Wherein the Nephews seek the truth about the ruins of Sirendel
Darwish, Rhun, and Drake treat the two men of Lord Manning captured after the attack on the road. The captain’s injuries are too grave, and he is given a preparation of meadowsweet to dull the pain. He dies by morning. The other captive says he was following the captain’s orders, and that they were sent by the Earless of Wayland to kill “assassins”. The Nephews refused to believe the Lady of Wayland would have done this.
Wanting to avoid detection and another attack by Lord Manning’s men, they decide to travel through the Old Forest (the Erid Wold). Finally approaching Caer Sirendel, they observe cook fires within and decide to approach “nonthreateningly”. Darwish and Drake sing a robust travelling song while Rhun looks on disapprovingly. They are spotted by a sentry who sounds an alarm, and shortly approached by Wulfric who is acting captain while the real chieftain Grimfast is away.
They are allowed to enter after telling of the death of Thorbald and the promise to return the amulet to Thorbald’s sister. Sirendel houses 50-60 souls, including a number of Brathite priests – White Brothers of the book and keepers of knowledge. The population is subsisting on local game, but are in dire need other supplies. There were no obvious hoards of ill-gotten loot, leading the men to think that the description of these people as “brigands” was exaggerated.
Drake returns Thorbald’s amulet to his sister Helva. Wulfric shares ale with the men afterwards, and they exchange stories. Darwish tells of some of the strange happenings around the kingdoms. Wulfric explains how Thorbald was convinced by Luwen to join in the raid on Archendale, and how Luwen was hired by two “ill-favored” men who visited some weeks ago. One of the men was recognized as Uthred, a guard and servant of the Lord Broughten of Redstone. The other was a southerner (his accent being close to that of the Nephews) and, by description, might have been the man that Drake and Darwish killed outside of Southguard after the chase through the Barrow Vale.
Darwish hints at providing aid to Sirendel in the form of a wagonload of supplies. Wulfric says that nothing would reach them, and that a half dozen brigands – exiled residents of Sirendel and lead by Margil the Ranger – are attacking merchants and couriers on the roads north of Redstone. These men had lived in Sirendel over the winter, but turned to thieving and were expelled coincidentally at around the time the two strangers appeared looking for dupes for the raid on Archendale. The raids are now being blamed on Sirendel, something that could eventually draw attacks from Redstone. Wulfric also lets slip about knowing of “brigands” attacking the caravans outside of Mosstone, but claims to know no more about it. Wulfric makes an offer that if the Nephews can stop the brigands they will have free passage and safe haven in Sirendel.
They decide to attempt to capture Margil. He may have more information on the attack on Archendale and what is behind it, and if he is captured the other brigands will likely disband and cease their attacks on the road. Having a safe haven in Sirendel would also be useful. The brigands are known to watch the road from Targen’s Folly, a ruined keep to the north. They travel to the keep the next day and scale the walls to the parapet at dusk. There are signs of recent habitation, but no one home.
Quote of the night: none.
Players: David (Darwish), Kevin (Drake), Craig (GM)
Comments