Oleg:
"A future swordlord!  What god timing for us as we have heard the Staglord is planning to gather his men and lead a full out assault on my trading post.  We are hoping the heros of the Greenbelt return soon and we can convein a war council and decide on the best defense and offensive strategies."

"What is going on here? Why is there a need for a war council?" Arutha seemed concern, "Who has declared war?"

Oleg:
“The leader of the bandits, he used to raid us for supplies but was stopped and his bandit camp was destroyed now he wants to wipe us out so he can rule over the lands.”

Taluntain has been on the road for weeks to Oleg's post and he has grown tired of sitting in the wagon and sleeping in a tent and eating stale trail rations. He was looking forward to some comforts of an inn.
He had his cowl to his cloak down and he was lightly tugging on the reigns urging the Delphine onto the main the gate to what he can assume Oleg's outpost. He came upon what he could tell was the the owner and a man having a discussion. He will than dismount and lead his horse walking over to the people in conversation.
In a very elegant almost sing song like tone he will say, "Hello, I am Taluntain Marara I have come to Oleg's for what I was told to exploring some wild land. May I ask where I can stable my horse and settle in. I would so enjoy some fresh food and a comfortable bed."
He looks around and starts to notice that the outpost seems to be getting ready for a siege or an attack.
"Are you expecting an attack because I have not run into any armies or scoundrals on my ride in."

Just then the guards ring the cowbells after a moment one calls out to someone that the heroes have returned.
This message was last updated by the GM at 01:17, Sat 07 Dec 2019.

Octavia walks her horse into the trading post, looking at the banners and the new faces. She approaches Kesten if she can see him.  "We have scouted the lands and have settled the issue with the Sootscale kobolds.  They have agreed to a peace treaty."  She looks over the new people who are here.

"What has happened in our absence?"

Tauron is happy to ride along with the others not saying much

Oleg
“War is at hand!  The stag lord has had enough and he is marshalling his forces to wipe us out his nice and for all.”

The young one handed girl adds in
“It is not too late to send agents into his fort to kill them before they march.”

Drezghl raised his fist in salute to the defenders of Oleg's trading post.  He dismounted near the gate and walked his horse to the stable. He fished out a silver piece from his pocket and gave it to the stable boy along with the reins.

"This mount has served me well. Take good care of him.", he said.

Filarion was content to brush and clean his own horse. He felt better able to collect his thoughts while he did so, but before he could, a thought occurred to him.

Coming to the others he says, "We need to martial the kobolds. I volunteer to ride Linta to get them if we have the time. How far out are they Oleg?"
This message was lightly edited by the player at 12:59, Wed 11 Dec 2019.

Octavia frowns at Filarion.  "We need to find out what is going on, how Oleg and the post knows about the Stag Lord's movements, who these people are," she jabs a finger to the newcomer.  "Then we council and decide our next actions."

"We may have little time. Humans are notoriously hasty in their actions, so we must make a decision quickly as well."

“Taluntain? Is that you?  I am glad to see a familiar face.”

Oleg
“That’s easy enough.  At first he was quietly recruiting and we would just hear a rumor, but then wanted men from Restov came through looking for directions.  A spy went down to find out more and reported back they are net driven to burn us out.”

At that moment a man rides up with another lanky and wild brown haired man swung across his saddle

It becomes apparent that you know both men, the rider is the Hunter Vellek and the apparent deceased is none other that Bokken the potion maker....

Tauron looks over to Vellek.
Although I could see me an Bokken may have developed issues I did not wish him dead.
What has happened?

Octavia handed off her horse to the stablehand, a storm on her face as she watched the horse and rider come closer. Tauron already asked what was on her mind, so she waited to hear what happened.

Vellek pulls up and dismounts he steps gingerly on his bad leg; he brings the potion maker onto the ground....

“Bandits killed him.  I came by just as they were torching his hut.  I took down four of them before the rest got away.  The bodies are still out on the plains.  I took their horses out from under them and finished them off. The rest got away.”

Vellek is a well known hunter and his bow skills are legendary; but the tusk of a giant wild boar has left him retired; though he is a great Boyer and fletcher... x

“I am returning the remains of an engineer Davik Nettles to Brevoy for burial: should this man also be taken?”

"How long ago and which direction did they travel?",Drezghl asked.

He had not met Bokken but knew that he was a vital asset to the community. His murder could not go unpunished.

Vellek:“They rode away fast; and have at least two days lead on you.  They will reach the fort before you catch them.”


Oleg: “So no potions to be had in any near time frame.”

Svetlana emerges at the commotion and puts her hand over her mouth...
“Bokken!...I hope you have found your peace.”
She kneels down by his body.

Imira comes out from her perch on the roof and she calls for someone
“Erky!”
At the call an older gnome lady comes out from the house...,
She grunts and grumbles
“My name is Esmerelda; not Erky...”

Tauron turns to Oleg.
I am sorry.  I can only make scrolls for spell casters at the moment.
However I have started to study the ways of making potions.
Soon I hope to do this.

As this man's Vellek's words, Octavia frowns hard. "The fort?  You know where this Staglord is held up?"

Vellek
“Just rumors mostly, so no exact location.”

Imiria
“I sent a scout that way and can tell you it is a fort similar to this one; according to a certain easily distracted bird...”
Esmerelda
“I make remedies, concoctions and potions.”
Imiria
“Not now ancient one.”

Svetlana
“We should bury him.”

Tauron turns to Esmerelda.
Hello.  My name is Tauron I am spellweaver and study magic.
He turns to Imiria and smiles.
And I hope I can be call brother in kind to Imiria.
If you have time when I am here.  Could I help you and learn from you.
I love to be able to make remedies, concoctions and potions.
If that alright with you.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:59, Tue 31 Dec 2019.