"Farewell my friends! I hope to open a pass through the mountains and into the greenbelt by autumn. Until then, Send your letters up from Oleg's to Navikta's crossing and the follow the road south to Varnhold."
"May Cayden smile on your adventures!"
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"Very good Sir! My thoughts exactly. I hope to purchase the used barrels from Ebonwoods and use them for Chardonnay. I've always been curious how that would taste." "Alas, it is nearly time to set camp, and that means a good deal of work for me. I will speak more with you both in the morning. Good night." With that, Ser Maegar Varn wheels his horse and begins the preparations for camp and dinner. Within the hour, camp is well established and dinner, camp stew, is cooking over many fires. Ser Varn is kept very busy with plans and meetings with his advisers: unfortunately, he will not have time to speak to you tonight. Your group is given the use of three, two-man, tents. Drym:
You know there will be plants and animlas where you are going. They will fit in with the surroundings. :) Kern:
The engineering doesn't really come into play yet, sorry you rolled so well for nothing :( However! You know that bandits must live somewhere and the woods make the most tactical sense. It also means that they either have a proper fort or they have a secluded camp of some kind. The former means it should be no trouble finding them. The latter means that the wildlife will be scarcer the closer you get. From your time as a soldier, you know that such people will try to avoid battle on open ground. Especially when they see Theodric and his lance... You also realize that while Varn is a knight, he is not a Swordlord.
Lanya: You hear a great many rumors! "Some of the bandits wear silver amulets that resemble a stag's skull because the actually belong to a secret cult that worships a hideous animal demon." "There used to be a bridge crossing the river to the southeast of Oleg's, but the bandits destroyed it and most think they killed the old bridge keeper too. Davik Nettles his name was; they say he haunts the place now." "Bandits aren't the only things causing trouble in the Kamelands. There are tribes of kobolds and mites in the area too, and while they aren't as much trouble as the bandits, their presence makes settling the land less desirable." "The primary trade route from the River Kingdoms to Brevoy is the East Sellen River, a major waterway that runs through a swampy region to the west called the Hooktongue Slough. This route has been closed for months due to increased violence from the local Boggard tribe. Hopefully they don't move east into your new backyard!" "A group of evil monks and priests of a lesser-known goddess of hatred, extortion, and spite, once dwelt on the northern shore of the Tuskwater to the south. I bet there are still cultists out there, and they're the ones behind this rise in banditry!" "People used to say that a unicorn lived in the southern Narlmarches, but sightings have dropped off in the last few months. I wonder if the bandits drove it off. I sure hope nothing's happened to such a beautiful creature." "Taldan colonists tried settling the Greenbelt once before. They failed, but it was not for lack of resources. There are reports of a large deposit of gold somewhere in the hills." "An old friend of a friend's friend had a brother what went missin' in the Stolen Lands a while back. A wizard 'e was, and I'll put next week's wages that his spellbook is out there just rotting in a ditch somewhere. Isn't that just a darned shame!?"
"Your story makes me sad Kern. I hope you can take time to enjoy the little things that make life worth living. Maybe after you begin your work in the Greenbelt, you will find the time." "Myself, I enjoy little more than Elven wine and a good story."
"That, gentlemen, is a good plan. It's what I would do in your place." "But I don't think we should be all business, tell me about yourselves! Where are you from? What do you enjoy doing?"
"I've heard that the bandits down there, in the Greenbelt I mean, are getting braver. Oleg the trader keeps sending petitions for the Swordlords to send troops to garrison his outpost. He thinks they have a new leader: a man what moves like a deer and dresses in animal hides. I heard he's called the Stag Lord." "I think they'll give you more trouble than you're wagering. Don't ever underestimate desperate men, sir."
"Good advice. Indeed my own adviser and scholar has told me much the same." "What of you? What do you know of your charter. Do you have plans?"
"No harm done Therensgard." Maegar's attention shifts to Theodric. "I am tasked to tame and settle the heights. While we have sent some scouting forays into the territory before now, much of the area remains a mystery to us. We know two things for sure: There is a good foundation for a settlement naturally built into the bed rock of the mountains, and that the native centaur population is giving hell to anyone and everyone who enters what they say is 'their grass lands.' I am tasked to seek diplomacy with these savages or to crush them if they will not hear reason. At the same time, I will be establishing and governing the township of Varnhold." "After we both get settled, it would be wise, I think, to trade both goods and information if we are able."
Maegar loses his color a bit at Kern's jibe. "I have offended you. Please forgive me Master Therensgard. In truth, I was never very good at reading people. Please, join me and Ser Lebeda at the front." "As for you Cromwell, well met, but it is Cayden who blesses our venture and we will drink to his good humor when we do set camp."
"Varnhold is the promise of a place, my lady. We go to establish such a community as Brevoy has not even imagined." He inclines his head before turning his attention to Kern. "I will not ride in a carriage, my place is at the head of this column. If you insist on speaking, you may borrow one of my horses for a time." The rest of you should make yourselves comfortable. I wish to be underway inside 15 minutes.
"...What?" Varn looks around for a moment before noting the dwarf. He shakes his head again and pulls on the manner of a dignified statesman. "You are right of course. Forgive me. I am Maegar Varn. I will lead the charter into the Nomen Heights. I see that most of you do not have mounts. In that case, please use one of my carriages. The common folk are already accustomed to walking, I don't think they;ll mind."
A man rides out from the chaos of the makeshift camp/caravan. Clearly they have not finished organizing themselves. The man is handsome enough and seems that he can handle himself in a tight spot. The longsword at his hip is either brand new or extremely well tended. He lifts his hand aloft in greeting as he canters up. "Greetings! You must be the Greenbelters. I am so sorry...HAHAHAHA! Forgive my joke. I jest, nothing more." Upon seeing Gliadel and Lanya, his mouth falls open and he is a moment in continuing. He shakes his head to dispel the rapture. "Surely you ladies would rather come with me to Varnhold? I can promise at least one feather bed; I wouldn't mind sharing." He winks. |