The Southron Tavern

01 - The First Road

8 min read

Opening Situation

five travellers, unknown to one another, each walked into the offices of Corrow Trade Services in Daggerford and were offered the same work by Harlan Corrow: escort a covered supply wagon eastward and deliver its provisions to The Keep. The wagon bore the mark of Elk, a respected caravan master. None of them yet knew who else had signed.

Company Present

Locations Visited

Events

A Glimpse of Dawn

the session opened in darkness. A child’s piercing scream broke the stillness before dawn. Beyond the adventurers’ room, frightened voices rose. An unmoving body lay there, and blood marked the stones. Guards struggled to contain a gathering crowd. Then came the voice of a woman carrying unmistakable authority: “Adventurers.”

the scene ended there. Who lay on the stones, where this took place, and who spoke were not shown. The Company knows only that this moment lies somewhere ahead. See A Glimpse of Dawn.

Five Separate Contracts

the story proper began in Daggerford, where five travellers independently entered the offices of Corrow Trade Services. Harlan Corrow offered each the same Escort Contract: escort a covered supply wagon eastward and deliver its provisions to The Keep. The wagon carried the mark of Elk, and the documents bore Elk’s Seal.

the responsibilities were plain: drive the wagon, tend its two mules, protect the cargo, select watches and travelling arrangements, present the documents on arrival, and return with proof of delivery. Corrow paid each of them 5 gp in advance. A further 15 gp each would be paid on return with the receipt, the proof of delivery.

Varynx, on first walking in, preferred to keep to the shadows; he does not like revealing his face.

Nadia inspected the office before entering. When Corrow asked what she would bring to the table, she answered with a flourish, a trick with her dagger, and let the action speak for itself.

Shallie, who had until recently sold potions and alchemical goods in Daggerford, already knew of Corrow. Corrow remarked that his patrons had been Shallie’s patrons as well.

Karis accepted the contract and asked why five travellers were needed. He stayed hooded throughout, hiding his face and head.

Corvex, who cannot read or write, was asked to sign. He pierced his flesh with a claw to draw blood and signed the contract with it.

several of the travellers, Karis among them, asked, more than once, why five adventurers were needed for an apparently ordinary wagon. Corrow’s answer did not change: he had the money, he wanted the goods protected, and he wanted them to reach the Keep.

The Company Gathers

the next morning the five met at the Corrow Trade Yard. Nadia arrived first and surveyed the grounds before approaching. Corvex came next, and the two discussed the job and their contracts. Shallie arrived and asked to compare documents; the others hesitated, so Shallie displayed her own contract in full view, which encouraged the others to show theirs. They were not able to read the contracts side by side, but from the structure of the paragraphs they surmised the documents were roughly the same. Corvex complained aloud: “why is everyone so intent on exchanging contracts first without introducing their names?!” Karis arrived hooded and joined the introductions. He disclosed that he needed the gold, which was what had drawn him to the job.

Varynx watched from the outskirts. His attempt to stay hidden failed, revealing him awkwardly climbing a tree while eating raw meat.

the Company looked over Elk’s Wagon and its cargo in general terms. It was an ordinary wagon carrying Elk’s mark, loaded with fresh-looking produce and provisions. Corvex took the reins, and Shallie kept the contracts and documents.

Knights Upon the Road

varynx acted as the Company’s scout. About two miles out he noticed dust stirring ahead on the trail and went ahead of the wagon to look. He saw two figures on horseback. Karis followed close behind him while staying near enough to the wagon to alert the others quickly. Varynx then hid in the bushes posing as a beggar and burst out as the riders approached, startling them.

the riders were two knights of the Order of the Flaming Rose, charged with protecting the road: Lambert, who seemed upstanding and morally upright, and Lenk, who had a snarkier attitude. Both found Varynx’s behavior very peculiar.

the knights questioned the Company. Karis truthfully explained that they had been hired to deliver provisions to the Keep. When the knights saw Elk’s Seal, they revealed that Elk had been missing for several months and that his disappearance was already under investigation. On learning that Harlan Corrow had issued the contracts, the knights rode toward Daggerford at full speed to investigate. See Elk’s Disappearance.

Camp at the Stone Marker

corrow’s instructions had been to follow the road south from Daggerford, stop at the first stone marker where dependable camping ground could be found, travel east the following day, enter the Shifting Forests, and press forward until reaching the Keep.

the Company camped beside the stone marker, at what this chronicle calls the Stone Marker Campsite. On reaching the marker, Shallie first cast Speak with Animals on the two mules, then urged the Company to rest up there. Once camp was pitched, Nadia inspected the wagon thoroughly: it was an ordinary wagon carrying Elk’s mark, and she found nothing unusual beneath the driver’s bench.

varynx gathered firewood, and Nadia lit it with Prestidigitation with a snap of her fingers. Varynx went hunting and took five rabbits; he brought four back and ate one himself, returning with blood around his mouth. Shallie cleaned and dried him with magic, and Karis cooked the rest. Corvex fed the two mules and tried to appease them. Karis proposed organizing watches and took the first; Nadia took the second. The remaining order was not settled.

Shallie’s Examination

while Varynx was still away hunting, Shallie cast Detect Magic near the wagon. Whatever she learned remained private when the session ended.

Decisions

  • All five accepted Harlan Corrow’s contract and agreed to travel together.
  • Corvex drives the wagon.
  • Shallie keeps the contracts and documents.
  • Varynx scouted ahead of the wagon, with Karis following close behind.
  • Karis answered the knights truthfully.
  • The Company followed Corrow’s route and camped at the first stone marker.
  • Watches: Karis first, Nadia second. Remaining order not established.

Discoveries

  • Each contract paid 5 gp in advance, with 15 gp more on return with the receipt.
  • Elk has reportedly been missing for several months, and the Order of the Flaming Rose is investigating.
  • The knights Lambert and Lenk rode toward Daggerford after hearing Harlan Corrow’s name.
  • The cargo appeared fresh and ordinary when inspected, and Nadia’s thorough inspection at camp found nothing unusual beneath the driver’s bench.
  • The road ahead passes through the Shifting Forests before reaching The Keep.

Character Knowledge: Shallie

shallie learned things from the mules and from examining the wagon that she has not shared with the Company. The details remain restricted until she reveals them during play.

Character Knowledge: Nadia

nadia holds private context related to people and events the Company encountered on the road. The details remain in her restricted player profile until she reveals them during play.

People Encountered

Objects Involved

Player Theories

  • Someone might be tracking the wagon.
  • Someone might be observing the wagon.
  • The number of hired adventurers may indicate that the cargo or the delivery is more important than it appears.

Open Questions

  • Why did Corrow hire five adventurers?
  • Why are Elk’s mark and seal being used while Elk is missing?
  • What will the knights find at Corrow Trade Services?
  • What, if anything, did Shallie learn while examining the wagon?
  • Will Shallie tell the others?
  • What lies in the Shifting Forests? What awaits at the Keep?
  • What was the bloody scene shown at the beginning? Who was the unmoving figure? Who called out to the adventurers?

Current Circumstances

the Company is camped at the Stone Marker Campsite south of Daggerford, bound east for The Keep through the Shifting Forests. Corvex drives; Shallie holds the documents. Karis has the first watch and Nadia the second. Varynx was away hunting when Shallie examined the wagon. The cargo, as observed, is fresh and ordinary. The next immediate decision belongs to Shallie: whether to share what she learned.

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