CHAPTER ONE: It all starts, oddly enough, in a tavern...

[Gelatinous Q]

"Very well then, gentlemen," Captain Ollenstask replies. "I'll take my leave of you. Until I see you at the Marner Gate!" He gives a wry half-salute, then climbs the stairs.

OOC: Savik, PM me the question(s) you want to put to the proprietors/patrons, and I'll respond in kind. Unless we hear otherwise, Gordon will remain at the table keeping an eye on the room while you complete your interrogation. Once this bit of business is taken care of, we're on the road.

[Nuke66]

Gordon gladly accepts the offer of a shared room, since that is all he can afford at the moment. In the morning, he say a quick prayer, and orders breakfast of ham, cheese and bread "Can you wrap another for the road please Ysolde" He pays for everything with his last gold, "keep the rest" he says to Ysolde



He waits for the rest of the group to assemble and heads for the gate.

OCC: updated char sheet, a broke 1/2 elf.

[Argennian]

After Savik meanders through the bar speaking with the Grisbies and possibly the drunkard bard about this mystery patroness of Captain Ollenstask, he'll pay for his meal, wine and tea. As there's none interested in sharing a room, he'll pay for one for himself.

Any intelligence he can gather that evening, he'll be sure to write in his journal and keep to himself until such time as he and the others have had their audience with the wizardess and can discuss her offer in private.



OOC: Character sheet updated to reflect money spent!

[Gelatinous Q]

1 Patchwall, 576 CY
Ratikhill, Marner Gate at dawn

The rains have dissipated overnight leaving only a thin gauze of clouds in the pre-dawn light. The chill lingers, though, in the silent, muddy streets of Ratikhill. It is unmistakably autumn.

Just a minute or two’s walk from the Marble Harpy, the Marner Gate stands open. You pass through and two guards, warming themselves by a small campfire while propped on their voulges, nod lazily at you. Captain Ollenstask and his two men stand off to the left about 50 yards beyond the gate, busy preparing tack and harness. In total there are seven horses, including the soldiers’, and three pack mules.

Captain Ollenstask waves as he sees you approach.

“Slept like the dead, I trust?” he says. “That’s fine, that’s fine. We’ve purchased an extra pack mule to accommodate the small ones there.” He indicates Bran and Ulf. “I hope you don’t mind sharing mounts for the moment.” He digs his boot into the muddy road. “I’m afraid these roads will be a bit slower going than usual. They were no joy to ride yesterday, I can assure you.”

“We’re ready,” Sergeant Dalthellan calls out.

“Gentlemen, you can pick your mount and we’ll be off,” the Captain says. “But before you do, you should know that I was discrete to a fault last night owing to our company. You may have arrived at this knowledge already, but the mistress I represent is the wizardess Alcastra. I would be less than honest if I were to say she enjoys a fair reputation hereabouts, for reasons Celestian only knows. I’ll vouch for milady with my dying breath, but if you’re one of ‘em that reads treachery into her every gesture, I’ll give you the chance to cut out now at no loss of honor.”

He scans each of your faces intently.

[Alethan]

Bran shrugs.

"The name means little to me, for I'm not that familiar with the area or the locals. But the sign said to follow you, so that's where I'll go."

He climbs on top of the pack mule, slightly uncomfortable riding such a beast, and settles in, waiting patiently for the others to mount up.

[Argennian]

Savik bows his head in a respectful gesture toward the captain as he makes for one of the smaller mares.

"I, for one, look forward to making her acquaintance, captain", offers the wood elf as he mounts his horse, adjusts his gear and waits on the others.

[Opabinia]

Glogs holds his tongue and gets on the cleanest horse he can find.

[onlyme]

Maclyr sees or hears nothing to change his mind. He arranges his gear on his horse and asks, .I remember hearing of a small advance, are we advised to purchase things now? Or after hearing your employer?

He assumes the latter. Advances always come after.

[emirikol57]

Ulf climbs atop the pack mule and quietly talks to Bran: It isn't the size of the dog in a fight, it is the size of the fight in the dog that matters!

[Nuke66]

As he approaches the Captain, Gordon waves back. He scans the horses and picks out the most 'lively' one, taking time to inspect the tack himself. By the time the explanation ended, Gordon held the gaze of the captain. 'Honorable men are at least predictable' he thinks to himself. He stows his pack and swings into the saddle. "ready to head out"

[Gelatinous Q]

OOC: OK guys, I need a riding order. Figure on two riders abreast on the road, Sgt. Dalthellan riding point, Ollenstask and the third soldier from Alcastra's garrison (Kinghalter) forming the rear guard. Don't forget there are two pack mules in the mix, and that Bran and Ulf share a mount, as well.

[Dalthellan]
[Rider 1] [Rider 2]
[Rider 3] [Rider 4]
[Rider 5]
[pack mule 1] [pack mule 2]
[Kinghalter] [Ollenstask]

[Alethan]

OOC: Bran would be good with the Rider 3 or Rider 4 position, if Ulf agrees.

[Nuke66]

OCC: any position is good for me, riding with the Bow prepared

[emirikol57]

3 or 4 works for me as well

[Argennian]

OCC: any position is good for me, riding with the Bow prepared

OOC: Unless Gordon is riding in the front rank with Sgt. Dalthellan, Savik will ride next to him. Otherwise, he'll stay in the rank behind, on the opposite side, his shortbow out and ready for immediate deployment if needed!

[Nuke66]

I will summarize in the interest of time...

Dalthellan
Gordon Savik
Bran/Ulf Glogs
Maclyr
mule1 mule2
kinghalter ollenstask

[Gelatinous Q]

I will summarize in the interest of time...

Dalthellan
Gordon Savik
Bran/Ulf Glogs
Maclyr
mule1 mule2
kinghalter ollenstask

Good call. You might start thinking about if/how this order will change once you've shed yourself of your escort.

[Gelatinous Q]

“The advance will be at the lady’s discretion,” Ollenstask replies to Iomhar as he mounts his horse. “We best get underway.”

And so, with Sergeant Dalthellan assuming point, you do. The first hour of the trip you follow the Marner Road as it grades down out of the foothills and into high plains. As the ground levels off, you turn off on a spur-road — little more than a cart track — headed due west: the Loegrimm Valley Road. This road fringes a section of the Timberway Forest the locals refer to as the Grimmleaf.

A stiff wind picks up by mid-morning.

Toward late morning, Captain Ollenstask draws the caravan to a halt to water the horses at a roadside spring. It is here you see him: on a low ridge running parallel to the road, about 300 yards distant, a lone rider astride a massive black warhorse, standing still, watching. You exchange gazes for a pregnant moment, then, as if he can sense your eyes on him, he turns and canters lazily behind the ridge and out of view.

“Shall I ride after him, Captain?” Sergeant Kinghalter asks.

“Hmm,” Ollenstask responds, shaking his head. “Let’s press on. Should he show himself again, we shall have to make his acquaintance.”

The rest of your trip passes without incident. As mid-afternoon approaches, the form of a stone tower atop a bare knoll starts to resolve itself off to your left. Soon enough there’s a turn-off and a steep switchback climb to the surrounding timber palisade. At the approach road, Ollenstask breaks ranks and rides ahead. When you reach the gate, now standing open, he is waiting there for you.

“Gentlemen,” he announces, “you are now the bidden guests of Alcastra.” He leads you through the gate and around a short ring-road, pulling up just outside the tower’s entrance. A stablehand is there to greet you as you dismount.

“You shall excuse me while I have a brief word with milady,” he says. He opens the tower’s heavy oaken double doors, strides in and closes them behind him. Dalthellan and Kinghalter assume guard positions on either side of the doors.



Description: The tower is made of granite blocks, 50’ tall, 40’ per side. It is surrounded by a 10’ earthen rampart which is topped with a 12’ wooden palisade. The outbuildings in the courtyard are all wood constructions.

Key:

2: Cavalry Barracks
3: Stables
4: Captain Ollenstask's private quarters
6: Garrison mess

[Argennian]

When Savik sees the dark rider in the distance, he immediately becomes edgy, and from that point on, begins looking all around the perimeter of their party with twice the vigilance. He breathes a sigh of relief as they begin up the switchbacks and close upon the tower. He takes careful note on the approach to the main gate, of the earthen rampart, the guard positions (that he can see), the walls and positioning of the main tower, as well as any possible alternative exits once within.

Savik dismounts with the others, slinging his bow and adjusting his gear. He looks around casually, eventually walking to where he can easily be within speaking range. "Any ideas on who that rider in black could be, friends? For some reason it seemed, at least momentarily, as if our good captain might have recognized him, or at least suspected his pedigree..."

[Gelatinous Q]

When Savik sees the dark rider in the distance, he immediately becomes edgy, and from that point on, begins looking all around the perimeter of their party with twice the vigilance. He breathes a sigh of relief as they begin up the switchbacks and close upon the tower. He takes careful note on the approach to the main gate, of the earthen rampart, the guard positions (that he can see), the walls and positioning of the main tower, as well as any possible alternative exits once within.

Savik dismounts with the others, slinging his bow and adjusting his gear. He looks around casually, eventually walking to where he can easily be within speaking range. "Any ideas on who that rider in black could be, friends? For some reason it seemed, at least momentarily, as if our good captain might have recognized him, or at least suspected his pedigree..."

Sgt. Dalthellan is the first to respond to Savik's query, in a smirking tone you haven't heard out of him before: "I'm quite certain the Captain hasn't the faintest recollection of the rider. Put Old Bucket-o'-Guts in the saddle for more than a coupla hours and his memory goes as soft as a bowl of whey."

"Watch your tongue, Theodurn!" Sgt. Kinghalter snaps. "You could find yourself cashiered for such talk! Whoever it was had better hope he didn't run into Sgt. Lasmind's cavalry patrol. Would've had an easier time of it tangling with us, I reckon."