The Lure of the Woods

September 8, 1640

Brac and Galador negotiate with Captain Morkar (Porker as he is referred to behind his back) as he reluctantly agrees to let them head off
in search of Cerdon. He gives them leave for a ten-day before they will be
considered away without leave and hunted down like dogs.

Our would-be heroes travel fast and hard on the road from Castle Hyareth thinking to make Castle Bargad, the home of Lord Talisen, about halfway towards Fort Brattar and the last known location of Ceradon, the Dunedain brother of Brac Ophare.

The Kings advisor and friend of the Ophare family Lord Talisen welcomes Galador and Brac into his castle as Lord Talisen tells them of the increased activity being found by the Rangers of the North by bands of Orcs, some on Wargs which is a troubling development. Lord Talisen also believes that Captain Caradok of Fort Brattar has captured an Easterling that was on his way to Dungaraiths hide-out.

Leaving early the next morning the Knight and Ranger travel half a days ride North West along the road before Galador stops and looks longingly to the West. His wistful stare into the dense forest that beckons him off the road has him remembering his first encounter with the lovely elven girl of his desires, Loralynn. The siren like call of the woods is too strong and Galador all but forces a foray into the woods on Brac.

Brac calls out for Galador as the Ranger himself is overwhelmed by the spirits of nature and his attempts to call upon their help to find the lovely Loralynn. Brac finds the Ranger in a stupor, very near a lovely herb garden that is obviously well-tended by caring hands. Loralynn surprises Brac as a shift in the trees brings her gossamer dress into view as the Knight helps Galador into Loralynn’s home in the trees.

Loralynn, while quiet and reserved brings about the expected change in the Ranger and calms the spirits of the forest that disturb him. Embarrassed at his weakness, Galador tells the fair elf of
what they intend while giving her the unfortunate news that he has not been able to find any word of Loralynn’s brother. The Ranger vows to keep searching for her however.

Galador and Brac reluctantly leave the forest knowing that Loralynn’s garden gifts will help them in the future for the herbs in her garden are rare indeed.

With the rain pouring down in sheets, the Knight Requain nearly loses his stalwart composure at the audacity of the guards that make them wait at the well-fortified gates of Fort Brattar. Dismissing the guards apologies Brac focuses on the task at hand and meets with the leader
of Fort Brattar, Captain Caradok, who while sympathetic to the Knights cause and his loyalty to his brother steadfastly refuses to let the two see the Easterling they have captured. He steadfastly believes that Ceradon, Brac’s brother has been captured by the renegade Dungaraith and that waiting a ten-day or so for the King’s inquisitor’s is the correct course of action.

Brac’s bravado and Galador’s idea of how they might yet get their way are tantamount to treason but the two take their chances together, knowing the consequences could be severe, and break into where the Easterling is being held.

After breaking the Easterling out of Fort Brattar, the adventurers bring the Easterling to the forest home of the Elven Witch Lorilynn where she preformes a ritual upon the Easterling that leaves the Easterling with a broken mind. Her mind probe reveales the location of the hideout of the renegade ranger Dungorath.

The commander of Fort Brattar, Captain Caradok, sends out his men to retrieve our
adventurers as well as the Easterling.

Our adventurers decide to leave the unconscious Easterling at a roadhouse near the
fort. The roadhouse was the watering ground of many of the fort's soldiers, but
our adventurers made good their escape.

The adventurers follow the directions of Lorilynn and the map they now have, while avoiding the road patrols looking for them for the next 2 days travelling into the wilds of Rammas Formen in search of the Dongorath’s hold.