Elliot wakes up early and approaches the village elder. A man who has watched Elliot grow. He asks him if any of his peers would be able to join him in adventuring. The elder is able to find two willing to venture out with Elliot. He pays twenty bronze coins to them. When he heads back to the group he gives the bandit ten bronze coins to welcome him to the group.

With that, the gang leaves Taft early in the morning and heads back towards Bakers. They get maybe four hours into their trip when Elliot hears something being carried in the wind. (17 Perception vs DC 10)

Elliot and his company sneak up a hill to get a vantage point on whoever is talking loudly. (10 Stealth vs Perception 9)

There are two giant men with yellowish skin arguing down below. They have a pile of corpses. The bandits from the camp and a few commoners and hunters. They are arguing about how to cook and eat them.

Elliot asks Jeremiah what they are. He replies that they are half-ogres. Elliot decides to take out the pipe rifle to deal with them. He has Jayce and Bradford lead the two new commoners around the side of the hill while those with crossbows set up with Elliot.

He aims the pipe rifle and fires. (17 to hit vs AC 12) The bullet sails cleanly through the half-ogres forearm. (12 damage). Talia, Alice, and Mo fire their crossbows. (21, 20, and 18 to hit vs AC 12) All three bolts hit their mark. (20 damage) The bolts slam across the creature's chest. It stumbles back and hits the ground. It lies there motionless. The other Ogre is in shock as the four commoners charge and attack him. (12, 10, 12, and Natural 20 to hit vs AC 12) They hack and slash at the arms and legs of the half-ogre. (14 damage)

It yells out in pain and rage as it grabs a battle axe and swings it at the commoners. (11 to hit vs AC 12) Jayce narrowly avoids an axe blow. Talia, Alice, and Mo all fire their crossbows again. (13, 18, and 18 vs AC 12) The bolts riddle his body but don’t bring him down. (14 damage) Jayce strikes upward (12 to hit vs AC 12) and slashes open the creature’s belly. (3 damage) Catching it in a moment of weakness, he manages to cut it, and it falls to the ground as its innards spill out.

Jeremiah spends a moment pouring a small flask out on the pile of bodies before taking a light to them. The corpses go up in flames as he steps back and offers a prayer.

“Who do you pray to?” Elliot asks Jeremiah.

“I don’t know anymore.” Jeremiah says before turning away from him.

They head to Bakers and make it there with no problem around the mid-afternoon. Elliot heads to the market and sells the five spears (25 copper rings), two longswords (15 bronze coins), three shortswords (15 bronze coins), two leather armor sets (10 bronze coins), three chainmail sets (75 bronze coins), one ring mail suit (15 bronze coins), and two shields (10 bronze coins). He gets twenty-five copper rings and one hundred and forty bronze coins.

He meets with the merchant, Alex Praven, who says he has gathered all the necessary evidence. They will move out tomorrow and head for Fresno. Elliot agrees to this, but can not promise his full militia will come with him.

Elliot heads to the tavern where he informs the others that the merchant is asking for the militia to accompany him for the four-day trip to Fresno. He gives them all the opportunity to leave his service. Offering ten bronze coins at the end of the trip for every man still with him, plus an extra ten for every promotion they’ve received.

Bradford and Alice talk to each other in hushed tones. Bradford has mostly recovered from his injuries, but Alice is fearful for the day they meet their end. She wants to take what money they have and start a family. Together they have fifty bronze coins. If they budget their money that would pay for everything they need for a full year.

“If any of you have doubts, then you are free to leave,” Elliot says while looking toward Bradford and Alice.

“I don’t know if we can do this anymore,” Bradford says.

“You wanted to start a life together, right?” Elliot asks.

“Yeah, we did.” Alice answers.

“Did you imagine you wanted to stay in your village? Or the city of Bakers?” Elliot asks.

“I want to be a tailor.” Bradford answers.

“And I’m pretty good at dyeing whatever he makes,” Alice says smugly.

“Bakers is a good trade city, connected to the major route that leads south to Angels,” Elliot says. “You could make a living here. Of course, I would be remiss if I didn’t invest in your new business.”

“What?” Alice seems dumbfounded.

“You want to give us more money, to do what we want to do?” Bradford asks.

“Well, I will deliver some resources straight to you whenever I drop by. But I imagine that I could purchase a large building in town for you and your employees to operate out of.” Elliot says with a smile.

“Thank you so much, sir!” Bradford says.

“Don’t worry about it. I’m putting ten bronze coins on the tab. Celebrate!” Elliot says before he leaves his party.

Elliot puts ten bronze coins on the tab, true to his word, but uses two of those coins to purchase a private room. He dumps all his stuff in the room, in a secure spot, before locking the door as he leaves. He heads to Talia and gives her the key.

“Again?” Talia asks.

“Well, I am using it to keep my property secure.” Elliot shrugs.

Talia recoils with a look of surprise. Elliot feels his face grow flush.

“Not you! Just my money, guns, and armor. I didn’t mean you.” Elliot bows to her and clasps his hands together. “Please forgive me.”

“Alright, but only because it's you.” Talia says before she walks to the bar.

Elliot rises slowly wondering what subtext was in her words. He looks back at her and see’s she is ordering food at the bar. She is still wearing a coat wrapped tightly over her thin frame. She just has rags underneath. Elliot figures he should buy her clothes.

Elliot goes to bed in the bunkroom. He wraps his arms around his pillow as his pack is in the private room Talia is staying in. Before long he drifts off to sleep.

He wakes up to a man shaking him by gently rocking his shoulder.

“Hey, you, you always wake up early right?” The man asks.

Its thin framed man, short in stature, but with attractive features. He is wearing colorful clothes, a droopy hat, and has a lute slung over one shoulder. It's the bard from the bar.

“You were heading out to Fresno, right?” The bard asks.

“Yeah, hold on, let's walk and talk.” Elliot gets up and leaves the bunk room.

The bard follows Elliot outside, through the bar, and out onto the early morning streets of Bakers.

“I was heading to Fresno today,” Elliot says. “Were you looking to join?”

“Yes! He says, but only to check on my siblings. I’ve heard nasty rumors coming from that area. An unknown monster on the hunt, desperate bandits, and the lord becoming more and more corrupt.” The bard says.

“Alright, I can take you with me.” Elliot shrugs. “Do you know who I can purchase buildings from in town?”

“The Guild Master, Rowen Wells.” The bard answers. “The lord of Bakers has been away for months on our King’s holy conquest.”

“I heard.” Elliot says. “What was your name?”

“Lillyput.” The bard answers.

“Is that a girl's name?” Elliot scoffs.

“No, not really.” Lillyput shrugs.

“Alright, well then Lillyput, welcome to the team.” Elliot wraps an around his shoulder. “Let’s go see the Guild Master.”

Lillyput leads Elliot to the Guild Hall where Elliot meats the old and decrepit guild master. He asks if he has any buildings that would be for sale that could support a local tailoring business. The guild master obliges and shows him to a textile factory that was abandoned when another in town vastly outcompeted it. He’ll sell it for a thousand bronze coins.

Elliot attempts to convince him to sponsor the new business as Bakers has lost a lot of workers and business lately. He says the new industry will bring more people to Bakers. (14 Diplomacy vs 12 Appraisal)

The Guild Master admits there is some wiggle room and he could go lower. Elliot asks for seven hundred and fifty bronze coins. (20 Diplomacy vs 17 Appraisal) The Guild Master concedes and Elliot purchases the building. He gives him the five silver denars and two hundred fifty bronze coins.

On his way back he purchases a half-dress and breeches for Talia. It only costs him five copper rings.

Elliot heads back to the tavern with the bard. He first goes to Talia’s room and sets the clothes on the edge of the bed. She stirs from her sleep and blinks at Elliot.

“I bought these for you.” He says as he pats the clothes.

“Thank you.” Her left hand holds the blanket up to her chest as she sits up and grabs the clothes with her right hand.

“I’ll let you change.” Elliot turns and leaves.

He wakes up Bradford and Alice in the bunk room. Back in the bar, outside of the bunk room, he hands them the key to their new workshop. He tells them to make lots of money to support the local militia. The two are incredibly grateful.

Elliot gathers the other four commoners, the bandit, the bard, the antibaptist, the dryad, the two pixies, the merchant, and his brother. The merchant purchases a donkey, packs some supplies on it, and the whole group sets out towards Fresno.