The journey thus far.

I had arrived at the keep on the boarderlands two days past, bone tired, dirty, and weary from the long journey. My travelling companions, a paladin named Adokul of mixed heritage like myself, an odd and somewhat manic woman bordering on deranged, who goes by the name of and keeps her features hidden, and an woman of wood elf descent, by name, were challenged upon arrival at the gates by ever alert and ready guards and made to state our man names and business prior to gaining entry.
 
Once inside the gate proper we were instructed to keep our weapons properly secured and stowed and to keep out of trouble or face the consequences. We also learned that region has be plagued by bandits and gangs of humanoid like orcs and goblins that have been waylaying travellers and caravans, robbing, capturing, or outright killing the unfortunate people in the process. For their crimes the castellan of the keep has instituted a bounty of 1 gp per bandit and humanoid head or other proof of defeat in order to bring them to justice. It is clear that my decision to come here was the right one as my services are dearly needed.
 
We also managed to to find two shops, the provisioners, and the traders that can sell us any needed gear and supplies we may need.
 
We also secured lodging at the Traveller's Inn which is adjacent to the tavern, The Stretched Goat, of which a fine meal can be had, served by the lovely Kira, a barmaid in the employ of the proprietor, Bumbo.
 
After a night's rest and a bath, my companions and I headed outside the keep and patrolled the road to the northeast and encountered naught but a trail, which lead into the woods on the slopes of a large hill rising to the northwest. Following the trail brought us to a ravine lined with caves along the slopes. We chose one cave along the bottom of the ravine, near the mouth, for our initial foray and while approaching the entrance, I noticed eight kobolds in a tree that were attempting an ambush.
 
Luckily for us we got the drop on them and attacked them instead. At one point during the battle, the deranged woman set the tree alight, and the rest of us dispatched the would be ambushers. The odd woman took a blow to the head, which I am sure did nothing to make her life any easier, but it was a minor one.
 
After defeating our foes we then entered the cave, proceeded 20 or so feet, and the elven lady sprung a pit trap, and narrowly avoided falling in. Unfortunately the sound of the trap drew the attention of a group of kobold guards who quickly attacked us. Sadly they were less of a problem than the pack of giant rats that attacked us from the left flank and layed me low. Thankfully one of my companions had the wherewithal to administer a healing potion to me and I was back in the fight only to be quickly, and severely wounded once more.
Fortune smiled on us again as we were able to defend ourselves against the kobolds and the rats but two kobolds managed to get away, presumably to summon reinforcements, so we decided to let discretion be the better part of valour and we fell back to gather our strength.
 
We decided to go back to the keep for rest and recuperation and while travelling the road southwest we spotted a band of ruffians and other surly individuals that could only have been the bandits we had been warned about. We quickly hid in the woods in order to avoid their notice. The remaining journey back was uneventful and we succeeded in claiming our bounty for the 12 dead kobolds.
 
I have to hand it to the odd woman, as she was able to haggle with the I keeper and secure us half price rooms on an extended stay basis.
 
Hopefully our next forays will be as productive.