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Message: <blockquote data-quote="CleverName" data-source="post: 1247371" data-attributes="member: 2591">Adventure 15: Part IAxes and More Axes(Paul Grenier)5th Day of Iron, 12th year of Diamondeyes ReignTo Great Jarl Geirolf Diamondeyes and members of the ThingAfter spending several weeks in the court of the Vacomagi queen Nighean, I have finally begun my search for the lost forge master in earnest. I now have a better understanding of who may be capable of this treachery and who would have the motivation for such actions against your forge.  In the meantime, the remaining workers and apprentices have been given leave in the city of Vacomagus.  The property that survived the raid has been stored away.It seems that my original assumptions about the Brigantes were incorrect.  Although they are fond of our axes, their current surplus of freshly minted Iconian gold leads me to believe that if they wanted our wares they would have simply bought them.  I now think that it is the desperate actions of the Silures tribe who have either sacked the forge for their own gain, to stop the Brigantes from further arming themselves, or merely as a ploy to get the Vacomagi to enter their upcoming war with the Brigantes by blaming this treachery on their enemies.However, the queen is more astute than her rivals give her credit for, and with her help, I am in route to the Silures region to find out more for our clan.  I have been grouped with three companions who seek the Nothrok tribe in connection with the production of the Demon’s Breath potion, a fellow dekkalfar and druid, Gudlag; a Cimbri from the Vacomagi named Malcomb; and a Kulkan, a shaman named Copoc.  It seems that this band of adventurers was responsible for the riots in that cesspool that passes for a Rolgulkan city, Kostelna, a few months past. They brought tales to Nighean of a threat from the East, creatures called the Yuan-ti. The yuan-ti are a serpent folk who consort with demons, shapeshift, and play with other’s minds. These serpents were behind the distribution of the Deamon’s Breath from Kostelna and have insinuated themselves with the Three Mothers. Furthermore, they had evidence that they had infiltrated the Silures, but little more than that. They presented Nighean with a cask of Wyrd — a potent form of socerous magic, of which I know little, and asked her aid in the matter. Nighean pointed out that she could do little, openly, at the eve of war between the Silures and Brigantes Cimbri tribes, without provoking one side or the other. She called forth the ambassador from the Silures and “requested” that the Silures look into the matter of these Yuan-ti. She also publicly commanded Malcomb to attempt to capture one of these creatures – suggesting that he and his go back to Kostelna to do so, telling them that if they brought her one she might be able to concoct some sorcery to discern them magically.After the Silures ambassador left her court, the queen asked me to go with the trio to look into the matter (and possibly aid in my own investigations into the fate of the forge master). She also privately pointed us towards a lesser Cimbri tribe in the lands of the Silures, the Nathrach, a Cimbri people said to have garnered much wisdom in the arts of healing from a relationship with a race of giant, rams-horned serpents. To aid us in this secret investigation into Silures territory she gave us each a hat of disguise and a magical necklace of silver said to prevent shapeshifting. Furthermore she granted us the privilege of using the Ley, the magical road that encircles Vacomagus for the duration of this mission. Malcom and her conferred and planned to pick me up on board their ship near a shoal off the island to further throw off any hint of our intentions.If indeed the Silures and/or Nathrach are in league with the producers of Demon’s Breath, and guilty of the treachery against the forge, it may be time to pay them a visit with a few battle-crazed brute squads!This much is for certain: war in the north is eminent.  It appears that the Brigantes are undeterred by the Vacomagi’s attempts to dissuade confrontation with the Silures.  My main question is “Why would the Brigantes attack the Silures?”  They do not have a border dispute, what would they gain?  Unless the Iconians are behind this war, and have something to gain by the destruction of the Silures, I think the threat to the North may be larger than just the aggressive Brigantes tribe, and the Vacomagi had best be wary. Gudlag seems to think that warfare between Cimbri tribes is as natural as mining is to our people. If the Brigantes have an alliance with the Iconians, their plan would most likely be to destroy the Silures then turn on the Vacomagi from both sides.  This will only be possible with the naval support of the Iconians.  If we wish our trade union with the Vacomagi to remain in tact, we’ll need to keep informed about Iconian naval movements and locations of mercenary forces near the Cimbi tribes.Conversely, if somehow these demons we seek in the Nothrok tribe are at the source of the Cimbri tensions, then the entire conflict in the north would merely be a ruse to keep attentions away from their activities and create a market for the Demon’s Breath potions.  If that’s the case, I may find our precious forgemaster slaving away in a demon’s den.  It’s possible that the Iconian coin isn’t Iconian after all, but rather a clever counterfeit to hide the true nature of funding for this impending war.My head swims with all of the possibilities and speculations.  I just don’t have enough information yet to be confident.  I will be moving toward Silures tonight, but I anticipate troop movements from both sides within the month and most borders and roads will be restricted if not closed.  It may be difficult, once I find the forgemaster, to return him quickly depending on who is involved.  Our communication may also become sporadic, but I will make sure you are kept informed at every opportunity.Your Loyal Servant,Kuldar Goldenaxe of Clan Reist</blockquote>

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