Session Report: [Wardens of the Selarin Forest] - The Journey To Blackstangate Castle

Preamble

For many decades, the men of Ninnegal had been seeking ways to secure their lands from the depredations of Goblins, Orcs, Hobgoblins, Trolls, Ogres and Giants from the Blackstone Mountains running along their Eastward border. The Ninnegalese had every intention of driving these creatures back, deeper into the Blackstone range, to preclude the regular raids and incursions these creatures staged upon the eastern farmlands of the Duchy of Nordland.

The men of Ninegal also felt a kinship with the Freeholders of Shanador for some of them had originally come as political refugees from a civil conflict in Ninnegal. There were thus some blood ties with the Freeholders albeit a few generations removed. The Freeholders had made some of the valleys in the Blackstone range theirs, forming small Freeholds - independent, hardy and militant by necessity. The Freeholds unfortunately were pressed on all sides by threatening raiders of the same nature as those that threatened the Duchy of Nordlund in Ninnegal.

Ninnegalese merchants also recognized the great value that secure trade routes through the mountains, connecting Nordlund to the Kingdom of Larboma by way of the Freeholds of Shanador, would create for all parties. This would also help ensure Shanador could import badly needed military aid to help push back the raiders and thus to shore up their economy.

To this end, the Ninnegalese of the Duchy of Nordlund had dedicated themselves to the notion of creating such a route, from the eastern farmlands of Nordlund through the Blackstone ranges and the Freeholds of Shanador to Larboma close to the important population center at Axer and giving access to the trade traveling on the large body of water known as Crystal Lake.

For the past two decades, the forces of Ninnegal had been contesting with their foes in the foothills of the Blackstone mountains to establish a foothold. This involved survey, temporary military encampments, engineering work, and eventually protecting miners and stonemasons during the construction of a castle (of the keep and bailey design) on a significant rock rise on a hillside. The valley was the one through which the river known to the Selarin Elves as Induin-rhunen (the Western Heart River) flowed on its way to the the sea and through which a small road wove from the farmlands to the of eastern Nordlund deeper into the Blackstone ranges.

The entire effort took 20 years, but the castle has finally been completed and now is ready to extend its garrison and increase its population of tradesmen, merchants, soldiers and clergy.  The castle was named Blackstangate as it is indeed the gateway to the Blackstone mountains. The keep stands on the borderlands between the goodly folk and the raiding marauders of the Blackstone ranges.

Recently, the Eorl of Blodstanshire, His Lordship Emeric Griffin, sent forth notices far and wide seeking traders, scouts, engineers, smiths, merchants, men-at-arms, archers, landless knights, yeomen, caravaners, surveyors, healers, and 'a special few independent souls willing to risk danger for the good of the realm'.  The Eorl was sure to include carefully diplomatic messages to the dwellers in the Selarin forest, the Dwarven communties and Gnomish communities to their West, and to the various non-human races who might be willing to lend a hand.

Chapter 1: The Journey to Blackstangate Castle

The Senior Warden of the South-Eastern Extents, Celebril Caranmir (uncle of Merril Caranmir) received a request from Eorl of Blodstanshire requesting politely any possible assistance the Wardens of the Selarin Forest could to the new Castellan of Blackstangate Castle, Lord Gerrart Kendrick. As the Eorl had been a good neighour and ally to the forest dwellers, as had his father and his father's father before him, and as the Eastern Extents were not under excessive pressure at the present, it was decided that a small unit of Wardens would be sent to the aid of the Castellan of Blackstangate.

And thus, on the 1st day of the 4th month, 4 Wardens set out from the Eastern Extents bound for Blackstangate. The company was led by Merril Caranmir, a Selarin Elf ranger trained by Celebril himself. With her would come a Forest Gnome Druid named Aspen Asperia with her badger "Scratch", a Tallfellow Halfling rogue of the Tallbows known by the name Rowan Thistlefoot, and a visiting Searethan Elf Wizard known as Telephinion Iouristan or "Finn" to his friends. The Searethan was participating in an exchange program, learning more about his forest brethren while one of them spent some time in the City-State of Seareth's academies.

4th Month Day 1

The weather was sunny and cool when the venturers set out. The first day and night passed without event - pleasant travelling with easygoing companions. The Wardens shared their knowledge of the forest and the outside world with one another and talked of family lives. Foraging was good.

4th Month Day 2

The second day brought an encounter with Merril's keen Elven vision spotting some approaching Centaurs. The Wardens elected to conceal themselves and observe, both to avoid detection and to take a better estimation of the Centaurs nature and purpose. As the Centaurs appeared to be harmless and respectable travelers, the Wardens let them pass unaware they were ever observed.

4th Month Day 3

The third day brought moderate rain as they traversed a mix of forest, fen and forested hills. The rain was intermittent to start with and travelling was not onerous, just damp. Not as much wildlife was seen and the temperatures were cooler.  As night approached, the rain intensified and the group sought a decent place to spend the night and make camp. A small rise in amidst the scrub served to locate their bivouac above the puddles forming in the lower areas. A small fire, sheltered from the rains, was built and the team turned in, with the Elves taking turns on watch.

Night Encounter: Goblin Raiders

In the wee hours of the morning, in full darkness, a hapless band of Goblins - likely a small raiding party - happened upon the campsite of the Wardens. As Telephinion was on watch and does not have the most well-tuned woods senses, and with rain beating down, nobody saw the Goblins approaching. The rain works both ways as the Goblins similarly did not see the encampment until they were almost on top of it.

The six Goblins spotted Telephinion about the time he spotted them. His cry awoke Merril who had been in Reverie, dreaming about the bright white flowers of the ancient silverwood trees. Rowan and Aspen roused, but both were unarmoured and had to grab up their weapons. In the meanwhile, Finn and Merril elected to try to hold off the Goblins.

The Goblin party outnumbered the Wardens, being six in number with two archers in their number. The archers moved to firing positions and engaged the Wardens and Finn and Merril returned fire. The return fire was very effective, felling quickly two Goblins. The Goblins, being somewhat callous and inured to the misfortunes of others, continued their attack.

A Goblin archer grazed Merril and a charging Goblin's blade slashed Rowan after he failed to down another Goblin with his bow, instead wounding him. The melee-armed Goblins pressed in while the archers manouvered for clear lines of fire. Aspen took up a position from which she could move to aid the injured as needed and provide missile support with her sling, scoring a wound upon another Goblin, as did Merril with her bow.

The Goblins pressed hard and Finn re-positioned to help cover the unarmoured Rowan and Aspen. Merril continued to down Goblins with her well placed arrows, missing only once during the entire fight. Rowan shifted to using his short sword and Finn switched to his magic, blowing a Goblin's chest open with a magical force projectile. Aspen healed Rowan as a precaution using one of her weaker healing spells.

In short order, only one Goblin remained and he had no longer the stomach for the fight. Merril made the call to attempt to slay the last Goblin as he fled, feeling their was no intelligence to be gained from an interrogation and wanting to rid the forest of such foul little menaces. A volley of fire from the Wardens, no doubt impeded by distance, darkness, and heavy rain, only succeeding in winging the last fleeing Goblin before he escaped into the brush back the way he came.

Aspen healed Merril and the team settled back for the remainder of the night.

4th Month Day 4

The rain continued the next day as the company made its approach to Blackstangate Castle down the North Eastern Trade Road (Provisional). The valley containing the castle was sided by large hills with thick stands of forest, centered by the Induin-rhunen (Western Heart river) and some marshy sections, and traversed by the trade road. Blackstangate stood on a treeless rock outcropping, carefully selected to be very difficult to assail by the creatures of the mountains without great effort.

From the dead Goblins, who had obviously been the recent end of some wealthy traveller, a purse containing 20 golden Lions (Larboman coins) and a vial containing a strange glowing light blue liquid. The vial appears to cast light equivalent to moonlight when shaken. This item would require further investigation after reaching Blackstangate Castle!

The journey ended as the the company ended its fourth day, having faced its first, albeit only moderately hazardous, combat encounter. This was the first time most of the party members had actually had to take the life of a living being in pursuit of their duties. A solemn and thoughtful company arrived to the gate of the Castle, joining a short line of people seeking admittance before the gates closed for the night.

Notes for Journey To Blackstangate Castle

Special Note: This was Catherine's first D&D session, her first visit to the World of Kaladorn, and her first role-playing session ever. She did very well for someone picking up the nature of the game and the decision making as well as dealing with encounters. Next time, hopefully she'll get to interact with some townsfolk. Sometimes soon, I hope to move her from solo play, once she is comfortable, to group play with some other folks in Ottawa. 

Experience Awards: Merril Caranmir - 225 xp, Aspen Asperia - 170 xp, Telephinion Iouristan - 160 xp, Rowan Thistlefoot - 150 xp

Treasure: 20 Larboman Gold Lions, 1 potion to be identified

Next : Chapter 2 - Blackstangate Castle (meet the Castellan, explore the outer bailey, meet local personalities, then maybe begin work)