Rise of the Runelords

Frustrated with your scouting efforts of the sawmill, you decided to do things the old fashioned way. On your way to the front door, you discussed some tactics for the immediate and farther future. Pirozzi stopped short and cast knock. One door swung open surprising three workers inside. Some of the group moved in with Henrik shouting "You all all under arrest, lay down your arms." The workers reoriented to the intrusion and replied "You've come to the wrong place." as one fled up the stairs while the other two committed to battle. Bach chased after the runner followed shortly after by Pirozzi and the rest moved in.

Bach and Pirozzi stopped at the next floor when they could not tell if their quarry had stayed on the second floor or continued. They debated strategy on the landing. The rest were cleaning up on the ground floor. Their discussion was stopped short when the door opened and a mill worker fired a crossbow bolt deep into Pirozzi's shoulder. Bach filled the gap and Pirozzi descended for heals.

The group made their way slowly up the mill floors, each time encountering another group of workers. There were several holes in the first floor ceiling that were used to haul lumber between floors that the workers used as murder holes to great effect. That caused the party to move cautiously through the mill. The last stair had a large opening next to it that created a gauntlet of sorts. The mill workers had loaded heavy crossbows scattered throughout the mill, allowing them many opportunities for shots.

Henrik and Malloric were the first ones up the last stair, followed by Bach and Golian. Henrik again informed the workers that they were under arrest. Malloric fired a arrow through a workers leg and said, "I suggest you lay down your weapons and leave." That was followed immediately by sounds of spellcasting and a figure wearing a helm, full-face, leather mask and a light mailed shirt appeared and said, "No! I suggest you leave." Malloric didn't even consider it as it seemed such a reasonable request. As the fighting continued, Malloric started to make his way back down to the entry only to be met by Edwin, who had an area protection spell in effect, bringing Malloric back to his senses (although only momentarily). All were crowded into the room with steel flashing. Henrik engaged the priest of Nerull and traded blows. Henrik smited and the priest returned heavy blows himself. Edwin healed and others were pounding down the nearly half dozen workers still in the building. Edwin, not knowing Malloric had been ensorceled, moved to get a better view. Malloric headed back down the stairs. Pirozzi followed with a plan.

Edwin cast silence in the room which forced the priest back to where he could spell cast. He did and caught Bach in a confusion spell. He was too far from Edwin and fled down the stairs. Pirozzi, at the bottom of the stairs used a wand of dispel magic on each as they tried to leave the building.

Back up stairs, the priest moved into a room and closed the door behind him while the rest of the party finished "arresting" the workers. All gathered in the large room to go after the priest. Upon entering the office, you found a rope ladder had been lowered from a window and the priest was no where to be found. You discovered a trap door in the ceiling and checked it for the priest. He had apparently fled the building. Inside the room was a rookery with three silent ravens sitting on a perch.

You looted the place and left. Amongst the typical loot was a large ledger written in a foreign language. Edwin and D'Argo were able to make out parts of it. There may be as many as four different languages. You finished looting and left Kyver's Islet for the main city.


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While spending a few days in High Madreth selling some items, purchasing others, and identifying still others, several of the group learned some information about the Brothers of the Seven. All of it bad. Malloric learned that this group was likely based on Ordellia, the semi-autonomous area of High Mardreth south of the river. Pirozzi learned that this is a group known (or at least that's what they want people to know) to be cut-throats and murderers. He was advised to let go of whatever concern he and his companions had with the Brothers. Ishan found that no one wanted to talk about the Brothers, save one individual - a Robert Stront. Robert was unwilling to discuss anything in the gambling hall where Ishan met him and agreed to meet later that evening at a warehouse where he worked.

Thr group headed out to meet Robert, short a couple of low level spells. Cautiously entering the warehouse, they found Robert sitting in the back with a few candles near him shedding more shadows than light. "Come on back." he called. As the party got closer someone commented on Robert's posture - more slumped than normal. Ishan noticed a wide, bloody 'smile' under Robert's chin. Robert, or more likely a voice from darkness behind him, but sounding like him said, "You should not have come. No one seeks to know about the Brothers!" 'Robert' stepped out from the shadows and moved to attack. (Dead) Robert also got clumsily to his feet and shuffled forward as well. Sound of spell casting from the darkness ahead filled the room and several other office doors were opened by roguish fellows with short swords. Battle ensued.

The group took a defensive stance and cast a few more protection-type spells. 'Robert' was quick on his feet and closed with Ishan. The sounds of casting stopped only to result in a large dire bat which further split the group. Party members spread out to deal with the rogues and were able to create enough space between them that the lightning bolt from a previously hidden wizard only hit a few people.

Ishan was struggling against the "Roberts" and cleric. Bach and Henrick heaved into the bat, Golian and Malloric went after the wizard, Pirozzi took spell shots as he could to assist, and Edwin was kept busy tending to wounds. Ishan's solution to his troubles was a bead of force. However, due to a miscalculation, Ishan was a bit too close. He fell against the Roberts, but the battle seemed to be going the party's way. The cleric of Nerull was hurt but challenged Henrik nonetheless. The wizard had lost his roguish guards and had some spell casting attempts interrupted. That changed when he was able to cast a powerful sleep spell, dropping Malloric and Golian. That was followed by a magical darkness.

Some of the party managed to get to Ishan but it was too late. As Henrik charged the cleric, she dropped her guard and allowed him to land a solid blow. At the edge of the darkness, one of the rogues was able to locate Golian and carefully slide his blade deep into his chest. Taking advantage of the party's concern for their downed comrades, the wizard worked his way to the exit and fled. He was followed and eventually dropped in the streets.

The next couple of days were spent selling more items to secure funding for raise dead spells. Henrik and Malloric called in some favors and the party was able to gain access to two raise dead spells. Golian willingly came back, but Ishan apparently had other plans. Only one spell was needed.

This time was also spent digging up more information on the Brothers from more reputable sources. Malloric was able to learn that the Severin Sawmill on Kyver's Islt was thought to be a base of operation. He was further told (or warned) that if they decided to do something that the group should expect that there would be no help or even acknowledgment. Malloric also learned that Lyrie, the wizardess captured at Thistletop, had been released by Justice Ironbriar. There is an unproved connection between the Justice and the Brothers.

At some evening meals, some of the group noticed a dwarf that had been paying particularly close attention. The group approached him to find that his name was D'Agro Duerthen, a lone traveling dwarf from the Copperwood of Eastmarch. Turns out he was in High Mardreth as a result of following some leads about some unresolved crimes in which he was implicated but innocent of. One piece of evidence, some black flower petals, had led him to the city. He heard some rumors of a group active in town and that some of them might be from the east of the County. He was looking for companions. The group invited him in.

Based on some bits of information, some more cryptic than others, the group went to check out the saw mill. Some exploring under water yielded nothing except drawing a little attention. The group decided to head in to find out what was going on.

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