After listening carefully to Biln, the miner's question, Edryd answers gravely, "We've heard little that you haven't. But that is why we are here. You will not have to make this journey unaided. The Hand of Anhur the Just will guide our way and see you to the mines." Edryd bows to the miner and sits back to watch the others converse.

Crayne sees the man eating away at his soup and apologizes for the interruption. Smelling the tasty wafting that radiates from the warm soup Craynes stomach rumbles loudly, "Indeed we have all heard of such rumours. However, be assured that you will be safe hands with us by your side. We'll find out whats going on and ensure that the Duke recieves his stock. Now, how many of you miners are there all together and are any of you capable with a sword? It will certainly be of use if some of you can wield a weapon. However, if not don't worry yourselves for we will take good care of you all in that department." Crayne smiles and sits on one of the chairs resting himself. Turning to the rest of the party, he exclaims: "I don't know of the rest of you but I'm famished!"

Biln runs his hand through his beard, answering Crayne's question. "Me thinks there be twelve of us. Maybe eleven. We can all swing a miner's pick, and probably one er two can wield a short sword, but nay I count on us fir warrior stuff. That's what we were told you'd be there fir. We also be bringin a wagon, filled with some supplies fir the camp and whatnots. Y'all can throw yer gear on there if ya need."

"That would be very nice!" Guilliam says with a smile, rubbing his shoulder where his heavy bag had been resting for the journey.

While the others converse wiith Biln, Storm doesn't say anything, and only stands behind the party fidgeting and being distracted, what with having nothing to clean his fingernails with.

At first, Guilliam pays close attention to Biln and nods pleasantly as the man speaks. But as the others ask Biln questions, Guilliam's attention wanders and he looks throughout the room noticing what is on every shelf and table. Then, his mind wanders more; to songs that he is composing, to his studies with Crayne to what Canter is talking about with the guards outside.

Small talk soon wears on the tired party, and they bid Biln farewell for the night, agreeing to meet him early the next morning in front of the Guild hall for the journey northwest to the mountains. As they leave, Guilliam is at ease just following behind the rest of the party, looking about the town, enjoying the sights and sounds that he senses. Edryd takes Guilliam, Crayne and Storm aside and says to them, "We must send for Canter and hopefully devise some means for him and our gear to enter the city. Though the guards may be proficient at preventing exposed blades and bows from entering, aside from intimidating the peasantfolk and pillaging their pockets, I do suspect that there are more weapons in Merriam than they let on. Please do nothing to arouse the ire of the guards. Despite the fact that they have our weapons and have been exceedingly rude, we are here on a mission of the Knights of Rinder and should conduct ourselves accordingly."

Crayne, Guilliam, and Storm nod. It is then agreed that Edryd and Cy will go and arrange for lodging for the night while the other three expedite Canter. They will all meet at a nearby inn and tavern. Edryd and Cy then walk off in the direction of the inn, and the others make their way back toward the gate as the sun begins to set.

Having taken some time at the miner's guild (during the small talk) to memorize his "Charm Person" spell, Crayne instructs Guilliam and Storm that he will first attempt to charm the guard(s) into allowing them to pass, before any other--more drastic--actions need be taken. On the way, Crayne stops in a small shop to buy some iron rations for the upcoming journey.

They approach the gate with a large crowd as it leaves the city for the outlying villages. Crayne quickly spots the guard and walks confidently toward him, Storm in his shadow. Guilliam, in the meantime, chuckles quietly to himself as he spawns an idea. He quickly rushes to a small pile of firewood stacked against the inside side of the city wall. They're not large logs, but rather tinder, smaller tigs and mid-size pieces meant for starting fires. With a quick look around, he snatches the pile, holding it in front of him with both arms.

Crayne reaches the main guard, pulling him aside. He begins to intone the words of his spell, and soon the guard is completely subservient to his instructions. Guilliam, in the meantime, walks happily over to Canter, who rises to greet his friends. Peering over his shoulder to make sure that the spell is taking effect, Guilliam then instructs Canter to place all the weapons in the middle of the pile, so that they will be covered by the logs and twigs. Between the charmed guard and the hidden weapons, they manage to retrieve Canter and their weapons without incident (much to Storm's disappointment!).

All return to the inn and tavern, where Edryd and Cy have ordered a good meal for the group. They sit down around the table in silence, all worn out after a long day of travel and their activities in the city.

It is evident that Guilliam feels the rush of excitement of being in a new inn with a new audience. But he suppresses his desire to perform in order to study more

with Crayne. At first, he thought that learning magic would be simple. However, he has learnt that even the smallest of mind excersizes takes a great deal of concentration and is quite tiring. Still, his first tastes of magic have excited him. So, he enthusiastically continues. And while he still jokes with Crayne and even teases him in front of the others, behind closed doors he treats the magician with a great deal of respect.

After dinner, each goes to his own room where he falls quickly to sleep, anticipating a full day with the next sunrise.

As the cock crows and the golden sun rises over the city of Merriam, Rinder's Six awake and make their way, along with their horses, to the Miner's Guild. There they find a small wagon, covered with a green canvas, and eleven men. It seems some of these men have not bathed in years--they smell of rock and mud. Most carry a small backpack or pick, and one stands holding the reigns to the small horse yoked to the wagon.

Biln looks up from his map as the party approaches through the morning mist. The street is far from crowded, but people are beginning to emerge from their houses or enter the city for the day's work. He smiles to Edryd, exposing a few missing teeth. "There be more of ya this time!"

"Yes, Biln, this is our friend Canter. He'll be joining us. He's especially good with a sword and with leatherwork. He won't be any trouble." Edryd smiles to Biln and Canter as he says this. Storm then clears his throat loudly, his way of suggesting that they begin the journey.

The large group moves out of the city as the morning haze begins to burn off. They leave through a different gate from the one through which the party entered (that one being the south gate, and this one being the west gate). The road is smooth and wide, being heavily travelled. Along the way they see plenty of peasants and artisan folk, a few soldiers on horseback, and even a couple of priests on their way toward the city.

As the morning wears on, the landscape begins to change, as the first peaks of the mountains can be seen in the distance. As the group stops for lunch, they begin to hear the familiar gallop of a fast horse approaching. Turning behind them, they see a figure approaching fast. He nearly speeds by the party before Cy calls out, "What ho! Greetings on this highway!"

The man yanks on the reigns, turning his mount hard around and slowing down by the party. "Good day to you, sir," he offers, his young voice betraying his age beneath his adult clothes.

"Where are you off to in such a hurry?" Guilliam asks politely.

"I carry news of the realm," the responds. "To be delivered to the Duke of Raimead at Parton and for his vassals."

"Let's have it, then," Edryd says, intrigued by the mention of the Duke.

"Are you a vassal of the Duke?" The messanger asks nicely.

"I am," Biln says gruffly, "and these men here are on a mission for the Knights of Rinder. I be sure you can tell to them folk. Out with it!"

"Well then," he says, swallowing and turning his horse in place, "there was a murder. A Knight was killed on the Caerloon border. Sir Logan. And he was investigating the murder of another officer on the line. With those two dead, the charge of the entire border fort line falls on Captain Sanford. There is fear on the line, of more killings, and I'm sent to Parton to inform the Duke, for his brother is on the line."

"You say Sanford is in charge?" Canter asks.

"I do, sir," he answers.

"I never liked him..." Canter mutters under his breath.

"Do they have any suspects?" Crayne asks.

"Some say the Knight's mage did it, though no one knows for sure. And I say never trust those magic-users! I bid you farewell, I mustn't stop." The boy then kicks his horse and rides off, kicking up a cloud of dust behind him.

The party, slightly in shock, continues moving northwest toward the mountains. By late afternoon, the group approaches a small town. As they enter the town, Storm seems to carry his head higher. "This be my corner o' the mountain," he says.

"You're from around here?" Guilliam asks him.

"Not this town, but one like it." Storm answers.

[Storm, I know you were interested in a suit of Dwarven armor. Perhaps while in town the party could stop for a few minutes while you look into it? Let me know...]

In a few minutes, the party passes through the town. As the sun sets behind the mountains, Biln approaches Edryd, saying "I be thinkin' we set camp soon fir the night. Tomorrow we be makin' it to the mountain."

Edryd looks to the others. As his gaze rests on Crayne and Guilliam, he can see that they don't have the constitution for much more travel today. He then nods to Biln. After a few minutes the party begins to slow, and a few of the miners begin to talk amongst themselves about setting up the fire and preparing some food. But Canter calls out to the party..."I see something, ahead. Do you see it? Like another campfire."

Following the direction in which Canter is pointing, Guilliam squints his eyes. "Yes, I see it," he says. "Let's check it out!"

"Not without me," Edryd says.

"I be goin', too!" Storm says as he hastens to join the group. Leaving the minders to set camp for the night, Rinder's Six approaches the small campfire, out amongst the trees. As they get closer, however, their pleasant little exploratory trip grows suddenly more grim:

They quietly step through the trees, trying to mask their sounds with those of the birds and the light night wind rustling through the leaves overhead. They soon approach a small clear area, and it is there that they spot them. Sitting around the campfire are seven hobgoblins, chomping on some meat they have evidently just cooked. Three more can be seen lying in the dirt near the fire. They are talking quietly amongst themselves. Cy turns to Edryd, whispering, "can you understand that?"

Edryd shakes his head, turning to Crayne as if to redirect the question. "Wish I could!" Crayne says.

"Do you think this could be one of those hobgoblin raiding parties the Stranger told us about?" Canter asks. For a moment nobody answers.

Guilliam then puts in, almost giddily, "We've been ambushed before, looks like tonight the tables are turned!"

Surveying the scene, Crayne can see that the hobgoblins carry an array of weapons. Some have short swords on the ground nearby, while others seem to have clubs or other small weapons.

Graham: What exactly is a "lightstone?" I've never encountered that term before? If you let me know what it is, I'm sure we can arrange Crayne to purchase one.

1. Each character spends 9 sp on food and lodging in Merriam overnight. In addition, Graham, Crayne's iron rations cost him 4 sp.

2. Each character gains an additional hp of rest for the night's sleep in Merriam, unless you're already at max.

3. WHAT WILL YOU DO UPON DISCOVERING THE HOBGOBLINS? You may be able to leave them and get back to the miners without incident. Though if these guys really are a raiding party preying on nearby villages, it would seem to confirm what the Stranger once said.....

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