Chapter 1 - Adventure Introduction
The central gallery of Wasteward Keep, like most of the rest of the Keep, is carved from the heart of an ancient tree of a gargantuan species no longer found in the lands of the Empire. Once abandoned for many decades, the solid wood of the floor, walls, and ceiling now gleams with frequent oiling. Sun shines in through high windows, illuminating broad tapestries depicting the victories of House Telkar during the Age of Warring Kingdoms, and of the Telkarion Empire in the years since. At one end of the hall, in a sturdy chair on a raised dais, sits the Governor of the Wasteward Marches.
Lord Almasy Tamas is an imposing man. Tall and broad-shouldered, he seems to tower over his audience even when seated. Age may have grayed his hair, but his eyes hold the steady, clear gaze of a man half his age. While his duties confine him to the Keep on most days, it is not unknown for him don his highly wrought plate mail armour to accompany expeditions to the Wastes. Those who have journeyed with him tell that his combat skills are twice that of any other man in the Marches. Even while holding audience in the central hall, his enchanted long sword Avenger remains readily at hand in a scabbard at the side of his chair.
Lord Tamas has devoted his life to serving the Empire. Born to a minor noble house, his early years were spent in training as a Crusader in service to the Empire. Recruited into the Legions, he rose through the ranks to eventually become Legate Commander of the Vth Legion. But his years in the Legions are now long behind him, eclipsed by his subsequent service. He has gained the trust of the Emperor through repeatedly carrying out His will in remote corners of the Empire. This trust has earned him the lordship of Wasteward Keep and governorship over the surrounding lands, arguably one of the most dangerous areas of the borderlands.
Unlike many governors, whose responsibilities mainly lay with tax collection and otherwise locally administering the will of the Empire, Lord Tamas has responsibility for safeguarding the border against threats from the Gena Wastes and the Fey lands beyond. At his service is the might of a full legion, currently the XIIIth (Goblinoid) Legion. He also has command of the local militias, the local corps of rangers and scouts, and his own private guard. He is assisted in his role by other senior administrators, allies, and mercenaries of the Empire. Several of these live within Wasteward Keep, but others are spread throughout the district stretching over 100 miles of frontier. From fortified bastions, they monitor the borderlands, responding to any threats that arise while also working to expand the frontiers of the Empire.
On this day, Lord Tamas has had to turn to his local allies for assistance, asking them to make their apprentices available for an urgent task. Three of them have responded immediately; Master Asayar Zsigmond has sent his student Nella Wormwood, a hulking half-orc whose ferocious countenance belies an inner grace; Scoutmaster Janos has sent one of his young scouts, Blixhaven, a feeble-looking young man with an unpleasant countenance who subconsciously fingers a full quiver of iron-tipped arrows at his waist; and Blademaster Tivadar, head of the Keep’s guards, has sent his young protégé, the swordsage Trykaar Kilfire who, even at rest, trembles with a nervous energy that leads the casual observer to expect him to draw his ornate greatsword and leap into action at any moment.
As the three young apprentices file into the room, they are presented to Lord Tamas by his chamberlain, who then excuses himself from the room. The only other occupant of the room is what appears to be a rather young half-ogre, sitting on a bench against the wall with a very bored-looking expression on his face.
Seeing that the promised apprentices are all present, Lord Tamas takes a moment to study his guests. “I’m not sure what your masters have told you, so I’ll start from the beginning. A sending mirror in one of the borderland watchtowers appears to lost its magical charge. As you know, the garrisons at the watchtowers rely on the mirrors for sending in reports or warnings to Wasteward Keep. Therefore, it’s imperative that we send a replacement mirror immediately. Fortunately, we have some replacement mirrors stored in Wasteward. Unfortunately, what we don’t currently have is a legionary detachment to transport it. The local Cohort is in the midst of training maneuvers that will last for at least another week.”
“That is where you come in. The replacement mirror must be transported to the watchtower, and the old mirror brought back. Trykaar, I served many years alongside your father. I’m trusting that if you have half of his wisdom and ability, you’ll see to it that this task is completed without any trouble. I’m putting you in charge and I’ll be giving you a letter that will authorize you to requisition one of the boats at the Legion docks on the other side of the river, as well as other basic provisions from the quartermaster here at the keep. Nella and Blixhaven, I am relying on you to assist him in his task. ”
“You will need to take the mirror upstream by boat to the docks nearest the tower, and then carry the mirror overland from there. I shouldn’t need to tell you that a sending mirror is both fragile and heavy, and above all expensive. If you damage the mirror, all of you will be working off your debt to the Empire for several years. To help you in transporting it over the final overland section, I’ve hired this young lad here, Jrak Clawpike (he pauses here to nod towards the half-ogre, who appears to have nodded off) to accompany you. The round trip should take you about a week, for which you will each receive a generous sum of 7 gold pieces, the equivalent of a legionary in the field.”
“While the route you are taking passes through lands that were tamed many years ago, I remind you that the occasional elemental aberration still wanders out of the Wastes. Blixhaven, I am trusting you to ensure that any such danger is spotted early enough to be avoided. There is no good reason to be pursuing monsters when you have such an important cargo to deliver.”
“Now someone please wake up the ogre. Any questions?”
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