Session 6: Alms for the People

General Summary

21st - 22nd Sharali 234 4E   While talking with Fallili, the party heard a group enter into the village outside, heading towards the village center. Behind the heavy footsteps, a dog's barks and the rattling cart, Odhran could make out the distinctive rustle of mail armor. The three of them headed outside and trailed the newcomers up to the bailiff's house. It soon became clear that these were some of Hrefna's men, eight in total, who had come to collect the supplies that the village was forced to give over. As the majority of them started to haul bags of grain and piles of firewood into their cart, a couple of them headed down the street towards the smithy. Meridas rendered herself invisible with magic and followed after the pair, leaving Avina and Odhran to watch over the main group. As Meridas got to the smithy they arrived to what looked like might be the start of a conflict, with Herrig the blacksmith seemingly reaching a hand behind him to where a heavy hammer lay to the side. Meridas quickly dropped their spell, grabbing the attention of Herrig and freezing his actions for the split moment needed, and dropped into cover before the bandits could see her. While the interaction between Herrig and the bandits didn't continue smoothly, with him not having had the chance to produce all that they had demanded and the bandit's commander threatening to break his hands if double was produced for their next visit, it passed without violence or injury.   The bandits continued to load up their wagon with the food, ale, wood and tools, leaving a couple of hours later just before dusk. The three party members present decided that they would follow and ambush them when they made camp, removing from Hrefna's hands both the supplies and the fighters. As luck would have it Tawny and Willum were arriving at the village just as they left and caught sight of them on the path to Brombie. The party followed after the bandits, encircled them when they made camp, and quickly dispatched of them in the early hours of the night. They managed to keep two armored ones alive, deeming them the ones with the most knowledge, and when they returned to the village they called for Fallili and set about questioning them. They learnt that:  

No-one in the camp really knew what Hrefna was hoping to find at the castle. She just sent a party there to find something, shortly after she came into possession of 'the stone'.

The captive children slept at the back of the camp, next to the horse enclosure.

This group was meant to return to Brombie again in a couple of weeks for more supplies. Other than them no other movement to the village was planned, but once their absence was noticed that might change.

They did not know of any allies or people loyal to Hrefna in the village.

Hrefna would most likely be convinced to leave the safety of the camp if either there was a small force nearby that she could eradicate quickly and easily, or if news arrived that something had been found at the castle ruins.

  With the information gathered from the pair, the party voted and their fates were sealed. They were too big a risk to keep alive. Meridas' dagger quickly removed that risk. They stashed the supplies in one of the rickety houses on the edge of the village, arranging with Fallili to take the tools back to the smithy subtlety the next day, and rested their heads for the night (most in tents they had erected in the derelict structures and Tawny in the warmth and comfort of Fallili's fine house).   In the morning they split up and set off to gather their first supporters from around the village.   Odhran and Meridas first approached Herrig, revealing to him what had happened the day before. While hesitant at first and reluctant to involve himself, the pair convinced him that this was already in motion and would happen with or without him and that his involvement was the best way to secure the safety of both the village and his daughter. With that accepted, the large man quickly got about converting the bandits' tools to be more useful in their efforts. He even said he might have a plan for something to help with the camp's walls.   The pair then headed to the tavern, picking up Tawny on the way, where they planned to speak with Harza. The orc quickly picked up on their hints and with (maybe too much) enthusiasm declared his support.   Willum and Avina in the meantime circled around to the other side of the village, where Ganor the trapper had his home. They tried to sway him to their side but he remained very solid in his desire to stay well out of the whole scenario, stating that none of it was his problem and that he had no reason for him to get involved. The pair managed to open up a sliver of an opening when they informed him of the support they had gathered so far, and left with a tentative agreement to discuss if further at a later point.  

Session Log - Meridas

 

The plan is going well, we're slowly convincing the people of Brombie to join our side - and we have good means to recruit the others.   Even if it all goes to the grave, at least it'll make a good song, hm?

— Meridas Starlight