Session 3: Betrayal Costs 20 Gold Report

The party, consisting of Flynt Coal, Octavius, Adolfas Palantinos, and Torvald Elmore set out on another adventure into the wilderness and ruin. On this occasion the party decided to head westward, as that region had not been explored by any of the companies yet.

The first night of their travels the party unexpectedly came upon the Great Dike that flows forth from the waters of Lake Ambrose all the way to Dorithin. Octavius was the trailblazer for their party, but on that night his eyes were not as keen as he would have hoped. It happened quickly, first he sighted the knee high walls of the dike only a foot or two ahead, then he tried to alter his horse's course. Luck was not with him that day, for the horse continued onward and carried the two of them right into the waters of the Great Dike.

Torvald saves Octavius.

After the Great Dike incident the party attempted to forge the dike using ropes, and were quite successful in that regard. The gear was moved across with ease, but trouble did stir in the woods just beyond the immediate sight of the party. Whilst Torvald was on the far side of the dike, he first noticed a bit of rustling as figures emerged from the woods. They were animal like beings more so than men, wearing tattered robes of grey, but with sharp noses whose nostrils flared as they scanned the area with an inescapable sense of smell. Their eyes were like those of a cat, narrowed and dilated in the morning sunlight. Finally, their hands were long and claw like, caked in dirt and dried blood from a long period devoid of proper grooming. It was these things that emerged, and they were quick to attack. They bore strange symbols upon their heads, and Anagram of the letters N and Z that swirled with intricacies and detail. It was like nothing they had ever seen before.

Party fights, Adolfas beams one into the water with one of the gear bags

Once the fight ended, the party continued their westward travel until they reached a small village on the eve of night. It at first seemed desolate to the party, for no smoke emanated from the rough stone chimneys, and the fields around the village lay mostly fallow to their eyes.

People in the village, party negotiates with Almeric, who is their leader. He tells them of a "bandit" leader and his band who have been attacking the village and exhorting it for money and supplies.

Party spents next day or two preparing wooden fence defenses in the village to defend it. The party had the unfortunate burden of having the watchman fall asleep at his post on both nights of their stay. This was of great detriment to them, even if they were not aware of it at the time. The morning the fighting began, the party was rudely awaked by the sight of the bandits outside of the village and the sound of their leader calling in to challenge them. He called himself Ansor, defender of the innocent and the most noble man in the west, and he wore armor of scales and fur, and at his side carried a great sword of sharpened steel.

Adolfas and Flynt stepped forward to speak with Ansor with the intention of angering him and causing him to rashly attack. This plan, however, fell through when the greed of the two party members became evident for all to see. They began to speak to Ansor, but were tempted by his words that questioned their motives and position. He told them that there was a great chance that the village would fall and they would die, but that it was not necessary because defending this place was not their charge.

Flynt and Adolfas took 20 gold and defected, leaving the party with the option to stand against Ansor while weakened or surrender. The party chose the latter, and was offered 10 gold for their delayed acquiescence. Only Marquarius took the money, but he donated it to the village before leaving.

The party split from that point, with Adolfas and Flynt surging ahead to quickly reach Gallows Rock before any complications came from their decision.

Octavius and Torvald followed

The first group reached Gallows Rock first and they gave account of their adventure and were paid.

The next day the second group arrived and filled in the gaps left out by the first group.

Lord Koldo called both groups back and questioned them both closely. Marquarius had left during this time to escape any possible punishment.

Flynt was given 30 lashes for abandoning with honor and post to an enemy, and was badly beaten. Adolfas was given 20 for the same charges, and was beaten to near death and now walks with a limb because of the torn muscles in his back.

Octavius and Torvald had to pay the accused 10 gold each for the hardships endured at the village and the indefensible nature of the village.