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[JediSoth]

A few days after the PCs arrived at Bramblevale Keep, they all met up in the local tavern, The Rusty Barnacle, to discuss rumors they'd been hearing. Marcus was the first to arrive, followed by Argen, Balken, and Alaric, while Andrea cased out the Jeweler's house trying to see how easy it would be to score some easy money. After deciding a daylight break-in would be too risky, she joined the rest of the PCs in the tavern.

Marcus heard from McGraw the Gate Guard that a trade caravan was late coming to the keep, and there were stories being told of humanoids in a valley to the east that were cooperating with each other in an unnatural way. Further, McGraw told him the Castellan would likely reward anyone who could investigate those humanoids and secure the road leading from the keep back to civilization.

While at the Rusty Barnacle, Markus the barkeep (not to be confused with Marcus the fighter) mentioned that he'd heard a merchant was being held captive in the caves in that valley, and was rich enough to handsomely reward anyone who'd rescue him.

That was all the incentive anyone needed. They gathered up their gear and headed out of the keep to seek out the valley. On their way out, Andrea thanked McGraw for all of his helped and lifted 17 GP from his money purse as he gave them some parting advice, "You young'uns be careful out there in the wild. I know you've heard stories about how great danger is accompanied by great treasure, but most people who go looking for it just find death."

The road leading northwest away from the keep was easy enough to follow. It wound between a forest to the north and a river to the south, eventually plunging into the trees. After an hour or so of walking, they saw some charred wreckage up ahead and moved to investigate. The forest floor to their left (north) fell away, and they surmised they'd reached the valley.

The wreckage was the charred remains of a wagon. Andrea went off into the woods by herself while the others searched the blackened wood. Alaric determined that the wagon was drawn by two horses, but whatever burned the wagon took the horses and their tack. Argen took an intact wheel from the wagon's wreckage while Andrea returned to report that she discovered a human head on a pike just off the road at the entrance to the valley and there there were three-clawed tracks leading from the road, past the head and down into the valley.

After the entire group checked out the head on the pike, they decended into the valley. While there were still trees, the foliage thinned enough for them to see the valley was littered with caves. Following the tracks, they entered on of the caves nearest the road.

The cave passage only penetrated a short distance before turning left and right. At the center of the intersection was a cleverly hidden pit, which Marcus discovered by falling in. A commotion to the left drew the party's attention while Marcus tried to climb out of the pit.

Several kobold set up a guard room behind some of the crates stolen from the trade wagon. As the party (sans Marcus) moved to investigate, they threw spears at the large dragon-man approaching them. The battle was joined! The group pushed forward into the room, engaging the diminutive beasts in hand-to-hand combat. Marcus eventually climbed out of the pit and joined the fray. One-by-one the kobolds fell to the blades, hammers, and eldritch blasts of the heroes. They spared one kobold for questioning. After regaining consciousness, he spit in the face of the dragonborn, Argon, but cowered when confronted by the angry, bloody halfing woman. He whined there were no more traps in their home and agreed to lead them deeper into the caves.

A quick search of the room turned out just a few coins and two crates of assorted linens, but not other exits. The group decided to search the other direction over the pit, encountering a kobold patrol returning from outside just as they were passing the pit again. Another brief combat ensued, the kobolds slinging gluepots at the halfling to immobilize her, though it only drew her wrath from a far. Those kobolds, too died, but not before four of their number fled back outside.

The party discussed their next move: pursue the fleeing kobolds, or investigate the right-hand passageway....