Chapter 2A - A Jaunt Into The Country

[counterkid]

"Vic, who are these people and where are they from? By the way I asked Kella if should would join our group for a short while. I think we can use her skills. I offer her a share of the treasure. I don't think it went well. I also informed her that I would ask the group if she could join us. What do you think and can we trust her?"

[Nocturno]

"Her, yes. The new comers. Not sure. They seem to be a travelling party. Looking for a place to rest."

[Chris1234]

Unbar hears a low whistle. He turns to see Isarril making a lifting motion and then pointing at the drawbridge.

[Chris1234]

Leaving his horse with one of the other riders Xolkin ambles over towards Vic and Val.

[Nocturno]

Waving him over Vic greets him. "Well met Traveller. This impressive mound of flesh is my friend Val. We don't have much yo offer at this point. But you can easily find shelter in any of the buildings in town."

[Chris1234]

The Traveller looks around in the failing light, "My thanks. What happened here? A siege?"

[Nocturno]

"All I have gathered so far is that the rocks in the bottom of each hole fell from the sky. Then the goblins moved in to loot the town after the townfolk left."

[Chris1234]

"Well, that's.. unusual," he replies, looking up. "Where did the villagers go?" He moves over and peers down a hole, then shrugs. "What are your plans?"

[Nocturno]

"I agree highly unusual. We believe most of the villagers left. We found some tracks heading out of town. We were going to try and make contact in the morning with whoever is living in the Keep still."

[Chris1234]

The riders' lantern shows them busily tending to the horses, removing saddles, rubbing down the horses, distributing oats, and so forth.
Just as the village drawbridge is fully drawn up, one of the group, a human female breaks off. She lights a torch and heads over towards Xolkin.

***
Isaril gestures to Unbar that the elf intends to stay put in the watch tower and that Unbar can do what he wants.

***
When the torch bearer reaches Xolkin he nods a muttered, "Excuse me a moment", and steps back to talk to the woman.
The pair exchange a few words.
He turns back to Val and Vic, "If it's ok with you we're planning on putting our horses in the stables. That's after we remove the deceased and put something, maybe a cottage door or two, over the pit. The lads'll probably sleep in the hay loft, hmm?"

======
Vic and Val can see more detail in the torchlight.
Any present may make a Perception skill check.

[Nocturno]

Perception [1d20+4] = 9+4 = 13

Any chance to overhear? Or is that in the perception?

"Fine by me." He looks at Val. "Maybe we can do a shared watch. Make sure we cover some of the town, not just the gate. In case we did not get all of the gobos."

[counterkid]

Perception: [1d20+2] = 16+2 = 18

"A shared watch is good with me."
"You can definitely sleep in the stables and put your horses there."
"Sue let's go back the supply building. I would like to find a lantern like these men as I can't see in the dark like you."

[counterkid]

When Val and Vic leave to go find a lantern. Val will tell Vic the following in private.

"The woman told Xolkin about corpses and the pit in in the stables. He told her to go fix it after he squares it up with us."

"I also got a glimpse of his ring. It looked like the following." Val describes the following.

[Chris1234]

Before Val and Vic leave to go find a lantern, Xolkin replies, "Sure. I can let you have four now if you want to search this place for loitering goblins. Will you be wanting folks to sleep in the watchtowers too? That's possible. But some provisions wouldn't go amiss."

The lantern lights up Xolkin's studded leathers and scimitar. He appears to be handsome, in his mid-thrities and, less obviously, half-elven. The female wears plain leathers and sports a crossbow. She seems to be a human in her mid-twenties. She has short hair, even shorter than Zolkin's, but his has more style.

***
From the stores Val and Vic can find a plain lantern and four flasks of lantern oil.

[Squirrellord]

Unbar comes down from the tower and follows his party members. Once out of earshot he complains in a gruff voice. "We should not allow them to rest separately from us. If we are all together and the watches are made of members from both groups , there is less chance of being caught unawares if there is any trouble from them." Having said his piece he peels off from his party before they lose visual sight of the newcomers and sets himself down where he can keep an eye on the new arrivals.