Bob heads out to face the world!

 The bell tolled. Bob's heart jumped! This was it!! What a slow week that had been. Bob headed down to the barracks. He stripped off his uniform. The other guards wished him luck with pats on the back and small gifts. They all agreed to meet in the tavern for send off drinks. Bob loved the attention he felt like a true hero already. After a beer filled night in the tavern Bob headed home.... well staggered home.

Light pierced Bob's eyes, his head pounded and the insect walking along his head board was wearing steel armoured boots. He swatted away the insect mammoth and rolled out of his bed. Urrgh he felt so ill, he walked over to a bucket and splashed water over his face. The cold water hitting his face helped wash away some of the hangover foggyness.  He found some bread, cheese and water for breakfast. After his repast he felt some what better, he turned and saw against his bed his new adventuring equipment. Right let's do this Bob thought!!

He donned his armour, the weight of it felt just right and he felt like a true adventurer! He checked his adventure pack, making sure he had water and food. There were other things in there but some of the items he couldn't lie he had no idea what they did but didn't want to tell the  shop keeper that. The pack went onto his back and he strapped his sword to his waist. He picked up his shield and looked down at himself. He thought he looked very dashing. Now where to start the adventure? Now he knew he had grand adventuring plans but he also  knew you had to start smaller. So town notice board first port of call! Bob headed out of his little cottage. Freadric his elderly next door neighbour was out tending her vegetable patch he nodded to her as he tried to stride out of his garden as confidently as possible. "where you off to all dressed up Bob?" she asked

"I'm an adventurer now Freadric!" Bob said enthusiastically. The old lady nodded " my Frank used to be an adventurer till he took an arrow to the knee. That put paid to his adventures. You keep your knees safe you hear me Bob?" she said matter of factly. Bob stammered out a reply "erm... Right.... yes will do. Where's Frank now maybe he can pass on some advice one wise adventurer to another?" Now Bob wasn't the best neighbour but he thought he would have remembered seeing a man living with Freadric. "Oh bless you, No Frank was eaten by a Gnome war party after being unable to run away what with the arrow in his knee and all that"

*oh.... Erm.... OK.... Sorry for your loss " Bob stumbled out. He quickly walked away, Freadic cackled and went back to gardening.

Bob composed himself, ridding himself of the icy fear that he may be eaten by a Gnome war party took longer than he wanted but he managed to convince himself that it wouldn't happen to him. He walked through the town, he noticed people staring at him. Yes now he truly looked like an adventurer! He walked confidently up to the town notice board, an oak board standing about 6 ft tall with several parchments nailed to it some had already been ripped off leaving just a small bit of parchment hanging on a nail. Bob studied the notes intently. Now he didn't want to go to big to start build up small. Orc war party? No to big and scary.... Giant spiders..... Nope... A goblin highway bandit now that looks promising! He studied the parchment.

To whom ever captures or kills the great Goblin highway bandit Gribo. Who is responsible for several robberies on traveller's passing by our town I will grant the prizely sum of 100 Gold pieces alive or 50 gold pieces dead. Last seen to the east of the road out of town by the standing stones 

Signed your faithful mayor.

Ha! Bob thought this is the one. He pulled it from the board and stuffed it in his pocket. He checked his back pack and re - adjusted the grip on his shield and he left the town on his first adventure!

The air felt some how crisper! Bob sucked in a great lungful of air..... Then almost choked on a fly he accidently swallowed.  He felt good, like he was born to do this, damn the nay sayers what do they know. He would become a great hero just like Ragnum, Ianthe, Azorak and Downhead. He passed a few merchants on the road out of town, none of them look to troubled though so maybe the bandit goblin was not around. He turned up the track heading towards the standing stones. He did start to notice less travellers on this road so he started scanning the sides of the road. The morning sun cut bright across the sky warming Bob just nicely. He didn't want to be to hot, a sweaty hero just would not do! As he strolled along his ears caught sounds of the wind. The clink of metal on metal and shouts. He froze is this it?.... He suddenly became not so sure of his plan. hero's don't freeze! he shouted  which startled a nearby bird sat happily on a branch enjoying the morning sun.  Bob started running towards the sounds. As he got closer the sounds became louder definatly a fight of some kind. He followed the road round and came across a merchant wagon surrounded by 6 goblins  . A small man was on the wagon waving a spear at the goblins to keep them at bay. "Back spawn of evil. You will not have my cauliflowers!" the man yelled.. The goblins cackled with laughter. Bob noticed one behind the man drawing an arrow in a small bow and aiming at the man.  Not on Bob's watch he thought. He sprinted towards the goblin who turned in surprise and let go of the arrow which flew straight at Bob. He flicked his shield  up almost instinctively deflecting the arrow, it was at this moment he realised he hadn't drawn his sword...... Damn it Bob he thought. He slammed Into the goblin with his shield sending the green creature sprawling to the floor. Bob drew his sword and swung at a bemused looking goblin who had just noticed Bob. His sword cut deep into the goblin spraying dark blood into the morning light. Ka ha!!! Bob thought as he swung again at another goblin. This goblin managed to raise his short sword and parry Bob's sword knocking it aside. An evil grim spread across the goblins mouth but Bob wasn't some brand new adventurer he had at least been a city guard which means he had learned a few tricks. He lashed out with his foot and kicked the goblin hard  in the chest. The goblin crumpled in pain buying Bob a few seconds to get his sword back up. The other goblins started to circle round him. Bob stabbed the goblin on the floor,
"A ha  take that spawn of evi!l!!" the man shouted from the wagon laughing he suddenly tripped on something and fell into the wagon. Thankfully for him all the goblins were after Bob now.
Bob swung his sword at an incoming spear knocking it aside, he plunged his blade into the opening left and killed another goblin. As he wrenched his sword out he felt a sharp pain in his sides goblin clutching a dagger had stabbed him!!! A burst of adrenaline hit Bob and he knocked the goblin aside with his shield. He managed to get his sword up to block another blow. A mix of terror and adrenaline were fueling Bob now!! He'd only known this feeling once before when he helped defend the walls Of Shireheath and he loved it. A spear cut across his forearm, he grimaced with pain and hacked at the spear owner drawing a squeal of pain and the spear clattered to the floor. The last 3 goblins started to back off from Bob nervously looking for a potential way to run. Bob took a few seconds to get his breath back, his side had gone down to a dull ache. He hoped that ment it was OK and he wasn't going to die. His fore arm hurt.... A lot! He could see blood soaking through his sleeve. He needed to finish this quick he thought. What would Ragnum do? Bob knew........ He shouted  a war cry "Prepare to die!!" and ran at the goblins swinging his sword. The goblins turned tail and fled the into the woods. Bob stopped, the area had suddenly gone quiet, just the birds and insects could be heard. Bob surveyed the area, 3 dead goblins lay around him. He had done it!!!  His first battle!  He moved to check on the farmer in the cart. The man was rubbing his head and slowly getting to his feets "Thank you stranger I thought I was done for. Where did you come from?" Bob still full of adrenaline smiled "I've just started adventuring. Left Shireheath not a few hours ago." the man looked startled then smiled broadly. "Well lucky me to meet you on your journey beginnings!" He rummaged in his pockets and tossed Bob 2 gold pieces. "Thank you kindly young sir. I'll be on my way" Bob caught the coins excitedly. His first reward!! He tucked them away in a pocket. "Now don't forget to check those goblins, that's where the real adventuring money is made oh and be a mate drag them off the side of the road as well." the farmer climbed up onto his cart and  with a crack of his whip the 2 large oxen started walking. The farmer waved as he drove past. The adrenaline subsided and now the pain kicked in. Oooowwww Bob yelped man his arm and side hurt. His forearm was still bleeding, he went to his pack and pulled out a bandage. Thank god he had an adventuring kit. He wrapped the long cut tight, thankfully the cut wasn't to deep and the bandage should sort it. Now he peered at his side. His armour seemed to have held, he couldn't see any holes or blood stains. Phew Bob thought. He remembered what the farmer had said and went over to the goblin bodies. They were short ugly green creatures who stank, they usually stank but now with them being dead and all  they really did stink. They didn't really have pockets to go through as they wore a small loin cloth, one had  a small leather jerkin on as well but each had a small brown bag slung across their body.  Bob rifled through the 3 bags amongst the random bits  of stones and dirt he found a small red stone. It looked like a Ruby. Excellent Bob thought! It wasn't huge by any standard and probably only worth  20 to 30 gold but you gotta start some where right? Bob thought to himself. He also managed to find a couple of gold pieces. He pocketed the finds and pulled the jerkin off the goblin. It was in reasonable condition apart from the one sword hole he had made. Someone was bound to want it. Next up was the weapons. All were quite old and rusty but one dagger seemed promising so he tucked it into his boot. He dragged the bodies to the side of the road. No one mentioned this bit  of adventuring Bob thought. Least it was just goblins they weren't so heavy. Once the goblins were dragged to the side of the road. Bob stuffed the jerkin into his backpack and headed further up the track in the direction of the standing stones.  After about 10 minutes of walking Bob came to the standing stones. No sign of the goblin bandit Gribo yet. He stood in the centre of the stones hands on hips, well now what? Look for clues Bob thought. Yes great idea. Bob started to look around the area. The stones had been there for centuries possibly longer and the grass around them was kept short by the amount of people that frequented the area. Though it had started grow longer as people stopped coming because of the goblin bandits. He noticed a large trodden path in the longer grass heading off into the woods. Excellent tracking skills Bob he told himself. He followed the path , the trees started to close in on the path making Bob feel nervous as the branches like arms reaching out got closer blocking out a lot of the days sunlight. His eyes darted left and right looking for movement in the trees expecting an arrow to come flying out at him. Ahead the trees started to open up again and a cave entrance could be seen. Bob halted and tried to work out a plan. He had no idea of how many goblins were in that cave so probably shouldn't go rushing in. Maybe hide in the woods and see who comes out? Yes that seemed a decent idea