Lost and Found

Friday, May 10, 2019 AD

Sicadies, Araunum 37, 2204 DE

Having their rest interrupted the night before, the party broke camp an hour later than usual to allow the spellcasters sufficient rest and study time before setting off southeastward. By afternoon they reached the edge of the forest and began following the edge between the forest and plains southwest. They made camp that night a few hundred yards into the wood to help screen their campfire from any passers-by and after an uneventful night, they traveled all day to the southwest finding no sign of civilization, nor any familiar terrain.

On this same day, Araunum 38, the town of Kuldhek found itself defending against an attacking force of some 80 goblins, 6’ tall with red-orange skin and blue noses. They were armed with well made and maintained longswords and armored in brigandine of black leather and carrying shields. Over their armor they wore bright red tabards with an image of skull with its top smashed off in a mustard yellow. Kuldhek’s guard force of 20, including the captain, lieutenant, and two sergeants, half mounted, and with the baron taking the field with them, though not engaging, routed the monsters before the militia could muster, killing a dozen and wounding another dozen, four of which were taken prisoner, without losing a single man.

The enemy force regrouped and launched a second attack in the dark that night, however, and this time, although they were eventually defeated by the combined efforts of the guard and militia, several of the guard and militia were killed.

Able to tell direction, but not location, the party turned east the next day, slowly getting further from the forest and late in the day spotted the columns of smoke that meant habitation of some sort. They decided to press on for possible civilization rather than camp here. It was after sunset by the time they were amongst farms in the gentle rolling hills of the plain they had been traversing. Hoping at first to find an inn they came to realize this was not so much a town as a few farms sited somewhat near each other. The first farm they came upon was unfriendly and grumpy about their calling at the late hour, but the second was owned by an older couple who were happy to take them in and even had two spare beds and food to offer. The older couple refused any payment, although Sybel surreptitiously left them 3 gold crowns, and directed them that Kuldhek was less than a day’s travel due north from the farm.

The party arrived back at Kuldhek that evening, Araunum 40, and subsequently heard about the goblin attack they had suffered. Allard had joined in the fight among the militia and was not wounded. Brent’s disposition, however, could not be ascertained.

The party considered plans to repair and provision their home and whether and when to return to the abandoned village.