Rise of the Runelords

On your way to Radigast City, you stopped in Ardrinn for the night and stayed a little longer than planned checking in with friends and others in town.  In the early evening a couple of days out, you came across a caravan that was picking up the pieces after being waylaid by bandits.  You stopped to help and found a guard who had taken charge.  He reported that late last night they were attacked by group of bandits and strange,fleshy creatures that were extremely resistant to damage.  They were quickly overwhelmed.  The bandits carried off some good, but more importantly had taken a few captives.  There were no real good descriptions of any individuals.  Malloric said it shouldn't be too much trouble tracking them on account of their number.  So off you went.

Several more miles than you anticipated, their trail led into a copse.  Malloric and Golian headed in and found a tent encampment.  They scouted and headed back.  You decided to give the two time to get back and in place at the rear of the encampment and the rest of the group would make their way through the wood to the front.  The plan worked.  The main group was able to get to within 200' before being noticed and the alarm raised.  The fight began.  Malloric and Golian, just outside the main tent heard a guard come in and give an update.  A female voice barked some orders at the guard.  Another deep, male voice said "Looks like my time here is done.  I might stay a bit to see how you handle this."  "so be it" was the female's response.  Golian made a slashing movement to Malloric who vigorously shook his head.  Golian misinterpreted and cut a slit in the tent from head height to the ground.  Inside was an attractive female with long black hair in blackened chain mail; a tall, thin, nondescript man in robes; a burly man in heavy black armor and shield with the symbol of Hextor on it; and a creature not of this world whose most notable feature was a full-faced, spiky beard.  The woman said "Rothsar,  deal with our guests."

The main group was making its way toward the heart of the encampment without too much effort when the bearded devil summoned a horde of fleshy creatures.  While they couldn't do much due to protections from evil, they did effectively cut off the groups progress.  Golain and Malloric were taking shot from the other end of the camp when thew were 'dealt with' with a glitterdust spell from an invisible mage.  This took Golian out of the fight.  Malloric proceeded to pincushion the mage.  Bach was enlarged and charged the toward the mage and proceeded to slice and dice.  The devil was next.  The female was casting a few divine spells and did not enter melee yet.  The large man in black simply stood and watched and after a few seconds summoned a large warhorse from nowhere.

Henrik was pounding away at the bandits while most of the rest of the main group maneuvered around the summoned creatures.  Bach and Malloric were easily in control of the other side of the fight.  Until the man in black looked at the woman and said "Looks like you need some help.  I am not impressed."  He met Bach's sword blows and took a beating, but held his ground for several rounds.  He eventually retreated to his horse and as he mounted, he looked to the female and said "Perhaps you weren't the best choice." and fled.  The group took a couple of parting shots and debated chasing, but then though of your captive and hostages which had yet to be located.

You were able to locate the hostages in the other tents and a lot of stolen goods.  Your one captive was Horath Shangel, a priestess of Vathris.  Malloric knew she was wanted by several Baronies as were any other of her band, 'The Glaive.'  You rounded them up and forced some of the prisoners to carry what stolen goods and freed hostages they could back to the caravan.  You proceeded on to Radigast City with a stop in Brotton to drop off your prisoners and inquire about a reward.  The sheriff sighed your warrants and instructed you to secure your reward from High Mardreth.

You made it to Radigast City and set about finding an inn and started the processes of identifying items, selling them, and shopping for others.