Fellowship of the Shield - Adventure Journal 3

Liena, Fare'n and Metaltwist talked it over and decided to rest for a 
few hours until after the moonrise rites that are required and then 
push on through the night.  Horstag, Gelth, Bela and C'or agreed.

Liena led the party off the main road into a small copse of trees 
where the ground was dry.  The 11 travellers set up camp for a few 
hours: the 7 adventurers who had informally agreed to call themselves 
the Fellowship of the Shield; the Cormyrian knight who seemed to feel 
he was above the doings of Dalesfolk and Sembians; and the smith Bib, 
his wife Tana and their daughter Lya.

They also secured their horses -- the smith's small pony which pulled 
his cart, Fare'n's warpony, Gelth's horse (Merlin) and Drane's huge 
steed -- to a line just oustside where they set their bedrolls and 
tents.  Fare'n volunteered to take first watch, and the others 
adventurers agreed to help out at different times over the next 5 
hours until they were rested and ready to travel again.

Fare'n woke Bella and Liena after a couple of hours, just before 
midnight, in time for moonrise.  The two women gathered a few 
personal items and headed off togethor into the Cormanthor woods 
under the light of the Midsummer moon.  This was a mystical night for 
followers of the Forest Father Silvanus and the Forest Queen Mielikki.

[You two will receive supplementary emails about this time 
separately.]

It was almost three hours later that the two women returned, each 
with looks of wonder on their faces.  The company had been starting 
to get worried, but the women dismissed any questions or concerns 
with smiles and whispered reassurances.  Whatever had happened in 
Cormanthor was going to stay between them and the powers they served.

The travellers packed up camp and started moving again.  The night 
was clear, the moon was bright and the road had dried up after the 
warm day. The company made good time journeying through the night.  
As Fare'n had estimated, it was about 5 hours to Essembra.  Essembra 
was Battledale's largest town with almost 3000 people.  Liena, who 
had been there before, described it a little more than a long lane of 
well-spaced cottages on both sides of the road, with a few trails 
leading off to homes away from Rauthauvyr's Road.  In the center of 
the town was the walled courtyard of Battle Court where the taverns, 
shops, temples and the manor house of the Ilmeth, Lord of Battledale 
were found.

Shieldmeet this year was taking place at an abondoned estate about 
four miles south of Essembra called Aencar's Manor.  With a smile 
Liena told tales as the company walked of the haunted estate, spooky 
ghost stories of those who never returned after entering the manor.  
Even the bravest of the adventurers found the tales a little chilling 
as they travelled the empty road through dark Cormathor at night.

Liena and Fare'n assured the rest of the company that they had been 
told that while the house was definately haunted, the outer gardens 
and environs of Aencar's Manor were safe enough to be site of 
Battledales largest festivals.  The Manor itself still looks splendid 
and stately after all these years, with relief carvings of mounted 
knights covering the oustide of the home.

The morning sky begain to lighten as the fellowship and their 
companions neared their destination.  Tall Horstag was the first to 
point out the smoke of many campfires up ahead, no doubt starting the 
cooking of the large Shieldmeet breakfast.  Everyone stepped up the 
pace in anticipation of a good meal after a tiring night's walk.

Soon they were able to see the gardens of Aencar's Manor from the 
road.  As the morning sun rose and as the party apporached, it became 
apparent that there was far too much smoke coming from the grounds to 
come just from the breakfast campfires.

When they came across the remains of an overturned cart smoldering in 
the ditch by the tree-lined lane that lead into the grounds of the 
manor, their anticipation turned to concern.

When they saw the charred body of the cart's driver, his head crushed 
in by a savage blow, their concern turned to dread.

Looking up the lane, but hesitating now to approach, those with the 
sharpest eyes could see shapes that could be other bodies up ahead.  
Smoke rose past the trees from fires which still burned, indicating 
that whatever trouble had happened here was not long in passing and 
may indeed still await them.

Steeling themselves against this terrible turn of events, the 
fellowship made a quick plan. It seemed that they had stumbled into 
adventure a little sooner than they had bargained for.

--------------
Fare'n...

After the initial shock I say, "Gelth, watch our rear and yell if you see
anything untoward.  Horstag watch to the left, and Drane watch the right.
The rest of you stay alert as Liena and I scout ahead."

[I drop off my pony, handing the reins to Metaltwist, if no one objects I
say and do the following]

I say, "Liena cover me as I advance to see if there is anything up ahead."

[I will then run quickly to the nearest cover ahead and then sneak futher
ahead staying in cover (use my Move Silently and Hide skills to avoid
detection) to see if there is any danger ahead.  If I see anything other
than the dead, I will return and advise the party as to what it is.]

--------------
Liena...

As Fare'n drops off his pony, Liena draws her bow and knocks an arrow, 
making herself ready to cover him as he scouts ahead.  Her dark eyes scan 
constantly, searching the trees on either side of the road for 
danger.  Though shaken by the sight of the slain cartman, she knows her 
business keeps her hand steady on the bow.

[If nothing attacks Fare'n, she will stay like this, keeping him constantly 
in sight, occasionally murmuring reassurances to the rest of the party that 
everything will be ok.  She will be trying to think of a good line of 
retreat, in case he returns from scouting with the news that this danger is 
too much for them.]

[If something does attack him, she will attempt to stop the creature(s) 
with her bow, shooting as quickly in succession as she can.  If there are 
more than three creatures, she will shout to the fighters for assistance 
and run into the fray, putting away her bow, and drawing her swords as she 
runs.]

--------------
Fare'n...

[Before setting off I will leave with my pony my backpack - which I assume
would be attached to it as we traveled, my spear, bow and arrows.  Only
equiped with armour, sword (sheathed) and throwing knives (also sheathed).
For maximum quietness and lowest profile.]

[Opps forgot... should have detailed this]

--------------
Gelth...

"I gotch t' rear" says Gelth as he turns around, surveying the adjacent Forest 
and the trail behind.  "Its a good ting we stopped, otterwise, we be dead like 
that 're fellow."
 
[Gelth scans the area looking for movement (Darkvision), listening for non-Forest 
sounds (Blooded, Spot +2  (Total=2)) and is generally wary.  He is down beside 
his horse, Heavy crossbow in hand (A+5)  loaded with his club (A+6, weapon Focus) 
hung over his shoulder and his rapier still on his saddle.]
 
[If he spots something, he yells out, takes aim and tells the figure to stand up.  
If the spotted individual does not, he shoots.  If he can load and get another 
shot off, he will. Otherwise he charges if he can and if there are less than 4 opponents]

[He should make a wisdom check (6) if the opponents are obviously dangerous 
prior to charge, if he fails he charges]

[Should no one show, he continues to be vigilant.  If fighting breaks out up 
front and no one is in the rear, he advances and joins the melee, after using 
the crossbow to take a shot, if opportune]

--------------
Horstag...

Sickened by the scene in front of him, Horstag readies his crossbow and,
using the overturned cart for cover, surveys the scene to the left of the
"Followship of the Shield".

[If anyone appears, he will challenge them and ask them to stay where they
are. If they attack, he will shoot a crossbow bolt at them. If they flee, he
will warn them again to stop, and then loose a warning shot to emphasize the
point, then quickly reload.]

[Only if the party is attacked from another flank will he turn and provide
support, shooting his crossbow. Otherwise he will let whoever is there do
the talking, for now.]

Resting against the blackened cart, his pulse raced. This did not seem like
the great adventures that his Uncle Horstag must have partaked in or how he
dreamed it would be like.
Who was this man? Was he simple farmer like he himself had been, bringing
his crops in to barter for much needed farming implements? Or perhaps he was
a merchant from a far off land? Either way, he would not be returning to his
loved ones.

[While guarding the left, Horstag takes a quick look at the overturned cart
and fallen driver, looking for any clues as to who might have done this.
Things like arrowheads, torn clothing with any heraldic symbols, dropped
daggers, or even footprints (human or something other...).]

[GM eyes only: Just some additional actions by Horstag if needed.]
 
[If hostilities break out, he will shoot his crossbow bolt.
Next he will use some arcane words and gestures to cast some 
protective magic over himself]
["mage armor" to be precise, if anyone does a spellcraft check, 
they will recognize it.]
 
[He will then enter melee combat as follows...]
[If the number of opponents are less then 12 and lightly armoured, 
he will use his Greatsword (2d6+4 damage) even though he is not 
proficient with it yet (-1 to hit).]
[If the number of opponants are 12 or more, or wear armor better 
then leather, then he will use his morningstar instead 
(+3 to hit, 1d8+3 damage).]

--------------
C'or...

C'or sighs,"Damn, I'm tired, I'm hungry, I'm soaked to
the bone and there's a charred corpse with a hole in
his face just sitting there making my stomach go all
funny .... This is exactly the sort of thing I was
hoping to get away from.  Why does this always happen
to me?'

Bearing his trials and tribulations well, (if not
silently), C'or hunkers down in the lee of the cart. 
He opens his cloke and let's loose his familiar, the
Raven 'Huginn'.  C'or directs the Raven to 'fly fly
fly' and give impressions of what lies on ahead.

[As turns go on, C'or will unpack his light crossbow,
resting it on his knee and unless interrupted, will
begin preparations for his Shocking Grasp spell]

--------------
Bella...

With a quick prayer to Silvanus, Bella unsheaths the dagger from the end of
her staff, preparing to defend herself and the smith's family against any
attackers.  Fighting the urge to rush into the fray, she is prepares to
fight for the protection of those members of the group who are less able to
fend for themselves.

[not sure about my spells, if any would even be useful, need to get myself a
list I can look at here at work!]

--------------
Metaltwist...

Taking the reigns from Fare'n, Metaltwist slowly and
quietly unloads himself of all his equipment except
his armour, mace and darts.

[If Fare'n's pony is being well-behaved, Metaltwist
will tie the reigns to the overturned wagon and ready
some darts.  Otherwise he will spend his time calming
and soothing the animal.]

--------------
Turn 3 Recap...

[Hard to believe that its been so long since I sent out Turn 3.  Sorry
folks.  So here is a recap to Turn 3 -- you don't need to respond.  I will
send out Turn 4 soon.]

Midsummer night saw a small group of travellers break camp well after
moonrise and travel north and east into Battledale.  The party was made up
of the 7 adventurers of the newly named Fellowship of the Shield, a
Cormyrian knight named Drane, a Featherdarran smith named Bib and his wife
Tana and their daughter Lya.  They would have considered pushing through the
night, but they had to stop for a few hours to allow Liena and Bella to
observe the Midsummer rites of their patron dieties.

Shieldmeet this year was taking place at an abondoned estate about four
miles south of Essembra called Aencar's Manor.  The Manor was haunted but
the outer gardens and environs of were safe enough to be site of
Battledale's largest festival.  They travellers pushed through the night and
arrived at Aencar's Manor just as the morning sky began to lighten.

When they arrived at the lane that lead up to the manor, they found the
remains of an overturned cart smoldering in the ditch by the tree-lined lane
that lead into the grounds of the manor, the driver's his head crushed in by
a savage blow.

Looking up the lane, but hesitating now to approach, those with the sharpest
eyes could see shapes that could be other bodies up ahead.  Smoke rose past
the trees from fires which still burned, indicating that whatever trouble
had happened here was not long in passing and
may indeed still await them.

There was a brief stunned silence, and then Fare'n said, "Gelth, watch our
rear and yell if you see anything untoward.  Horstag watch to the left, and
Drane watch the right. The rest of you stay alert as Liena and I scout
ahead."

Fare'n dropped off his pony and handed the reins to Metaltwist.

"Liena", Fare'n continued, "Cover me as I advance to see if there is
anything up ahead."

Fare'n then ran quickly up to the first tree along the lane and began to
move from tree to tree, shrub to shrub.  He was quickly out of sight.

Liena drew her bow and knocked an arrow, covering Faren's advance.  Her dark
eyes scanned constantly, searching the trees on either side of the road for
danger. Though shaken by the sight of the slain cartman, she knew her
business and kept her hands steady on her bow.

"I gotch t' rear", said Gelth as he turned around, surveying the adjacent
forest and the trail behind. "Its a good ting we stopped, otterwise, we be
dead like that 're fellow."

Gelth and Horstag readied their crossbows, scanning the forest around them
and watching over the low wall that surrounds the grounds for any sign of
movement.  Horstag rested against the cart for cover as Gelth watched the
trail behind them.  Horstag examined the poor driver quickly, but there was
no hope for him.  Nor was there any obvious sign of who attacked him.

C'or sighed.

"Damn", said the dwarf.  "I'm tired, I'm hungry, I'm soaked to the bone and
there's a charred corpse with a hole in his face just sitting there making
my stomach go all funny .... This is exactly the sort of thing I was hoping
to get away from.  Why does this always happen to me?'

C'or hunkered down in the lee of the cart next to Horstag and opened up his
cloak.  Out flew a dark raven.

"Fly! Fly! Fly!" called the dwarf to the bird as he sent it off into the
sky.  Then he turned to pulling his own crossbow out and load it.

With a quick prayer to Silvanus, Bella unsheathed the dagger from the end of
her staff and stood watch over the smith and his family.

Metaltwist moved to tie off Faren's pony's reigns.  The smith came over to
him and took the pony from him (and Drane's horse) freeing the two
adventurers hands to deal with any potential danger.

Drane drew his broadsword, readied his shield and moved to walk up the lane
towards the Manor house, ignoring Faren's request that he watched the right
flank.

"Battle!" the Cormyrrian shouted as he ran forward.  "I can smell it in the
air!"

Bella wrinkled her nose as she comforted Lya, the smiths scared daughter.
She had smelled this before -- it was not the smell of battle, but of death.

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