A New Hope

Rufus made his way through the tangles of the Hundred Needles to the northern coast of Ember Shoals. From there, he was able to hitch a ride from a smuggler to the mainland. He purchased a horse and rode into the heartland of Neverwinter. As he progressed, he looked for fighters willing to assist him in freeing Ember Shoals. Alas, all he got was refusals. Then in one sleepy village, he received quite a surprise. Could it be? Kettlebaun?

"Lord Admiral?" Rufus queried.

The halfling turned and glanced at Rufus. Rufus was sure - it WAS Kettlebaun.
"What are you doing here?"

"Exile, retirement, escaping from the madness that ye thrice damned Purity League loosed 'pon me island." spat the Lord Admiral, as he raked at the dirt.
"Pick one..."
The halfling eyed the ranger & shook his head.
"Come up to the house, I've got a stew cookin' & keg that need tappin'" Kettelbaun said & gestured up the weedy path to the ramshackle cottage at the base of the hill,"then mayhaps ye can explain why in the Hells you're here."

After a simple but fine meal, they sat back in their chairs. Kettlebaun quaffed deeply from his mug. Rufus sipped politely (he prefers wine). Then Rufus told the tale of the Faedwyr invasion: how the League of Purity accidentally and foolishly opened a portal for the Faedwyr; how the hounds of war descended on Ember Shoals; how the invaders sacked Heron Hall; and finally how the forces of Ember Shoals were defeated in an epic last stand.

"I am here looking for help. I need warriors to retake Ember Shoals from the Faedwyr."

Rufus could see a scowl form on Kettlebaun's face.

"You disagree. I can see it on your face." Rufus said. "But I see no alternative, other than surrender. And that I will not do. So tell me, what do you think we should do?"

Kettlebaun leaned back and took a long draft from his mug. He then sat still, pondering his response. Rufus fidgeted in his seat, anxious to hear Kettlebaun's thoughts. Finally, Rufus could bear it now more. "Well?" he asked.

"We," scoffed the halfling,"ya mean ye?"

Kettelbaun took another quick swallow from his mug & then got up from his chair. He then walked over to a battered footlocker, producing a key from his vest pocket, he opened the lock.

"I'll tell ye this, boyo...& ye won't like it none." he said, rummaging through the footlocker.

A moment later, the girthy halfling let out a grunt of acknowledgement. From the chest he took a well worn, leather bound book & another object wrapped in high quality velvet.

"These be the start of ye answer, Commodore."

Kettelbaun tossed the book into Rufus' waiting hands, then came he returned to the table with the velvet wrapped object.

"& this'll be me contribution to your noble quest." he said flatly.

Between the plates, Kettelbaun, set the swaddled object delicately. The tiny lines at the corners of his mouth creased into a saddened, near smile as pulled away the cloth.

It was the Horn of Hurricane. The little bastard had made off with it after all.

"That book will tell ye how to find the other two parts of it. The Wayfarer wasn't a stupid man, Rufus. He & the rest of the Druids knew the Faedwyr for what they were & they took precautions...like the Seals, for instance. Well, they'd also devised a...finality, if ye will." Kettelbaun's face grew deathly serious.

"They called it, Faethorn. A spear constructed from three of the old Druids most sacred relics...we have one, the Horn of Hurricane."

Kettelbaun leaned back in his chair & dropped his gaze to the dirty crockery gracing it.

"Find the other two parts, lad...& we'll have what we need to end Them."

"The Gardender's Rod & the Astromancer's Armil, make up the rest of Faethorn. The Wayfarer's book should give ye an idea where they may be,Rufus." Kettelbaun said earnestly.

"However, the trick to gettin' them be defeatin' their guardians..."

Rufus thanked Kettlebaun, for now he had hope for the future of Ember Shoals. It would be a difficult quest. With assistance, however, Rufus believed that it could be completed and the Faedwyr defeated

To the Wilds!

With our defeat by the Faedwyr, the Wardens have taken to the wilds of Ember Shoals. We have camouflaged ourselves and are camping in the woods of the Hundred Needles. We remained dispersed so it is more difficult for the Faedwyr to track us. When we can, we strike back in partisan raids.

Still, we hope to reclaim Ember Shoals from our tormentors. To that end, I shall seek allies on the mainland. 

Our new mode of dress:

The Last Stand of Ember Shoals

From atop the ruined keep of Heron Hall, the Faedwyr lord looked out upon the plain before the castle. Gathering there, in the rear of his troops was another army. He gazed upon the many varied banners - the Wardens, the Bilgewater Brigade, and even our neighbors from Kage and from the Barony of Crest Haven.

"Where did this army come from?" he wondered.

In his haste to raze Heron Hall, he had left pockets of defenders in his army's wake. One of these was I, Brother Rufus, commander of the Wardens. I had been on patrol, hunting monsters in the forest known as the Hundred Needles, in the north of Ember Shoals. When I received word of the return of the Faedwyr, my patrol immediately rushed back to our home. On the way, we encountered scattered remnants of the populace of Ember Shoals. Warned of the invasion, volunteers arrived from Kage and Crest Haven. We joined forces and marched in unison toward Heron Hall.

Now we stood at the foot of my stronghold. Tears streaked down my face, for we were too late. It was clear that the castle had fallen. Very well, we would inflict vengeance upon our defeated comrades. The charge was sounded and we fell upon the Faedwyr baggage camp and siege train. We hacked down the enemy until blood ran in torrents.

The Faedwyr lord could not overlook our challenge. Instead of setting up a defensive position in the castle, he launched a counterattack upon our position on the plain. The horde rushed upon us, smashing into us and forcing us back. Dark magics lashed out and bedeviled our troops. We retreated to a hilltop, determined to make our stand. We cut down any enemy that tried to rush up the hill, but there were too many. One by one, the defenders were cut down.

I knew we were doomed but I was determined to fight to the bitter end. Then one of my lieutenants grabbed my arm and yelled in my ear. "It's hopeless, commander! We need to retreat!"

"Never!" I cried but he persisted.

"We will never free Ember Shoals if we are all dead. Live to fight another day!"

I saw sense in his words. Reluctantly, I sounded the retreat. The survivors fled into the wilds of Ember Shoals.

Ember Shoals has fallen to the Faedwyr. But we the survivors are determined that it will not be our last stand.