The Legend of the Brave

day 12

The Skullthorn sisters were awakened by Finnigan advising them that a letter had been 

delivered to them by messenger. The note bore the Frostleaf family crest, a crossed icicle and 

leaf. The message was from a young Rinir Frostleaf, nephew to High Duchess Frostleaf, asking 

the party to meet him at a memorial fountain to the late Queen Shinybottom in the royal park. 

Only a few minutes later, another message arrives, which is much more erratic in tone. Rinir 

mentions that he has information about his aunt, but does not know where to turn and that he 

fears for his life. The party sent a message to Tara to join them at the park. When they arrived, 

they found Rinir very nervous and fidgety. He began to tell them why he had summoned them, 

but broke off suddenly, pointing to a cloaked figure on a tree platform above them. He began 

running away, but collapsed within a dozen feet or so, unconscious. When the party looked, the 

cloaked figure had vanished. A crowd began to gather and the party decided to carry Rinir to 

the healers at the closest temple. As they were walking, with Siegfried carrying the senseless 

Rinir over his shoulder, the party was accosted by a guardsman that demanded to know what 

they were doing, and, after hearing their explanation, insisted on accompanying the party to 

ensure the young nobleman’s safety. 

Of the party, on Tara was witness to the next event. She saw a badly scarred elf walk past the 

party, casually pluck the dagger from Siegfried’s belt, and plunge it into the young nobleman’s 

heart. As he walked away, she drew her bow. The man turned, saw her staring at him in 

shock, grinned, winked, and promptly vanished. 

The guard turned at her gasp, saw the dagger and her drawn bow, and jumped to the obvious 

conclusion. Drawing his blade and blowing sharply on his signal whistle, he told the party that 

they were under arrest. They were then taken by several guards to the local guard station, 

stripped of their gear, given uncomfortable, scratchy tunics, had a silver collar locked around 

their neck (which blocked all magic use), and put into solitary cells. Siegfried attempted to 

break down the door and was magically stunned for his trouble after being warned twice. Along 

with the members of the party that were present at the time of the murder, Festus and Jose 

were also arrested. (Jose’s healers had managed to regenerate his arm, but not his eye due to 

being interrupted by the arresting officers.)

The party was eventually taken before the local magistrate, who advised them that they were 

accused of the murder of Rinir Frostleaf. He listened to their defense and advised that, until the 

court was able to fully investigate the matter, all of them would be held in the “Hawthorn Grove.” 

penitentiary. 

Upon arriving in the grove (a huge clearing surrounded by hawthorn trees that had been trained 

into a huge dome, then transmuted to steel), the party ran afoul of the local toughs, a pair of 

elves named Tyriel and Uriel, and a quartet of half­ogres named Crunk, Chunk, Runk, and 

Tunk. The thugs explained to the party that they ran the yard and that the party would be smart 

to respect that authority. Siegfried assaulted them, but got slapped around and kicked in the 

face. A few of the other party members tried to help, but were quickly subdued. Tara tried to 

calm the situation by speaking kindly to Chunk, but was interrupted. Festus managed to calm 

things down, barely. At meal time, the thugs pushed the party out of the way to be served 

first. One of the thugs, Krunk, demanded Siegfried’s food, and the barbarian threw his gruel 

in the half­ogre’s face, much to Krunk’s amusement. There was a brief scuffle that ended with 

Siegfried being thrown against the steel, thorny, trees so hard that he stuck there. Emma then 

went hunting for herbs, and managed to find some medicinal plants and bind Siegfried’s wounds 

once they pulled him down from the wall. 

Tara took time to watch the thugs and determined that the best time to speak to Chunk alone 

was at night, when everyone was sleeping. After dark, she snuck over, woke him quietly, and 

had a quiet talk with the hulking lout. They came to an understanding and Chunk expressed 

that he hoped he didn’t have to hurt her friends.