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Message: <blockquote data-quote="pogre" data-source="post: 1124435" data-attributes="member: 6588">Episode 23The Better Part of Valor“Follow him,” Gjord yelled to Hilde.“What about your armor? What about the camp?” she asked frantically.“I will stay,” Gjord answered.“We shall stay until you have your armor on at least,” Inga replied. The barbarian/priestess began helping Gjord with his armor. Quarion began gathering the camp materials and Hilde wrung her hands, looking into the darkness. When Gjord’s armor was safely donned Inga slung her own armor over her shoulder and the group went off to trail the fighter. They caught up to him shortly in some sparse woods just outside the canyon.“They rode on. I think they must have gone back to Griffon Rock.” Gerhardt was rubbing his ribs and his voice was gravelly and strained.“Next time you retreat, you might wait for us to get our armor on,” Gjord suggested.Gerhardt looked up with defiant eyes, but calmed before he spoke. “My brother died staying in one place too long. I will not repeat his mistake.”Quarion interrupted, “What now?” He drew a line in the dirt. “Do we move forward to see if they returned to Griffon Rock or do we try to bed down here?”“We are still exposed here,” Gjord said.“Forward,” Hilde stated.The group worked their way to the edge of a clearing bordering the northern portion of the fortress. They could see that two hobgoblins were posted near the tunnel entrance they had been employing.“That glowing armor sure gives them away,” Gjord commented.“What about the dire badger hole?” Quarion asked.“I agree,” Gerhardt stated. “At least that would keep us moving.”“We need a place to rest,” Hilde added. “We will skirt the edge of Griffon Rock and Gjord will go forward to check the badger hole.”Gjord nodded and the group set-off into the darkness again.…..Gjord came back to the group and reported, “The entrance to the badger hole has been collapsed.”“Well, they certainly onto us,” Inga said.“Let’s go to the abandoned village below the road,” Hilde suggested. “Perhaps we can rest there.”The group struggled through the undergrowth finding their way to the formerly abandoned village.“Damn,” Quarion moaned.“What?” Gjord asked.“Look,” Quarion pointed at something moving through the ruins.<a href="http://www.compet-edge.com/story_hour_2/0814_hellhounds.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.compet-edge.com/story_hour_2/0814_hellhounds_th.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" /></a>The scouting pair made their way back to the rest of the group.“What’s wrong Gjord?” Hilde could immediately tell the ranger had seen something he did not like.“Hellhounds,” he replied.“They’ve got hellhounds?” Gerhardt asked incredulously.“Apparently,” Quarion confirmed. “We need to get downwind quickly.”The group skulked off a mile or two downwind of the village and found themselves in the lower wooded area. They quickly set up a cold camp and everyone slept, save Quarion.The morning brought blessings from the goddess Opheria and the clerics soon made the rest of the party whole again.“We cannot return to the circle now,” Hilde observed. “We have compromised its location. I hope Vostark will not be upset with us.”“Let’s take the map back,” Gerhardt suggested.Hilde turned to face the fighter, she said, “I’m surprised to hear you say that. I thought you did not want to leave under any circumstances?”“They have us on the run. We have lost our resting place and I just don’t like the odds.”“I agree,” Inga stated flatly. “Besides, we have done some good – the hobgoblins have been concerned about us and have not been able to harass the countryside.”“It’s decided then, let’s go home,” Hilde stated.…..Vostark and the elves intercepted the party later in the afternoon near the village of Feldar. Vostark gave his best wishes and reassured the group that Viziona would not interfere in Griffon Rock in the future. The group picked up the steeds and rode back to Norgate.The meeting with Lord Noble Helmall was something all of them were dreading.<a href="http://www.compet-edge.com/story_hour_2/0501_meeting_Helmall_elves.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.compet-edge.com/story_hour_2/0501_meeting_Helmall_elves_th.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" /></a>“So the ruins contain a dragon and some sort of immense stone golem?” Helmall asked in disbelief.“Yes, my lord. However, we feel these two creatures are unrelated to the efforts of the hobgoblins and are remnants of the activities of former, more powerful occupants,” Hilde reassured the noble.“And this map the Drow witch gave you?”“We can confirm it is mostly accurate and her numbers on the enemy seem good as well,” Hilde confirmed.“You did a good job scouting and obtaining this information,” Lord Helmall stated. “I will admit I am disappointed I have to call up the troops to quell this problem, but this information should help. I will have to call in a favor or two to get it done, but when I am finished with this campaign Griffon Rock will no longer threaten the Northern trade routes.”A servant dressed in the Lord Noble’s livery made his way into the chamber with a chest. The pay I promised is in the chest, please take it with my blessings.“Will you need us in your campaign to subdue Griffon Rock?” Gerhardt asked.“No,” Helmall answered. “You have done your job. The rest requires true soldiers.” There was no vanity or spite in Helmall’s voice, but it stung Gerhardt to his core.Hilde tapped his shoulder and whispered to him, “You live and you have a lot of coin, there will be another day to prove who is the worthy fighter.”Gerhardt pulled his shoulder away from the sister, “Ye’ got that right.”…..Griffon Rock had left a bad taste in everyone’s mouth, but they had stayed together in the Tabard Inn. Rest and recuperation had been good for the group and it gave them some solace to know Lord Helmall had to return to Norgate twice to regroup in his campaign against the hobgoblin bandits.One morning Hilde came back from the temple and announced to the group that she needed their help. “A friend of mine in the southern city has a problem. He owns an antiquities and rare book shop.  He has acquired a valuable, but dangerous tome. He wants me to come look at it and he needs protection.”“So what?” Gerhardt threw a piece of bone on the floor and continued eating a late breakfast.“He has offered a sizeable portion of the sale if we help him.”“Well,” Gerhardt smiled, “A friend in need – I always say.”“Since when?” Inga jabbed.“Since our friend offered coin,” Gerhardt answered.“Excellent,” Hilde clasped her hands in front of her dress. “I was confident you all would wish to come. I have already booked us tickets on the next White Stallion* heading south.”*White Stallion Coaching Line.</blockquote>

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