Session 14: "Parting of the ways........" Or "New beginnings".

10th Day of Palesun, Wineday.

As the group went downstairs for breakfast, they noted that Bandur was missing. Toblen Stonehill, the owner of the inn, told them that Bandur had received a message and had left early. He left a message for the group that they were not to worry.

During breakfast the group asked Toblen if the Redbrands were liked in Phandalin. He looked around nervously and told the group when they first came 14 days ago everything was good. The Townmaster, Harbin, had hired them to help guard Phandalin and the town folk agreed, there being no fighters to speak of in the town. Then day after day it got worse as they began to strut around like they owned Phandalin.                                    

Two nights ago Thel Dendrar had got into a scuffle with 3 Redbrands after they insulted his wife on the street. The morning after the Woodcutters house was boarded up and there was no sign of Thel, his wife or two children. Rumours were rife that they had left Phandalin for Neverwinter, or gone east along the Triboar Trail or headed south to Waterdeep, some even said they had been murdered in their sleep and buried deep in the woods.

It was decided after a hearty breakfast that Lionel, Hagnulf and Beorwulf would go to the townhall and enquire about the key to the wood cutters shop. Fargrim and Gimli would have a poke around the shop and outbuildings. Bron stated he was heading back to Axeholm with the supplies, Eglath agreed to keep him company. Heimund had a thought to head over to the Shrine of Luck and see what he could find out there.

They escorted the two wagons as far as the Redbrand checkpoint. The Redbrands looked bored and inattentive as the wagons left Phandalin for Axeholm. The group split as Gimli and Fargrim headed for the wood cutters, the rest headed for the townhall.

The town clerk was having none of it and outright refused the insistence that he hand over the key to the wood cutters shop. He ushered them out of the shop and slammed the door. Beorwulf turned round in a rage and kicked the door in and bounded into the shop. The clerk let out a high pitch scream.

Fargrim and Gimli searched around the wood cutters building and didn’t see anything suspicious as the door and windows were boarded up. Round the back Gimli was drawn to an outbuilding, a wood store. After moving a log an arm flopped out. They had uncovered a dead human male. The scream brought Fargrim at a run towards the Townhall. Gimli remained with the body.

As Fargrim came round the corner he could see a group of armed men approaching the Townhall across the open ground to the right rear. Redbrands!

Heimund heard a horn blowing and headed for the Townhall. Lionel went into the Townhall to placate the clerk. An arrow slammed into Hagnulf frombehind him as he stood outside. Whirling round he saw the Redbrands heading towards the Townhall. Beorwulf and Hagnulf faced off against the Redbrands. Arrows were exchanged and one of the Redbrands fell back an arrow in his gut, screaming.

The Redbrands split, archers remained firing as the others headed round a small building to the road. Beworwulf went into a mad, froth mouthed frenzy/rage and charged towards the Redbrands on the road. Fargrim fired an arrow at the Redbrands and watched it strike home. The Redbrands retaliated by swarming round Beorwulf, knocking him to the ground after taking three well aimed strikes.

Gimli hearing the fight moved round behind the wood cutters shop under the cover of 2 trees fired crossbow bolts into the Redbrands on the road. Fargrim, bow on back, moved up the road to assist Beorwulf. Heimund moved in to support the attack too. Gimli moved up from the trees to offer healing aid to Beorwulf. Redbrand after Redbrand went down, Hagnulf dropped another archer. Beorwulf was struck again and looked near death again.

Striking down the last of the Redbrands on the road a 2^nd group were approaching from the south road. Hagnulf took position in the Townhall with Lionel. Redbrands armed with heavy crossbows fired into Gimli and Fargrim. Gimli taking the brunt. Others charged into the Townhall and engaged Lionel and Hagnulf. Fargrim re-armed himself with longbow and slung his shield. Beorwulf now back on his feet moved into cover. Heimund charged into the Townhall and supported Hagnulf and Lionel. The fight was furious. Hagnulf close to death fought like a demon and took down 2 of the Redbrands with stunning, accurate blows. 

The window crashed through and another Redbrand joined the fighting, 3 surrounded Heimund. Heimund drew up his spiritual power and struck the Redbrand who recently crashed through the window with such ferocity the blow knocked him back out the window, dead. Another window crashed in but this time it was Beorwulf who had moved around to the rear of the Townhall. He smashed the Redbrand attacking Lionel and struck him down with all his might. Exhausted he sat down, the frenzied rage coursing out of him.

Outside Gimli and Fargrim fired at the heavy crossbow men. One went down and the other two ran away. Inside the Townhall the Redbrands were finished off. The group took stock and healed each other and themselves where they could.

The town clerk came out from under the desk where he had been hiding and couldn’t believe the carnage that he saw. “Oh my, oh my, oh my, whatever shall I tell Mr Westin?” He stated matter of factly.

A search of the dead Redbrand Leader killed by Beorwulf:

1452 silver pieces.               726 sp group fund     121 sp to each individual            
A finely honed longsword.         (A fine cutting edge +1 damage)
A hefty military pick                  (Nice for bashing people with +2 damage)
A not so good shield.

TBC.