Prelude:
I'm a newbie to the boards. I've lurked for quite some time, and I might have posted here and there... but it's doubtful that anyone would remember my quick witticisms.
Nonetheless, I felt this overwhelming urge to post regarding a small Castles and Crusades game that I've started with my two daughters.Ally, my eldest is 9 and is a fantasy junkie. She's read everything from Terry Brooks to the grand old man, J.R.R.. She's also no novice to role playing either, with experience in a Dungeons and Dragons (3.5) game that a friend ran a while back.
Now Kaila, my youngest, is 7 and while not a voracious reader, she's a huge fan of fantasy as well...not to mention a recipient of daddy's bedtime stories after a rousting game of Dungeons and Dragons with his pals.
When I mentioned that I was going to try to start a game of Castles and Crusades the girls were ecstatic. So, why not? We promptly sat down on a cloudy Saturday afternoon and rolled up some characters. Ally immediately gravitated to an elven ranger while Kaila thought that an elven wizard would be grand. Done deal...
And here's their story.
Setting:
On a far northern border of your standard medieval kingdom sits a keep. It has been there for generations, guarding an important trade route and ensuring that the relatively peaceful agrarian lands to the south are not troubled by the roving bands of marauding monsters.
Characters:
Aliana is a young elven lass, a mere 116 years of age. Her mother has recently lost her husband to goblin raiders and remarried the Keep blacksmith, a human. Raised in the traditions of arcane magic, Aliana has just had her naming day, and is now officially a young woman, ready to face the world on her own.
Eleanor, also elven, is best friends with Aliana and spends time with her at every opportunity. This doesn't come often enough though, as she and her parents are rarely in the keep due to their chosen professions of caravan guides. Eleanor has taken after her parents, and on her naming day she has chosen to follow the paths of the famous northern rangers.
Story:
The morning breaks with the typical crystalline light of a brisk fall day in the far northern latitudes of the Kingdom. Aliana and Eleanor leap out of bed and quickly wash up. This is the first day of their new found freedom and one wouldn't want to make a late start. Upon hearing voices down in the smithy office, the two grab a slice of dark bread and an apple and head down the stairs.
Eleanor's parents are sitting and chatting in elven with Aliana's mother while the ringing of her father's hammer in the smithy proper echoes through the walls.
An older human sits in the corner of the office... he's thin and sun browned, with gnarled hands that twist about an old weather worn hat in his lap. His cauliflower blue eyes light up though as he spies the two girls. Aliana's mother and Eleanor's parents look up as the girls enter and they say in common, "Ah, here they are...let's begin shall we?"
The old man sits up and clears his throat as the room focuses on him. "Well... the name's Gump. They calls me Farmer Gump. I'm pleased to meet you two. I hears you've got potential. I'm here to test that I suppose." With a nod from Aliana's mother he continues...
"Thing is, I need some help. Now we farm folks watches after ourselves but this is the kind of thing that I aint got the time nor the skills for. Ya see, we've had some cows go missing. This is a horrible thing. Them's cows is worth a pretty piece at market and that money's what keeps my family in food over the coming winter. I've got me three boys busy in the crops and my two girls are helpin the mrs. canning and such."
"We took the dogs out sniffing after them but once we got to a certain part of the forest the dogs refused to go any further. Now I aint never seen that kind of thing in my dogs. They're bred to take an order...an if'n they refuse they know they'll get the boot ya see..." Aliana winces at this but keeps a straight face.
"I gets this creepy feelin meself. It's the Dark Woods. Our farm is right up against there. My father used to tell stories of when he was a young lad and the things that'd come a creepin outta there at night.. but we aint seen nuthin like that. Anyways... I'd pay if you could either find my cows or stop what's been stealin them."
"I can't afford much... but it'd be a nice little bit to pad out your purses seein as your just startin out. What say ye?"
The girls both look to the adults in the room but get no response. They then look to one another and nod. "We'd be happy to look into your problem."
Farmer Gimp nods and turns to leave as the door swings open and through steps Aliana's father, stinking of hot metal and coal. "Hoy, did we do business then girls?" he asks as he looks to the two young elven women.
"Yes father," replies Aliana, "We're going to look into Farmer Gimps missing cows."
"Excellent." And with that the blacksmith returns to his work.
As the farmer exits through the now vacant doorway he says, "I'll see ya soon then? We live about an hour down the road..walking distance. You'll see our sign..." With that he nods, places his worn cap upon his head and makes his way outside.
Excitedly the girls start to chatter about the gear that they'll need and Eleanor's parents add that they might want to hire some help...if they can afford it. They agree, but only after they take stock of the situation.
An hour later sees the two on the road. Backpack slung, bow across a shoulder and hoods thrown back as the warm fall sun beats down upon their fair heads, the two trek to the north east.
Midway on their journey they come upon a caravan moving in the opposite direction. They move off the road to allow passage and make small talk with the passing caravan guards. Seems there's trouble up north..on the the merchant's men have fallen to a goblin arrow.
The scowling, jowly merchant announces from the top of a wagon that trouble costs too much and this road is becoming expensive. As he passes one of the guardsmen tells the girls to be ware the nighttime hours on the road as goblins have seemed to become quite the pests as of late. The two elves agree and thank the man for his warning. He smiles and moves on.
Thirty minutes later and the girls are turning onto the Gump property. The pass through land tall with corn and wheat, and spy the farmer and his sons out bringing in the harvest. The elder farmer Gump spies the girls and waves. He comes ambling over with a long scythe across his shoulders, sweat streaming down into his blue eyes. He greets them and tells them that he and his daughter Clarabelle will take them to where the dogs broke off and refused to go further.
A ten to fifteen minute walk with Clarabelle, Gump and the two enormous blood hounds finds the small group on a hillock just inside the border of the Dark Woods. The trees are thinned here from generations of farmers cutting them down for fuel, fences and building materials. This in turn has produced a perfect area, full of tall grass, for the cows to graze, and traditionally, this is what has been done for years.
Eleanor and Aliana scan the immediate area...nothing seems untoward but off in the distance, not too far away in the thickening trees, Eleanor spots an unnatural darkness. As if a giant cowl has been pulled across the tree tops blocking the sun. She nudges her friend Aliana and points, "What do you think that might be?"
Aliana focuses and sees movement in the trees and as she watches a yearling deer moves into the glade under the shadows...nibbling at the last of the fall grass. Seemingly unaware of its surroundings...
Of a sudden the ground seems to open up and eight hairy legs extend forth in a rush and the deer disappears. Aliana gasps, and farmer Gump says "What'cha see?" Eleanor points and says you've got spider problems. The old man shades his eyes and looks in the direction indicated and yet sees nothing. "I suppose them tales of elven sight is true then eh? I can't see a danged thing cept trees."
Aliana nods, "Yes, our race can see great distances. And you've got spider problems." Eleanor has strung her bow and nocked an arrow with full intention of moving further into the trees. The old farmer sees this, peers at the sky and says, "You've got all of about 2 hours before dark. I wouldn't be caught out here after dark. You're more'n welcome to stay the night with us if you like."
The two accept, shakily check that they're prepared...and set forth into the Dark Woods...
Here ends Chapter One.
Double post.
Once he gets over the issue of loosing though, in 5 years it might be possible to run something similar. 
Nice touch.
