Welcome to Gaia! ::

"Hey," Ganner said cheerily when Halcyon sat down with him and Alister. "You look good. First time I've seen you when you weren't dying. It's a good look for you." Ganner gestured to Alister. "Say thank you. You'd probably be dead by now, or close to it, if it weren't for Alister here. Cleric of Moradin extraordinaire."

When Leon joined them Alister greeted him cheerfully. "Ah, its is good to see you up an about my friend. I trust you are feeling in better spirits? You had us worried, but it seems Moradin has put our minds at ease." he said

After Leon thanked him, Alister nodded. "You are very welcome. I am just glad to see you are well and not surprised to see you have developed quite an appetite. That is a good sign that you have healed much."

((let me know when you guys want to press on.))

Alister thought for a moment. "Well I heard the villagers mention people from the north especially those from the mines come this way to head to Luskan to sell their wares and what they find in the mines. Caravans are less common, but they do pass on occasion."

As he was speaking, one of the farmers burst inside. "Brother Alister. Brother Alister, come quickly!" he said. Alister glanced at the others and then stood up. "Excuse me." he said politely leaving the table. He exited the inn and went outside. There seemed to be great commotion in the air. Most of the farmers were talking among each other. Anger clearly seen by their body language.

"I can't believe it. After we worked so hard. And now it's gone." said one.

"Be calm brothers. What has happened?" Alister asked trying to calm the situation.

"Our crops Brother Alister. And our flocks." he said pointing to the destroyed field and the broken pens. "We didn't notice until we had come to work. Whatever did this is destroying our livelihood. If this continues, we won't be able to stay during the coming winter. We don't have enough crops to sustain us." he said rather bitterly.

Alister put a hand on his shoulder, "Be strong my friend. Come show me the damage." He showed the trampled and uprooted crops following the the broken pig pen and chicken coops.

((Ganner and Leon can also join in if they want.))

Alister knelt down and examined the foot prints that were left in the soft earth. He narrowed his eyes and knew exactly who had ransacked the fields. "Goblins." he muttered.

((If Ganner or Leon have prior knowledge of goblin equipment and behaviors, they would see some rotten clothing and broken weapons laying about which will confirm Alister's suspicions. If either can track, he will be able to lead to the lair.))

After mentioning the goblins, the farmers became more afraid of what would become of them. They could not afford to go after them. They were not fighters. If too many of them were killed there would be no one to tend the land and the village would stave. They then turned to Alister. "What can we do? Should we fight?" they asked but unsure since many have never even took up a weapon in their lives.

Alister shook his head. "No, I cannot afford to have you injured this close to the end of the growing season. I will go. I have dealt with their kind before." he said.

Just then one of the women came up wailing about one of the children missing. She ran to her husband with tears in her eyes. "Our son. Our son is missing. And a few of the other children are also gone" The farmer turned to Alister with worry in his eyes. Alister frowned fearing the worst. "Then I don't have much time. I will seek the goblins out, drive them from this land and bring your children home."

He looked to Ganner and Leon (if he came). "I know I'm in no position to ask since we have only just met, but can I ask for your assistance in this? I have no idea how many goblins are there and I fear that I may only endanger the children further without help."

"I doubt it. They were days back. But these woods are well know to be teeming with the little bastards. And unless you can kill them all they just come right back from in a season or two. Like vermin." Ganner said, his grin having vanished. Ganner despised goblins, and other monstrous humanoids. He viewed them as a blight to be erased. "I'm definitely in for this. But we should head back to the inn. My armor is still there. That and we don't know how far out the gobbies came from, we should pack a few days rations just in case. Actually, probably more. Since we'll hopefully be having more people coming back with us."

A short while later the three stood together again at the farm. Ganner had collected and donned his armor. His sword rode comfortably upon his hip. He opted to leave his crossbow behind. He figured that there would be too much close-quarters combat and didn't want the extra weight. Also, one ill aimed shot could hit the children. Ganner flexed his fist's inside his glove and gauntlet. He had not consumed any of his spells so far today, and was ready to use them all in the pursuit of the children. And the destruction of the goblin vermin.
"I'm ready." Ganner said. "Let's do this."

"How do you want to do this?" Ganner asked. "We don't know where the kids are, and the little bastards could hold them hostage against us if they bother to use their tiny little brains."
Ganner was starting to wish he'd trained himself in his magical skills more. He had a small array of spells, but most of them were up close. And the few that he had that he could use from a distance were either low-powered or he could only use a very limited number of times.
"Halcyon. You're a sneaky sort, aren't you?" Ganner asked. "Think you could get in there and find the kids? We could give you a certain amount of time and then launch an assault. Hopefully that'd draw more of them out this way, then you can secure the kid's escape. If something goes wrong just make some noise and we'll come charging in and take them while they're facing your way. What do you guys think?"