Having taken any further decisions regarding the cart and the mule away from you - probably for the best considering how much the cart would slow you down - 1/3 your current speed; or even the mule without the cart would slow you down to 2/3 your current speed - and their combined value is 23 gold pieces - you quickly load and distribute the items that were on the cart across your horses and continue after Eltra before he gets himself in trouble.
Relieved to be on the move again, Feydon surprisingly assists with this, and before he gets back onto Mousey, he walks up to the mule, who, like your horses, has been eating their fill of feed during the down time, and he gives it a solid slap on its behind, sending him off and running sans cart towards the Trade Way, where he'll almost certainly be discovered by a traveling merchant or some other group that will have use for a mule. Given that your combined 7 warhorses without any kind of cart or wagon, just saddlebags alone, can carry nearly double what that mule and cart could haul, it's no trouble to the horses to bear the extra load whatsoever. After a couple of minutes, you're loaded up, and trotting towards Eltra, who'd been keeping a leisurely pace until you come up beside him.
Reunited again, you all pick up the pace a bit to make up for lost time, relieved to have that encounter behind you. Opening a few rations, you nibble on some hard tack, nuts, and jerky, as you ride, to help make up for lost time as well. It's quite the contrast to the breakfast you'd been treated to, and the dinner before that, but with a little luck, Crom's Hold won't be barren of something resembling food.
You pass by no other travelers or landmarks of interest; by late afternoon, the road curves eastward, and Crom’s Hold comes into view. The fortress is a squat, sturdy structure of gray stone perched on a hill overlooking the marshlands to the west. Its walls are weathered but well-maintained, and banners bearing the sigil of House Daggerford flutter in the breeze.
As you approach, you notice the marshlands spreading out in the distance beyond the hold, a vast expanse of reeds, waterlogged ground, and thick mist. The air grows heavier with the scent of damp earth and brackish water. Feydon visibly pales at the sight, his knuckles white as he grips the reins of his horse. Clearly, the last time he was in those marshes was not a fond memory.
The group of six adventurers and one notorious pirate rides up the worn path to Crom's Hold, your horses finally getting weary but still steady after the long day’s journey from Daggerford. The sun dips low on the horizon, casting the sturdy stone walls of the hold in hues of orange and gold. The banner of Crom’s Hold, a golden hawk clutching an olive branch, flutters in the evening breeze, but the sight of it offers little comfort to the group. They can already see the sharp glint of spear tips on the parapets above.
The gate creaks open as they approach, revealing a squad of grim-faced guards. Their captain, a burly man with a scar tracing down his cheek, steps forward, his hand resting on the hilt of his longsword. His eyes narrow the moment they fall on Feydon the Cold, who rides at the rear of the group, his head bowed once again, and demeanor subdued.
“Hold!” the captain barks, his voice echoing across the courtyard. “You there—hands away from your weapons!”
The guards fan out, their spears leveled in a clear message of distrust. One of them mutters something under his breath, and another spits on the ground. The tension is palpable.
Feydon lifts his hands slowly, his movements deliberate, as if trying not to spook the guards. “I’m under a geas,” he says, his voice calm but tinged with bitterness. “I’m not here to cause trouble.”
The captain snorts. “Geas or no, you’re a pirate and a murderer. You don’t set foot in Crom’s Hold without Lady Nayeli’s leave.” He turns his attention to the group. “And you lot—explain yourselves. Quickly.”
Bree moves forward hands up so as to not spook the guards.
"We're here to deliver a message from Duchess Daggerford, as well to preform a quest for her. Unfortunately we need the pirate for that."
"A message? Let me see this message then," the captain demands. "Slowly."
Gus watches as events unfold, not the most charismatic speaker of the group he doesn't speak up. He notes the number of guards and positions, glances at the walls and towers looking for archers. Stroking Cleo her reaches out to her mind, Cleo stay close, if things go south I'll dismiss you for your own safety and summon you back once we get things settled. the cats meows in understanding.
Geren tries to smooth things over with the guards, holding up his (empty) hands in a placating gesture.
"We just solved your bandit problem and recovered most of what they stole. I'd assume you'd want alert whoever would oversee those items being returned to their rightful owners? As for the pirate, he's our prisoner and we've got him under our control."
Hopefully the guards will care more about the bandits getting taken out and their loot being given back.
Persuasion: 29
The captain frowns. "What bandit problem? Which is it, you're confusing me - you're here to solve a bandit problem, but as far as I know you're in the company of our worst bandit problem! Or you're here to deliver a message and need his help? Never mind - fetch the Baroness. No one's moving until she comes to sort this out."
A guard in the rear nods, and disappear into the keep. Several minutes stretch out - whenever anyone tries to move or speak during this time he immediately cuts them off, saying "I said stop! No more sweet talking, no more lying and no more moving. She'll sort it out. Paladins have a sense for evil, and for the truth of things."
Feydon can't help but sneer slightly when he hears the word 'paladin'. Fortunately, it doesn't seem the captain noticed. Or cared.
Long moments stretch out into long minutes and finally you hear a commotion coming from the courtyard beyond the gate.
the sound of boots on stone finally heralds the arrival of Nayeli Goldflower, the new mistress of Crom’s Hold.
She is a striking figure, her wavy hair crowned with a circlet of polished silver and embedded with a brilliant emerald, matching her piercing eyes almost perfectly. She wears a practical yet elegant tunic of deep green, and with calm but alert confidence she takes in the scene with swift judgment.
“Captain,” she says, her voice firm but calm. “What is the meaning of this?”
The captain salutes. “My lady, these travelers arrived with Feydon the Cold in their company. They say they have a message from the Duchess, and that she sent them on a mission - one in which they need the likes of him as some kind of guide, He says he's under geas. This other one says something about solving a 'bandit problem'. I thought it best to detain them until you could hear them out.”
Nayeli’s gaze sweeps over the group, lingering briefly on Feydon. Her expression hardens. “Feydon,” she says, her tone icy. “The infamous scourge of the Delimbyr River and Sword Coast. And now... a guide?”
Feydon sighs. He looks over at the group. "If you'll let them produce the message, you'll see the seal of House Daggerford, and I'm sure it will explain it all. Your..." he looks at the captain. "Guard here, won't let us move or talk. I can feel your paladin probing - probe them, not I. You already know I'm a monster. And so do I. I've never denied it. But what read do you get from them? Hmm?"
She returns her gaze to the group for a long moment. Then to the captain. "I can take it from here. Lower your spears."
"But, my lady--"
"I said, lower your spears - these with him are no threat," she says, tersely. Reluctantly, the spears are lowered. She returns her gaze to the group. "Now. Let us see this message, hmm? Then we'll speak of bandits - but not before I see the seal of House Daggerford for myself."
Nayeli takes the letter. "You say you killed them, yet I see the worst of them right there. But.. this IS the seal of Morwen Daggerford." She cracks open the wax seal, removes the folded paper from within, unfolds it, and reads, her eyes darting rapidly over the words. Halfway down the page her eyes widen visibly, as she continues. She folds the letter back up and tucks it away, looking at the ground a moment as if considering. Then she looks up at the group.
"My apologies. Please. Come. You must be tired. Captain, see their horses are taken to the stables," she gestures for you all to dismount and come with her inside. The captain waits for you to do so before leading your horses to the stables. She turns to Eltra. "Ambushed, you say? On the road here? How many were there? Tell me the details."
Eltra nods “Well we have their heads here because we thought there’d be a reward of some sort. We also have all the stolen items from previous folks they ambushed. They were led by a female magic user. Their bodies are piled off the road about a half days travel that way” Eltra points in the direction they came.
"Indeed? Let us see these... heads then. Was there anything on them to distinguish their names? Where they were from? And what kind of items did they have? Tell me everything." Her tone is cool, inquisitive - she's convinced you came from Morwen, she's confused about your story of bandits.
As you dismount, Nayeli spots the weapon at Feydon's side. "I'll take that," she says cooly. "He may be under a geas... from Delfen Onbarl. But until that man can explain where he went for an entire century without aging a day, I'll not be trusting any spell of his with my life, or the lives of my men. Besides, there's no need for weapons while you're with us."
Feydon nods. He slowly removes the sword, but not by its handle, by the blade in front of the handle, allowing it to slide downward into his grip, but by doing so, also allowing it to bite deeply into his palm. He doesn't flinch. Instead, once the tip of it has reached his grip, he closes his hand into a fist and squeezes. Blood oozes from the sides of his palm as he hands her the blade, handle first. In the history of exchanging sharp weapons, you've never seen a less threatening way to do so, that is simultaneously somehow hostile, defiant, and completely unhinged.
"Gods," she whispers and takes the blade. She's about to pull on it but he is still tightly gripping the end. If she does so, it will cut him even deeper.
He looks at her and smiles coldly, just briefly. "Take it. This is what you wanted, isn't it?" he says, looking her right in the eye the entire time without the faintest hint of pain or emotion registering on his face.
"Ease your grip, man," she scoffs. "What's wrong with you? What's wrong with him?"
He spits. "I'm what's wrong! Now take the ******* sword."
Deftly, she pulls it free, tosses it aside, but before he can withdraw his hand she grabs it with her other hand and squeezes it, returning his look of defiance with one of her own. The bleeding stops. When she pulls her hand away, his wound is gone.
He pulls his hand free and storms away, cursing under his breath, but he stops before going more than 20 feet or so. Then he removes his bow and arrows and tosses them far into the ditch surrounding the keep. The bow breaks in half as it hits the stones far below.
Nayeli's eyebrow arches. "Ok... where were we? Bandits? Heads? What's going on?"
Gus slides out of the saddle, Cleo jumps to her regular perch on his shoulder. As he hands the reigns over he scratches Whimpers muzzle.
I overheard one refer to a Todd as their leader, and the had a sorceress, think they called her Mereidith, my lady.
"I see. Todd... and, Meredith?" she repeats, eyebrows arching. "What a strange name. Taawd," she says to herself, laughing slightly. "I don't know why, but I don't like it. What of the items you mentioned? And you said there were heads?"
Feydon sighs. "Show her the ******* journal. And their heads."
Nayelia Frowns at Feydon but says nothing, taking a deep breath and returning her look at Gus. "What journal?".
Eltra divvies up the money between everyone that was not recorded in the journal 15 gp and 35 silver for each person who wants the coins.
"We should leave the crappy armors and the cart....no sense lugging everything....If you are so hellbent on returning things to those who are missing them then let your horse carry them. They can haul plenty of things....I have the bag of gems along with the remaining gold and coins which we will return to the authorities along with the heads of the dead as proof of our deed....and may as well take the rations and jars of food...no sense letting food spoil out here. Agreed? Good, then let's head out"
Eltra turns Old Timer around to head off to their next stop....
Dawn decides to carry all the armor needing repair on Dawn, so that she can mend them while traveling. She is well practiced with the Mending cantrip, having used it to break broken dishes and such at the temple. Although she won't be keeping any of the armor, she thought it best to remove the signs of battle from them as much as possible before passing them on to the next of kin.
OOC: The number of castings looks quite reasonable giving the description of how limited the Mending Cantrip is. But since it's a cantrip, the only restriction is time, Mending takes a minute per casting. So Dawn will do it while traveling. Not that she will profit at all from this.
OOC2: Added the 15 gold and 35 silver to Dawn. She has no problems with sharing the Bandits money.
Eltra divvies up the money between everyone that was not recorded in the journal 15 gp and 35 silver for each person who wants the coins.
"We should leave the crappy armors and the cart....no sense lugging everything....If you are so hellbent on returning things to those who are missing them then let your horse carry them. They can haul plenty of things....I have the bag of gems along with the remaining gold and coins which we will return to the authorities along with the heads of the dead as proof of our deed....and may as well take the rations and jars of food...no sense letting food spoil out here. Agreed? Good, then let's head out"
Eltra turns Old Timer around to head off to their next stop....
Dawn decides to carry all the armor needing repair on Dawn, so that she can mend them while traveling. She is well practiced with the Mending cantrip, having used it to break broken dishes and such at the temple. Although she won't be keeping any of the armor, she thought it best to remove the signs of battle from them as much as possible before passing them on to the next of kin.
OOC: The number of castings looks quite reasonable giving the description of how limited the Mending Cantrip is. But since it's a cantrip, the only restriction is time, Mending takes a minute per casting. So Dawn will do it while traveling. Not that she will profit at all from this.
OOC2: Added the 15 gold and 35 silver to Dawn. She has no problems with sharing the Bandits money.
OOC: Dawn I've noticed you don't have a component pouch - since it doesn't use the components up for that spell, you can borrow from Gus (it requires 2 lodestones, which come with a component pouch, but don't get used up by mending)
Dawn will find its difficult to cast while riding a horse. It's a lot easier when she can lay the broken item to be mended on a still and even surface. She's able to repair the Half-Plate to the best that she can before arriving, however.
Eltra hands over the journal "This details their exploits as kept by the female caster. I believe there was a Frank and Karl as well....Oh and the heads...yes they are in the bags"
Eltra instructs Feydon to grab the heads and hand them over "Thanks Feydon....Bad back and all" Eltra explains
Nayeli take the journal from Eltra and begins to read it. After a few moments her eyes widen. After a few more moments, her eyes widen even more. After a few minutes her eyes have maximally widened - you have the thought, Dawn, that if she reads anymore her eyes might fall out of their sockets, and instinctually, you find yourself gathering a suitable container to catch them with. However, they do not. They remain quite wide until she manages to read the entire journal - some 10 minutes or so. She hands the journal back to Eltra, and only after he takes it do her eyes begin to return to normal.
"That was... an unexpected read. I... don't think I've ever read such... TERRIBLE poetry. But what does this have to do with bandits?"
When you look down at the journal, you realize you gave her a book of poems you'd been working on in secret, in a journal that looks much the same. Red faced, you find the correct journal, and hand it to Nayeli. With an arched eyebrow, she takes it.
"I really hope this isn't more.... oh gods.... " she goes silent. A few minutes later, she returns the book to Eltra. "It's clear that you've rid the region of what was just starting to become a terrible scourge. It's a good thing you stopped them before they hurt anyone else. Indeed, a reward does seem justified. As for their belongings... I'm afraid I don't recognize these names. They're most likely people that were from larger settlements like Waterdeep or Baldur's Gate, given their relative size to Daggerford or any of the villages around here. There's hardly more than a dozen family's on my lands. I think its fair to say that any money sent to either such city would likely be pocketed by the first corrupt official to encounter it. Given that all gold pieces look like all other ones, there's no way to tell whose were whose. Same would be true for the gemstones. Are there any identifiable markings on the armor, weapons or jewelry? Coats of Arms? Family crests? That sort of thing?"
After having read the descriptions of Todd, as well as some of the others, she glances at the heads and nods. "Indeed. They do seem to match the descriptions the author of this gave. And I take it the woman was the author? Some spellcaster? Good riddance. What... psychopaths. I'll send word to the larger settlements and to Daggerford with the family names mentioned in this journal. If someone is able to locate a next of kin and they can describe what the item was that their kin owned, I'll send them a new one. In the meantime, it's only fitting that you keep it all as a reward."
Dawn takes this moment to ask, "Thank you for your generosity. I was wondering, a couple of the bandits did surrender, though they ended up trying to run or killing themselves. Not Todd, apparently even the bandits didn't like him. I'm curious as to what would have happened to them if we had brought them here."
"A pleasure to have rid the land of such a threat. I would hope you'd pass word on of our deeds. I don't do this for the fame, but a good reputation helps when finding employers."
Well, not solely for the fame. With luck any bards telling this tale will add ten bandits and an ogre to the enemies they faced, maybe even a troll.
"I don't suppose you'd know any places in town with honest merchants we could get a good price for our goods from? And we'd of course be looking to spend our coin if there's anything worth buying."
Hopefully the thought of the party enriching the town with the bandit's loot will result in some worthwhile recommendations.
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"A message? Let me see this message then," the captain demands. "Slowly."
Gus watches as events unfold, not the most charismatic speaker of the group he doesn't speak up. He notes the number of guards and positions, glances at the walls and towers looking for archers. Stroking Cleo her reaches out to her mind, Cleo stay close, if things go south I'll dismiss you for your own safety and summon you back once we get things settled. the cats meows in understanding.
(OOC: who has the letter?)
The captain frowns. "What bandit problem? Which is it, you're confusing me - you're here to solve a bandit problem, but as far as I know you're in the company of our worst bandit problem! Or you're here to deliver a message and need his help? Never mind - fetch the Baroness. No one's moving until she comes to sort this out."
A guard in the rear nods, and disappear into the keep. Several minutes stretch out - whenever anyone tries to move or speak during this time he immediately cuts them off, saying "I said stop! No more sweet talking, no more lying and no more moving. She'll sort it out. Paladins have a sense for evil, and for the truth of things."
Feydon can't help but sneer slightly when he hears the word 'paladin'. Fortunately, it doesn't seem the captain noticed. Or cared.
Long moments stretch out into long minutes and finally you hear a commotion coming from the courtyard beyond the gate.
the sound of boots on stone finally heralds the arrival of Nayeli Goldflower, the new mistress of Crom’s Hold.
She is a striking figure, her wavy hair crowned with a circlet of polished silver and embedded with a brilliant emerald, matching her piercing eyes almost perfectly. She wears a practical yet elegant tunic of deep green, and with calm but alert confidence she takes in the scene with swift judgment.
“Captain,” she says, her voice firm but calm. “What is the meaning of this?”
The captain salutes. “My lady, these travelers arrived with Feydon the Cold in their company. They say they have a message from the Duchess, and that she sent them on a mission - one in which they need the likes of him as some kind of guide, He says he's under geas. This other one says something about solving a 'bandit problem'. I thought it best to detain them until you could hear them out.”
Nayeli’s gaze sweeps over the group, lingering briefly on Feydon. Her expression hardens. “Feydon,” she says, her tone icy. “The infamous scourge of the Delimbyr River and Sword Coast. And now... a guide?”
Feydon sighs. He looks over at the group. "If you'll let them produce the message, you'll see the seal of House Daggerford, and I'm sure it will explain it all. Your..." he looks at the captain. "Guard here, won't let us move or talk. I can feel your paladin probing - probe them, not I. You already know I'm a monster. And so do I. I've never denied it. But what read do you get from them? Hmm?"
She returns her gaze to the group for a long moment. Then to the captain. "I can take it from here. Lower your spears."
"But, my lady--"
"I said, lower your spears - these with him are no threat," she says, tersely. Reluctantly, the spears are lowered. She returns her gaze to the group. "Now. Let us see this message, hmm? Then we'll speak of bandits - but not before I see the seal of House Daggerford for myself."
(OOC: Any of you can produce it - it doesn't matter, I can't remember who had it first)
Eltra hands it over “The bandit problem was not a part of the mission they ambushed us and we killed them.“
Nayeli takes the letter. "You say you killed them, yet I see the worst of them right there. But.. this IS the seal of Morwen Daggerford." She cracks open the wax seal, removes the folded paper from within, unfolds it, and reads, her eyes darting rapidly over the words. Halfway down the page her eyes widen visibly, as she continues. She folds the letter back up and tucks it away, looking at the ground a moment as if considering. Then she looks up at the group.
"My apologies. Please. Come. You must be tired. Captain, see their horses are taken to the stables," she gestures for you all to dismount and come with her inside. The captain waits for you to do so before leading your horses to the stables. She turns to Eltra. "Ambushed, you say? On the road here? How many were there? Tell me the details."
Eltra nods “Well we have their heads here because we thought there’d be a reward of some sort. We also have all the stolen items from previous folks they ambushed. They were led by a female magic user. Their bodies are piled off the road about a half days travel that way” Eltra points in the direction they came.
"Indeed? Let us see these... heads then. Was there anything on them to distinguish their names? Where they were from? And what kind of items did they have? Tell me everything." Her tone is cool, inquisitive - she's convinced you came from Morwen, she's confused about your story of bandits.
As you dismount, Nayeli spots the weapon at Feydon's side. "I'll take that," she says cooly. "He may be under a geas... from Delfen Onbarl. But until that man can explain where he went for an entire century without aging a day, I'll not be trusting any spell of his with my life, or the lives of my men. Besides, there's no need for weapons while you're with us."
Feydon nods. He slowly removes the sword, but not by its handle, by the blade in front of the handle, allowing it to slide downward into his grip, but by doing so, also allowing it to bite deeply into his palm. He doesn't flinch. Instead, once the tip of it has reached his grip, he closes his hand into a fist and squeezes. Blood oozes from the sides of his palm as he hands her the blade, handle first. In the history of exchanging sharp weapons, you've never seen a less threatening way to do so, that is simultaneously somehow hostile, defiant, and completely unhinged.
"Gods," she whispers and takes the blade. She's about to pull on it but he is still tightly gripping the end. If she does so, it will cut him even deeper.
He looks at her and smiles coldly, just briefly. "Take it. This is what you wanted, isn't it?" he says, looking her right in the eye the entire time without the faintest hint of pain or emotion registering on his face.
"Ease your grip, man," she scoffs. "What's wrong with you? What's wrong with him?"
He spits. "I'm what's wrong! Now take the ******* sword."
Deftly, she pulls it free, tosses it aside, but before he can withdraw his hand she grabs it with her other hand and squeezes it, returning his look of defiance with one of her own. The bleeding stops. When she pulls her hand away, his wound is gone.
He pulls his hand free and storms away, cursing under his breath, but he stops before going more than 20 feet or so. Then he removes his bow and arrows and tosses them far into the ditch surrounding the keep. The bow breaks in half as it hits the stones far below.
Nayeli's eyebrow arches. "Ok... where were we? Bandits? Heads? What's going on?"
Gus slides out of the saddle, Cleo jumps to her regular perch on his shoulder. As he hands the reigns over he scratches Whimpers muzzle.
I overheard one refer to a Todd as their leader, and the had a sorceress, think they called her Mereidith, my lady.
"I see. Todd... and, Meredith?" she repeats, eyebrows arching. "What a strange name. Taawd," she says to herself, laughing slightly. "I don't know why, but I don't like it. What of the items you mentioned? And you said there were heads?"
Feydon sighs. "Show her the ******* journal. And their heads."
Nayelia Frowns at Feydon but says nothing, taking a deep breath and returning her look at Gus. "What journal?".
Dawn decides to carry all the armor needing repair on Dawn, so that she can mend them while traveling. She is well practiced with the Mending cantrip, having used it to break broken dishes and such at the temple. Although she won't be keeping any of the armor, she thought it best to remove the signs of battle from them as much as possible before passing them on to the next of kin.
OOC: The number of castings looks quite reasonable giving the description of how limited the Mending Cantrip is. But since it's a cantrip, the only restriction is time, Mending takes a minute per casting. So Dawn will do it while traveling. Not that she will profit at all from this.
OOC2: Added the 15 gold and 35 silver to Dawn. She has no problems with sharing the Bandits money.
OOC: Dawn I've noticed you don't have a component pouch - since it doesn't use the components up for that spell, you can borrow from Gus (it requires 2 lodestones, which come with a component pouch, but don't get used up by mending)
Dawn will find its difficult to cast while riding a horse. It's a lot easier when she can lay the broken item to be mended on a still and even surface. She's able to repair the Half-Plate to the best that she can before arriving, however.
Eltra hands over the journal "This details their exploits as kept by the female caster. I believe there was a Frank and Karl as well....Oh and the heads...yes they are in the bags"
Eltra instructs Feydon to grab the heads and hand them over "Thanks Feydon....Bad back and all" Eltra explains
Nayeli take the journal from Eltra and begins to read it. After a few moments her eyes widen. After a few more moments, her eyes widen even more. After a few minutes her eyes have maximally widened - you have the thought, Dawn, that if she reads anymore her eyes might fall out of their sockets, and instinctually, you find yourself gathering a suitable container to catch them with. However, they do not. They remain quite wide until she manages to read the entire journal - some 10 minutes or so. She hands the journal back to Eltra, and only after he takes it do her eyes begin to return to normal.
"That was... an unexpected read. I... don't think I've ever read such... TERRIBLE poetry. But what does this have to do with bandits?"
When you look down at the journal, you realize you gave her a book of poems you'd been working on in secret, in a journal that looks much the same. Red faced, you find the correct journal, and hand it to Nayeli. With an arched eyebrow, she takes it.
"I really hope this isn't more.... oh gods.... " she goes silent. A few minutes later, she returns the book to Eltra. "It's clear that you've rid the region of what was just starting to become a terrible scourge. It's a good thing you stopped them before they hurt anyone else. Indeed, a reward does seem justified. As for their belongings... I'm afraid I don't recognize these names. They're most likely people that were from larger settlements like Waterdeep or Baldur's Gate, given their relative size to Daggerford or any of the villages around here. There's hardly more than a dozen family's on my lands. I think its fair to say that any money sent to either such city would likely be pocketed by the first corrupt official to encounter it. Given that all gold pieces look like all other ones, there's no way to tell whose were whose. Same would be true for the gemstones. Are there any identifiable markings on the armor, weapons or jewelry? Coats of Arms? Family crests? That sort of thing?"
After having read the descriptions of Todd, as well as some of the others, she glances at the heads and nods. "Indeed. They do seem to match the descriptions the author of this gave. And I take it the woman was the author? Some spellcaster? Good riddance. What... psychopaths. I'll send word to the larger settlements and to Daggerford with the family names mentioned in this journal. If someone is able to locate a next of kin and they can describe what the item was that their kin owned, I'll send them a new one. In the meantime, it's only fitting that you keep it all as a reward."
Dawn takes this moment to ask, "Thank you for your generosity. I was wondering, a couple of the bandits did surrender, though they ended up trying to run or killing themselves. Not Todd, apparently even the bandits didn't like him. I'm curious as to what would have happened to them if we had brought them here."
Bree takes the money
Geren offers Nayeli his hand to shake.
"A pleasure to have rid the land of such a threat. I would hope you'd pass word on of our deeds. I don't do this for the fame, but a good reputation helps when finding employers."
Well, not solely for the fame. With luck any bards telling this tale will add ten bandits and an ogre to the enemies they faced, maybe even a troll.
"I don't suppose you'd know any places in town with honest merchants we could get a good price for our goods from? And we'd of course be looking to spend our coin if there's anything worth buying."
Hopefully the thought of the party enriching the town with the bandit's loot will result in some worthwhile recommendations.