D&D Post game 3-3-18 Part 1

The Midland Realm seems to have too many issues occurring all at once.

Gnoll raiding parties are ravaging the Southern farmlands. The undead have mobilized in the Dead Lands to the Northeast. A barbarian tribe has come down from the mountains and is terrorizing the Southeastern villages the other side of the great river. Strange armored warriors have been travelling the local byways to gather somewhere North of Stonekeep, their allegiance and identification are still unknown. Several small forests have begun to have animals flee from them. Their trees and plants have begun to twist and warp in strange ways. 

A gathering of military personnel from Ferrous Spur, Stonekeep, Wytchlight and local mercenary bands have gathered to discuss these events and what to do.

After much ballyhoo and discussion it was decided that the biggest and closest issue was the rampaging gnolls in the Southern farmlands. If they were not stopped then it could be disastrous for the larger cities of the realm. The undead hordes were currently being dealt with by a holy crusade. The barbarians to the Southeast were a pest, but so far were only hitting the mountainside settlements. They would be dealt with, but were not priority. The strange forest occurrences and strange travelers would have to wait as well as they are not troubling anyone yet.

It was decided that Stonekeep would send a contingent of fifty armed spearmen to assist with the rampaging gnoll horde. The dwarves from Ferrous Spur would be sending fifty of their heavy Siege Breaker infantry and another fifty of their blunderbuss wielding Thunderers. Not to left out, Wychlight’s leaders offered fifty of the Flames of the Firstborn, their swamp cleansing specialists. Finally, a group of various mercenaries numbering roughly eighty ( led by the locally run and helmed Silver Chalices ) would ride South to aid for a pittance of 10 gold crowns per day. Our intrepid ½ orc barbarian, human monk and dragonborn rouge signed up with the mercenary units. This would give the beleaguered forces of Cloveshire Keep and the surrounding lands a relief force of two hundred and eighty-ish trained and well-armed warriors to help stop the gnolls rampaging the Southlands.

 

Two days later and the forces rode into Cloveshire Keep and made their various camps. A war council was thrown together that evening. Once again there was much bantering and arguing about battle plans. The Flames of the Firstborn wanted to advance and attack the gnolls spotted travelling in a route around the keep. The Stonekeep contingent was willing to bolster the village of Kara’s Dale which lay a day to the South. The dwarves wanted to hold at the keep and fight a defensive battle. The mercenaries were scattered with their thoughts, but the Silver Chalices were willing to hold Kara’s Dale as well.

With so many voices it took Lord Cloveshire’s arrival to stop the arguing for a moment. He offered the advice of his Chamberlain ( Dietrich Hobson ). The Chamberlain’s plan was to have the dwarves hold here at the keep. The mercenaries would travel to Kara’s Dale to aid any  villagers still trying to leave the town and then hold there. Kara’s Dale being directly South of the keep and a small village would be a soft target for the advancing gnoll horde. They had hit every other village, and this one would be no different. The mercenaries would  act as a first line of defense for the keep ( in actuality they were being used as a speed bump by the military forces ). The Flames of the Firstborn, the Stonekeep spearmen  and the keeps’ Outrider cavalry would move to engage the gnolls headed North around the keep. The war council concluded and the forces all left to make preparations for the next day’s travel and defense.

 

Herman “ One-Eye” Durand

After the council ended the ½ orc made for the leader of the Silver Chalices one Herman “ One-Eye” Durand. He was wanting to discuss the defense of Kara’s Dale. Herman took offense to this ( I mean who was this ½ orc to challenge his authority? ) and of course this led to a small argument. Which in turn led to Herman offering a formal challenge to a duel……to the death! (insert kettle drum –bom bom bom bom bom sounfd here) Reginald , the noble barbarian, couldn’t have been more happy to agree to this duel….to the death! Several minutes later the duel had run it’s blood course. Herman lay dead and bleeding on the ground and Reginald ( plus his companions ) were now going to be leading the mercenary forces in defense of Kara’s Dale. 

Almost two dozen members of the Silver Chalices packed their belongings and left the keep. Their leader had been slain and they decided they would not follow his killer into battle. More than one salty stare was leveled at the ½ orc as they left the courtyard. The adventuring party wasn’t worried about these deserters. They knew they were feckless and weak. Their departure was welcomed. They needed brave and able warriors, not sycophantic followers to a weak ( and dead ) leader, to fight the coming battle.

After that bit of bloody business the various groups went to their camps to inform the men and bed down for the night. Our intrepid adventures made their way to the dwarf encampment. There they were hailed as the heroes of Durgeddin’s Forge and treated to booze and delicious salted meats. They spent the next several hours feasting, drinking and singing in preparation for the coming battle.