The Hamlet of Stump Cross

The tiny hamlet of Stump Cross had no more than 200 people living within its boundaries. The most notable was a man who once served under the King as a military outfitter, Leon Fireheart. A noble-hearted human blacksmith now, he strives to keep this little hole-in-the-ground together with iron and nails.

The druid Unrock and the Monk Layla both hailed from this tiny hamlet. Unrock, though often found distaste in civilization, somewhat liked the little hamlet. It wasn't too big, and wasn't too developed. Layla hailed from a nearby monastery, a temple dedicated to the strength and willpower of the tiny-bodied Halflings.

The group of travelers came into town, tired but positive. They decided to spend some of their hard-earned loot hammering out their new friendships at the local tavern, the Bottle Rocker. There they met a smattering of this town's best and brightest. A very bashful dwarf, a very frail elf, and Leon himself.

Upon hearing of their discovery he reveled in their strength. When he heard that they had encountered a few scouts of the Bugbear Ironjaw, he realized that something was amiss.

The nearby camp of Goblinoids had usually kept to themselves, but recently a raiding party had taxed the village's defenses heavily. Leon knew they must be on the move again, possibly seeking a new base of operations with which to strike at them more viciously. He requested the group to put an end to these marauders once-and-for-all.

The group was lead to the Goblins by the Druid, and after setting a clever trap for them, was able to root out the invaders. They tracked down and finished off Ironjaw before he could cause any more damage, and was even able to put a group of the goblins in the loving care of Leon himself. One particular Goblin, Sleestack the Stringy, found himself a new boss in Jack Hammer.

After returning triumphant to the Hamlet, Leon had one final request for the group. His old war buddy, Kheldegan Tolm, had come by a few months prior with dire news. Orcs had been causing problems for the Independent Trade & Mining Town of Blasingdell. The group agreed to travel on, each with their own reasons for joining in.

Some more noble than others.