KINGMAKER:
The Wardens of the Greenbelt
Entry 7.
Villages In The South
The time spent at Oleg's allowed the Warden's to recuperate and plan their continuing exploration. The building work was continuing at a pace. The teacher and his wife, Biorn & Ingrid Ulvar, had taken up residence and accommodation for himself and the school was being planned outside the trading post. During their stay a messenger set out for the Borkin farm. He updated Griswold, the farmer, on the situation with the bandits and the improvements made at Oleg's. They returned with Sonya Kinsman, who the teacher had been asked to instruct. Word was also being spread around the other local farms in case other suitable pupils could be found. Ione asked that a rookery be built to house birds that she would use in the future to carry messages across the Greenbelt.
It was decided to pay Wino a retainer so that he could continue with the Wardens. Jhod spoke to Jarn about the Elk temple they had discovered. This seemed to agree with the vision he had received from Erastil. The vision had requested him to rebuild the temple to its former glory so he set off with Wino as a guide and protector to Thornhill so that he could start on his task. William continued to practice his scroll writing skills and avidly read the books that Oleg had acquired.
The Wardens were now ready to continue their work and they headed out to the south-east intending to sweep around towards the south before heading back to Oleg's thus completing the exploration of the nearest half of their territory. Oleg had suggested they visit Boken, a reclusive herbalist not far to the south-east. After visiting a local farm they easily found Boken's hut. He sold then some potions and asked that they look out for Fangberries. A particularly good location for them was to be found, several day's ride to the south-west. They picked up a delivery of a crate of potions for Oleg whilst at Boken's. Shortly afterwards they came upon a wounded wolf which they helped. Sidhe and the wolf exchanged their scents for future recognition.
Continuing south-east they came to the limits of their territory and just as they began to swing south they heard unearthly music. It came from a grig sat on the rump of Ione's horse. The music caused William and Havrik to dance a merry jig which greatly amused the grig. Ione spoke to it and it transpired that it had left the Narlmarches forest to escape the evil presence there. The Wardens fed it with Goodberries and it continued on its way.
When the Warden's made camp Ione had taken to preparing a “web shelter” to disguise and protect the camp. They turned south and then came upon the monastic hamlet of Varn's Hall. They were made welcome by Father Dousek at the Visitor's House and discovered that this was the site of the skirmish that had resulted in the casualty that they had met so close to death at Oleg's. Father Dousek invited them to meet Abbot Volla the head of the monastery in Varns' Hall. Abbot Volla regaled them on the history of Saint Varn, a dwarf Torag priest, and the monastery he founded here at his Hall. He also tells the Wardens about the recent fighting. The attack had been by Baron Corl of Cobbleton, the nearest village to the north-west, accompanied by mercenaries and armed miners. He had demanded that Varn's Hall pay for his protection but the monks had driven them off after viscous fighting. The Abbot's view was that Cobbleton's mines were now failing and that Corl was looking for other sources of income. They updated him about the temple to Torag at Oleg's, the casualty that was being treated there and the work they were undertaking. The Abbot gave them a manuscript that he asked them to deliver to a follower of Varn who resided in Restov. He also suggested that they approach Cobbleton from a different direction if they wanted a more friendly reception in the town.
As they left the hamlet the next morning they were accosted by three adventurers. They were the remains of “the other group” who had found misfortune at every turn. They were Gulstang, a human fighter, Verek, a half elf wizard, and Miro Goodfellow, a halfling hunter. The Wardens returned the charter they had recovered and let them know they had buried the remains of their comrade. They also let them know about the casualty at Oleg's and the improvements made there. The adventurers had decided to stay at Varn's Hall and help defend the Abbot and his monks from attack.
Moving north-west the Wardens entered a desolate area of the plains. It consisted of terraces of land dropping down towards the west. On more than one of these terraces were many gibbets holding decaying bodies. They recognised this practice as that of bandits marking the range of their territory and acting as a warning to the local peasantry. These decaying bodies attracted giant centipedes but there were none seen although some of the bodies showed signs that the creatures were nearby.
They then headed back north to find the village of Cobbleton. This turned out to be a large mining village full of a mixture of races from many lands. The Wardens settled into the largest inn, the Welcome Inn. The dwarves drinking that night tell the Wardens about the place. The mines are producing less gold than previously and the headman and mine owner, Corl, was beginning to spread his authority to the adjoining lands; setting himself up as a local Baron. They also suggest that they go to the Golden Tap the next evening to hear Jasmyn sing.
The next day they explore the village, talking to Father Leko at the Chapel of Berabra and to Sheriff Seran Heral. Father Leko confirms that Corl wants to become lord of the manor and to put down the banditry in the countryside. But he thinks that if more gold is found in the mines Cort will revert to concentrating on amassing his fortune and abandon his territorial ambitions. The Sheriff is less forthcoming about Corl. He asks about “the other group”. He also explains his role as peace-keeper between the mining groups whilst keeping the bandits at bay.
That night the Wardens visit the Golden Tap. It is crowded and full of excited expectation. Corl and his party are pointed out to them by the dwarves they met the night before. Jasmyn takes to the stage and all the room goes quiet, entranced by her singing of a number of emotional ballads. These were not the rousing drinking songs one might have expected upon seeing her audience. The Wardens were also entranced and could speak of nothing else for the next few hours. Only Ione and Havrik resisted the charm. When they returned to the Welcome Inn Father Leko joined them for a drink. He asked how they had enjoyed Jasmyn's singing and let them know how Corl is courting the lovely Jasmyn but so far with no success.
The Wardens left the next day and continued to map the territory, moving north-west towards the edge of the forest. Beside a track, which they assumed led towards Oleg's trading post, they came upon a half-abandoned village. Most of the houses were derelict and in a state of decay but closer to the centre there was some habitation. An inn, a village store and a chapel were the only large buildings standing. Although it was early in the day the Wardens entered the inn to see what they could learn about the village. The gnome innkeeper, Bisek Plumtree and his wife Dana, invited them in though Bisek made it clear he didn't like or trust dwarves. He gave them a brief introduction to the village but suggested they visit the store across the street where they could find out more information and the recent history of their village of Puck's Hollow.
The gnomes, Hubert Garston & his wife Hilda, that ran the village store welcomed the Wardens to the village and their store. They had decided to rebuild the village and renamed it from its previous name of King's Kiln. This was in an effort to attract new residents and more trade for the store. They also believed that the new name would be more attractive to inquisitive travellers. The Wardens did manage for the most part to get out of the shop without buying any of the Puck's Hollow souvenirs the gnomes were insisting they purchase.
In the chapel the Wardens were invited to sign the new visitor's book which replaced an earlier one that was now full; they were told. The only other names in the book were those of the gnomes and others which were obviously in the gnomes' hand-writing. Brother Jara was the third member of the village elders and admitted to being out-voted by the gnomes regarding the village's name change. He advised the Wardens to talk to two dwarf miners who had recently arrived in the village and who should be found across the stream near the old workings.
The dwarves, Ondulf Hubbason & Manne Sivesson, seemed as confused as the Wardens about the gnomes and their plans. However they were confident that they had found a new iron seam, overlooked by the previous miners. Ione helped them by preparing the foundations of a house and its wooden rafters. She also helped in repairing the entrance to the mine they were hoping to reopen.
