prisoners and retrieving the artifacts.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:48, Tue 21 July 2015.

  "While I won't speak for others, you know I won't turn in this case unless it is more likely to get us killed than rescue more of them.   Who we do find can hardly be rescued if we die in the process."

"I never imagined you all naive enough to fall for a tall tale told by a group of outsiders," Greenbeard answers flatly, looking not the least bit offended, "I expected you to question the recovered rescuees about how we conducted ourselves.  And to refuse payment if all we brought back was fakes and corpses.  But if nothing else, your man Kyle here can keep us all honest.  I only wanted you to know that we're not naive enough to risk life and limb for a 'you get nothing if even so much as one person or artifact was destroyed by the goblins by the time you recovered them.' agreement.  Your terms are good.  Partial payment for partial success is agreeable."

Cherub smiles at Igatho and whispers, "Because it's fun to have secret talks!"

"Swords in their hands they kill each and every man who dared to invade their sacred lands!" the parrot sings.

Nina nods to Alexis "Then I shall gratefully except your guidance."

She steps back and looks to the group "I may know little of this surface world that you all speak of so fondly, but if its bloodshed you wish of me then a mountain of corpses at your feet I shall lay, and the heads of your enemies shall be put on display."
This message was last edited by the player at 05:25, Tue 21 July 2015.

Igatho giggles and snatches the cherub for a hug.

The mayor is simultaneously disturbed and pleased by Nina's statement. He decides to lean towards pleased since Nina is on Brindol's side for all intents and purposes. He looks at Kyle. "I said what I said just as much for your protection, Kyle... you know full well there are adventuring parties who turn on their own team mates if it gets them ahead in life. Last thing the people of Brindol needs is for the one adventurer to come out of this town in a couple generations to die at the hands of some less scrupulous characters." he glances at the others. "No offense. I just don't know you bunch. But since you find the terms agreeable, then I shall keep you no longer."

Alexis says, "No offense taken."

She then looks at Nina and smiles. "You are one loyal girl, aren't you? I can only hope that your time on the surface will help you heal... and feel welcome."

Igatho says, "Mountain of corpses? What's a corpse?"

Alexis answers, "A dead body."

Igatho cheers, "Yaaaay!!"

  "While I'd find it a bit unnecessary, I'm sure there are townsfolk who would love to see that, Nina"  He looks over to Igatho "Well, if there was even anything left."

  "Thanks for the concern, but I have a good feeling about the violent maniacs in this case." Kyle, your -1 CHA is showing.

Cherub claps and cheers along with the baby because happy baby is cute!  "Yaaay!"

She then smiles at the drow and adds, "I'm sure the people of Brindol would prefer to pass on the body mountain.  This is a rescue mission, hon."

"Countless corpses!" the bird sings.

"Days a wastin', and those folks ain't gunna rescue 'mselves," Greenbeard comments, heading out, still showing no signs of taking offense.

Nina tilts her head slightly and looks asks Alexis Did I say something wrong."

Igatho follows Greenbeard and merrily sings, "A smashing we will go! A smashing we will go! Hiii hooo a-der-ee-o, a smashing we will go!"

Alexis looks at Nina. "Hmm? Not really. Why do you ask?"

The journey begins. The terrain ahead is ok at first, but becomes rough once the team starts getting closer to where Rivenroar is supposed to be located.

  Kyle thinks a body mountain is inevitable, though probably not enough to actually qualify as a mountain (yet).  More like a body hill.

  Once they are past civilian earshot, Kyle says to Nina "Most people prefer gentler terms, it helps them accept they are using hired killers despite any intentions good or ill."

Jack joins the baby's singing and adds some strings to accompany it.

Cherub nods in agreement with Kyle.  "Probably very different from the world you grew up in."

Nina nods "Forgive me I shall put it to memory"
This message was lightly edited by the player at 02:55, Fri 24 July 2015.

Alexis smiles at Nina and says, "The more I hang out with you, the more I like you." then looks at the others. "You're all quite the interesting bunch. Though what is up with the constant shape-shifting, if I may ask?"

At about the halfway point, the group is forced to walk into a canyon area. This canyon winds between two ridges. Suddenly, eight chittering, armored buglike creatures emerge from the ground just north of you and quickly move in your direction.

(Yes, these are D&D Zerglings)

Igatho smiles. "Bugs!"

Alexis hunkers down placing her staff to the ground. "Careful, my friends..."

  "I suppose they are more bug than lizard, yes."  He draws his crossbow, commenting.  "Nature is probably going to be more dangerous than the ogre."

"Adventure!" Mittens cheers!

She fires two arrows at the nearest enemy!  THUNK THUNK!

Cherub flutters forward.  "I don't suppose you're the reasonable, talking variety of bugs, are you?"