So via my DM… (I’m Aurora, my brother Bjorn, and his wife Caylix)

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OK, adventurers.  You defeated the evil druid and his zombies and skeletons, even though it involved catching him in his skivvies, headed for a midnight snack (I’ll have to remember that one, myself).  Druids are supposed to be neutral, but all that necromancy stuff showed his colors.  Hmmm.  And then there’s whatever is up with the book that he stole, if he indeed did steal it, and why it’s worth the bounty that’s on it.  
Getting here, you avoided three or four other encounters (well, including one non-encounter) that could have left one or more of you maimed or dead, all to ultimately sneaking into your prey’s lair through what you THOUGHT was the front door.

And, you did find the ledger-like book and sleeve of papers that match the description of the target of your adventure.  It will be worth 250 gold pieces (GP), if and when you turn it in, back at the tavern.

So, each of you gained enough experience points (EP) to go to level 2 (L2), with margin.  Your halfling artisan fighter (apparently with thieving skills, if not tendencies), Aurora, 472 points, your curious-about-the-world wood elf druid, Caylix, 533 points, and your half-elf rogue, Bjorn, 458 points.  You only needed 300 to make L2; L3 is at 1000 EP.  Note that your prior life around the farm, and training with your class masters, etc., had gotten you to exactly 0.  That is, adventuring gains EP.

With the Level change, each of you can now roll another die (D8) to increase your hit points (HP).  You may also have class-specific bonuses.  Perhaps more healing spells from your druid?  Who, by the way, got her ‘extra’ EPs due in part to very creative (lucky?) use of both cantrips and spells.

When we next convene, you can quickly finish this ‘Level’ housekeeping, and then get to the matter of what you’re going to do.  Most of that to-do is with what, for the moment, appears to be ‘your’ castle and its contents.  A quick inspection of the various bodies and rooms will yield a number of nice items.  I already mentioned the Bag of Tricks, far and away the most lucrative and rare find (why do I recall Bjorn having it?), but there are other oddities and supplies.

Indeed, you’ll have to decide if you’re going to be happy with what you can carry off, or whether you’re going to move and then sell the larger items (and, if so, HOW).  You may also be able to improve your armor and weapon status; there are the remains of 14 adventure or fighting-ready humans here (*some* of them don’t even stink).  And, cash is always nice.  The ‘bad’ druid (that would not be Caylix) had more gold than you were already happy doing the job for.  I guess I should say that YOU already have more gold than you were expecting to be paid, and you haven’t even been paid yet!  Yes, Caylix still has her bones and Aurora her squirrel hide.

With all that cash, you could hire a small army for your next adventure.  Or perhaps just one nice ‘beginner’ magic weapon … if you knew where to get one.

Well done.  I really should not have put a small group of L1s up against this class of adversary; deaths were likely.  Your caution paid off.  THIS TIME.  I look forward to assisting you with whatever you do next, and am curious to see if your adventure so far has led to any increased degree of comradery, or at least cooperation!  I’m also dying to see if your luck holds out.  

Your DM