The man listens to Zofren speak, and responds with a curt nod. "Thank you. I must apologize as well. I do not often lose my temper, but the troubles that have befallen us have set my nerves on edge." He then walks over and joins them at their table.
As the well-dressed man seats himself, the old woman behind the bar starts filling mugs with beer and places them on the serving board. A young girl in her teens takes them over to the table and hands them out, serving the man first. "Thank you Lina." He says as she moves around the table.
He takes a long pull from his beer and then speaks. "I'm Councilman Baur, the leader of Kleine. The folk around you are the people of Kleine, or what's left of us." He pauses for a moment, his eyes watching some scene that none else can see. Baur shakes his head and continues. "A few weeks ago some goblins were spotted around Master Brown's farm. They didn't attack, and he drove them off. They came back though, and not just to his farm, but nearly every farm we have. They didn't attack anyone, or steal anything. They would just sneak around, as if looking for something."
Stopping for another drink, he pulls a handkerchief from a pocket to wipe the foam from his mouth. After folding and replacing it, he keeps speaking. "After nearly 2 tendays of sightings every day, they stopped. For 3 days no one saw or heard of any goblins. Everyone was relieved, thinking they had moved on somewhere to find easier prey." Baur lowers his voice, barely speaking above a whisper. "But they came back again, this time with crueler intentions. They attacked Brown's farmhouse, but his daughter managed to escape and run to town. She woke the whole town and spoke of dozens of goblins, and we armed ourselves and rode towards her farm."
"When we arrived the house was on fire, and the goblins had the Browns....displayed in the yard. They were dancing around them and chanting when we rode in and broke them up. We fought." Baur stops and glares at Polmor for a moment. "Yes, us cowardly villagers fought off about 2 dozen goblins." He looks away again, the anger gone from his voice. "But we took heavy loses. Friends and family that were dear to us, now lie resting."
Baur sighs as he finishes his beer and motions to Lina for a refill. "When we returned to town we found that the attack had been nothing but a diversion. The goblins, or someone working with them, had ransacked the empty houses here and stolen whatever they thought was worthwhile. Jewelry that been with families for generations, art that had no value except to those who owned it. They even stole our scepter of truth, a magical rod that we use when there are disputes between the townsfolk and we need to discern what happened."
Lina comes back with a pitcher, refilling Baurs and the other empty mugs. "We think that they are camped out at Ravens Keep, an old and ruined hidden refuge of a master thief that lived many years before this town was even built." He raises an eyebrow and smirks. "That would be about 70 years ago, though none have seen or heard from him in all Kleines history."
Tired from the telling, Baur rises and stands by the nearby fireplace, leaning against the mantle. He watches the flames for a moment then turns to regard the party. "We don't have much to offer you, but if you deem to help us, then whatever reward we can muster will be yours."
