Moonbeam - days 26 - 28

The group needed a few days to recover, particularly Chester. After resting and enjoying the facilities of the keep, the group went back to the caves. Bob and Rob were questioned, and they suggested that the party attack a couple of torturer's, as they had some prisoners that may be of some value.

Using the directions of their hobgoblin pals, they made their way into the caves further then they had before, proceeding both south and east. The groups battle plans were better implemented this time, and the two brutish torturers were dealt with rapidly, but not without a few more of the party were knocked unconscious.

They turned their attention on the prisoners. There was a nearly unconscious man, his wife, and two body guards who were overjoyed at being rescued. There was also a fierce gnoll, that made threatening noises, and an orc, who asked to be released, to exact revenge on the hobgoblins.

The party trusted the humans, but not the orc and they were afraid of the gnoll. The man turned out to be a merchant named Greg, with his wife Meg. They promised rewards upon being returned to the keep. Tug and Doug, their former guards, pledged loyalty to the group for a year as a reward for being rescued. After some consultation, the group decided to charm the orc and gnoll. This proved successful, and the orc was relased. He calls himself Oin. The gnoll's personality changed with the charm, and became friendly, although difficult to understand and speaking in a crazed, broken tongue, even for a gnoll. He calls himself Ruff.

Using their greatly expanded roster, they looted the bodies, giving out weapons and armor to their new allies. They then returned to the somewhat jaded response at the keep, and again were healed.