KINGMAKER:
The Wardens of the Greenbelt
Entry 26.
The Kiravoy Valley
The Wardens made their way along the road which followed the river downstream. There were a number of farms hugging the road and river but all were deserted. By the time they reached the wooden bridge over the river it was good to see that some farms were still occupied. The farmers and their families were scared and reluctant to talk about Varnhold and the disappearance of the townsfolk. Their fellow farmers had mostly returned to Brevoy, afraid that they might be next to disappear.
What news the Wardens managed to find out concerned monsters in the foothills to the north and west. Although they had not been seen by the farmers they spoke to and they had not been troubled by them. They were also handed a poster requesting information on a missing noble. It had been handed out by a Brevoy patrol some weeks before the disappearances. They were also concerned that centaurs and cyclops were rumoured to be about. They had heard that Brevoy might be at war with the centaurs.
The Wardens promised to do what they could about the monsters and keep an eye out for the noble. Ione sent a message to Wardenholme requesting the Captain of the Militia to send a force to garrison the fort at Varnhold. Hoping that the presence of the troops would ease the fears of the farmers.
They then set off into the hills to explore the area. Suddenly they were attacked by a Peluda, a giant dragon monster covered in long sharp spikes. T'lef and Clint were first into the attack and the first to find the perils of the dragon. It could fire its poisoned spines at them and they were both hit. However this only seemed to enrage T'lef more and a mighty swing almost tok the monsters life with one blow. It was soon finished off after that blow. Ione cured their wounds whilst the others carefully collected the poisonous spines and the dragons scaly hide.
Ione cast a spell on the party to help them endure the cold winds as the Wardens climbed further into the low slopes of the mountains. They arrived at a rope bridge crossing a gorge and before they could start across were attacked by an ettercap. Falling into the gorge they found themselves in a web trap laid by a number of ettercaps. Once more the fighters made short work of the four monsters and were able to climb back out.
Havrik spotted something fluttering at the top of a nearby peak. Ione took her eagle form to take a closer look. She found a spear stuck into the snow at the very peak of the mountain with a piece of cloth tied around it. As she was explaining her find to the rest of the party they thought they heard a faint cry in the distance which faded in volume as they listened. T'lef was heard to mutter “stupid dwarf” to no one in particular.
Returning to the Varnhold road they came upon the wreck of a wagon. The only occupant had been killed and his body partly devoured by animals. Searching the belongings it became apparent that this was the missing noble, Temin Hanvaki. With Ione's help the Wardens wrapped his remains and prepared it so that it could be returned to Rostland.
They returned to the road and continued towards Nivatka's Crossing. As evening approached they spotted centaurs standing astride the road ahead. The Wardens approached cautiously but discovered that the centaurs only wanted to talk. After exchanging greetings the centaurs asked about the Wardens visit to Varnhold. The Wardens told them what they had found but did not mention the centaur hides they had discovered. The disappearance of the townsfolk seemed to agree with the information that the centaurs had. They in turn admitted that they had endured some troubles with Varnhold but had little information as to the fate the town. They had also seen a good deal of incursions from the cyclops from the southern mountains who might be to blame.
Ione showed them the magic bow that they had found on the spriggan leader. The centaurs named it as Skybolt, a treasure they had lost a while ago. The Wardens therefore gifted it to the centaurs.
Before they parted the the centaurs asked that their lands be left in peace as they had not joined the other centaur tribes in the war with Brevoy. They also gave them directions to their main camp on the Dunsward plains.
The Wardens then continued on to Nivatka's Crossing. The town sat astride the Shrike River on the South Rostland Road. The Wardens knew the town as it was on their route from Leveton to Restov which they had travelled a number of times in the past. Before the bridge they were accosted by two of the town's guards. Luckily they were not recognised and allowed to enter the town. Ione was worried that being in Brevoy might cause problems with their relationship with the nobles of Restov as they had been asked not to make contact with them. However all seemed to go well. They made contact with the town's Captain and turned over the remains of Temin Hanvaki. The Captain recognised who they were but was willing to turn a blind eye to their presence in Rostland and promised the family of the deceased would be informed of the noble's fate and who had returned the body. He was grateful for the Warden's work and that any reward would be forwarded to them. They gave him a brief report on what they had found in Varnhold and took the opportunity to send a full report to Restov. However the Captain did remind them that they shouldn't be in Rostland at that they should leave the town as soon as possible.
Not needing a further warning the Wardens left Nivatka's Crossing pausing only to purchase a few essential supplies. They then made their way back to Wardenholme following the banks of the Shrike River.
