In the next few moments, the battle is done. Sofia manages to take out the hatchet-handed man and the other two don't last, either.
Once the dust settles, the group gets a better look at what has gone on. This is greatly helped along by the discovery that a door is barred from the outside. Inside, four living crusaders have been bound hand and foot. They have all been badly wounded and seem quite surprised to have been rescued.
As they tell you, the Smilers, for that is the name of the gang that attacked them, took them unaware by scaling the back wall. They have little in terms of material to reward the group with, but provide a wealth of information.
Information:
Who are the bandits? They are part of a gang called the Smilers, one of several gangs based in nearby Scrapwall.
Who’s the leader of the Smilers? A notorious hobgoblin necromancer named Marrow leads the Smilers, while a sadistic fighter named Hatchet-Hand served as the second-in-command. The knights know Marrow by her reputation from hearsay, and have heard rumors that she’s also some sort of undead.
Why did the Smilers attack Aldronard’s Grave? A new gang has recently risen to power in Scrapwall. They’re called the Lords of Rust, and all the other Scrapwall gangs have been scrambling to earn respect and favor with them for months now. Recently, one of the Lords of Rust was killed while out on a mission beyond Scrapwall, and the remaining Lords have become increasingly angry and eager to lash out. Marrow sent Hatchet-Hand and the Smilers out to claim Aldronard’s Grave as their own, so that they could secure it as a gift for the Lords of Rust.
Who are the Lords of Rust? They are the current masters of Scrapwall. Their members include a violent troll named Helskarg, a half-orc cleric named Nalakai, a mysterious fourarmed monster known as Zagmaander, a chain-wielding ettin named Draigs, and an orc barbarian named Kulgara. Until recently, a sixth lord was counted among the Lords of Rust—a purple-haired priestess who served Hellion, the god and true leader of the gang. She was apparently slain or went missing while on a secret mission outside of Scrapwall.
Who is Hellion? While the knights have heard rumors that Hellion is a god, they discount these as rubbish.
