Arrival in Huntsford
A long drawn out howl rose on the wind as the adventurers picked over the bodies. Rain started to fall steadily, the clouds covering the afternoon sun. Erkai and Seigfried have a heated and quite long argument about the rights and wrongs of stringing up Canusa as bait for the wolves that are inevitably coming their way. Hasty preparations were made in case of attack as Galindan performed the ‘Endure Elements’ ritual to protect his colleagues from the adverse weather. Ephelomar and Galindan do a sweep of the area to see of any signs of further attack but all appeared to be quiet. The bodies were hidden and Scar and Groth were placed in the small bedroom. Doors to the house were barred or guarded as the group awaited attack.
There then came the sound of a horse’s hooves on the road and an elf rode up on a fine silver grey horse. She was suspicious and had her hand on the hilt of her sword, but didn’t really show much surprise about the attack that had taken place and indicated that she had thought Dugan was a strange one and didn’t really trust him.
The Elf was Eara and she was travelling to Huntsford to the market to sell some of her jewellery. Erkai wondered whether she would like some gemstones, but she wasn’t interested as she uses wood in her work. Seigfried asked whether she knew of a Half-elf called A’Shaan and in the course of the conversation, found out that Eara was A’Shaan’s daughter. Eara hadn’t heard anything about Seigfried’s past from her mother, but did say “You can try to ask her about your past if you can find her.” Eara told that her mother is a bit of wanderer, passing through Huntsford occasionally. She travels looking for herbs, and spends some of her time at both HavenGlen and Templeford. Eara planned, after a short rest to ride on alone to Huntsford, but was persuaded to stay and travel with the group.
Galindan, had a bit of an idea … thinking about the tainted soup, he searched the main room to find a variety of herbs on the shelves. He wondered about creating some sort of sedative potion to keep the prisoners quiet but he only had a little knowledge about the use of herbs. He found bother Valerian and Camomile, as well as some lavender, and wild sage (amongst others the DM couldn’t think of the names for). With the knowledgeable help of Earas they boiled up the camomile and valerian leaves in water, until the liquid was reduced, added honey to thicken it. The resulting potion was to be fed to the prisoners but on entering the room Scar was missing, but a quick search revealed she had somehow managed to roll herself right under the bed. She was unceremoniously removed, but proved feisty, tossing and turning to avoid being given the potion, spitting it back out. Erkai has a word with Groth, whilst the others restrained the Goblin and somehow he managed to persuade Scar to take the potion under the watchful eye of Erkai to make sure she swallowed.
Erkai returned to the room and found a trapdoor under the bed which led down a (removable) ladder into a rank and foosty cellar that smelt like wet dog. Thrugg (??) and Erkai very carefully explore the tunnel which was carved through the clay and supported by crude timbers. Small rats scurried ahead of the light of the lamp. The tunnel rose slowly, heading in a southerly direction, then turning eastwards. Light spilled into the tunnel ahead and Thrugg went ahead to carefully check out what was ahead. He stuck his head quietly through the opening to see that the tunnel emerged into a grassy clearing. After checking carefully for any signs of enemies, they climbed out into the clearing. They climbed the rise out of the clearing to find themselves looking back down on the small farm where their companions were preparing to leave and saw three Shadow Wolves attempting to sneak up on them. The alarm raised, the wolves were quickly dispatched.
Before leaving, Erkai did one final sweep of the house, and found a hidden compartment under a squeaky floorboard where he found a parchment scroll which Galindan identified as a spell of ‘Silence’ but he reckoned a few of the words were out of place. There was also a piece of paper on which was written:
Use this to break the wards on the messengers.
The group then continued on through the late afternoon climbing up a long hill. From the top of the rise, the town of Huntsford can be seen nestled on a river floodplain between rolling hills at the end of a narrow inlet, its waters glistening in the late afternoon sun. A tall beacon rises from one of the hills south of the town. Scar, despite the sedative is becoming increasingly anxious as they get near to the town. She is reluctant to move.
As they get nearer to the town defences, two warders approach them enquiring about their reasons to be seeking entry to the village. They are surly and somewhat aggressive towards Seigfried and the other non-human strangers and are reluctant to let them enter. The Warders, Baird and Tyler eventually let the group in, after Eara, (already known to them) speaks to them. On being asked, they let Erkai know that there are prison cells available at the Townhouse.
Galindan surveys the work being done on the defences. The crumbled ditch and palisade are being reinforced by a number of humans. He remembers something about the history of the town and that at one time it was much larger and prosperous than it now appears to be.
Huntsford, also known as Faroth-athrad is the main town in Rovanna. It is a small town, more village like in most respects, with a population of about 1500. It straddles the Angaduin (Iron River) at the end of a long narrow inlet of water. It is a market town, renowned for its three markets, end of winter, middle and end of summer where the Rovannons trade with merchants and visitors from the southern lands.
At the end of the inlet there is a small dock to which some small boats are berthed. A wooden bridge crosses the river into a large cobbled square at the centre of which there is a fountain. Towards the north end of the square, there is a dirty wooden stage, on which are placed a set of stocks. The bigger buildings in the town are stone built to first floor, then half timbered and thatched. A large inn, Glim’s Inn, is situated on the western edge, the temple to Pelor is on the east. The Townhouse is on the northern side of the square. A row of thatched cottages, punctuated by large deciduous trees runs westwards along the river banks.
At the Townhouse
It is to the townhouse that the group first head. Knocking on the door several times, they find they get no answer. A bell pull is discovered (duh!) and they ring it. No answer. They knock again and through the thick wooden door they hear the sound of shuffling feet. The door is opened by a rather elderly gentleman, Gavan. He is the Mayor’s servant. The group request to place the prisoners in the cells, but Gavan doesn’t really hear them, and he spends his time shouting back at them. He is quite deaf. Eventually the message gets through and he instructs them to go round to the back entrance to the townhouse.
There the group wait for what seems like an age, but the door opens and Gavan waves them in and down some steps into the cellars. It isn’t a prison as such, but has been adapted for the purpose. The cells are occupied and two Warders are on guard. They are introduced as Janan and Ben. A discussion ensues as Erkai requested that their prisoners are given a cell to themselves away from the current occupants, but this doesn’t go down well with the Warders who argue that there just isn’t the space. A bribe or two later and the prisoners are shuffled about, with some being placed in the far cell (overcrowded) and others chained to the wall. Canusa is still drugged and Scar is drowsy and fairly quiet. Groth, due to his ‘task’ is also imprisoned with them. Erkai gives Groth a coin, which he is to give to one of the Warders when Scar deigns to tell him anything. He informs Ben that if the Kobold gives him a gold coin, then he is to come and find them at the Inn. Ensuring that the prisoners are secure, the group then head over to the Inn.
Glim’s Inn
Glimson, the owner of the inn claims to be the great grandson of the famous Glim who along with his companions rid Tarlant of several nasty people and creatures. He regales his customers with tall tales but Seigfried, who knew one of Glim’s companions was aware of the truth of the matter. None the least that Glim was a gnome and Glimson was very obviously human. They negotiated a very decent price for board and lodgings on the upper floor of the north wing – free, on condition they didn’t tell his customers the truth.
It is at this point I have run out of notes for the inn… I know you had various conversations in the Inn and Galindan went up to change into his robes. (and slippers 
) Please email me you remembrances and I will try to incorporate them into the narrative
More of Saturday’s session will be posted in due course.
I have emailed you all that I can remember, hope its of some use.