Session Two - A Malforten 'Welcome'
General Summary
27th Day of Lothian, Malforten , late evening.
The common room at the The Empty Flagon began spilling it's guests for the night. As Kerrywyn 's family collected mugs, and soup bowls for washing, cleared tables, and swept under empty tables the Farmers were the first to depart, followed by the herders. As lamps were extinguished, and their oil refilled most of those who still remained smelled of fish. Most of Sir Alistair Howell retinue had already retired upstairs for the night as he rose, and said goodnight except for Risha. Instead, she stood stoically, arms folded at the base of the stairs. Glaring at Frederick, and Robin the two hireling guards that continued taking in the evening's merriment.
As Ozias prepared for bed, he lifted the small wooden Shutter bar, and cracked one of the wooden shutters letting the cool evening air spill into his room. This simple act would allow him to hear, a few hours later, the whinnies, and brays of their mounts in the Stable. Ozias rose, and threw open his shutters, that clanging awoke Sir Alistair. Both stared into the darkness trying to make out anything moving about. Something; however, was causing the animals to react, and as such both felt something was amiss in the stable, so simultaneously they donned their armors to investigate.
Ozias stepped from his room moments ahead of Alistair, starting down the hallway lit from a table lamp at the top of the stairs. Alistair emerged as the armored Cleric started down the stairs, his shin catching on something momentarily as a muffled bell clanged about nearby. A resounding Thud was heard, then Risha burst from her door with Sword in hand. Alistair told her of the commotion, and she stepped back inside to suit up as well.
Only a single lamp dimly illuminated the now deserted common room below. Pulling the Bar from its catch brackets the two stepped down the stone stairs, and strode across the empty dirt pathway leading to the stable. Risha jogged up a moment later, her Scale Mail, Metal softly jangling adding to the subtle scrunch of boots on hard-packed dirt as the only sounds emerging from this misty night. Ozias turned to his right, stepping between the stables and the adjacent building, as he did a high pitched whistle split the silence. Followed by the 'Fhwoosh' as a bonfire erupted somewhere to the south. Caught Flat-footed Sir Howell, and Risha came under attack. The 'fhwip' 'fhwip' 'fhwip' of multiple arrows fired from the darkness of shadow emerging from the buildings to their south.
The defenders reacted quickly to the Ambush. Ozias raced north to get behind the stable and seek the source of the whistle. In the darkness he spots a small creature that snarls, before spurring it's Wolf mount to flee to the South East. Alistair crosses the distance to the closest ambusher and engages. Seeing that, Risha charges another group further west. The commotion rouses Alexandre Loralen who grab's his Short Bow , and leaps from his window to the path below.
Risha, and Sir Howell each cut down one of the dark clad ambushers, the two remaining unengaged manage to Kidney shot Alistair, while the other slices Risha across her thigh. Ozias chases the fleeing mounted wolf, which rounds the corner to catch an arrow from Alexandre.
Risha's large sword cuts through her assailant, as Alistair parries his attackers blow, but the arrow in his side hinders his attacks. Ozias catches up to the rider, only to have the wolf nearly snap at him. The rider flees, but lets an arrow fly striking the door of the tavern as he departs. Alexandre turns to get a parting shot, but the glare from the bonfire spoils his aim.
Risha rushes to the knights assistance, but seeing him engaged in single combat refrains from further action. Which is soon rendered moot as Alistair cuts his opponent down. The Cleric tends to the wounds as the Ranger sees to the animals. Afterward they check the bonfire to ensure it won't spread to the town, and finally check their assailants.
Eryl the Hoskin , and Geoffrey the Hat are brought over and are able to inform Sir Howell two of the men have been seen in town. They are trappers/hunters that visit each month for about the past six months or so. The remains are placed in the Gaol for proper burial. Alexandre scouts the tracks and finds a second set of wolf prints, and a Goblin lit the bonfire, and that the four humans had horses just outside town, with a third wolf track. The horses were not still present. He is able to follow the blood trail from the wounded wolf, but after a discussion it is determined to be better to wait until morning, as he can not track as effectively in the darkness.
As a grey misty dawn breaks the next day Alexandre and Risha depart on foot to the North following the wolf tracks from town. They twist, and turn staying in the low areas between the rolling hills, cross a small stream at a natural fording and eventually come up a incline to a rough highpoint nearly a mile north of Malforten. From atop this Craggy Ridge they had an unobstructed view of the Hamlet, the pastures, and crop fields below. Charred bits of wood, ash, and gnawed on bones showed where a firepit sits. though the stones that encircled it were spread as if kicked about. The third wolf track, and the four horses hooves also arrive to this point. The seven mounts depart North, but the blood trail has stopped. It appears that the wound was tended to, but one of the wolves has a softer imprint on one of it's legs.
Two to Three hours pass as the two trackers continue North, entering a wide valley in which the river slowly courses south marshy vegetation thick along the banks. Grunts from Boar , and the silent gaze of yellowish eyes floating in the water near the banks keep the two trackers company. The only other sounds are the swish of the vegetation, as a brief glimpses of Gazelle are had as they bound off to safety. The trail ends at a gravel covered beach near a pebble and silt sandbar a few feet away. clearly the wolves, and horses crossed the river here, as the ground is churned up by their passing. Alexandre, and Risha turn back to report.
Sir Howell spends the morning walking the Hamlet, to better get a lay of the land, and buildings. He also attempts to talk with the peasantry, although they respond cordially the interactions are brief. Quinn is seen guarding the Gaol she tells him of some of the additional findings regarding the bandits from last night, and how they typically enter the Hamlet 1-3 days after a Tinker arrives. Inside the Gaol Amanda; however, is less than polite as she continues her task of preparing the bodies. While her tone is soft, it is also cold. "I understand you say you are here to help these people Sir Howell, but so far you have only ended the lives of these four, can you help them still?" and "Perhaps if you put the effort to speak to me into discovering what hold the goblins had over these men, you could sever that instead"
Alistair's talk with Eryl was equally standoffish. While inquiring about Defensive structures Eryl snapped back "And what stonemason have you brought? How many Bowyers?, Woodcarvers? We raise crops, and livestock, and pay our taxes for protection yet no lord comes. Shall we be an army with no armor too?" Alistair learns the Militia tries, but they are ill-equipped to stand in town square and take a frontal charge. Mostly the homes shutter themselves in, or the attacks happen as snatches of opportunity. Like Hyena's nipping at the heels of a straggler while the herd bunches together. He ponders the problem for a moment, and asks Tippi to look over the Militia's equipment, and see what she can do for them.
Having spent some of his Devine powers healing after last nights ambush, Ozias rises late, prays to Gloriana: Mistress of Battle for guidance and mingles about.
Goblins and Humans working together, what madness is this?
Was someone, or something else watching from the riverbanks?
Is Sir Alistair Howell winning over the town? Or will Eryl be elected Prom King?
Were any of Session One's questions resolved?
Rewards Granted
New World Anvil articles seen: x1 - 10 exp
Session one notes/recap: x2 - 10 exp each
4x Bandits: 24 exp each to all
Alexandre claimed 1 quiver with 10 short arrows, and a skinning knife.
Kori given 102 SP taken from the bandits to add to the coffers.
Character(s) interacted with
Report Date
24 May 2023
Primary Location
Secondary Location
Related Characters
Comments