The rangers approach and gather around the party. The rangers inspect Orla, Enna, and Kiiv suspiciously and ask why we aren't under curfew. After expressing ignorance of any curfew orders, the rangers assert that all elves, dwaves, and gnomes were supposed to report for relocation. Gulden attempts to intimidate the rangers, who say they are part of the Order Corps, saying that he will take care of relocating the non-human members. The rangers (particularly Stroit) reject this and ask to inspect the party's papers and they are not convinced by Whipp's documents. The rangers take out manacles and approach Orla, Enna, Whipp, and Kiiv. Note that the leader, Stroit, has splint mail with two long swords and a heavy crossbow while the other rangers have hide armor and spears.
Kestyn protests and a ranger attempts to restrain him, provoking Kestyn to attack. Morro joins the fight and kills the ranger who tried to arrest Kestyn. Surprised at the effectiveness of his attack, Morro attacks the ranger closest to him and also kills him. Gulden then inflicts psychic damage on Stroit and incapacitates him. Kestyn raged and stabbled one of the rangers. Orla uses a fireball which kills everyone but Stroit. Whipp begins bludgeoning Stroit and then Kiiv finishes him off.
After looting the fallen rangers, the party acquires their uniforms, papers, and money (5 gold, 5 silver and 44 copper). After much discussion about their need to put distance between themselves and the bodies and their need for rest, the party opts to travel for a few hours and then rest. While traveling, the party will search for a boat that they could use to journey by water.
Eventually the party comes to an inn. Orla and Kiiv are invisible, Enna transforms into a mastiff, and Whipp wears a disguise in order to gain access to the three rooms the party rents. Gulden and Kestyn dine downstairs to perform reconnaisance but the place is pretty quiet. The rest of the party shares Morro and Whipp's meals upstairs as well as some bread that Kestyn brings up after his meal.
The party falls asleep only to be awoken by dinner service. Chaos ensues but the party manages to secure food in their rooms without being completely found out. Gulden and Kestyn decide to eat downstairs and there is a much larger crowd than at lunch.
The party manages to complete a long rest and loses a level of exhaustion. Gulden goes downstairs for dinner and talks to some customers about some professors who are on trial for causing the famine on behalf of the elves. The talk is that the professors were arrested five days ago and are being held in Barhold.
The second long rest is complete and the party is no longer exhausted. As the party exits the hotel, Kiiv makes an unfortunate amount of noise. The innkeeper asks the party to go back upstairs so he can talk to them. Orla and Kiiv sneak out the door that Whipp opens and the rest of the party goes upstairs. Gulden manages to sell the original story and the innkeeper sends the party on their way (Kestyn has two less gold that he donated to the innkeeper).
As the party walks towards Middleton, Kestyn and Gulden discuss how many times the "hide half the party" gambit can be successfully employed. Gulden feels the party has been successful thus far while Kestyn fears their luck is running out.
The party finds an inn and Kiiv opts to spend the night in the stable under the tarp. The rest of the party stays in the hotel (Enna transforms into a mouse, Orla is invisible on entry). Some drunk bar patrons ask Kestyn to join them and is quickly drunk himself. Fortunately before things get out of hand, the patrons depart and Kestyn stumbles up the stairs.
The party departs the inn after breakfast and quickly encounters a number of soldiers in the road. The soldiers pass the party without paying much attention to the more questionable members. After a bit, the party approaches the Middleton gates and it is decided that Gulden will enter the city by himself while the rest of the party stays at an inn outside the gates.
Gulden enters the city without incident using his forged papers and wearing the military uniform. He locates the university and flags down a passing professor. The professor denies Scriggs being on the faculty and brings Gulden to his office to warn him from asking publicly about Scriggs. Gulden admits that he's not in the military and says that he doesn't believe Scriggs is guilty of causing the famine since he was working with Scriggs to try to figure out the cause of the famine. The professor seems to agree that the charges were trumped up but tells Gulden that the entire botany department along with Scriggs was arrested and taken to Barhold. Gulden infers (and the professor verifies) that Scriggs was unable to plant any seeds before the arrest.
Gulden goes to the house where Scriggs was staying while he was in town since the professor gave him the address. The door opens a crack and a woman tells Gulden to go away. Gulden disguises himself to look like the guard at the city gate and knocks again, announcing "Order Corp, I have orders to search the property." The woman lets him in and sits sniffling that she doesn't know anything about anything. Gulden asks to be shown to the room that the guest was staying in and she points him toward the room. Gulden searches the room but is unable to find anything. Gulden asks the woman about any seeds Scriggs was carrying and she denies any knowledge. Gulden reluctantly takes his leave and sheds his disguise, donning the military uniform once again.
Gulden heads back to the inn and explains his day to the rest of the party. After discussing matters, the party decides to stay the night in the inn and head towards Barhold in the morning.
Note: need papers for Orla
Respecfully submitted,
Orla
Party Experience Before Session: 220,345XP
Experience Earned:
Party Experience After Session: 225,582XP
Needed For Level 8: 7 * 34,000XP = 238,000XP