The Restenford Journals #9 (6 MAY 2024)

    Oh now we pick up where we left off previously with our fine fresh fellows looking for adventure on the Isle of Lenard. The PCs had successfully dealt with the Bandits of Falcon's Rest and having suffered grievous wounds desired to rest a few days while the recently freed slaves of the Bandits recuperated. Several of the 0-level villagers; 6 in total, had decided to hire on as servants to their courageous liberators. Offering up prayers to Tritherion they bent the knee and assumed the duties of Man-at-Arms as well as household staff. The scruffy dwarf prisoner; Garfun Trollfury, having collected several daggers from the fallen bandits had agreed to accompany them to Llergton to return the Spice Merchant's Daughter as well as several minor officials of the town to safety. The Elf Afamrail Fayra accompanies them as well to Llergton. But on the third day of rest a panicked and obviously worried servant comes running down from the roof of Falcon's Rest and announces many figures approach. "It's more Bandits returned for revenge my'lord !" The PCs climb the ladder to the roof of the Keep.

   Approaching the Keep are roughly 6 figures led by a man in Chain Mail. The others being Hobgoblin carrying wild game of a Der and Bear upon poles. The PCs trying to decide upon a course of action while standing next to a Ballista of which there are three upon the roof do not agree on Ballista and Arrows versus Davon's Fireball. Davon craves the fresh meat coming back so does not want to toss a fireball. They fire a Ballista and I take the adventures info on the Ballista as how we are going to use such devices in my OSE game. An artilliery piece operated by two people that always attacks against AC9 as a 0-level THACo with a 329 yard range. And as they are deciding this I rule that the Bandit and Hobgoblins notice the tell tale differences in their appearance versus the regular bandits who would normally be upon those very parapets. A ballista is fired and a massive miss while the Hobgoblin and Bandit sprint towards the doors of the Keep. Another round of missile fire below as well as Magic Missiles from Davon's newly acquired Wand of Magic Missiles and a nice solid hit by Eldrin fells the human Bandit and the Hobgoblin call for a parley at the gate while standing over the fallen body of the bandit. 

  The PCs go down and open the door to the Keep and address the Hobgoblins who inquire as to what has happened to Sharnig as as well as the Wizard Millard. Upon learning their former Captains fate and that the Magic-User Millard is heir prisoner they offer their services at double Heavy Infantry rates. Eldrin attempts to secure the deal but the Retainer Offer is Failed. I rule this is because he is an elf and that Hobgoblins and Elf are mortal enemies so the y refuse to serve under one and part ways. If another of the party such as the Human Magic-User Davon or Ranger Tushuab they may have accepted although it would be hard to explain why Hobgoblin would serve a Ranger either so they depart and give the PCs a Hobgoblin Salute. After searching the fallen bandit it is revealed he is simply at 0 hit points and is taken prisoner and hung up in chains next to Millard. They learn his name is Wervis and is the slain bandit learns second in command. HE mutters to Millard not to be too concerned that Stankis will release them when he returns to which he is informed that his younger brother was slain with a fireball in their first encounter with the bandits. The PCs leave the Keep in two days and leave the servants to hold it and order them to keep the door secured. The bandit and bandit lord are forced to walk while bound by rope through the mountains.

   Davon, Tushuab, Eldrin as well as the Dwarf Garfun Trollfury & Afamrail Fayra travel to Llergton and there are no encounters. Supplies are got and rewards are collected to the amount of 600 GP. Davon scores a 12 on Reaction Rolls on bidding the spice merchant daughter farewell and the merchant begins making overtones to marry off his daughter to the Magic-User. Parting they ask for the location of the Jeweler in town to which the young recently rescued lass perks up quite a bit in anticipation. They depart.

  Along their travel to Llergton they encounter mountain villagers repairing a sign they ad taken down that leads to their mountain village. There is some discussion of the deprivations visited upon them by the bandits and that they look forward to shipping goat as well as their many varied cheese back to Restenford. They offer lodgings and many thanks for freeing them from the recent raids along the Mountain Road by the Bandits but since the bandits never accosted the towns of Restenford or Llergton directly no aid had come until the PCs were tasked with this Quest. Tushuab gives way some coinage to satisfy his ranger requirements and the PCs promise to visit soon. The town is named Relfren and is the largest mountain village between the Barony of Restenford and the Coastal Barony of Llerg. 

   The time spent at the jeweler reveals they have found rather precious jewelry. They spend time getting conversion to gems and so leave with lots of 100 GP gems. The Jeweler inquires if they have found Lord Falcon's lost treasure to which he gets conflicting information from the Magic-User and Ranger, but hints if they find such splendid pieces to return to him and he will make them a generous offer. They resupply themselves with rations and Tushuab buys the Elf  Afamrail Fayra a horse and offers him employment as a Retainer. He considers the offer for a period of 10 years since they freed him from the Bandits and Tushuab rolls Box-Cars. An accepted offer and a +1 to Loyalty as well. They set off to Restenford planning on stopping at Falcon's Rest to check on the servants.

   The first evening at dusk though I roll a Wandering Monster Check and it results in, TROLLS ! One of the reasons I am not a huge fan of Hex-Crawls the swingy nature of the Wandering Monster check for OP critters than roam the wilder lands. I mean it was a 35 on a d100. Not range but that particular roll.... Number encountered is wait for it, D8 and they luckily get a pair of Trolls coming down from the Xerbal Mountains looking for snacks and they found some. I roll Monster Reaction and they hungry and encounter distance is 90'. I describe how there is snapping in the brush and giggling which they assume are more ghouls but I assure them it sounds much different than the mad chattering of the undead and Davon shouts a challenge into the Brush to which the pair stand to their full 8' height and argue for a simple second who gets tot eat the one in the pretty dress. There are mutterings in the discord of, "Oh shit another TPK coming", But the PCs tie for initiative and spells are resolved first so both Trolls are hit by a Fireball from Davon and one is blinded by Eldrin with a Light spell effectively removing it from the entire combat. Since the PCs decided the ranger would be their most likely front line guy he is wearing the Ring of Protection taken from Millard and is not seriously injured by the Troll whom they dispatch after two rounds of melee. A critical is scored with the magical flail taken from the Half-Orc bandits and the Trolls' are dispatched with blades heated in the campfire.

   The PCs joke they were never really in serious trouble as Wervis & Millard would have been left still bound to a log as dinner while they fled from the trolls. There is a point to having poisoners in the wilderness one could say and that is trade or bait for monsters. That would definitely infringe on the PCs alignments as we returned to the 9 point system for this campaign. The following day as they travel in the Xerbal Mountains they yet again have a Wandering Munster Encounters with this time, Rocs. I describe the mas giant yellow birds high in the sky and after the Monster Reaction Roll the PCs are ignored and the creatures simply fly over them. The y return to Falcon's Rest in due haste and rest. Their last leg of their journey to Restenford is uneventful and they are glad for that stretch of luck.

   Upon their return Davon begins to flirt with the Guard House Warrior Brenda Twinkle a Half-Elf. HE rolls low and his gift of a shiny gem is rebuffed and she then stops talking and simply points towards Castle Grellus. The PCs also blow their reaction rolls with the gate guards whom thought the would not return but they are showed in after being informed they could wait until morning. The PCs wait while the sound of Baron-Champion Grellus and his family are having family down in an adjoining hall for an hour nd a half. They are then brought in to the Lords chamber where they recount their exploits. Grellus comments it seems undead follow them wherever they go and seems lost in though for a moment. Grellus commands Pelltar to draw up a Writ of Deed for the PCs and gives them Falcon's Rest. He gives them the task of collecting his taxes and maintain the Mountain Road but cannot grant title of nobility. SO they are called "Jonkheers of Falcon's Rest" and he will petition the Duke of Kroten to grant them Title eventually. 

   Upon seeing the bandits escorted to the dungeons the players are dismissed and can stay in Restenford again under the protection of the Baron-Champion as they are now his tax men for the Mountain Road. "The Cheese and Goats must fill my larders", he mutters to himself and they vow to clear the lower levels of the undead taint to which they seek out Yalta the Priest to join them and their offer is accepted so he returns with them to Falcon's Rest. 

  There are no encounters on their return and we end our session.

   Allot of in town stuff and this is allot to get done in under 2 and a half hours honestly.

Game Well, Game Often Y'all

And most importantly, enjoy yourself in the company of good friends