Bobs the Bard's Grand Adventure
Chapter 7
As the victorious peoples searched for treasure from amongst the defeated enemy bodies (and made really sure they were extremely dead) a gathering of the people's leaders was called at the command post.
Congratulation's my good friend's. Sir Jeepea stated, the enemy has fallen before us with minimal loss to ourselves. This day has truly been a victory for the sagas. The news of Sir Bruce is that he will live but may not recover the full use of his leg. He still maintains it was safer here than at home with the misses. This brought a round of laughter and a toast to his health and his mate's litter of young. Bob's healing berries and elder Hamay's holy healing spells have saved many lives this day and Bob's leadership had brought us good fortune.
Bob replied that he merely spread the lessons he learned from leaders far greater than himself.
Another spoke up. Not to sour the mood but don't count this war as over yet. There is another's claw behind all of this, pulling the strings that wielded the enemy army from some lair.
A raven spoke up. We know not what this master may be but we think we may know where it is. This all started in the northern moors. The enemy first was reported in that region and that is where we must first look for their master.
The raven continued. The only known place that comes to mind is the North Moor Keep, the ancient home of the lost warden clan and a few nearby abandoned villages. Those wardens were a brave clan of mice and their allies who kept the north lands free of dangers. They slowly died off but the last of them brought an ancient relic they had kept there. More specifically Sir Bob, they brought the hero's tabard you now wear.
Another spoke up. One other ancient relic is also said to have been hidden and left behind there. We must mount an expedition to reach the castle before they learn of the defeat and reorganize. But we must be fast and move silently,
So we will take only our best knights on the fastest mounts to cut down the enemy quickly on move on. Twenty champions from different species joined the quest. Sir Bob the hero, several mice naturally skilled to rival master burglar's, ferrets equal to any ranger, Sir Jeepea and another rabbit paladin, a vole healer, a raven, Oxley an owl and finally Arnold the angry armadillo porter (who has two enchanted half coconuts that gave him a speed boost). With that the meeting broke up with this new fellowship of questers to secretly set out at midnight.
Bob entertained the peoples merry crowds until the appointed time then begged off for a night's sleep. Actually Bob secretly met up with the questing group then they made their way along the main trail to the north that eventually led towards north moor castle.
As they traveled through the night they heard around them the sounds of the owls dispatching enemy survivors. A few times they came upon some enemies on the dim trail but these were unprepared for the people's champion's sudden assaults. On just two occasions did they came upon somewhat better prepared enemy groups but the sight of the charging armadillo smashing through the enemy and knocking them down like bowling pins soon brought those threats to an end (and inspiring Bob's song "Bowling an Armadillo").
The next morning Bob provided the questing party his magic berries that invigorated the party and their mounts for the long journey ahead. They had covered themselves in rags and plain cloth to hide their appearance from afar before they pushed on through the day. Their raven companion covered itself in dirt to dull their colour before taking to the air to scout the way while Oxley the owl lay down and dozed amidst the armadillo's load of supplies in a good imitation of a successful hunt. Still the party had to ambush three small bandit bands that day while Bob's flute enchanted a large group of rats that they quickly slaughtered.
On the third day all they met was a very lost shrubbery salesperson (a nice but chatty vole that they gave directions to). Bob got a good deal on three lovely little planters containing mistletoe, holly and a bush of tiny berries.
On the fourth day they approached the area of the warden clan keep and the ferrets ventured out in small teams to scout the trail and the castle surroundings while the raven kept watch from high above. They found a lot of week old signs made by the foes war bands but there were no recent signs which they reported back to the champions.
The raven reported that the old keep was definitely occupied and its walls were patrolled by their foes. Whether it is just a staging base or the leader's lair we will not know until we capture it.