1 | the Barley Fair

1.1 | the Quiet …

After a long day of travelling, you find yourselves at "The Barley Fair" inn in Deerford, a small hamlet nestled in a wooded valley. Deerford is located on a main road, so the locals are quite used to strangers staying the night here at the "Barley Fair". The innkeeper Bertram Bouldrin (human male, Bouldrin pronounced as in boulder) seems to welcome everyone with strong and hairy but open arms.

You’ve just finished a hearty dinner and are moving to some comfortable chairs next to the fireplace. Bouldrin hands you your mug of ale as you look at each other and resume the conversation: “Sorry, what did you say your name was again?”

At this point each player can briefly describe their character in terms of name and appearance. Explain that they can mention their class here, but that they can also leave it out if they think that's more exciting.

Describe how everyone has another drink after this and the conversation becomes livelier and louder: when one of the group remarks that not all Orcs are evil and tries to explain this, the tavern door is flung open with a loud slam.

1.2 | … before the storm

"Ladies, gents and gentlefolk, good evening!" Standing in the doorway is a half-elf woman wearing gleaming plate-armor, carrying a fine sword at her side. A simple gold pendant made of white quartz sparkles on her chest. “And good evening, Mr. Bouldrin”, she nods to the innkeeper, “tonight, I’m looking for a few brave souls to appoint as vigilantes or members of the citizens' brigade. Is anyone from the Deerford Watch here perhaps? Or anyone else who feels called to fulfill their civic duty? She looks around the room, gazing intently at several people. Of course, the Lord's Alliance will see to it that any dutiful citizens will be remunerated.” She looks around at the vacant stares in the room and continues: “That's means you’ll be paid.”

From the whispers around the group they can gather that Sergeant Couteaux (half-elf, female) has entered; she is a sort of local constable. Players who wish to do so may roll a [History][5] check. If they pass the roll, explain to the player that their character recognises the symbols on Couteaux's tabard or coat of arms as those of the Lords Alliance. So she is looking for someone she can appoint as a temporary vigilante or member of the citizens' brigade. What will the group do?

If the players haven't yet responded, address them as the sergeant telling them something like "you guys look like you can take care of yourself" and ask if they'd like to go on a little adventure tonight as after-dinner entertainment. She can then further explain what's going on.

Three reports of unrest have come in, and she only has enough people to respond to two of them. Who wants to go to the third? If asked, she can provide some additional information about all three reports. You’ll find this info at the beginning of the chapters on these areas (before the “block” of text that you can read verbatim).

When the group accepts the offer and heads outside, Couteaux gives the adventurers a bag containing the following:

After that, the adventure continues in the Brewery, at the Graveyard, or in the Old Mine.