KINGMAKER:
The Wardens of the Greenbelt
Entry 27.
Candlemere Island & A Very Disturbed Owlbear
Once back at their capital the Wardens were soon undertaking the mundane work involved in running their kingdom. It took a few days of meetings to bring everything up to date and a grand council meeting to organise the kingdom's finances. Most of their discussions centred on how to proceed with the Varnhold problem. A carefully worded message was sent to Restov via their courier letting Peter Lebeda know what they had found.
As Winter was approaching it was decided that further exploration of Varnhold and the Dunsward would have to wait until the Spring. The Wardens therefore decided to explore some of the lands to the south that they had not seen so far. After some debate it was decided that they would find out what exactly was the mystery of Candlemere Island. As they now had a boat of their own they set off to find out.
Sailing through the Tuskwater they soon arrived beside the island. A quick sail around the island showed them a possible landing at a sandy beach. The feeling of unease increased the closer they got to the island so they decided to spend the night on the lakeside rather than the island. They had a chance to see the tower at the centre of the island which appeared to be ruined. It also allowed them a chance to study the mysterious nocturnal lights that they had seen before. They decided that these were most likely Will O' Wisps but were surprised by how many there were.
The next day they landed on the beach and decided to climb up to the tower. This proved more difficult than they had imagined as the whole island seemed to be covered in thick brambles and nettles. Finally they made it to the tower which did prove to be very ruined and about half the height it must have been when complete.
The Wardens cut away much of the undergrowth around the tower and prepared to take on the Will O' Wisps. Ione communed with the ruins to discover that there were no below ground areas to the tower. They did discover that many of the rocks were carved with what appeared to be a strange alphabet. Although none of them recognise it simply trying to read the carvings gave an uncomfortable feeling of an ancient terror. The feeling of unease was also much stronger around the tower.
It was not long before the first Will O' Wisp attacked but it was no match for the full power of the Wardens. An hour later they were attacked again. This continued for most of the day and as night fell they have slain five of the horrors.
T'lef climbed to the top of the tower and that evening could discern the lights of another fifteen or so Will O' Wisps spread across the island. They quickly retired to the boat and stood offshore for the night. For the next three days they continued in this routine until it appeared that they had rid the island of all the creatures. Ione then felt it the time to dispel any chaos that still persisted and to make the land hallowed. Within hours it was clear that the nettles and brambles were dying back from the tower and that wild flowers and grasses were beginning to thrive. The land would take some time to recover but the Wardens were certain that the tower could be rebuilt and the island be habitable once more.
The Wardens decided to follow the Shrike River downstream from the lakes. They had come this way before when they had travelled into Mivon. They reached the confluence with the Little Sellen River; where the abandoned ferry station was. From there they followed the smaller river upstream and into new territory. The river proved easy to navigate although the current was strong and against them. With the boat continuing up stream and stopping each evening to set up a camp, the Wardens set off to explore both banks of the surrounding area. The land was undulating grasslands but with very little signs of agriculture. The small holdings they saw were all close to the river with modest herds of cattle.
As they were moving upstream one day they were approached by a pack of worgs. The intelligent animals were greeted by Ione who introduced the Wardens and in return found out about the surrounding lands. The worgs told them that a family of owlbears had moved into caves close by and had attacked all the wildlife and farms between where they were and the Gudrin River beyond. Even the worg pack had been attacked and the four they could see were all that now remained. Ione agreed to help and in return the worgs promised to show them the way and assist them in the future.
Firstly the worgs took them to a nearby farm to show the damage done by the largest owlbear. A huge monster of a beast, the worgs claimed. Judging by the total wreckage of the farm and the deep claw marks on the wooden walls it was easy to believe their story. The Wardens were disturbed by the story as they had met with owlbears before. They could be aggressive when threatened but they were known to be solitary creatures that kept to themselves and rarely attacked homesteads.
The worgs guided the Wardens to the owlbear's lair in a nearby cave. The ground outside the entrance had been torn apart with trees ripped up and the entrance a mass of churned up earth. As they entered the cave they were almost overcome by the smell. The ground was covered in pellets and other ordure. Insects and fungus seemed to carpet the area. A sudden screeching filled the air as they disturbed a shrieker. Another started up deeper into the cave echoing the screech of the first. The Wardens moved quickly to cut down the plants. But as they moved further in they disturbed creatures covered in fungus growths that attacked them. Although taken by surprise and slipping on the cave floor the Wardens were able to easily beat the creatures. It allowed them time to look around, cautious in case the recent noise and fighting had attracted any further creatures. There were three exits from this entrance cave. One straight ahead led downwards into a larger cave, one to the right led through a tight entrance into a small cave and a similar tight entrance led off to the left. Clint was disadvantaged as he had poorer dark vision that his fellow Wardens so he had to carry a torch. He moved off to the left followed by T'lef. But before T'lef had made it into the small cave beyond a Shambling Mound rose up and attacked Clint. Several crimson centipedes seemed to erupt from the mound and joined in the attack. Clint fought well but was soon caught in the mound's vine like arms and was being crushed. T'lef attacked and overcame the mound as the remaining centipedes disappeared into a tunnel beyond. Clint regained his breath but was relatively unharmed. He picked up his torch and set off down a the tunnel he had found despite the advice of his fellow Wardens. He cautiously worked his way down the tunnel but suddenly the ground before him gave way. Luckily he managed to balance on the edge of the deep trap. Realising there was no way forward he retraced his steps back to the entrance cave.
Meanwhile the other Wardens had searched the entrance cave and peered into the larger cave beyond. As they moved into the cave Clint was hurried to rejoin them. At that moment the giant owlbear rose up from its nest in the far end of the cave. It roared and straightened to its full height. It was covered in a leather armour and its eyes glowed red with rage as it charged across the cave towards the Wardens. It was met by a round of bow fire and then the full force of Havrik, T'lef and Clint assisted by Ione. The monster, assailed by fire weapons and the terror that is a raging T'lef, was completely overcome and severely wounded before it had even managed a clean attack on its assailants.
An adjoining cave proved to be the last resting place of the owlbear's mate and a number of brigands, slain by the owlbears. In the ceiling above Havrik noticed an opening leading up into daylight. It was accessible via a ledge half way up the cave wall. The climbers went first followed by Ione and Clint. They were faced by a small cave which opened on to a ledge overlooking a cliff.
They quietly looked around and took four giant spiders and two ettercaps by surprise and quickly killed them.
Satisfied that the caves were clear of any threats, the Wardens took their time to explore the cave system and look for any treasure. In the nest of the owlbears mate they discovered an owlbear cub. It was barely alive as it has been abandoned for some time. Ione healed and soothed it back to recovery managing to feed it with their own provisions. The Wardens then constructed a basket in which to carry it. A quantity of armour and weapons along with some useful artefacts were found on the bodies of the dead brigands and in amongst the fungus and ordure. The body of the leader of the brigands, Eirrikk, was found behind the owlbear's nest in the main cave. He was wearing a magical ring which Ione recognises as fey in nature and made of woven hair. His armour and weapons are of good quality and he has a map showing the owlbear's lair along with the location of Wardenholme and a trail leading for the cave to the town. Further examination revealed a letter instructing Eirrikk to use the ring to enrage the owlbear before sending it to its target. It promised great reward in this world and the next for completing the mission. It was signed simply “N”. Ione especially took a great interest in this new information wondering what it might mean and who “N” might be and why they were interested in their kingdom.
