Chapter Eight - Dust Up at the Keep!

 NOTES: (to be written up)


Murleck, Stelios, Roook and Ch'kara furthered the adventures of the band while Melvin and Janic took on a small errand for Tharn the Innkeeper who's more than he lets on to be. After taking care of some errands around town, including Murlek getting some vials for blood
samples... the band had met back at the Inn. After a good meal and
several mugs of good ale the inn was suddenly attacked by a throng of
thugs.  Thanks to some crafty eavesdropping and poking around Murleck
knew these thugs were members of the local gang the River Rats.  Led
by one of their Lieutenants, Finch, whom Roook took particular
exception to based on his choice of identifying moniker.. the Rats
were looking for something of value to take from Tharn's keep, looking
to intimidate Tharn, kidnap Kaddie and cause general mayhem in the
inn.  A half-orc named Slythe who was more of a "sword for hire" merc
brought on for some extra muscle clearly had plans of his own and
issues with authority decided he would rather focused solely on taking
Kaddie.  As thugs began to fall to the martially superior tandem of
Ch'kara and Rook and the fast flowing hatchet work of Murleck and the
tide began to turn in the band's favor, some of the gang members in
desperation tried to light the inn on fire to cause further chaos.
Meanwhile Stelios and Tharn did what they could to make sure Slythe
didn't escape with the girl.  Stelios did finally manage to force
Slythe's hand and make him drop her in a desperate attempt to escape.
An escape he would have foiled if not for his code of honor and duty
to protect women and children, as Kaddie had severe injuries to her
ribs and lungs from being tossed around by the half-orc.  Foregoing
his pursuit of the mercenary to save the girls life... not exactly for
free... Slythe manages to escape to see another day.  Stelios in a
vain hope to resume the pursuit was greeted out the window by 3 more
armed men and in haste Stelios slew one of them... unfortunately for
him, these were towns guards arriving at the scene of the crime.
Meanwhile Roook and Ch'kara, with the adept use of dead bodies became
the most recent recruits for the Fallcrest Volunteer Fire Brigade as
they snuffed out the flames consuming the rear wall of the inn.
Stelios using his divine healing abilities healed the guard from any
mortal wounds and Tharn vouched for the paladin to the local law.
Murleck meanwhile captured one of the remaining thugs and decided to
leave him alive for questioning.  With the intimidating aide of a
giant metal man with a bastard sword and a large dragonlike creature
in armor, it was the cunning diplomacy of Rook that ferreted out that
Traevus had hired the River Rats to kill the band.  Since the gang was
coming to the Keep anyway for their own agenda against Tharn, it was
two birds with one stone.  Win win for them.  After getting
information, the town guard more than insisted that the gang member be
turned over to them which everyone did so begrudgingly.

After the evening calmed down, bodies looted,  and ale poured for all,
Tharn pledged his eternal gratitude and trust to the band, free
lodging from now on at the Keep, and use of the cellar by the band to
meet, store valuables, etc.  Once Tharn identifies you as a "friend",
it's for life and means a great deal to him.  (and possibly any one
who knows Tharn)  Early the next morning before the sun had even
risen, after leaving word with the innkeeper for Janic and Melvin to
catch up, you all set out west towards Winterhaven.  ,On the road the
band came upon a bridge over a canal built to channel the waters of
the Nentir River just as the first rays of the sun had started to come
up over the horizon.  As the group began to cross the span, loud
terrible croaking could be heard from all sides as Bullywugs ambushed
the band.  The battle was swift and after the lightening wielding
Mudlord was dealt with the remaining frogmen retreated down the
channel....

Now on heightened alert the rest of your journey was rather uneventful
until you came upon a fork in the road, the left branch continuing on
to Winterhaven, the right branch leading you to the abandoned Gardmore
Abby.........