20 ep and 28 gp divided among seven characters is roughly 3 ep and 4 gp per character. (Carnalore will take only 2 ep to split it up evenly.)

 Veskard accept his share of spoils with a laugh. " One could get skinny, on what Gobs have in their pockets."

Leleanne didn't feel particularly comfortable taking money from dead things, but she nodded her thanks to the others. "May Aphrodite bless you all. I am Leleanne Gethell, Priestess. I wish we could have become acquainted in calmer circumstances."

Leleanne always enjoyed the attention of others, and when she caught the handsome young knight gaping at her she sighed briefly. Now was not the time for a dalliance: maybe later.

The caravan emerges from the forest road around noon, serenaded by singing birds and buzzing insects. You cross the slow-flowing Somnolent River and proceed to the fortress. It's like many others you've seen, with towers approximately 30 feet high and sturdy gates.

Breccan halts the caravan outside the south gate, and the wagonloads are processed in one by one by two guards wearing the Morgan heraldry, and a scribe with a sturdy, leather-bound ledger. Each person must pay 1 silver piece in tax, and each wagon load is 5 silver pieces. There is also a 10% tax on treasure brought into the fortress as salvage, but Breccan stands next to the scribe and pays your tax on the goblin gold and electrum from his own purse. "It is the least I can do to thank you for your bravery," he says to each of you. The scribe stamps your electrum pieces with a special stamp and gives you each a "paid" receipt for your nuggets and/or dust. As the last of you passes through the gatehouse, you glance back and see that Breccan has returned to the wagons and is watching a group of soldiers bring the shrouded form of his dead brother into the fort.

After the gate you turn down a passage to the east that runs for 70 feet, turns north for another 30 and opens up onto a public area. Though it's shape is irregular, it is reminiscent of a village square, with a central well, shops, residences and a chapel.

Other than the residences and a warehouse, the following locations are nearby:
Bank
Trader's shop
Smithy
The Toothless Dragon Tavern
The Iron Helm Inn
The Chapel of St. Queril

Also, if Wyrran would like to see his message at court right away, he can PM me and we'll play that out here in the main in-character thread.

Not only did he not find his dagger, Gilly managed to trip over his own feet as he searched among the briars and brambles for it. (Natural 20, just when I don't need it!)

Disgusted, he turned to the bodies hoping at least to find some loot there. The gold surprised him and he was just beginning to congratulate himself on his haul when he noticed the big knight watch him carefully. Trouble with knights is they're all goody two shoes, he muttered to himself. Nevertheless, with so many swords around and no real companions to back him up, yet, he decided that discretion was a better course of action. He nodded cheerfully to the man and deposited all of his findings with the others for equal shares, though he did hold back the necklace of teeth, not hiding it, but wrapping it around his empty knife sheath as a barbaric decoration.

"If I was a suspicious fellow," he said as they examined what they had found, "I might think that someone had recently paid all of these fellows a blob of gold to make trouble on the road. Question is, was it general trouble, or did they have this caravan in particular in mind?"

As they go to enter the fortified town, Gilly's first thoughts were for the taverns, but as he glanced aside and watched Breccan mourning for his dead brother, the halfling felt a pang of sympathy. The man had been good to them and now he was left alone to bury his kin.

He stepped back to stand quietly by the caravan master for a moment of respect as the shrouded body was carried within the gates.

"He was a good man, Mr. Breccan," he says. "Is there any reason that anyone would want to stop you from reaching Morgansfort?"

He will stay by the caravan leader for a while to help in any way he can.

Wyrran nods a sympathetic thanks to Breccan for the gesture of paying the tax and follows the party to the square. He then addresses Glanduil:
- "I hate to leave you wounded, but perhaps that waiting message could shine our way forward regarding our quests in a swift manner. Given our luck, having found skilled persons to draw help upon just prior to our arrival at the gates, I deem it necessary to investigate first, then return with news."

He then turns to the rest of the group before they disperse:
- "Friends, I consider myself fortunate to have discovered brave (winks at Gilly) and competent comrades in an hour of need such as that arose the day before on the road. I must hurry to a meeting now, but upon my return I may have news that could interest or concern some of you. I will be staying at the Iron Helm Inn and stepping into the Tavern also later, so I believe we will be seeing each other and have the opportunity to discuss more. Farewell for the time being."

He then sets off for the Baronet's court.

Carnalore listens, nodding, noting the locations of the businesses visible from the square. Seeing what seems to be a chapel, she walks there, to inquire whether they offer healing services. Her wound wasn't major, but she'd rather it get tended to.

Glanduil waves Wyrran and smiles weakly. "Not to worry. I will seek the services from Sir Ragnan and then off to see the healer Father Thelbain."

Not to anyone in particular, but Glanduil shakes his head and comments. "Well paid Goblins I see. Does anyone know if they acquired this by force or were they paid? It seems a rich bounty as far as Goblins are concerned."

Glanduil then approached Sir Ragnan (but not before accepting the party treasure division) and nods. "Good Sir Knight I am in need of your battle triage."

Glanduil will allow the knight to tend to stabilize him and then seek the healing services from Father Thelbain.

Leleanne was glad they were back in civilisation. She bid her new companions a temporary farewell and went to get a room at the inn. More than anything she wanted a bath. Then she planned to rest and pray a little, before joining the others in the tavern.

 Veskard would grab his gear from a wagon,and ask a few locals the following

" What's the cheapest place t0 get a meal.a few drinks,and a place to sleep for the night?"
This message was last edited by the player at 22:40, Tue 31 Oct 2017.

Argon follows the others lead in their choice of lodgings, though he would rather not have to share the floor in the common room. He did not want to go to low in their accommodations if it could be helped.

-

"He was," Breccan says. He has a faraway look in his eyes, as if he's remembering better times. "I really don't know what I'm going to do now, except for making sure those going to Slateholm get there safely. As for reasons for this...I don't know about anything or anyone we had with us that someone would want to keep from getting here."

As Parnell's body--and the body of the dead merchant--are carried into the fort, he follows them. After a few moments, he notices Gilly is following him. He bends and places his massive hand on the rogue's shoulder. "Thank you, Mr. Bristlebeard. I know this isn't your burden to carry, and I appreciate you helping me carry it."

He follows the soldiers as they carry the bodies to the chapel.

Wyrran makes his way toward the keep, occasionally asking directions from passers-by. Thefortress is not crowded, but is definitely buzzing with activity. As he reaches the gate, he sees Sir Kellin awaiting him, his helm under his arm. He greets the elf, then escorts him inside and through a vast great room to a stairway that leads to a second floor hall. They proceed to an office with a slightly open door, where Kellin knocks and is bid to enter.

"My lord, I present Wyrran Galaeth."

A brown-haired young man--perhaps 25 years old--seated at a massive old desk of antique wood rises. He is not tall, nor handsome, but he has perfect military bearing and a radiant smile.

"Good day to you, Master Galaeth, I am glad to welcome a representative of Her Majesty to our humble barony."

He turns back to the desk and hands you a folded letter sealed with forest green wax. As you touch it, a shimmering silver filigree of leafy vines appears on the paper, then fades away.

"Good Sir Knight I am in need of your battle triage."

The young knight nods, seats Glanduil on a nearby stone bench, carefully removes the arrow and bandages the wound. the process is painful, but brief and skillfully performed.

Those of you enter the chapel find an oasis of quiet. The interior is outfitted in the typically plain style of the Reformers, but the woodwork is of very good workmanship (and highly polished) and the floors are beautifully inlaid.

As you stand in the narthex, you see a balding priest in green vestments, standing over the bodies with two of his acolytes. Breccan and several of the knights stand nearby, heads bowed. The priest is speaking in an ancient-sounding language.

The blessing concluded, the clergymen kneel on one knee for a moment, then the acolytes leave for other duties and the priest crosses to Breccan and speaks to him quietly, his hand on the big man's shoulder.

If any of you have an open language slot you would like to use to speak High Urdish, which is still used as a church language and in the remaining Urdish lands, let me know and I'll tell you what he was saying.

All the commoners and guards Veskard poses this question to have the same answer: The Toothless Dragon has excellent food and drink, and they're serving lunch right now. The Iron Helm is the place to get a room, they have rooms to rent, but they have cots for much less if you don't want to spend the coin for a room.

Proceeding on the assumption that Argon and Veskard will eat before picking out a bed...

Unlike many public houses that have ornately carved signs illustrating their namesake, The Toothless Dragon has only the name of the establishment. As you enter, you find a homey and bustling place. Many of those who have gathered here for a meal are finishing up and several move through the door past you as you enter. Two pretty serving girls move about, one collecting plates and the other handing out drinks. A broad-shouldered, middle-aged man with a long mustache and a heavy-set woman with brilliant blonde curls move back and forth from a kitchen, filling glasses and giving and receiving trays.

A sign near the door states that the tavern serves three meals each day at dawn, noon and six hours after noon, each for 1sp. This includes one drink. A paper posted beneath that lists the meals for today:

Breakfast: Eggs, Sausage, Barley porridge, Mug of perry
Lunch: Stewed Pork, Baked onions, Mug of ale
Supper: Lentil Soup, Dried goose, Mug of ale

Argon moves into the tap room,  so they are all not crowding the front door. He looks for a booth that can accommodate them and and takes a seat. "It looks like a fine establishment, shall we get something to eat ?" He signals one of the waitresses that they are ready to order.

-

 Veskard decided to hang around Argon,as they two of them where the last of the original group. He looked into the tap room, and shrugged. " It seems good enough, I suppose the odds of having our drinks drugged, or our throats slit in the night, be slight." He looked serious a moment, then winked at Argon. "C'mon mate, let's wet our whistles." And followed Argon to the booth.

One of the pretty young serving girls swings over toward your table at Argon's summons. "Good day, I am Irene and I'm glad you've joined us today." She puts down a might of sleep and a hearty plate of stewed pork and baked onions.

Wyrran runs his fingers over the envelope, intrigued. He nods to the smiling man, saying
"Good day to you too, Master... Halden I believe? It appears that my arrival was anticipated, thank you for delivering this message. I am most eager to discover what it pertains to."

He then turns a little to the side and carefully opens the envelope, reading the contents.

"Well lets not wait on ceremony, it has been a long ride and I am hungry." he grabs a plate and takes a portion before asking the waitress for ale in pitchers and mugs for everyone present.

-

 Veskard spends most of his "vast" wealth on drink,and seeing if he can get one of the serving wenches to go out to the barn with him and roll in the hay. Common room from him.

Gilly will stay for the ceremony in the temple and then make his way to the tavern.

He's happy to join Argon and Veskard at their table and place his own order for ale and food. He looks around the room carefully as they eat and drink, taking stock of the other patrons. He'll pay attention if someone looks like an easy mark, but he's a bit nervous about the high walls and the restricted exit way from the fort and all the do-gooder knights strolling about the place with their piercing hard eyes looking for trouble.

"So what do you fellows plan next?" he asks around a mouthful of food. "The caravan is moving on, I hear. Reckon I may offer to drive that one wagon that has no driver now that the goblin's killed him. May earn me an extra couple of bob."

He smiles at the pretty waitress and tells her he likes her hair.

"Makes you look like a young girl in the fields," he says with a wink. "Bet you've got lots of boyfriends."

He seems unconcerned that she is about two feet taller than he is. Nor does he press his suit -- it just seems to be part of his way.

Carnalore cannot understand the low-voiced conversation with the priest and stands a respectful distance away waiting to speak with him. When he's free, she approaches respectfully and offers her condolences for the recently departed, asking whether the temple offers healing services to the living. "It's a slight arrow wound from the skirmish with the goblins," she says. "I'm able to pay if a donation is requested."

In reply to Gillifian Bristlebeard (msg # 69):

"I am not sure, perhaps the garrison might have some work they need doing or we can keep an ear out for rumors." He takes a mouthful of ale and savors the taste after their road trip.

-
This message was last edited by the player at 20:24, Mon 06 Nov 2017.

" There is always some sort of work,for those trained with steel." Said Veskard,as he then shoved a  wooden spoon into his mouth filled with Pork.