I can see both sides to a trial, but we will not hide this from our people. Whatever the consequences they will always know that we will not lie to them even if we can not tell them all. Tomorrow I would like to visit each of the families that lost a loved one and let them know what happened and that it should be over. We should also put word out that the creature has been captured to ease the tension in the street. Once we have our affairs back in order we can set back out, probably the day after tomorrow I would suggest.
There is still the matter of finding out who or what destroyed the village, and if we should raise a standing army to protect the rest of the nation.
I don't know what we should do about our prisoner. If, as you say, he was under a curse, I'd like for him to be saved, but on the other hand, what does our people want? We can't just consider one man, a foreigner no less, above our citizens without at least discussing the possible repercussions.
And Casimir has his trusted horn (which he has still to use).
Kundal remembers fighting off a wolf a little over a month ago, far to the south. He was bitten, but he thought nothing of it. Over the last few days, hes been having dreams of blood and violence and has been waking up in the woods, but was unsure what to make of it. Kundal is horrified to learn he has slain innocents.
The families of the victims appreciate the personal touch of the rulers themselves coming to visit them, and the act has been noted with approval by your people.
The two-bladed sword is +1 on one end, and +1 Vicious on the other. It is beautifully balanced, and a weapon worthy of a great warrior. Kundal's gear is mundane except for +1 Hide Armour and a +1 Greataxe. Kundal begs you to take his gear as compensation, and begs you to find a cure for his Lycanthropy.
You can sell anything valued up to your Base Value in Swordhaven. Anything higher will have to be sold through the markets via an economy check at the end of the month(except you'll get GP for it instead of BP). The sale will count as that district's magical item selling for the month too.
Mundane equipment is bought, remember to deduct the GP.
Oleg and Svetlana feel the man should be hung for his crimes. The rest of the council are a little more sympathetic. Akiros and Kressle both react with incredible ferocity- pointing out that they themselves were given the chance to seek redemption, and their misdeeds were done under no compulsion or curse, unlike Kundal's. Akiros goes as far as to return the sword to Casimir, fall to one knee and tell Casimir to strike him down with the sword if they are to sentence Kundal for his crimes. Sootscales does not believe the people will hold it against the man if it is explained to the people that he and the others were all victims of a terrible curse. Kesten suggests publicly flogging and exiling Kundal from Kardas should be enough to appease the people.
Mundane equipment is bought, remember to deduct the GP.
Malthir recommends keeping him in the castle while we try to find a cure for his condition. If we don't find one by next month, we will need to determine how to hold him when he is nearing the change.
Casimir seconds keeping Kundal in jail until we can cure his condition. After that, we can sentence him to a period of service to the people of Kardas, like Kressle and Akiros.
Casimir seconds keeping Kundal in jail until we can cure his condition. After that, we can sentence him to a period of service to the people of Kardas, like Kressle and Akiros.
The council agree imprisonment is the best course of action for now. The day rolls over into the next day- the third of the month, and you receive a tired messenger from the Swordlords, a man named Trask. The swordlords have heard of the aforementioned winter wolf named Howl-Of-The-North-Wind, and have promised a bounty of 1,400 gold pieces should the Guardians take his head.
In addition, the "distinguished gentleman and scholar" Bokken sends a runner with two requests- he wants a waterskin filled with Troll blood so he can continue his research into its regenerative properties, and he also wants the sap of a shambling mound, which he has heard has recuperative qualities. He will of course, pay handsomely for your services.
During the morning you are to set out once more, Kesten Garess approaches you and says quietly...
The events of the past few days... It feels like something is actively trying to sabotage our nation. I urge you my lords and lady, do not be away for too long. Safe travels to you...
Casimir goes shopping for a wand of Feather Step with 20 charges - and finds that the local wizard has a nice one for sale.
During the morning you are to set out once more, Kesten Garess approaches you and says quietly...
The events of the past few days... It feels like something is actively trying to sabotage our nation. I urge you my lords and lady, do not be away for too long. Safe travels to you...
Kesten, are you going soft on me? Malthir lets the question hang for a moment then smiles, I was beginning to think you were starting to miss us when we are gone, but seriously we won't be too far...I felt the same thing. There will certainly be forces at work to try and make us fail Kesten, but we believe in you and the others can hold things together while we are gone. Have faith, Iomedae will guide us through this. Malthir puts his hand on his friends shoulder and tries to reassure him.
A crypt to the east hes annotated as 'The Lonely Barrow'.
'Swamp-Witch Hut' to the south-west.
Gurdin River Ford- east then south-east.
Far to the south-west, hes marked the location of a 'lizardfolk village' by the river leading into the Candlemere.
Close by on the island in the middle of the candlemere, he has annoted 'Candlemere Tower'.
Where the Shrike River becomes the Little Sellen River at the T junction, the gnome mentioned an abandoned ferry station.
Kesten, are you going soft on me? Malthir lets the question hang for a moment then smiles, I was beginning to think you were starting to miss us when we are gone, but seriously we won't be too far...I felt the same thing. There will certainly be forces at work to try and make us fail Kesten, but we believe in you and the others can hold things together while we are gone. Have faith, Iomedae will guide us through this. Malthir puts his hand on his friends shoulder and tries to reassure him.During the morning you are to set out once more, Kesten Garess approaches you and says quietly...
The events of the past few days... It feels like something is actively trying to sabotage our nation. I urge you my lords and lady, do not be away for too long. Safe travels to you...
Kesten seems to take solace in your words, and then remembers something-
Ah yes... A local fisherman named Arven petitioned us. To the south-east, he claims an ill-tempered... turtle... has claimed his secret fishing hole. I dismissed this as a waste of your time, but perhaps theres something to it in these strange lands.
You explore the region to the west of Swordhaven and clean up some of the mess left in the Gnome attack. Spending the night under the stars with Swordhaven glittering to the east by torchlight, the next day...
OK, lets go talk to this swamp witch and make sure she is not going to cause trouble in the area.
Moving south-east out of the Narlmarches forest and into the foothills on and near the shore of the Tuskwater, the Guardians are able to use the dead Gnomes maps and have the area fully mapped by mid-afternoon. Finishing the exploration by approaching the small swamp and the mud-brick hut that sits in the middle of it. A thin tendril of bluish-grey smoke trickles through a gaping hole in the hut's roof, and the hut is surrounded by a crude wooden fence with feathers, animal bones and fetishes adorning it. A pumpkin-headed scarecrow stands a little aside from the hut. A crow flies to perch on the scarecrow's wooden shoulder- and the scarecrow's wooden limb moves suddenly, slamming into the crow and instantly pulverising it. The scarecrow moves back into its guard position within moments- propped up between the house and the fence and watching your approach closely. A single gate is present on the low fence, with a rusted iron bell hanging by the gate on a stick.
Malthir will dismount and approach the bell cautiously. Ring it and look towards the house.
The scarecrow itself emanates a magical aura, and seems to be grinning at you, faint orange light emanating from inside its pumpkin head. You sense several other magical auras coming from inside the hut, a couple of them from equipment that the swamp witch is wearing- who has opened a window in the hut in response to the bell being rung.
The swamp witch appears to be an old human, but her skin has a greenish cast and her ears seem to have lengthened with age. Scowling with anger at the noise of the bell she barks from the window at you-
Whos there! What business do you have with the Old Beldame...?
The scarecrow itself emanates a magical aura, and seems to be grinning at you, faint orange light emanating from inside its pumpkin head. You sense several other magical auras coming from inside the hut, a couple of them from equipment that the swamp witch is wearing- who has opened a window in the hut in response to the bell being rung.
The swamp witch appears to be an old human, but her skin has a greenish cast and her ears seem to have lengthened with age. Scowling with anger at the noise of the bell she barks from the window at you-
Whos there! What business do you have with the Old Beldame...?
Lady Beldame, Malthir attempts to befriend the swamp witch, I am Malthir and we are the Gaurdians fo the Greenbelt, we would like to have a word with you please.
If she moves from the window to the door I will activate my detect evil ability while she is walking from one area to the other and can't see us. I will focus it toward her.
Being exceptionally charming, Malthir introduces himself and the other Guardians and tells the Old Beldame that they were simply looking to get to know their neighbours. The witch at first seems suspicious, but seems to warm to the young Paladin.
Please don't believe the tripe they whisper about me. I don't consort with demons and I certainly don't eat children. Would you like to come in for some stew so we can chat properly?
As we sit and start to chat with her, Lady Beldame you honor us by inviting us into your home., he introduces the remaining party members,
As you probably have gathered the Kingdom of Kardas is expanding and nears your house. As we expand we are trying to get to know the local folk and learn what we can from them as well as make peace with them. We have had quite a bit of trouble with the Trolls in the southern Narlmarches, we hope you have not had issue with them? We are also scouting the area and anything you might be able to tell us about possible dangers around here would be most helpful.
Malthir will tell her a little about themselves and then ask her about herself and what she is doing out here so far from previously uncivilized lands. See how it goes from there.
The Old Beldames hut is a simple one-room affair, only about twenty feet in diameter with a dirt floor and thatched roof. The rafters are hung with dried herbs and swamp-weeds, and a bubbling cauldron that she cooks and adds herb to as she chats to you. She listens politely to the tales of your exploits and shows genuine interest in the welfare of Kardas.
During the conversation, you find the Old Beldame to be a crotchety and bad-tempered, but knowledgeable and forceful old woman. She has seen no sign of trolls but does not fear them. She warns you that the island in the middle of Candlemere is infested with Will o' Wisps, and that the lizardfolk village just to the west has been particularily riled up lately.
The Old Beldame claims to be a powerful Sorceress, and in her youth she says she often enchanted magical items and weapons for the right price.
As she serves you each a steaming portion of what appears to be vegetable stew, she sits down, eagerly waiting for you to eat. As she watches, she asks of you-
I wonder if you might do an old alchemist a service, young ones...
I must say that this stew is delicious! Is that Thyme and Nutmeg in there? You must share you recipe with Ilya, his cooking skills leave much to be desired...Although we are very busy with matters of state, I am sure we can try to find some time to help you with a situation, are you in some manner of trouble? How can we be of service Lady Beldame?