Baron Altheon's page

The Baron looks down at the shovel, then hands it back to the half-orc. "If this dwarf says we can go around the brush on the road, then we should! Can the wagon make it around?"

The land surrounding the road is relatively flat with short grass. Anyone who has any sort of nature or survival experience knows that the wagon will have no trouble moving through the grass around the branch-covered road.

The Baron gives a start. He cannot contain his obvious fear. "You want to confront the orcs before we go to Blasingdell? I have no wish for another run in with them. You may be brave fighters, but I have no more interest in adventures."

He shudders, and his eyes drift around this area. "On my way to Haven's Cross a band murdered my companions and left me for dead, if you recall. Might've been around this area, now that I see everything in the daylight," he mutters, trailing off.

"I say we press on to Blasingdell. My family should be there, and if it is under orc attack you would be needed there!" He points to the road. "Let's clear off this annoying brush and be off!"

The Baron pauses in his snacking. "Oh can someone please get that dog to be quiet!"

The Baron stands to leave.

"My travels on the road to Blasingdell were easy, once the orcs left me alone. If you take a wagon and packhorse, we should be good. Plus you will be able to defend our caravan if we get close and more orcs attack. I do hope there is room in the wagon for me to sit."

He pulls a parchment paper towards him and scrawls all of his orders for food and packing. "I will meet you at the wagon, ready to go, at daybreak."

"So you want the orcs killed and their hideout destroyed? I must say Baron, a town of your size with 3 people in your town guard is a bit reckless don't you think? It may be worth investing a bit more into your protection! Hopefully the orcs haven't done to much damage in the last month. You sure we're not sending these five in to face an army? Just a few small bands? If that's the case I think your previous quoted price is fair, if you're covering expenses."

Samuel turns to the guildmembers in the room Assuming Thravum, Oleksandr, Olias, Ruhhk and Jorlitharr?.

"Leave before first light tomorrow. Take horses or travel by cart. If you can, move at a faster than normal pace. Orcs are like sharks, if they smell blood in the water they'll be a lot that join the fight. The longer they're raiding the larger their numbers will grow."

"But of course, I will cover all expenses. Blasingdell has a history of peace, a hundred years' worth. No battles have occured since Durgeddin and his followers were destroyed a century ago. These attacking bands of orcs have not numbered more than six so far, but I have been gone for three weeks now."

The Baron pats his forehead. "I'm feeling feverish and need to rest. I'll ride with you at first light, as Samuel said. I'll see to it the wagon is packed with food and drink."

The Baron nods. "In my anxiousness to leave, I see I have left out several key factors. Blasingdell indeed has a town guard, led by a qualified captain, but they consist of three people in total. So far small bands of 4-6 orcs have attacked outlying farms and villages, located between the mountains and Blasingdell proper. If the orcs choose to attack Blasingdell, we would be sorely outnumbered. It is my hope that you five will come with me to the town, help gather Intel on the orcs like finding their hideout and how many there are, and either taking care of them at their hideout or protecting the town if they come to attack. "

"Please do not mistake my questions for hesitations. I do not speak for everyone but I will travel with you. I am concerned with the current physical state of myself and my companions though. We took many preparations for the goblin assault which have exhausted us. We should probably rest for the remainder of the day if we are to travel so quickly."

On hearing Oleksandr's consent, the Baron lights up. "This is good news, indeed! I do hope that others will follow your lead."

He motions to Samuel. "Please make sure whoever chooses to come tonight has a hot meal and unlimited drink at my expense. I also ask that provisions of food and water be packed for a twenty day journey for-" he counts optimistically-"six men. Tell the inn owner I will pay her with..." He pauses, checking his pockets. "Did any of you happen across an axe head with a splintered handle in the battlefield? Though I could have dropped it long ago..." He puts his head in his hands. "I need to rest. Any other questions?"

"These lands are still new to me. How long is the journey to Blasingdell-if we weren't to be waylaid by forces out of our control? Has anyone gathered information about these orcs? Do we know where they are inhabiting? Do they seem like one large group working in concert or several individual raiding parties?"

The Baron nods as he listens to your questions. "All very fair and wise questions. I unfortunately do not know the answers to all of them. The journey south to Blasingdell is 20 days on foot; my journey took longer due to my unfortunate mishaps. Mr. Wyrmshadow tells us that there is a fine stable in town. You could choose to take horses to shorten your journey by half."

He sighs. "I'm afraid I cannot tell you any more specifics. Orcs have been destroying the villages on the outskirts of town, and I fear the main settlement is enough to take down a rural farm. My estate is close to the location of raids, and in the time that I've been gone I fear for the lives of my wife, children, and servants." He sets his jaw. "I wish you would set out tonight. It is my hope that when we arrive we might have more information about the orcs. We desperately need your help, friends."

You walk into the room and see the man who stumbled into town asking for aid from Samuel Wyrmshadow. Now that he has rested and had a hot meal, he looks much more composed and noble. He sits behind a table with a goblet next to him. He is still wearing rags, but his demeanor is that of trained composure. Samuel Wyrmshadow stands to his left, arms crossed and a grim look on his face.

"Please, sit," he says to you, motioning to a line of chairs in front of the table. There is a small table with many goblets and a caraffe of rich, deep red liquid. "Help yourself to some wine." He sips from his goblet then continues.

"I apologize for my alarming state yesterday. But I do not apologize for the earnestness of my request. I live in the town of Blasingdell, south of here along the road, and for weeks we have had our farms and villages burned, looted, and utterly destroyed. I left twenty days ago with a group of travelers on horseback, headed for Haven's Cross to request aid. Unfortunately, several days into our journey we were ambushed by a band of six orcs. Everyone was killed and I was left for dead, as my horse had been felled and I had been stuck beneath him." He clasps his hands tightly. "I do not know why these bands of orcs are attacking us. They have never done so before. We are a peaceful mining and farming town, and have not intentionally done anything to provoke this." He pauses, as if hesitating to tell you the next part. "We do live in the shadow of the Stonetooth Mountains. Two hundred years ago the dwarves living there fought many bloody battles with orcs who tried to pillage their weaponry and loot their tunnels..." He trails off and surreptitiously pats his pocket. "Must have lost it on the journey," he mutters to himself.

Baron Altheon leans forward and looks each of you in the eye. "Mr. Wyrmshadow tells me you all have just fought in a battle yourselves, and each of you have proven your battle worthiness. I ask that you seriously consider returning to Blasingdell with me tonight. Due to my long journey here, I hesitate to wait any longer. I will pay each of you 1500 gold once the orc threat has been extinguished." He leans back and refills his goblet. "Do you have any questions for me?"