Norro Wiston's page

"As far as I know, all of the people from Drellin's Ferry have safely arrived, but I cannot speak for the residents of the other towns. However, if they value their lives, I am sure they will flee to Brindol. Well, I do not want to hold you up, but I saw you and wanted to let you know that we are here safely. If you need me, you will find me with most of the villagers from Drellin's Ferry encamped in the park in front of the cathedral. Be well, my friends."

The Speaker of Drellin's Ferry departs back into the crowds.

The speaker of Drellin's Ferry appears out of the crowd and enthusiastically addresses you.

"My friends, you have made it to Brindol! I am pleased to see you safe. If you had not warned us when you did, the people of Drellin's Ferry would most certainly have perished. We've heard reports that plumes of smoke were rising up from Drellin's Ferry. Nobody has gone back to investigate, but we know that the Red Hand is approaching. The situation is still tense and very sad, but at least we have made it to Brindol safely and we have our lives. We also have you to thank for it!"

@Bofus

"Good Speaker, you've done the right thing by your people. The community isn't the place you're living, it's the people. You've saved your people--the buildings can always be rebuilt. We make our stand at Brindol, where we stand a chance, and kick those bastards in the teeth!! THAT will give Drellin's Ferry pride when you return and rebuild. Go--we'll do our thing. You do yours!!"

"Mr. Beerswizzler, your words make sense and give me some comfort in this difficult time. I appreciate everything you have done. I will see you in Brindol if not sooner. Fare well, halfling."

@Bofus

Walking back along the Dawnway the town of Drellin's Ferry appears empty. Houses stare vacantly out at silent roads. The sun is vanishing behind the formidable scar on the horizon that is the Wyrmsmoke Mountains. Once you reach the green, you find the last few carts and wagons ready to depart. As you approach, Speaker Wiston calls over to you, takes a deep breath and wipes tears from his eyes with the back of his hand. "It seems we're about out of time," he says. "We'd best be going now if we want to keep ahead of the worg riders."

@Mantooth, Mutamba, and Tirion
•Sunday, Rova 30, 4710; 3 hours after noon •

Crossing the ferry and making your way through the town, you are met by Norro Wiston coming out of the old Toll House.

"Hello, my friends. Thank you again for all of your help. We are making progress, and think we will have the town evacuated by sundown. I cannot thank you enough for all you have done. So where will you go when you are finished here? I suspect your work will not be done until the horde reaches the walls of Brindol!"

"Well, that's it settled. The council has decided and now it is time to make arrangements. On behalf of Drellin's Ferry, I personally wish to thank you for all of your courage, bravery and support. I apologize that you had to endure Iormel. He has his own opinions and he doesn't hesitate to express them. Please know that his opinion does not reflect the opinions of the rest of us on the town council. Well, I think I better go out and make the announcement. Thank you again, folks!"

Norro Wiston gets up and also departs the Inn.

"I agree. We have discussed this enough. My mind is quite made up, and it is now time to make a decision. Raise your hand if you are in support of evacuating Drellin's Ferry and making a full retreat back to Brindol." Norro Wiston raises his hand and looks to the others to cast their vote.

""Everything that we have told you is true, and you must make your decisions on what will you do to save this town and make them quickly. If you want my opinion, the effort to actually save the town itself will be fruitless."

Speaker Wiston nods his head as the paladin's words reassure him of what he must do.

""I have seen men try to make deals wit' things far more powerful than ogres and giants. Don't think for a minute that you have anyt'ing they'd be wanting other than that spleen of yours."

"I fear you are right, my friends. I do not think we have any real choice, but to flee. Trying to reason with them sounds pointless. I do not know about the rest of you on the council, but my mind is now clearly made up!"

Wiston appears flustered and indecisive does not seem to know how to respond. He says"Uhm. . . I guess I don't see that it could hurt to at least ask them what they want . . . What do you think?"

• Sunday, Rova 30, 4710, One Hour before Noon •

Norro Wiston enters the Old Bridge Inn followed by Captain Soranna, Delora Zann, and a sour faced man named Iormel, who is evidently a person of some property. Along with Kellin, who owns the Old Bridge Inn, these people comprise the Town Council.

Speaker Wiston greets all of you curtly while he begins pulling tables together to form one big table. "You are welcome to stay. In fact, you input is most welcome. However, the town council must make the decision, and that should be made within the hour!"

Once the room is set, Speaker Wiston hammers a gavel down on the table and the room is silent.

"You know why we are here!" He begins without preamble. "In a matter of days, we are going to have an army of goblins, hobgoblins, and monsters on our doorsteps. What do we do? Fight? Try to talk to them? Abandon the town and flee? Or do nothing and hope to the Inheritor that they don't come this way!"

"I will admit that I do not like any of my choices at the moment! Tell me, folks, do we have time to wait until morning to reconvene the council? I hate to wake up people if there is nothing that can be done tonight. We may as well let them sleep in peace while they possibly can."

"You certainly speak from your heart, Master Halfling, but with all due respect, sir, you do not know these creatures. I assure you, Forest Giants are not to be trusted and are inherently evil. I don't think we can say no to their help, but in the long run, I fear this is going to come back and bite us. For the moment, though, we certainly need all the help we can get in destroying the horde of the Red Hand."

"I am not sure that we could welcome them back! We are trying to make this land safe for business and travel! A pack of Forest Giants would certainly not help that image!"

"Well, as we said, we made a detour on the return trip to recruit some help that Jorr knew about. I do not know how many forest giants may join us, but most of them hate the evil of a horde like this."

"There are giants out there in the forest?!! I had no idea that there were any left! I thought they were all dead! Do you think it's safe to employ their help?"

"Eventually we found the path to Vraath Keep. We followed this and found that the keep had been taken over by goblins, hobgoblins and at least 1 minotaur and 1 manticore. After a bloody battle, we were eventually able to defeat the forces. . . "

"Good, so you dealt with the hobgoblins, then?"

"What sort of trouble? The sort of trouble that burns your town, loots everything you own, and tramples your blood and ashes into the dust. "

"What do you exactly mean by burns the town? You can stop them, can't you? You mean a hundred or so? We could help."

Suddenly a knock raps upon the door and the Town Speaker, Norro Wiston opens the door and steps into Soranna's kitchen. Kellin, the halfling who runs the Old Bridge, follows him, along with another tall, broad-shouldered woman with blonde hair - Delora Zann, the master of the livery stable.

"Well?" asks Wiston, "What happened? What sort of trouble are we in for?"