The Starting Situation

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**The Winter Of 218**

….and so in late Autumn, the small village of Braerk found itself hosting a large number of refugees from the surrounding lands all with tales of the horrors of the Elven invasion. Over the next couple of weeks many groups set off to the South East, looking to find safety deeper in the Eastern Kingdom, but most returned bringing tales of wandering Elven warbands slaughtering any and all. So, by the time the first frosts of Winter arrived, Braerk had settled into a torpor, fatalistically awaiting the inevitable Elven assault. The only relief to be found was that the years harvest had been extremely good, and so no-one went hungry, indeed many sought solace in food and drink – with a number of cobbled together stills producing a variety of alcoholic drinks, that if a bit rough did produce blessed oblivion for a time.

As the weeks passed, it became obvious to all that the Elves were not planning an immediate attack on Braerk and so Glagdan, the village mayor, began trying to impose a semblance of organisation. All able-bodied refugees were conscripted into the village militia, work parties were organised and rough defences began to take shape. Although, this did give a focus and to a certain degree a sense of purpose, Glagdan was obviously well out of his depth in terms of any form of military knowledge. Still by the time of the January snows, the village did at least now have a wooden stockade fence surrounding it, and everyone in the “militia” was armed with at a spear and rough hide shield – no matter what their ability to use such armament was.

With winter slowly releasing its grip and the first signs of thaw, open discussion began about whether an attempt should be made to break out en-masse to the South East, before the Elves returned to the area. Glagdan insisted that everyone was safer staying behind the security of the ramshackle walls, but a vocal and growing element within the village, primarily the incomers, agitated for an early exodus. It was as these arguments were growing and tempers getting frayed that a visitor arrived – in a dramatic fashion.

**The Arrival of Sir Cagrun**

When first the giant hawk was spotted approaching from the South, the initial reaction was total panic, those on watch duty shouted the alarm and then fled the walls. More disciplined elements of the militia tried to man the walls but were hindered by the crowds of people that were milling around the streets. By the time the hawk landed just outside the walls, not a single arrow had been fired and indeed most of the militia could be found at the opposite side of the village, with some already making plans to flee.

However, it was soon obvious that this was no Elven assault, the hawks rider was a giant, armoured and with the royal arms of Alvera on his tabard. The giant dismounted and walked up to the village gates followed by the giant hawk. At the gate, the giant looked at the state of the gate and thought twice about knocking, simply demanding in a loud voice to be admitted in the name of King Alvera so that he could speak to the village mayor. Without waiting for authority the two nearest militia rushed to open the gate, struggling to pull it open against the snow still lying on the ground. The giant entered, then muttered something to the nearest militiaman. The militiaman rushed off into the village, whilst the giant walked up the main street toward the village centre. He was met by Glagdan, who had obviously hastened out without taking the time to pull on his winter cloak. Glagdan bowed low to the new arrival and then escorted him back to his house.

In the meantime, the militiaman from the gate had returned to the open gate, with a struggling and squealing piglet held in his arms. He looked around, obviously wondering what he was supposed to do next. After a few minutes, he shrugged and simply threw the piglet out through the open gate, but not before it had left a present smeared down his front. Outside there was a brief squeal, quickly cut off – followed by the sound of tearing and crunching.

Somebody had obviously recognised the Giant, for soon the talk through the assembled folk was that the giant was named Cagrun, a minor noble from Starport and a member of the Royal Sky Knights.

**Order Out Of Chaos**

After about an hour, Cagrun and Glagdan emerged into the village square, and stood silently as a crowd gathered round. Once everyone had settled and the background babble had quietened down Glagdan spoke to the assembled crowd.

Cagrun would be taking charge of the militia and the defence of Braerk, whilst Clagdan would continue with organising logistics. A caravan of wagons would be arriving within the week with supplies and additional equipment for the militia. Everyone was to prepare for evacuation of the village….

Over the next week, the militia was transformed, proper military discipline was enforced and the troops were organised into units of infantry and archers. The conscripts were asked to “revolunteer” for military duty and many took this option. In addition, Cagrun identified a number of individuals that would not necessarily fit into a military structure - these individuals were formed into three groups and initially at least put to work strengthening the fortifications around the village – primarily taking the form of ditch digging. The promised wagon train arrived, accompanied by at least 200 troops mounted on large warhorses, 8 of the wagons were left in Braerk and the remainder departed to the East with most of their escort although five of the soldiers remained behind and were soon established as officers within the militia, another of the escorts took charge of Cagrun’s mount (which had been making a severe dent in the overwintered livestock) and departed back to the South East. Supplies from the wagons provided the militia with arms and some armour along with additional foodstuff – there were also some large crates that were left stacked by the village hall covered with heavy oilcloths.

[Surprise, surprise – the party is one of the groups singled out by Cagrun]

Late one evening, the three working groups were summoned to a meeting with Cagrun and one of his lieutenants in the village hall. He had three different scouting missions that he wanted the groups to perform.

1. To the Southwest: Scout out the road back to the main highway and either clear out any undesirable elements along this road – or assess their strength and report back. The supply wagons had reported no encounters with either Elven or Orcish warbands, but with the natural chaos that had ensued in the area the intent was to identify any risk to the population of the village if they were evacuated.
2. To the West: A broad sweep along the road to identify if there were any Elven elements mustering – and if so in what strength. No attempt was to be made in engaging any Elven forces, indeed Cagrun made it quite clear that he would expect any such attempt to be suicidal.
3. To the North: A similar sweep, but also on the lookout for Orcish groups, whilst Riverside is held strongly by the Elves the Orcs have taken advantage of the situation and are sending raiding parties into the area. From all accounts the Orcs are attacking both Elves and Alverans. Again do not attempt to engage, intelligence gathering is the main goal.

This is probably the longest period that the party has been close to either Cagrun or one of his fellow Guardsmen. Cagrun is as you would anticipate, heavily built, wearing Chainmail armour with a large hammer strapped across his back. What is strange is that under his surcoat something is obviously moving around – but never comes out of concealment.

His Lieutenant is a human, more athletic than muscular, wearing a Chainmail shirt only as opposed to full chainmail, he is armed with a metal shod staff – again strapped across his back. On his shoulder is perched a small falcon, which you have seen around the village a number of times – what is strange now you are a lot close to the bird is that it seems somehow slightly transluscent.

**ANYHOW**

The party must choose one of the above OR can decide to “Sod this for a game of soldiers”.

I will answer eMail questions during the thinking time, but all questions/answers will be public. Occasionally one of the other groups may ask a question as well – in which case I will communicate the question and answer to all!

On Sunday 17th one of the other groups will make a choice…. So options will become more limited (unless the group decides to sod this for a game of soldiers of course!).

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