Black Smoke Rising

Lord Markelhay is not sure what to make of Father Quinlaven's visions. He has heard stories like that from the old priest before, but in light of current events, it is a possible reason for concern. 

Markelhay has never fought gnolls; this is the first time in recent memory that the hyena-beastmen have ventured this far from their territory in the plains to the east. Goblins and hobgoblins are all he has experience fighting against. 

There is a smaller-sized chainmail shirt that is found for Bramble. 

Morning comes too soon, and with dawn, an ill omen: black smoke rising into the sky some ways north of Fallcrest. There is a small cluster of farms and a tiny village called Holwood on the main road but a league north of town...

Markelhay is awake and has mustered a small group of the town guard, six men in all. "There you are," he says as you all approach the gate. "I fear the worst. These men will accompany you as far as the village Holwood." The men have dark looks on their faces. 

OOC: I will be able to update your character info above this evening when I get home from work. Thank you all for your patience, I know this is slow moving. 

OOC: Combat Mapping Question

This post is OOC and is for discussion of a combat mapping question I have for you all.

During our first combat session, there was a fair bit of confusion over locations of certain monsters and heroes in relation to each other. So, I have a couple of possible remedies to the situation.

First is to use actual miniatures along with a battle mat and/or D&D Dungeon Tiles. I don't have a lot in the way of terrain/scenery but I have enough to make it work. I would simply take pictures and post them to the blog. I have miniatures for each of your characters and more than enough monsters.

The second option is to use my Battle Mat iPhone App to build maps and post images from the app to the blog. This may be a bit more precise for our purposes, but the app has a limited number of actual images for use as characters and monsters.

Thoughts, anyone? I'm leaning towards pictures of actual minis on a tabletop, personally.

A Mission

The people look around, not sure what to think of the motley crew that has stepped forward to hunt down these monsters. Lord Markelhay regards the five of you with a curious look in his eye.  

"Very well," he says, looking you up and down. "Come with me." 

He leads you toward the Markelhay Estate, which sits atop the hill at the Northeastern corner of Upper Fallcrest. As you walk along, he speaks. 

"You all know that this aggression has grown worse and worse over the past year. The time has come we do something about it. I think the halfling may be correct. Perhaps there is some connection between the recent gnoll attack on his clan, and the growing frequency of goblin attacks on our town. The goblins, I believe, we can hold off if they attack again. This gnoll presence to the north concerns me greatly. When a pack of gnolls is riled up, they are a deadly maelstrom of claws and teeth, spear and sword." 

Before you all looms Markelhay Estate. "Come, adventurers. There is an armory inside my estate. If you will do the work of Fallcrest, you will have the finest that Fallcrest can give you. If there is any other equipment you require, I will grant you a small sum to acquire whatever you need at the Halfmoon Trading House."

"In the morning, you depart to hunt down the gnolls. Prepare yourselves," Markelhay says. 

Players, you may each find yourselves a new set of armor, and a new weapon. There is nothing magical in Markelhay's armory, but everything is of the finest quality. You may take this opportunity to question Markelhay, or any other of the townsfolk, if you like.