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LOCATION: GRIMWATCH TOWN SQUARE
CITY: GRIMWATCH, ALLOVIA
DATE: APRIL 23, 2026 | TIME: 10:00 AM
With all the new adventurers from Earth visiting Allovia, Grimwatch had grown a lot over the past months.
With growth always came growing pains, however.
Security in the town had caught six thieves from The Shadowed Hamlet. The first two had been punished with fifteen lashes and sent back.
The following day, they'd come back and attempted to murder the guards who had executed the punishment.
Trevor Gant and Brick happened to be in Grimwatch that day, and the murder attempt by the thieves didn't go well for them.
Trevor was a Hollow Mantle, and although one of his personas had been excised when they removed the evil Varris, he still retained two.
This day, Trevor had selected the Melee Rogue Assassin persona, and his Perception was his highest stat.
As he and Brick were walking toward the quest board to see what they could do for Grimwatch, Trevor spotted two shadows near the guard hut that weren't moving right.
"Brick," he said, tapping the larger man on the shoulder, "there's something funny about those—"
Two men jumped out of the shadows and attacked the two guards at the front gate.
Brick pulled the axe and shield from his back and ran.
Trevor drew his daggers and was right behind Brick. Within moments, the two assailants were bleeding out on the ground.
One of the guards had suffered a grievous injury, but Liesl happened to be looking out from the front door of The Lusty Wench when the attack happened, and she'd already asked little Elayne Calderane to fetch a healer.
The youngest of the three sisters who'd been rescued from The Shadowed Hamlet months prior returned with the healer just in time.
She cast a large single-target heal first, then followed up with a healing pulse. After the wound stopped bleeding, she put a bandage on the guard's neck, and told him to go rest.
It was a close call, but Trevor had gotten credit for the killing blow on both men.
He knew Brick had let him have it, but he needed the experience points after the 33.3% penalty, so he didn't complain too much.
It was this attack that served as the final straw for Mayor Thomas Brae.
Defending against wolves and boars was enough. But thieves from the neighboring village? That was a step too far.
Mayor Brae posted a notice on the quest board:
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Mission
Enter The Shadowed Hamlet and deliver an ultimatum to their mayor. If he can't control his own citizens, we will do it for him.
Suggested party size: 4 – 6
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Grim had picked the quest one morning.
He found it entertaining, and went to see Mayor Brae about it.
"When you say we'll do it for him," Grim started, "do you mean what I think you mean?"
Thomas laughed.
"Tell you what, Grim," he said, "I'm going to leave it open to your interpretation. But if you need any help, don't hesitate to ask."
Grim rested his meaty hand on the mayor's shoulder.
"Don't worry," he said, "we've got this one. I know what they did to the three sisters, and as far as we know, that Lord Marthen was never punished."
Grim decided to make it a Peacekeeper venture. He called on Brick, Li Wei, and Samir al-Mansoor.
Coordinating time zones so they were all in Allovia at the same time was a challenge but they got it done.
With a group like this, it was almost unfair.
They went through the gate on the south end of Grimwatch, and entered The Shadowed Hamlet.
Vanessa had warned them of the pickpockets and the loose morality. Samir only laughed, saying he dared someone to try stealing from them.
In order to speak to the mayor, of course the group would have to enter the noble district up the hill from the main town.
They didn't bother trying to blend in. They were decked out in full combat gear.
A small group of teens tried to make a move, but Samir grabbed one of the kids by the hand.
Looking him in the eye, he tsked twice, and the kid backed up.
Samir handed him five gold coins anyway, and the kids rejoiced. The smiles on their dirty faces let Samir know they were stealing out of necessity. He made note of it.
While these nobles lived high on the hill, they clearly didn't care about the welfare of those beneath them.
They reached the gates to the noble district, and two guards stopped them.
"State your business," one of them said.
Grim smirked.
"We're here for an audience with the mayor. We come with a missive from Grimwatch."
The guards looked at each other and started laughing.
"If you don't have an appointment, you can return to your shitty town with your tail between your legs."
"Or," the other guard said, "we can send you back in bags."
The guards were laughing at the four men when suddenly one of them disappeared.
The last thing they saw was a puff of sand glistening in the late morning sun, before their heads separated from their bodies.
The heads landed on the firmly packed dirt with a thud, and started rolling down the hill.
Grim and the others stepped to the side to avoid the arterial spray.
"Samir," Brick said, "I was thinking a little head bashing, not head slashing. Geez, dude. You need some anger management therapy."
Li laughed. "I approve of your methods as usual, Samir. Now, let's move on before this becomes an issue."
By the time they located the mayor's mansion, it was noon. There was a luncheon with well over fifty men and women in attendance.
The mayor was speaking.
"…so that's why I propose we increase taxes. More guards at the gates and stronger walls will keep our families safer."
"What about those outside the gates?" Grim asked.
Everyone in the yard turned toward the four uninvited guests.
"Who are you? Guards!" the mayor shouted.
"They're uh… what do you call it?" Brick asked.
"Currently predisposed," Li said, wiping blood from his sleeve.
"We come with a message from Grimwatch," Grim said. "But it seems it will fall on deaf ears. I see you don't care one bit about those in the town below."
"Why should we?" some aristocratic douchebag in the audience asked.
"Uh huh." Grim said. "We'll be back. I suggest you beef up your security. Make it interesting for us at least."
He turned to leave, and as he took his first step, he heard the whizzing sound of an arrow traveling through the air, followed by that arrow slamming harmlessly into a wall of stone.
Li turned toward the attacker in the audience with the crossbow. His Jade Sentinel class was balanced between defense and offense. It wasn't particularly strong in either, but Li himself was a master at the manipulation of his chi.
After blocking the bolt that would have hit Grim in the shoulder, he generated one more stone. It was just the right size to fit into his palm.
As the man in the audience rushed to set another bolt into his weapon, Li shoved his hand forward.
The rock flew through the air so fast that those in the audience with a Perception of under 50 didn't see anything.
It struck the man in the top of his head, crushing his skull. The man dropped to the ground instantly.
Grim raised an eyebrow at his friend and Li turned to leave with the others.
They'd be back another day soon. And next time, they would take control of this city.