Aborted Assault on the Kobold Lair

During the battle with the Kobold leader, Kevyn captured a kobold. Whom Hawksclaw renames "Bill" and through sadism not entirely intentionally makes his personal slave. He beats him often and strangely, the kobold enjoys it.

After Llaun, the only party member able to communicate in the draconic dialect of the kobolds, gleans some information from the hostage, Prince Faelon decides to send the party on another assault on a weaker kobold clan. Prior to assaulting the kobolds again, the party decides to make camp and prepare spells. While the party makes camp, Jason Hawksclaw ventures on a hunting foray. At the meeting point, the party discovers what appears to be a cockatrice feeding location, so they begin to flee downstream towards Telero. An hour after the party vacates the meeting point, Jason arrives with three dead conies only to spot a cockatrice on the nearby hill. Jason carefully and quietly backs away and then deduces (wrongly) that the party would have headed upstream, deeper into the woods.

When Jason doesn't arrive in a timely fashion, Rabbi Simeon senses something amiss and so advises Llaun to send his raven back to search for Jason. The raven finds Jason, but Jason obtusely misses the opportunity to follow the raven back to the new campsite. Instead, he continues upstream away from the party. Jason avoids a possible confrontation with a bear on the way and after another hour and an epiphany; he reunites with the party.

Once everyone is together again, Simeon tries to talk some sense into his lord, Prince Faelon. Simeon and Llaun believe that assault on the kobold's lair is dangerous perhaps deadly. Additionally, assaulting the kobold lair is exactly what Donald Snodgrass wants and that alone is reason enough for it to be a bad idea. Llaun incorrectly remembers something about a giant spider terrorizing the countryside and expresses his interest to the prince. In reality, the area peasants are being terrorized by a giant stag beetle. Killing the stag beetle is the duty of the barony of Telero, but at the home of Pearce Plowman, the party finds that the peasants are organizing an attack against the beetle.

The Stag Beetle

The party dissuades the peasants from risking their lives and instead the party organizes its own attack on the stag beetle. Jason Hawksclaw fires an arrow to get the stag beetles attention and then the party attacks the beetle from it's rear. Faelon lands several vicious strikes against the beetle, which causes the beetle to turn his mandibles on Faelon. The beetle stuns and nearly kills the Prince. Fortunately the (as yet unnamed) wolf of Massaquoit Barkeater finishes off the beetle and thus Faelon avoids any further indignity. In celebration, the party has a feast of turnips and stag beetle meat, courtesy of Massaquoit Barkeater at Pearce Plowman's home.

Around and in Telero, word of the death of the stag beetle and the party's heroics spread quickly. Snodgrass, or others acting on his behalf, begin spreading misinformation that the party is acting on Snodgrass' behest. Prince Faelon quickly denounces such a claim to those he meets. Snodgrass, again, offers a deal to rid the land of the kobolds. Rabbi Simeon and Llaun are quick to suggest attacking Forkestre instead.

While in the vicinity of Telero, Faelon ignores Rabbi Simeon's advice and instead heads into town for some kicks and to chase some tail. Faelon invites Hawksclaw and Massaquoit to join him.

While in Telero, Faelon avoids what he thinks is a disease-infested prostitute, but is actually Sandy Dunston. Faelon notices Gene Parmesian (disguised as a rich merchant) at the tavern and confronts him. He persuades Gene to follow him to camp so they can discuss the situation leading to the bounty on Hawksclaw's head, the whereabouts of the party's stolen items (particularly the signet ring), and the details of Snodgrass's stewardship. Through tact and some alcohol, the party receives a handful of gold and some information. According to Gene, raids on the goblin travelers are "rigged". The goblin leader is in on the scam and the goblins are actually carrying taxes collected by Snodgrass.

Taking of Forkestre

With a new infusion of funds, Faelon purchases some new supplies for his native guide, Jason and himself. After another discussion with his advisors on the next destination, Prince Faelon hesitantly leads the party to investigate the tower at Forkestre, at least partly because it isn't what Snodgrass wants. Newly outfitted, the adventurers set off in the direction of Forkestre. For recon, Llaun sends his raven over the tower. The raven comes back unharmed after avoiding a small projectile shot from inside the tower. Llaun sensing danger advises the Prince to not wait until nightfall to assault the tower.

Next to the Forkestre tower, there is a ring of standing stones. Being cautious, the party sends their kobold butler to check the stones. Bill Hawksclaw is unfortunately marauded by a party of skeletons appearing from the stones' perimeter and begins his new journey in the afterlife. One by one, the party approaches amd touches the central stone. Intermittently, the stones would rise just like before Bill's death. According to Pearce Plowman, it appears that a sword was once lodged in the stone, but the sword is now long gone. Some party members felt strengthened, while others felt nothing.

While the party argues the matter of their approach to the tower, Faelon decisively walks to its door and knocks. After a quick search for traps he discovers that it is barred. The Massaquoit begins to scale the 30 ft. tower using vines and crannies to let the remaining party members in. At the top of the tower, he finds a group of sleeping rat creatures. Quietly, Massaquoit signals an encounter to the party below. The prince, his paladin bodyguard and the other native scale the walls. Seemingly easy, it would've been if the Prince hadn't woken the other guards of the tower, the dire rats. After a fierce encounter with the now awakened monstrous rat creatures, the obvious leader of the rats shows himself to the party members below.

A well-executed sleep and cause fear spell from Llaun saves his companion, Rabbi Simeon. Being helpless, the wererat leader and followers succumb to death. After the leader dies, his visage shifts into someone the party recognizes...Lord Snodgrass!

Looting the bodies and searching the tower the party finds quite a bit of treasure, including coins, goods and magic items. The magic items include a short sword (+1) and an immovable rod. There is also a very finely crafted rapier which confers a +1 to attack and damage rolls. Among the treasure the party finds three rings: the Al-Masri signet ring, a black onyx ring and a gold ring with a beautiful ruby. There are also 7 crates full of household goods and other items of some value including vases, candlesticks, a handful of silver spoons, silks, fine linens, several pieces of fine art and even a large lounging chair. Additionally, an iron chest holds 500 gp value in assorted silver, copper and gold pieces. Pack animals will be required if the party elects to move these goods.