Rise of the Dragon Kings: Episode 1

After a week in bed with full-on influenza, it was pleasant to be able to gather around the oak table and play Classic Fantasy with the Friday Night Roleplayers. Having played through “The Terror of Ettinmarsh“, the culmination of our transition to playing Mythras Classic Fantasy, it was felt that a new phase of the game was beginning.

I’d pitched two ideas for a campaign in Mystamyr and the guys had agreed to begin the Rise of the Dragon Kings. This has been outlined as, “the heroes become involved in stopping the return of the legendary Dragon Kings to Greymoor.”

The session opened with four of the five players invited at the table. Following on from our decision to try to have at least six characters in the party, three players took on the role of two characters each – a major hero and a henchman. The Moonspike Marauders include:

• Sir Glar (Human Fighter) and Alberreth Correlis (Elf Magic-user) played by Ian.
• Brakka (Dwarf Fighter) and Brokki (Dwarf Cleric) played by Pete.
• Lothmyr (Human Thief) and Ezra (Human Fighter) played by Mark.
• Thallan (Elf Fighter/Magic-user) played by Brian.

The players all shared their Character Goals and had a discussion about how to best bring the party together around a Party Goal. It was decided that Glar would be leading an expedition to locate and return the head of Karden Nord from the Fire Citadel of the Dragon Kings. This would involve following the only leads the players have, namely that the wizard Valen at Woodfell is said to know a route to the legendary Fire Citadel up past the ruins of Griffinwatch.

Gearing Up

The session opened with the situation as follows:

One month after the party returned from Moonspike Tower, the locals have begun work on a quay across Lake Mirrormere from the village to allow access to the tower. One of the local fisherman is acting as a ferryman for villagers involved in clearing out Moonspike and helping Castellan Glar move in, along with his mercenary friends. Glar has become a local talking point, so much so that, wherever he goes in Anminster, children follow him and people stop to talk.

Since the return of the Warden of Anminster, the soldiers have been more active and Lord Anminster has authorised the recruitment and training of replacement soldiers. Most of the skeletons and zombies released during the recent Incident have been tracked down and destroyed, although occasional reports of undead mean that a bounty remains on such creatures.

Trade north-south across the causeway near Anminster has resumed over the last month. Anminster is again busy with traders and mercenaries moving between Sharna and Zorastor. With people comes news of the sacking of Woodfell to the north by Orcs from the mountains. Word is that King Jorell of Sharna has sent soldiers to Woodfell to protect the trade route to Imras. Traders also tell of increasing difficulty on the roads westward from Zorastor towards places such as Whitesand or Dragon’s Port, with raiders waylaying waggons with increasing frequency.

Glar remains adamant that he wishes to fulfill his promise to the spirit of Karden Nord to return the Dwarven Lord’s head from the Fire Citadel of the Dragon Kings. The only information about the location of the Fire Citadel you currently have is what the wizard Valen at Woodfell told you. Perhaps returning to Woodfell and talking to Valen will help get the quest underway…

The players decided to spend coin on equipping themselves for some three weeks on the road, buying a trader’s waggon and a pair of draft horses to pull it. Glar purchased a weighty bag of sweets to share with the children and, as the group rode out of Anminster, he spread joy and sugary delights all around.

North to Woodfell

The plan was to follow the road north-east towards Sharna, up past Caford, and then north-west towards Woodfell. Five days on the main road proved largely uneventful and, at length, the Moonspike Marauders arrived at Woodfell.

Approaching the gates from the east, they could see an extensive camp on the Caravan Commons south of the village and soldiers bearing the arms of King Jorell of Sharna upon their tabards and shields. With just Glar and one other hero riding up front on the waggon, they decided to approach the gates boldly and without pretense.

The two guards on the gates, both the King’s men from their uniforms, greeted the party and inquired as to their purpose. Indicating that they had come in response to Woodfell’s call for aid against the Orc raiders, the guards seemed willing to welcome them in. Just then, however, the village’s mercenary sergeant, a man named Cardin, approached from within the village and caught sight of Glar. With a shout, Cardin ordered the gates closed and yelled out an alarm! Pointing at Glar the sergeant bellowed that the “Orc Bringers” had returned!

Panic ensued but the Moonspike Marauders decided to simply back off the waggon a short distance as they watched the gates of Woodfell close and more soldiers man the stockade walls. Soon a new figure appeared on the scene, a plate armoured Knight wearing the heraldry of Sharna’s court. Standing on the wall, the Knight introduced himself as Cassius Stormfall and demanded to know the meaning of the party’s arrival.

Negotiations…

While Glar began to bluster about his right to enter the village and his credentials as a Knight from the court of Lord Anminster, it was clear that Sir Cassius has never heard of him. Stepping from the waggon, calm as a summer breeze, Thallan walked forward and invited the knight to parley before the gates.

The Elf’s words were as honey as he respectfully explained that the party had come in response to the call for aid against the Orcs. Initially, Sir Cassius emphasised that their presence was unneeded as King Jorell has sent forth his soldiers to protect the village. That aside, it was explained that although the villagers might believe that Glar’s party had brought the Orcs down from the mountains to exact revenge upon the village, this was not proof of any connection between the heroes and the Orc raiders. Thallan’s wisdom dripped into the knight’s ears and, at length, persuaded him to allow the party to set up a camp outside the village walls upon a nearby field. Warned not to interfere with the soldiers or to enter the village, the Moonspike Marauders withdrew.

Making Plans

Situation changed, the party decided to make camp for the night and then march back east to the trackway near the bridge that leads up towards Griffinwatch. One problem was what to do with the waggon and horses, as such a vehicle would not fare well in the mountains and the players did not want to have to set a guard on the animals.

Glar and Lothmyr decided to skirt the village and visit the farmers they had previously saved from Zombie Goblins. Moving nearer to Brok’s farm, however, they saw the burned out shell of the two buildings and it became clear that he was no longer alive. The pair visited the farm of Tanoam, causing his wife and three children to scurry for the house. Chatting to the farmer, they discovered that it was indeed the Orcs who had fired Brok’s farm and slaughtered his sheep. Asking a favour and slipping the barbarian farmer some coin, Lothmyr persuaded him to take care of their waggon and horses. Tanoam promised to send his son Bromik to collect them and lead them to the farm in return for some use of the horses on the fields.

Returning to camp, Glar and Lothmyr were met by the black-robed figure of the wizard Valen. The young wizard had seen their arrival and decided to come and see them, especially since their abrupt departure from Woodfell some two months before. The players learned that the Orcs had come in force and assaulted the village, firing many buildings and smashing down the east gate. Since the call for arms had gone out, King Jorell’s men had been patrolling the roads but not taken more direct action against the Orcs in the mountains. The group decided to take the fight to Griffinwatch and return with as many Orc heads as possible, aiming to persuade the villagers that they were not the enemy – and restoring Glar’s honour.

Into the Mountains…

Next morning, the party headed east along the road and came to the foot of the mountain pass. As the early morning turned overcast, they hiked up into the hills and ascended the mountain road towards Griffinwatch. By the end of the first day, they were atop the mountain pass and able to see the ruins of Griffinwatch below in the valley. The road winding past the ruins to the west, they could make out distant figures upon the ruins and roaming the valley around it.

Setting a small camp fire behind the largest boulder they could find, the Moonspike Marauders began to plan their assault. They would travel the following day, arriving around midday, and seek to infiltrate the ruins with stealth and cunning. Their aim was to incapacitate as many of the Orcs watch guards as possible before the alarm would be raised. A hard fight was expected but every enemy they could neutralise in silence would strengthen their attempt.

And so the plan was agreed and the heroes set watches for the long night…

Next up, Episode 2…