After Doorjamb and Odd Jon lost themselves in the Frail Forest, they were assigned a guide by an elven woman named Shayla the Swineherd at Littlewolf. The guide, a halfling named Lexxi, was to escort them to Floivin Keep safely. After passing through Livenoak, the three are en route to Halehusk when they encounter a pair of ransacked, covered wagons burning to the east of the Westermarch road. Several corpses lie strewn about, two human males hacked to pieces, and a half-elven female who has been beheaded. It appears the caravan was carrying pickles and spices, judging by the residue left behind.
Ogeir the Hawk is called to the Cathedral of Blades in Floivin Keep. There, Bishop Brandler and others are mourning the loss of a minor acolyte, the halfling Pockny Hosspotch who followed Eleste at great castigation by his own people. Ogeir is ordered by Brandler to find and assist the monk Imperion of the Chaste Cloak in tracking down Pockny's slayers. Ogeir heads to Halehusk to track down the elven monk.
Imperion, meanwhile, has spent a day staking out Shalabarr Klasp with no real success, given a tent to sleep in on the outskirts of Halehusk. He meets with Captain Tarl Treadmyr, and asks him to perform a 'raid' on the Blind Vixen, since Imperion suspects it is a haven for criminals due to their earlier interaction there. Treadmyr refuses, citing the Vixen as a drinking hole favorite among the Guard, who are given discounts there. He tells Imperion that a dignitary from the Keep, one Attilan Vlad has gone missing from the Vixen just the prior day. Imperion goes to inquire about the disappearance at the Lone Wheel House, where he exchanges banter with a strange Braulish man named Baron Mordanc. Mordanc claims Vlad was inquiring about real estate and went to look at the Old Pager's Farm to the east.
Mudghol, Mordecai and Tundra Wolf return to Floivin Keep after the loss of their friends, and seek out Lt. Banghorn at the Fiery Rat. Banghorn is nowhere to be found, so Mudghol and Mordecai order drinks and ramble on. They inquire about the Rat using names on the list they found at Cheeky's Hollow, and one dwarf responds to the name 'Scroundel', claiming there is a half-elf named 'Scoundrel' who often hangs out at the Market Center peddling black market wares to those in the know. Mordecai and Mudghol head to the Market with Tundra Wolf in tow, where they meet a strange man selling musical boxes. Mordecai buys a box, and the man, who may or may not be familiar, gives them a cryptic message that they should be off to find their companion. The three leave for Halehusk, and they meet Ogeir the Hawk on the road to the village.
The paths of the PCs collide in Halehusk. Doorjamb, Odd Jon and Lexxi meet up with Imperion, the elven monk, and after reporting to Captain Treadmyr, he orders them all to lead Imperion to the burned caravan they found up north. He also orders Imperion to remove Mudghol from the village, as he has been spotted on the road and is not welcome. All of the PCs meet and exchange words. Tundra Wolf and the halfling Lexxi become heated over the death of Pockney Hosspotch: to one a generous friend, the other a pariah. The group travels together to the ruined caravan, and return to the muddy area where Lexxi lost the tracks earlier. They find some discarded boots, but even with Tundra Wolf and Lexxi tracking together, they lose site beyond the mud. The PCs scout the area, Imperion getting up in a tree, and decide to pay a visit to the nearest farm, that of Will and Winnetta Smoletti, a pair of elderly farmers. Doorjamb buys a pair of pigs from the couple.
On the road back to Halehusk, the party encounters a frightening apparition that asks them for directions to the Keep. Upon sighting the heavily armored specter, armed with a bastard sword, they all become weak and nearly frozen. Lexxi gives him directions, and the spook moves on, after giving the PCs a dire warning that they should collect their families and loved ones and vacate Floivin Province. Feeling he should warn the city, Ogeir makes haste back to Floivin Keep where he meets with Captain Kennel and several city guards, who do not believe his story. Ogeir decides to head over to the Cathedral of Blades briefly before leaving to meet back up with the party. Meanwhile, the group has returned to Halehusk and ignores Captain Tarl Treadmyr's warning about a brawler that had earlier engaged his men at the Blind Vixen. Instead, they follow Mordanc's lead and head straight to the East to find Old Pager's Farm.
They stealthily approach the farm, but not before a disguised goblin scout can scream warning to the Skull Collar warband, who have taken over the premises of Old Pager's Farm. A massive battle ensues, against a number of wolf riders, archers and infantry of the warband. Several of the enemy escape, including Krogmek, a bugbear archer and a number of other goblins. The PCs slay Dvagol, a hobgoblin, and Doorjamb claims his magic longsword. A few PCs fall unconscious, but there are no deaths, with the exception of Lexxi's pet badger. Tundra Wolf also slays Rugalar, a worg who was leading the wolf riders. After the battle, and the goblins have fled, the PCs explore the Farm. They find a hidden, earthen dungeon beneath the Farm where Attican Vlad, the stableboy Pinyon from Halehusk, and a strange goblin are being held captive. They also find some treasure, including a bizarre magical backpack.
Attican Vlad reveals that he was tricked by Baron Mordanc into coming here, and then was kidnapped, to be held for ransom or tortured by the Skull Collar warband, who seem to work with Mordanc. Pinyon mentions that he was kidnapped for overhearing a conversation between Mordanc and Shalabarr Klasp. He knows that Klasp has been hiding in a place called 'The Hold' within Floivin Keep itself, possibly with other members of The Score. The goblin expresses an interest in leaving, and heads straight for the road as soon as the PCs allow it. Ogeir the Hawk finally arrives, having missed the entire battle.
Doorjamb Grizzlebeard and Odd Jon Stuckle part ways with the group, heading for the Keep, where Odd Jon plans to initiate a business venture. They thank Lexxi and tell her she'll no longer be needed. For the moment, she remains with the rest of the PCs.
PCs: Doorjamb, Imperion, Lexxi, Mordecai, Mudghol, Ogeir
NPCs
Attican Vlad (human male): A portly, healthy looking man with wisps of white hair over a short forehead and pronounced nose. Attican wears wine-stained robes of shining blue with copper trim. He's a respected aide to Regent Bauerkroft in both social and tactical affairs. Vlad was kidnapped by the Skull Collar goblin warband and then freed by the PCs at Old Pager's Farm.
Baron Mordanc (human male): An exiled Braulish land baron who is currently seeking out opportunities in Floivin Province. He's haughty, arrogant, and according to the former stable boy Pinyon, has some connections to Shalabarr Klasp. Attilan Vlad, aide to the Regent, was tricked by Mordanc and later kidnapped by the Skull Collar goblins at Old Pager's farm. Mordanc has only been seen in person by Imperion, who spoke to him at the Lone Wheel House. Mordanc is an elegant, pale-skinned man with a deep-set brow. He wears a monocle over his left, brown-red eye and a tall hat. His teeth are crooked and chest-hair bristles out of a fashionable, frilly white tunic, which he wears over a suit of fine leather armor and boots. Mordanc carries a pair of sabers and a pistol, with a waterhorn slung over his arm that contains a sweet smelling wine. When he speaks, he has a notable gap where several of his upper teeth have been knocked out.
Captain Kennel (dwarf male): Kennel is the dog trainer and an officer in the Eidolorn guard stationed at Floivin Keep. He is a suspicious and pragmatic sort with a tight brown/black beard, and prefers to dress in thick leathers. Kennel wields a whistle, crossbow and whip and is always accompanied by at least two cruel looking mastiffs.
Connif (human male): A nervous, balding tall man who utters to himself while he performs various chores. He's got a long, slim nose and spectacles. Connif carries about a humble staff of oak, with several of the twigs still attached. It is presumed that he's a functionary of the Church of Eleste, where he is usually found managing several tasks.
Dvagol (hobgoblin male): Dvagol was a hobgoblin soldier and boss of the Skull Collar warband, possibly the top boss. He fought fiercely with a magical longsword, but was slain by Doorjamb Grizzlebeard and Odd Jon Stuckle at the assault on Old Pager's Farm. Doorjamb was awarded the longsword by the other PCs.
Ko'karri (goblin male): A shriveled, pale grayish goblin with light green, creepy eyes, one of which seems not to function. He wears a robe of violet and black, and his mane of greasy dark gray hair hangs limply at his back. The goblin speaks not a word of Common, and was freed by the PCs at Old Pager's Farm, after being taken prisoner by the Skull Collar goblin warband. The goblins motives are unknown, but he is obviously en route to somewhere important.
Krogmek (bugbear male): An archer with a thick cloak, Krogmek is one of the bosses of the Skull Collar warband. He was present at the battle of Old Pager's Farm against the PCs, but fled after being heavily wounded. His current whereabouts are unknown. Krogmek is skilled with a longbow.
Rugalar (worg male): Rugalar was a grayish-black worg and a boss of the Skull Collar warband. He enjoyed speaking common to mock and taunt his enemies, and was presumably in charge of the wolf riders within the band. Rugalar was slain by Tundra Wolf during the assault on Old Pager's Farm conducted by the PCs.
Tarl Treadmyr (human male): Tarl Treadmyr is a captain of the Eidolorn Guard, currently serving as the constable of the village Halehusk. He's a fairly handsome middle-aged man with a reddish moustache. He wears a pointed steel helm and a gleaming, polished suit of chain mail. He wields a halberd, with a shield and battleaxe strapped to his back. Tarl is rather 'lax' in his duty, usually attempting to avoid conflicts with undesirables or set his underlings out to take care of them. He's got a deal going with Frestha at the Blind Vixen tavern, in which he and his men get discounts on drinks if they let her do any extraneous business.
Will Smoletti (human male): An elderly farmer on the Crown Pasture, he lives with his deaf and mute wife Winnetta and the two raise and sell pigs and cows in addition to crops.
Winnetta Smoletti (human female): An elderly, crippled woman who lives with her husband Will at the Smalotti farmstead in Crown Pasture. She's deaf and mute, but a skilled farmer and cook, among other things...
