Veeshal Yes

When everyone is ready to head back Sorrow asks everyone to wait as she leads the hunters back to the clearing.  While she is there she has them recover the bigger crate oiut of the hole and even a strong box that was under it.  The Hunters reloaded the bigger crate while sorrow made another look around the area for anything they may have missed.  Soon she comes back with the hunters as they carry the two deer and now the larger crate.  Veeshal and Mill Water carry the smaller crate between them onto the road where Veeshal sets his end down so that Mill Water could drag it like it was designed to do.  Soon everyone crosses the bridge back into the village proper.  As everyone heads their separate ways Emilee takes Amber and Wilbur with her to drop Wilbur off at the candle shop to be reunited with his mother before Amber and her head home.  The Hunters head towards the inn with the bigger crate and one of the deer as your small group head to the inn also with the smaller crate and the strongbox.  Once you enter the inn the Inn keep scolds Karie about leaving her to fend for everything herself.  She is glad that Wilbur was saved but tells her that she must give the inn 50% of her tips and earnings as a punishment.  As she sees all the supplies in the two crates she soon tells her to forget it as these supplies will see them through a few more days now along with the deer.  She hands the hunters five gold one for each of them for their trouble.  As she busies herself with restocking her larder your group soon find a table to sit at with Sorrow placing the strong box in the center.  You all hear the clinking of some glass and unmistakable sound of coins inside. 

Everyone has leveled up to the 2nd level.  Please update you sheets. to reflect this.  For hit points you can either random roll and take that or half your hit dice +1  If you random roll reroll any 1s 

While you are sitting there Karie brings you the five small chests that were in the smaller crate  Remember four are empty and their keys are with them while the fifth chest has the pinky fingers in it.  Karie tells you that no one can claim these chests after you had placed your lives ahead of the village therefore they are yours now along with the strongbox in the middle of the table.  Not long after that some of the local craftsmen come in to meet you and thank you for bringing some of their much needed supplies to them.  They offer to give you a gold piece each as with the shortage of supplies they do not have much to give.  

What will you do next?  Will you meet with Emilee and Danart at their home or will you investigate the issue with Seth and Wilbur?  As no one could offer you any explanation of why that name stuck fear into young Wilbur.

Sorrow stands when the group of craftsmen approach. At their offer of gold, she shakes her head. ‘We were hired to do this job, and as we have succeeded we have been paid our contract. You owe me nothing extra, but the gesture is greatly appreciated and I thank you for the curtesy of it.” She extends her open hand and grasps the man in a warriors clasp. “We are here, and it appears there may be need of our services again. If that happens, find us here.”

Veeshal raises an eyebrow in surprise at Sorrows words. He also stands “I agree with Sorrow, but have a suggestion if you feel the need to press the gold on us. There were children taken and brutalized. Use the monies, or what you can spare, to help with the healing of those youngling. If there’s a church or clergy, see what they may need to assist them. If not, Emilee the midwife may know what is needed to heal them.” He too claps an arm. “We may be small and few in number, but we offer to help in whatever way we can.”

Festoon looks a bit startled "There was a contract? I was just doing this because it seemed like a good idea. Is there enough to cover a big bar tab, 'cause I could run one up and then pay for it?" When people start commenting on the small amount of the farmer's gold he also waves it away "They could certainly use it better than I. It'd just be an extra sandwich or two at a bar."

Sorrow barks a laugh. “Well, it was more a verbal rather than any formal written one. Yon bar owner” nods towards the lady innkeeper “stated she’d give a gold each to find out about the supplies and bring some or all of it back. Which we did. And since she paid the amount previously stated, one can truthfully say it was a contract. And I think we’ve enough coin to drink a little-but with some moderation. We do have a meeting to attend a bit later on.”
Since Wil isn’t there, she’ll inquire of the locals “Which way to Seths place-and what’s his last name? Is there a locksmith in town? And as Vee said, is there a healer or how about a magic practitioner here?”

With his ears perked up and a jovial smile on his face, (This is what being a folk hero is all about!) walking through the patrons. Every drink from his cup refilled from a happy villager's, he stops drinking when he realizes he is buzzed. Millwater looks around to find the barkeeper.

Finding Relitha he asks "Mew! Could I buy some salted meats, dry vegetables, and spices? For traveling but we have enough rations" Pulling out 2 gold "I don't know if I will have the time to visit a market." 

Concluded his business with Relitha, Millwater joins Sorrow and in a quiet moment says too her "That look on his face is why I kept pressing about it."

Millwater Male Tabaxi Monk 2I 13hp 

"I see that you all seem to keep the same ethics as I do, see wrong, do something about it, accept what's fair in payment, accept a little more if they have it to spare." he winks, "but overall, you lot are an adventuring group working this area and I am apparently stuck here so I wouldn't mind cementing a relationship with you all until I can figure out how to get back home to my family."

Sorrow claps him on the shoulders, careful to not drive him to his knees or the floor. ‘Good to hear! There appears to be a lot of wrongness in this town, and we’ve just begun to set it to rights, so your skills are most welcome.’ She raises her head and bellows out “Vee-see if you can secure our rooms! And at what cost to keep them ours for awhile!’ She shakes her head at Mill but smiles to take any strong from her words that follow “Kitling-We should moderate our celebration abit as we have business to attend tonight. A clear head will be needed for us all.” She scans the room and signals a server over. “Can we get either a stew or potatoes with some bread if it’s available please?’

 She then pulls Festoon and J’han close and whispers “If you could hold off drinking for a few, I may need you to make a quick return trip to the clearing with me. I left something there I need to retrieve that may come in handy during our investigation.” She looks to the group. “I’m needing to use that chest we found in the tent-anyone know where it got off to?”

The halfling sighs at that, resigned. "If I must delay my libations, then so be it. Say when and we can run back there and retrieve your 'something'."

As you give out the supplies or already in the inn drinking and relaxing the following information is learned.  There is no locksmith the closest is the black smith on the east side of town not far from the mill.  There is also a tanner nearby you can just follow your nose if the wind is right.,  As far as Seth Thorlson his home is beside the stable and corral where he conducts his business in the trading, raising and selling of horses.  He has some nice mounts for sale but it is a steep price.  Millwater is able to buy some spices, salted meat as well as some dried vegetables for travel from Reilitha.  The church is on the south side of the village square just out the Inns door and a short wall across the road and down about half way to the next street.  They do not know if the healer there is able to do much but that is the closest thing to magic in the village.  Next to the church is the general traders shop.  Sorrow mentions something about a chest that was misplaced or even lest back at what is being known as Karie's fishing spot. 

What is your next move.

Remember to make sure your updated character sheets are shared so I am still able to view them

Sorrow looks at the table then shrugs. “Guess it’s divide and conquer time Vee. I need to take these two” chin points at J’han and Festoon “on a quick errand. If we’ve not returned by the time you’re finished eating, you and the others see if you can-quietly-get to the healer and/or church to see if either can help with the fingers. No matter what they say, once you have an answer meet us back here.” She rubs her thumb across her eyebrow. “If things go a’ right, we’ll be back quickly and we could have another mission before dark. If they only go so-so, we’ll see after our meeting tonight. If they go awry-well, best come fishing and pull us out of the fire. Now-about that chest…”

(Contemplating on visiting the church or cooking a few meals for road) He looks at his companions and thinks (Master says I'm too forward and abrupt for these matters, I lack Eloquence!) Chuckling softly at the word. Millwater tugs on Sorrow's sleeve, looks up to her and says "I will cook up some meals for the road and divide all the rations into parcels and mix them up, so if someone loses a pack every member will have a part of their comfort foods." He thinks for a moment and says "Be a good time to check, repair, repack the gear and fill all the skins too."

Millwater Male Tabaxi Monk 2l 13hp 

Tail Feathers looks to the others, “It might be best if I go to the stables. I might get a feeling from the horses and other critters there.” She looks to those who are staying in the area, perhaps giving her a chance to be unnoticed by Seth if they are all there. 

Sorrow nods in agreement at Mills words, and speaking softly but not in a whisper ‘You have a skill with spices and foods, Mill. It would be good to have wholesome meals during our journeys. Please, think on what you can do and what we may need-We still have coin liberated from those thugs and it would probably do these townsfolk some good to have extra script flowing thru. And we may be heading to Foulat to solve this mystery so anything exotic enough they don’t h have here we might be able to find there. As well as cheaper mounts and better weapons or armor. If they have it here, have them keep a tab and we can settle up before we head to our meeting tonight.’

If no one speaks up about the chest, she’ll look at one of the ones on the table with a key, studying it for a bit before nodding and tucking it under an arm. She’ll use her head to indicate to J’han and Festoon that she’s ready to go.

As Sorrow indicated what she’d like done, Vee raises a hand not quite chin high and makes a twisting left right motion. He nods as well and goes back to eating and thinking.

 After the meal is done, he looks to the rest of the group. ‘Ok-I’m for heading to the church and healers to see about any healing options and if they can do something about those missing fingers. We also need to scout out the stables and the housing there as well as locate Emilee’s house and the best routes to take to remain unseen or unobserved to both the stables and Emilees place. Anyone got any ideas?’

Gulping back the remainder of his base drink and passing his dishes to the innkeep, Festoon announces "Let's go and play fetch!" Moving out after Sorrow. 

J'nah is happy to assist Sorrow and looks at the other halfling in the group, "Looks like the tall folk need us once again to see things from ... a different angle," he says and winks. "You look low, I'll climb trees when we get where we're going, depending on who's doing the camouflaging or digging, they can focus too much upon what someone walking by can see, and now what the crow sees." 

"My angle usually has a point at the end, and that helps is delicate negotiations." Festoon says with a wide grin. "And we'll assail any enemies in a classic crab claw movement, if anyone bothers us!"

Sorrow rolls her eyes and softly mutters ‘And they call ME the bloodthirsty one!’ She heads out of town and returns to the clearing, stopping long enuf at the site of the first attack to pick up a couple goblin swords, but after looking at the rest of the bodies forgoes taking any of their clothes.

 She deposits the box and swords next to the body of Mayor then quickly explains that they seem to be have misplaced a box (giving the universal hand measure yeh high by yeh wide and yeh deep) and wants to look about for it before setting ti on the real reason she came back.