Starwatch Keep (Ep. 2)

### **Introduction**

"Last week our heroes made their way along the high road to the town of Eveningstar and reflected on the titles and responsibilities given to them by queen of Cormyr, Raedra Obarskyr. Just before they arrived at the village they were ambushed on a bridge by a group of bandits and thugs, who used deceased Cormyr knights to disguise themselves. A name was mentioned by the thugs, 'the Thornhand' and the only major casualties from the battle were the thugs and the bridge itself thanks to a little wayward fire magic."

### **Summary**

The Crownsilver Company have their troops relieve the beleaguered townsman manning the barricades around the manor. After the party enters the manor **Dusk** introduces them to Nigel good fellow their retainer, as well as Audrie their cook and housekeeper. **Nigel** is a human man in his 60's with in, well dressed, bespectacled with wispy white hair. **Audrie** is a small rock gnome woman, who appears to human eyes to be in her 40's however given Gnomes life span she is likely much older. She is cheerful with rosy cheeks, pale grey skin and greying red hair. Agnis greets them warmly and clasps their hands. Audrie is very receptive to her attitude, although she insist she must still call her baroness, but Nigel is clearly uncomfortable with this breach of propriety and Agnis' attempts to break down the formalities between the household and staff.

At Marcels request Nigel shows them their rooms before they have a meeting with Dusk.. The rooms are very bear but have basic furnishings, Agnis immediately sets about making it homie unpacking her druidic decorations. Azara is displeased with the furnishings and request that she be put in charge of decorating their holdings. Agnis is fine with that but requests a tree-bed.

Shortly after they attend a meeting with Dusk, who informs them that the Thornhand has been raiding the farmsteads around Eveningstar for the last 10 days. They have even assaulted the town itself. Currently his men are holding **Starwatch Keep**, a fortified position across the river and North East of the village. Dusk shares what information he has on the forces of the thorn hand. In addition the 30 or so brigands with him and his handful of more elite fighters they believe he has a spell caster as one of the walls was torn down by vines in his initial assault on the keep.

Dusk remarks that the Thornhand seems unusually well informed and organized on his attack. The team argues about how best to deal with the bandits and settle on a decoy wagon to draw out and ambush them. A plan, somewhat reluctantly, endorsed by their **Blade Captain**. Shortly after Marcel confronts Dusk about his limp which Marcel believes he is faking.

The group rest for 4 hours while the troops set up the wagon. Due to the damage to the bridge the rickety wagon is forced to ford the bridge which is done successfully, although the troops need to exit the wagon at one point to push it, undermining the parties disguise somewhat . On the far side of the bridge the wagon is stopped for inspection by 6 men dressed a Cormyrian Knights. Marcel, from the road side, notes to Azara that there are more troops on an elevated position near the wagon. With the ambush discovered the company make short work of the ambush. During the course of the ambush Agnis' entangle spell grows large thorns and causes much more damage than intended. Marcel is able to determine that this is because a 'force' that is tainting magic in the area.

With the bandit force routed the party turn their attention to the prisoners. Tarkhal and Azara begin discussing the business of torturing the bandits for information, deliberately within earshot of the conscious prisoner in an attempt to make him more pliable. This trick proves so successful the bandit is offering up information as soon as they approach.

The bandit implicates a man named **Giaus** as the ring leader saying he strong armed the others into this. He also says that he has been empowered by a woman giving him some sort of thorn magic through the tattoos on his right arm, hence the moniker **Thornhand**. He also informs them of the damage to the wall and the tower suggesting it as a possible weak point.

The interrogation complete the group reassess and settle on sneaking in and killing the leaders of the brigands to break the group quickly. The knights and Illessa are sent to take the prisoners back to town, with the intention that they begin the assault on the keep once that is done. The party goes ahead to begin their infiltration.

As the group approach in the shadows Azara transforms into a Raven to do some recon and to avoid the difficulties of the climb. She finds the keep has nearly 30 bandits in its quarters. With 4 or 5 elite fighters all of which bear tattoos matching the description of the Thornhand's tattoo. Finally she seas a woman in a rich green robe perusing the books in the second story of the tower. As Azara flies by the woman looks straight at her and a shimmer of green covers her eyes.