| Session Date | December 08, 2018 |
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| Base XP Gained | Carry Over |
Having verified that the suspected brigand spies were still present at the inn, the party decided to call on some of the town notables. They began with the Temple of Maladominus. The Decian (chief temple priest) was Wolfrim and proved to be friendly and intelligent. The party made a donation of 7,000 copper pieces to the temple, which made the priest quite happy. (the party was offloading weight). Even before the donation he was chatty, though he had little in the way of information about brigands and other troubles. This visit was followed by one to the temple of Alondra. Field Mistress Aronna was clearly young and somewhat inexperienced, though she was friendly enough. When asked, she proudly told of her local vintages and poured some for the party, She promised to use the 7000 copper donated to her temple for the betterment of the town. Otherwise, she was quiet and unassuming. With both, the party made it clear they expected no favors in return.
The party had heard tell that a wizard lived in the town so they called on him next. His door as answered by a large man of foreign look, who was not the friendliest sort. He did, however, show them to his master, one Alarius. He was friendly enough for both he and his servant. He was a retired adventurer, he said, come to Grilbie six years past to find a quiet place to pursue his own studies. When asked if he would help defend the town in need, he loudly proclaimed he would use "all his power" to do so, and was most strident about it. He dropped a few hints about his exploits, but little concrete (the townsfolk had told the party that Alarius was a great man and a powerful wizard). Reagrding researches, Cadwallider asked if he had any magical ink, which he did and Cadwallider purchased for 200 silver. Iban then asked if he would attempt to procure more, which he agreed to, taking 1000 more silver from him and then another 1000 silver coins from Cadwallider, to boot. They were interested in him writing some scrolls - he was noncommittal but would consider it. As for the brigands, he knew little more than anyone else in the village.
As they left and examined the town layout, the party considered how it could be best defended, using the few stone structures (old imperial Keep, the dwarven wayhouse, and a few others) and the river to establish defensive areas and fields of fire. This done, they returned to the inn as the light was dying, noting that the two spies remained present. The party bought a few more rounds, to the merriment of the company, but it was less raucous than the previous night. Aldeberon, meanwhile, introduced himself to the town smithy and asked him various questions about forging weapons, which he said he did periodically.
The next morning, the party left the inn after breakfast to continue their rounds, starting with the Town Master. Perin Olward grew quickly suspicious at the party's questions about the town's defenses, militia, armories, and the like. He called them on this, but the party was able to convince him that they were no threat to the town and were not spies of the brigands. Still, he proved to be less than helpful. Using ESP on him, Iban noted that he was probably not that brilliant and truly believed there was no threat to the town (his attitude was the common one of "the Dwarves will protect us"). Still, Iban handed him a 100 gold coins to "improve the village's defenses." He took this as a bribe but was confused when Iban insisted he meant what he said.
The next stop was with the town's druidic leader. Forminus dwelt slightly apart in a humble house. He claimed to have a "small but growing" druidical sect. When asked, he said he would of course defend the town in need. But when the party asked what he knew of the Rangers, he momentarily betrayed a disdain for them, before dissembling and stating that he thought they were good folk and doubtless wished the town well. For 250 silver he agreed to use speak with animals to send out a bird to look for ruins holding Winfrith that might fit the description the dead brigand leader had provided the party using speak with dead.
Returning to the Inn of the Bountiful Harvest, the party noted that one of the spies was gone. Iban went to his room to use the crystal ball and found him asleep in their house, probably tired form his night time skulking. ZZ also took the opportunity to cast speak with dead on the brigand head once more. When asked, it told them that the ruins they sought were southeast of the swamp, at a distance of perhaps 10 leagues. The party then discussed plans for a time before rejoining the common room and passing the evening quietly. Later that evening, however, the Miller quietly informed them that a Ranger had arrived. Iban met him outside, sure to avoid prying eyes. He named himself Calidor, a Ranger of the Barrens. He was a friend of Winfrith and had been further north looking for him when he received the message. Winfrith had been tasked to spy out the activities of the brigands in the vicinity of the Waerun Fen but had disappeared. Iban told him of their interactions with him and how they'd learned he was taken prisoner. He also gave him instruction on how to enter the inn the next morning. The Ranger told him a little of their activities, lamenting that his folk were stretched very thin of late, between dealings with the Giant King to the north, the "Tyrant Queen of Wellington," and other undefined troubles to the south.
The next morning, as directed, Calidor made a grand entrance into the Inn and announced that the Elves and Dwarves would be sending a force to protect Grilbie within two weeks. This caused a good deal of confusion as no one seemed to know what they were being defended against. But, it did what the party wished, as one of the two spies slipped away and made his way quickly south. Iban followed invisibly, after being given the Goat of Travel by Cadwallider (he traded the crystal ball to him in exchange). A little while later, the remainder of the party slipped out with the Ranger and followed their tracks.
The spy made his way back down to the pinewood along the Paren River, where he turned aside and met up with a few brigands hiding there, who ferried him over in a hidden boat. Iban at this time began to fly and watched the proceedings. In the camp, a rider saddled up and rode off to the east with news, closely pursued by a flying Iban. He would go many miles east, eventually coming to an area of hills and a valley running from south to north, near the head of which they came to an old imperial keep, in partial ruins. The mounted brigand rode into it and Iban turned back to find the rest of the party.
Meanwhile, the returning spy ran into the party. As he turned to flee, the party shot him down with arrows and proceeded on. Cadwallider down slipped ahead invisibly. he soon found the two brigands on this side of the river and shot them down with magic missiles. As the others caught up, they found the hidden boat and crossed the Paren River, approaching the brigand camp by stealth. Cadwallider opened the attack with a fireball, as the rest of the party rushed into slaughter the brigands by surprise. The melee was short but bloody, though the party only suffered minor wounds before they wiped out the small camp.
The Ranger quickly found the tracks of the single horseman and the party followed until they encountered Iban coming down the other way. Reunited, the party decided to circle around the hills to the north and approach over them rather than up the valley. They would camp that night in a location determined safe by the Ranger and would make their approach to the Keep thereafter.