Trouble in Miller's Bend - Part 2

Session 2 Recap

General Summary

After spending a quiet and restful night in Andrew Sandberg's lodgings, the party joins the Sandbergs for breakfast. Andrew apologizes that he has nothing extravagant to offer them, having helped them so much the night before. The party quickly dismisses his concerns, letting him know that they are more than happy to be of help. During their meal, they are joined by the aged local constable, a human veteran of the last war named Travert. He echoes Andrew's thanks for helping to break up the altercation the previous night, as he was already at home when the trouble began, then starts telling them what limited information he has about the miscreants over a steaming plate of eggs and sausage. The young men, he recounts, seem to hail from the north, perhaps back in Nettle Lake(Town), and spend most of their days off hiding somewhere. The group only arrives in the hamlet in the late afternoon, usually accompanied by their leader, a man named Verant. The constable remarks that in his youth, he would likely have been able to diffuse the situation himself, but admits that these days, he's little more than a scout on the road. While he is able to locate potential trouble, he hasn't the strength of arms left to do much about it. Andrew chimes in that, regardless, the people of Miller's Bend are fond of Travert's presence and feel better with him on the watch. The old watchman thanks the innkeeper and takes one last sausage link from his plate before heading out on his patrol, promising to keep an eye out for trouble on the road. After the constable leaves, the party starts trying to hash out their plan of action when Cindy is heard screaming from the back room. Everyone rushes into the kitchen to find out what is happening, only to find a trio of gang members holding her at knife point. There is a tense standoff where the miscreants admit that they weren't planning to hurt her, they just wanted to "take her away to teach her a lesson," which enrages Bara who almost attacks the thugs, but is talked down by her allies. Eventually, after much posturing and negotiation, the party is able to convince them to release Cindy in exchange for letting them escape. The thugs circle around to the door and push her free, making a break for the woods, but the party rushes them as soon as Cindy is safe, following them into the forest. The thugs scatter in the woodline, and the party splits up to follow them, but Bara and Qas quickly lose track of their quarry so two manage to escape rather quickly. Rayne, however, catches up to one young man and tackles him to the ground, grappling with him until he pulls a knife on her and takes a swing. Enraged, she punches him squarely in the face with her spiked gauntlets and ends up blinding the boy, and very nearly killing him. Timely intervention from Bara saves the young man's life, but not his eyes, and the broken-spirited lad gives up the location of his former allies in exchange for leniency. After taking him back to the inn, the party leaves the pacified troublemaker in the care of Andrew and Cindy, readying themselves to track down the gang at their camp.