The Red Widow smiles warmly at Stella's remark, then pauses thoughtfully, eventually saying:-
"A lack of water. I am not hopeful I can do much there, but there can be no harm in giving the matter some thought. Water must flow from the south-eastern side of the Eismonts somewhere, yes? Would you have a map of the county readily available?
As for Bellflower Agents, some very dangerous ones were here and they killed your fiancee. I could ask Alfred and Magnius to investigate further. They are both better detectives than I.
And I am most grateful for your hospitality."
Alfred has been listening intently, the man's mannerism interesting but normal for those of a more... rural... dialect.
At least they already think of this place as civilization. That brings a person a feeling of security you don't get out in the borderlands
"Tad, these are poor tidings to hear about. I will speak with Arvanxi, but these manticores can probably be dealt with." ALfred will say matter of factly.
I do enjoy archery practice, the manticores will make it interesting
"What I am truly concerned about is the water situation. Could you take me to the well or wherever it is you get your water from?"
Magnius inclines his head at Mog's offer, and joins him under the trees. "I would not have minded telling a tale of personal glory. I find it best to treat my underlings with respect and as if they were more than just servants. Not friends, per se, but better than mere help."
Early Spring in this region of Cheliax is a bustling, positive time for creative work and far-reaching plans -- when ambitious citizens can plot and conspire and dream, without the burden of delivering in action or the risk of application. In their minds now, all will succeed and they will advance their station in the beautifully infernal hierarchy. Fall and Winter are a long time away.
In Gheradescci County House Spartaco has dreamt early this Spring, with the discovery of a new vein of gold in their remote parts -- and an accepted marriage proposal from a greater House in the Longmarch Archduchy. Count Vocaturo's plots and conspiracies and dreams are in Spring. But perhaps the scorching Summer is early this year and will bring drought to the House long before even Fall.
It oft happens thus in Cheliax.
small fort-town in the badlands-edge of Gheradescci County
.
The water well does not look particularly full of water. Superficially, it does not seem sufficiently deep. Though how much water it holds and for how many people and animals it can supply is unknown. Perhaps a farmer or ranger or druid would would know.
"Because we believe Francesco's assassination was only one part of a grander scheme to cause great and severe disruption throughout Cheliax. If the marriage was to cement an alliance between his house and Spartaco, it is entirely possible the Bellflower Network would attempt to also kill off Stella, in order to prevent another similar marriage. Weakening the allies of Thrune first is a great opening gambit to eventually attempt to topple that house."
Thoughtful for a moment Alfred looks to Tad, "I will try to find someone with more knowledge to look into the well to see if it will suffice. In the mean time, I will bid you farewell and go to speak to Arvanxi about the manticores."
With that Alfred will walk over to Magnius and await an opening in the conversation.
Lord Magnius Arvanxi and Viscount Mogranzini Spartaco are drinking some red wine within the spotty shade of some stunted trees. Four Hobgoblins are with them.
Conversation seems to be about what the Arvanxi and Battori lords are doing in the remote and incomplete Barony.
With Magnius and the Viscount
"I was wondering if you had any idea of the manticore problems in the area the people have told me about. I am wondering if they are a real or imagined threat."
Turning to the young baroness, Yaos smiles warmly, replying enthusiastically and leans closer:-
"Good food and wine and best of all girl talk! My life has been so serious since my marriage. A splendid idea. And we seem to be in a similar place, your betrothed just having been horribly murdered, which is what befell my husband not so long ago."
"For the hospitality shown, as well as the offer of a place to stay, I promise that I will do everything I can to see that no harm comes to the Baroness." Magnius intentionally uses a similar emphasis as Mog, letting the father know his daughter will be protected.
With the Viscounts answer, Alfred nods his thanks with his eyes still averted downward slightly and says "The information is most welcome. Thank you". His voice crisp and businesslike.
Alfred then moves over to stand a few feet behind Magnius on his right, attempting to fit in with the soldiers and other attendants.
She is interested in stories of gossip and intrigue from the Capital -- Battori being a House in Cheliax's ruling city -- and is interested in the same from Westcrown. Her thirst for stories of the Capital are more girlish and idealistic -- as though she knows her potential to 'play at that level' is very small. Not so her thirst for Westcrown gossip. She's more thoughtful and serious, asking leading questions and filing away your remarks for future reference. She's not ready yet to 'play' the game in Westcrown, but she's ambitious, and knows one day she will. The Capital is a dream, an ideal, something to fancy and enjoy in daydreams and reverie. Westcrown is achievable.
Yaos relates a lot of gossip she knows concerning both cities, tailored to her interests. And asks Stella about her plans.
She is taken aback by your lack of interest in pursuing your Aristocratic side and agenda. That you focus on your Summoning talent rather than your political weight is beyond her.
Yaos is not really disinterested in, or lack ambition towards, aristocratic politics. It is more the player behind Yaos does not know so much about the political situation in Cheliax, so has trouble taking a full part in it. On personal power, Yaos says:-
"I have this to say in favour of personal power. It is reliable in a way anything that depends on others is not."
At this point Yaos shows the two ladies a couple of her scars. (No charge for eyeing this lady's scars, however.)
I got these when three of my husband's personal enemies stormed our house, burned it down and killed my husband and many of our servants and retainers. It was my magics that allowed me to survive, where my aristocratic position did nothing.
I suggest my young friend, you nurture personal power as you can. And allies. For those times your position does not help you, or another covets your position and tries to take it from you."
And her curiosity at whether you consider yourself a member of House Battori, because of your husband, or not, is apparent.
"I am a member of House Battori, and am recognised as such."
Yaos takes care to include the Vidame in the conversation at least a bit. Not to totally ignore her at least.
She seems completely unconcerned about Bellflower assassins or the rugged, wilderness terrain that engulfs her seat of power. It's difficult to tell whether she realizes how tenuous a hold she may have over something as potentially lucrative as a Barony.....
.
Stella Spartaco doesn't drink her red wine too fast, nor does she drink too much. She stops when she gets a bit tipsy, but devours the thinly sliced prosciutto like a typical teenage girl not worrying about being dainty.
Yaos does not drink to excess either.
After an afternoon of conversation and settling in to Varni, you make camp in your wagons and point to your servants to various tasks and projects. The night is uneventful.
The next morning you set out into the badlands about the same time the miners make their way to the gold mine that prompted the founding of the Barony, in the guise of hunting Bellflower Agents -- but equally searching for Manticores or Ankhegs or whatever monsters that may threaten Varni confident your success will raise your standing with the young Baroness and perhaps her father the Viscount.
It is good to be moving again...
Try as he might, it is apparent the Alfred is more stumbling around hoping to find things than in anyway proficient in the woods.
Yaos sets out on the hunting mission astride her horse Hell, a pale, massive beast of the kind bred to carry Hellknights in full armour. Red Wing flies not far above her, but Pale Wing is at altitude, on watch for Manticores, Ankhegs, Bellflower agents or anything else interesting or threatening.
Yaos does her best to find signs of the creatures which they hunt, and Pale Wing endeavours to spot them visually.
Magnius, in his role as a of men, is a bit more adept than his companions at tracking and getting along in the wilds.
Foothills wilderness below the Eismonts, north of Anferita Wood
.
North of Varni, only a few rough miles from the newly established gold mine (itself only 500 exhausting yards from Varni) you find evidence that something has been hunting, and eating, an Ankheg or two -- at least from the chewed carapace and sucked husk of the remains you found. Whatever the creature is, it is Large sized, has six insectoid-like legs, and oddly, it moves as if it is weighted heavily both in front and in back; its thorax & legs supporting not weight above it, but on either side. ....Whatever it is, it moves through the rough and rugged terrain quite easily.
Also notable is a distinct lack of water in the area, indicating that whatever lives here either burrows (finding sufficient water under the surface), such as the Ankhegs and maybe a Bulette, or as a surface creature, requires very little water, perhaps even just the water it gets from its prey.
West of Varni, out to a range of five miles, there is clearly even less water than to the north. You find evidence of an old, long since abandoned camp or subhuman's lair, and with a bit of luck, find the remains of a Bugbear skull. The most likely scenario is that quite a while ago a handful of Bugbears and maybe a few Goblins lived here, ranging throughout the Badlands, but have long since moved on or been driven off.
South of Varni, about three miles (still a good mile-and-a-half from the edge of the Anferita), you find the tracks of big dog-like creatures. It looks as though they came out of nowhere, padded around a circular area of about two hundred yards diameter, and disappeared again.
. . . .
Having left in the morning to search, it is well into the evening when you arrive back in Varni.
The only notable item is that the people are hoping for a diviner to find another location to dig a second well; Varni can not well afford to quench the thirst of so many people. The Viscount and Vidame are leaving back to Castle Spartaco either tomorrow or the day after; that will help as they and their Hobgoblins will not be consuming shares of water.
Yaos nods as Alfred says he thinks establishing a base camp is indicated, then replies:-
"Sounds reasonable. Why not seek out the Bugbear Lair, if that is what it is, first. Then perhaps we can find whatever has been eating Ankhegs. This arouses my curiosity. After that, if things go well, we can decide if we want to head south and investigate the tracks of large canines. What say you gentlemen?"
"I think that is the best course of action. Maybe try to find a source of water while we are out there that could end up being used by the people here."
At the mention of water Magnius replies "Oh, that reminds me. I have a temporary solution for the town's water problems. I know a minor spell that will bring forth about ten gallons of water per casting, and there is no limit to how often I can do so. The water is only good for one day before I need create more."
"Regarding our own base camp, sounds like a good idea, as long as we don't stretch our resources too thin"
"Well, we won't use resources just finding the place. And we might find something useful or valuable. Let us be off."
With that Yaos sets off towards the camp or lair.
Old Bugbear Base Camp, 5 Miles West of Varni
.
It's a triangle in the harsh wilderness. A gargantuan boulder on the southwest point is the signature feature, providing the primary cover and anchor for the abandoned camp. Only nineteen feet north of its edge is a large copse of trees, five twisted but reasonably tall, and providing shade enough from their canopy to keep the ground between boulder and wood in shadow. Fifteen feet east of those points, central to them, is the edge of a thirty-feet-deep sinkhole.
So your camp has a veritable wall of rock on its south end and some sturdy trees on its north end, and if anything comes from the east, in the direction of Varni, it must get across a massive sinkhole, giving you the tactical advantage of elevation.
Remains of old ropes tethered from the trees to anchor points nailed into the rock make for arboreal assistance; evidence that Bugbears used to sleep in makeshift pods suspended on these ropes and among the branches exists. And smaller boulders and stones, with crude earthen-wall construction, deteriorates around the western side of the Bugbear camp. A tiny campfire ring on the eastern edge of the camp, right on the edge of the dropping sinkhole, ensured that flame would not ignite the canopy. Evidence suggests that small humanoids, likely goblins, slept on the dirt right up against the boulder.
No one else has been here in quite a while.
All around are small hillocks and stunted shrubs and the harsh features that give the inhospitable region its reputation.
Yaos looks over the area with approval. She sends Pale Wing and Red Wing to fly over the area surrounding the camp to see if anything further of note can be seen and to inspect the tree canopy and boulder from above. In particular, they are trying to see if there is any source of water. Yaos inspects the immediate base camp herself and sweeps the area with detect magic, though not really expecting to find anything.
"The Bugbears seem to have chosen well. It offers good cover from the elements and from observation if we elected to conceal ourselves and is readily defensible. Plenty of trees for wood and the lack of water is not so serious as you can create it Magnius. There is probably vegetation the horses could eat and something in the area we could hunt, though living off the land here wouldn't be easy. It looks a fine choice of base camp should we need one."
"I have to agree. It would probably be a relatively quick task to build a small palisade and some shelter if we brought our entourage here. Some of them have experience with work like that." Alfred says.
"Organizing this place would give Ennahvail a chance to learn how manage people as well. Or for us to see that she is incapable of doing so."
Building a strong group will aid us well...
Magnius carefully surveys the campsite and surrounding area, noting the various advantages that the others have pointed out.
"This will definitely serve us well as a base camp. I can help us scrounge up some food, should we need to, and yes, water will not be a problem."
"It looks like we will be camping out this evening and here seems best suited" says Yaos as she begins to gather wood and kindling for a fire "I can take first watch with Red Wing if you like. And Pale Wing can watch with one of you I think."
Old Bugbear Base Camp, 5 Miles West of Varni
.
There is nothing of note within the first mile of the camp, the aerial reconnaissance reports. Two-and-a-half miles west by northwest of the camp is a small salt flat. Specifics will require ground reconnaissance.
The top of the boulder is clear, windswept. It is uneven enough for a person to lie flat and view the cardinal directions with decent cover from being seen by interlopers or nomads. Though a lone survivalist or two could traverse the hillocks and rocks and shrubs in the badlands with equal cover from the gargantuan rock, darting from one small hiding place to another.
Water for two is sustainable, at least this time of year, by both digging a few feet under the edges of the gargantuan boulder and more importantly, the nadir of the sinkhole. There is enough silt-water four feet below the dirt at the bottom of the sinkhole to quench two people's thirst each day. But not in Summer.
Food is an entirely other matter. Scorpions, lizards and bugs are present, but barely enough to keep one person fed each day, and even then probably only for a few days. The Anferita Wood to the south and the Eismonts a bit further to the north are significantly better sources for hunting.
Staying here in Spring and Autumn is livable with enough food and water, if uncomfortable. But staying in Summer and Winter, with no shelter, would be considerably difficult. And the area between the boulder & trees and the sinkhole is not large, beyond just a few people.
Nothing of consequence happens the first night.
After having slept and eaten her morning meal, Yaos suggests:-
We were discussing what to undertake next yesterday. We were going to head for the area north of Varni to see if we can discover what is killing Ankhegs. I can have Pale Wing act as aerial scout and also look for a source of water, though I am not hopeful of finding one. Does anyone see a need to change plan?
"I see no reason to change the plan. And I like the idea of an aerial scout, keeps us much safer." Alfred will say while preparing his gear for the journey.
The following day of searching north of Varni yields no sign of what has been hunting Ankhegs. Taking a circuitous route back to the Bugbear camp, arcing wide west to look at the salt flat, you find a 90-square-yards salt flat and evidence that people from Varni occasionally make the half-day trek out here to collect a few pounds of the precious preservative. Probably once a month or so.
The evening back at Bugbear camp proves warmer than usual, considering the Spring climate, and is a respite from last night's and today's unrelenting wind.
It is on third watch when the creature that has so well hunted Ankhegs arrives from the north, heading to your copse of trees, in search of a meal.
Please whoever is on third watch, roll a Perception.
It is Low Light conditions and you have a +2 elevation bonus from keeping watch from on top of the gargantuan boulder. (Darkvision does not help your perception, nor does regular vision.)
Maginus wakes Yaos first, letting her know that he and Pale Wing have spotted something 150 out from the tree line "Unsure what it is, but it's being sneaky. Can Pale Wing try and ID it before it closes?"
Yaos shakes her head to clear it as she stands, then focuses her will for a Summoning.
The three of the four Dire Bats take up guard position around the adventurers. The last is going to move, 40 feet flight, north towards where we belive the creature to be, employing it's sonar/ blindsense. Her minions in place, the Red Widow speaks, first to Pale Wing then to Magnius:-
"Pale Wing please wake Alfred. Pale Wing does not really scout well. These Dire Bats have sonar, hopefully that will pinpoint the threat."