4th March 2021 - Session 4 - Protecting the Town - Matthew

 As they finish up talking to the guards, Dipple and Bearnabus notice seven horsemen riding towards the town. They estimate that they are probably 15 minutes away. It doesn't look like they are part of any army but rather wearing regular clothing. 

The party questions Kella about the horsemen but she claims to not know them. It doesn't go unnoticed that her eyes widen upon being questioned about it.

The party decides to head on down to the town's entrance to meet with the horsemen while telling the guards to hang back with the ladder in case things go south.

While at the town entrance, Kin and Kella head up one of the guardtowers while Bearnabus and Dipple go up the other guard tower so that the drawbridge can be raised. 

The 7 horsemen arrive outside the town. Dipple asks why they have come to Nightstone. They explain that Lady Nandar was asking for help. The main horse rider introduces himself as Xolkin Alexander. When questioned if he knows Kella, he says he does not but something about his answer is suspicious. At that point of time, Xolkin whispers to one of his fellow riders who then suddenly takes off alone around the outside of the town. Somehow Xolkin convinces the party to lower the drawbridge and have a 1 to 1 conversation. As the bridge starts to get lowered the other horsemen start to move onto the bridge making it impossible to raise the bridge again. Tensions rise but so far the peace is kept. Graupel suspecting that Xolkin might be trying to get to Kella and makes an excuse up about looking for potatoes in the guard tower that Kella is in, leaving Dunbarr on his own. 

Kella attempts to leave the guard tower but Kin draws his dagger on her and questions her again on whether she knows Xolkion or not. Kin remains unconvinced that Kella doesn't know Xolkin. 

While talking to Dipple, Xolkin sees that the town is destroyed, not useful to anyone. He says that thought out loud enough for his fellow riders to hear.

Dipple tries to figure out once and for all what the story is about Xolkin and Kella. He and Bearnabus head down to where Dunbarr is. He takes out a piece of parchment paper and asks Xolkin to write a letter for Lady Nandar so that it can be passed to her. Dipple immediately compares the letter with the message that was found with the flying snake and sees that the writing between them is very similar. While this is happening the flying snake is causing a ruckus in the tinder box as it tries to bash its way out. Pritstick does not help matters by also pawing at the box. Xolkin starts to get on edge when it's revealed to him that it's a flying snake in the box. Eventually the flying snake is out of the box and flies to Xolkin. It wraps itself gently around Xolkin and he gives it a pet. It seems the two are well acquainted. All the while, the other horse riders continue to move as close as they possibly can.

At this point it seems clear that Xolkin and Kella do know each other and when pushed further Xolkin eventually relents and admits that he does know Kella. In fact they have known each other for a long time and are old friends. Xolkin asks Kella how she is but she seems indifferent about what has transpired. 

Upon further inspection Xolkin sees that the town is beyond ruin and is no good any more. He is seen talking to his flying snake which then takes off away from the town.

The horse rider who originally left the group returns but it can be also seen that there are 20 orcs led by a bigger orc on the way as well. It is decided to let all the horse riders into the town upon seeing the orcs. Kin decides to run to the castle to get the guards. Since Kin left, Graupel and Kella are left alone, Graupel decides that Kella is free to move about on her own. 

The remaining party takes another look at the advancing orcs and they can see that it appears the orcs are wearing what looks like necklaces made out of ears. Bearnabus and Graupel are able to discern that they are in fact elf ears. It is also seen that the orcs are in more of a panicked run rather than a charge so it feels like they are being chased.

As the orcs get closer, Dunbarr shouts at them to go away but is only met with WAAAGH!! The chief orc orders them to get into the town. The horse riders assume their positions at the draw bridge and prepare to fight.

4 orcs dive into the water swimming across to the town walls, Kella and Xolkin fire a volley at them doing a bit of damage to them.

The orc chief once again shouts that they need to find a way into the town and points south to his fellow orcs.

Bearnabus decides to shoot fire at the orcs that are in the water. It’s not very effective. At this point Bearnabus decides to turn into a brown bear.

Dipple casts sleep on some of the orcs that are swimming and one of them falls asleep and ends up drowning.

Some of the orcs have made it to the embankment and are attempting to climb over the wall but they are unable to get any purchase and make little to no progress.

Graupel sees two goblins in the town square and starts making owl noises to try and get the others attention, followed by giving a toot of her horn.

In the mean time, Kin has reached the guards and is returning back to the drawbridge.

The horse riders seem capable enough as they kill one of the orcs with a volley of arrows.

Graupel runs up and jumps up onto one of the horses that were in the town square.

Bearnabus who heard the horn, leaves the drawbridge and heads towards the sound of the horn.

Dunbarr decides to run south based on the orc movements and the fact that the orc chief pointed south.

The goblins that Graupel saw have now run right into the town center scaring off the horses there.

At this point it is seen that there is even more riders approaching from the north. They are too far away to tell if they are friend or foe.

Kin on his way back bumps into Dunbarr and is informed that the orcs are heading south. Kin decides to also head south leaving Dunbarr in his dust. Kin can see that a part of the south wall got crumpled by one of the falling boulders and heads in that direction. As Kin arrives at the hole in the wall he can see 4 orcs are trying to make their way through. Kin also notices that some of the orcs are also swimming towards the keep.

The riders from the north are now closer to the town and it is possible to tell that they are elves from Evermeet.

Dipple and the horse riders are still defending the drawbridge.