18 Meloragift, 4520: Arriving in Oxenhalt

18 Meloragift, 4520: Arriving in Oxenhalt
 
We agree to follow the goblin tracks for another day. Shortly after lunch we come to a small, well-worn East-West road. Pretty sure we have come to Dunklgrun, in Middenwold - the next electorate over from us in Westmarch. We arrive in a village (Oxenhalt) as mounted hobgoblins are attacking. We get inside and meet Kuskin, and Elanil. Arkomir and I team up with Kuskin and Elanil to try to rescue Jana and Karth. Jacob, another villager, has died in the attack. Elanil is killed during the rescue.
 
The villagers say that the hobgoblins attacked Belhaim recently, and the last rider to go out that way didn’t come back. On one of the hobgoblin bodies we find a rough map on a scrap of hide - a line through 3 circles, with the centre circle being bigger than the other two. We think this represents the three settlements here - Oxenhalt, Belhaim, Dunklgrun East. There is an x with arrows pointing past the leftmost and the centre one - South towards The Green Swathe, and West towards Confluence. No T sigils, but Karth has seen one on a goblin he found impaled in the woods. No local elves here, so not sure who killed it.
 
In the village, we meet Iago Whitfoot (old halfling). We go past a statue of Bella and Glade - founders of Dunklgrun - in the village square, head to the multi-denominational temple. The young (human) priestess is Essa (Esobel) Chantry, priestess of Melora. She cannot save Elanil, but has suspended her death for 10 days. Kuskin, her partner, is watching over her at the temple. Maybe we can find a more experienced healer and bring them here to help. We would probably also need a good quality diamond. We decide to try Belhaim first. Buy horses from Arthbert Ludstone, son of Hammish.