A Collection of Strangers on Walkabout

The wilds have proved a challenge to Khaguran's wits' wisdom, skills, and body. While out on one of his frequent treks exploring lands beyond the civilized domains he cam across a trail that though new had been used multiple times. A new road meant new places and repeated use indicated that someone thought there was something werth all the effort there.

Intrigued Khaguran stopped by a local farmhouse and stocked up as well he could for an extendedn journey. The farmer seemed obivious to the new road, indicating it had be laid in such a way as to not catch the eye of the locals it bypassed. Thanking the farmer and his extended family that housed him and sold him the goods he would need he set out.

The trail followed the terrain and the ruts in the dirt indicated to Khaguran that the wagons were heavily laden. unfortunatly the raod did not seek out fresh water as often ans the meager waterskin Khaguran had required from him. This forced his to divert off the road to quench his thirst and fill the water skin. However this also exposed that the wagon often had to divert around terrain that Khaguran could easiy cross. Soon it was a challange. Could he catch up to the last set of wagons that he estimated were less than a tenday week ahead of him before they reached their destination? The hunt was on.

Now over a day outfrom the nearest setlement the road seems to only wander to avoid rough terrain that the wagons might not be able to handle. While close to the setlements it simpe swing wid eso that normal activity would not nead someone to cross it.

Khaguran looks around the rolling hills partially covered by thick trees with the ocasional rocky outcropping. Typical for this region ht must have made creating the initial road difficult. Khaguran picks a taller than average hill with a rocky peak not too far off from the wagon track and set off to survey the area.The beasts of the woods have been showing signs of a lack of contact with civlization. Less afraid though no less cautions Khaguran has had to avoid a few of the more dangerous animals. The brown bear was easy enough but the wolf pack that haunted his camp last night made his rest a bit less than relaxing. He has also spotted signs of mor monstrous creatures but luckily has avoided and close encounters with these.

As Khaguran climbs the chosen hill he begins to suspect that he is not the first to recognize it potential. As he nears the rocky peak there are definite signs of inhabitation by some form of monster or beast of size and power.

Khaguran looks around but does not find anything distinct to identify what might be lairing here.Moving a bit higher as he looks for clues Khaguran gets a better view of the area but at his heigh can not see the wagon trail. He will have to go higher for a better vantage. That means deeper into the creatures teritory.

As you climb up the rocky formation atop the hill you take care to minimize your pressence and maintain a watchful attitude. This however does not prove to be enough.

Raising his head over the lip of a ledge he was pulling himself up onto he finds himself face to face with a griffin. the eale head atop the lion body seems unafraid and stares intelligently at the tile humanoind who has traipsed to casually into its home. A soft squak is followed by a low rumbling chuff of warning as the two massive wings half open as it rolls to its feet to stare down at you The griffin has to be as large as a horse but with a large and obviously sharp beak, not to mention the sharp claws that are slowly extending from its paws as it half croutches to leap or take flight.

Blinking Khaguran pulls him from his daze realizing he has been staring into the eyes of a monster that would barely concider him a snack. Khaguran knows all to well that most beast, and moster for that matter, consider direct eye contact a challange. In essence Khaguran came into the griffins home and proceded to challenge it!

Khaguran quickly drops down from the ledge, glad he had not gotten an arm or leg up, and began scrambling down the rocks as quickly as he could a squawk and the sound of wing above him alerted him to pursuit. turning to look back he saw the griffin's talons heading strait for his face. Then he tripped.
The tallong sailed directly over his face as he fell backwards and the feeling of relieve and the joy of life quickly vanished as the back of his head slammed into a rock. Turning ovr quickly Khaguran focussed his attention on getting to the tree cover as quickly as possible. Learning from his previous incident he started dodging around and under larger roks, using his smaller size to his advantage. Finally down from the rocky peak of the hill he only had to cross a small clearing before he could make the treeline. Trying to time it he makes a dash for the trees but the griffins's dive was quicker than he expected and he heard the thunderous sound as the wings snap open and the foreleg talons grabbed at his back.
An impact followed by a tug towards the sky fills him with dread. But he sound of something tearing let him know he only needs to worry about patching up his sleeping rolls. Under the trees and further into the woods in a flash Khaguran finally takes a moment to look around. Yes it is as he assumed.. He has no idea where he is not with relation to the wagon trail or where he ascended the hill.

The wagon trail was heading east and tending a bit to the south. You are currently north of the track so heading south should let you cross it at some point unless it has turned southe sharper than it has before. There has been a large stream or small river wandering the land south of the trail. The stream meanders arosss the land and the wagon trail cuts a more direct path, for the most part. You cossed to the north due to this nice looking hill but failed to get a good enough look at the surrounding horizon to save your legs from unneeded walking.
Getting your bearing Khaguran sighs and sets of heading south. As he moves in and out of the trees he spots a few landmaarks that might be sightings he set befor ascending the hill. A couple of hours bring ou to the trail which has turned south to cut through some low hills. With night coming on you start looking for a place to rest for the night.

Khaguran moves to intercept the road as well as stays on the lookout for water. It takes longer than expected to find both the road and water forcing Khaguran to make do with a thicket with decent foliage to cut the wind and other weather as his bower for the night. Digging a small hole he sets a small fire to heat some water into a nice tea to add some flavor to his routine.

I the morning with a full water skin and jar he set out staying between the wagon trail and growing stream. The stream has merged with a coupe tributaries by mid day and is getting decent sized. Climbing sparsely wooded hill gives him a decent vantage of the way to the south, where the trail and stream are heading No too far away the stream joins up with an even larger flow coming from the west. By late afternoon he has repeatedly bumped into the wagon trail, even following it for much of the time and he begins to suspect something. An hour before nightfall his suspicions are confirmed. The wagon trail cuts directly across the now wide, though not too deep stream.

Khaguran decides to wade across as the flow is not too fast and there are not enough rocks anywhere he has passed to allow him to cross without getting wet. Soaked and slightly chilled he scampers up the far bank and looks out over an increasingly wooded and stream ridden area. Setting about looking for decent quart3er where he can dry out his clothes he is pleasantly suppressed when he spots the ruins of a small tower.

The tower is a bit out of the way from the wagon track but the 1st floor looks intact with a portion of the 2nd as well. Collecting some kindling and any dry wood he can find he set off for the tower after noting where he can rejoin the wagon trail in the morning. By time he gets to the clearing the tower stands it the sun is low making the interior of the building dark and slightly less welcoming than it appeared when first sighted.

Aproaching cautiously you can tell by the fading light of sunset that the tower is quite old and obviously part of the Dawn Age and likely used during the Dawn War. Toweres like thiw were established to look out over rural areas or around larger cities. The landscape was severly altered during the shattering so the tower may have movd at that time or the lands simply altreed and the people fled.

Aproaching the door you seee a few light booted foot prints, a couple of days old. These were perhaps from wagon train outriders though you can not be sure. At the doorway you survey the inside which is fovered in dust thick enough to indicate that whomever was walking around before you did not enter. The interior is dim but look solid and dry. There are signs that there was once furniture but the remnants are so rotten they have colapsed to litle more than mounds under the dust.

Steping forward to clear the dust before setling down for the night you are suddenly hit with a wave of nausea. Roll a save test please (2d6) The scene before you twists as you pass the doorway and the interior is neat, clean, and furnished. The previously broken stairs now are whole and continue up to the higher floors of the tower. Whirling you now see the slight shimmer in the air that denotes a border.

Borders are the result of the Shattering. The world was broken and rearanged. The Border are the boundaries between the broken pieces of the Mortal Realm. Many of the borders have healed while other are still easily notice and strong enough to make those who cross them ill and confused. As the strength of the Bordrs fade they become static and easily crossed. However in the years following the Shattering all Borders changed randomly or periodically so that crossing one would lead to different landds. Khaguran has passed throu a couple of weaker Borders that were explored and has had to cross two while following the wagon trail. Bothe were easily spotted and very stable. This one is much stronger in its affect and much harder to see. The view beyond the border that fills the doorway is not the landscape that Khaguran just came from.