S01E02

## Brokenose was a Bandit King

Maester Ethon made his way briskly to Wilfred Hill's office (Wilfred being House Glenbain's Master of Laws.

"Mathter Wilfred, I'm tho thorry to dithtract you," the Maester said. "There ith a rather unthavory looking perthon athking at the gate for you. He thayth hith name ith Hackth and he ith an old athothiate of yourth."

Wilfred frowned. "Send him in."

"Can he path freely, or ith there cauth for an ethcort of tholdierth?"

"Keep guards on him, at least four" Wilfred said.

A few moments later the man named Hacks entered, his clothes filthy, his face deeply scarred.

"Master Willy, we meet again," Hacks said with a grin.

"Don't test me," said Wilfred. "Why are you here?"

"This Brokenose Winston fella. He says he killed Lord Cassen. A claim like that impresses folk in my trade. Bandits from all around are coming to join up. Some of them are good friends of mine. Maybe I'm your link to Brokenose."

Wilfred said thoughtfully, "It would be in your best interest to lead me to him. It would save my Master of Pain the trouble of digging the information out of you."

Just then, Torrhen Grove (House Glenbain's Sheriff) entered from the next room. Torrhen had personally captured Hacks on more than one occasion, and the process had not been gentle. There was also something about the Constable that made the hairs on the back of Hacks' neck stand on edge.

"No need for that, as we're all old friends. I just want what Brokenose is worth to you. I figure you could give me fifty gold dragons."

Wilfred laughed. Torrhen did not.

"One. One gold dragon," Wilfred offered.

"Alright," Hacks grumbled, "I know a deal when I hear it."

- Wilfred told Brenwyn Glenbain (brother of Lord Zandren Glenbain) of the plan. Brenwyn recruited Torrhen, Minnie the witch, two Infantrymen and two archers - all disguised as bandits.

- Hacks led the group to a fresh camp, about a two hour walk North of Highhome through the forested hills of the Greyrocks. He explained that it had been used the night before by bandits looking to join Brokenose. Hacks claimed he knew what direction the bandits left in, but Torrhen's tracking skill allowed them to follow the bandits' actual path - in a slightly different direction.

- The group found a simple hunters' path cutting through the dense forest. All of a sudden, Hacks bolted into the forest like a deer, screeching some sort of high-pitch call. A group of five bandits armed with swords rushed out of the thick trees. The group dispatched them quickly, leaving one alive for questioning. One of the infantrymen had his kneecap split by a bandit's sword and had to be dragged home on a stretcher by one of the archers.

- Brenwyn questioned the bandit and discovered that Brokenose was using a cabin to the north. Then he killed that bandit. Minnie sent her pet raven back to Highhome with a message from Brenwyn to Wilfred Hill to send troops to the area.

- The group found the cabin in question. It was booby-trapped, but no one was injured. They discovered a hooded lamp, a code to communicate with it and a map of where to use it. Brenwyn sent the other archer back to tell the troops that they were travelling to the area on their new map. If Hacks had run to Brokenose, the bandits might flee and escape capture. They had to press quickly.

- Group came to a well on a hill and used Myrish Eyes] to scan the area. They discovered a small cave in the distance where a man with a lamp was sitting beside a bear on a leash. Without warning, the bear ate the man's face and walked away.

- With Torrhen, Minnie and the other infantryman waiting in some denser forest, Brenwyn made his way to the well and signaled with the hooded lamp. Brokenose and five of his companions emerged, holding a small peasant boy captive. Brokenose commanded Brenwyn to surrender. Brenwyn backed away, drawing his sword. Torrhen sent an arrow into Brokenose's shoulder, allowing the peasant boy to flee. The two groups clashed. Brokenose was defeated by three of Torrhen's arrows and one slash of Brenwyn's blade. The other bandits, seeing their leader crushed and Mad Minnie hacking one of them to bits, fled into the forest.

- The group took Brokenose captive and when the troops arrived they managed to capture three of the four fleeing bandits. Neither Hacks nor the peasant boy have been found.

## Experience

- With the bandit king defeated, the House regains 3 LAW. Brenwyn, Torrhen and Minnie each earned 2 Glory points. Alon, Torrhen, Brenwyn, Wilfred, Minnie and Rook all received 10 Experience Points.

## House Attributes

Defense: 41 (1 Free)

Influence: 65 (24 Free)

Lands: 25 (0 Free)

Law: 22 (22 Free)

Population: 21 (1 Free)

Power: 44 (10 Free)

Wealth: 49 (5 Free)

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