Martyn,

That is good but troubling news from Kowal! I am glad to hear that the resistance has started in full, though anytime there is violence, it is not easy to celebrate. To be free of the yoke of Uthgard and their oppressive views, we must sometimes push back. 

I have good news to relate from Elmhearth as well! We have had quite a few expeditions this last week with a good bit of progress as well. The old Valantian tower that was found has been cleared of adversaries and is now being fitted as a stronghold along our road. It is going to cost quite a bit, but I believe the Wanderers can donate a little gold to help build the parts the settlement needs. Mainly a barracks and armory to start. While 400 gold will deplete our treasury here a bit, encouraging the development of strongholds and settlements further out will outweigh the current shortfall.

Another group has come back and forth to the mysterious mine a couple of times. They are still tight-lipped about what it is, but seeing the flow of Valantian and tritium items being sold to the Storehouse, I can probably guess what it is that the mine was producing. Their mage, Tersh, has spent a lot of time researching monsters in my library, so I do not think the mine is completely in our control.

I am also happy that Uthgard, or any power related to them, has shown almost no interest in our settlement or what we are doing. I heard that Craven’s Hollow has even turned away their tax collectors. With the war out east and the flow of iron and tritium coming from their mines up river, it seems they are content to let us be. If something or someone does not provide value in the eyes of the ones in power, they are often invisible. Which works in our favor in this endeavor.

Well, I am heading to the Firelight Tavern, one of the more prolific Westbounders, Alric, is performing a ballad tonight about his recent adventurers. I am sure he will provide me with some more information about our current roster, as well as entertain. 

May your adventures end in safety my friend,

Helfen

The month has been slow. We are making our resources stretch in the already cold first days of Ces. We have had a few patrols out. One group found an old Valantian armory in hex 4622. They brought back some strange weapons, a few were sold to the Storehouse.

We now have a couple of roads heading into the wilds. Progress is slow, but we get new recruits everyday.

Helfen

______________________________________________________________________________________

Getting Started: Campaign Quick Start Guide

From the desk of Helfen:

To Martyn,

Good progress has been made. We continue to survey and learn more about the lands around us. There seem to be two primary opponents we have encountered in the wilds, a couple of tribes of goblins to the northwest and some navirite demons to the southwest. So far, there have been no fatalities and few injuries.

We have built a road southwest, but the last neck of the road was interrupted by attackers. The road crew fended them off but there were injuries, including a severely broken leg and some burns. Shovel was the most hurt, but his leg is healing well and all of the crew’s burns have been treated with ointment by Gylas. They reported being attacked by a hoarde of small demons, tearing at them with bony spiked arms. Something large in the woods threw a tree trunk, which is what hurt Shovel so severely. They also saw strange lights from the top window of the tower, and afterward, an unnatural storm gathered, raining down fiery rocks on the crew. They were able to hold off the onslaught as they retreated from that area. Obviously, the tower and its inhabitants must be dealt with before we continue the road that way. The last explorers also mentioned some sort of mine in the area, but they were a little vague on it. Yet another thing that must be explored.

Food has been good so far, but it is harvest season. I hope we have enough to make it through winter. If you can, have Sundaiya send a few more kegs of her fall ale, that brought the crowds into the Firelight Tavern and was good for morale.

I have sent a copy of the updated overland map with all the new relevant information posted.

I hope all is going well in Kowal,

Helfen

Shadows of the Swordspynes: The Road West

We will be using an encounter system as experience for the Shadows of the Swordspyne campaign just as SagaBorn 1.5 uses. 

In SagaBorn, leveling occurs at the discretion of the GM. While Challenge Ratings (CR) are used to aid the GM in gauging the difficulty of encounters, experience points are not used. Instead levels are rewards that occur after a certain number of encounters, which can be combat, environmental, and social-oriented. The number of encounters is up to the GM, using the table below as a general guideline; the rate at which characters level can be tweaked by adding to or reducing the number. 

The adventuring group leader ( those who help organize, plan, and submit an adventure on the Adventure Contract) also gain an extra encounter experience point. This counts as an encounter since they are spending the time trying to get a group together and on the road.

For players 

The goal of the living campaign for players is to give back to those of you who have supported SagaBorn over the years. I am so humbled and appreciative that you all have followed me on this journey and continued to help this world and these books become a reality. The least I could do is run some games for you. 

Also, as I will be at less conventions over the next few years, this is a way to play with those of you who I have played with for years.

For characters ( in world goals) 

There are two main goals for the living campaign.

The first is exploration. The Wanderers have wanted this area of Atheles explored, mapped, and documented for years. Helfen is happy to have the influx of adventurers to make this happen. 

The second is support of the camp. Helfen is disgusted by what is happening in Kowal, and he welcome all with open arms to the camp. But that means he needs resources. When adventurers return to camp they can sell treasure and equipment to Ferric Watoss or they can donate it to the encampment by giving it to Helfen. Donations will be tracked and recorded.

These are just the start. We will build story goals, character goals and more as we delve deeper into the campaign. 

Filmed live one week into the Kickstarter, we talk about monsters, our favorite RPG systems, and NPCs.

The awesome folks at The Called Shot Podcast did a little side adventure in Atheles, showing off the SagaBorn RPG. It is a great run, and their show is a lot of fun! Be sure to check it out. They also have a great review at the end of the podcast for the SagaBorn system.

You can read the review and listen to the adventure here:

http://www.calledshotpodcast.com/blog/2018/03/23/shore-leave-the-sagaborn-review/

Thanks for the support and spread the word, we need more monster hunters!

-Mike

The three stumble back into the warehouse, their faces covered in soot. Perrin and Xynx rush up.

“Wow, nice face paint! Can I get some?” Xynx asks.

“Are you all ok?” asks Perrin, his face serious.

“Ya, just some silly men in masks trying to burn down dwarf town.” replied Ruhm. His hands were stained with blood and ash “We stopped them.”

Jan walks forward. “Thank you for protecting my warehouse and all of Kowal.”

The three look up, echoes of “Hail the heroes of dwarf town” still echoing in their ears. Roe rubbed soot from his eyes, “Let’s hope it doesn’t come back to haunt us.”

The Children of the Light that you captured had been left tied up in front of the local city guard headquarters. The rest of the night was more calm, and the next day was chilly, but clear.

Banners whipped and cracked in the cold air in front of the Walled Tower. Guards in bright red armor stood on either side of the balcony dias. The Baron became visible as he strode out onto the balcony. His slim tall form was accentuated by a tight grey formal coat. This hair was slicked back, and his blue eyes seemed to see everyone in the crowd.

“Last night on Mooruk’s Night, as some call it, we saw large portions of the city destroyed. Citizens were hurt, property lost, the city scarred.”

“We live in strange times. Demons have come back to haunt us. Witches are among us. But long have the dwarves been a part of our city. Elflings have freely lived among our streets. And elves, though newly returned, offer us no danger. But last night a group of radicals took it upon themselves to hurt those who are a part of our city. This will not be tolerated. We will seek out these Children of the Light and we will wipe them from the streets. They will hang side by side in judgement. Kowal is being reborn. Our industry is returning. The North will make us prosperous again. And we, the people of Kowal, deserve  better than last night. May the rest of the festival of Mordreen be peaceful. Grace to you, and your ancestors during this time!” He held up both hands, and a brief smile played across his face. Then he turned and entered back into the dark recesses of the tower.

Perrin watched the street. The warehouse was safe enough during the day, and he always got antsy just sitting around. People went to and fro gathering sweets and breads, meat and vegetables for the upcoming feast. As he watched, two city guards strolled down the street. He tensed. They were across the avenue, but you never knew how sharp-eyed they were. They slowed for a moment in front of a poster, its worn edges showing it had survived many days of weather, the faces displayed were blurred but familiar. The word WANTED was still bright and bold though. With a flick of a wrist, one of the guards picked it off the wall and let it slowly glide down to the street, where it rested in a puddle and slowly drifted away til it plummeted down a sewer drain.

Perrin gave a half smile and turned back into the alley.

The building seemed empty. The door had been torn off, the tables inside broken and scattered. Ruhm entered slowly. “Hello?” He walked across the littered floor looking left to right. A soft footfall echoed on the stairwell. He placed his hand on his axe and turned. A woman, her one hand holding a knife and the other a bundle of clothes, stood there, her eyes filled with surprise.

“Oh, just the person I wanted to see. I wondered if you wanted a job since you know, we maybe messed up this one?” Ruhn smiled, a hint of guilt playing across his face.

Notes on the play session:

• Vencel cast fireball in the basement hurting everyone and killing himself.
• Shovel (Son of Silence) is taken to the city guard by Greel.
• Saved the city guardsmen Gennen, Fleg. They swore they would remember the help.
• Saved Dwygar and other dwarves.
• Killed or captured some Children of the Light as they started fires or hurt dwarves.
• Put out fires in dwarf town.
• Were named the heroes of dwarf town.