M3E1,2,&3 - A Warm Welcome

The Battlements of Kerhofn Hall

When the party arrives at the Battlements of Kerhofn Hall they will be greated by massive amounts of soldiers. Some wear black laminar armor some are poorly equiped and look like peasants. If asked guards will explain that there are two military groups. The Black Crows and the Red Hand Conscripts. The Black Crows are the more elite professional soldiers. The party will be introduced to Renald who is the gate keeper of the fortress. He will not allow parlay with N'jal Odger to 'weaklings' despite their official insignia of the Jarl. The party will be given the oppertunity to fight in the Ye Old Fight Pit to prove their strength.

Underneath the Pits

Before being free to roam free inside the bowls of Ye Old Fight Pit Lanista Verus will approach party. He will tell them he believes they should be cell like the other gladiators, but he recieved direct orders from N'jal Odger that the "Deligation of Tannibore Egilson" should not be harmed before the enter the arena, but he assures the party that if they cause any trouble he'll make certain that you enter the arena with an injury. He will explain the secret rules of the to party:

Despite what the crowd thinks. N'jal Odger decides who lives and who dies.

How you die is more important than how you fight. Fight bravely, show no fear, and die gracefully with honor.

The crowd wants to know who is the strongest. So new contestants think they are the strongest they will need to prove it by dueling their companions before they are challenged

It's not enough to win. You need to entertain the crowd.

The party will be lead into the are of the pits beneath of the pits and will find it to be a combination, barracks, prision, and arena. There are captive fighters and animals inside the grounds. Captives The party will not be allowed to converse long with the captives, but they will reveal that they are from the Brunnhorn Mountains and are former members of the Red Hand Conscripts. They were forced to fight in the pits due to lack of skill or obedience. All adults are forced to serve in the military and the Red Hand Conscripts are treated like dirt and forced to train for hours on end. The Black Crows rule over them like bullies and are loyal to N'jal Odger. If asked they will explain that the Red Hand Conscripts are not able to have their own officers, but Harbard is a local man who is well respected by the Red Hand Conscripts as a leader of resistance. Animals The party can discuss at leasure with the animals in the pens as they are not believed to be intelligent by The Black Crows. The animals were captured all over Jordsvik to serve as entertainment. If the party asks they can be persuaded to help them in the fight pits. The party will learn they are lead by the Lord of the Mountain who is a mighty stag. They are captured and wish to be free. The animals believe there is more than meets the eye and this being done for more than just entertainment. They believe their is a sense of evil in this place they wish to be rid of.

Encounters

Sometime before encounters they will be given a letter with a drawn of an Ashen Rose. It can be deciphered by person with Thieves Cant of by Hena as a symbol of a Thieves Guild. If the party begins looking they will see the symbol caved in pillars and walls, as well as tattoo on some people in the community. Encounter 1) The party will face a captured Risi gladiator. The gladiator can not talk and will remain hostile to the party. There will be several animals that will attack anyone who gets to close. The party can try to convince the animals to help if they able to speak with animals and if they use their action as a persuasion check. If they presuade the animals before hand no such check is required. Encounter 2) The party will face the 'Barvian Bandits' which are a group of wild mercenaries that were captured and forced to fight in N'jal Odger's pits. Encounter 3) The party will face a massive Cimera.

Aftermath

The party is expected to lose the encounter, and will be believed to be dead by The Black Crows and their bodies will be cast into the bowels of the city also known as the sewers. In the sewers they will be rescued by the Ashen Rose.