With war potentially looming over the horizon, I wanted to determine how Eveningstar is defended.
The Process
My approach for writing up my version of Lady Winter was to identify what I thought were the key aspects of the NPC as she appears in the original module (beloved wizard-lord, high level, cool cat, used to sleep with the king, gender stuff) and then make the numbers smaller (level 9 instead of 21, etc.). I’ll apply that same process to Eveningstar’s military: I’m ditching all of the patrols that “pass any spot every four hours”, with their 1d12+12 2nd or 3rd level soldiers and magically equipped clerics and mages, as well as Tessaril’s access to teleporting squads of level 14 war-wizards, and using only the warriors mentioned as being part of Lady Winter’s household. The nearby towns aren’t sending soldiers in to regularly patrol the roads – as the lady of Eveningstar, that's her job.
The module says that she has nine fighters of 3rd and 4th level, a 5th-level captain, six level 1st-level recruits, and four “hostlers,” semi-retired 6th level fighters who are “missing an eye or hand, or sports a limp,” for a convenient total of 20 men. There are also 45 “well-trained but poorly equipped” 1st-level fighters in the militia, which takes at least a day to muster.
I forgot to include Lady Winter's herald Tzin Tzumner (7th-level Bard) and the 3rd level town clerk Auldo Morim, as well as the fact that the captain was named “Flaergan Hondh”. I’m fine to keep omitting those details.
I’ve decided to make these guys knights, because I didn’t realize that “Purple Dragons” and “Purple Dragon Knights” are different things, but ironically they will no longer be Purple Dragon Knights. In my Realm orders of chivalry are fairly new, and the Purple Dragons are an invention of King Azoun that he hopes will bind his kingdom together after the strife of the Succession Wars. Lady Winter is one, but most of her men are knights in the sense of “a warrior who can fight from horseback”.
The six hostlers will be veterans of the Succession Wars who fought for Lady Winter when she and Azoun’s other companions supported his claim to the throne. I’m splitting up the rest of the fighters into housecarls (Lady Winter’s retainers, who live with her), and thanes (landowners who owe her military service). The thanes live on Eveningstar’s outlying farms and supply small contingents of militiamen from amongst their own followers. These take longer to muster than the local militia.
A distinction I’m choosing to make with how I interpret these guys is that they’re professional warriors, not adventurers. While they may do battle with orcs, goblins, and the occasional wizard, and think that hunting dragons and giant spiders sounds like a good time, they won’t have a lot of magic items. I’ll only roll items for the captain and the old 6th-level grognards, representing relics of House Winter and prizes of war, respectively.
Housecarls
Eveningstar is primarily guarded by the knights of Lady Winter’s household. As her retainers, these men are maintained and equipped at her expense, and receive pay in the form of regular gifts (like all housecarls across Cormyr, they make a big distinction between these “gifts” and the wages paid to lesser men). They have the honor of eating at her table and wearing her colors – the Evening Star, white on blue. In battle they form her warband, defend her life with theirs, and are supposed to avenge her if she falls.
The housecarls all wear dark blue cloaks, badges that depict their personal symbol beneath Lady Winter’s Evening Star, and a gold arm ring given to them when they first swore their oaths to her. Their equipment and dress is otherwise varied.
Captain Gilbear Corlis
Fighter 5 HP 30 AC 19 XP: 17,518 Morale 10
Str 17, Dex 13, Con 13, Int 12, Wis 14, Cha 11
Wargear: sword +1 (Stonebreaker), spear, shield +1, helm, leather, mail
Treasure: arm ring (50gp)
Sigil: a white bear beneath two stars on a blue field
Description: Squat, burly, grey-blond hair, stony-faced.
In Battle: calm, grim, dependable.
Squire: Taran Winter
Gilbear was born to serve House Winter and has known Tessaril her whole life. He is blunt, brutal, and obedient – a soldier rather than a warrior. His sigil still incorporates the two stars that Lady Winter is due as the second child of Winterhall, rather than the single Evening Star of Eveningstar. He wears a pressed flower that she gave him when she was six in a locket around his neck, and his helm is crested with a feather from Firespark, her winged cat. Having known her while she was still being raised as a boy, Gilbear took Tessaril’s revelation of her gender identity like any other order: unquestioningly.
Simion Silverbeard
Fighter 6 HP 30 AC 19 XP: 17,518 Morale 10
Str 8, Dex 12, Con 11, Int 13, Wis 17, Cha 14
Wargear: sword, spear +1 (Drakehorn), shield +1, helm, leather +1, mail
Treasure: arm ring (50gp), jeweled cloak pin (150 gp), unicorn-hair harp (800 gp)
Wounds: limps from an old wound
Old: 2-in-6 chance of knowing lore
Sigil: a silver harp
Description: Balding, long silver beard and hair, gentle and sad.
In Battle: remembers the joy of his youth.
Squire: Irwin
Originally from the Moonshae Isles, Simion was once a handsome and graceful knight, but he has grown old in his Lady’s service. In truth, Lady Winter values him more for his counsel and his skill with the harp than his fighting prowess, and as such he is the warrior that she most often chooses to accompany her.
Corin One-Hand
Fighter 6 HP 30 AC 16 XP: 17,518 Morale 10
Str 18, Dex 15, Con 14, Int 11, Wis 10, Cha 12
Wargear: sword +1/+3 vs giants (Helm-Ringer), helm, leather, mail
Treasure: arm ring (50gp), troll-horn drinking cup (20 gp)
Wounds: lost hand
Sigil: a clenched fist and three drops of blood
Description: Well-dressed, laughing, clean-shaven.
In Battle: ride to where the fighting is thickest!
Squire: Goldry Inlow
Apart from his missing hand and the first touches of grey in his hair, Corin is the picture of Cormyrean chivalry. He laughs the loudest and drinks the most at table, but also composes poetry (not dazzlingly well) and is a regular demon for the practice yard. He likes to tell tales of how his hand was bitten off by a monstrous bear – it was actually cut off by a Stonelands bugbear who thought he could ransom the knight.
Red Rondard
Fighter 5 HP 25 AC 19 XP: 17,518 Morale 10
Str 14, Dex 14, Con 13, Int 15, Wis 11, Cha 7
Wargear: sword, spear, shield +1, helm, leather, mail, ring of fire resistance
Treasure: arm ring (50gp)
Wounds: lost eye, lost ear, horrible scars.
Sigil: a rust monster
Description: Grizzled, frizzy red hair, sarcastic.
In Battle: kill their wizards and archers first. Keep them from killing yours.
A former adventurer who was knighted on the battlefield while fighting for King Azoun during the Succession Wars. Lady Winter is fond of comparing him to an old hound that still knows how to bite. The other men believe that she might be the only person in the world that Rondard actually likes.
Guflaff Gyrlond
Fighter 4 HP 30 AC 15 XP: 9,115 Morale 10
Str 18, Dex 12, Con 17, Int 9, Wis 7, Cha 12
Wargear: pole-axe, sword, helm, leather, mail
Treasure: many arm rings (200gp)
Sigil: two fir cones
Description: huge, blonde bowl cut, colorless eyes.
In Battle: put your body between the Lady and the foe.
Known as “the Autumn Knight” because he always goes before Lady Winter. Unimaginative and habitually silent, the courtly graces of his polished upbringing come across as dull and vaguely threatening.
Swanbert the Eld, of Lake Lymnet
Fighter 4 HP 24 AC 17 XP: 9,055 Morale 9
Str 16, Dex 11, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 11, Cha 8
Wargear: sword, spear, shield, helm, leather, mail
Treasure: arm ring (50gp), swan-helm (120 gp), plaid (25 gp)
Sigil: the Swan of Eld, quartered with the Evening Star
Description: Black mustache, too much perfume, bald spot.
In Battle: the cavalry charge is the flowering of Cormyrean chivalry!
Squire: Larc of the Lake
The Elds of Lake Lymnet are a mountain clan who have long held their territory but have only recently been ennobled. The honor was bestowed mainly to stop them raiding the heartland and get them to start raiding their northern neighbors instead. Swanbert is the first Eld (“the” Eld meaning the head of the clan) to have been born a lord of the Realm, and was raised at the court in Suzail. He tries very hard to behave like a polished Cormyrean nobleman.
Royger the Younger
Fighter 4 HP 28 AC 17 XP: 8,574 Morale 11
Str 14, Dex 12, Con 14, Int 6, Wis 10, Cha 15
Wargear: sword, spear, shield, helm, leather, mail
Treasure: arm ring (50gp), lucky coin (1 gp)
Sigil: a wyvern
Description: Tousled red curls, short, waxed mustachios and pointed goatee.
In Battle: fights like a squire, guarding his father’s blind side.
Son of Red Rondard. There’s no reason to call him “the Younger” when he isn’t also named Rondard, but the other men do it to annoy him. Royger grew up on battlefields, sharpening his father’s sword, cooking his meals, caring for his horse, and throwing rocks at goblins to keep them from stealing supplies or desecrating the dead. He fathered his first child at a problematically young age and has a stormy relationship with his current woman, the mother of two of his children.
Lopard the Axe
Fighter 3 HP 21 AC 19 XP: 4,153 Morale 10
Str 12, Dex 17, Con 14, Int 9, Wis 7, Cha 11
Wargear: battle-axe, spear, shield, helm, leather, mail
Treasure: arm ring (50gp)
Sigil: a spotted cat
Description: curly brown beard, tall and gangly, twinkling green eyes.
In Battle: longs to prove himself through mighty deeds.
A warrior from the western Dalelands who traveled to Eveningstar seeking a place in Lady Winter’s warband. His father marched away to join Azoun’s forces during the Succession Wars and now Lopard hopes to find his fortune in turn serving one of the king’s band of heroes.
Mullen of Molehill
Halfling 3 HP 23 AC 16 XP: 4,614 Morale 10
Str 14, Dex 13, Con 13, Int 10, Wis 9, Cha 6
Wargear: shortsword +1, shortbow, helm, leather, mail
Treasure: arm ring (50gp), pearl buttons (100 gp), moleskin cloak (60 gp), fur hat (25 gp), carved pipe (33 gp), 48 gp
Sigil: a pipeweed plant and millwheel, white on black
Description: smug, tall and slim for a halfling, wears black satin with pearl buttons, a moleskin cloak, a badger hat set with a raven feather, and shiny leather boots.
In Battle: prefers to act as a scout or mounted archer.
A younger son of the Master of Molehill, Mullen is a hobbit grandee. He is arrogant, abrasive, and refuses to do any work unbecoming of a gentleman (that this is a fair description of most of the other housecarls does not prevent his companions from forming a low opinion of him). Mullen lavishes affection on his trim bay racing pony, Chimneyswift.
Thanes
Tallon Winter
Fighter 3 HP 20 AC 18 XP: 4,144 Morale 10
Str 13, Dex 15, Con 10, Int 10, Wis 9, Cha 13
Wargear: sword, spear, shield, helm, leather, mail
Sigil: three stars
Description: dark blond hair, trim beard, fine clothes.
In Battle: competent but unexceptional.
Squires: Osric, Osger
Manor: Coldbrook House. Supports five families and levies 6 militiamen equipped with spear, helm, and shield.
Lady Winter’s younger brother, who prefers to serve her rather than stay in Winterhold and watch his nephews inherit over him. Tallon is genial, lazy, enjoys his comforts, and manages his estate badly, but is loyal to his sister and can be trusted to carry out her commands.
Like his role as a bannerman, Tallon is supportive in a mildly chauvinistic way: he’s more comfortable having a more-or-less gender-conforming older sister than an effeminate, gay brother. Tessaril fits into his script for how the world works better than Tessar did. Unlike the heartland of the Realm, the Periphery has a tradition of wizard-lords and ruling enchantresses (something it shares with the Stonelands), so a younger brother serving as armed retainer to a wizard sister feels natural to him. Indeed, their older brother Telmar, now the Lord of Winterhold, is something of a wizard himself. Tallon dotes on his sister and is happy to follow her lead and enjoy his sinecure.
Blackmallion the Bold, the Bastard of Scatterstars
Fighter 4 HP 31 AC 18 XP: 8,400 Morale 11
Str 14, Dex 13, Con 16, Int 12, Wis 10, Cha 15
Wargear: sword +1 (Brightflame), spear, shield, helm, leather, mail
Sigil: a gorgon’s head
Description: wild black hair, dashing, cruel, hot-eyed.
In Battle: fights with a savage fury. Seeks personal glory.
Manor: Fairfield. Supports eight families and levies a similar number of indifferently equipped militiamen (use the Militia Equipment table, see below).
Real name Dwylb of Waterstreet, Blackmallion is the son of a chambermaid who served the noble Scatterstar family in Suzail. He was trained to be an armsman of that house but was turned out after a fight led to his carving his half-brother’s face with his knife. He won a name and reputation in Lady Winter’s service during the Succession Wars, but continually aspires to higher honors. He is displeased with Tessaril’s exile to Eveningstar, where his chances of marrying a rich noblewoman are slim. Has vague ideas about wooing Lady Winter, but would prefer a woman who could give him an heir and doesn’t want to risk offending the king.
Ingold Inlow
Fighter 4 HP 17 AC 17 XP: 8,713 Morale 10
Str 15, Dex 15, Con 11, Int 8, Wis 15, Cha 11
Wargear: sword, helm, leather, shield +1
Sigil: a yellow horse and sun
Description: rather short, greying, was handsome in his youth.
In Battle: brave in defense but slow to attack.
Manor: Goldmeadow Farm. Supports four families and levies seven militiamen, all sons, nephews, or elderly uncles. These are Gustain and Escad (his sons), Albin (uncle), Lucre (cousin), Gilmar (nephew), Loran (nephew).
Emelda’s second cousin, Ingold is the patriarch of the Inlow clan and one of the more important men in Eveningstar. He breeds horses (the only farm in Eveningstar to do so) and disapproves of Lady Winter and her foreign men.
Greyham Highfield
Fighter 3 HP 18 AC 16 XP: 4,580 Morale 10
Str 14, Dex 16, Con 13, Int 10, Wis 16, Cha 10
Wargear: spear, hand-axe, helm, shield
Sigil: three sheep
Description: tall, thin, plain-faced, confident.
In Battle: brave and dutiful.
Manor: Highfield Farm. No more than a large farmhouse. Supports the Highfield family and Mrs. Highfield’s mother. Greyham goes to battle supported by his two sons Harlow and Tessar, and his elderly father Greger.
A simple farmer until relatively recently, Greyham Highfield killed a dragon single-handedly after it attacked his flock and was awarded land and gold by Lady Winter for this brave deed. Greyham cannot ride a horse, but his sons train with Lady Winter’s squires and young Tessar is to be fostered at her towerhouse when he comes of age.
Squires
Irwin
Fighter 1 HP 6 AC 15 XP: 37 Morale 8
Str 9, Dex 11, Con 9, Int 14, Wis 8, Cha 7
Wargear: sword, helm, leather, shield
Description: tall, long-nosed, gloomy lad in good clothes.
In Battle: squires for Simion Silverbeard
The second son of a minor courtier. Would really have preferred to study magic or history, but his father wanted a warrior. Irwin is mostly waiting for his father to die so that he can return home and help his mother manage the estate.
Taran Winter
Fighter 1 HP 4 AC 18 XP: 103 Morale 10
Str 13, Dex 14, Con 11, Int 8, Wis 16, Cha 11
Wargear: sword, helm, leather, mail, shield
Description: tall, over-eager, light-brown hair. 13 years old.
In Battle: squires for Captain Gilbear. Continually thwarts attempts to keep him out of danger.
Lady Winter’s youngest brother. He hero-worships her and hopes to prove himself a bold adventurer one day.
Goldry Inlow
Fighter 1 HP 3 AC 14 XP: 74 Morale 9
Str 8, Dex 8, Con 8, Int 11, Wis 12, Cha 15
Wargear: sword, helm, leather, shield
Description: short, handsome boy of about 10
In Battle: squires for Corin One-Hand.
Ingold Inlow’s youngest son, currently fostered with Lady Winter at Eveningstar. Ingold is offended by the implied threat of this Realmish custom, but does appreciate the advantages. Goldry himself is thrilled at the honor.
Larc of the Lake
Fighter 1 HP 7 AC 14 XP: 213 Morale 7
Str 16, Dex 8, Con 15, Int 10, Wis 6, Cha 8
Wargear: sword, helm, leather, shield
Description: large, clumsy lad of 16. Wears the blue Lake Lymnet plaid.
In Battle: squires for Swanbert. More used to cattle raids than disciplined battle.
Referred to as a nephew, actually Swanbert’s younger third cousin. Larc has less polish than the Eld and speaks with a thick mountain accent.
Osric
Fighter 1 HP 8 AC 15 XP: 22 Morale 8
Str 12, Dex 11, Con 13, Int 11, Wis 7, Cha 9
Wargear: sword, helm, leather, shield
Description: stolid and plodding, with black hair.
In Battle: squires for Tallon Winter
Osger
Fighter 1 HP 5 AC 16 XP: 69 Morale 8
Str 11, Dex 15, Con 7, Int 11, Wis 10, Cha 12
Wargear: sword, helm, leather, shield
Description: quick and slim, with black hair.
In Battle: squires for Tallon Winter
Blackmallion's younger half-brothers (same mother, different father). They're both rather quiet, are afraid of their half-brother, and will do anything he says. Tallon treats them indifferently - they don't have much work to do but aren't grateful to him for it.
The Militia
In the module the militia are all 1st- and 2nd-level fighters. In keeping with my general de-powering scheme I’m subtracting one level, so some of them will be 0-level Normal Men. How many? I’ll roll 3d20 and take the highest two results to see how diligent Lady Winter has been about her military obligations, so that in the worst case scenario at least 5 of the 45 militiamen will be 1st level. I rolled pretty high, with a 20 and a 16 (after dropping the 8), which works out elegantly: a quarter of the militia are 1st level.
The militia are “well trained but poorly equipped”. I’ll give the Normal Men a morale bonus of +1 and the fighters can use the stats for bandits. I’ll also draw up an equipment table to generate any given militiaman’s arms and armor.
Village Militia
36 0-level humans, ML 7
9 1st level fighters, ML 8. Roll twice on the equipment table and take the higher result.
Militia Equipment
Staff
club
Sling, dagger
Battle-axe
Polearm
Bow, dagger
Bow, hand-axe
Bow, hand-axe, helm
Hand-axe, shield
Spear, shield
Spear, shield, helm
Spear, shield, helm, leather
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