Now just a miserable bundle in the prison corner, Belig does not respond to Magdalena's warnings, although she does not doubt he has heard her.
While eating, Squire Jern listens intently to the heroes' recounting of what transpired in the depot - except, of course, for the secret mission regarding the House of the Circlet.
"Lucky you found the goblins' hideout," he says with only a hint of suspicion in his voice. He does not elaborate, however; instead, he asks for directions should the muckdwellers ever need the village's aid. Obviously the squire is unsure about small reptilian creatures living nearby, but there is no denying their willingness to help the heroes out. And it seems they had been living here for years without any villagers running afoul of them!
"I wish I could offer more than this cold food and whatever's on the cart," explains Jern,
"But the village has little wealth in a monetary sense. I am sure, however, that the baron will compensate you for your heroic deeds."
Looking at the body of fallen Thadius, he continues,
"I will prepare the body for the trip back to the Baron, so it doesn't smell too bad. I imagine Baron Wildhurst wants to deliver him to his family personally."
With that, the squire leaves the others to their food, and after a few hours of rest the heroes emerge from the mansion, he is waiting beside the wagon that until recently carried the tribute to the goblins. Now a neatly wrapped body lies in it, with Thadius' personal effects next to it, and some rations for the trip. After handing Gorir a letter in which the squire confirms the heroes have delivered the goblin Belig, Jern sends the party on their way.
*
The return journey to the baron is uneventful, and after less than a day the heroes arrive at Wildhurst Palace. Baron Joaquim Wildhurst rushes up to them as soon as he knows they have arrived, and the first thing he sees is the body of Thadius. Although he attempts to appear untouched by what to onlookers must be simply hired mercenaries, the tremble in his voice tells a different story.
Inviting the party in, the baron quickly arranges for the servants to serve a grand meal so that he can discuss the heroes' findings without delay.
"I have sent a messenger to Thadius' family," the baron says when all servants have left the room except for his bodyguard Jonah.
"I am sure they will arrange a fitting ceremony for his heroic end. Now, tell me everything!"
OOC:
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You can RP this if you want, or I will do so in a later post. In either case, the baron is intrigued, asks a lot of questions, and thanks you extensively for your work. He will award you 400 gp each (in addition to what you may have found, or the monetary equivalent of those items) and will start looking into the yuan-ti and their schemes.
Later I will summarize all the XP and loot, and add them to the beginning of the thread.
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