Harkwood and Beyond - 2008-04-04

The Kingmaker's Caravan makes its way south to Harkwood. It is still spring and the weather alternates between foggy and wet. As the road bends towards the Great Desert the sky clears and the sun comes out and they suffer from under its burning glare.

The Caithnessian roads are not Imperial roads and often they find themselves struggling through the mud and over hills. The villages along the Caravan Route thin out as they travel south. Three days can pass before they see sign of human habitation. Finally they reach Harkwood, villages become more common and the lands more populated. Fortifications are more common as well on the frontier.

Seeoff's is the object of much hatred, but his presence in such august company prevents any action. Almost two weeks after they left Simonton. They arrive at the Citadel of Harkwood. It is bursting at the seems with refugees from Blythe, Merchant Caravans from the north, and Companies of troops headed south to reclaim the Barony of Blythe.

Ismael talks them into the Citadel and they find a place in the Caravan District. The Citadel is divided up into Districts and Wards. The old Baronial Castle is now a Monastery, the new Castle is a massive structure of Human design and Dwarven Craftsmanship. There are also three Wizard's Towers close by. All lie withing the boundaries of a Normal-Mana Zone.

A pair of Watchmen are assigned to guard the Caravan and to to prevent trouble for Seeoff. The Tax Collector arrives and collects his taxes.

Lord Kraypike, Baron of Swampgrass has fun toying with the street urchins who accost them. After some chicanery they leave off and the Kingmakers find them avoiding them there after. Much to Kraypike's satisfaction.

They are exhausted by there trip and decide to stay in Harkwood for a few days to rest, resupply, and gather information for their trip. Across from their encampment is a group for Elves garbed for war. They have transformed their encampment into a forest glade. Providing shade and discrete privacy from prying eyes. When the Kingmakers inquire

Arteasian goes shopping, there is not much in the way luxury goods and even mundane goods are in short supply.

Dain remains in camp and delves into Ismael's Haddaton Ale, shortly after noon he is a drunk as a Lord.

Kraypike heads for the old Lords District and immediately senses the change from Low to Normal Mana.

Rene accompanies Kraypike, but finds himself duck thrown poisoned knives.

Kenji initially remains with the Caravan, but immediately takes up his duties as bodyguard to Rene following the assassination attempt.

Cirmi

Ismael

Seeoff's remains at their encampment as sentry and makes sure Dain regrets his drunken binge with good humor.

Kraypike and Dain find an Italian Restraunt in Harkwood.

Another assassination attempt on Rene. A Citadel Guard's crossbow was jerked down by unseen hands and discharged in Rene's direction. Fortunately his instincts kicked in saving his life.

Invited to dine with the Elves that evening and into the early morning.

Invited to luncheon with Lord Fenark, Baron of Harkwood.

Another attempt on Rene's life when an Batista fired from the Citadel wall. Fortunately Kenji managed to save his life. When they investigated the weapon they found a grappling hook and rope on the other side of the wall. The rope was treated with some kind of flesh dissolving poison that crippled Rene's hands.

Cirmi managed to neutralize the poison and Arteasian stopped the bleeding, but eventually they resolved ti cut off his hands and have Cirmi cast Instant Regeneration on them.

The Kingmakers confronted the Captain of the Citadel Guard and demanded to interrogate the Watch Crossbow man on the incident. There was much argument, with Lord Kraypike jumping down the throat of one of the Officers. The Officer then reveled himself to be the son of Lord Fenmark, Baron of Harkwood. Eventually the were satisfied with their answers and decided to leave late that night, with stealth, and be many miles gone by morning.

Unfortunately that evening Rene was poisoned at diner, but Cirmi's timely intervention prevented his death.

That evening they left the Citadel of Harkwood and began the long trek through the charnel house of Blythe.