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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Capellan" data-source="post: 1181202" data-attributes="member: 6294">Kull's 8th Report - Part 1SaltmarshEighth MoonTo: Bishop-General Kartrak VisehartReport from Kull RedfistSir,To begin my report, I wish to extend my thanks for your dispatch of Dargrim Ironshield to assist with Our Lord's interests in this region.  I encountered this sturdy dwarf while en route to Mellin, and have been impressed with his skill and tenacity in battle - traits he has already had ample opportunity to demonstrate.I have assigned Dargrim to act as a bodyguard for the wizard, Gnorric.  This will prevent the necromancer from wandering into physical danger, while also allowing me to keep a watch on his activities and ensure that he does not break the conditions of his acceptance into Saltmarsh.Once we arrived in Mellin, I attended the mercenary's guild and advised them of my requirements for a capable replacement in the role of sheriff.  They were able to provide me with two possible candidates.  This was fewer than I had expected, but it seemed the fighting in the north had drained their resources.On the subject of the fighting, you will by now have heard that almost half of this realm has been overrun by humanoid tribes.  Not only has the Border Keep fallen, but most of the towns of the north have been sacked or are currently besieged.  There are rumours that giants lead the enemy forces.  The main pass through the mountains has also been lost, increasing travel to the coastal road - a boon to the people of Saltmarsh, though not one they will enjoy for long, if the enemy is not driven back.I cannot say that I am surprised by the calamities that have befallen this region, of late - if the ignorant and careless attitude displayed in Saltmarsh before my arrival is any guide, the folk here have made negligible preparations for their own defence.At the time I conducted the interviews, however, I knew only of the fall of the Border Keep.  Thus, hearing of the numbers of trained soldiers who had been sent north, I determined that to travel that way myself, as soon as my replacement could be found, and investigate what had occurred.Choosing this replacement proved a simple task - both candidates were warriors of acceptable skill, but only one had sufficient intelligence to be able to fulfil the role required.  I employed him on the spot, and - after spending the rest of the day purchasing supplies, and learning more of the fighting to the north - returned to Saltmarsh the next morning.  Once there, I introduced the new sheriff to the villagers, explained his role and responsibilities to him, and had him conduct several simple war games with the militia.  His performance was satisfactory in all matters, and he displayed some tactical aptitude in the war games.Once these matters had been resolved, I prepared to head north and learn more of the fighting.  Heading into a war zone by myself would be foolishness, of course, so I set about assembling a small group to assist me.  Naturally Dargrim would be included, and I chose Will Shepherdson - deputy commander of the militia - as well.  Shepherdson is one of the few people in the village with military experience, having served as a scout in a recent war.  His skills could be useful to me.I also gave Gnorric leave to join the mission.  No doubt his interest in the fighting lay with the corpses - he is a man of strange persuasions - but whatever I think of him personally, his knowledge of arcane magic makes him useful to me.  I would even have accepted the druid, for whom I care even less, but he had retreated into the swamp in search of a new 'animal companion' to replace his lost crocodile.With my companions chosen, I set out northwards, along the coastal road.  The increased traffic along this route proved to have stirred up an owlbear, which came upon our camp on the second evening of the journey, but the beast was no match for three trained warriors, and will cause no further trouble for travellers on the road.On the second morning after the owlbear attacked, we reached a small inn.  Knowing that such an establishment would have been frequented by the soldiers who had travelled north before us, I called a halt and went inside to speak with the barkeep, and learn what he had heard of the fighting.At the time, he had little more to tell than we already knew: soldiers were streaming north to fight the humanoid tribes, and the pass was rumoured lost.  He seemed confident that the 'troubles' would soon be over - indeed, he had an air of complacency that was all too familiar from my early days in Saltmarsh.While I spoke with him, however, a young man arrived at the inn, riding in an old coach, with a faded crest upon the doors.  Upon alighting from the coach, he hurried over and asked my name.  When I gave it, he produced a scroll, sealed with wax, and 'begged leave to deliver it to me, that I might be persuaded to save his village from a terrible curse'.Vapid courtly nonsense though his words might be, I took the scroll and read it.</blockquote>

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