Chapter 1:Mobilizing at Malforten

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Blazeguard
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Chapter 1:Mobilizing at Malforten

Post by Blazeguard »

You had noticed each other in the tavern in passing but were too engrossed in your own thoughts to pay any mind. Who knew what forces were at play when the town crier came through, announcing the bounty on Gritznak the Bold. None of you had even heard that name before last week but the temptation of adventure and treasure was too much to resist. The reasons were different but each of you found yourself in the same place. Call it fate, the will of the gods, whatever you believe in but it just seemed right. The fact that the four of you were the only ones who responded to the call just cemented it.

The crier had filled you in on the pertinent details. A gnoll by the name of Gritznak the Bold and his troops had been raiding the town of Malforten in the recent past, but now he has changed his tactics and is demanding tribute. He takes cattle, grain, and any other goods that he desires. Malforten is offering a bounty for Gritznak to entice adventurers to the town for assistance. You were given a map, showing the way to Malforten, and instructed to seek out Eryl the Hoskin, who is the leader of the local militia for more details.

The party has been travelling east from Hrueset along the West Way, a dusty track leading across the grassy plains of western New Aenoch. It passes through several small villages before ending at the settlement of Malforten. Your party has just begun to get to know one another along the way, stopping in these small villages for short rests and to take advantage of the local flavor and drink in any alehouse you could find. You have bonded, but are still only new acquaintances. The bonds of trust are just beginning to form over the last week of travel.

Your party is still on the road to Malforten but you feel as if you are not far from your destination. You can tell you are getting closer to the settlement because you have started to pass several farms along the way. Since the last thorp you passed through, the scenery has been nothing but bleak wilderness or grassy plains until now. Large willows and oaks are now only clustered along the river’s banks or in rare locations instead of everywhere you look (which has been the most recent scenery). Parts of the area seem to have been cleared of overgrowth. You are starting to pass fields of grain, pastures with cattle, and small farm houses that are away from the road, but have footpaths clearly coming off of the road in their direction. The group is growing weary, as it is getting close to dusk and you have been travelling almost all day. The last thorp did not seem to have any water to spare, and the people seemed very suspicious of the party, but they were not overly unfriendly. Still, this didn’t help the party’s morale. Everyone is in need of a hot meal and good rest in a bed instead of a bedroll on the ground (none of the small villages along the way had lodging).

You start to hear a dog barking in the distance and you scan the horizon to see where it is coming from. You spot what looks to be two small figures running through a pasture towards the party. There is a crude wooden split-rail fence on the side of the road separating the party from the figures running toward them. As they get closer, one appears to be a dog and the other seems to be a young boy. You notice another taller figure, which seems to have a shepherd's staff in his hand, standing still and he seems to be yelling something that you cannot hear. The dog and boy show no signs of stopping, so the taller figure starts to make his way to the fence as well, quickening his pace. As the dog and boy come closer and finally stop at the fence, the dog starts to bark again at the members of the group. The boy shouts “Sally, stop it! C’mon, girl, hush!”

You can now see that the boy is about 11 years of age. He has red messy hair, freckles, striking green eyes and is very dirty. His hands are filthy with black dirt, and you can see that he has smeared some of the dirt on his face at some point during the day. He is grinning from ear to ear. Oddly, you notice that the boy has a small sword on his belt, held in a worn leather scabbard. The handle seems to be very tarnished and dirty. The dog appears to be a shepherd’s breed of some sort.

The boy excitedly yells “HEY!.... Hey, are you guys headed to town? Have you ---” As the boy finally notices the mixed party and the assortment of weapons his face quickly turns to a look of concern. He yells over his shoulder.... “DAD! … DAD! COME QUICK!” He places his hand on the hilt of his sword and the dog begins to bark. The man with the staff quickens his pace even more, and the dog starts to growl and bark again.

What do you do?
The problem with doing something really stupid to impress people is that they may just be impressed by how stupid you really are.
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Hywaywolf
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Re: Chapter 1:Mobilizing at Malforten

Post by Hywaywolf »

I shoot the boy
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Hywaywolf
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Re: Chapter 1:Mobilizing at Malforten

Post by Hywaywolf »

... a salute. And say, "Calm now, young lad. Don't hurt us. We have been invited to the town of Malforten. We mean you no harm."
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Jandolar
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Re: Chapter 1:Mobilizing at Malforten

Post by Jandolar »

Bellendithas (Belle to humans and such) leans on her long bow and tosses her hair over a pointed ear. "Nice dog, Sally is it?" She kneels down near the fence and reaches a hand out to the dog. "Good girl, nothing to be afraid of here." Looking back at Pebbles *under her breath* "Why is a boy of eleven or so wearing a short sword?"
Oypeen- 30/30 Hp AC 24
Rykken- 24/24 Hp AC 20
Hermia- 39/39 Hp AC 18/20
Giovanni-40/40 Hp AC 22
Ravoneth-35/35 Hp AC 18
Maephina-30/30 Hp AC 16/18
http://mapmatic.basicfantasy.org/index. ... &mapid=360
Woe
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Re: Chapter 1:Mobilizing at Malforten

Post by Woe »

Greyhelm impatiently waits for the man to come up. The boy isn't even in his beard yet.
Freya HP 24/24 AC 16 (17 two weapons)
Kilian HP 20/20 AC 19 (18 no shield)
Talin HP 29 AC 16
Tiana HP 11 AC 12 SP 8/8
Fido HP 9/9 AC 16
Anna HP 12/12 AC 15 (19 defensively)
Bruce HP 20/20 AC 16 (15 no shield)

Red Oak map
Red Oak loot
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Jandolar
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Re: Chapter 1:Mobilizing at Malforten

Post by Jandolar »

*Looking past Pebbles to the well armored dwarf* "Grey do you never tire of packing so much iron upon yourself? There's enough metal in your axe to outfit me with arrow heads for years."
Oypeen- 30/30 Hp AC 24
Rykken- 24/24 Hp AC 20
Hermia- 39/39 Hp AC 18/20
Giovanni-40/40 Hp AC 22
Ravoneth-35/35 Hp AC 18
Maephina-30/30 Hp AC 16/18
http://mapmatic.basicfantasy.org/index. ... &mapid=360
Woe
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Re: Chapter 1:Mobilizing at Malforten

Post by Woe »

"True, mi'lady, but I've never found an arrow that can chop down the mighty redwood, nor cleave the head from a traitor's neck."
Freya HP 24/24 AC 16 (17 two weapons)
Kilian HP 20/20 AC 19 (18 no shield)
Talin HP 29 AC 16
Tiana HP 11 AC 12 SP 8/8
Fido HP 9/9 AC 16
Anna HP 12/12 AC 15 (19 defensively)
Bruce HP 20/20 AC 16 (15 no shield)

Red Oak map
Red Oak loot
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Blazeguard
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Re: Chapter 1:Mobilizing at Malforten

Post by Blazeguard »

The taller figure finally joins the boy, and he says kindly "Thad, calm down, son. Sally, HEEL." The dog obediently turns her attention to the figure and walks to the man's side and stands up straight, almost "pointing" at the party with her nose. The man has been within earshot long enough to see that you appear to mean no harm, and you certainly aren't a threat. He places his hand on the boy's shoulder to reassure him that everything is OK.

You can now see that the taller figure is a middle aged man whose face is starting to show the signs of hard life and constant work in the outdoors. His hair is starting to grey at his temples. He has a scar from his forehead and across the orbital bones around his left eye and down his cheek. It is still pink, and you can tell it isn't an old wound. His left eye is also cloudy.

You notice he has a rough brown cloak on over his very plain clothing, which seems like odd apparel for the weather until you start to notice a slight chill in the breeze. Apparently the weather is starting to turn, as it is almost the autumn months. The leaves will soon be turning the color of rust and bright orange.

You notice he also carries a sword on his side, you can see the hilt poking through the front opening of his cloak. It seems a little less crude than the boy's, almost polished.

He addresses the group in an even, calm tone: "Did I hear you say you’ve been invited to Malforten? Most people turn and run the other way. Who summoned you and what business would you have here?"
The problem with doing something really stupid to impress people is that they may just be impressed by how stupid you really are.
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Hywaywolf
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Re: Chapter 1:Mobilizing at Malforten

Post by Hywaywolf »

pebbles steps forward and addresses the man, " We have been engaged by the Lords of New Aenoch to end the depredations of Gritznak the Bold upon the people and property of the fine town of malforten. I, my good man, am Pebbles Streambottom, of the Opalload Hills' Streambottoms. Perhaps you have heard of me?" He pauses, searching for recognition. Seeing none, he continues. "Perhaps not. Never-the-less, we are here for the benefit of Malforten. Could you tell us how much further is the town, and if we can expect to reach it by nightfall?"
Woe
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Joined: Wed Jul 31, 2013 6:45 pm

Re: Chapter 1:Mobilizing at Malforten

Post by Woe »

Satisfied with the direction that the conversation is going, Sanzaru doesn't add anything. Instead, he's going to review our tactical situation. Once satisfied there's no ambush lurking and he can detect no evil nearby, he'll take a cursory look at the man's sword.
Freya HP 24/24 AC 16 (17 two weapons)
Kilian HP 20/20 AC 19 (18 no shield)
Talin HP 29 AC 16
Tiana HP 11 AC 12 SP 8/8
Fido HP 9/9 AC 16
Anna HP 12/12 AC 15 (19 defensively)
Bruce HP 20/20 AC 16 (15 no shield)

Red Oak map
Red Oak loot
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