Meet the Boggards (Date: 1/2/12)

No sooner had the band arrived at the Hashberry Farm and surrounding lands than tragedy struck, a child had been snatched by a raiding party of boggards. Our heroes had barely enough time to discern that this occurrence was unusual before leaping into action. Chasing down the slow-moving frogmen, Euwyn and company killed all but one of the creatures and brought back the prisoner and rescued child to the farmlands.

The Hashberry were ecstatic at the rescue and explained that the boggards had for some time been pressing on their lands wherein the past they had existed side-by-side with little hostility. Euwyn used his magic to communicate with the prisoner and convinced him to lead the party into the swamp to speak with their leaders. 3-days into the morass, the party was beset by soldiers who captured the band and led them to boggard village. There a boggard who could speak rough common communicated that the boggards were being forced to pay tribute to a squad of fire-resistant trolls who lived to the north.

Euwyn gave the boggards 200 gp to pay this month's tribute in exchange for a promise not to prey upon the humans. He also promised to seek a resolution to the troll issue.

The Kingdom Claims its 1st Hex (Date: 1/2/8)

A fortune in coins (well 8,000 gp worth) was found in Bartok's guest mattress. While wondering how to deal with the massive weight of coinage, Marty went and rounded up the remaining toughs, assuring them amnesty if they cooperated. By the time the priest returned with his new charges, he arrived to find that Hedge had severed one of Bartok's fingers and was being severely reprimanded for his transgression. Prince Euwyn addressed the men laying out the terms of his new arrangement before beheading Bartok to hammer home his point. The men were sent to collect the local famers, while the party debated the prince's action and what to do with the newfound wealth. Euwyn kept the manor and a pair of the toughs failed to return (having been turned into bandits by a subplot). The farmers were asked to cultivate the land in Euwyn's name in exchange for 1/2 of the proceeds.

The band returned to the palace and explained the new arrangement. The toughs were sent to guard the forest road and Malwan laid claim to the Bartok farm and surrounding lands. Marty found that Lumi was settling in well to her new job and coming along quickly with getting the forge up and running. They shared a fun night on the town to celebrate.

No rest for the weary, the band set off to the Hashberry farm next to the swamp, arriving to discover that the trouble with Boggards was indeed real. In fact, a child had just been kidnapped!

Bartok (Date: 1/2/4)

Lex returned to Malwan, surprised to find Euwyn appointed Marshal instead of Magister. Marty followed through with his promise to get Lumi a job, though his notion of getting her hired as a castle maid morphed into a position refurbishing the nation's forge. Lumi was overjoyed and set to work as the boys borrowed horses from the stable and road to confront Bartok Drywell.

About a day's ride out of town the band encountered a roadblock at the gates to the Drywell farm and ranch. The men there offered to take the entourage to meet the man himself. Bartok greeted them from his porch, and after some blustering, things came to blows. The fight was hard-hitting but brief, ending abruptly once Marty and Euwyn unveiled their magic powers. Bartok fled into the manor continuing to resist until faced with overwhelming odds. Marty made some new converts from among Bartok's thugs when he mended their wounds by Strom's might. The healed men accused Bartok of hoarding money from the farmers and paying them a pittance.

Return and New Mission (Date: 1/2/2)

After debating over several potential strategies, Prince Euwyn eventually decided to play it straight with the Lumber Consortium, presenting the arrangement as a business deal to benefit all. This tactic went over surprisingly well, with Antionne's only stipulation being that his daughter suffer no prosecution for any perceived transgressions against the crown. Lex was left behind to sort out the details and the party hired a young woodsman named Francis who guided them back to the lake road for quicker transit back to town.

They arrived to find the council in session. The treasury had run dry. The timely influx of silk should be enough to keep them afloat at present day levels for approximately 4 months. Euwyn nominated himself for the position of Warden and was elected over the King's objections by a 4 - 3 vote with one abstention.

Opposed:

King

Kuto Radacek

Father Haddad

For:

Ilora

Shena

Giuseppe

Shelby

Abstain:

Regar

Kuto spoke briefly with the Prince warning of several threats to the kingdom.

Euywyn went to tell Marty, but the young priest said he would need to think about it before agreeing to go this time. Tiaco warned Euwyn that he was losing his friends with all his super-serious superiority, and suggested he might try treating Marty with the same sort of respect he expected for himself, being that the young man was similarly gifted. Euwyn resolved to think on it.

Marty and Justice went out drinking and carousing with Hedge in tow. Marty rescued, Lumi, the blacksmith's daughter from a life of prostitution. He gave her 5 gold to pay the rent. They shared the night together and resolved to meet up in 7 days. Justice refused to get drunk and have a good time with Mjelde, shooing the girl off after a stinging slap. Hedge and Justice passed out on the steps of the shrine.

In the morning everyone met up at those steps and agreed to head to the farmlands and investigate the situation concerning one Bartok Drywell once Lex returns.