Session 1
After action report - 1st session of 7k.
Players: Marcus (Brontus Malloy)
Jan 15/16
It's
the night of the 15th of January. Brontus is being quartered with a
peasant family, living in a two room hut in village the lies in the
shadow of the Darkwood. Outside, a near blizzard rages, hurling
windblown snow against the thatched roof, occasionally sending an icy
draft through the cheaply built walls. A fire keeps the main room warm
in spite of this.
Brontus'
sleep is interrupted by a heavy knock at the door. The man of the
house answers the door, revealing a cold, desperate peasant man. He
asks to speak to Brontus, and they let him in. Warming himself over the
fire, the young man tells Brontus that he was sent by his village
chamberlain to summon Brontus, if he will come. It seems that a certain
man has raped a peasant lass, killed her father, severely injured her
mother, and killed at least another man in fleeing the village. His
chamberlain doesn't think that the village militia is up to pursing the
murderer, and asks that Brontus come.
Brontus
agrees to go, but the young peasant is in no condition to make the
journey. Brontus sets out against the storm. It is a long walk in
those conditions, but he is able to arrive by first light. He is
greeted by Esquire Hawthorne, the chamberlain of the village. He is
told that a man named Ronson did indeed most certainly murder.
****
Interlude:
"rape" has a very different connotation -- it can mean anything from
forcible rape to out of wedlock sex without the father's consent. In
the legal system of Keltharian, the penalty is dependent upon the social
status of the offender and victim, and the penalty can range anywhere
from death to a nominal fine. Murder, however, is generally frowned
upon. Some noblemen can literally get away with murdering peasants for
nothing more than a fine, but if the status is higher, or the victims
lie at a similar level, the usual punishment is death.
****
Jan 16th
Brontus
hears testimony from some of the militia. One of their number was
killed, another injured by Ronson. Ronson is described as a big,
violent man, given to fighting among other vices. As they are telling
of this, a mercenary by the name of Gunnar who chose to winter in this
village came and volunteered, hearing that there is a reward of 50
silver ($500 -- which is near to a month's pay).
Four
of the militiamen volunteer to go along, but having been up all night
and the trail completely snowed over, they decide to rest for a brief
couple of hours. After that, the 6 men set out. Using Brontus'
knowledge of the woods, they head for a cave where Ronson is likely to
have taken shelter.
They
split up, Brontus and Gunnar taking one likely path, the militiamen
another. After two hours travel through the snow, the storm having
waned greatly. Upon arriving, they find that the site had been
occupied, but that they were 2 - 3 hours behind Ronson. They set out
along a probable, but Brontus sent the militiamen back, as they were ill
prepared to stay behind.
That
night, they sleep in a shelter Gunnar fashioned. An odd crack in the
snow 100 yards away put out steam like a breath, concerning Brontus, but
nothing comes of it, and the night passed otherwise uneventfully.
Jan 17th
The
following morning, they find a camp site that had been recently
abandoned. Sensing that he was going into the deep woods, they redouble
their efforts. Late in the day, they find his tracks, but the light
fails them. They spend another night in the woods, given the impression
that they were gaining ground.
Jan 18th
They
pass into the Deep Woods -- beyond the borders of Keltharian, beyond
the edge of the forest ceded to them by the Elves. They find a campsite
that makes them believe they are less than an hour behind Ronson.
Brontus, on the point, comes upon a glade that gives him to believe it
is a site of sacred or mystical power. Brontus has been following a
track which had looked upon the glade, pays his respects to whatever
lays within. Then he and Gunnar continue on.
Gunnar,
taking point, iss jumped from behind about an hour later, as Ronson
bursts from a hiding place in the snow. Ronson turns on Brontus and
beats him repeatedly with a maul. Just before he slips into
unconsciousness, Gunnar, recovered, comes up from behind Ronson and with
a mighty blow cleaves his head clear of his body.
Later...
Brontus
awakes in a strange hut in bed. A beautiful woman of indeterminate age
is there, tending to his wounds. She tells him that she is the one
many have called the "witch of the wood." She seems to find that
amusing. Bronson falls back to sleep.
Some
time later, drifting in and out of consciousness, he begins to feel
better. He awakens when the witch is gone. Gunnar says she's an
interesting woman. Both Brontus and Gunnar agree that they should leave
as soon as possible. The witch returns. Brontus asks how he can repay
her, but she says that they paid her quite well -- with the head of
Ronson. She offers him stew, which turns out to be made with Ronson's
body. Brontus refuses.
The next day...
They
leave the witch's home. It is surrounded by a palisade of stout
sticks, 12 skulls adorn it, one of them is Ronson's head. A mysterious
figure is guiding them back to a path they "will be able to find their
way home on." As he is leaving, just as the gate to the witch's house
closes, Brontus looks back and sees Ronson in the witch's home. They
return, not knowing how to get back to the witch's home.
Three days later -- Jan 30th.
The
two return to the village. Esq. Hawthorne says he had given them up
for dead, but is happy that they made it. Brontus gives his half of the
reward to the 4 militiamen as he told them he would. Gunnar happily
takes his share. Brontus then returns home.
****
Mar. 10 - 15
Brontus goes on a spring patrol, looking for signs of bandits, poachers, or interlopers.
Mar. 16
Brontus
hears a shout. Cutting across a trail that includes shod horses -- a
sure sign of either noblemen or bandits, he finds booted footprints.
Following those, he comes upon an ambush. A nobleman and his retainers
are fighting for their lives against bandits. Jumping into the fray,
after a difficult fight, he prevails and renders aid to the hunting
party.
Mar. 17
With
the aid of a young noble retainer, Brontus manages to bring the hunting
party to a nearby village. He has been wounded, and seeks medical aid,
spending three days recovering.
Mar. 20
The
nobleman is the Crown Prince Konrad (III) of Keltharian. Derrick, a
local baron, brings his retainers to protect the prince. Brontus is
given an audience with the prince, who, now recovered, thanks Brontus.
Brontus is offered a favor, which he may collect at a future time
GM Notes:
Really
enjoyed the first session -- Brontus is a very interesting character.
I'm looking forward to seeing Alaric's necromancer (if that's what he's
still inclined to play), and whatever characters the rest of you want
to play! As Marcus said, Brontus could use some help out there...
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