Bandits At The Borders

General Summary

The Kingdom of Fjordhaven posted a reward for assistance in protecting their citizens traveling from Stag's Ballad to Stag's Redoubt. Milo, seeing an opportunity for easy money, gathered a party and headed into Fjordhaven. Braskan, Asriel, and Toshi met up with him at the Last Stand Tavern. They learned from the waitress that Hergeg Onyxborn, the kingdom marshal, was present in the tavern that day. It was decided that Milo should not speak to Hergeg Onyxborn on their behalf because of his...unique conversational habits. Instead, Braskan was appointed and he kindly interrupted the marshal's card game by calling him "Hergie" and requested more information about the attacks on citizens. Hergeg Onyxborn passed on that these bandits continue to attack no matter how many times the kingdom guards took them down. "They come out of the woodwork even though it's the middle of the plains!" The marshal was able to describe that these specific attackers paint half of their face, from forehead to chin, in all black and that it's been reported they wear a single glove on one hand. He mentioned that the kingdom has not been able to bring in a suspect for questioning because these bandits have a way of ending their life before that. He assured Braskan that his party would be paid for any of their efforts fighting for The Kingdom of Fjordhaven. Braskan brought this information back to his companions. Milo set out in the city to question the locals. His questioning proved less than helpful as some citizens swore that these attacks were from the Centaur tribes in the Great Plains . Others claimed that the Sovereignty was sending assasins. Still others thought that the newly established kingdom from the west, Abkheset, was behind the attacks. Frustrated, Milo returned to the tavern and began loudly complaining, resulting in the party being strongly encouraged to leave by their waitress. The party then set out for the road to Stag's Ballad , stopping for the night in Stag's Redoubt. They traveled for the better part of a day before running into any trouble. They almost heard her before they saw her: a woman slumped on the ground, next to an overturned wagon, weeping. What was assumed to be her husband, bloody and dead, next to her. She craddled something tightly in her arms - an infant. Through many tears the woman was able to explain that their wagon was attacked by bandits with half painted faces. Their wagon was raided but nothing taken from it. Her husband died defending them and one of her infant twins was kidnapped. The party of adventures found this rather odd and they discussed the merits of leaving the woman behind or taking her with them. Toshi stood by his honor and promised the woman he would keep her safe and get her child back. As they traveled the woman proved a constant source of annoyance for Braskan and Asriel as she had a tendency to break down in tears if someone looked at her. The party was able to overtake several bandits along the way and learned of a signaling system using bird calls employed by the bandits. The kidnapped infant was saved, barely, and the woman and her children delivered to her sister's house in Stag's Ballad. Asriel ensured that the woman gave a full report to the guards and requested a copy they could take back to Hergeg Onyxborn. He also made sure to get a sketch of one of the bandits. The party reported back to the marshal and convinced him to allow them to continue in pursuit of these bandits on their own. Hergeg Onyxborn agreed to give them one additional chance at bringing down these bandits as long as they put none of his guards or the citizens at risk.

Rewards Granted

Loot:
58 gp, 101 sp, 176 cp
1,000 gp to each as payment for protecting the good citizens of Fjordhaven
[50 gp] potion/oil of pass without trace (CL 1)
[50 gp] potion/oil of mage armor (CL 1)
[50 gp] potion of cure light wounds (CL 1) x 2
[25 gp] arcane scroll of charm person (CL 1)
[20 gp] smokestick x 2
[50 gp] tanglefoot bag
[30 gp] thieves' tools x 2
[25 gp] studded leather armor x 2
[175 gp] mwk studded leather armor x 2
[5 gp] buckler x 2
[200 gp] composite longbow (+1 Str) x 2
[20 gp] rapier x 2
[10 gp] short sword x 2
[110 gp] light horse, combat trained x 2
Experience
Braskan[4], Milo[4], Asriel[3], Toshi[2]: 400 xp = 75 (Weepy Woman) + 75 (Scouts In the Trees) + 150 (Save the Baby!) + 100 (Diplomatic Efforts)