04 Night's Watch.pdf - Chaos Bleeds

Chapter 2: The Wall & the GiftKuhl, Bandit KingAnimal Handling 3 (Ride 1B), Athletics 4 (Strength 2B),Awareness 3, Endurance 4, Fighting 5 (Long blades 2B,Spears 2B,) Marksmanship 3, Status 1, Warfare 3Combat Defense 9 (5 in armor, +4 with shield) ❂ Health 12Intrigue Defense 7 ❂ Composure 6Brigandine Armor: AR 8 ❂ AP -4Bulk 3 (Movement 3, Sprint 10)War Lance 5D+1B 9 DamageBulk 2, Impale, Mounted,Powerful, Slow, ViciousLarge Shield 4D 2 Damage Bulk 1, Defensive +4Greatsword 5D+2B 9 DamageMediumCrossbow3D3 DamagePowerful, Slow, Twohanded,Unwieldy, ViciousLong Range, Piercing 1,Reload (Lesser), Slow,Two-handedOther Gear: Courser in Mail Barding, large shield, war lance,greatsword, medium crossbow and quarrelsFor Honor’s SakeNews is slow to reach the Wall, partly from location and partly becausethe leaders of the Watch prefer it that way. The oath breaks all ties toa man’s former life, but that doesn’t mean it necessarily takes root in aman’s soul. No matter what he does with his life as a man, he still loved,hated, swore other oaths, made other bonds. It is easier to hold to one’svows when there is nothing to cause a Brother to be conflicted over thelife he once knew.Every Brother is tempted to leave the Wall at some point: fear,hatred, love, pain, cold, soul-crushing loss. The Wall should be enoughto freeze a man’s heart solid, letting him stand numbly at his post foras long as it takes. For some, though, no amount of ice will ever beenough.SetupJosef Melwen, a builder among the brothers, has deserted his post andbroken his oath. He knocked a brother unconscious and fled on his horse.ObjectiveJosef Melwen must be found and brought back, dead or alive.Known FactsAt breakfast this morning, two Brothers were missed; Eldon the Youngerand Josef Melwen. Josef, a Builder, was a rarity in the modern watch:a nobleman’s second son who came of his own free will. Eldon theYounger was one of the elder brothers and a steward. Eldon’s responsibilitywas inventorying the larder and ensuring the food never ran low.Josef was working with Eldon on repairing a cold room for food storage,buried deep within the Wall.After breakfast, a search was held. Eldon was found, unconscious,lying in the cold room. Josef was not within the castle and a horse ismissing as well.TerrainJosef has a horse, but unless he wants people to name him for a deserterfrom a distance and report him straightaway, he has no choice but toproceed slowly through the Gift. Deserters who want to live often gonorth of the Wall, discarding their black and throwing their lot in withthe free folk. Deserters who have ties and money tend to go south intoWesteros, hoping to finish their business and board a ship before theirbroken oaths can catch up to them. Josef has to stop in Mole’s Town(page 62) for some provisions and to say goodbye to a girl named Keyla,one of the town’s many “buried treasures.” That will be the best place tostop him, one way or the other.Unknown FactsNo one would have expected Josef to abandon the Watch. What theydon’t know is that he met a man two weeks ago that made living on theWall intolerable, so much that he would rather die a deserter or livebranded a coward than stay. A new band of recruits just arrived, as fullof debtors, criminals, and children as any set to ever arrive.One of them, a man called Black Harlow, was bright enough andhad some experience with house building. He joined, however, becauseit was better than wearing a noose. He was working alongside Josef oneday, being trained in the ways of builders, when he commented on Jo-70