"Very nice... and what about the spot in the mountains or the spot near the city? And do you have any idea why brigands in the employ of the orcs would have a list of these places?"

"The spot in the mountains is where a nest of goblins have been holed up for quite some time. Other than occasionally stealing some cattle they have not caused us any issues so we haven't taken the time to deal with them. The Black X is where the City Cemetery is located. People have been buried there for hundereds of years." He paused for a moment deep in thought. "I honestly have no idea why any of these places would be marked. But it makes me think there may be something bigger going on than I thought." 

Fargrim turns to his companions, "Does anyone else think that the graveyard seems to be the odd one out here? Maybe we should check that one first... find out what the orcs are up to. As much fun as those ruins sound!"

With a laugh, Fargrim buries himself again in his ale, guzzling at a rate which one would not think possible for a dwarf of such small stature.

"Eh. I'd rather keep away from the graveyard, myself. With all the undead popping up lately, I'm betting that's what we would run into. I'm tired of those things. They stink." Alan says dismissively, waving a hand in front of his nose.

Fargrim's expression darkens quite quickly. Spamming down his mug, he reaches for his battleaxe like an old friend. "All the more reason to head there first. My axe aches for the rotten blood of those damnedable creatures!"

With a uncharacteristic speed, Fargrim gets up from the table and heads back to the bar. In the distance, you can hear him yell "Barkeep!" while slamming down a fist on the counter. "Give me another of those ales. I need to wash down the taste of cowardice! And make it a double! Or something stronger if you have it!"

Redmond has been deep in thought as the local detailed the various issues the group may be encountering. 

He grumbles, "None of these sound particularly pleasant. Orcs, Goblins, probably undead..." He takes a moment to collect his thoughts again. "I'd say we should start with the orcs or goblins, at least we have an idea what we're up against. The others will require a bit more reconnaissance, I'm not quite up to blindly stumbling into the lair of some unspeakable horror."

" Well any of these would make a good story... I have met a few folks who have fought goblins before. They are a menace but they are cowardly creatures and I am sure we could handle them. The goblin camp gets my vote."

"Fargrim, what if we treat these goblins as a warm up and then we head to the graveyard?"

"I agree." Arynn looks to the dwarf. "We should deal with what we have better information on before the unknown."

"Thank you for the information George, you have been most helpful.

Friends, as much as we have already learn I feel we would foolish to run off without seeking more information. I do not believe George is the only person inside these walls that has useful information."

Fargrim walks back over with an almost comically oversized mug of ale. "Aye. Goblins do always make for some good target practice to start off with. What more information do you need on them, except the speed at which their heads fly off!"

"Well, Solaster, it seems we are off goblin hunting! Perhaps we can research these other locations more after that?"

"George, I echo my friend's thanks and offer you this; if we are succesful on our goblin hunt then we may well be making this countryside safer for you! Good day, sir!"

Taman finishes his beverage, places it at the bar and raises a hand of thanks to the barkeep then steps outside to wait for the others to begin their journey.

"Excellent. Goblins are monsters I am very familiar with. This will be a nice warm-up to the real tasks at hand." Alan says confidently, walking out of the bar with the others.

Fargrim follows, pushing his oversized ale mug in George's general direction as way of saying goodbye.

Having made the decision to go to the mountains to check out the location of the red X you headed towards the nearest gate. As you approached the gate a sudden clash of arms could be heard back towards the docks and then flames could be seen rising over the buildings near the warehouse you had searched the evening before. Loud shouts could be heard and the sound of weapons clashing together. Then the cry of guards could be heard over the din calling out "Goblins in the city!" As you turned towards the sound a crying frantic woman ran up to a passing guard saying something about children but he brushed her off and ran towards the sounds of battle.

(decision time, Continue to the gate, talk to the woman, or head towards the fire and fighting?)

Alan jerked his head in the direction of the fighting and heard the call about goblins. "Looks like they came to us! Let's go!" 

Alan took out his crossbow and bolted off in the direction of the fighting, not waiting to see if the others followed him.

Fargrim looks after Alan for a second before his soldiers instincts kicked in. The guards could hold off the goblins momentarily, but something had to be done to help that woman. Without wasting another second, he runs toward the woman, holding up his hand in an attempt to show he means no harm. "No time for pleasantries. I am a Cleric in the service of Lord Hightower. Lead the way to these children; there's no time to waste, and you can explain as we go."

She shook her head still in a panic and began speaking with a frantic pace. "They were playing in the street when a group of small cloaked figures grabbed them and ran towards the docks district. Then I hear the call of goblins and see the fire. Please save my kids. I'm afraid they were taken by the goblins or trapped in the fire." He grips your hand with white fingers in her desperation.

"We'll find your children, and make those goblins pay for the trouble they've caused,  mark my words."

With that, Fargrim dashes after Alan, yelling "They've kidnapped children! Make that the priority! Let's get these @^$%@!" He curses at the goblins in dwarvish, calling them something akin to "oedipal clan traitors"

Hearing Fargrim yelling at him about kidnapped children, Alan skids to a stop in the road. He looks at the woman and her pointing finger, then bolts off in that direction. He didn't really care what the task was, he was just itching to prove his worth and to snag a couple more trophies. 

Maybe I can make a string of goblin ears and wear them as a necklace... Oh, but they would smell awful...

Alan continued to think of impractical ideas for goblin trophies as he ran after where he thought the kidnapped children had been taken.

Redmond sees the group go charging off after the kidnapped children. "Careful of an ambush! Goblin's aren't lookin' for a fair fight." He follows after the group, knees still aching from the previous day's encounter.