Sent: 12/22/98

Standing under the morning sun in the tall grass of the northern plains of Caerloon, the party faces a new acquaintance, a young man by the name of Jordan.

"Hi. That's a nice bow you have," Guilliam says kindly. "Sure glad you didn't mistake us for deer. As you can probably guess, we've been travelling for a few days. We're looking for a friend. And we've been told we'll have to go to an old abandoned mill to find him. We were told that people know of it 'cause some say it's haunted. Do you know of any place nearby?" he asks. Edryd and Cy stand at the ready, though not showing any aggressive moves, allowing the bard to do the talking.

"Well, there is that old mill on the river," Jordan begins, "it hasn't been used in years..." the young man scratches his head as he tries to remember.

"You see we've been travelling a number of days now and gone a little off track. As me friend Gale says were actually looking for one of our pals who takes up residence in an old mill. If you've heard of it we would be very pleased if you could give us some directions!" Crayne smiles at the lad and takes a swig from his water bottle.

"Yes, I think I know what you're talking about," Jordan says, his eyes lighting up. "My father once told me the story about a wealthy man who owned a mill along the river, it's about half a day's travel in that direction," he points rought east-south-east. "The man and his wife were killed by highwaymen, and the mill has been unused ever since."

"That sounds like the place," Crayne says, nodding.

"You're right on, though," the boy says to Guilliam, "some say it is haunted. They say that sometimes at night there is a light on upstairs in the estate house and there are shadows moving, and sometimes there are voices in the mill. But nobody goes near there anymore."

"Oh, I didn't introduce myself," Guilliam says with a smile. "You can call me 'The Gale'. Those who've heard me sing or tell stories know me this way." Guilliam knows very well that no one for many a days journey know of him by this name. Then he offers the young hunter some of their food and water. With hesitation in his voice, he tries to get a feel for Jordan's loyalty by posing a simple question "You look like a fella' who's seen a lot of this area. We have heard rumours of patrols coming down from Rinder. Do you know anything about this?"

"Patrols?" Jordan asks, his voice a bit higher, "from Rinder?" Guilliam and Cranye nod in confirmation. "Aye. Once last year I couldn't find any deer here in the fields, so I started to look farther north, near the wood. I saw some of them. They looked like mean folk. I hid behind a tree and ran home as soon as I could. I didn't want to mess with them folk. They say that the commonfolk of Rinder are allright, but that the royals have sworn a blood feud against the King of Caerloon. I don't know much more than that. Whereabouts did you say you were from, again?" he asks.

"Uhh..." Crayne begins, but is soon interrupted by Guilliam.

"The south. South from here. Do you go to the south much, Jordan?" Guilliam asks, changing the focus of the question from the party onto the young man.

"No, no. Not often. Once when I was seven or eight I was in Cahren, but that was all."

"Then you probably wouldn't know our little town if we told you." Guilliam says with a smile, patting the boy on the back.

"And where is he from?" Jordan asks, pointing to Storm.

"He's not from around here, either. Of course..." Guilliam says slowly. "But like ourselves, if we told you, what would it mean? You wouldn't know anyways, right?"

"Yeah, I suppose you're right," Jordan says, nodding slowly. "Are you fellas coming to festival tomorrow?"

"Festival?" Asks Crayne.

"Yeah, I'm sure you know of it, especially if you're from the south. You know, the commemoration?"

Guilliam bluffs: "Oh, yes! Yes of course! Of course we are."

"Then perhaps I'll see you tomorrow in Crossen?"

"Crossen?" Gulliam asks.

"East, where the rivers join together! I've got to run now and get some deer for tonight's feast! See you tomorrow!" With that, the young man runs off into the tall grass.

"Yes! See you tomorrow, lad!" Crayne calls out after him.

Turning around the face the party, Guilliam and Crayne look to Storm, Edryd, and Cy for their reactions. "I think this boy is talking about the right place, this mill." Cy says. "Those haunts could easily be Mazen's men."

"I agree," Edryd says, nodding. "I think we should set off in that direction at once. Any delay could mean Canter's life." Storm grunts in agreeance.

"All agreed, then," Guilliams states, observing Crayne's nod.

After travelling for most of the day east-south-east, the party discovers the river, and follows it's path to the east.

It is just about dusk when they first come upon the estate. The sun's last rays illumiate the place, which is surrounded by a low, crumbling stone wall. The entire estate is not very large, but consists of two buildings: the mill and the house.

The mill is a large wooden building, the size of a barn or stable. It sits right along the river, and its wheel can just be seen around the corner, moving slowly. There is a large doorway facing the direction of the house, through which one could easily lead a pair of horses side-by-side. The doors are closed.

The house is a moderately fortified stone structure. The front door looks to be of some solid wood, and the outer walls of the house are solid stone. On the second story one can see a large window, though without daylight or interior light, one cannot see through the window. The house is of a general rectangular shape, with the front door in the middle of one of the longer sides. At one of the corners of the rectangle is a circular structure, a tower, which is three stories tall. It is on the second story of this tower that one can see a faint candlelight through the small windows and every so often a shadow on the widow. A small stream of smoke can be seen rising from the chimney.

As the party sits behind the low stone wall surrounding the estate, peering over at the area, they can hear a few low voices coming from the mill, though too faint to make out how many different voices are present.

The stone wall surrounding the estate also features what must have been at one point an entranceway for carriages. This wide gap in the wall now allows only a (currently dried) muddy path through, but as the party sits observing their target, something catches Storm's eye. He quickly crawls over to the path, returning a few moments later with a rounded metal object.

"A horseshoe," Cy says, "of relatively new forging."

Storm nods, "there be tracks. I ain't no expert, but they look new."

"I think this is definitely the place," Guilliam says, eyes his companions. "Now the question becomes, how do we find and rescue Canter, and find Mazen, while all emerging alive from the inevitable bloodbath we're likely to encouter?"

Cy appears to be thinking, his military tactics coming to the fore. "It appears as if we have two options. We can either attack the house first, or the mill. There appear to be enemy forces in both locations. Now, my guess would be that Mazen has made himself comfortable in the house, as their commander. The regular troops would be in the mill, but there would probably be more of them in the mill than in the house, though Mazen's officers in the house will no doubt be more skilled warriors. We'll probably run into that mage we encountered in the woods, and probably the leader I attacked, as well."

"I'm not much for military tactics," Crayne says, "but given that the deck is stacked against us, how can we beat the odds?"

At this point, everyone has full hit points except Storm, who has 15. The mill and house are twenty to thirty yards apart, for your information, and your current position (crouched in observation behind the surrounding stone wall) is approximately at the midpoint between the two buildings, fifty to sixty yards from the axis between them.

The question at hand:

HOW WILL YOU a) FIND AND RESCUE CANTER and b) FIND AND CAPTURE/KILL MAZEN?

Sent: 1/2/99

Sitting low behind the stone wall, the party observes the layout before them. Peering out at the house and the mill, each begins to speak his mind:

Whispering, Guilliam speaks with enthusiasm. It is obvious by the look on his face that he is ready to rush ahead on the spot to find Canter and kill Mazen. "Men" he begins "I have no skill in tactics. But Canter is in need of our help." His voice raises an octave as he adds "They might be torturing him!" Gaining his composure, Guilliam continues in a hushed voice "The sooner we move the better. I say we rush to the house under cover of the

darkness that is quickly setting in. I could climb the wall to spy at the window on the second story. I'm not sure, but I might even be able to climb the tower. That would give us a better idea as to what we're facing. We want to face these men off guard. It's night and most will be sleeping. What are we waiting for?"

When Guilliam suggests the house, Storm replies: "Arrr, I be likin' to look at that there mill first. Me thinks bein' it the smaller one it be easier to do our thing...an' that bastard (he says this fiercely, letting the spittle fly from his mouth as he does so) said Canter'd be in th' mill." He pauses for a minute, and then continues. "But whichever it be, I'd be liking to join ye on the upside. I got this here new grapplin' hook an' rope, that'd be makin' the climbin' easier. What say ye?"

Edryd holds his hands up and says, "Okay, hang on. Before you go scaling walls and charging houses, we have to remember that though Canter needs us soon, he also needs us alive. If we charge in there we'll likely as not find ourselves dulling Mazen's blades with our ribs. I'm all for Guilliam and Storm snooping around a bit to get the lay of the land over there, especially guard positions and numbers and such... No more than that though... Not yet. Patience and Wisdom walk hand in hand." He smiles at Guilliam, "We will rescue Canter. Have no doubt about that. When you return, we will make a sensible plan based on your observations." He scans the group, "Is everyone agreed?"

Crayne turns nodding at Edryds points, "I quite agree I think the only way we are to win this battle is through intellect and wisdom. It seems the odds are against and thus we must use our intellect to bring those odds back to equal or in our favour. Indeed I think one should go up to the mill and have a look at what sort of numbers we are looking at. Preferably the most skilled in prowling and keeping silent. I'm not sure which one of us is the most proficient, but I suggest we quickly resolve the matter for it will be handy to know what each member of the group can do, so that we can work better as a team in the future!"

Crayne continues, "Once this has been acheived may I suggest some sort of diversion." At this point Crayne begins to smile, "I have a spell which would be very useful in starting a fire on the wooden mill over there! Thus, if we go about and take out the watch and guards quietly. Then I can creep up to the building set the mill on fire. I'm assuming that the men within the barn are going to come out seeing whats going on. As they do I suggest we fire off arrows and missile weapons from a hidden position. Then and only then maybe we make a charge for it. The only problem I have with this plan is the mage. He is the real thorn in our side. We know he is able to cast invisibility at a range. Thus, I'm guessing that his ability is good. We must be very careful. What do all think? If you think the plan has worth then I will begin memorising the fire spell to my memory!" Crayne awaits the groups response looking at the barn and house.

Storm responds, "And I be likin' the fire settin'...we be gettin' a good jump on them buggers with'at." He flashes a wide grin and lets out a short guffaw.

Edryd scratches his head, "Um, about the fire setting... Are we sure that Canter isn't holed up in that mill? Why don't we just take that look around first, then plan the diversion...?" Edryd looks around at everyone with eyebrows raised.

"Aye, mate, that be what I meant. It be a good idea to be knowing what's going on first...but once we do, lets burn them buggers out into th' open!" Storm wrinkles his brow with that last comment.

Guilliam is getting more are more restless. Playing with the ends of his scourge, he nods his head to all the plans being made. "Alright, we'll search the area first and then plan our attack. And the more fire we can use the better!" While speaking, Guilliam starts removing his leather armour. "By the looks of everyone, I'm probably the most adept at prowling. Any instructions before I go?"

Upon hearing this this, Storm quickly looks at Guilliam and says "I be goin', too. I be going to that there barn if ye want to come with me..."

With that, Storm and Guilliam slide over the wall under the cover of darkness, while Edryd, Crayne, and Cy wait for their return. Guilliam's body soon disappears into the shadows, taking off in the direction of the house. Storm's slips into the darkess as he moves toward the mill. It seems like ages, waiting behind the wall for their return.

Guilliam approaches the house without incident, and using Storm's rope and grappling hook, skillfully (but silently) manages to begin to scale the wall of the tower, heading for the second story window from which the light is eminating. As his body approaches the target, Cy, who had been keeping watch over the wall, nudges Edryd with his elbow. "He's almost there. Looks good so far." Edryd nods. Crayne, meanwhile is busy studying the new spell, reading and rereading the sheet of instructions he received from the mage at Dillend.

Storm, meanwhile, straffes along the side of the mill toward a crack in the wallboards. The sound of the river rushing over the millwheel nicely covers any sounds he might have made, though he does smile, knowing how skillfully he is at moving silently. Cy lets out a muffled chuckle as he sees Storm counting the men inside on his fingers.

After a few minutes, the two scouts return. Storm reports first. "Some be asleep. Others be finishin' food. I see thirteen men plus three on guard. And Canter. He be tied onto the millstone!"

Guilliam, after catching his breath, hands the rope and hook back to Storm with a word of thanks. He then turns to the rest of the group. "The officers are definitely the ones in the house. I was able to see the leader from our ambush in the woods, the mage from the woods, and two other men. One was sitting at a desk with his feet up his back to the window, so I couldn't see his face. He was examining some sort of battle axe, I think it was Orcish. He was saying 'Someday when this war has begun and we are on the brink of victory, we won't need those vile, dirty creatures." Guilliam emulates the man's voice by lowering his. "I think that's Mazen! I think that's our man!"

"Hmmm," Cy begins, scratching his chin. "I think the plan in the mill is the better one, at least to start. Those seem to be the regular troops, and are most likely weaker than the officers. Plus, if we can free Canter, he may be able to fight with us. Storm, how did he look?"

"Beaten." Storm replies. "There be puffs and black and blue on his face, but he be breathin'."

"Good." Edryd replies. Crayne lets out a sigh of relief.

"Okay then. Let's go over it one more time. And remember that if the men in the mill raise a ruckus, the men in the house will surely come down to investigate. So what is the battle plan? How exactly will we attack the men and the mill?"

1. By the end of this turn, Crayne will have Burning Hands memorized. Does Crayne have any other spell memorized?

2. Please respond to Cy's question with the actions that your character plans for the first two rounds or so of the inevitable attack. If missile weapons are involved, give me three rounds in advance, as I can probably take care of a longer amount of time before things get dicey for the party.

This one's gonna be good!

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