Sverix takes the medal hesitantly, not quite sure what to do with it. "Thank you," he says, bowing his head slightly. "Ummmm... a knight is a kind of warrior, right?"
"Yes a knight is a kind of warrior. It's a warrior for a kingdom. You can lead armies as a knight." the Queen responds.
"Speaking of armies. Shall we go and meet yours?"
Queen Galfrey escorts you to the camps just outside of Kenabres’s northern wall, where her armies wait. She leads the you to a group of crusaders at the northern edge of the camps, and as they approach, the knights quickly fall into line, standing at attention.
"These knights have volunteered to aid them in retaking Drezen, and that their loyalty and devotion are true." Three others wait at the camp—the three experts who’ll be joining the you on your journey.
Queen Galfrey introduces Aron, Sosiel, and Nurah, then nods in approval. “I’ve never been one for ceremony, and you’ve a lot of work ahead of you—I wish you luck in your mission, and hope to hear of your triumph soon!”, and she leaves you with three experts.
Sverixalint nods to each of them in turn. "I am Sverixalint, a warrior of Apsu."
He turns slightly, acting on an impulse he couldn't have anticipated, but which felt right. "Terendelev's blood, and the blood of all who fell in the attack on Kenabres, and the blood of generations who have fought and died here, cries out for the time of vengeance. The wardstones are shattered, but that is because it is no longer the time of shield and scale, but of fang and blade! We shall strike back against these demons, and history shall remember us as the tip of the claw that tore this evil out of the land at last!"
Suddenly the impulse passes, and Sverix is left gazing at his small army in confusion, as if not quite sure of what he'd just done.
The army cheers at the young dragon's words.
A male human in clerics vestments introduces himself. A dedicated supporter of the Mendevian Crusades, Sosiel Vaenic wisely tempers his zeal in opposing the demons of the Worldwound with an abiding love for those scarred by the righteous conflict.
A female halfling gives you a wide smile as she introduces herself. Small and unassuming, Nurah Dendiwhar serves as a chronicler and historian among the Worldwound crusaders.
The third person is a male human. Haggard and beleaguered, Aron Kir has the look of a man haunted by his own weaknesses and worn down by the loss of too many friends.
Sverixalint greets each of the three in turn. Once the introductions are done, he looks to Sosiel and Nurah. "Do we know anything about what the demons have left in the area? I'll want to know more about old Drezen, too, but that's the most important bit, I think."
He pauses a moment. "We're going to need scouts, huh? Do we have anybody good at scouting?"
"I've been a thief. Scouting isn't my strong suit. I hear that Anevia Tirabade is a good scout. She may join us if her wife comes along as well. Did you want to ask her? We haven't met her." says Aron Kir.
"Oh, you're right! I mean... I can invite people?" Sverix pauses a moment. "I... guess I should have known that. I'll go invite them right now! And maybe Aravashnial, too."
"Of course. You have the relationships with the locals. I'm sure they could be persuaded to join the army. Irabeth sounds like an excellent addition to the army, and Anevia would make an excellent scount. We'll leave you to talk to them." Says the halfling.
About that time the Queen returns. "I forgot." One of her retainers hands over a map. "I suggest you travel north directly to Valas’s Gift and then follow the east bank of the Sellen River north until you come to Vilareth Ford, at which point you can cross the West Sellen and continue north along its west bank to the dry Ahari riverbed. This route will provide something of a natural trail to follow." She then leaves with all her retainers.
"Thank you," Sverix says, giving the Queen a nod.
After she leaves, he turns to his advisors. "I'll go invite those people now. I'll be right back, okay?"
The halfling looks at the two humans with a raised eyebrow. "Okay."
If Sverix is paying attention you get the sense that she's not sure you really are the hero that destroyed the wardstone.
He searches high and low, and finds Irabeth and Anevia eating dinner in their home. It's almost repaired. There is one wall leaning at an odd angle, and several boarded up windows.
They both look happy to see you. "You got to meet the Queen young dragon. What was it like?" Irabeth asks as she moves a chair so Sverix can take a place at the table.
Sverixalint feels a little embarrassed about interrupting their dinner, but when both Irabeth and Anevia look happy to see him he relaxes a bit. "Well... she seems like a good person," he answers. He feels like they're probably searching for more of an answer, but... well, dragons aren't subject to the laws of humanoids, so their kings and queens aren't really impressive to them. "She asked me to help with attacking the demons! I'm going with a bunch of paladins to Drezen, but, ummm... I think I need some help. I've never even thought about how to lead people before... and we need a scout, too, so, ummm... would you two help?"
The couple looks at each other at Sverix's question. It's clear they are having an entire conversation with just that look as only long term couples can. They nod and turn back to Sverix.
"There's so much to do here, but I think you might need us more. Tell me more about this group of Paladins, and why we're going to Drezen? Who is going with you beside the Paladins?" Irabeth asks. She pours more tea and settles in to find out what they are getting into.
"Well, Queen Galfrey wants us to retake Drezen because the Sword of Valor is there," Sverix explains earnestly. "She says the demons have left it poorly defended because they're getting ready to attack other places, so now's a good time to take a small force and attack. There's a few other people with the paladins to help out--Sosiel, Nurah, and Aron, are their names."
"That sounds like an excellent plan. We'll join you Sverix. Is there anyone else from Kenbaras that you are thinking about asking? When will we be leaving?" They continue to feed the young dragon supper.
Sverixalint gratefully (and eagerly) eats everything they give him.
"I've been really hungry recently!" he mentions between bites. "I think maybe because I've grown so much so fast?"
"I was thinking maybe of Aravashnial? It'd probably be good to have another wizard with us."
"I think that might be. You have gotten larger since we met you. Aravashinial would be helpful. I think he's still staying at the Inn. It sounds like we'll be leaving in the morning at the earliest."
"That will give me time to turn the city over to my second in command, and pack." Irabeth says.
The meal is finished and the ladies look excited to get prepared to head out. See you in the morning Sverix."
Sverix nods. "Yes, there's some things I should get ready, too. I need to decide what I'm doing with my hoard..."
He trails off a moment, then sighs. "...I probably need to use it to buy things. The battles ahead are going to be a lot tougher, so I'll need everything I can get for them."
"...but maybe I can save just a little bit of it. Well, I should go see Aravashnial now. I'll see you in the morning!"
The bids Sverix goodnight, and waves as he heads off to his next stop. He finds Aravashnial in the common room of the Inn.
Hello young dragon. What are you doing out and about this evening? I heard you were having dinner with the queen or some such thing like that."
"I did meet with the Queen. We're going to attack the demons!"
Sverix described the plan to attack Drezen and get the Sword of Valor.
"I was just asking Anevia and Irabeth to come, and I wanted to ask if you'd come, too. It's going to be a tough fight, and we could use your help."
He chuckles. "What good would a blind elf do you? This sounds like quite an adventure, and an important task. Tell me more about what's going on."
"You helped underground even when you were blind," Sverix points out. "Your knowledge is always needed, and you still have magic you can use even without seeing. But it's up to you, of course."
"I'll join you. It will be interesting to see something of the history of the Wars. When do we leave?"
"Tomorrow? I'll meet you at the camp. Thank you for thinking of me. You should get some rest and gather your things for the trip."
"Yeah, I've been thinking of what I want..." He sighs a bit. "And what I'm going to have to give up to get it. It's hard for a dragon to do that. Just the thought of spending my hoard... but I know I'll need everything I can get to fight these demons."
"Well you should go and talk to old Geb over there about what supplies you might need." He waves in the general direction of one of the rooms to the side of the main room. You can see a hastily drawn sign that says "Geb's Weapons and Sundries. Good Prices". A rotund dwarf is leaning against the door, and smiling at anyone who walks by.
"Come see Ol' Geb. He's got the best prices in Kenbaras. I'll make you really good deals." He hasn't take notice of Sverix's attention yet.
"Thank you, Aravashnial," Sverix says, giving the elf a small nod, then turning and trotting over to Geb.
"Hello," he says. "Ummm... I have some things to sell and I need to buy some things, like some food... probably a lot of food, really... and something to carry it all in, and probably some magic things, too..."
After some talking through things, Sverix reluctantly starts to part with his collected treasures. He sells the two extra magic cloaks, the silverware and gems, the armor and shield.
He stops when he comes to the weapons, though. These... these were his. He felt it deep in his bones--every dragon had something it hoarded above all else, and for him, this would be it. The weapons of his defeated foes, trophies of his victories.
Except for the crossbow bolts, he didn't care about those.
In return, he bought an enchanted bag, and a headband that would help focus his mind. Handing over his gold to get them felt like pulling his own fangs out, but he knew he'd need every advantage he could get. Last, he purchased several pounds of extra food and water, figuring it was best to be safe even if the army would be carrying some with them.
Sverix makes his purchases, sleeps the night, and makes his way to the troops the next morning.
All of your allies are there leaning over a map. They are discussing troop movements and supplies.
Severix come in. We think we'll be able to carry enough food with us to make the trip to Drezen, and have enough to take the city. It's going to be about a four day trip." Aron points out the distance on the map. "We can head out any time you would like Commander."
Sverix trots over and looks at the map, studying their route for a bit. "We should probably leave now," he says, looking up. "The less time we give the demons to realize what's going on, and the less time they have to attack other places, the better. Are we all ready to go?"
We are." Younger soldiers are sent to take down the tent, and the rest of the army prepares to move out. A couple of hours later the group is on it's way. Banners of Iomadae waving in the air as they begin to march.
Sverixalint trots along with the troops, pride swelling in his chest at the thought of going to war alongside these brave soldiers. He feels heavily the responsibilities on him, however, which keeps him from having too much of a spring in his step. He wonders again if he's right in not just telling everyone he'd been chosen as one of Apsu's heralds, but... somehow he feels it's still right for now.
After a little while he trots over to Irabeth. "When do you think we should start having someone scout ahead?" he asks her, trusting her greater experience in this kind of thing.
We should scout often. Let me send out Anevia to see what there is to see ahead of the army." She makes the request, and late into the evening Anevia brings a report back to you. "Valas' gift was a small town a small town surrounded by surprisingly fertile lands. It was once one of Kenabres’s primary sources of food and grain, Valas’s Gift has been destroyed by demons, and its citizens have scattered into the surrounding hinterlands."
When you arrive, they find the village a smoking ruin.
Sverixalint growls angrily. "We have to search for survivors, and make sure no demons spot us and warn their forces we're coming. Anevia, did you see any tracks indicating where the demons or any survivors went?"
The army sets up camp, and Anevia spends the day sending out scouts to look for current traces of demons and survivors. They don't find any, but you do find a little over a day of supplies.
Sverixalint feels torn. On the one claw, he wants to keep hunting for survivors before demons find them. On the other, the longer they delay their mission, the worse for the war as a whole.
In the end he decides they have to move on, and regretfully gives the order to continue in the morning.
Vilareth Ford is the northernmost crossing point on the West Sellen—few settlements and no fords or bridges exist farther north from here on the Mendev side of the river. Named for the crusader general who first held the ford against a host of tiefling cultists eager to use it as an invasion point, Vilareth Ford has long been watched over by a small contingent of crusaders.
Yet as the army approachs the ford, Anevia comes racing south to intercept the army about 15 minutes before the ford is in sight, bearing grim news. "Vilareth Ford has been taken by the enemy!"
Sverixalint growls deep in his chest. "They must have spotted us. They're probably hoping to ambush us. Anevia, what did you see? How many of them are there and what sorts of demons are there?"
He looks over to Irabeth. "We'd better get ready for a tough battle. What would you suggest we do to prepare?"
OK I made a doc that has some info for you.
The bulk of the crusaders who once protected the place are dead, and their heads and entrails now decorate the bunkerlike structures that line the river’s east bank. The tieflings themselves are enjoying a few days of relaxation after the battle, awaiting reinforcements, but they marshal quickly once they realize they’re under attack.
There are only 200 tieflings present at Vilareth Ford. The ford itself has a large open area where the army could stage a battle—it’s currently being used by the tieflings as an encampment. The surrounding terrain can provide concealment if you wish to attempt to ambush the tieflings.
Sverix leans heavily on Irabeth for commanding the army as they prepare for battle. On hearing about the terrain, he suggests they try to get as close as possible before breaking cover.
"Fight hard, but don't be reckless. Fall back if you're injured. We have the strength to break through here, but we have a long war ahead of us, so don't get killed here," he orders.
The tiefling army is mowed down in the wake of the approaching armies ranged attacks. When the group gets to melee they find nothing but survivors to either destroy or capture.
What would you like to do to recover from the fight? Anevia and Aron slip into the surrounding regions to scout out the place and ensure no other enemies lie in wait. At the same time Irabeth, Sosiel, and Nurah set out separately to seek survivors to heal and rescue from the aftermath.
Sverix has the soldiers search the camp for useful supplies, while he himself helps with healing the wounded... and with intimidating the survivors. He does his best to encourage any remaining tieflings to stop working with the demons and instead go and join civilization and be useful citizens.
Some of the paladins might grumble a bit at the idea of looting tieflings, but they’ll do as ordered.
First, the PCs can gather up units of food and water from the site.
Secondly, the weapons, gear, and tools gathered reward the PCs with 3 units of Goods. While this form of capital won’t help them immediately,
Aron explains that if they do manage to take Drezen, they’ll need more goods, and also influence, labor, magic, and of course gold to help get the city up and running again.