Clearing the Goblin Ambush

After surprising the goblin ambush in a coppiced hollow, the party dispatches six goblin minions and their lone warrior leader. The goblins' lair is a shallow scrape beneath a fallen log, cluttered with stolen road goods and scavenged equipment. Most of their valuables are small and practical: a common potion of healing the warrior kept sealed under his jerkin, a few semiprecious stones taken from earlier victims, and a mixed pouch of loose coin. The warrior's scimitar and shield are serviceable after some cleaning, while the minions' daggers and patchwork jerkin will outfit a hireling or fetch a modest price. Tucked beneath the warrior's shirt is a carved bone token, a gang mark that could be useful as evidence if the party returns it to a local village elder. The haul is modest but meaningful for a first-level party: a potion to patch wounds, a couple of gems to grease palms, and enough gear and coin to cover travel and basic needs until the next town.