The Red Hand of Doom!!

[hero4hire]

The group makes its way quickly to the Old Bridge Inn. The Shadowbank Clan who runs the large place seems to be a halfling family at least a dozen strong. Kellin, the patriarch of the Shadowbanks welcomes you. The Inn charges 2 gold lions a night, but includes meals and baths. The fare is quite good as the group is in time to partake of some seasoned stew, fresh baked biscuits, a colorful medley of seasonal vegetables steamed to perfection and an apple cobbler that had a tart but appealing bite to it.
During thier meal the heroes do note that the common room is sparsely occupied. Only two merchants involved in a game of Three Dragon Ante share the hearthside tables of ther Inn.

With your bellies full you are just settling into your rooms when a knock comes at the door.
Outside the door stands a tall, balding man of about fifty and a capable looking swordswoman.

"Sorry to trouble you travelers, but I'd like a few minutes of your time," the man says.
"My name is Norro Wiston, and I'm the Town Speaker for Drellin's Ferry. This is our Guard Captain, Soranna. I'll get right to the point; We're in a lot of trouble, and I was hoping I could persuade you to help us out."

The speaker waits to be invited in before continuing.

"Our town is under attack," the Speaker begins. "Hobgoblin raiders have been herrying our lands for several days now. They've attacked and killed people in the outlying homesteads, and they've been waylaying travelers along the Dawn's Way."
Captain Soranna adds, "We've had some trouble with them before, a quick raid on homesteads on the west side of the river, usually not that bad, but this is different. It looks like a large aggressive tribe has moved down from the Wyrmsmoke Mountains. Frankly I fear they may be numerous enough to sack the town."
"Beyond the immediate threat to our homes, the road is our lifeblood," the Speaker continues.
"If the hobgoblins make the Dawn Way impassable to the west, trade wont come this way, and we'll be ruined. Not only do we need to repel the raiders from our town, but we've got to keep that road open. Can you help us do it?"

 

[ethandrew]

Finally out of his heavy armor, his greataxe propped up against a wall, Kirrg listens raptly to the two relay their troubles. The notion that these bandits are unified with a larger group, a whole tribe of hobgoblins is not a pleasant one, and knowing full well the power a warrior tribe can possess, Kirrg can understand the villager's plight.

"If they were going to sack your town, they would have done it by now. They wouldn't wait for your militia to be called into action, these beasts are cowards and they would have come in the night when you were all asleep. We four cannot fight an army by ourselves, the most we could do would be to lure small bands of these raiders alone and face them then. Or if this tribe does in fact want to invade your town, we can help defend behind a line, anything else would be folly. What do you have in mind anyway before I get too ahead of myself?"

 

[hero4hire]

Finally out of his heavy armor, his greataxe propped up against a wall, Kirrg listens raptly to the two relay their troubles. The notion that these bandits are unified with a larger group, a whole tribe of hobgoblins is not a pleasant one, and knowing full well the power a warrior tribe can possess, Kirrg can understand the villager's plight.

"If they were going to sack your town, they would have done it by now. They wouldn't wait for your militia to be called into action, these beasts are cowards and they would have come in the night when you were all asleep. We four cannot fight an army by ourselves, the most we could do would be to lure small bands of these raiders alone and face them then. Or if this tribe does in fact want to invade your town, we can help defend behind a line, anything else would be folly. What do you have in mind anyway before I get too ahead of myself?"

"They will come I am sure of it. I don't know why they have not come in force yet. We are not sure exactly how many there are but there have been at least three warbands around our lands at the same time, each about fifteen to twenty strong. We sent a dozen guardsmen west to find out where the hobgoblins were lairing, but they got cut to pieces a few miles into the forest." he stops and sighs before continuing. "They are using fearful monsters and evil magic against us. Until you showed up we haven't had any heroes who could stand up to them."

 

[EvolutionKB]

Sir Jonathan

Sir Jonathan was just getting ready to start a bath when the knock came. Upon hearing the plight of the town, he couldn't help but feel obligated to help. "If you have heard of our exploits already, one of the war parties has already been taken care of. It was hard battle, and they used ambush tactics, but we came out ahead. Now I fear that they would threaten the town. Our victory over their warriors may put them into a bloodlust when they find their enemies have taken shelter here. If the attacks don't come by tomorrow the least we could do would be to scout the surrounding area, and try to find their base of operations. We were told that the goblinoids lie in the Witchwood, I take it that it is the forest you mentioned? Exploring the Witchwood was our primary motivation for calling your fair town home for a few days. Perhaps we could help to solve your problem, and fufill our agenda all at the same time."

 

[Rhun]

Duroin nods in agreement with Sir Jonathon's words, running a hand over his shaven head. "We could certainly scout out the strengths and weaknesses of this threat, and perhaps even weaken them some should we come upon some of their raiding parties. Based on those we fought earlier this day, these are no common goblins. They are well armed, well trained and fight intelligently."

 

[s@squ@tch]

Virashil, Sorcerer 5, Hp: 21/21

Virashil had begun to unwind from the activities of the day -- first the long trek through the woods, after sleeping uncomfortably on a make-shift bed on the other side of the witchwood, then to the vicious ambush that they barely survived. She had reflected on the horrendous blow that sent her to the brink of death - the only other time she had experienced anything like that was when she had collapsed from frostbite on her search for her draconic mentor...

After slipping out of her dirty clothes, heavy with dust and soil from the road, she put on one of the well made soft cotton robes in her room.

"Ahh, this bath is going to feel divine," Virashil says as she ties her hair up in a pony tail.

After hearing a knock on a door, she got up off the bed and went outside, where she saw a balding man and swordswoman enter the men's room. She joined them in their room to see what these people had to say.

She listened intently to what they, along with her adventuring partners had to say. Virashil saw no problem with helping out the townsfolk in their time of need.

"Jonathan is right, we hopefully have dispatched one of the warbands roaming the forest -- those hobgoblins were well instructed and equipped," Her eyes wandering over to the pile of finely crafted longswords and longbows,"We also seek to find something called "Vraath Keep"."

"Have you heard of such a place? Does it have anything to do with these hobgoblins?"

"Have you been able to determine where the towns guards were slaughtered? We could investigate that area as well to see if the marauders are still in the area."

 

[ethandrew]

"Any information you can provide for us as to their location would be most beneficial," says Kirrg as he starts to pace. "We will fight with you, as this problem, were it to go unchecked, would only grow. My advice to you, Norro Wiston and Captain Soranna, have all your people living west of the river come and stay in this part of town for now. Take what belongings they can, but if you fear attack, set up a perimeter, use your river as a defense. These goblins are heavily armored and equiped, and should fear fording the river. Any attempt to cross it otherwise would leave them highly vulnerable to attack. I trust you have trained marksmen? Use them, and keep cover for your enemy has them too. Be vigilant, be confident. You are the leaders of this town, your people gather their strength from you. On the morrow we will see what we can see."

 

[s@squ@tch]

OOC: The captain of the guard is teh hawt.

 

[hero4hire]

"Perhaps we could help to solve your problem, and fufill our agenda all at the same time."

"You would have mine and the town's deepest gratitude."

Duroin nods in agreement with Sir Jonathon's words, running a hand over his shaven head. "We could certainly scout out the strengths and weaknesses of this threat, and perhaps even weaken them some should we come upon some of their raiding parties. Based on those we fought earlier this day, these are no common goblins. They are well armed, well trained and fight intelligently."

"Indeed, our town is no match for such a foe. So you will help then?"

 

[hero4hire]

"Jonathan is right, we hopefully have dispatched one of the warbands roaming the forest -- those hobgoblins were well instructed and equipped," Her eyes wandering over to the pile of finely crafted longswords and longbows,"We also seek to find something called "Vraath Keep"."

"Have you heard of such a place? Does it have anything to do with these hobgoblins?"

"Have you been able to determine where the towns guards were slaughtered? We could investigate that area as well to see if the marauders are still in the area."

"Yes I know of Vraath Keep. It's an old ruined castle to the west on the Dawn Way. Hmmm...it's certainly possible that the hobgoblins have seized it for thier stronghold. It's supposed to be haunted, but they might not care. Most of the attacks come from that direction."