Summary
The Gallund brothers and their allies execute a multi-pronged siege of River City (CastleCliff), overcoming its champion defenders in a climactic battle on the keep steps. After victory, the city is renamed Trayalon in honor of Tray Gallund, and the party makes the first foundational decisions of the new empire.
Detailed Narrative
The party assembles for the assault on River City, coordinating knights, footmen, archers, and mages against a fortified but weakened garrison of mixed-race defenders led by the city's king. The heroes are tasked with direct action during the siege — scouting, neutralizing enemy mages, and breaking through to the keep. On the steps of the keep above the cliffs, the party faces the city's NPC champion group (Torek the Cruel and his lieutenants: the Blackfist, Char the Sorcerer, Sylar the Rogue, and the priest Merric) in a decisive battle. With the champions defeated and the city taken, Tray Gallund renames it Trayalon. The party then governs the aftermath: captured forces are shown mercy, the emissary from Northfork seeking harbor to attack the Redshields is turned away, merchants and economy are prioritized over pure military buildup, and Admond agrees to court Caitlyn, the captive daughter of the former lord and a descendant of the Hesh line.
Details
GM Content
Campaign Notes
DM only — campaign-sensitive materialThis chapter sets the moral tone of the Gallund rule — mercy over slaughter, trade over war. Admond's agreement to court Caitlyn is the seed of the ch-12 wedding. Note that Caitlyn is a Hesh descendant, which becomes a major plot thread. The city has strategic value as a port and trade hub. The refused Northfork harbor request pays off in ch-02 (Redshields send thanks). Party used siege tactics during assault; the DM should note which specific tactics they employed for later continuity.