On your second day in Bannerbridge, you find your thoughts turning to Garulf, whom Cedric seemed so worried about. Deciding to find out more, you seek out Cedric and find him mopping the floor of his inn, a large barn-like building near the river that runs through the village.
"The Varrels have always been full of brigands, outlaws, and other ne'er-do-wells," Cedric tells you, "but they've only ever been small, disorganized groups. About a year ago, we heard of a bandit leader named Garulf—a former mercenary captain, it's said—who had arrived in the hills with what was left of his forces, and was gathering an army to him with the promise of ruling these hills. Shortly after, another arrived. A woman—Myrshala. Like Garulf, she had money, influence, and a small force under her command. What bandits did not go to Garulf flocked to her banner instead."
He continues sweeping for a moment, then looks at you once more. "For the last few months, they've been competing with one another. Both trying to establish their own territory and grow their forces. Of course, there's one way of doing both those things—they've been taking a tithe from the villages. We pay them money in exchange for their 'protection,' and Garulf has claimed Bannerbridge as his."