Session 1-05: The Hand Rat Rocks the Cradle

General Summary

Year 116 on Geltag the 15th day of Kalt

Late in the day at the Stables behind the Dead Raven Tavern A skaven standing over the body of Tristan motions at Hellah to come in as she peers into the stable from the street. The skaven then backs up and leans against the stable wall as Sypha comes up from behind Hellah to assess the situation. The skaven starts to talk in the skaven tongue at Hellah the other invader that spoke his native language four short days ago when they came to a peace accord. The other speaker of his tongue was Carillius whom he left late last night in a snowy pass. The skraven, Qhreetch, tells of an assault last night by 4 large humans on horseback. They ambushed them as the skaven clan was attempting to depart from the valley on this groups request. The Imp, your friend was also nearby and came to aid the Skaven. However, they were overwhelmed and many where killed. Qhreetch managed to drag a few of his kith to safety with Carillius before one of the young skaven pups was taken and drug off by the hunters. Qhreetch left Carillius who caught an arrow, with the remaining survivors to trail the horsemen. The wound through the forest for hours but eventually turned there the trail to Pine Grove. Qhreetch is finishing up his tale as Sodrin and Malor walk up and join in. A quick recap to catch them up occurs as Sodrin sees the horsemen described by the skaven as he is talking pass by through an alleyway on the main street of the town. Sodrin yells out to get the attention of the guards, as they ride past the alleyway with the small skaven pup, half lead and half stumbling and pulled behind them. The horsemen do not seem to care and keep moving into the main courtyard near the noble Staddard’s keep. Sodrin pursues them trying to catch up, calling for them to stop and release the skaven. The rest of the group follows, save Tycone, who is just now entering the same courtyard near staddard’s keep. Tycone has the draft horse belonging to Tristan in tow. Tycone now sees four horsemen riding into the courtyard with a skaven tied behind being forced to march to keep up. Minutes later in the Courtyard outside the Keep Sodryn continues to yell at the riders, as Tycone moves to intercept them, blocking their path about 100 feet from the entrance to Staddard’s keep. Tycone demands they stop and release the skaven pup. Blocked, the four riders stop. They are burly men all, wearing helmets and furs to keep warm in the cold winter air. Their horses are packed with bedrolls and saddlebags indicating they are at home on the road. All the riders have round shields strapped to their backs. You could see short bows for shooting while mounted. Axes and some blades on their belts as well. The lead rider has a small set of antlers affixed to his helmet, and at his blockage starts to talk. The Antlered rider tells Tycone to stand down, and get out of his way. They are on business for Staddard and will continue. Tycone response with grabbing the reins of the horseman pulling the skaven. Things start to escalate fast after this. Sodrin and Tycone demand the release of the Skaven. The lead rider warns states he is in no way bound to this group of nobodies’ desires; that he is acting under the orders of Staddard and on his way to Staddard now. As Tycone continues to demand the skaven’s release. The rider lets him know that they are the road wardens of the Valley of Pine Grove, and will not, release this prisoner to an unknown commoner. Their job is to deliver him to Staddard’s keep 100 feet away. Stand down and release my warden. As the rest of the group falls in behind Sodrin, Malor takes up a sniper position in a loft window on the edge of the courtyard. And Sypha pushes up closing the distance with Sodrin. A warning shot is fired by one of the riders in front of Sodrin with the warning to hold their ground. Sodrin stops at the arrow. Tycone continues to argue, pulling the rider from his horse and grabbing him. Sypha pushes past Sodrin continuing to advance, getting a warning arrow of her own. The lead rider handling the assault of his man fairly well tells Tycone that if he releases his man; and lets them pass he will overlook his transgression on them. Sypha ignores the warning and boldly continues forward, this third warning arrow nicks off her armor plates. Malor now let’s lose an arrow into the mounted archer. The fight begins in earnest, with Tycone breathing fire on the leader and his horse and one of the still mounted archers. Sypha starts casting a spell shooting shadowy bolts of force that impact the archer that fired at her and Sodrin. On the far side of the courtyard, Carillius and Reece are talking. Carillius had left at first light and made for the town and ran into Reece the guard captain for the town. Having told Reece of the ambush they were making their way to Staddard’s and emerged into the battle in progress. At this point both Reece and Carillius dash in trying to yell over the battle. This as Malor puts another arrow into a horseman. Sypha casts another shadow bolt into the second horsemen who slumps over his horse, dropping his bow. Tycone and the Lead Rider exchange another round of blows, Tycone looking a bit worse for wear. “Garth, stand down!” yells Reece at the lead rider. “What is the meaning of this conflict.” Continues Reece. “These meddling passersby assaulted my men. When asked to stand down, they continued to press in and started to attack.” Garth replied. Holding his attack, but no pulling his gaze from Tycone. “These men were dragging a skaven child behind there horses are refuse to stop” spoke Sodrin, now moving to close with Reece. As Garth held his attack, Tycone and all others also hold from attacking. Nobody putting down their weapons. Nobody standing down their stances. Weapons bared and ready for any reason to release the potential energy stored in their arms wrists and hands as the staring match continued. As this very uneasy peace continues for another couple of breaths. Reece continues to inquire on what happened. Garth lowers his weapon first, and all but the hunter Kevin drug off his horse who has the skaven child held tight to him backs off, as the party also starts to lower weapons. Sodrin and Garth continue to talk about the events leading up to this. Garth says that he is only trying to get this prisoner to Staddard, and nothing less then Staddard will dissuade him from his task. Reece sends Sodrin the 100 feet to the noble’s keep to request him on the scene. It takes a score of minutes but the Noble Staddard comes out of his keep flanked by four of his house guards. Move conversation, Sodrin talks of the peace treaty that the group created a few short days ago, the one Staddard was only given the word late in the day on the 12th of Kalt himself. Garth who speaks and works for the crown, was unaware of any truce made by the rabble before him and turns over the captive to Staddard. This is true as the road wardens wander the roads of the valley and do not come into town but every week or two. Staddard asks for the prisoner to be presented to him. Garth asks Staddard, “If these new people are going to take over guarding the valley?” but does not wait for a reply. They turn and the road wardens scowl at the dragonborn Tycone as they ride out of the court yard. Sodrin feels reparations need to be made, by the hunters, to the skaven, Staddard does not feel that would end well, instead, he gives Sodrin the skaven child> Sodrin goes to him and heals him. Hellah notices the older skaven Qhreetch watching from the roof tops, but when approached, he disappears back to the stable. Malor and Reece talk after Staddard goes back inside his keep with his 4 guards. Reece indicates that while he does not like the road wardens, they serve a necessary evil. After the army was wiped out there was an encroaching of nature and highwaymen on the roads. Without the ability to rebuild his army, the road wardens were hired to help protect the valley. Reece does not like them, and they are normally disturbing the peace when in town. Reluctantly however he admits that the roads are safer with them out there. Since they tend to stay out on the roads and out of the towns, he minds his tongue unless they cross the line. Even the army back in the day would blow off steam when they came into town on leave. Back at the stables behind the Dead Raven The group moves back to the stables and sees Tristan is gone, however, Qhreetch is lurking in the shadows of the stable once more. The young rat, Krekch, is freed and is given a slap to the back of its head by the older one; before he pulls him in close for a hug.