Damn Elf Press

Day 6, 2nd week of early spring, town of Bree

Beck was happy to be away from Middlebury. The woodsman, Higgins, had returned their gear and weapons when he left. The only thing Beck was missing was the silver bracelet that he had taken to the jeweler. The duke of Middlebury had it now and Beck wasn’t going to go back and ask for it.

He and his group made plans to explore Fort Halberd, a small abandoned fort in the hills north of Bree. They would be away from Bree for a day or two. Sheriff John suggested that laying low would be prudent for awhile, just in case the Duke sends more guards to find Beck.

Beck purchases a tent at the Finn’s general store. Does Finn ask questions about what’s been going on? Roll…yes AND other townsfolk in the store do as well. Beck uses his oratory skill to tell what has happened in the past couple days. Roll…SUCCESS! The townsfolk support Beck and congratulate him for finding the missing nobleman. They are clearly on his side if anyone thinks to charge him.

The next day, the weather is cooler today. Beck, Lugan, Felix, and Odette set out for Fort Halberd to the north. They walk a long way, twelve miles, and encounter 8 goblins and 1 worg moving in the grasslands. They are moving southwest towards the Grimshank forest. Felix spots them and cautions the others to drop down and remain hidden. The goblins move on without sighting them.

The small fort is in the distance on a group of hills. A grove of trees is off to one side. The fort shows damage. The moat is dry and the drawbridge is broken. A tower sits on the left hand side of the fort.

Beck loads his sling, Lugan readies his axe, Felix draws a dagger, and Odette grips her walking stick. They wait and watch. No noise, no activity. Felix sneaks ahead, trying to balance on a beam across the ditch, but he slips and falls into the ditch! [Takes 2 points of damage.] The noise of his fall alerts the worg in the fort.

Beck sees the head of a large dark wolf looking out of the broken gate. It sniffs the air, licks its chops and moves towards the moat. Beck whirls his sling and the stone cracks the worg on its head! [1 pt dmg]. Lugan rushes towards the ditch, carefully balancing and making it across. He brings his axe down on the worg, cutting it. [2 pts dmg] Odette stays at Beck’s side and tightens her grip on the walking stick. The worg snaps at Lugan but misses!

Felix uses his acrobat skills to climb out of the ditch. Beck moves across the bridge (successfully) and strikes the worg with his sword! [2 pts dmg]

Lugan strikes at the worg but misses. The worg snaps once again at the dwarf drawing blood! [2 pts dmg].

Felix moves to aid his friends but misses the worg with his dagger. Beck stabs the worg and kills it. [1 pt dmg]. The noise of the combat alerts a crossbowman in the tower. He fires at Beck and hits him. [1 pt of dmg].

Beck, Lugan, and Felix pull aside the broken boards at the gate. [Lugan makes his strength check.] The dwarf pulls aside a timber and Beck and Felix quickly step in. Odette moves across the bridge, but falls hard into the ditch. [6 points! Ouch!]

As the PCs enter the fort, four goblins and two humans pout out of the tower to engage them!

A grim battle begins. The goblins stab with crude daggers and the humans attack with swords. Beck and Felix surrounded. Lugan moves from the gate to help them. Odette tries to crawl out of the ditch but can’t get a hand hold.

The melee is fierce. The goblins stab mercilessly at Beck, some of the daggers find an opening in his armor. Lugan is the first to kill a goblin. Felix is holding off the two sword wielding men.

Beck kills another goblin, but the enemy’s ranks are supported by another man who runs out of the tower, crossbow and club in hand. He is quickly dispatched with a well placed axe blow by Lugan.

Morale breaks and the lone goblin and the two remaining men run out the back of the keep, climbing out of gaping holes in the wall.

They hear the whinny of horses and hear the men riding off. [Horses and a lone guard were in the trees behind the fort.]

Status of the PCs after the battle: Beck 4/15, Lugan 4/10, Felix 8/15, and Odette 9/15

Beck and company are too injured to follow. Odette has managed to get out of the ditch and rushes to tend her injured companions. She uses her healing ability to cure Beck’s wounds. She also binds the wounds of the others and herself. [GM note ~ I house rules this. If Odette makes a successful check w/ advantage because she is a healer, she can bind 1d3 hit points.]

Status of the PCs after healing: Beck 14/15, Lugan 5/10, Felix 11/15, and Odette 12/15.

They recover the following from the men and the goblins; a handaxe, a crossbow with 7 bolts, some goblin shortbows and poor daggers, and 11 silver pieces (on the man).

In the tower, they find three barrels of oil, a small chest of iron arrowheads, and a crate with 50 poorly made daggers.

They bury the bodies and burn the worg, then make camp for the night in the second floor of the tower. Odette volunteers to keep watch first, then Felix takes the second watch. Night comes and goes with no encounters.

Beck and his band travel back to Bree the next day. They encounter no goblins and make it back to the town. They inform Sheriff John what they’ve seen…the goblins moving to the Grimshank forest and the encounter with the men, goblins, and the worg.

Sheriff John examines the arrowheads and the poorly made daggers. He tells them that the men are traders and were making a trade with the goblins. Trading weapons for treasure. The sheriff tells them that it is a worrying sign of what may be coming.

More to come…