Ambershade Ale Run for Schuster the Innkeep

1st of Brynholm, 28 AoR - The adventure was successfully completed by Abel, Aezrah, Darth, Spiders, and Trothar.

We arrived at the Riverfront Inn in order to speak to Schuster about his contract. It was a large tavern, filled with customers even at ten in the morning, and surrounded by palisades - which I wish to inquire about later. We introduced ourselves to Schuster the innkeep, and Branson Turner, a bartender. Schuster is an elderly dwarf that is quick to anger and somewhat crass, but he certainly means well. He agreed that he would pay us per barrel of Ambershade recovered, and he would double the coin should we return with the leader of the thieves alive. The shipment was intercepted about a week ago, and there was only one survivor of the attack - a young human named Marcus Kraus from the Golden Mountain Trade Guild.
He was very shaken up about the attack, and we had troubles trying to gather information from him. He estimated that there were around 20 bandits, all humans. I tried to comfort him some about it - he did well to make it out. I just hope he doesn't blame himself for this.
We travelled on the eastern road towards Arkum for about five hours before Darth noticed indications of a fight and wheel ruts that carved their way south deeper into the woods. They attempted to cover their tracks with various grasses and leaves, but to no avail.
We followed the trail until we were alerted by the bandits' sounds of song and merriment. By the time we arrived near their camp, there was only a few hours before sunset. The group of bandits were camping within a small alcove against a large rock. I counted 18 bandits - much more than what we could take head on. They were celebrating about a recent score that they had made and let out a cheer of "the first platinum of many!"
Through a series of accidental circumstances, we were spotted and we drew them away from their camp. Trothar remained hidden near the camp and was able to investigate it while we had the bandits distracted. Trothar found a human named Azahd who they had kept as a prisoner. He seemed foreign - Spiders indicated that perhaps he was from the Sunar Confederacy. He also had a quarrel with these bandits, and we later agreed to defeat the bandits together.
We regrouped and returned to the bandit camp after the sun had set. They were on a higher alert because of our scuffle earlier in the day, and had about nine people keeping watch over the camp. We stealthily killed a couple patrols that I spotted moving in the darkness, and then we finished off the remaining sentries keeping watch in the camp. We killed the stronger bandits as they slept, and we let the leader and most of the weaker bandits live. We knew that with their numbers depleted, the remaining bandits would be driven only by fear. Azahd let out a shout and Aezrah fired his pistol to wake the remaining brigands up. Most of our party had the leader surrounded as Azahd and I scared the remaining grunts from the camp. We arrested the leader, and as Azahd saw that his business was done, he wished us luck and left.
After Azahd left, the bandit's leader, who called himself Lance, frantically tried to bargain with us in order to be released. He spouted lies and fake promises, and even said that he'd help us kill Azahd to steal what he had.
But as he was babbling, he said some interesting things about our recently departed Sunari friend. Azahd had come to the bandit's camp, and offered a job to them - without any real indication of what it would be. He tossed the bandits a platinum piece and said that there was more to come if they would help him. But Lance instead captured Azahd to try to ransom him off - his motive being that whoever was throwing platinum pieces around must have powerful friends. Azahd did seem a little suspicious, but it seemed only fair to let him go on his own way after his help. And no one in the party had any desire to backstab our recent companion anyways.
We recovered nearly eight barrels of Ambershade ale - almost the whole shipment. We also collected the bandit's stash of coins, our captive, and their single horse and cart.
We determined that there was no reason to linger around, and that we'd return to Amalite. We took turns driving the cart and keeping an eye on Lance as others rested in the cart.
But at some point while we were travelling, Spiders and I heard a sound. There was an unnerving shriek in the forest. The unnatural noise spooked our horse, but then passed like the wind. If I were to guess, this may have something to do with Griffeth's notice and whatever thing he may have seen in the woods. Those who are travelling in search of this beast - be wary. I believe that we heard the noise almost two hours from the outside of town.
We returned to Amalite around dawn, and handed the barrels and captive to Schuster as soon as the tavern opened. He was thrilled to see the man who stole his shipment. Schuster shouted and cursed at him until he was satisfied that the bandit was successfully scolded and mocked. After which, we handed Lance over to the town guards. The delivery went relatively smoothly, but it made me realize that we should probably build up trust with the townsguard so that we don't have to spend time convincing them everytime we hand in a criminal - which we had to do in this instance. I hope that soon, they may learn to trust us.
Later that day, Schuster treated us to free ales and shouted praises for the guild at his customers. We have definitely made a friend this day, and have fulfilled our first quest successfully. May there be more to come.
-Abel Holgaard