The Raid on Vernon Village (Pt 1)
Session 1 - Gathering the Defenses
General Summary
- Zenesha and Tarelle completed a guard contract, leaving them in Riverbend.
- While in the Ruddy Rafter Inn, they were approached by Marcus Hallenbrook, who talked to them about a call-to-arms request from the people of Vernon Village, seeking aid from the gnoll invaders harassing them.
- The sisters agreed to hire on with Marcus, sending word to their father in Nettle Lake of their intended extended absence.
- The sisters purchased passage north on the Restile River with Miguel Rafterson and his teenage son, Khevran. Marcus served as a guard on the same vessel.
- After two days of travel upriver, they all arrived in Zettersberg where Marcus headed to meet with his associates at the Rolling Logger Inn.
- The sisters wandered around the small village, eventually deciding to spend the night at the Forked Pine Inn, run by
- The following morning, the sisters met up with Marcus and his allies, including the perpetually tardy David, and began the five day trek around the River's Fingers to Vernon Village.
- During the trek, the group spent time chatting and learning about each other, though many were caravan guards or adventurers who had met each other previously.
- Members - Erron Clark, David Wornbarrow, Horus Brightblade, Genry Zebbel, Halks Millerson, Trevonaire, Acro, Marcus, and Kreven Gnorgrebber.
- The one out-of-place person was the halfling ranger, Acrosaej, who spoke very little without prompt, and often wandered away from the group, catching game for meals.
- Once the group came within sight of Vernon Village, an unnatural plume of smoke could be seen rising from the village. Marcus ordered a double-time, and the group hustled the last couple hours.
- Upon arriving, the group was challenged by a local militiaman at the end of his rope. Marcus talked to the man, and secured passage to meet with the council at the town center.
- The man explained that the gnolls had attacked the night before, taking prisoners and burning some houses during the raid.
- The group arrived at the center of town, where they met with Abel Morrison. Abel described the situation in more detail, describing the worsening violence from the gnolls and the increasing rates of people being taken as slaves.
- Marcus took the more martial members of the volunteer group, including Zenesha, to survey the town while Tarelle stayed at the church of Erastil to offer aid to the wounded.
- Tarelle asked the local accolyte if she could help, but was originally brushed off by Father Brent, the town priest, as he was busy tending to the wounds of an injured man.
- Tarelle healed the severe burns on Timothy Littlehill's face, attracting the attention of Father Brent, who apologized for his terseness, and asked for her continued assistance providing aid to the wounded.
- After helping heal the locals, Tarelle rejoined the group in the town square, where Marcus was discussing defensive options with the other volunteers and local leaders.
- Marcus dispatched three of the volunteers; Genry, Acro, and Halk, to scout the area and look for information on the gnolls.
- The sisters stayed in town to help set up defenses, getting assigned to the northeast side of the village square, where Zenesha's orcish vision would prove most useful.
- Guards claimed to see and hear things in the dark throughout the night, but no attacks on the village were made.
- At the break of dawn the following morning, a tired, dirty, and injured Acro stumbled into the village.
- They reported that the scouts were ambushed in the middle of the night, with Genry and Halk taken by the gnolls. Acro escaped into the night, but blamed themselves and their cowardice for the fate of their comrades.
- Marcus and the sisters calmed and reassured the halfling, piecing together more information about the gnolls and their tactics.
- Marcus, now certain that the gnolls can see in the dark, and use the night to cover their attacks, decided that the following night, during the new moon, is likely to be the next attack.
- The sisters, along with all the remaining militia and volunteers started preparing for the imminent attack.
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