Bandits & Bounties

The companions head east down the flats but are accosted by bandits. A good night's sleep. A view of the Old Raven Tower piques their interest. Once a trail is located, they return to Dyramar Keep to prepare for a new expedition: Old Raven Tower.

Making good time, the companions hurried across the flats towards the east. It was a few hours later that they were alerted to a growing dust cloud on the horizon. Seeing it for what it was, an approaching group on mounts, the companions dropped packs and drew weapons to ready themselves. There was no cover on the flats and no chance of out-running them either.
  Over a dozen dirty and hard-faced mounted men pulled to a stop as they came within a few hundred yards of the companions. Geller set his arrow to string and the others breathed evenly to calm their racing hearts. From the center, a dark-haired man edged his horse forward and hailed the companions. Name of Aghon the Brigand , he introduced himself, and continued to move his mount closer as his words took on a more sinister turn. It became quite clear that these were brigands and the companions had little chance of escaping without shedding coin or blood.
  The brigand made it clear that they were trespassing on his ‘highway’ and that they had been watched since hitting the flats. A tower, Aghon boasted, we see everything. After that, things went downhill as Prospit Trima , for once, was argumentative and impolite to the bandit leader. It did not take long to see Aghon growing more angry. That was enough for Geller who started it all by loosing his arrow. His eye was good and the arrow slammed into Aghon’s arm but merely caused him to spur his horse and charge at the companions. He was followed closely by a pair of his merry band.
  Corthaine’s hands began to incandesce with a blue light as the others readied themselves as well. The whirring of Rhys' sling did not drown out the hiss of the arcane bolt unleashed by Corthaine. It whirled through the air with unerring accuracy and slammed into Aghon’s wounded arm. The brigand leader slumped but continued to charge forward as the horse’s momentum was too great.
  The glorious but brief charge of Aghon ended with him sprawled at the feet of the companions as his horse trampled nearby. The horse was dropped with a hard fist to the jaw and Aghon’s brainpan joined the horse on the ground. One of Aghon’s bodyguards made it to range but lasted no longer and joined his fearless leader in the dust. With a cold smile, the companions watched as the remaining brigands turned tail and ran as fast as their horses could take them.
  There was a quick looting and the companions continued their trek to the east. This time accompanied by two horses and their former owners tack and coin. As they traveled, they observed an old tower set high in the hills overlooking them. They spent a few hours approaching it and Geller located a trail that led up to the tower. For various reasons, they decided to explore the ruined tower another day. Hitching their packs, the companions set a course for Dyramar Keep .
  Arriving at Dyramar Keep , they quickly disposed of the horses and tack. In addition, they learned of the King of Stone , a figure of some concern and threat to the far east, and of the 1,000sp reward for information regarding his location. Corthaine and Rhys wander the market and find that Gilda Traih and Alquin of were no longer at the keep. They penned messages for them inciting each to future business.