Session 4

The fourth session was October 7th. Only Adam (Ash, shadow elf ninja) and Mike (holy warrior) attended. Most of the others were at a concert or otherwise occupied. 

Ash and Humphrey set about exploring town, while the others see to their own individual concerns. The two make an odd couple, wandering around town and making acquaintance with the townsfolk.

First, the two go to the blacksmith's shop. There, they meet Mack Guffin, the smith. They talk with him for a while, determining that Broder's royal garrison keeps him pretty busy, but that there is a lack of metal locally. Most of what he does is repair. It is fortunate that he stays so busy, since his wife's carpentry business has dried up since the renovations to the outer walls have been completed. Humphrey asks about having a new edge put on his greatsword. Mack asks him to return later while his wife is around. He says that he likes her to consult on what he charges, since he is more of a craftsman than a businessman. Humphrey and Ash share a raised eyebrow upon hearing this, and agree to return a little later.

Wandering around further, the two find the stables, which appear underpopulated. They also find the gatehouse to the inner bailey of Broder Keep. Humphrey asks for an audience with the boss. The soldiers tell the two that Broder is led by Castellan Josk Blackmun, but that all appointments must be made through his advisor, Essentia Nells. Ash demands that this Essentia attend them at once. Humphrey gives the guards an apologetic look and asks that Miss Nells meet with them when it is convenient. One of the guards agrees to inform the advisor that the two want to talk to the big man, and goes inside the gatehouse to retrieve her.

Essentia Nells is not what the two were expecting. She is an otherworldly looking woman, with flowing blue hair, bluish-white skin, and glowing blue eyes. Humphrey and Ash are both taken aback. Humphrey recovers from his surprise first, and politely inquires why her appearance is so strange. Essentia tells the two that she is descended from a priest and his divine servitor, and so she is half spirit. She doesn't remember much of her mother, but was raised by her father, long, long ago. When he died, she continued to live in the area, sometimes making Broder Keep her home. She is hundreds of years old, and spent much of that time alone. She came to know the castellan, and has decided that he is a good man who she will aid in his efforts at Broder.

Humphrey and Ash make an appointment through Essentia to see the castellan in the afternoon. They leave the gatehouse and head back toward the smithy, to see if Mrs. Guffin has returned.

On the way, they see a halfling watching them and smoking his pipe from a second story window in a brightly painted building. He beckons them to come and have a word.

Entering his richly appointed Guildhouse, the two meet Harnost Labingi, master of the Broder Merchant's Guild. He talks to them for a while, discussing his hopes to expand trade in the area, and increase the influence of his fledgling guild. The organization has its roots in Shayfrim, but was only a marginal player there, unequal to the older and more established trade guilds. By starting with a younger settlement, Harnost hopes that his guild will grow with the town. He then veers onto a slightly racist condemnation of elves in general and druids in particular, claiming that they are both anti-business and prone to blood sacrifice and debauchery, although which among these is the greater flaw, it is hard to sort out. He seems to come to himself after a moment, and apologizes to Ash, claiming that he was referring to Wood Elves, not Shadow Elves, but Ash claims to take no offense. He tells Harnost that indeed, the wood elves will one day receive the doom that they deserve. Harnost leaves the subject of perfidious elves and discusses banking, recommending that the two conduct any financial affairs through Geoffrey Mason, the local banker (and guild member). He vouches for Geoffrey's honesty and discretion, and claims to keep all his own wealth with the bank. Humphrey and Ash politely thank Harnost for his hospitality and agree to look into the bank at their leisure.

At this point, Ash and Humphrey split up. Ash claims he wants to see to business that a good man like Humphrey will have no interest in, and Humphrey is not inclined to part with the Shadow Elf for a while. Humphrey makes for Mack's Forge, while Ash heads back to Fountain Square and the Tipsy Mermaid Tavern.

At the smithy, Humphrey finds that Oawe Guffin, Mack's wife, has returned. She tells him that for 40 silver pieces, Mack can hone and improve Humphrey's sword and have in done by nightfall. Humphrey agrees to this, and leaves his sword to be serviced. He strolls around outside, awaiting his appointment with the castellan. He watches children smashing bugs which explode in little puffs of fire, while the grooms from the stables walk the rundown horses in their charge around the road in front of the inner gate for exercise.

Ash attends to his business and returns to meet with Humphrey just in time for their appointment.

Essentia meets the two at the gatehouse, and asks them to remove all their weapons before entering the inner bailey. Humphrey places his javelins on the bench she indicates. When Ash places his sword on the bench and steps back, Humphrey gives him a stern look and demands, “Come on.” Ash places some more weapons on the bench, grudgingly. Essentia promises them that no one will molest their belongings, but that no one may enter the inner bailey armed, unless under the command of Castellan Blackmun. A guard pats them each down, then the two adventurers are admitted into the courtyard beyond the gatehouse.

Inside, they find many soldiers drilling. A half dozen are practicing jousting to the right, while on the left, some oare receiving instruction in polearm fighting while others engage in calisthenics. Tents line the edge of the bailey. Essentia leads Ash and Humphrey through all this, directly to the castle opposite the gatehouse.

They enter to small castle, into a round hall with a ring shaped ribbed vault above. At the top of a stairway sits a halfling in fine clothes. He smiles widely and stands, welcoming the two to Broder Keep, and introduces himself as Josk Blackmun.

During the interview that follows, Essentia, Josk, Ash and Humphrey walk along the battlements on the roof of the castle. Looking out into the heavily wooded hills, Josk explains that the king has charged him with pushing the borders of the kingdom south, and claiming all the land they see. He dreams of farms and lumbermills. He says that he expects trouble from the wood elves to the south, in Llanowar Forest. He tells Humphrey and Ash that these elves regard the woods as sacred. They will certainly oppose the king's will. Complicating his task, merchants who supply Broder Keep have been falling prey to bandits and monsters from the the wild lands surrounding them. Josk is pleased to see bold men like Humphrey and Ash arrive at the keep. He hopes that they will find it profitable to hunt down the goblin bands that plague him, and bring any bandits to justice. His own soldiers have been killed patrolling the area, and he has been unable to replace them from the royal army, so he is reluctant to send out any more to die. Those he lost were mostly mounted knights, and he is now reliant on infantry to a distressing degree. Ash points out that dangerous work like this deserves some consideration from those who benefit from it. Josk smiles and offers a bounty on goblin ears, paying 3 silver per pair, 4 silver for hobgoblin or orc. Ash asks about what he might pay for the ears of human bandits. Essentia points out that determining the evil intentions of a human based on his ears is difficult, while goblins and orcs are clearly up to no good.

Josk uses this to segue to a concern of his. He has heard that the holy warrior, in addition to keeping company with a shadow elf, travels with two ogres. Can they be certain that the keep is safe when ogres are admitted inside? Humphrey informs him that one of the ogres is only a half ogre, and what is more, is his sister. The other is a monk, and has proven to be a good and faithful companion. Humphrey takes responsibility for their behavior. Josk accepts this. Essentia comments that this interview has revealed clearly that Ash is trustworthy as long as their enemies have ears to collect. She then reminds Josk that he has business to attend to, and that he and his secretary have had enough of a break. Josk cheerfully bids the two farewell before going back to his work.

Ash and Humphrey get some dinner and beer at the Tipsy Mermaid. When Humphrey tips his server, she becomes overly familiar with him. He adopts a frosty manner in response, but includes an identical gratuity on his next rounds as well. Ash stiffs the server and watches the interplay between the two humans with amusement. He suggests that the two of them go to the valley they found earlier to scout it out. Humphrey is against it. He suggests that they should wait until the others are available, so that they can assault any evil beings they find in force. Ash shrugs and agrees. “I guess someone must attack from the front, if only so that the enemy doesn't see what is attacking from the side.”

After dinner, Humphrey collects his sword, pays the smith. The two adventurers return to the inn to rest up and await their companions.