Session 13

Heroes: Aerandir, Sparna, Greyfox.

Year 2949 - Autumn

The company travel south to the Crossings of Celduin, rallying the countryside as they go. When they arrive at the village of Celduin, they prepare for the battle to come.

After a day of preparations, the sun sets and the enemy attacks the village, trying to force their way across the river, first with wolf-riders, and then with a fearsome troll. The Heroes hold the bridge, albeit with heavy losses.

The morning after, a winged messenger is spotted, bearing news of the arrival of King Barding; when the raven is shot down by goblin arrows, with his dying breath he warns the Heroes to use "fire and water" against the enemy.

At night, the enemy attacks in even greater numbers; among the Orcs, the Gibbet King can be spotted, a corpses animated by a great malice, casting dark spells against the defenders. The Heroes hold the evil tide as long as they can, but when Greyfox is killed by orcish blades, the line falters, and one by one the Heroes fall.

But their sacrifice was not in vain: an advance party of King Bard's army, led by Captain Elstan, pierces through the goblin forces, saving Aerandir and Sparna. The Orc-host crosses the Celduin, but Bard is able to intercept them several miles north of the river, fortunately still outside the most populated areas.

If they weren’t led by their dark master, the Orcs might have been routed, for Bard and his men to pursue them and put an end to their menace once and for all. Alas! The Free Folk of the North must be content with a smaller victory.

The surviving Heroes mourn Greyfox's death, then depart with the King's army to return to Dale.