GM Tarondor |
The men seem mostly to be common brigands, with signs of having lived off the land for some time. However, one of their number stands out. He bears a fine sword, an excellent chain shirt and various implements that make you think him a wealthy adventurer or at the least, a man of some means.
The owlbear cub mewls weakly and nibbles only diffidently at the dried beef. It seems very weak.
Scanning the room for signs of magic, Mikhail is rewarded with plenty. While the dead bandits wear ordinary leather armor and bear ordinary swords, their leader bears a magic sword, a magic chain shirt, a magical ring and some less distinct auras within his satchel. The ring is clearly the strongest aura, being strong magic. It is similar to those worn by the Stag Lord and Hargulka, but not precisely the same. It is green glass with some sort of green strands inside, as they were, but set with several small gemstones and bearing a seemingly more powerful aura of magic.
Piotr Denisov |
"What shall we do with the young owlbear?," asks Piotr.
When he notices that Alister had offered food to the monster, Piotr continues. "Once they get used to human food, they can't survive in the wild. What do you intend to do with the creature?"
Piotr looks around at the cavern and all of the bodies. "Let's gather what is valuable and what might identify the leader. Although that ring certainly points to the Fey Queen. We can identify and study things later, after we have taken Ahran back to Stagfell and interred him."
"As for this, I could summon some earth elementals and have them collapse the tunnels to bury them."
Alister Medvyed |
Alister looks back at Piotr. "I don't really know. But it's lost its family, even if one was a raging death-beast." He sighs. "It's going to starve to death if we leave it." He tries to scoop up the cub in his arms.
"Grab that stuff. And get the ring. I don't know what it means, but this wasn't just a random beast."
Mikhail Templeson |
"Do any of you have skills in training such a creature? Bringing it to town might be dangerous. Although I am sure someone would buy it off of us as well. But before we bring it back we should decide what we plan to do with it lest it become a danger to everyone in town. And some in town might not be happy to see an Owlbear, even an infant, after what the last one did."
Aristu Medvyed |
Aristu helps collect the magic items from the corpse of the leader. "I'm sure we can minimize any danger posed by the owlbear cub, but Mikhail makes a good point about the reaction of people in Stagfell. So many lost loved ones to the cub's sire that some are sure to howl for its blood in vengeance."
Alister Medvyed |
"Jhod would know how to raise it. Or at least keep it from dying. I'll take it there. We can figure out what to do with it afterward. I'm just tired of the death this has all wrought. With what we've found, this owlbear might not have had a choice in attacking us. If I can save it's offspring from the same fate today, I'll do that."
"Come on, let's get out of here."
Piotr Denisov |
"Jhod would be a good choice. And he is far from Stagfell, too," adds Piotr. "I will summon some earth elementals to collapse this place once we are out."
Alister Medvyed |
Alister offers the owlbear cub another piece of dried meat. As it takes it, he tries to bundle the beast into his cloak. He's hoping the soft material will comfort the cub and allow him to carry it. "Come on, little guy. let's see if we can get you out of here."
GM Tarondor |
THE WINTER OF 4712
The team takes a small owlbear cub and the body of their dead companion Ahran and leaves the body of the Beast of Stagfell to hungry scavengers. PIotr spends several minutes directing a small elemental that collapses the entrance to the caves. Riding north across the frozen landscape, the team returns to Stagfell.
Ahran is buried with honors in the towns outsized graveyard, not far from the still-fresh graves of Akiros Ismort and Lily Teskerten. The survivors turn out to honor him, but only in small numbers. The folk of Stagfell have become inured to death through too much familiarity.
The people of Stagfell are openly hostile to the small owlbear cub and it is soon sent to live with Jhod Khavken at the Temple of the Elk.
The harsh northern winter sets in with the first big snowstorm on 6 Abadius, also known as Vault Day, a feast day of Abadar. The wind howls out of the north, drawing vast moisture from the inland sea known as the Lake of Mists and Veils, then dumps that snow across Brevoy, the River Kingdoms and points east. Will they or nil they, the Court of the Sword Marches must now cease their adventuring for the winter.
It is a long hard winter. Wolves approach the ruins of the town and the people remain cold, sick and hungry. But they are not eaten by trolls and most of them remember that it was their own courage and that of their allies that saved them.
Well, we never got any further than two months into the year with our Kingdom Turns. Time to knock out several more. I'll go start that later this evening.
Alister Medvyed |
During the long winter, Alister writes several letters. He sends some to Maegar Varn, Baron Drelev, and the Iron Wraiths appraising them of the troll attacks and a potentially dangerous fey who may be working to undermine the settling of the Stolen Lands.
He also sends letters to his father and his uncle Kevitt telling them that he and his brother are safe and are rebuilding their settlement. He tells them about Lily. He tells them about Derry Lightfoot, Ahran Draknir, and Alexei Khavatorov. He decides to leave details of his stepmother's appearance to Aristu.
He sends one last letter with Carres Isten to check on Loy and Letricia Rezbin. He invites them to Stagfell if they need to escape the winter and promises to check on their little settlement when the spring comes.
Too many letters to write them each out, but if GM needs any specific details, I can answer.
GM Tarondor |
Alister receives several letters from the Nomen Heights Expedition, some signed by Maegar Varn and some by his lieutenant, the priest Cephal Lorentus. They detail the struggles of the fledgling eastern colony to deal with aggressive Nomen centaurs and isolated hill tribes and frequently mention his daughter, Roslin.
Baron Drelev and the Iron Tigers never respond.
Carres Isten comes back from the cold depths of the Narlmarches reporting that the Rezbins have made a fair start on a settlement in the midst of the woods on a natural crossing of the Skunk river near where Alister and the team fought a pair of Tatzlwyrms. Loy and Letricia have called the small settlement "Tatzlford" and are eager for more contact with Stagfell.
Galen Malkash |
Galen Malkash arrives in Stagfell several weeks after the battle against the troll horde. Coming from Restov, after praying to Sarenrae he believes he received a sign that she would like him to put his talents to use aiding the realm in rebuilding.
After presenting himself to Stagfell's leaders, he took a role in coordinating patrols around the countryside to assess the extent of damage to outlying settlements, and chase down rumours of monsters lurking in the wilderness.
His skill-at-arms combined with faith and dedication to helping those in need have caused him to gain recognition among the people, giving him a reputation as a strong warrior and calm, level-headed leader. In time, he was asked and accepted to serve as Marshal, continuing this work on a more official basis.
Piotr Denisov |
During the winter months, Piotr takes time to pen some letters when he requires a respite from dealing with the ledgers for Stagfell and his magical endeavours.
There are simple notes to maintain contact with some of the magical practitioners, particularly the Beldame. These are sent when someone is travelling in that direction.
Piotr also pens a letter to his brother, back in Brevoy.
I have fallen behind in my promise to write regularly. I can only plead that the demands of founding a new settlement has been much greater than I had anticipated. Still, now in the midst of winter there is time to make amends.
Our original company executed the Charter to found the settlement of Stagfell here on the northern shores of the Tuskwater where a bandit lord once had his stronghold. Since then, we have forged links to a settlement on the border with Brevoy and gradually extended into the wild areas.
Still, there have been challenges. Most recently, we fought off an invasion by trolls led by one who styled himself king of the trolls. That was a near thing, almost resulting in the destruction of Stagfell. Almost at the same time, the community was attacked by a great owlbear driven mad by foul magic.
Still, we continue to expand Stagfell and tame the surrounding area. Perhaps, in time, you may be able to come here with a trade caravan now that we have eliminated the bandits that used to plague this land.
I am eager to have news of you and your family.
Your loving brother,
Piotr Denisov,
Treasurer of Stagfell
Nick Barone |
Over the winter, Aristu pens a letter to his father. The tone of the letter is formal, and it details the fight against the trolls. Towards the end of the letter, he complains of the dearth of well-trained horses in the Sword Marches, and asks if his father would be willing - come spring - to sell him Dart and Blaze, the two light warhorses that Alister and Aristu trainied on as young men.
Another letter, lighter and more familiar in tone, is written to Ariel. It lets her know that he and Alister are well, and summarizes events in the Sword Marches by focusing on the more heroic exploits of the Commissioners.
Finally, he works to replenish his magical supplies. Specifically he attempts to obtain scrolls with the following spells:
Fly,
Eagle's Splendor, Resist Energy,
Silent Image, Floating Disk, Mage Armor (x2);
as well as 2 potions of Cure Light Wounds.
He will get what he can from the merchants of Stagfell. What he can't find there, he will send to Leveton to see what Olaf can acquire.
GM Tarondor |
Okay! As I understand it, given that it is Summer, you're going to make a clockwise sweep of the unexplored Greenbelt, starting with Old Crackjaw's Den. Using my vast and probably unwarranted powers as your host and storyteller, I'm going to pick up the slack and narrate a bit! How's that sound?
Good? Good.
On a crisp Spring morning in early Sarenith, Alister, Aristu, Galen, Mikhail and Piotr take their leave of a slowly-recovering Stagfell and much to Roslin's amusement, ride out to give battle to... a turtle.
The search for Old Crackjaw takes the better part of a day, but the belligerent turtle does not disappoint. Eight feet across and full of fury, it defends its territory with vigor, but is no match for the full might of the heroes of the Sword Marches.
Lying half-buried in the mud on the pool's southern shore, the team finds a magical gem which Piotr soon identifies as an Elemental Gem granting power over the element of Earth.
After their victory, the heroes ride south east in a looping arc, exploring the Kamelands around the Owlbear lair. On Sarenith 7 they discover an abandoned ferry station west of the owlbear lair. Half-collapsed, rotting wooden buildings stand on each bank where the Shrike River branches off of the Little Sellen River. The buildings have been used as lairs by kobolds, mites, and even a few groups of bandits in the past, but currently they are unoccupied.
Development: If the PCs establish a city here, the abandoned ferry station grants a free Pier to the city.
On Sarenith 8, the team encounters something different... a giant.
You hear him singing loudly, drunkenly and far, far off-key. Approaching quietly, you see the massive figure of a hill giant squatting on a rock trying to lick the last drops of moonshine out of a broken jug.
Over to you...
Piotr Denisov |
Piotr studies the giant without approaching closer. It is, obviously, not paying attention to Piotr and his companions.
"It might be a straggler from Hargulka's army, a scout for some other threat or just a simple resident of this area. We might learn something from it, or we might simply remove a threat," muses Piotr as he also tries to recall everything he might know about hill giants.
"What do you propose doing?"
Knowledge (local): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29
GM Tarondor |
Solitary, non-evil hill giants are very rare but can sometimes be found in other humanoid societies, though they are almost never accepted in central cities or population centers. They do best as laborers and soldiers in outlying frontier towns, and often serve as rudimentary diplomats to negotiate with marauding hill giant bands. Unfortunately, hill giants who shed their racial lifestyle for civilization are mocked and often killed on sight by their nomadic brethren. Still, these “civilized” hill giants can find their place within society and many have managed to live peaceful, uneventful lives.
Alister Medvyed |
"It's drunk." Alister whispers to the others. "We should be able to get the best of it if we have to. Meanwhile, it might be willing to share information it shouldn't. I speak Giant."
He waits until Piotr can tell him insights about the giant. He casts a spell to help ease his sickness.
Cast Heroism
Mikhail Templeson |
Mikhail wards himself with the protections of Abadar in case this goes poorly. He then says, "I do not think we heard tales of any other giants with the trolls, but it is worth being cautious."
I cast Shield of Faith on myself.
Piotr Denisov |
Piotr relates everything that he can recall about hill giants, including every bit of lore and rumor collected around campfires when he was travelling with merchant caravans. Eventually, he notices that his companions have become somewhat bored but were too kind to interrupt him.
"Is there anything else that you wish to know about hill giants?"
Piotr Denisov |
"Alister, we can learn what we can from the giant. The rest of us can stand ready in case it is hostile," says Piotr.
The wizard takes some preparations, too, in case he and his companions must fight.
Cast Mage Armor
Alister Medvyed |
Alister nods and motions for the others to stand back. Then he approaches the drunk giant. He speaks in the giant tongue, keeping a hand on his sword as he remembers what Piotr told him about hill giants tending to raid and pillage everything in sight.
"Hello there! I am Alister, Lord of the Swordmarches. What are you drinking?"
Diplomacy (heroism, sickened): 1d20 + 14 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (19) + 14 + 2 - 2 = 33
Alister Medvyed |
Alister would be on foot, keeping his horse with the others.
"Not with me, but maybe I can find you some. You're drinking whiskey? I prefer ale, but I enjoy some whiskey from time to time. What are you doing out here? There are dangerous beasts around, even for a mighty giant like yourself. Giant owlbears and roving trolls. Dangerous fey live in the forest too."
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (9) + 14 = 23
Alister Medvyed |
I'm assuming Piotr can hear the conversation and is translating for the others.
"You've met the trolls? I'm sorry they were mean. We hate them too. They hurt us, very badly. But we killed their King. I hope they won't be mean to anyone else again. Do you know if they're still here?"
He pauses, thinking. "Did you ever see an orc with the trolls? Do you know where he is?"
Piotr Denisov |
PIotr quietly translates for his companions, but not bothering to include the slurring. As an aside, he quietly asks Aristu, Galen and Mikhail a question.
"Why would Hargulka turn down the hill giant? Hargulka was cunning and ruthless. If nothing else, this simple fellow could have turned the tide during the attack on Stagfell."
Alister Medvyed |
"Well, not just me. In fact, I was the least help." He points back to the others. "But all of us together. My friends can hurl fire and death."
"Right, Caractacus. Well, if you don't know where he is, do you know where any other trolls are?"
Alister Medvyed |
There are mountains to the SE?
Alister looks off in the distance the way Munguk points. "Yes, well if they return, we'll bloody them again."
"But there are more dangerous things here, Munguk. Corpse Lights and dangerous fey. Plus, like I said, we hurl fire and death. I think you should move on too. Southwest is a good direction." Alister points. "Otherwise, you could be in danger."
Aristu Medvyed |
Going after the shambling mound means searching the forest, so we'll need to head west. Head to hex 1118, explore, and then proceed westward into the Narlmarches (1117,1116,1115)?
GM Tarondor |
SARENITH 15
A full week after leaving Munguk the giant, the team has penetrated the Narlmarches again, traveling as far as Hargulka's former stronghold. Seeing it again after several months reminds most of you of the close-run fight against the troll-king and how you nearly lost Mikhail. Galen is fascinated to see the place he's heard so much about.
To nobody's great surprise, the colorful gnome caravan of Jubilost Narthropple sits parked in the valley below the fortress and a mob of gnomes is moving all over the fortress and the slope below.
A silver-haired gnome lass hustles up to you. "Isn't it exciting? It's two thousand years old if it's a day! The dwarves knew how to build, even if they're as much fun as...as...well, as a lecture on dwarves. Boring! Anyway, I'm Perriwinkle. You're probably looking for Jubie. He's up in the fortress. See ya!"