KINGMAKER:
The Wardens of the Greenbelt
Entry 12.
Completing the Charter & Back to Oleg's
The deaths of the Stag Lord and his lieutenants and the decimation of his forces meant that the Wardens had completed most of the requirements of their charter. All that remained was to complete the exploration of an area to the north and west of their current position.
It was agreed that William and Jarn would head back to Oleg's along the Thorn River route. They would transport the treasures and supplies they had gathered in the wagon. By now that route could be considered safe as the locals along it were aware of the Wardens and their intentions. Once back at Oleg's Trading Post Jarn intended to work on a new suit of armour and William wished to work on a number of scrolls and his newly acquired spells. He also intended to research Ione's dream-vision and other mysteries they had discovered.
Ione, Havrik, T'lef and Anza would take the pack horses and explore the last areas. They also intended to visit Jhod and Wino at the Elk Temple and see how work was progressing.
A day or two into their exploring the group came upon a large bramble thicket which they identified as being Fangberries, the ones Bokken had asked them to look out for. Most of the berries had been eaten from the outside of the thicket so the Wardens had to force their way into the centre of the bushes. The thorns were long and sharp but Ione was able to avoid them and the armour of Havrik and T'lef meant they were mostly safe. As they collected the berries they were aware that a number of small spiders started to crawl around and onto them. It proved difficult to keep them at bay but eventually they had squashed all the nearby ones and extricated themselves from the thicket. They had collected enough for eight potions. However, Ione had been poisoned by the spiders but was soon cured. She then made a point of cleaning the berries before stashing them safely onto one of the horses.
The next day as they continued to explore they saw a large number of crows circling above a hill side. The breeze brought with it a terrible smell which only grew worse as they approached and it caused T'lef to retch. Havrik and Ione managed to keep their breakfast down but the sight that greeted them was grotesque. The bodies of eight goblins had been have eaten by the crows. Their bodies had been stripped of armour and weapons and the sigil of the Stag Lord had been carved into the chest of each goblin. The Wardens gathered the bodies and burned them, they searched the area but could only recover a few coins and a bow.
Their exploration took them back to the Thorn River. As the river flowed through a deep cutting it was crossed by a rickety bridge. It proved able to carry one at a time but was unsuitable for any heavier traffic. Ione used her ability to repair it and make it safe. It was hoped it would prove a useful asset for the surrounding population.
That night at camp they were once more approached by hungry wolves. Ione spoke to them and they were fed with some of rabbits Havrik had successfully hunted that day. Ione asked the wolves if they knew of any snake nests in the area and they indicated where some might be found further along the river. Havrik set off in the direction indicated and returned with a couple of viper eggs.
Their route had by now taken them close to Thornhill so they continued on to meet Jhod and Wino at the Temple of The Elk. The work was coming along well with the help of a working party from Thornhill. The undergrowth had been cut back, stones cleaned and repositioned; the Elk carved into the hillside seemed to be much clearer and the water in the sacred pool was crystal clear. T'lef decided to have a bath in the pool and commented on how much better he felt. Those unfortunate enough to witness the sight may not have shared his enthusiasm.
The party spent a pleasant night at the Drunken Lizard in Thornhill before continuing their journey. A wolf pack of five or six wolves started to follow the Wardens but a gift of fresh meat soon sent them on their way.
A days journey further and the party came to the village of Iggerton which sat beside the junction of two streams. As they entered the village they witnessed a poorly dressed young woman being harangued by a haughty older woman. This turned out to be the priest's wife, Helle Pye, attacking Luna an abused, distraught soul. The innkeeper, Po Drumleigh, intervened before introducing himself to the Wardens. Vollen Pye, supposedly a priest of Erastil, was opposing any of the village folk who enjoyed themselves, especially the innkeeper's daughters who served in the tavern. He claimed their souls would suffer forever. Luna was an easy target for the priest and his wife as she was a simpleton who had come to the village a few years ago when abandoned by a group of bandits who had kept her enslaved for some time. Luna will tell anyone who cares try to speak to her that her child has been taken. That evening Sara, one of the daughters, told the tale about Tuskgutter and how the hunter lost his leg. The Wardens confirmed it telling her that they know the hunter and were here to kill the boar. She told them its whereabouts. They also met Wulf Potov, the half-orc miller, and Filgi Shorthoof, a dwarf, who ran the local store.
The next day Ione took Luna a warm meal to the hut where she lived but she found her in the barn where she preferred to sleep. She managed to persuade Luna to tell her the story but it didn't seem to make much sense and simply confirmed what the innkeeper had said.
The Wardens then went to see the priest but found the chapel of Erastil locked up. Just then the priest appeared. He was aggressive and wanted to know the adventurers business. They asked to pray at the chapel and he reluctantly agreed. Once finished he ushered them out still telling them that their kind should change their ways or they would rot for eternity. The Wardens let him be for the time being but intended to ask Jhod and Jarn what they thought should be done about this heresy.
Next they headed to the smith who seemed as jovial as the other local folk with the exception of the priest and his wife. The smith admitted that his wife might be a better smith than he is but they only seemed to repair items and make nails and a few farming implements. The Wardens bid the village farewell and headed out on their boar hunt.
Following the directions given by the villagers they soon came to the lair of the giant boar named Tuskgutter. It was fairly simple for Havrik and Sidhe to start tracking the boar but it still managed to surprise them, charging out of the undergrowth in between the three Wardens. The three proved too much for the giant boar and it was soon defeated and killed. Ione preserved the body and they lifted it onto the back of one of the spare horses to take back to Oleg's.
Exploring the forest they heard the high bark of an animal, obviously in distress. Searching they found a deep pit and a dog like creature trapped in its bottom. They identified it as a Brush Thylacine, a larger version of the common thylacines they had seen around the forests before. Ione spoke to it, promised it food and calmed it down. Havrik threw down some meat whilst Ione took some wood branches that T'lef had gathered and shaped them into a ladder. Once they had coaxed the creature up the ladder Ione introduced it to Sidhe, checked it was uninjured and then sent it on its way.
Whilst exploring more of the forest they discovered ruined buildings which over time were sinking into the swampy ground around them. As they entered the buildings the Wardens became aware of at least one creature hiding. They approached the point at which they had caught a glimpse of the creature and saw it running away. It turned as Havrik and T'lef charged it. The boggard fought well but was no match for the two Wardens. Meanwhile another creature leapt over a wall and attacked Sidhe. The cat and Ione fought back and defeated it, this turned out to be a Slurk; a magical beast. As it died black slime oozed from the slurk's back and the creature's stomach became covered in a grease. The Wardens collected up some samples of these fluids in case they had useful properties. The Wardens buried the bodies of the creatures in the marsh and searched the area, finding the hoard collected by the boggard and its companion.
Their exploration continued. They came upon a farm which seemed to have been abandoned in a hurry. Little of value was left. However, at the rear of the farm were the graves of the farmer and his three children who had died of fever. Of his wife there was little trace.
By this time they had come upon the Skunk River again. Its recognisable smell hung in the air around it but it was not as strong as it had been near the river's source. Following the river back up stream the Wardens came to a stretch where the river became fordable and a number of islets had caused the river to choke up with rubble and branches brought down by the current. In amongst the branches and foliage the Wardens could see something slithering around. They moved closer to see what it was and were confronted by a tatzlwyrm, a small dragon creature, which had made a nest on one of the islets. As they approached it attacked just as its mate came upon Sidhe and Ione in the rear. The creatures proved dangerous and hard to kill but eventually the Wardens dispatched both without injury to themselves. The Wardens collected the tatzlwyrm's heads which Oleg had asked for; one was in a much better condition than the other. They also took the poison sacs and some scales from each of the creatures.
They moved deeper into the forest and came upon a pool beside which appeared to be a dead horse. Upon closer inspection it proved to be a dead unicorn whose horn had been cut off. The area around was devoid of sound; no birds flew in the sky and no forest animals approached the immediate area. The first creature they came across after that was a rabbit. Ione spoke to it and asked about the pool and the unicorn but it didn't know what had happened but was aware that a spell was keeping other creatures away. Later on Ione was being spied upon by a grig on an overhanging branch. Ione greeted it and spoke about the other grigs she had met, named them and explained how they were leaving the forest. As they were close to Oakhurst she asked the grig about the werebats but although the grig was aware of them she had no news of their whereabouts. She told Ione about what she knew regarding the unicorn. She said that a bad, fey female had killed it and taken a prize from it.
They continued searching through the forest and at its edge discovered a fifteen foot high statue of Erastil looking out from the forest edge to the hills and plains beyond. The Wardens cut down the foliage which was covering the statue and Ione gave thanks to the deity of nature. In return the Wardens felt a blessing bestowed upon them which seemed to enhance their weapons. The blessing appeared to last for the following week.
The Wardens were now back into territory they had explored before and headed for the market village of Orin Beck. Here they were able to trade some of their goods and purchase items they required. Both here and at Gulcross, that they visited soon afterwards, news had spread about the service the Wardens had given to Oakhurst and they were thanked by all the locals they came upon. They let them know what the werebats looked like and how the Wardens could be contacted if the need arose. They also spoke to Father Ingol about the Temple of the Elk and its restoration. They let him know about the priest in Iggerton and his misuse of Erastil's religion. Needless to say they were made most welcome by Vern Talcross at the Gulcross Stone Inn. Adolill Mankinnen thanked them personally for their action at Oakhurst and told them that relations between the towns and villages in the area had improved since the werebats had been defeated.
The Wardens then headed up to the cairn which they carefully excavated. Within they found the skeletal remains of a barbarian prince of the Tiger Lords. The only item that had weathered the eons since the burial was a green wooden ring depicting a frog and an eel locked in a tangle; only magical properties could account for it surviving. It was hoped William might be able to identify it's powers. The cairn was rebuilt using Ione's abilities and the blackberry bushes replanted over it.
The Wardens then headed back to Oleg's by the most direct route. Luckily they came upon no other encounters, only seeing an owlbear moving amongst the trees in the distance and which they decided to let be.
They reached Oleg's a few days later to be greeted by their two fellow Wardens and the new arrivals at the trading post.
