Rixton:

That is a lot of rats, I think. It would be a bloody fight with just Vigan and me. It may yet be. "I'm always open to deals. My companions, though..." I say, trailing off. "Snigbat did not honor his deal with us and so we are all a little less trusting now. Are you Hark?"

Andor 

"We may well be able to escape now, we have a couple more friends who are exploring on the other side of the cave, hopefully they haven't bitten off more than they can chew. We may need to call on you guards to help out if necessary, we have some spare weapons between us, but let's hope it doesn't come to fighting." Turning to Morak he adds." I don't think your Lady Nandar survived the giant's attack I'm afraid to say. Shall we carry this on once we have escaped though, time may be of the essence here." Andor lights another torch from his pack, hands it to Morak and then does the same with yet another torch and hands it to the next closest villager. "Keep everyone in the light and we'll make better time, let's go. "

Rixton and Vigan:

"Yes, I am called Hark," the goblin responds resolutely. "Twenty pieces of gold and you may take the villagers. This is fair, yes?"

Andor, Carrow, and Ladrian:

Morak's distress over the Lady's death is apparent. After taking a moment to compose himself, he grabs hold of the torch offered by Andor and then turns and faces the villagers. "Take heart, everyone. Take heart! We are free."  The villagers--men, women, and a few children--stand up and prepare to follow their rescuers from the cave. 

Rixton:

It's cheaper than a healing potion, I think. But can he really stop us from taking them? 

"Oh, no, no. It is quite unfair," I say. "They must be worth at least 40 gold."

I try to read his reaction. Insight: 26

"I'll tell you what, Hark. We'll pay you 10 gold for each villager that still breathes. You will be richer than every goblin rival of yours has ever dreamed."

Hark's face cannot hide his confusion. "Show me this gold, elf, and set it on the floor. Then go your way."

Rixton:

"Oh, certainly," I say and jingle a bag of coins. "All I have seen so far are two villagers who are decidedly not breathing. By all means. Lead the way to the breathing ones and I can count out your gold."

Ladrian

"Good job Andor and Carrow. Is there anyone else alive and missing in this caves?" Ladrian asks "If not we should move back and re-group with our colleagues" Ladrianasks

Hark sheathes his scimitar and leans his shield against the cave wall. "So be it," he says.

Then after saying something in Goblin to his giant rats--who scurry out of his way--Hark leads you through the room where the dead halfling lies, down the main tunnel, and into the large open cavern. Upon entering the room, Hark, Vigan, and Rixton see a large number of people entering the cavern from the northeast being led by Andor, Ladrian, and Carrow. 

Hark stops in his tracks and, looking at Vigan and Rixton, says, "Payment is due, yes?"

Ladrian

Raising an eyebrow to Rixton "Payment? What is he talking about and what have you done this done, my dear Rixton?" Ladrian asks with a smile on his lips, still keeping an hand in his weapon

Andor

Positioning himself between the villagers and Hark Andor also looks to Rixton curiously.

"It doesn't seem to me that this goblin has many bargaining chips, I plan on walking the villagers out of the caves now, is he going to try and stop me, that is my only question." Again Andor calls forth a little of his power, lightning crackling at his finger tips and a wind swirling the air about him in a chaotic way. "You might have noticed the dead ogres and goblins littered throughout the caves as you came here Hark, do not add yourself to the tally needlessly".

Intimidation 18

Rixton:

I look at the villagers carefully and then look back at Hark. "Is this all you have?" I say. I shake my head. "I think I will keep my money. You can keep the villagers."

Then I turn and walk away from Hark and the rest of the group. "Come on, Vigan. I'm hungry. I think the exit is this way."

Hark's only reaction is to mutter some angry words in Goblin as he watches the five adventurers and eighteen villagers exit the caves. 

The walk from the goblin caves to Nightstone is a rather somber one. The surviving villagers carry the burden of burying many of their family and friends, of rebuilding their homes and farms, and, lastly, of building their future without the leadership of Lady Velrosa Nandar. The four guards that remained in Nightstone lower the drawbridge and with a mixture of relief and shock greet their friends and fellow guards as they enter the village. 

The five adventurers receive many warm handshakes and thank-yous, but eventually the villagers disperse and do their best to find a night's rest in their respective homes. Morak then offers The Nightstone Inn as a place for Andor, Carrow, Ladrian, Rixton, and Vigan to stay for the night. "The bridge is drawn, and the guards will take shifts tonight. Let's rest and then talk in the morning. I'm sure we have many questions for one another." 

DAY TWO

Morak asks several questions about yesterday's events, and the five adventurers fill him in on the ridding of Nightstone of the goblins, the skirmish with Xolken and the Zhentarim, and the rescue of the villagers.

(What questions do Andor, Carrow, Ladrian, Rixton, and Vigan have?)

Rixton:

I warm my hands on a steaming cup of tea, pondering the events of the day before. Did we fulfill the contract, even though Hark was left alive? It doesn't matter. With the Lady dead, there is probably no one to honor it and it would be uncouth to suggest such a thing now. Instead, I ask about the thing that has nagged at me since leaving Nightstone for the caves. "Do you know which way the cloud giants fled after they assaulted the village?" I say.

Andor

"I would ask of you, what do you intend to do now? Will you try and rebuild or move on? Whatever you decide without someone to lead you risk the Zhentarim returning with enough men to subjugate you all and I would not wish that on you." 

"The four giants returned to their cloud castle straight away. Carried the nightstone up the stairs; then the castle drifted off to the northeast. It was quite a sight," explains Morak in response to Rixton's question. "There was no need for them to bombard us as they did," he continues angrily. "They could've just told us what they wanted. We certainly wouldn't have drawn swords against a group of cloud giants."

"Rebuild, yes. That's what we'll do, Andor. We're not going anywhere, but I am sending word to a few faction leaders who must learn what has happened here. Not just the giants, but the Zhentarim as well. A good friend of mine...Alaestra Ungar...she lives in Triboar...she's labored extensively and established quite a network to gather information on the movement and activity of the giants in the North. She's a Harper...not sure how all of you feel about that particular group, but I believe they're doing good things and working to prevent us little people from being stomped out by these damned giants."

He pauses for a moment as one of the Nighstone guards enters the room and hands him a leather pouch, which he in turn hands over to the members of the party. 

"Lady Nandar would rise from the grave and hunt me down if I failed to give this to you fellows. Four hundred gold."

Morak then continues, and the hesitancy in his voice is apparent. "Dare I ask you to do one thing more? I believe Alaestra needs to know of what happened here, but I can tell that Nightstone needs me. Any chance you fellows were planning on heading north? Would you be willing to take word of this to Triboar?"

Rixton:

I muse while listening, taking a sip now and then. The payment is a welcome surprise and so is the invitation to do more. After a moment of silence while the request sinks in, I nod. "I know of Alaestra. It would be advantageous to make her acquaintance. And perhaps I can piece together more of the cloud giants' path. I, at least, will take your message to Triboar."

Ladrian

Having his drink he seems rather bored "Away from the major cities again? Sigh, uncivilized places... ", but his eyes did glimmered with the payment pouch. He turns to Morak "Are you sure you don't need someone to helo you running this place? There are after all, many things to do and rebuild. You have the opportunity to rebrand this place and make it trade station for example. Lot's of gold to everyone" he adds

Andor

"Triboar sounds like the place for us to go, if we can help by passing on this message then I will be happy to go with Rixton and anyone else who is interested in coming along."

Andor looks across at the others

"We've fought well together, the path may be dangerous, I'd hope we'd all do this as a group. I'm sure we would be a formidable force."

Carrow 

"The wilderness could make a wildflower of you yet my friend" he said to Ladrian. Sipping his hot drink Carrows attention was now firmly on Morak ,as he spoke of the North and the Harpers a desire to once again see the peaks and traverse colder climbs came over him.  "This town needs a new start i agree it would be beneficial for all to see it thrive. Aye we would do well together in the wilderness, i would be happy to travel further with you" Carrow turns once again to Morak "Do you perhaps have a store room or an armory we could resupply from, we appreciate the opportunity of rest here before we depart but we will need certain supplies for the road"