Back to the Basement Session #1 Part 2

Here is the second part of our first session.

Spoiler Alert: As with the first part, there are potential spoilers below the break for the module, Under Illefarn. This write up is still from yours truly and my GM comments are in [italics and brackets] as usual. In the last posting, I left with Davos being chastised and threatened with banishment by the Duke if Davos continued behaving in the fashion of the last couple of days.

The following morning, the band of recruits mustered in the parade ground in front of Commander Sherelyn. After assigning the other squad to some other work, she explained to the others that it was becoming apparent that normal training was not working well. Instead, she had a mission for the group…one that she hoped would teach them to work together.

Despite the fact that the recruits had not completed their training, the task should be pretty simple. She needed a group to scout the road between Daggerford and The Way Inn to make sure that it was still relatively safe for the last caravans of the season. In addition, they should gather what any information they could about the road beyond as well. The militia would provide horses (light warhorses at that) and traveling supplies. It would take three days to reach The Way Inn and three more to travel back…assuming they left right away and made it to Liam’s Hold the first day.

The day’s travel was rather uneventful but it was the first time that some of the characters had ever ridden a horse. Fortunately, Dory and Hannah had some experience with horses and their care. The party made it to Liam’s Hold with no incident. At the Hold, the party stayed at the inn and when the innkeeper, Binn, learned that they were Daggerford militia, said that their stay was on the house. The militia had done lots of good for the people of the area and they were always welcome at his place. When asked about news from travelers, particularly about the conditions of the road ahead, he had heard of no trouble in the last couple of weeks.

The next day was just as uneventful as the first but the party had to camp at one of the many campsites setup along the Trade Way. Hannah placed some snares near the campsite in the hopes of some fresh meat for breakfast while Dory tended to the horses. Kethenor kept watch but the night passed uneventfully.

The following day, the group traveled the last leg before reaching The Way Inn. On the road, they meet with a few different groups of farmers all traveling in the same direction, to obtain some supplies before the snows started. One in particular took an interest in Davos once he learnned that the militiaman had personally met the Duke or, more to the point, the farmer tried to get Davos interested in his daughter. None of the farmers, however, had heard of much trouble on the road recently.

Finally arriving at The Way Inn, the little caravan of militia and farmers was met by a group of militia, including archers. Although they halted the party and asked their business, it was just normal precautionns. While the village was not fortified, The Way Inn itself loooked like it could withstand a siege. When asked about any dangers inn the area in recent days, the guards simply responded that the party should seek out Redbeard in the Inn.

Heeding the guards’ advice, the party headed to the Inn while their receent traveling companions went about their own business. Redbeard, innkeeper and townmaster, greeted the Daggerford militia with a meal and the suggestion that perhaps they could assist him with something that corresponded with their own mission.

After their meal, Redbeard introduced the party to an older man, Maldor Farwander, who was sitting at another table with three younger men and an attractive, younger woman [which, at least it seems, often means trouble…the attractive part that is]. Maldor and the woman, his daughter Delora, had run afoul of some bandits south of The Way Inn. All of their guards had been slain in the battle…as had the bandits…but they were looking for other individuals to travel with them and their three animal handlers (Ian, Finn, and Dooley) to Daggerford and act as their guards.

[How conveeenient! The party of rookie militia is planning on heading back to Daggerford and here are some folks in need of protection. It is almost like the module intends for the party to join forces with Maldor.]

Negotiations ensued and a fee, 40gp for each character, was settled upon. It also came out that Davos is the son of someone who works for another trading company. Delora immediately expressed her mistrust of him and refused to share what the cargo would be. Some insults were exchanged and Davos got hit in the head again, although just a slap from Delora as she took matters into her own hands to defend her honor since none of the fine gentleman at the table would do so. She then stomped off to her room. Eventually, the others also retired for the evening…at least most of them.

In their room, Davos and Kethenor expressed interest in checking out the wagon they would be guarding the next day. Late that night, Kethenor snuck out of the inn and headed to the caravan yard. The area was well lit by torches and a number of guards were about. Instead of trying to sneak past, Kethenor went for a more direct approach. He simply walked towards the wagons and, when confronted by a guard, simply kept going, saying that he was a guard for the Farwanders and needed to check the wagon. Although a little flustered, the guard quickly caught up with Kethenor and the two went to the wagon.

The wagon was a typical wagon and its bed was covered by a tarp. Kethenor checked the wagon’s structural condition and then looked under the tarp. A rather large chest was the only thing covered. Thanking the guard and saying that his name was Melchior, Kethenor headed back the inn for the evening.

In the morning, Davos and Kethenor got an early start and planned to head out to “scout” ahead. As they headed out, Delora expressed her belief that they were going ahead to set an ambush. After a quick breakfast, the remaining milita along with the Farwander mini-caravan head out. As they do, one of the inn’s guards lets Delora know that her wagon was secure and that he and her elven guard, Melchior, had double checked it during the night.

Delora was immediately angry and had Dooley check the wagon to make sure it had not been tampered with. She, herself, climbed into the back to check under the tarp. Then, as she rode towards the inn, she yelled that she would catch up with everyone and told them to get going. About ten minutes later, she did just that and looked even more angry!

In the meantime, Davos and Kethenor had ridden out of town to “scout” the road ahead. They had gone a mile or two before…

[I can’t really say what…if anything…happened with Davos and Kethenor as we ended the session with Delora’s angry return. Everyone but Todd and Mark left and I kicked Rachel out on the porch to let those two know what happened…if anything.

I’m getting the feeling that some of the characters…like Davos…aren’t really cut out for the militia life (and possibly the hero’s life). I have a feeling that we won’t be completing all of the module. Better dust off some of those winging it, improv GMing skills…oh wait, I’ve already been doing that since we’ve been half off the rails since Davos started the fight with Channing…maybe some day I’ll run a module, start to finish, as written but I don’t know if I’ve got it in me and I’m pretty sure that Todd doesn’t! ;)]