The Adventures of Berred, Ranger of Shadow Deep
Scenario 1: The Bridge Guards
Mission 2: The Beacon Tower
Only hours after you arrived back from destroying the nest of spiders, you received a message from your commanding officer. Contact has been lost with the beacon tower of Tor Varden, and it is presumed to have been overrun. You are commanded to round up what men you can and proceed with all swiftness to Tor Varden to ascertain the truth. If the tower has fallen, learn what enemy forces now occupy it and harass or eliminate them as opportunity presents.
Scenario 1: The Bridge Guards
As you make your way towards Tor Varden, the gentle, rolling hills slowly give way to rocky plains, and finally into the boulder-filled maze known locally as ‘the Scree’. It is a barren, unnerving place – a perfect site for an ambush as the large rocks cut lines of sight down to just a few yards in most places. Proceeding cautiously, you eventually hear the Enthel River, which you must cross to reach Tor Varden. As you approach, however, you hear other noises as well, nearly drowned out by the river. Voices, of some inhuman type, a language filled with whines and barks. Climbing to the top of a large boulder, you get a clear view down to the river. There, standing astride the old stone bridge is a pack of gnolls. Judging by the large cooking pot they have set up over the fire, these gnolls are camped here, likely to guard the bridge. The only other place to cross the Enthel River is a ford, in sight of the bridge, otherwise, it will take at least half a day to reach another crossing. There is nothing for it, the gnolls will have to be eliminated, as quickly and quietly as possible.river.
Stealth would be the order of the day so our heroes split into small groups to get closer to the river. Luckily the terrain was rocky so there was plenty of cover. This should be no problem for our Ranger. There was a small moment when Sir Brian our Knight almost triggered a booby trap but Trysten noticed it just in time before it was set off.
A few of the Gnoll guards were on this side of the river, one leaving the others and heading off on his own. Trotter the Tracker leaned out from cover and took a shot, but missed. The Gnoll turned at the sound and was about to let out a yell raising the alarm when Halleck rushed him with his halbert out to silence him fast. He failed and the Gnoll stabbed, then screamed. The sound echoes throughout the area and the chattering of many Gnolls could be heard in response. The alarm had been raised.
On this side of the bridge all hell let loose. Sir Brian charged with Trysten close behind intercepting a Gnoll rushing to save its fellow kin. They quickly dispatched it while Trotter the Tracker dove in and helped Halleck to kill his Gnoll.
Our heroes needed to cross the bridge and fast before too many Gnoll reinforcements arrived for their nearby camp. Another Gnoll archer, already on this side of the river approached. Trysten the Arcanist rushed to take him down while Sir Brian circled around a large rock to lend a hand. Now, with fighting in full view of the bridge it was a matter of time before the other Gnolls were upon our heroes.
This Gnoll wouldn’t die however and Trysten went down. Halleck ran to lend a hand but quickly succumbed to injuries already taken. Sir Brian the heroic knight soon managed to take this hardened Gnoll down. 
Sensing their predicament Berred ordered the survivors to take cover and hid themselves as more gnolls rushed over the bridge from their camp. To make matters worse the heavens opened up and the rain came down hard. Both Berred and Trotter sent arrows across the bridge, managing to severely wound one gnoll even with the rain and lower visibility.
The gnolls spotted our heroes and charged. Trotter went down to a blow from a Gnoll’s flail while Sir Brian desperately fought his injured Gnoll. Berred was having a hard time and another blow from that flail sent him to the ground. With his trusty armour Sir Brian fought on. He could see other Gnolls armed with bows positioning themselves close by waiting to get a shot in. 
Things didn’t look good. An omen was spotted flying straight for the river in the guise of a giant vulture. A sure sign of death. Sir Brian fought on.
As the dust settled one injured Gnoll staggered away to warn the tower of the attack on the bridge. Many a gnoll had been slain by a group of retched humans. 
As the rain cleared a rock was placed on freshly placed soil. Berred the Ranger stood back thinking of his brave friend. He looked over to Trotter, the tracker with his pipe in his mouth, a sad expression on his face. Halleck the guardsman made a groan as he moved stiffly over to where Trysten the arcanist was sitting patching his wounds. They all looked down at the fresh grave of their friend, the brave hero Sir Brian. They still had a job to do and his death would not be in vain. The tower of Tor Varden stood before them. 
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