Cavaliers and Roundheads Episode 4 How now King's Cow

November 5th, 1642.  Currently stationed at recently captured Banbury Castle Captain Hewitt has dispatched Sargent Charles Osbury and Mable banks with Plunket and Towne to travel to the market at Wardington to pick up a small herd of cattle from Edmund Bray which were to be used to provision the King's Lifeguard.  The cattle have been paid for but they must be driven back to the castle.  

Upon arrival in Wardington the Royalist party discovered that Edmund Bray had been killed by a troop of Parliamentarian militia and the King's cattle stolen.  Their trail was easy enough to pick up.  They were heading east into a stretch of wooded area.    

    

After tracking the cattle thieves for about an hour they came up on the rear of the Parliamentarian column.  The militia members were having a hard time controlling the herd as they traveled through the wood.  As the Royalist were planning their attack they heard someone shout out "Stop in the name of the Queen!"  It was the Sir Roberte and his party challenging the Roundhead men.  He was apparently still under the delusion that Queen Elizabeth had returned from the grave.     

Mable, Plunket, and Towne took up a position on a hill behind the Parliamentarians and took aim at two of the men trying to catch up to some wayward cows.  Charles waited just behind the hill on his charger ready to join the fight.  

 

Sir Roberte and his party began to argue with the enemy soldiers.  The Roundheads seem both confused and amused at his insistence that Queen Elizabeth was alive and trying to regain the throne.  At first they began laughing at his but when they realized he was serious they fell into formation and raised their muskets.  

  

As the shooting began the Royalists joined the fight picking off the stragglers of the Parliamentarian militia.  

Sir Roberte and his party defiantly charged the green coated soldiers leading the cattle, taking down several of their number.  

As Sargent Osbury charged past a thicket a Parliamentarian marksman hit him in the back, wounding him badly.  

Sir Roberte continued to create havoc among the enemy troops supported by his motley band.  The green coats continued to fall back under his charge trying to find cover.  Though old and addled Sir Roberte was still a fearsome combatant.    

  

Charles spun his horse around and charged the marksman that wounded him discharging his pistol at short range almost exactly as Plunket shot at the man.  Both shots struck the Roundhead and he fell among the scrub.  

The militia scattered in all directions confused as to who was attacking them and from what direction.  A young woman in Sir Roberte's party was shot, causing his squire and another woman to charge the shooter and cut him down in their rage.  

 

Mable Banks ran to help the wounded woman and although she was able to keep her from dying she was challenged by the Knight's followers so she withdrew.  

Sir Roberte charged Charles as he came around a hill giving him a buffet with the handle of his hammer despite that fact that Charles has just shot one of the green coats.  "Stay out of this King's man!" The knight shouted.   

After the last of the Roundheads had been dispatched the Royalists and Sir Roberte's party stood apart from each other once again.  The herd had begun to scatter in every direction during the skirmish and there was a real chance most the herd would be lost.  Charles asked for a temporary truce to prevent this from happening and Sir Roberte agreed.  

With both parties working the herd was once again gathered together.  Charles promised Sir Roberte that if they helped get the cattle back to Banbury castle he would try and find better lodging for the "Queen's" court.  Roberte agreed and the whole host set off together.  

Captain Hewitt was amused by Sir Roberte and his party.  As a reward for helping bring in the herd Hewitt granted the old knight a run down manor outside of Banbury for he and his "Queen" and promised him that he would set up an audience with King Charles to resolve the matter of the two rulers.  The Captain of course had no intention of actually approaching the King about the old man's Queen but Sir Roberte fell for the ruse and was quite pleased.  

Notes:  It's been almost two weeks since we played this game but I've been really busy and unable to Blog.  We've also had another session since that I will also need to get put up.  The details about this game are a bit fuzzy in my mind but this is a pretty fair representation of the events.  I hope to have Sir Roberte show up in the future to cause more mischief for the player characters.  Eventually he will likely go away if he doesn't get himself killed but we shall see what the future holds.    

Revenant Archipelago "Pirate Air Support"

Winter in the Revenant Archipelago had been cold and brutal.  Fort Destitute was well stocked two months ago but now the supplies were dwindling.  Attempts were made to get supplies from Port Freehold on the main island to the northwest but a group of pirates and their Manticore ally have been attacking the supply boats making trips between the two settlements.  Most of the boats had been attacked and many of their crew killed.  It was getting difficult to find sailors willing to attempt the journey.  

This prompted Count Leo Kiesling of Port Freehold to raise the bounty on the marauding manticore to 120 gold crowns.  Syr Jamie of had put up twice as many wanted posters around the fort when the bounty was increased.  

The manticore had already been encountered at the start of winter by a band of bounty hunters operating out of Fort Destitute.  They had managed to drive off the beast but they had been nearly killed in the process.  Seeing a need to dispatch the creature once and for all some of those same individuals set out to claim the bounty.  Himo the elf, Astrid, and Nemetona decided to head northwest in the direction that the manticor's lair was reported to be in to track it and the pirates down.  

 Shortly after leaving the Fort they were ambushed by an Ogre who charged Astrid and after a short exchange of blows the mercenary woman was knocked out.

Himo and Nemetona were able to bring the creature down after which they administered a healing potion to Astrid and pressed on.  

As they reached the northwestern shore they began to search for along the coastline for the base of the pirates and manticore.  They hadn't searched long when they were attacked by three Hobgoblins.  

 They managed to kill two of their attackers but one of the Hobgoblins fled.  Himo managed to chase him down and drop him with a well aimed arrow.  After searching the bodies they discovered that the Hobgoblins had several packs of Iron Rations stamped with the logo of the Sea Lion Trading Company from Port Freehold as well as a few freshly minted Imperial coins.  This led them to believe that the Hobgoblins were the pirates that had been attacking the supply boats delivering supplies to Fort Destitute.  They chose to rest for an hour to recover their stamina then Astrid picked up their tracks so that they could find the pirate camp. 

They followed the track along the coastline until they came to an area of 50 foot high cliffs.  They noticed two Hobgoblin lookouts in foxholes with blinds using spyglasses to survey the narrow straight between Desolation Island and Freehold Island.  The attempted to sneak up on the lookouts but one of the Hobgoblins noticed them as blew his hunting horn to sound the alarm.  One of the Hobgoblins was dispatched quickly but the other rappelled down the cliff side onto a ledge and made a break for a cave in the cliff face.  He was dispatched with arrows from Himo and Astrid.     

The party drug the Hobgoblin lookout that they had killed away from the cliff and began discussing whether they should press on or return to the fort and turn in the Ogre and Hobgoblin heads they had taken for bounty.  Not long after they began discussing their options the manticore came roaring over the edge of the cliff slinging tail spikes at them.  Himo was quick enough to duck for cover but Nemetona and Astrid were both struck.

After a furious exchange of tail spikes and arrows Hobgoblin reinforcements climbed up the cliff with their grappling hooks and ropes to join the fray.  

Astrid was taken down by another volley of tail spikes.  Nemetona rushed over to revive her with a healing potion but they were now fighting the Hobgoblins.  

Himo managed to drive the manticore back to it's lair but the Hobgoblins had fully engaged by then.  

Astrid and Nemetona charged the Hobgoblin archers while Himo provided covering fire with his longbow.  

The bounty hunters managed to dispatch the Hobgoblins but it was a nasty fight and Astrid was in pretty bad shape.  They decided to expend the rest of their healing potions and keep pursuing the manticore rather than allowing the beast a chance to rest up.  

 Being human Astrid and Nemetona had to construct makeshift torches before they could explore the cave.  Himo scouted ahead and found the Hobgoblin's den and a larger cave but he couldn't find the Manticore.

While exploring the cave they discovered a small treasure hoard but the manticore had been hiding in a muddy pool of water and when they got close enough he ambushed them.  

Astrid was wounded again but she in turn managed to badly wound the manticore.  Several blows and arrows were exchanged.  

Himo moved in an delivered the killing blow with an arrow to the creatures maw.  From the look of the treasure it was clear that this manticore and it's hobgoblin allies had been the ones attacking the supply boats.  There was a crate of Seal Lion Trading Company rations and several other trade goods.  

The hobgoblin den was also searched and some additional loot was found among their belongings.  They also found a large boat tied to a small dock at the base of the cliff under the cave mouth.  

Being pretty beat up the bounty hunters decided to set alarms at the cave mouth and spend the night resting in the hobgoblin den.  

In the morning they returned to Fort Destitute with their new boat and treasure.  Syr Jamie was pleased that they had ended the pirate threat and he promised to send word to Count Leo about the bounty hunter's exploits.  

DM Notes:  I started running a new West Marches campaign in the fall of 2019 in my new setting of The Revenant Archipelago.  So far the players have had a few of their characters gain some treasure and renown in Fort Destitute on Desolation island.  Most of them were abandoned there when the the ship they were traveling to the colonies on was damaged and decided to turn back to the Empire for repairs.  There are several island full of mysterious ruins and barbaric tribes scattered among the archipelago but only two small Imperial settlements.  In this open ended campaign each player will decide 

Warlords of Knottinglund Episode 01 The Burning of Nottamun Town

Two hundred years ago the Taurian men of the Minotaur Empire left Knotinglund in the hands of the Knots a people who had served as their mercenary enforcers against the native Druidfolk. Since that time the Knots have enjoyed nearly unprecedented prosperity and good fortune with only the occasional Duridfolk or Goblinkin raid. They have traded with the other goodfolk of the island and have become the envy of many of their neighbors but they are not a united people. What true wars they have endured have been at the hands of the seven kings who rule the kingdoms of the Knots although even these have not amounted to much. None of the kingdoms are willing to risk large scale warfare their lives are so comfortable. The occasional earldom or border shire will change hands but capitals are never threatened. Of all the kingdoms of the Knots Goldfeld is the richest not only in terms of physical wealth but also in terms of the value of the land. Located in the middle of Knotinglund it has the best farmland on the island. It is truly a breadbasket.

Manton son of Randolf Earl of Highhill looked out onto the plain from his hilltop fortress. It was the first day of the Winter Solstice in the 858th Year of the Law. Nottamun Town, some ten miles from the fort, was burning. So late in the year it might have started accidentally but no one had shown up asking for aid. It might have been started by a goblin raid but with over fifty Fyrdmen and a dozen Thanes in the town that seemed unlikely. Raids of that kind had not been seen for over a century. Not in the kingdom of Goldfeld especially. The Druidfolk had not been seen for decades and then only rarely. Perhaps in some of the wilder kingdoms they might have been able to make such a raid but not in these civilized lands. Turning to a Huscarl to his right he said "Gather my Thanes in the hall". The Huscarl nodded his head and turned to carry out the Earl's command.

Looking at his gathered Thanes, Manton's heart sank. Fat, old, incompetent, and far too comfortable armed with little more than symbolic weapons that had never been drawn in anger. Now they were bickering about why Nottamun Town was on fire. "Maybe they haven't called for help because they have it under control. They have the river right there running through their town after all!" said Beornwald a particularly self important Thane. "Under Control! How can you say it's under control? Look outside, you can see the fires even from this distance!". It was Adelric, Manton's son. He had come in with Anwen and Beatrix, two other younger Thanes. Perhaps the only Thanes in Highhill capable of carrying out their martial duties. "Let us go find out what is going on father" Adelric continued. "Ha! None of you have the experience required." interjected Beornwald. "Then I should charge you to investigate the matter for me" Earl Manton replied. "B, but my lord, my family is here for the Yule feast. My home is bursting with guests. I can't just leave them at this..." Beornwald trailed off looking at his shoes. "Then it is settled. My son, the priestess, and the young bard will go. Find out for me what is behind this tragedy and see if you can't help any survivors," the Earl commanded. "Yes father" Adelric replied then he and his companions turned to leave.

The three Thanes set out together on the road to Nottamun Town. As they approached the town they encountered no one.

A small section of Nottamun Town lays on the south side of the Nottamun River where a few houses still stood.  Across the river the larger part of the town was ablaze.  The gatehouses were on fire and as they approached they could see signs of conflict.  Weapons, helmets, and shields lay on the ground.  Pools of coagulating blood filled the furrows and boot prints where two shield walls had clashed.  The one thing missing was the bodies.

The watch tower was empty.  Many of the weapons stored there had been removed from their racks.  More signs of conflict were found at the top of the tower but no bodies there as well.  From the top of the tower Anwen thought she saw movement in the water.
 

As they moved towards the river armed figures started to emerge from the water.  They were not men but they were once men, now just skeletal remains marching toward the three Thanes.

 Adelric charged a group crossing the bridge.  Three Skeletons charged towards Anwen and another three towards Beatrix the bard.

 Adelric and his horse cut down two of the skeletons on the bridge but as he turned on the third a gigantic skeletal Minotaur came charging through the smoke.

The priestess Anwen fell before the spears of the three skeletons who charged her.  Things were looking dire for the Thanes.

Adelric moved to cut off the skeletons that cut down Anwen and the Minotaur gave chase.  Beatrix destroyed two of the skeletons attacking her then ran to help the priestess.  

Adelric and his Warhorse attacked the Minotaur destroying the beast.  The skeletons attacked him with their spears but could not get through his defenses.  

 Beatrix rushed over to heal Anwen while being chased by another skeleton but even though the skeleton wounded her she was able to get Anwen back on her feet.

Anwen called forth a spiritual weapon and destroyed the skeleton chasing Beatrix with magic and sword.  

Together the Thanes destroyed the remaining skeletons.  After the battle Anwen began examining the destroyed skeletons.  She noticed that the weapons wielded by the human skeletons were ancient and of Druidfolk design and that every one of the skeletons wore and iron torc of Druidfolk design.  The torcs were freezing cold to the touch but the Thanes took a few of them to return to Highhill.  

Upon returning to Highhill Adelric and Beatrix took the Minotaur skull to Earl Manthon while Anwen went to track down Gosbeorth the Sage to see if he knew anything about the torcs.  Anwen did not find Gosbeorth at home but after she re-joined her companions they found the old sage at the alehouse.  Gosbeorth confirmed their suspicions that the torcs were crafted by the Druidfolk.  Strangely the torcs, which had appeared freshly forged, had already become badly rusted as if they were about to crumble to dust.  Gosbeorth suggested that the magic used to craft them must have been very powerful.

Later that night Manthon called his Thanes before him again.  Beornwald accused the three thanes of making the story up but the Earl dismissed him.  He then charged the three with locating the Druidfolk who were responsible for the attack.  

Note:  This is part of a Prequel campaign for another Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition campaign I hope to start in the Summer of 2019 which is inspired by Game of Thrones and the Wars of the Roses.  I'm currently conducting a few mini campaigns to establish a history of events in my players minds.  The setting is an island I've designed called Knotinglund which is very heavily inspired by English myths and history.  The Knots, featured in the early campaign are a kind of cultural analog to Saxons, Vikings, and Normans.    

"Heroes of the Ghost Age" Book 1 The Reaving of Raven Hill: Chapter 1 To Catch a Rat. Part 1. A Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition Campaign

Hero's of the Ghost Age

Book 1: The Reaving of Raven Hill

Chapter 1: To Catch a Rat
(Part 1)

It was already late September and just a few short weeks away from leiunium Cereris the fasting day honoring the goddess Ceres.  Tragedy had fallen the town of Raven Hill.  Not only was the town overrun by rats again but someone had stolen the idol of Ceres from her shrine.  

There was no doubt among the townspeople as to who was to blame.  During the spring Lord Roufus Ravenhill hired the rat catcher Gunther of Fellberg to rid the town of it's rat problem. In an amazingly short period of time Gunther had managed to rid the town of rats but when he went to Lord Ravenhill to receive his fee Lord Ravenhill tossed him a single coin and told him to get out of town.  Infuriated by this Gunther vowed that he would have his revenge on the town.

To make matters worse a particularly powerful goblin tribe had been southern farms under the protection of the town.  Lord Ravenhill and the town guard had been hard pressed to keep them at bay.  Melvin the Magnificent, a wizard who lived just outside the town, suggested that Lord Ravenhill entrust the recovery of the statue to his student and Lord Ravenhill's ward Lady Lydia Lydell and some other individuals from the town.  Melvin suggested; Efisio Battiatus a recently arrived paladin of Minerva, Flint Frostbeard the towns dwarven smith, the halfling Petunia Thistledown, and Falkrune a dwarf mercenary.  Lord Ravenhill was uncertain about Melvin's suggestions but he didn't have much of a choice.

    

The meeting was held at the town's keep.  The keep had one floor of stone but the remaining levels were constructed of wood.  Lord Ravenhill was suppose to complete the keep in stone but never had citing shortfalls of money though the townspeople largely agreed that this was just another example of Lord Ravenhill being a cheapskate.  

The individuals Melvin had suggested met with Lord Ravenhill around mid day at the keep.  Petunia had brought a pie along for the occasion. Lord Ravenhill, flanked by his two hounds, stood and said "A Tragedy has befallen us.  As you know the rat infestation has gotten out of hand.  No doubt the work of that no good rat catch Gunther of Fellberg.  He has been seen lurking around the town at night.  Some say he's been releasing the rats including some monstrously large specimens.  That however is not the worst of his crimes.  Last night the idol of Ceres was stolen from her shrine and eyewitness accounts point to Gunther as the perpetrator."  Lord Raven hill paused for a moment eyeing the assembled group with doubt.  He shook his head.  "Melvin the Magnificent suggested I gather you lot to deal with this problem.  I don't know why but I'm not one to argue with the wizard..... I'd do it myself of course but the town guard and I have been tied up chasing rats and dealing with the goblins who have been raiding the southern farms.  I need help and I suppose you will have to do."

Lord Ravenhill got up and moved towards the door calling his hounds to heel.  Before exiting though he picked up Petunia's pie inhaling the aroma "Ah still warm" he said with a slight smile.  Without another word he left.

Without much else to go on the party decided to visit the shrine of Ceres which was located outside of town in the farm lands.  There they found that the idol was indeed missing.  Some of the offerings seems to have been disturbed as well.  After searching about the structure for a little while Efisio found a set of boot tracks heading off into a field of grain.  

The followed the tracks across the field to the edge of the Raven Wood.  Just inside the forest the tracks came to a shallow stream but seemed to end abruptly.  On the opposite bank a single large rat track could be seen in the mud.  It was large enough to be a man's foot print.  The rest of the bank was too rocky to pick up the immediate trail.  After searching for some time they managed to pick up a trail of man sized foot tracks.  Strangely the tracks seemed to have been left by an individual walking on two legs instead of all fours.  It was getting late.  "This looks like a good place to camp" Flint said.  They set up a camp and divided watches.  Petunia climbed a large oak tree because she did not feel safe on the ground.  

  

"We're under attack!" shouted Efisio.  Three goblins had rushed out of the brush and attacked the paladin of Minerva while he was on guard.  Lydia, Flint, and Faulkrune awoke with goblins attacking them.  Flint took a nasty hit before he was able to get to his feet.  

The battle was hard fought especially since neither Flint nor Faulkrune had their armor on.  Efisio battled three of the goblins but he had help from Petunia who fired her short bow from the three she was in.  Eventually the goblins were dispatched and the party drug their corpses further from the camp.  During Lydia's watch the mage sent her owl familiar Luna to get a better view of the area.  What she saw disturbed her.  A large two headed dog was dragging a pair of goblin corpses away from the pile the party had made and headed off to the north with them.  

The party continued to follow the rat man trail to the north until they came to another stream with a very overgrown bridge.  Across the bridge was an overgrown paved road which continued north.  Though they couldn't find any more tracks the party continued to follow the road until they came upon some runes.

A man stepped out from a ruined door way.  He had a large sack over his shoulder that seemed to be writhing with a dozen or more small creatures.  The man spoke "Well I guess that cheap bastard Lord Ravenhill sent his finest to find me.  You can tell Lord Tightpants that he can have the statue back from a mere 200 gold coins."    

Efisio attempted to parlay with the man "Gunther, what if we could pay you what Lord Ravenhill promised you in the first place.  Will you return the statue and remove the rat infestation?".  "No deal!" shouted Gunther then he tossed the bag onto the ground.  Rats came swarming out of the bag.  

The paladin charge through the swarm and pinned Gunther to the ground.  The rest of the party came to Efisio's aid and they managed to kill the rats and capture Gunther. 

"We're taking you back to face some justice!" Efisio snarled.  Gunther just laughed.  As they were dragging Gunther back to town suddenly the rope went slack.  On the ground was nothing more than a pile of clothing.  "What's that!" Flint shouted.  A large rat scurried off into the underbrush carrying a small pouch in it's mouth.  Gunther had escaped.  

Uncertain about what Gunther was and concerned about the two headed dog the party decided to visit the home of Melvin the Magnificent, Lydia's instructor, to see if he could had any knowledge that could help them.  

Melvin lived in a small house just outside of town in the Raven wood.  Oddly his home seemed larger on the inside that the outside.  "I believe you are dealing with a Wererat" Melvin explained.  "What's a Wererat?" Falkrune asked.  "Well it's rather like a Werewolf but not quite so powerful.  A wererat is a human infected by a strain Lycanthropy that turns one into a rat man".  "How do we kill it?" Lydia asked.  "Well I'm afraid normal weapons will have no effect on such a creature.  You must use magic or enchanted weapons" the old wizard explained.  "Can't you come with us to help us catch Gunther?" Efisio asked.  "Oh no.  No, no, no.  I'm not much for adventures.  They make one late for tea" Melvin chuckled.  "Well do you know where we can get some enchanted weapons?" Falkrune asked.  "I do know of a tale.  There was a Knight named Balin who had a tower no far to the North.  He died more than fifty years ago.  He as said to have owned several enchanted weapons that he used to drive the undead from Raven Hill.  He was also said to have been buried in his tower.  It was frequently visited by pilgrims for some time until the undead returned to area.  No one has ventured there in some time." the wizard explained.  

Melvin turned and rummaged through a chest near the table he was sitting at.  " I do have this small dagger.  It's enchanted but not terribly powerful".  He placed it on the table "You may borrow it".  Petunia snatched the dagger off the table quicker that anyone could see.  "Oh it's beautiful!  Can I have it?" she asked.  The mage nodded "Very well".  Petunia drew the small blade and raised it above her head triumphantly.  "I shall call you Aculeus!" she said with glee.  

End Part 1

Notes:  This is the first part of my new Dungeons and Dragons 5th edition campaign "Heroes of the Ghost Age" set in my group's home brew setting of Tellus.  We've finished the first adventure and the party is almost third level but there were so many images I decided to split the report up into three parts to make it easier.  Also the game took three sessions to complete so this is roughly where the first session left off.