KINGMAKER:
The Wardens of the Greenbelt
Entry 18.
Wyverns & Why Leave Home
Whilst the Wardens were spending some time in Wardenholme Clint arranged to parade the body of Howl Of The North through the town's streets so that the people could see the slain Worg for themselves. A goodly amount of ale was also made available by the Wardens so that the townsfolk could celebrate with them the ridding of another threat to the kingdom.
Just when the Wardens were turning their thoughts to more exploration, they were reminded that running a kingdom was a constant challenge. A young female gnome asked to see the Wardens on a matter of importance. She was shown in and introduced herself as Emilia Garston. She was indeed the sister of Hubert from Pucks Hollow. She had promised to carry a letter from him to the Wardens as something of an excuse for leaving Pucks Hollow. The letter started as a lengthy ingratiating appeal to the Wardens, thanking them for their previous visit and suggesting they visit once more so that they can receive personal portraits from the resident artist. Reading on it was in short a request from the Puck's Hollow Council for the Wardens to intervene in a dispute that the gnomes were having with the dwarf miners regarding the official name of the settlement. The dwarves were insisting on referring to the settlement as Kings Kiln rather than Pucks Hollow as the gnomes had renamed it. The Wardens responded by instructing the gnomes that the place was to be known as Kings Kiln and that the gnomes should respect the wishes of the dwarves; not quite the answer that the gnomes had been seeking. A letter to that effect was dispatched back to the gnomes with a gift of 10gp to assist with the upkeep of the Pucks Hollow Visitors centre and grounds within the town of Kings Kiln. Emilia asked that she be excused the burden of returning their reply, as she was looking forward to spending some time in Wardensholme.
No sooner had that matter of state been dealt with than an old friend entered the council room. It was Jedhial, the half elf druid-hunter that they had met before and had tried to maintain contact with. He praised them on the way they had explored the land, removed the Stag Lord's banditry and had founded their kingdom. He was surprised that it was thriving so soon. The Wardens updated him with their adventures and Jedhial showed particular interest in Ione's dream, the dead unicorn they had found and what had occurred with the animal dealers. Ione's vision disturbed him as it showed something that had not happened; well not yet anyway, but it also showed that the dark fey creature had a way into Ione's mind. It was the same power that he suspected had killed the animal merchant; merely invoking her name allowed her into their reality where she could kill with ease. He also suggested that the young gnome wizard he had passed on his way in might act as guardian to the orphan unicorn foal. It would need protection from the fey creature. The Wardens were a little taken aback as they had not realised that Emilia Garston was indeed a wizard. Jedhial thought that the first worlder might be the source of the evil in the Narlmarches and that if the Wardens discovered her identity just uttering her name could open a gateway from her world to their own. He also thought that the troll attacks could be part of a greater plan and their incursion should be dealt with as soon as they felt strong enough to take it on. He also warned them that any lizardfolk should be dealt with also. The Wardens then showed Jedhial their growing town and were glad to spend some time with him.
The next day the captain of the town militia asked the Wardens to help him investigate a gruesome death just north of the town. The scene of the murder is indeed odd. There appeared to be no signs that anyone had brought the body there or that the killing had taken place there. Further examination suggested that the body had been dropped from above where tree branches had been broken. The body itself showed claw marks and her throat had been ripped out. T'lef felt very uneasy; a feeling he associated with the werebats of Oakhurst.
Later the owner of a local tavern requested to see the Wardens as a young man who was staying at his establishment had been acting strangely and was missing. T'lef set off to investigate followed by the other Wardens. The young man had returned and was sitting alone by the fire in the tavern. He was Effan Larn from Oakhurst where he was infected by Talek Wearne, the leader of the werebats. He admitted to the murder. He told the Wardens that he had escaped from the others and had come to Wardenholme hoping for a new life and perhaps a cure but the hunger kept overwhelming him. The Wardens promised to do what they could and took the boy into custody; his gaolers were instructed to be careful around him, to keep a keen eye on him and to supply live animals to his cell in order to control his curse. Meanwhile the Wardens sent an urgent message to Leonid requesting a cure but are unsure if Leonid is able to help. They also sent a payment to the victim's family as compensation for their loss and to allow for a suitable funeral.
Before they can rest, news came of a rabble rouser in the town stirring up dissent amongst the settlers. The Wardens hurried to the market square to find this Grigori addressing an enthralled audience, telling them how the Wardens are only interested in their own power and fortune and that they were no better than the bandits they usurped. The Wardens tried to arrest him but he managed to gain a head start. An accomplished bard, he escaped through the alleyways of the town but was finally captured. The interrogation was difficult but he admitted only to working for another power but he was unsure who as they worked through layers of agents so their true identity was unknown to him. Unsure what to do with him and realising that keeping him in custody might be just saving up future problems the Wardens took him to the Old Beldame's cottage. They let him go through the gate without calling out to the witch first and the trouble maker became a victim of the scarecrow. Then the Wardens rang the bell by the gate and were invited in. The old woman was pleased to see them again and agreed to prepare a potion to cure Effan of his lycanthropy.
Once they had the cure they were able to administer it to Effan who appeared free of his curse. He agreed to join the town militia as penance for the crimes he had committed and thanked the Wardens for the trouble they had gone to. T'lef is especially pleased to see the young man was now able to start a new life. They sent a message to Leonid thanking him for his work and letting him know that a cure had been found.
The Wardens received word that Trolls had been spotted once again menacing the Narlmarches to the north west. They postponed setting out to take on the trolls but agreed that they will need to act soon. An invitation was sent out to Iggerton for the town to be included within the kingdom. They also brought the area around Tiressia's Grove into the kingdom as that would allow the grove to be under the Wardens' protection. Jhod had agreed to send a new priest of Erastil to take care of the welfare of Iggerton. The rest of the kingdom's monthly business was then concluded.
The Wardens then set out to explore another portion of the Stolen Lands. This time they set off by boat to explore the Gudrin River to the south of the Tuskwater Lake. They put in beside the river bank for their first camp. No sooner were they settled than a dark shadow fell across the camp as a large wyvern swooped in and attacked them. The monster was a difficult foe and inflicted a number of wounds on the Wardens. Fortunately though the Wardens managed to overpower it and kill the dragonkind. They kept a good watch that night but by morning most of them had recovered from their wounds and were ready to continue up the river. They soon came upon a spot where the river broadened and it was fordable. They were able to drag the boat over the shallows and continued on their way. They spent some time exploring away from the river but found little of any interest; no settlements and not even a solitary farm.
Later that day as they approached a small copse they were charged by three worgs. The beasts were driven by hunger and attacked with a great deal of aggression but the Wardens had faced their kind before and were able to quickly overcome them. But it acted as a reminder that this whole area was still wilderness and needed taming.
The river was beginning to narrow this far from the Tuskwater. The Wardens scouted around from the point where the river became unnavigable and were just turning back to the boat when they realised a pack of wolves had surrounded them. The animals came in from two sides in a rush but the Wardens fought well and the pack had hardly reached their intended prey before the wolves were completely defeated and every one of them killed.
After all the excitement the Wardens decided that they should return to Wardensholme and settle this land of wyverns, worgs and wolves sometime in the near future.
