As the month of May rolls in, exciting and amazing news sweeps through Mardrun. Prince Aylin declares that Aylin’s Reach will be sending a workforce to The Shield to build a port-outpost on the eastern side of the defensive line to help keep back Mordok forces. This move seems to follow the current motives and road that Prince Aylin has been following as of late by befriending the Ulven Clans. In this endeavor he has requested those of martial ability to help protect the outpost while it is being built as a collaborative effort and a way for one of the colonist groups to “do their part” for the good of all. Mercenaries, laborers, and supplies start to flow northward at this announcement due to the anticipation of the construction and posting security against the press of possible Mordok attacks. With Spring nearing its end, Mordok activity has been noted to be rising in the area, so those who venture to the Shield should expect combat once the construction commences.
The previous news is almost overshadowed by the Prince also asking for assistance with another adventurous voyage. This time it is with helping set up a settlement with docks to an island north of Clan Whiteoak and Clan Axehound. According to both Clans, their leaders had laid a claim to settle the island generations ago. Between the island being a bit remote and the conflict that forced both Clans to focus on more immediate territories, neither one has tried to settle it in earnest. While the island seems to be uninhabited, it could still be a dangerous journey being so close to the Outlands. These two Clans, their long standing rivalry now set aside, have agreed to venture out with Aldorian forces to explore and begin to settle this island.
As such, Prince Aylin is looking for explorers and scouts to help investigate and map-out the nearby areas of the large island, and some martial forces to help keep the area safe as workers set up the docks and outpost. The proximity of the new Aldorian Shield outpost and this proposed settlement could allow a navigable waterway for fresh timber and materials to help maintain or expand The Shield. In return, those assisting Prince Aylin’s ambition will have temporary free reign to harvest the raw materials in the area as payment for helping protect and map out the area before the settlement is finished. With such a payment promised, those willing to travel to an unknown region so near the Outlands for potentially rare materials and vast amounts of unknown reagents or materials, Aylin’s Reach begins to fill with volunteers seeking adventure or material payment. Ship manifests of names of those looking for payment or adventure begin to fill up. The first ships have already set sail with the laborers and construction crews that have set the foundation of this new island outpost, soon to follow being the volunteer adventurer.
UPDATE:
The ships made landfall without much fuss and the early crews were able to set up the main camp without issue. From the early moments it seemed as though this would be a pretty rote expedition. Unfortunately in the end that was not to be the case. Soon after the arrival of the second round of ships, sightings of undead started to occur with regularity.
This did not stop the adventuring team from completing all of the tasks they had set out to. The outpost was finished and fortified and the island was mapped for Prince Aylin in great detail. Several areas of importance were noted for resource extraction in the future. A small cache of letters was found as well detailing the fate of the people who became the undead on this island. Letters were cataloged and translated and there was even a mention of where their ship had sunk as well as the potential of some lost lore and treasure locked away in waxed sealed chests in her cargo hold. A great deal was accomplished and much was learned. In these endeavors the adventuring party was wholly successful. Should Aylin wish to capitalize on this hard work however, it is likely that the undead on the island would need to be dealt with decisively
The adventurers battled with the undead throughout the expedition, but were consistently placed on the backfoot by a powerful caster that was eventually understood to be a Wraith. She continuously demanded the return of a knife that she believed one of the adventurers held, but no one came forward with this object. This Wraith plagued the adventurers through their excursion and it seemed that no amount of battering would keep her from returning again and again and again.
Some memories of the Old World led to the belief that there must be some type of an object or place of power that was keeping the Wraith tethered to our plane and after a great deal of searching something similar to a Gravestone was found. Luckily this stone didn’t seem to be a fully powered Gravestone as the adventurers were able to walk near it without the protection of Divine Barriers, though even remote proximity caused severe nausea. Attempts were made to destroy this stone, but without the proper rituals or understanding of the inner workings of this strange stone, there was little chance the stone and its foul magic could be fully destroyed. In the end a team of ritualists were able to place the stone into a temporary state of dormancy, but there was no time to sit and study to learn how long that dormancy may last. Screams rang out from the outpost.
A large wave of undead crashed against the outpost and its defenders fought valiantly before being overwhelmed and having to abandon the outpost until reinforcements arrived. Many were bitten or collapsed under the pressure of death magic, but as reinforcements continued to arrive the attackers were eventually crushed or driven away. This victory gave enough of a momentary respite to the party and they were able to quickly and safely load themselves and their equipment back onto the boats headed for Aylin’s Reach. As the ships pushed off from the docks many looked back and saw the sickening sway of undead just inside the treeline accompanied by the ghastly visage of The Wraith.
Back in Aylin’s Reach the news of the undead on the island spread quickly. Aylin sent word of this to the Clan Leadership of Clans Whiteoak and Axhound and the three parties agreed that at this time it would be best to quarantine the island until a time that a concerted effort could be made to return and handle the situation. There is no doubt that the story of this island is not yet over and if there are return trips in the future, they will be far more prepared for what they will encounter.