((Covering events from last night, told slightly from Lyle's point of view, though I tried to remain as unbiased as possible. And Lyle's quote in pink is not any commentary about him on my behalf, it's just easier to read. Feel free to point out any errors in grammar or spelling))

Ukre’s birthday party had ended. A night of cake, proud brothers, good ale and merry hin ended quite suddenly when Lyle and Nick, once again, failed to see eye to eye. A prank later by Nick (as well as several other hin) on Lyle nearly caused the sour and upset hin to leave. Before Nick could try and apologize or Lyle could admit to being in a rotten mood, horns went off on the western edge of the small village, and the sound of war interrupted the petty feuding between the two.

All residents and friends of the Dale currently available – Lyle, Nick, Ukre, Jennika, Grindan, Biddle and Jinnivere – quickly made their way to the Mylock hill’s southern path. The mylocks, however, were coming from the Northern path, and were already gathering on the bridge, on the other side of the gate. Along with a tall-folk lass named Mynna (who no one in particular seemed to want there), everyone managed to push through and slay the horned forces at the gate and bridge. When the taller walked ahead to kill the mylocks, Lyle ordered everyone else to “stay close” and lead his own charge into mylock territory.

Ukre’s scouting revealed several mylocks gathering in the hills. This party, three of whom were Fists of the Dale, made short worked of the invaders, slaughtering them like so many beef ribs for the fire pit. And this was fine. Lyle’s first priority was to secure the Dale, and give such a large blow to the enemy forces that they would be unable to mount retaliation for awhile.

Ukre returned from scouting to the Dale, and called their attention to mylocks that had managed to get behind them. The halflings (and the dwarf) all went back, slaying whatever beasts got in their way, until Ukre again reported that some mylocks were streaming in from the southern path to the Mylock hills.

The party quickly came to the aid of the three militia men who had admirably been keeping the mylocks from reaching the town. Here, Mynna showed up again, and Lyle came up with a second plan. He split all forces available to him into two parties: Grindan, Jennika, Jinnivere and Biddle would attack from the northern path, while Lyle, Ukre and Mynna pushed from the south, and together the two parties would annihilate the monsters between them in a double-pronged attack, and meet in the middle, just outside the mylock caves. However, Mynna went up to Wyrmhold, for reasons none of the hin (and dwarf) really cared to fathom. So, Jennika joined Lyle’s unit in the southern region. Nick remained behind to help the militia men.

The two groups met in the middle, as planned, leaving several corpses in their wake. The sharper eyed members of the groups spotted a chest in the ground. Here, Mynna showed up again, and asked to see the treasure inside it (a notebook). After Lyle tried (and failed) to understand the scribbles therein, Mynna tried and did no better. Lyle kept the book, and decided, at the advice of Mynna, to send word to Yossarin to see if he could construe anything from the gibberish. The hin (and dwarf) checked the mylock caves, failed to find anything of interest, and returned to the Dale’s south western entrance, where they could keep an eye on both the road and the hills.

Several of the Dale locals present voiced negative opinions about the woman, until she reappeared. By this time, Jinnivere was the only one still provoking her. After a threat by Mynna, Lyle finally put his foot down, and ordered them both to desist. While Mynna did stop, Jinnivere got in a few more words before the tall lass left. Lyle dismissed everyone except Ukre and Biddle, his two Fist soldiers. He gave them a few standing orders, asking them to warn travelers and locals, but not to scare the populace, as a riot would do nothing. He also told them to not allow adventurers or any one else to help directly with their investigation and patrol, but not to stop them from entering the hills. What to do about the attack and Dale defense?

“I want this ‘ere place patrolled almost constantly. Tell th’ other Fists ‘bout this, ‘nd let ‘em know t’ patrol this ‘ere stretch, and occasionally check th’ south eastern and southern paths, jus’ incase ‘ey try t’ sneak around. Tell any ‘un who asks tha’ we ‘ave th’ situation un’er control.” Before his dismissed them, he gave them one last, strict order: “I don’ want any o’ th’ Fist goin’ on offensive without me permission. Our only concern be defense fer now.”

Knowing that his soldiers would follow his command to the letter, Lyle gave them a salute, before taking Jennika with him to speak in private. Once alone, he asked her to regularly spy on the mylocks and let him know about any large movements or gatherings, as well as supply movements, such as weaponry. Though he hated to ask it, he also requested she spy on Mynna when ever she was around the Dale. Jennika agreed and then Lyle, with a mix of excitement and exhaustion, went to the inn to rest, feeling quite confident in his abilities as a commander after that evening.

_________________
Andrew Fryar: Cordor's Folk Hero
Bobrin: Eccentric Avenging Executioner
Lyle Torrowfire: Retired badass
Marigold Cobcruncher: Perceptive Priestess

//for clarification..they were mylocks..a noob dm mistake

The Mylock grounds remain still after the evenings carnage...the tribe was heavily thinned by the stout hearted defenders of the Dale !

A common enough problem, mylock raids...but the book....

_________________
How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single
moment before starting to improve the world.

~Anne Frank

// thought so, but wasn't sure. Editted for great justice.

_________________
Andrew Fryar: Cordor's Folk Hero
Bobrin: Eccentric Avenging Executioner
Lyle Torrowfire: Retired badass
Marigold Cobcruncher: Perceptive Priestess

*Okra Cobcruncher of the Bendir Dale Fist is seen lately patrolling the western and southern entrances to the Dale in his gleaming platemail, conversing with travelers casually, assuring them that the Dale defenders vigilant watch will preserve the peaceful and quiet lives of it's residents and visitors*

//Edit: de-capitalized Fist.

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Tark Hammerfeast - Immovable Object
True Greenspan - Bendir's Boy Wonder

((*just some stuuf to add to the story*))

...after helping with the first wave of attacks Nick stayed in the outskirts of the Dale, hidden from view assisting the Militia and feeding them information as to the location of any mylocks. Using the shadows to keep him from view he helped the militila defeat any rogue Mylock that wandered into town as the others marched on. Once the others came they had the situation diffused. After which everyone had a moment to catch their breath and try an figure out what happened.

*Holl Silver-Eye, militia squad leader, can be heard ranting about wiping out the Mylock scourge for good. His fanatical hatred of the Mylocks being common knowledge amongst the Dale residents, most pass him by with a smile and a wave. Travelers though may be shocked at the creative means he has for riding the area of this threat to the Hin way of life*

_________________
How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single
moment before starting to improve the world.

~Anne Frank

_________________
Former characters:
Dawnbringer Goodmane
Gralg Elfbane
Ukre Cobcruncher
Ug Rhalac

Lyle, as promised, sends word to Rowan Cobcruncher, the "sponge" of the Cobcruncher clan, requesting him to take a look at the mysterious book taken from the mylock's chest. Despite everything, the hin is in fine spirits, perhaps rejuvinated at the prospect of actually doing some good for the town he defended. He also begins building a notice board to put up in the town hall, so he can easily send announcements to his followers, and better establish the Fist's presence in the Dale.

// Just a note, FIST doesn't need to be in all capital letters.

_________________
Andrew Fryar: Cordor's Folk Hero
Bobrin: Eccentric Avenging Executioner
Lyle Torrowfire: Retired badass
Marigold Cobcruncher: Perceptive Priestess

*rowan takes a gander at the book and after a day of study he determines that the only page in it with writing is in an unknown language to him. He does offer that it appears as if there are multiple pages written one on top of another."

_________________
How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single
moment before starting to improve the world.

~Anne Frank

Lyle, in the privacy of his inn room, grumbled about what little luck this investigation was having. The book rests on top of a small desk in his room, with a few notes taken beside it on a piece of cheap parchment, concerning, in particular, the idea of possibly finding someone who could take a look through and possibly glean anything from the jumbled text. All the while, who knows what was going to happen? Faced with few other options, and no real leads, he reluctantly took a bit of paper and wrote up something for the noice board he was building.

His only idea was to descend through the mylock dungeon, and see if they could find any other clues as to what may have caused the sudden attack.

_________________
Andrew Fryar: Cordor's Folk Hero
Bobrin: Eccentric Avenging Executioner
Lyle Torrowfire: Retired badass
Marigold Cobcruncher: Perceptive Priestess

There have been more Mylock incursions...the Bendir Militia and local residents have risen to the challenge and beaten back each attempt! The plans laid down by Fist comander, Lyle Tarrowfire, have kept the Dale ready to repel ant Mylock threats...so far. The Drums of war have been beating loudly and the scouts sent into the area report a massive build up of Mylocks.

//any who have been scouting...PM me for more details about what you see. Tonight will be the next chapter of the saga...

_________________
How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single
moment before starting to improve the world.

~Anne Frank

The Brawl was usually attended by the majority of Fist and Dale-regulars. It tended to pull in a good amount of funds for the town. Two hundred gold per a spectator, one hundred per a fighter… Not a lot alone, but given how many people attended, it ended up being a lot of coin. Following the Brawl, apparently, there was also a drow-related problem. Lyle however, didn’t participate in any. Given the mylock’s aggression, and Ukre’s mention of ogres and a person leading them, Lyle chose to remain on guard in the town, against what ever may strike out.

Soon, Ukre, Okra, Jennika (Swift), Biddle and Tommi joined Lyle in the proper, near the well. The idea was to perform a sweep of the Mylock Hills, since getting the book looked at hadn’t produced any results. As luck would have it, the mylocks had a similar idea, and war horns echoed through the Dale. Tommi prepared them with a few spells, particularly on Swift, who was the only one among them who was not primarily a fighter, and needed a little bit of magical help.

With that, the half a dozen hin, and Tommi’s silver dragon friend Maxie, went to the west, to meet the mylock incursion yet again. Unfortunately, they were again attacking them on two fronts. Lyle again countered with the same tactic he had used last time: Ukre, Okra and Biddle would go south, while he and Swift went north. Tommi decided to stay behind and secure the Dale, as well as watch to make sure no drow or mylocks came and tried to wreck the place up while the Fist was all out dealing with the other mylocks.

Lyle was expecting heavy resistance, but nothing like this: The must’ve been nearly two dozen mylocks to greet the pair at the northern path, and he couldn’t imagine that the southern one was any better. Interspersed among the horned menace were ogres of all shape and sizes, including the bluish ones who cast magic at them. Swift and Lyle made quick work of the ogres. Swift managed to avoid being hit even once, while Lyle took quite a few. In a testament to either his endurance or the strength of his armor, the large hin was still in fighting condition, especially after laying hands on his wounds.

The pair fought to the middle, like they had last time, where Ukre, Okra and Biddle had already engaged a large force of mylocks, ogres and a human in the distance, beside an ogre mage, right before the entrance to the dungeon. The force looked to be much larger than the groups positioned at each entrance to the Dale. While the males focused on the mylocks and the ogres, Swift slew the human without too much trouble. When the dust finally settled, the field was filled with dead, as well as an abundance of keys. These would open the locked door in the mylock ruins. A spirit left the human’s body, and fled below.

The five pursued into the dungeon, hot on its heels, only to be stalled by a handful of ogres and mylocks awaiting their arrival at the bottom of the stairs. When Ukre was blinded, the spirit shook walls, causing bits of rock and dirt to fall onto the party. Any one who has been to the mylock dungeons knows there are two doors: one that leads further in and below and another which leads to the key storage area, but is otherwise a dead end. To perform a complete sweep, and prevent the spirit from escaping, Lyle sent Ukre, Okra and Biddle to clear the dead end wing, while he and Swift guarded the locked door that went deeper down.

While they were waiting, the spirit threatened them almost nonstop, until it cast a death spell on Lyle, which he resisted, and thusly butchered the ghost to bits. The remains of it fled beneath the door. It seemed to be angry primarily with Swift, as she had killed its human form. Ukre, Biddle and Okra returned shortly after. However, Okra had gotten overwhelmed and had to return to Bendir Dale. It was an admirable thing, to take an injury in the name of your home.

The rest of the sweep was mostly uneventful, the locked portion revealing only ogres and mylocks, no more signs of the spirit… except once in Lyle’s head: “You will fear me in the next few days… I will take everything you love, and destroy it.” With a shudder, he pushed it out of mind, and pushed further below. Once they had cleared the mylock dungeon, Ukre left to tend to his brother; Swift, Biddle and Lyle returned to the town proper.

Tak Rosen came to inform Lyle that the goblin living on the outskirts of town said he would help keep the evil out of town, if they paid him a bag of gems a day. As luck would have it, Grindan, the shifter dwarf, appeared about this time, and took the shape of a goblin to help them negotiate with the goblin. He brought back some interesting news: the mysterious notebook could be read through a crystal in a cave, beyond the werewolves’ forest.

Lyle issued orders: Ukre was to try and find this crystal. As well, all Fist were to confront any person who looked like the human form of the spirit. He also advised Jayek to regularly bless the area, to ward off undead. His final business saw Grindan, the Bendir Dale token dwarf, as the newest member of the Fist of the Dale. Egan (I believe) said it best: Grin was really just a large hin at heart.

_________________
Andrew Fryar: Cordor's Folk Hero
Bobrin: Eccentric Avenging Executioner
Lyle Torrowfire: Retired badass
Marigold Cobcruncher: Perceptive Priestess

*The malevolant spirit has been seen drifting through the Amian Forest. A few small animals have been found dead through out the forest. All that was left was a desacated husk. The Mylocks have settled back into seclusion, the losses they endured at the hands of the Hin have left them so few in numbers that any assault would be futile at best*

//please post if you had any encounter with the "quicksilvery ooze" in the Amia Forest...

_________________
How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single
moment before starting to improve the world.

~Anne Frank

What should have been a peaceful day in Bendir Dale soon turned itself to a quick mission: To find out what this ooze wanted. It has whispered to poor Lyle, taunted him, threatened him. Issuing a challenge to the ooze, he grabbed the mysterious book from the day of the Mylock attacks, rounded up a few volunteers (Swift, Risk and Grin), and lead them into the Crystal Caves, just through the Forest of Despair. Much fighting and disappointment eventually brought them to the lower levels where, much to Lyle's surprise, a giant beast made of diamond rushed them. He didn't pay much attention to the banter between his comrades: "Grab the crystal", "Let's let Lyle handle this one", and others. He did stand alone against the giant diamond but it, like many other enemies, fell beneath the Lyle's acidic dagger. When the thing was defeat, and all other beasts crushed, Lyle took the crystal, and used it to read the one page in the book. With a grimace, he put both away, with plans to gather up a posse to do as the book had instructed.

_________________
Andrew Fryar: Cordor's Folk Hero
Bobrin: Eccentric Avenging Executioner
Lyle Torrowfire: Retired badass
Marigold Cobcruncher: Perceptive Priestess

Rowan surveyed the scene…the wind was blowing wisps of smoke and dust from the charred ground. The carnage was absolute…only the ruins of the ancient keep of Stonehold…for that was its name during the evil ones reign, still stood. The skeletal body of Imperator lay at the center of the conflict.

He recalled the other Hin’s tales of the evening’s events. The mage Tommi Twinkney and Lyle Torrowfire had gone in search of one last spell component for the summoning…they hadn’t been seen since. The time for the summoning was drawing near and Biddle Broadfoot had been set to retrieve a vile book of Demon summoning from the Manor house on the hill above Kholagin. He, Ukre Cobcruncher and the Dwarvin shifter Grindon left for the docks of Cordor to book passage around the island.

They battled their way through the horrific manor house! Eventually finding the tome for which they had been sent. While they were away from the dale, Jennicka and Risk were waiting for the other Hin to gather. The vile ooze of shadowy quicksilver made an attack! It had set in motion a plan to eliminate the biggest threat it faced...Lyle and Tommi.

On its way back into the dale, the thing spied Ma’ Hardingdale out gathering herbs at the edge of the wood, and it moved to attack. It was at that moment that it sensed Jennika…. She would pay for slaying the mage that had so willingly given herself as a host. It moved to attack her. Risk vigorously attacked it...but no weapon could harm the ooze. It happened that the powerful druid, Theos Gend was in the dale at the time. He used words of immense power to drive the creature from the dale. He was told of the events happening in the dale…Theos, in turn, told of the creatures sightings in the Amia Forest.

When the Hin gathered in Bendir Dale, Theos offered to perform the summoning with the aid of his Druidic acolytes. As nothing had been heard of from Tommi or Lyle, Ukre and Biddle agreed to the offer.

The band of Hin and Druids made their way through the Mylock Hills and finaly to the ruins of Wyrmhold. There the group arranged themselves and grimly set themselves for the conflict to come. They stood in the rain, faces grim with determination. Theos Gend read from the vile book of Demon summoning and used the power still contained in Imperator's skelatal remains to draw the foul creature into substance and bind it. Theos finished his incantation and evocation…finally yelling out the fell beast’s name…”Bul’zeelab…attend ME!!!!”

The creature came forth in a cloud of acrid smoke. It writhed and fought against the powers binding it…Theos was unable to stop it from summoning lesser fiends to its aid. The heroes arrayed around the summoning circle immediately set upon these creatures!!! The battle raged for but a few minutes...then Theos lost his control on the beast! It bellowed its hatred as it broke free and lunged at the druid!!

The heroes stood fast and in the end they defeated the Demon Bel’zeelab!

_________________
How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single
moment before starting to improve the world.

~Anne Frank

Two days later, Lyle Torrowfire and Tommi Twinkney returned to the Dale. They had been chasing vague leads and hidden caches of mystical ungents...to no avail. Tommi had bargained the location from the Lich in the Tomb of the Burning Dead...little did he know that the Demon had already brokered a deal.

They returned to the Dale empty handed and heard the harrowing tale of the Summoning!! That is when Tommi put it together. He and Lyle were furious...they set out to repay the Lich. Know, the Lich had some very powerful minions...the Demon must have given him words of summoning. There was also a powerfull ogre there...and it stood waiting. In the midst of the battle, the Ogre singled out Lyle and went to work on him. Soon it took the aid of the other Hin to ward of the Mighty blows from the ogre...with one last swing before he fell, the Ogre smashed his halberd into lyles leg! The bones shattered and the leg was torn from the Hin's body.

Vengance turned cold in the pit of the heroes stomaches...Lyle's wound was weeping a vile toxin...his life was ebbing away. The group made there way to Bendir Dale with the aid of the Hin archmage Tommi. There Jayek ministered Lyle and cauterized the wound...burning away the toxin. Lyle would live...but he had lost a leg.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

//If you were at either of the events above...please add your take.

_________________
How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single
moment before starting to improve the world.

~Anne Frank