"What good be knowledge of books with no awareness of your surroundings?" Elber stays outside with Duncan and the bandits.

Heobo shrugs. "The boss didn't tell us anything. We just did the dirty work."

Jack, you find some fine clothing and a few cases of wine, but the majority of the goods are common, practical items.

(It would take many wagon loads to transport all of the goods, but for the sake of convenience, once you show Ardidd proof of the Scorpion's death the city will collect the goods. You don't have to transport all of it yourselves.)

Duncan will open a bottle of wine (or more if others join~ Not enough to get proper drunk, but enough to calm down and relax after this long day and before night) and start drinking from it saying "Night cap anyone?"  (including to Heobo)

Heobo eagerly accepts. His hiccups echo off of the cave walls.

"We should probably just camp here eh? Also, someone tell the ogre he should clear out if the town's folk come to pick up their stuff. They may not be as understanding..." Duncan will say drinking straight from the bottle

Kai nods in agreement, "I agree on camping here, then send part of the party back to town to inform the Lady.  She might then eat her words."

((Split the party?! Haha))

OCC:  We can always promise the Ogre payment for guarding and leave him with a password.  Maybe the Lady will provide him a comfy reading chair...

"The Scorpion be dead and we be done here. Fill the cart with evidence of dead bandits, and bring only the most valuable goods. The town can recover the mundane supplies themselves."

((Socrates said this was his cave. I'm worried if they come to clean it out they'll also clean him out... ㅜㅜ ))

“I will take a cup, but just one. I am still feeling a bit uneasy about all of this. He had to have someone else to sell these goods to and they may show up.” Jack moves the prisoners inside the cave. “What did you do with the potions that were stolen?” He describes the dwarf and that his companion that was killed to jog their memory.

He will also look for any secret passages or hiding spots, maybe where the coin or more expensive goods are hidden. Investigation: 16

((guess he is more tired than he thought))

Quote from kevtr0n >>

((Socrates said this was his cave. I'm worried if they come to clean it out they'll also clean him out... ㅜㅜ ))

 OCC:  What I was thinking... but the idea of extracting a promise from the town to pay him off with something useful to him may work.  If the kill him, we can always take vengeance on them.

((I guess we can always tell the town about him. That he isn't dangerous...))

Landrae grabs a bottle from the same stash as Duncan, pops the cork, and in an exceptionally un-ladylike manner, swigs straight from the bottle, before raising it in the air and exclaiming "I hereby declare that Elron's missing potions are some of the tastiest that have passed my lips!"

"I am happy to carry a message to Lady Ardidd. As Elber suggests, a few trinkets to demonstrate the goods, a head or hand to confirm the scorpion is slain, and I am sure that we can leave the townsfolk to sort out returning the goods to their rightful owners. Mayhap, Hoebo, as a further service to show how you have left behind your outlaw past, you would remain with Socrates here and whence the townsfolk or their representatives appear, help ensure that there are no ill tidings towards Socrates, and that his cave is left in a suitable manner afterwards? Maybe we can even find some token of thanks or the service that would suit."

Landrae strikes up a merry tune on her lute and starts to sing a song of victorious endeavors against fearsome foes, drinking from the bottle at appropriate interludes.

“I fear, that leaving Socrates here would be the end of him. Most people fear an ogre no matter his disposition. ((Has anyone seen Shrek?)) I suggest we leave Hoebo here to keep him out of harms way until the goods are recovered and then he can have his cave back when it’s empty. He can use that time to look through the goods and pick out any books he would like. As far as what we take back, I say we take the Scorpion’s body, Orlan and one barrel of this fine wine. The rest they can come gather themselves.”

Heobo looks confused at Jack's inquiry. (Elron is an elf, not a dwarf, but I assume Jack corrects his mistake)

"I have no knowledge of this (hic) elf. And the only merchant who the boss ever killed was one he was (hic) paid to kill. He didn't want to attract too much attention, you see, (hic) so he let most of the merchants go free." 

Heobo agrees to guard the cave until the townsfolk come to collect their stolen goods.

"Bring the fancy clothes as well, and the leather mask of the Maskite too. Socrates can undoubtedly speak for himself."

Quote from Twooshort >>

"Bring the fancy clothes as well, and the leather mask of the Maskite too. Socrates can undoubtedly speak for himself."

 “Fine, I just want to get paid for the job we have finished. I’m going to take a nap, wake me when it’s my turn for watch duty.” Jack will find a corner of the cave to lie down in and grab some sleep.

Kai looks up suddenly, "Paid to kill a merchant?  By whom?  For what purpose was he singled out?"

Heobo hiccups and shrugs. "Only the boss knows that. I'm just the cook."