David's Castles and Crusades Undying War, A0 RISING KNIGHT Session 1

The Drunberry River runs narrow and fast through much of
its course before tumbling into the lowlands beneath the
Fallow Hills. From there, the river spreads out across fertile
plains, laboring slowly to the south before emptying into the
Elmarsh Lake. Until recently this area was unsettled. The writ
of the King of New Aenoch has changed all this. Several small
villages, thorpes, and farming communities have been settled in
this region since the King’s permission was granted. The village
of Malforten, nestled along the banks of the Drunberry River
near the Fallow Hills, is just such a place.
The people of Malforten are few in number, but are sturdy folk
with many a stout heart amongst them. Knowing they were
settling at the edges of the kingdoms of New Aenoch and far
from help if ever there was need, those who came here were of
the uncommon and daring type.
Lacking support otherwise, the people of Malforten have banded
together and fought off many a wild beast, bandit, and raiding
goblin. They even managed to defeat a marauding band of ogres
before it laid waste to surrounding farms. They are proud of
their independence from the Lords of New Aenoch and their
capacity to care for their own. This is why they consider their
current position with not a little embarrassment.
Malforten lies in the East March. This frontier region is known
to be open to raiders, bandits, and other nefarious creatures
who fear no retribution from the West; so many villainous
malcontents and upstarts thus come here to raid, and with each
passing success, act with ever more audacity. Now Malforten has
come under a more dire and grievous threat than ever before. A
vicious gnoll warrior, Gritznak the Bold, has come to the Fallow
Hills and taken up residence in an abandoned temple. From
here, his band of raiders has encroached ever more often upon
the steads of Malforten, taking cattle, grain stores, and stealing
away a few residents for slaves or worse.Though the men of Malforten have attempted to locate, trap,or capture Gritznak, they have failed each time. Each failurehas emboldened Gritznak to greater depredations, culminating,with his coming to Malforten and demanding tribute. At theirwits end, the leaders of Malforten called upon the Lords of NewAenoch for knights and soldiery to help defeat Gritznak the Bold
(as they are duty bound to supply). However, the delegates from
Malforten were rebuffed and their request for soldiery denied,
as the wars to the west and south have consumed most of New
Aenoch’s veteran warriors. However, to minimally meet their
obligations, several Lords of New Aenoch have offered a bounty
to any who might bring an end to the depredations of Gritznak
the Bold.