Annnnnnd Back

Well we discussed about our plans forward, I voted to go home. I felt that it was useless to risk so much so early in our adventures. Plus getting a donkey or some beast of burden would really help our group with carrying our stuff.
Well our new found friend, Kayla piped up with a story of finding something shiny on the far bank of the river somewhere. Alani was annoyed that we had to rest. I don't blame her, its the way her kin are, but I'd rather not punish the injured for a bad run in with goblins. GanderMan was pushing really hard to keep going so we ended up checking out what Kayla found as a compromise. After a quick cross of the river she showed us to a dwarven statue holding a clay pot made entirely of gold! It was about 4ft tall and several hundred pounds by the look of it.(8 units) We all tried to discuss the best way to move this thing as GanderMan just tossed his gear to the others and manhandled this thing up onto his back. Really impressive considering it was the same size as him. After that we headed back to town on the far side of the river this time. I'm still carrying too much even after I gave out the gear I scavenged from that goblin. I don't complain even with a splitting headache and tired as hell. It all came together and got the better of me for a bit, but I pushed on. After awhile it started to get dark so Hemdan takes lead we're close enough to town that we keep going though the dark just a little. After just a few hours we head back to my place since most of our group don't have residence in the walls. Now that we had some time, I looked over the statue. It was created by the Meromannians, the dwarven mining factions. It might have been being transferred between holds. If we find the right collector it could be worth upwards of 31 gold! We went to sleep for the night, bartering could wait till morning.
The next day we went to the shopkeep and GanderMan drug the statue with us. His jaw dropped when he saw the statue and quickly closed up the shop to talk with us. It was a statue of the god Clay and that the rust brothers would be very unhappy to find this thing here. Ganderman asked where does it need to go for us to get paid. The shopkeep pulled out a large binder saying that there was an island to the northeast called Maidenholm where many Shardmaidens were still alive at a temple. They would pay good to get it back, but not vey much. On the other hand, Lord Belefar would pay very well for the statue something like 25 gold worth of silver. He's out east of the Fang Woods in halfling country. There was talk of getting carts, wagons, horses, and donkeys. We made mention that we were only about a day away from either adventure place. The shopkeep heard stories of the cave in the woods. Said that a traveler came through and told stories about ghouls that might have taken residence. Only a few ways to deal with them. Magic would work, but fire is an easier option.
Well, we eventually decided to store the statue at my place for now as our group is the only ones who know bout it. The shopkeep tossed me a bag of 40 silver saying that he's paying it forward. Quite a bit to just hand to us, but I suppose he's invested in our well being after seeing what we could find. He's letting us decide on things while he looks for someone to pawn the statue.
We each went our separate ways for the next few days each doing some work around town while our injured recovered. I ended up trying to repack my bag a few more times and FINALY got everything settled better after a few days. Otherwise I went to help out as a stablehand to maybe get more acquainted with an animal to buy. One mule in particular didn't seem to mind me too much so at least I can work with the beast. The others seemed more skittish but I was new. I made a few copper the first day. That night Alani told us of a few requests around town. Some rats, and a wanted flyer for a goatnapper dead or alive. Quite the goat for such a post I guess. I go back to the stables the next day and make mention of the goat to the sablemaster. I ended up having to try and war train a horse that wasn't having it. Real rough day that one after getting thrown a few times...
 
raw
i vote to go home, not really wanting to risk so early, get a donkey for stuff. kayla said found shiny on far bank of river. alani annoyed to have to rest, but willing to take us w/e, we cross river toward kayla's thing, we found a dwarven statue holing a clay pot made entirely of gold. 4ft tall several hundred pounds(8 units). Ganderman gives his stuff away to be able to move this statue, same size as him, we head back, i still have too much, takes it outta me(1 agility dmg), gets dark and Hemdan takes lead role, we press forward to get to town reasonably, we arrive a few hours after dark, i look over the statue the Meromannians(dwarven (mining) faction) created? might have been transferred to other hold. if find right collector get 31 gold. barter in the morning.
morning visit shopkeep, show statue, his jaw dropped, statue of god Clay, rust bros unhappy of this thing here, where need go?-ganderman, pulls big book, shopkeep says theres an island to the NE called maidenholm were many shardmaidens still alive at a temple, the y pay good to get it back, likely wouldnt pay much, lord in belefar would pay well for statue(25is gold worth of silver), east of fang woods, in halfling country, talk of getting cart and donkey, mention that we are only about a day from either adventure place, shopkeep heard stories as we all, he said he heard from one traveler that ghouls might be in the location. they hate fire. we decide to store the statue at my place, he pays me forward with a coin bag with 40 silver, let us decide on getting things done while he might look for someone to pawn it.
I try again at pack rat, fail, stable work went well, helping the stablemaster and everything, one mule in particular seems to not minding me the other animals are more standoffish, made 5cp, alani mentions a ratjob and a request for dead or alive perp of a stolen goat. go to work the stables again with keeping an eye out for goat, make mention to stablemaster. had to help wartrain a horse, rough day got thrown a few times,