The Adventure Begins (16th of Haar'Kiev)

Borrowed from TSR

Tu'Mar, the 16th of Haar'Kiev in the year 14063.
Myka (Human Fighter), Rythak (Human Ranger) and Lucky (Human Thief) are being discharged from their contractual obligations with the town militia, the day after Gronger Fest, as is tradition. They have served their two years well and have discovered their own skills and abilities during their rather boring term of service.

During the Age of Magic Gronger Fest was largely a celebration masquerading as a Purity and Cleansing Event. Over the course of the Upheaval it has evolved to a more somber reflection.  Traditionally communities partaking in Gronger Fest fast during the day as they finish up their planting and otherwise recover from the previous winter. Most people refrain from unnecessary commerce and spend their working hours in quiet reflection. In the evenings very poor meals, typically little more than broth and unleavened bread, are shared at ancestral gravesites. Today, the day after Gronger Fest is a busy day of preparation for the day following, which is the real "Fest".

Quay'Mar, the 17th of Haar'Kiev in the year 14063.
The trio is looking forward to the huge party that is, "the first day of the rest of their lives...." following their conscription. Rythak's Half-Elven friend Anise (Thief) joins them in their celebrations.

Run'Mar, the 18th of Haar'Kiev in the year 14063.
The group nurses their hang-overs at the Dark Titan Taproom and try to plan out what they want to do over a meal of Bacon, Chicken Eggs, Soft Cheese, Apple, and Rice (1cp) along with some Cut Beer (5tc/pint). Some discussion is made about looking to hire on with a Halfling Caravan, but the waitress informs them that the caravan left town earlier that morning.

The PCs decide to look for work at the village bulletin board, a de-barked tree outside of one of the village Elders's home. Unfortunately all of the notices have been removed for some reason. The group realizes that their late start on the day probably gave the other guys who were discharged the time to take down the notices. As they discuss the lack of work, they notice a Halfling ride up in a wagon and approach the Elder's door. The Half-elf speaks Halfling and can overhear the conversation. evidently about three miles out of town the Halfling caravan encountered a tree knocked over, blocking the trail out of town. The caravan, assuming it was a trap of some type, simply turned around and returned to Badger Falls. The Halflings consider the safety of the road the responsibility of the village and want them to check it out.

The Elder, seeing the party next to the vacant bulletin board, calls them over and asks them to head out of town and investigate. He will send some lumberjacks out to clear the road, but wants to make sure that they will be safe. The pay is 2sp for this job and the party enthusiastically agrees to the work.

About an hour out of town, in a spot where the trail is bordered by some low hills, the path is blocked by a large tree. The party can clearly see where the caravan made a tight turn well before the treefall. They investigate more closely and they can see what looks like hatchet marks that chopped the tree down. The town isn't harvesting in this area and upon further inspection Rythak easily discovers some odds tracks leading from the tree and up a game trail to the North. Lucky climbs up on one of the hills as the party starts up the trail, with Rythak taking the lead. Just a few feet up the game trail the Ranger trips a spiked branch trap and takes a minor flesh wound to the leg. He notices some movement in the brush ahead and rushes forward. Four small canine-men jump out to ambush the party and two of them get in good blows. The party rushes in to counter-attack and the party quickly prevails, but not without Rythak taking some serious wounds (down to 1/3 of his starting HP).

There is some discussion among the group about what to do with the bodies. They manage to find 61tc among the corpses and some crappy arms and armor. They take the coins, one creature's head head, and all of the ears with them back to town. Just outside town they find the Halfling caravan and the merchant they met earlier waves them over. The merchant identifies the creature as a Kobold and asks if they have any other trophy other than the head. They mention the ears and the merchant offers them 2tc per left ear, explaining that in some areas they offer bounties on Kobold ears. The merchant might be able to re-sell the ears to another merchant who can then turn them in.

After meeting with the Halflings and making a small amount of coin from the ears, the party gets their 2sp from the Elder and heads back to the Dark Titan Taproom to recuperate. They nurse some beers until the evening meal of Beef Steak, Spinach, Leeks, Flatbread, and Rhubarb Pie (3cp) comes around. A small group of Gnome Titans comes in, like they do most evenings, and find out about the Kobold fight. They buy Rythak a Gut-Bruiser, which goes down rather easily, and ask for a telling of the tale. The Gnome-Titans are fascinated by the Ranger's pluck and spend the rest of the night buying him drinks and asking for everyone to tell their parts of the battle.

"Loot":
2sp, 69tc

NPCs introduced:
Fanalum Fairstrong (Human Female: Waitress at the Dark Titan Taproom)
Flana (Gnome-Titan Female: Waitress at the Dark Titan Taproom)
Allan Foxhorn (Human Male: Village Elder)
Rorleerorlkin (Halfling Male: Merchant)

Moons:

Arlora is 2nd Quarter Waxing
Bardra'Kar is Half Moon Waxing
Shadara is Half Moon Waxing
Light level: Bright