The Wardens' First Calling
Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2026 1:23 pm
Snusha gasped, bolting upright as the lingering nightmare shattered. In the dream, a massive owlbear had towered over them, striking them down in a single brutally swift blow that ended their world in darkness. Snusha took a deep breath, letting the terrible vision fade into the quiet morning air. They were still on the road to Tabura, the Borderlands keep, where they and their traveling companion of several months, Noriyuki "Pat", were making their way.
Before long, their journey intersected with three other travelers: Aelric, Ko, and Osvalt. The meeting was cut short when two massive Ogres ambushed the group. Working together, the five adventurers managed to overcome the foul creatures. Recognizing the strength in their shared victory, they decided to travel the rest of the way to the keep as a team.
Upon their arrival at Tabura, they were greeted by Pullus and Oswald, who recruited the group into the Wardens. Pullus handed them a challenge coin to identify themselves as newly minted Wardens and assigned them their very first task: search out and clear the caves located a couple days' walk from the keep.
To help them prepare, they met with two rangers, including Graymane. Graymane warned them of an evil presence lurking in those caverns, one not of the monstrous kind but perhaps something undead? Another team had already reported encounters with the undead, leading them to believe that someone or something inside the caves was actively creating them. He added that there was also a Gnoll presence in the area.
Graymane gave them directions, instructing them to keep the river on their left shoulder for a couple of days' travel on foot until they reached a pass in the hills where the caves lay. Pat carefully copied the map to ensure they wouldn't lose their way with his sailor skills. Graymane explained that there were 11 different entrances, some of which might connect inside, with ancient ruins standing near several of the openings. They were advised to approach from the south but to start with the lower levels of caves.
These ruins were once a base for the Oracle Knights, an order devoutly dedicated to the Oracle, though not her direct servants. During the Oracle War, the base endured a siege that lasted for years while the broader conflict raged on. In the end, only the last three Knights Oracle survived, and shortly thereafter, the dragons declared the entire area off-limits.
With their path clearly set, the new companions made camp along the journey. Pat sang a lovely song that filled the party with inspiration, while Snusha prepared kelp tea for everyone, performing a time-honored devotional tea service to Poseidon to bless them as they readied themselves for the dark caves ahead.
Before long, their journey intersected with three other travelers: Aelric, Ko, and Osvalt. The meeting was cut short when two massive Ogres ambushed the group. Working together, the five adventurers managed to overcome the foul creatures. Recognizing the strength in their shared victory, they decided to travel the rest of the way to the keep as a team.
Upon their arrival at Tabura, they were greeted by Pullus and Oswald, who recruited the group into the Wardens. Pullus handed them a challenge coin to identify themselves as newly minted Wardens and assigned them their very first task: search out and clear the caves located a couple days' walk from the keep.
To help them prepare, they met with two rangers, including Graymane. Graymane warned them of an evil presence lurking in those caverns, one not of the monstrous kind but perhaps something undead? Another team had already reported encounters with the undead, leading them to believe that someone or something inside the caves was actively creating them. He added that there was also a Gnoll presence in the area.
Graymane gave them directions, instructing them to keep the river on their left shoulder for a couple of days' travel on foot until they reached a pass in the hills where the caves lay. Pat carefully copied the map to ensure they wouldn't lose their way with his sailor skills. Graymane explained that there were 11 different entrances, some of which might connect inside, with ancient ruins standing near several of the openings. They were advised to approach from the south but to start with the lower levels of caves.
These ruins were once a base for the Oracle Knights, an order devoutly dedicated to the Oracle, though not her direct servants. During the Oracle War, the base endured a siege that lasted for years while the broader conflict raged on. In the end, only the last three Knights Oracle survived, and shortly thereafter, the dragons declared the entire area off-limits.
With their path clearly set, the new companions made camp along the journey. Pat sang a lovely song that filled the party with inspiration, while Snusha prepared kelp tea for everyone, performing a time-honored devotional tea service to Poseidon to bless them as they readied themselves for the dark caves ahead.