Chapter 1 - Session 1: A Scream in the Night

Adventure Location

All of the characters travel to the town of Daggerford. Daggerford is located centrally in the Sword Coast, just south of Waterdeep along the Trade Way. Although small in size (population around 2000), because of it's location it plays an important role in the region. The town is walled with a central keep, a reflection of its origin as the feudal seat of a lord within a much larger kingdom. Its customs and laws are holdovers from that time. Rule is hereditary, with dukedom going to the firstborn male of the family. The current Duke is Maldwyn Daggerford, a selfish and arrogant man more interested in being lavished and admired than ruling.

Daggerford is an important hub for trade, located next to the Trade Way and on the banks of the Delimbiyr river. The river becomes shallow at Daggerford, so boat traffic from the east must stop. This traffic meets with caravans traveling north or south on the Trade Way.

Adventure Hook

While the characters are in Daggerford, they hear the news of the abduction of Rosie Emberhelm while walking the streets with her beau after dark. The attack happened several weeks ago, yet there has been no progress in the towns attempt to solve the crime.

Session 1 - Another Attack

The half-orc Pork Chop arrives in Daggerford from the south and notices a foul odor coming from the building to the west of the bridge and decides to investigate. One his way to the building he notices several mounds on the hill side. Upon arriving at the building he finds that is a tannery and the odor is from the carcasses and drying skins. He finds nothing suspicious about the place and so decides to head into town and search for a cloak merchant.

The dwarf Fosgrim arrives from the north and immediately heads in the front gate and into the nearby Lady Luck Tavern. He starts questioning the locals about the coming of the devils and if anyone has seen any. None of them had seen any devils nor heard word of devils in the area. During these conversations, he learns of the abduction and asks why they don't have a curfew in the town. He also questions the capabilities of local law enforcement, for not being able to bring the criminals to justice. He proclaims that strict rules would prevent circumstances like this.

Kalain and Shudo arrive in town around the same time and also end up in the Lady Luck Tavern, on obvious choice after spending long days traveling the roads. Shortly thereafter Pork Chop enters the tavern and while trying to be inconspicuous he heads to the second floor. While relaxing in the tavern the three of them overhear the conversation between the dwarf and the proprietor, Glenys Orcslayer. This piques their interest and they join in the conversation. This leads to the four adventurers deciding to work together to find the kidnappers.

Investigating the Crime

Fosgrim demands to know who is in charge of law enforcement in this town, so he may question them about the crime. Glenys informs them the constable is Sherlen Miller and that the constables office is in the southeast side of town on Horse Way. Upon arriving they find small office with a few cells in an adjoining room. Sherlen is forthcoming about what they knew about the crime, including the name of the beau (Landor Hill) and where he lives. She also offers them a reward of 100 gp if they are able to solve the crime. The curious part of the crime is that they found no evidence or where the suspects went and nothing odd has happened since.

The party then heads out to ask Landor Hill about the attack. He lives with his parents in a house out in the farmlands, so they exit the north gate and with the help of locals find his parents home. The parents are reluctant to let this group of adventurers talk to their son, thinking he has gone through enough already, but are strongly convinced by Kalain to allow it. Fosgrim criticizes the boy for not doing more to save or find Rosie, while others in the party console him. He gives them some more details of the event. He and Rosie were walking down a side street near High Road when they were accosted by 3 thugs. One of them quickly conked him on the head with a mace, which knocked him cold, but before he fell unconscious he says he saw some details of the man leading the group. He swears the man looked half rat, with a long snout, whiskers and a hairless tail.

Having gained this seemingly valuable information, the party decided to head over to the area where the attack happened. It is late evening when they arrive on High Road and start looking around. As they pass 'Trade of the Tools' they hear a scream for help, it's the voice of a young woman and coming from a side road to the west. They rush in that direction and see a woman cornered by three thugs, none of which looks like a rat. Two of the thugs draw maces and move towards the party, while the third loads a crossbow and takes aim at Fosgrim. The party engages the thugs, Shudo and Pork using melee weapons, while Fosgrim and Kalain stay at range with crossbow and longbow respectively. The battle goes in the party's favor and after the first thug is dropped, the one in the back retreats around a corner. Kalain goes into pursuit of the escaping thug and as he rounds the same corner sees him about to enter a home and fires a quick arrow, dropping him in his tracks. Meanwhile the other thug decides it is time to make a run for it and heads in Kalain's direction as he is returning to the fight. Kalain makes a lunge at his legs, grappling him, while Fosgrim runs up and secures him with some shackles he was carrying.

Once the fight is over, Fosgrim sends the young woman to fetch the constable, while the others gather the bodies and collect what valuables they find on them. Sherlen thanks the party and requests they continue their investigation, perhaps there is something about the house the thug was entering and takes the restrained thug to jail.

The party heads to the open door of the home and peer inside...

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