Editing The Wilderlands of Absalom (section)

==Other Adventuring Parties==

Arwyn's Band

*They are led by Arwyn the Acrimonious, a she-warrior of some renown. The party counts amongst its members a mage, a cleric of a deity I have never heard of and cannot pronounce the name of, two rangers, a bard for singing Awyn's praises and a cloaked, silent man who's duties and abilities I have been unable to determine, and a score of so mercenaries, cooks and so forth. I do not know there goal, only that I observed them purchasing furs and blankets and other cold-weather gear. Therefore, I can only conclude they are either heading north, to where winter still holds the world in an icy embrace, or west, towards and perhaps beyond Rocky Peak.
*Secondmonth, Sixthyear: Arwyn the Acrimonious and her band of adventurers stumbled into Junction just as winter was setting in, laden down with treasures and artifacts gleaned from what many have claimed is a city perpetually frozen in ice, far to the north. The notoriously reticent warrioress has refused to answer any and all questions, but she and her comrades have been preparing for what looks to be another cold weather voyage.

[http://forum.rpg.net/showthread.php?765089-IC-ACKS-The-Wilderlands-of-Absalom&p=19473255#post19473255 Sanke One-Eyed]

*Her brother is stricken by a mysterious curse that prevents him from speaking the truth. They had heard tales of a spring somewhere to the southeast, that has the power to cleanse one who drinks of it of all such afflictions. They were unable to find it, however.  They stopped in Pevin, of all places, for a week of R&R but no idea where they went afterward.
*Secondmonth, Sixthyear: A band of bandits to the south, led by a one-eyed bandit queen, has become emboldened over the last few months of fall, striking the occasional caravan or exploration party venturing south of the Scarlet Principality, and even venturing within its borders to raid outlying villages. The road connecting the Principality to the bladedancer monastery at Eros has become even more dangerous than usual thanks to the depredations of the one they call 'Sanke One-eyed'!

[http://forum.rpg.net/showthread.php?765089-IC-ACKS-The-Wilderlands-of-Absalom&p=19754636#post19754636 Bribras the Bold]

*The trio claim no injuries, and have none visible, apart from the scratches and welts one might accumulate from running recklessly through the undergrowth, fleeing for one's life. Two of the three, Tika and and Isum, are both clad in chain mail; Tika wears a sword in a scabbard and has a short bow slung over her shoulder, while Isum has a one-handed axe and shield. The third member, Bribras the Bold, wears banded plate under a crimson surcoat and carries a war hammer and shield. Prominently displayed on a chain around his neck is stylized horses's head in profile with a twinkly ruby for an eye. To Hira's eye the three appear to be relatively inexperienced, at least less so than her employer. They may or may not be as seasoned as she is.

*"Look," says Bribras, "we're new in town, drawn like half the people here by the promise of the wealth to be found out here on the frontier. I am, if I may modestly say, a rather important person back east, and my comrades are as dear to me as my own brothers and sisters. I will be willing to pay five hundred gold alcedes to whomever is able to recover the petrified remains of my three companions, so that we may restore them to life."

[https://forum.rpg.net/showthread.php?780003-IC-II-ACKS-The-Wilderlands-of-Absalom&p=20055658#post20055658 Bandits of the Plains]

*Aside from Sanke One-eye's crew, there are another two bands: the Free Folk, who hang out mostly to the southeast, and the Redfoot Gang, who mostly work the other side of the Sarn (from the Candle). As far as can be told, the bandits mostly survive by robbing isolated communities, merchant caravans and scavenging amongst the ruins of the ancient ones. There are also a few beastman tribes roaming the llano, as the ogres call it. Some gnolls, a group of sun-hardened orcs that call themselves the Rock Spiders, and some of the other species such as cerves.

[https://forum.rpg.net/showthread.php?780003-IC-II-ACKS-The-Wilderlands-of-Absalom&p=20121251#post20121251 Jade Eagles]

*The adventurers [Dawulf] has with him are a company that call themselves the Jade Eagles. Harn's heard some about them; they mostly stay up north, in the forestlands, and range as far as the steppes north and east of Rhea's Ford, where Qutai's folks come from. They've made a name for themselves as pathfinders and caravan guards and, from his brief interaction with them, they seem to be a serious group of men and women, intent on doing their job and preparing for the trip.