Bruce

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Member Back to Top Post by Bruce on Part 1 - The Inn of the Clowns (Day 3)

- The village of Bloodstone is situated on the shore Lake Midai where the Beaumaris River runs into the mountains to the south. It was once a centre of commerce and trade. There are a few signs of old mansions, now torn down or burnt in the fields where farmers labour.

- The village is small. The stone defensive wall that once protected it is broken in many places. The road leads through the town gate. The wooden doors sag from their hinges, unable to close.

- The citizens of Bloodstone gather silently to watch Rook’s arrival. These are poor people, fearful and distrustful of outsiders. Rook watches their sullen faces as he walks into town. According to Garlen and Gavin there are about a thousand people here in total, but many are women, children and the elderly. Garlen and Garvin have assured him that they will fight as hard as the men, but the sight of these people does not fill Rook with confidence. Many of the men are armed, but they carry only the crudest of weapons - homemade spears and longswords of inferior make. A few woodsmen carry bows. All in all, not a promising lot from which to build an army.

- Garlen and Garvin seem embarrassed as the people of Bloodstone stop and stare but offer no greeting for Rook. They lead him through the narrow streets of the town, past the poor huts and small shops to an inn.

- The inn is as rude as poor as the rest of the town, but obviously it was once a fine place. A battered, weather-worn sign of a clown juggling bottles of wine hangs above the door, announcing this as the Inn of the Clowns.

- Garlen and Garvin have told Rook that it was once famous throughout Damara. It used to be frequented by travellers, traders and entertainers. Even nobles from far and near used to come but those days seem to be long gone.

- A heavyset man with a bushy blonde beard comes out, wiping his hands on an apron. He greets Rook, introduces himself and welcomes him to his home. Stephan is the first villager who seems genuinely glad to see Rook.

- Assuming that Rook has travelled far, Stephan welcomes his guest inside and organises a comfortable room and good food for him. Stephen tells Rook that his home is now Rook’s home too. He calls out Raquel and Carlotta from the kitchens where they have been doing meal preparations, and they seem pleased to have a guest. Raquel has long blonde hair, and Carlotta has dark hair.

- After eating heartily, Rook inspects his room. It is basic, but comfortable enough. Stephan asks Garlen and Garvin how they got back so quickly, but the boys do not reveal Rook’s secret (as he asked them not to). However they do tell Stephan how Rook and Griffin thrashed a group of monsters (which sounds so ridiculous that Stephen wonders if Rook could be a sorcerer or illusionist to have confused the boys so) and that Griffin is recruiting an army to help the village. Stephan just accepts the situation and decides to give Rook the benefit of the doubt.



Part 2 - Inspections and Meetings (Day 3)

- Rook spends the rest of the day looking over the village, escorted by Garlen and Garvin. He sizes up the existing defences - from the broken walls to the north to Lake Midai which protects the village’s western flank, to the Beaumaris River which offers some protection to the south and east.



* Image sourced from old TSR module H1 Bloodstone Pass

- In Rook’s opinion, the defences are weak but he is counting on Ethan (Griffin) to bolster them when he arrives. The Beaumaris River is swift flowing and it would be difficult for an army to ford, which suggests to him that the main threat is to the north.

- Some kids begin to follow Rook as he surveys the village. Garlen and Garvin continue to accompany Rook, answering questions and pointing out things of interest. For example, they comment that the nearby lake (Midai) has a monster in it which prevents anyone fishing from it. Rook thinks the monster could be useful, and decides to ponder it further.

- After a time, Garlen and Garvin excuse themselves to inform the Baron that Rook has arrived. The kids grow bolder - two boys and two girls.

- Rook meets Olaf the Blacksmith (at #4 in the map), a stout, well muscled and friendly fellow who agrees to make Rook some heavy throwing knives when requested. Olaf mentions that iron is in short supply - they haven’t had any from either the dwarves or the southern towns in many months.

- At the General Store (#5 on the map), Rook meets Geoff and his wife Katrine. Both are friendly. It turns out that one of the boys and one of the girls that are following Rook around are theirs.

- At the Bakery (#6 on the map), Rook is greeted by Benjamin and his wife Anna. They have six children, two of which have been following Rook around. Rook notes that not only do they bake bread, but they also make simple pies and pastries.

- At the Butcher (#7 on the map) is big Harald, ruddy-faced and very friendly.

- At the Fletcher (#8 on the map), Rook meets Jamison who is a handsome and friendly fellow. Rook inspects Jamison’s handiwork and tests out one of his bows. It is of fine quality and he buys it. Jamison is pleased with the sale, asks where Rook is staying and then says that he’ll see him for a drink that evening. Rook feels that he’s met a possible friend here.

- At the Tanner and Leatherworker (#9 on the map), Rook meets Baird, an immensely fat, bearded fellow.

- At the Carpenter shop (#10 on the map), Rook marvels at the beautiful ornate carvings that adorn the shop. The carpenter himself is a very thin man and clearly an ‘artist’. He says his name is Curtis, and Rook is impressed enough to buy some of his carvings as keepsakes.

- At the Tailor/Weaver (#11 on the map), Rook meets an older man who is nearly blind from fine needlework, but his work is of very high quality. Rook is so impressed that he asks Felix to make him some suitable garments, which he agrees to make.

- Rook has a look at the Abbey (#2 on the map) but decides not to venture into it without asking Garlen and Garvin more about the religion here.

- By the afternoon, Rook has satisfied himself that the town needs him and it is woefully unprepared. Even when the huntsmen return from their foraging, they don’t appear to be a real fighting force - just a band of hunters. Garlen and Garvin meet up with Rook again and advise him that the Baron would like to meet him for dinner. Garlen suggests that he freshen up before the meeting, and they venture that they will do the same.



Part 3 - Dinner with the Baron (Day 3)

- Stephan organises for some water to be boiled so that Rook can have a proper bath. Then he changes into some suitable attire and is escorted by Garlen and Garvin (both of whom have dressed up) to the baronial manor house (#3 on the map).

- There, Rook is introduced to Baron Geoffrey Tranth.



* Image sourced from aragonbird on DeviantArt

- At the table with the Baron is Quillan (the Baron’s elderly adviser), the Abbot Aldric (a well dressed man who seems unfriendly), Stephan (the Innkeeper, but is now dressed up), and the Baron’s blonde-haired daughter Aelfwynn.

- After the initial welcome, the group sits down for dinner and many courses of dinner. The Baron and Quillan ask polite questions about Rook and where he comes from. Rook tries to ask questions about the current situation but he is asked to defer his questions until after dinner. The conversation shifts back to Rook and he is asked to tell them of his adventures, and also about Griffin. Rook tells them what happened at the Circus of Doctor Trundles but the story sounds so epic as to be an exaggeration. Not wanting to insult the Baron’s guest, the Abbot asks Garlen and Garvin about what they saw, and he is surprised to hear Rook’s account being verified.

- Rook is a little vague about where they have travelled as he does not know the geography of these lands, but he says that both he and Griffin are adventurers. The Baron asks if they have battlefield experience and Rook assures them that he has commanded armies before.

- Rook gets the impression that the group do not completely believe his story. Moreover, they are surprised that Garlen and Garvin have only brought back two heroes, and somehow the two teenagers made it back to Bloodstone much faster than expected.

- At the conclusion of the meal, the Baron offers Rook lodgings in his castle but Rook respectfully declines, preferring to stay in the Inn.

- After dinner, Garlen and Garvin are formally thanked by the Baron for their help in delivering aid to the village. They are dismissed, and the group retires to a nearby sitting room.



Part 4 - Council of War (Day 3)

- In the sitting room, fine wine is poured and the men produce pipes and tobacco. Aelfwynn sits by the window and listens as her father, Baron Tranth, begins to tell the story.

- The Baron tells Rook that the raiders began operating from the Galena mountains approximately twenty years ago, but were only a minor problem until about twelve years ago when the northern Kingdom of Calador fell, replaced by the Kingdom of Vaasa under the rule of a powerful ‘Witch King’. The raiders were already dangerous, but desperate refugees swelled their ranks and within two years the bandits had become a small but formidable. However, since the death of King Virdin of Damara, the Barony of Bloodstone has found itself alone and isolated, and the Bandit Army has grown in power and strength.

- When it became clear that the Bandit Army could easily destroy the villagers, the Baron sued for peace, and agreed to pay an annual tribute. His people might go hungry during the long winter, but at least they were alive. He gave up hope of resistance, and settled for survival. However last year, the bandits took an additional tribute of slaves... young women and some of the stronger young men. It was then that the Baron resolved to seek aid from the outside world.

- According to the Baron, the bandit army is well-trained and at least a thousand strong. Its members include humans, orcs, goblins, and similar scum. The Baron has also seen wyverns, giants, and other monsters. He knows that the enemy force has at least one warlock and a dark priest but he doesn’t know any details. He also believes that the Bandit Army is connected to the League of Assassins who slew many of King Virdin’s nobles across Damara in a single night, plunging the former kingdom into near anarchy.

- The Baron does not know if there are spies or assassins within the Barony, but he considers it possible.

- He also doesn’t know the location of the enemy camp, but believes it to be in the mountains somewhere to the east - probably within 3-4 days ride.

- Although the Baron is technically the ruler of the entire valley, he maintains a cordial relationship with communities of dwarves, halflings and centaurs in the valley. They cannot be counted upon as allies as it currently stands as they have not been directly threatened by the Bandit Army (to his knowledge).

- In terms of the citizens of Bloodstone, they have done what they can to prepare for the eventual conflict. The main Bloodstone ‘regular’ force consists of 480 men-at-arms, drafted from the villagers, half of them armed with swords and shields, and the other half with spears and shields. Roughly two thirds of the ‘regular’ force can be mobilised quickly, with the other third within a day (as they come from further away).

- The Bloodstone citizens also have a group of Huntsman (numbering 160) armed with longbows. They are not used to working together as they typically operate in small skirmish groups (for hunting).

- Finally, there are 480 other individuals in the Bloodstone valley - teenagers, women and older men who could be drafted during wartime to serve in the Bloodstone Militia. The Baron worries about putting these individuals in jeopardy given the devastating impact that it may have on morale, but he is counting on Rook to help organise the people into a ‘Bloodstone Army’ and be ready for the Bandits.

- Rook then asks about morale, and the Baron explains candidly that it is very low at the present. They may also be frightened that Garlen and Garvin have only brought back a single person (Rook goes outside, and demonstrates his strength by lifting a horse to prove he is supernaturally strong). Rook gets the impression that their morale will lift when Griffin arrives with cavalry reinforcements.

- Rook then asks about how the Bandits typically approach the village when collecting tribute. The Baron explains that they only send a small force, perhaps of 120-150 humanoids, with some monsters as additional ‘muscle’, plus horses and pack mules to cart away the harvest. Their normal procedure is to halt their main body out of town, then their leaders ride in to meet with the Baron. The Baron and other leading citizens must meet the visitors on foot, and are sometimes degraded by the enemy. The villagers cart out the harvest under supervision, and load it on the pack animals. The enemy leaders normally keep their men disciplined, but last year the tribute force rode into town and raised hell, burning huts, killing helpless people, and stealing anything of value they could find. The Baron warns that there is danger in attacking the tribute force, for if even a single man escapes to tell the enemy leader what happened, the bandits will spare no effort to ensure that the village is wiped out to the last man, woman, and child.



… and that’s where we ended Session 108. Partly because I’d given David (Grant) a lot of information and I wanted him to think over what to do next.



GM’s Advice to David

- So for Session 109, I would strongly suggest that you talk through what Grant is going to do, but then don’t play through hour by hour. Many activities will take days (eg: training troops, digging ditches, repairing walls, building improvised defences). Skip ahead days if you like. There are encounters/interactions to be had - and I’ll call them out as they occur.



I’ll give you a final warning - if you try to try and squish the Bandit Army by yourself, there will be consequences for Grant. Be careful - if Grant tries to single-handedly beat the Bandits without helping the villagers to do it themselves, what do you think will happen the next time that the Bandits (or another group like them) threaten the village of Bloodstone? - The village of Bloodstone is situated on the shore Lake Midai where the Beaumaris River runs into the mountains to the south. It was once a centre of commerce and trade. There are a few signs of old mansions, now torn down or burnt in the fields where farmers labour.- The village is small. The stone defensive wall that once protected it is broken in many places. The road leads through the town gate. The wooden doors sag from their hinges, unable to close.- The citizens of Bloodstone gather silently to watch Rook’s arrival. These are poor people, fearful and distrustful of outsiders. Rook watches their sullen faces as he walks into town. According to Garlen and Gavin there are about a thousand people here in total, but many are women, children and the elderly. Garlen and Garvin have assured him that they will fight as hard as the men, but the sight of these people does not fill Rook with confidence. Many of the men are armed, but they carry only the crudest of weapons - homemade spears and longswords of inferior make. A few woodsmen carry bows. All in all, not a promising lot from which to build an army.- Garlen and Garvin seem embarrassed as the people of Bloodstone stop and stare but offer no greeting for Rook. They lead him through the narrow streets of the town, past the poor huts and small shops to an inn.- The inn is as rude as poor as the rest of the town, but obviously it was once a fine place. A battered, weather-worn sign of a clown juggling bottles of wine hangs above the door, announcing this as the Inn of the Clowns.- Garlen and Garvin have told Rook that it was once famous throughout Damara. It used to be frequented by travellers, traders and entertainers. Even nobles from far and near used to come but those days seem to be long gone.- A heavyset man with a bushy blonde beard comes out, wiping his hands on an apron. He greets Rook, introduces himself and welcomes him to his home. Stephan is the first villager who seems genuinely glad to see Rook.- Assuming that Rook has travelled far, Stephan welcomes his guest inside and organises a comfortable room and good food for him. Stephen tells Rook that his home is now Rook’s home too. He calls out Raquel and Carlotta from the kitchens where they have been doing meal preparations, and they seem pleased to have a guest. Raquel has long blonde hair, and Carlotta has dark hair.- After eating heartily, Rook inspects his room. It is basic, but comfortable enough. Stephan asks Garlen and Garvin how they got back so quickly, but the boys do not reveal Rook’s secret (as he asked them not to). However they do tell Stephan how Rook and Griffin thrashed a group of monsters (which sounds so ridiculous that Stephen wonders if Rook could be a sorcerer or illusionist to have confused the boys so) and that Griffin is recruiting an army to help the village. Stephan just accepts the situation and decides to give Rook the benefit of the doubt.- Rook spends the rest of the day looking over the village, escorted by Garlen and Garvin. He sizes up the existing defences - from the broken walls to the north to Lake Midai which protects the village’s western flank, to the Beaumaris River which offers some protection to the south and east.- In Rook’s opinion, the defences are weak but he is counting on Ethan (Griffin) to bolster them when he arrives. The Beaumaris River is swift flowing and it would be difficult for an army to ford, which suggests to him that the main threat is to the north.- Some kids begin to follow Rook as he surveys the village. Garlen and Garvin continue to accompany Rook, answering questions and pointing out things of interest. For example, they comment that the nearby lake (Midai) has a monster in it which prevents anyone fishing from it. Rook thinks the monster could be useful, and decides to ponder it further.- After a time, Garlen and Garvin excuse themselves to inform the Baron that Rook has arrived. The kids grow bolder - two boys and two girls.- Rook meets Olaf the Blacksmith (at #4 in the map), a stout, well muscled and friendly fellow who agrees to make Rook some heavy throwing knives when requested. Olaf mentions that iron is in short supply - they haven’t had any from either the dwarves or the southern towns in many months.- At the General Store (#5 on the map), Rook meets Geoff and his wife Katrine. Both are friendly. It turns out that one of the boys and one of the girls that are following Rook around are theirs.- At the Bakery (#6 on the map), Rook is greeted by Benjamin and his wife Anna. They have six children, two of which have been following Rook around. Rook notes that not only do they bake bread, but they also make simple pies and pastries.- At the Butcher (#7 on the map) is big Harald, ruddy-faced and very friendly.- At the Fletcher (#8 on the map), Rook meets Jamison who is a handsome and friendly fellow. Rook inspects Jamison’s handiwork and tests out one of his bows. It is of fine quality and he buys it. Jamison is pleased with the sale, asks where Rook is staying and then says that he’ll see him for a drink that evening. Rook feels that he’s met a possible friend here.- At the Tanner and Leatherworker (#9 on the map), Rook meets Baird, an immensely fat, bearded fellow.- At the Carpenter shop (#10 on the map), Rook marvels at the beautiful ornate carvings that adorn the shop. The carpenter himself is a very thin man and clearly an ‘artist’. He says his name is Curtis, and Rook is impressed enough to buy some of his carvings as keepsakes.- At the Tailor/Weaver (#11 on the map), Rook meets an older man who is nearly blind from fine needlework, but his work is of very high quality. Rook is so impressed that he asks Felix to make him some suitable garments, which he agrees to make.- Rook has a look at the Abbey (#2 on the map) but decides not to venture into it without asking Garlen and Garvin more about the religion here.- By the afternoon, Rook has satisfied himself that the town needs him and it is woefully unprepared. Even when the huntsmen return from their foraging, they don’t appear to be a real fighting force - just a band of hunters. Garlen and Garvin meet up with Rook again and advise him that the Baron would like to meet him for dinner. Garlen suggests that he freshen up before the meeting, and they venture that they will do the same.- Stephan organises for some water to be boiled so that Rook can have a proper bath. Then he changes into some suitable attire and is escorted by Garlen and Garvin (both of whom have dressed up) to the baronial manor house (#3 on the map).- There, Rook is introduced to Baron Geoffrey Tranth.- At the table with the Baron is Quillan (the Baron’s elderly adviser), the Abbot Aldric (a well dressed man who seems unfriendly), Stephan (the Innkeeper, but is now dressed up), and the Baron’s blonde-haired daughter Aelfwynn.- After the initial welcome, the group sits down for dinner and many courses of dinner. The Baron and Quillan ask polite questions about Rook and where he comes from. Rook tries to ask questions about the current situation but he is asked to defer his questions until after dinner. The conversation shifts back to Rook and he is asked to tell them of his adventures, and also about Griffin. Rook tells them what happened at the Circus of Doctor Trundles but the story sounds so epic as to be an exaggeration. Not wanting to insult the Baron’s guest, the Abbot asks Garlen and Garvin about what they saw, and he is surprised to hear Rook’s account being verified.- Rook is a little vague about where they have travelled as he does not know the geography of these lands, but he says that both he and Griffin are adventurers. The Baron asks if they have battlefield experience and Rook assures them that he has commanded armies before.- Rook gets the impression that the group do not completely believe his story. Moreover, they are surprised that Garlen and Garvin have only brought back two heroes, and somehow the two teenagers made it back to Bloodstone much faster than expected.- At the conclusion of the meal, the Baron offers Rook lodgings in his castle but Rook respectfully declines, preferring to stay in the Inn.- After dinner, Garlen and Garvin are formally thanked by the Baron for their help in delivering aid to the village. They are dismissed, and the group retires to a nearby sitting room.- In the sitting room, fine wine is poured and the men produce pipes and tobacco. Aelfwynn sits by the window and listens as her father, Baron Tranth, begins to tell the story.- The Baron tells Rook that the raiders began operating from the Galena mountains approximately twenty years ago, but were only a minor problem until about twelve years ago when the northern Kingdom of Calador fell, replaced by the Kingdom of Vaasa under the rule of a powerful ‘Witch King’. The raiders were already dangerous, but desperate refugees swelled their ranks and within two years the bandits had become a small but formidable. However, since the death of King Virdin of Damara, the Barony of Bloodstone has found itself alone and isolated, and the Bandit Army has grown in power and strength.- When it became clear that the Bandit Army could easily destroy the villagers, the Baron sued for peace, and agreed to pay an annual tribute. His people might go hungry during the long winter, but at least they were alive. He gave up hope of resistance, and settled for survival. However last year, the bandits took an additional tribute of slaves... young women and some of the stronger young men. It was then that the Baron resolved to seek aid from the outside world.- According to the Baron, the bandit army is well-trained and at least a thousand strong. Its members include humans, orcs, goblins, and similar scum. The Baron has also seen wyverns, giants, and other monsters. He knows that the enemy force has at least one warlock and a dark priest but he doesn’t know any details. He also believes that the Bandit Army is connected to the League of Assassins who slew many of King Virdin’s nobles across Damara in a single night, plunging the former kingdom into near anarchy.- The Baron does not know if there are spies or assassins within the Barony, but he considers it possible.- He also doesn’t know the location of the enemy camp, but believes it to be in the mountains somewhere to the east - probably within 3-4 days ride.- Although the Baron is technically the ruler of the entire valley, he maintains a cordial relationship with communities of dwarves, halflings and centaurs in the valley. They cannot be counted upon as allies as it currently stands as they have not been directly threatened by the Bandit Army (to his knowledge).- In terms of the citizens of Bloodstone, they have done what they can to prepare for the eventual conflict. The main Bloodstone ‘regular’ force consists of 480 men-at-arms, drafted from the villagers, half of them armed with swords and shields, and the other half with spears and shields. Roughly two thirds of the ‘regular’ force can be mobilised quickly, with the other third within a day (as they come from further away).- The Bloodstone citizens also have a group of Huntsman (numbering 160) armed with longbows. They are not used to working together as they typically operate in small skirmish groups (for hunting).- Finally, there are 480 other individuals in the Bloodstone valley - teenagers, women and older men who could be drafted during wartime to serve in the Bloodstone Militia. The Baron worries about putting these individuals in jeopardy given the devastating impact that it may have on morale, but he is counting on Rook to help organise the people into a ‘Bloodstone Army’ and be ready for the Bandits.- Rook then asks about morale, and the Baron explains candidly that it is very low at the present. They may also be frightened that Garlen and Garvin have only brought back a single person (Rook goes outside, and demonstrates his strength by lifting a horse to prove he is supernaturally strong). Rook gets the impression that their morale will lift when Griffin arrives with cavalry reinforcements.- Rook then asks about how the Bandits typically approach the village when collecting tribute. The Baron explains that they only send a small force, perhaps of 120-150 humanoids, with some monsters as additional ‘muscle’, plus horses and pack mules to cart away the harvest. Their normal procedure is to halt their main body out of town, then their leaders ride in to meet with the Baron. The Baron and other leading citizens must meet the visitors on foot, and are sometimes degraded by the enemy. The villagers cart out the harvest under supervision, and load it on the pack animals. The enemy leaders normally keep their men disciplined, but last year the tribute force rode into town and raised hell, burning huts, killing helpless people, and stealing anything of value they could find. The Baron warns that there is danger in attacking the tribute force, for if even a single man escapes to tell the enemy leader what happened, the bandits will spare no effort to ensure that the village is wiped out to the last man, woman, and child.… and that’s where we ended Session 108. Partly because I’d given David (Grant) a lot of information and I wanted him to think over what to do next.- So for Session 109, I would strongly suggest that you talk through what Grant is going to do, but then don’t play through hour by hour. Many activities will take days (eg: training troops, digging ditches, repairing walls, building improvised defences). Skip ahead days if you like. There are encounters/interactions to be had - and I’ll call them out as they occur.I’ll give you a final warning - if you try to try and squish the Bandit Army by yourself, there will be consequences for Grant. Be careful - if Grant tries to single-handedly beat the Bandits without helping the villagers to do it themselves, what do you think will happen the next time that the Bandits (or another group like them) threaten the village of Bloodstone?