Come one come all. Anyone interested in playing AD&D 3.5 version play by post get your characters ready for some adventuring. Whether you want to explore that set of ruins just outside of town or that cave up in the hills. IS there treasure in there or does it just lead to a quick death. All it takes is a party of adventures brave enough to explore and see what is there.
The party finds theirselves in a village square. There is a open market here and you can hear the hawkings of various meats, cloths and other goods for sale. Around the square are three inns, a armor, candleworks, tannery, blacksmith and various other shops. The climate is temperate. There are three gates leading out of the village. One to the north, South and West. A thick forest surrounds the village. The tree line is a good bow shot back from the village. The area is hilly. A nice size river runs along the eastern side of the village. There is a ferry spot and river boat trade just south of the city itself.
You all hear about the fact that there are a lot of Orcs running around in the forest around the city. Some feel that there are soo many that a invasion may soon come. Many of the local farmers grumble about the town militia not doing enough to protect their herds and livelihood. Some are hoping that the orcs go away while others feel maybe the orcs will run the city better.
You hear about the ruins that are south and a bit east of the city About a day and half ride being haunted. They say that mages believe there are some nice magical item possibly in there. They say the mages do not go there because of a possible beast in the lower chambers. Some say it is a dragon others say a lizard and others say there is nothing there and it was picked clean many years ago.
On the notice board for those who can read the town is offering 20 gold for each orc head brought in. (some are looking at the half orcs a little strangely). The board has a notice that the town north, Nevestral, is looking for some adventures to find the Orc Stronghold. Nevestral is a eight day ride north. There is also a notice for caravan guards. A caravan wanting to head north is looking for three to six guards to protect it as it heads north to Nevestral thru orc filled forests. The offer 200 gold each. !00 to hire on the balance to be paid after arriving safely to Nevestral.
When you check on the caravan the caravan leader says he will not be able to leave til the morning two days from now. IF you wish to be a part of the caravan as guards then you should be at the north gate at dawn in two days.
Talking around town you get the sense that you can run into orcs at any time or place outside the walls. They have not seen a large band so they do not think an attack is close at hand. Most of the farmers also tell you that the largest group they have seen was around 12 to 15.
The Caravan master can not spare any horses and as you ask about town none are willing to rent you a mount that may not come back. You will have to come up with the coin to purchase a horse. From talk around town you learn that most of the orc raids are equally occurring from the East, North, West and South. The only farms that have not been hit are those to the south and east along the river.
You walk out of the North gate on a windy day. The clouds race across the sky over head. You can smell the hint of rain in the air but so far no rain is falling. You follow the road to the north and west as it disappears into the tree line. Do you wish to remain on the road when it turns back to the north or venture off the road and continue in a north west direction? The wind is making it hard to hear thus you have to rely on your eyes for any movement in the forest.
You step off the road and head into the forest. The wind is less in the woods but still the noise of the tree branches swaying in the wind makes it hard for you hear anything approaching. The same is said for the woodland creatures as you surprise a group of deer about a half hour later, as you come upon a clearing. A few feet ahead you see a crude wooden fence that seems to surround a small farmstead just off the road. You can see a farmer working in the middle of his field. He has his back to you. The deer take off to your left heading back into the woods west. Across the farm field to the North you can see a small cottage with a thin wisp of smoke coming from the chimney. What do you wish to do now?