TCOS Campaign – Chapter 1 Part 1
The crime scene
From around one corner, first an eye patch appears, then an eye, then lastly the bold man came from around the stone. Behind him another man became visible. His cloths were not well-to-wear, common to the man of crime, a little tattered and stained at places. In desperate need of money or ale, he seemed eager to get this done. The scar on his face, from over one eye down across his lips moved when he talked. They entered Bree cautiously and careful not to run into the dreaded authority, making their slow but steady way towards the mansion of a noble. A man they were sent to kidnap. And they almost did, if not for what happened next.
“On three we sling, right!” the scar moved quickly as he ruffian glanced nervously across from the noble's expensively dressed, protesting body. The other brigand stood with his hands in a deathly grip on the man's feet, a patch across his eye leaves only one open to stare anxiously back. The glass were already broken and lying on the other side of the building. Before, one of the bandits opened the door to see members of the Watch creeping closer. They knew there were trouble inside and it would only be a matter of time before the Watch would bash their way through. “1” they looked “2 “ they nodded, “3” and the bandits heaved the unfortunate nobleman backwards, and with a heavy fling swung him face-first narrowly over the windowsill.
The scared nobles face, wide eyed and about to scream, slammed hard against the ground, knocking him completely out and oblivious, dead as a door nail. Landing beside the body of the nobleman with a thud, the two brigands crouched down next to him. Picking up the body, they started to make their cautious way before standing dead still. STOP!.
Just from behind the corner two of the Watch, strong and determined women, could be seen looking at them, though with a lot less surprise and exasperation. Confident and calm they stood in readiness.
One went for her weapon immediately while the other called for reinforcements. Scarface's hand moved swiftly, almost practiced, towards the neck of the nobleman; pressing the blade hard against the soft and giving skin
“Now any of you come a step closer, he dies. ya hear me, ya pieces of pig shit?!” he looked at each of them straight in the eye and serious. Eyepatch beside of him gave him a quick, nervous glance, with one eye, before letting the noble go. The man slumped in the arms of the other with the knife, forcing him to support the dead weight of the unconscious noble.
“Ya all betta listen ta 'im, ” Eyepatch threatened as ripped out his own blade. Dragging the noble behind him, knife cutting deeper and deeper in his neck. A dagger flew wide past them from the hands of one of the women, knocking against a wooden pole behind.
From behind the lush foliage of the noblegrounds, on the other side of the fence, another watchman appeared; cutting out all the only exit.
“You make for it, I'll fight them off!” the one with the patch croaks as he leapt to engage the watcher. Swinging his sword to meet in a heavy clash he engaged the Watcher behind. The knife on the noble's throat cut desperately deeper. Blood seeped down the nobles oblivious body, staining his exquisite white robes. “Stand back or he dies!”
One of the watch-woman stared coldly at the scene. “You forget, my javelin can travel fast then your hand. Put him down!” She flicks her arm forward and with all her strength sent the javelin sailing through the air towards bandit's right side. The javelin traveled with speed and precision, slamming with might against his filthy leggings. His blade dropped from the noble's throat to scatter on the ground. Letting the nobleman go as well, his hands sailed down to the penetrating wound. Behind them, at that instant, the Watchman disarmed the other, flinging his sword high in the air.
The Watch-woman that threw the javelin stepped confidently towards the bending, crippled figure and pushed him to the ground. Glancing behind her she gave a quirky grin “Guess we can take them in now” : she says. The noble barely came back as the Watch helped him up and supported him to the station for further questioning.
The investigation by the KoE
The morning light broke early over Hookworth, yet already there was activity in the Knight’s Sanctuary. Oronir glanced at the other two Knights gathered with him in the main hall, and pulls a letter from his pocket.
“We have a letter here from the Mayor of Bree. He is asking for our assistance in some criminal matter.”
The Knights conferred among themselves for some time. It was all rather unusual. Yes, the Knights of Eriador were glad to offer their assistance to Bree, especially with the growing threats. But such a direct request from the Mayor sparked curiosity.
Oronir continued, “We are to have an audience with him this morning. I assume, he will satisfy our curiosity.”
All were agreed, and they set out: Oronir, Cedur, and Leothross.
A short ride took them into the bustling center of Bree-town, right to the town hall. Inside they were greeted by a nervous guardsman. After convincing the clerk at the front that they had an appointment, the guardsman led them up to the Mayor’s office.
The Mayor greeted them warmly and began to explain the situation. Apparently there had been just recently been two kidnapping attempts. One had just been a decoy, and had actually been thwarted. The other, however, had been successful. The victim was a doctor by the name of Haspulto, a native of Bree, and apparently a well-respected physician. He explained that the watch has been woefully shorthanded of late, and he could use the help in investigating. He directed the watchman, a man by the name of Halios Snow, to show them the place, and aid in the investigation.
The house of the doctor was back toward the Stone Quarter of Bree-town. The door was off to the side, up the first flight of stone steps to the high stair. The Knights and watchman arrived and split up to examine the area more quickly. Leothross and Halios went around to the back of the house, and Oronir and Cedur went inside. There was one window at ground level in the back of the house. Halios noticed that it had not been shut properly – it appeared someone may have gained entrance here. Meanwhile, inside, there were signs of a struggle in the main room. It seemed the doctor had been drug away right from his studies.
The little group regrouped in front of the house to review what they had found. It seemed they had got out clean from the house. But certainly they couldn’t have made it out of the city without someone noticing. They decided to canvas the area, hoping someone had seen something. Finally, they found something. A group of dwarves that were found of gambling in one of the nooks of the high stair, suggested they try through the Mud Gate. Apparently, a certain Nora Strawley, the maid of the doctor, lived somewhere near there.
So they headed for the Mud Gate. It was not a pleasant area of town. The beggars, homeless, and even some bandits made what living they could there. The Knights picked their way through these slums trying to find the house of the maid.
Finally, some helpful folks pointed them in the direction of a house along the western wall.
Cedur and Oronir were the first to arrive at Nora’s door. As they approached, Cedur pointed to a window in the front of the house, “Look. A broken window.”
Oronir nodded, and replied, “Yes. What happened here?”
There was nothing to do but ask, and Cedur approached the woman standing outside the house. Oronir, meanwhile called Leothross and Halios, showing them that they had found the place. The woman saw all the Knights coming and suddenly became frightened. She hurriedly gathered her laundry in her arms, and hustled for the door. Leothross said gently, “Relax, we are just trying to find a friend of ours.” She would not relax though.
Just then, Halios caught up, and recognized her. He stepped quickly to her side, and waved them off. “Back off… she has had a bad experience with strangers, was robbed by a bunch of ‘em a few months back.” He held out his hand to her, “Nora, it is me, Halios. We just want to speak with you about your boss.” Nora recognized him, and softened. Suddenly, the words poured forth, “I …. It was late that night, and there were men. Lots of them…. Rough looking fellows…. I think, five? Yes. There were five of them…. And-“she sobbed, “They took the poor doctor. Oh you must find them… Oh, I think… they were wearing something strange. Not all of them. Just maybe three of them. It was a strange necklace. Does that help?”
“Yes. Thank you, Nora.” Halios straightened a little, scratching his beard thoughtfully.
“Oh, and, I followed them. I hid in these bushes, and watched them go up those stairs – the ones that lead to the old ruins.”
“Up the stairs. Good. Thank you, Nora. Here, hopefully this helps.” He pulled a handful of coins from his pouch and handed them to her. “I promise we will help him.”
“Please do…” she murmured, trying to smile through her tears.
The knights continued on to the stairs. At the foot of them, they saw two young ladies lounging about; one sat on a wooden barrel sharpening wooden stave, and the other stood there apparently chatting with her friend. They grew quiet as they noticed the little party of official looking men. The Knights stop short of them, to decide what to do. Cedur gestured toward them, “It looks like they are guarding something. We should have a chat with them” They agreed, and Halios added, “But remember, they may not be unfriendly.”
Cedur hailed them, as they approached, “Good morning, ladies. Mind me asking what that stake is for?”
The “lady” on the barrel turned to smile cutely, but sneered, “What’s it to you, tight-necks?”
“This here is the captain of the Bree-town guard, maybe you’ll answer his questions.”
Halios, a little taken aback by this tactic, but managed, “Uh, yes. If you tell me what it is you are doing so close to the ruins perhaps some coin can be worked into it.”
At this she replied sweetly, “Refitting a pole for our tent. Care to join us?”
“Is that so… In that case, mind if we check that barrel?”
She pouted, “My back got injured. I can’t stand nor jump from this height.”
Halios made a movement toward her, “In that case, I can sharp lift you down!”
This prompted the desired response, and she hopped quickly down, “Awight, awight. Have a peek.”
Halios pried open the barrel and peered inside. At the bottom lay rags, a length of rope, some random pieces of wood, and a pair of boots. Halios gazed in for a moment, disappointed, and then turned to the others, “Nothing of interest.” True to his word, he pulled out a few coins and gave them to the women.
Leothross shook his head, “Well, farther into the ruins?”
The stairs, which were part of the ruins of an Arnorian city, led up to a landing. Of old, this would have had walls on both sides, but now the outer wall was crumbling leaving a large breach. On the inside, the ancient crest of Arnor was chiseled into the stone.
Leothross, became distracted for a few moments with the crest, while the others gathered around the breach in the wall. Halios pointed out, “Could have escaped here, sir. Straight over the ruins."
GM note: I would like to thank all those that rewrote the chat captures so the event is a readable document – Zargadon and Leothross
