The village of Alderfall.

05:00 PM

Sunday October 25th.
Markkus the specialist (human Ranger) heard from an associate about a bandit named Baric Gretehead running a troop called the Second Sons out of a keep at the meeting of the Dani and Astube rivers that feed into the Great Myre to the north. They've been hitting merchants and demanding road tolls, so a merchant has offered a bounty on Baric's head and hopes for their goods back. Markkus gathered 4 other adventurers, Aelfred the human Cleric of Aiolis, Nethri a human Wizard, Orrasthym an elven Ranger, and Vandrek Steelguard the dwarven Fighter. The quintet asked around and heard from someone who visits the nearby hamlet Orric that the fork in the river is north. The party set out, passing through the woods and stumbling across an old stone shrine to the god Dhimmas. Within, they found a trapped chest that almost killed Markkus (and had killed a pixie). Their reward was a gold bracelet (magic) and the pixie longsword (magic).

Moving along, they found the fork of the rivers (Hex 12,-1). They found a crossing on the right fork, and while the cleric, wizard and fighter held camp, the ranger and rogue scouted ahead, finding a long bridge crossing the western river. The bridge was guarded by a skeleton in platemail with a bastard sword.

Monday, October 26th.

The party approached the skeleton the next day, learning he is an intelligent undead, a death knight, essentially. He says he is Nordren, and he was cursed by a god to protect the bridge he failed to protect in life. He can only be freed by being defeated in single combat. He calls any who refuse to face him a coward. The party retreats though Orras says perhaps they'll meet again if they find a skilled warrior. The bridge will not be an escape route.

The party spotted the keep itself (Hex 12,-3) before deciding to return to town for supplies and to get their loot identified. Returning, they decided to explore a little more, and in hex (14,-1), as night fell, the party spotted a sword embedded in stone, with runes on it in some language akin to old elvish. Before they could examine it more, a vine struck from above, grappling Markkus immediately and knocking him unconscious. Next it grabbed Vandrek, hurting him. Fortunately, Aelfred was able to heal Markkus before he bled out. Orras moved around and began attacking with his longsword and short sword, buying the party time. Nethri judiciously used Grease to help Vandrek escape so Aelfred could cure him and he could take cover behind his shield. As Nethri fired crossbow bolts and Orras attacked with swords, the party backed out of the fight, but not before the vine used Entangle to nearly halt their escape.

Back in town, they found a local hedge mage who agreed to identify the two items as part of the sale price. Combined, they earned nearly 2,000 gp, and each is now about 2/3rds of the way to 2nd level.

Markkus at least intends to give another run at the keep and bandits, but who knows if someone will beat him to the punch.

Locations:
Alderfall

The Mystic Eye

Bandit marsh keep

Sword in the stone

NPCS:

Nordren the undead death knight on the bridge (12,-2)

Hedge Mage in Alderfall

Casualties:
None