Setting Out

On the first day of 1800E, the Great Downward Engineering Company (Lycian Division) set off towards the wild northwest of the Valley.
You've already met with Queen lllden rather briefly, where she explained your mission. With the east coast of the Valley somewhat safer due to the defeat of Orcus and disappearance of Rappan Athuk, she fears that the raiders in the west may expand their operations, and threaten Skor and Tsar.
To help prevent this, four teams have been dispatched to the four main areas of the Greenbelt. From west to east:
=== The Glenbon Uplands: ===
Located at the foot of the mountain range known as the Teeth of the Lost, Glenbon is the most likely staging area if warbands from the mountains were assault Skor. 
The area is also home to the nation-city of Pirrat.
Tsar has dispatched the Iron Wraiths, an elite division of its army. The Wraiths will move through the area, smashing siege equipment and disrupting any attempt for the warbands to organize.
=== The Hooktongue Slough ===
This is large swampy area, fed by a river leading off from Bowbe's Slice, a large river that runs the entire width of the Valley.
Mirrax Marines will sail ships into the area, establish a base and look to see if the area could be of any sort of economic benefit. In return they will establish defensive and observational outposts to keep an eye on the region
=== Lycia ===
This mostly forested region has been deemed the least dangerous of the entire Greenbelt, and so it makes sense to be the place to set up camp. Here the Great Downward will attempt to set up an outpost.
=== Noman Heights ===
A thin mountain range marks the last place a raid on the east of the Valley might be able to be stopped. The town of Restov, and by extension the southern border of Ferrik's Forge extends just into this area.
The Forge has agreed to send a small scouting party into the area to try and see if they can set up another few outposts or lookouts in the area.
== The Great Downward ==
You've been granted a charter to an area of the Greenbelt that was once the heart of the kingdom of Lycia. The charter reads as follows:
"Let it be known that the bearers of this charter are members of the Fifth Great Institution of the Valley, The Great Downward Engineering Company, acting by the authority vested in them by the High Council of the Stoneheart Valley. By right of law and divine blessing of the Three, the <name> family is entitled to their homeland of Lycia, and all its natural bounty. The bearers of the charter should also strive to uphold the common law, and strive against any threats to the safety of the Valley. The punishment for unrepentant banditry, raiding, murder, and all other crimes of weight shall remain execution by rope."
Queen Illden is not overly confident in the venture. The Valley is mostly broke after the recent rebuilding, and no one is particularly enthusiastic about expanding in a time when most people want to be consolidating. 
Still, your task is to explore the northern half of Lycia and examine it for threats and areas of interest. Once you're sure it's safe and have found a good location to serve as a base, the "noble" party will be dispatched , along with some building materials.
Illden will continue to support the venture financially, although she warns you that you'll need to demonstrate that you're in control of the situation, and that Lycia has something to offer in terms of resources or tactical use.
She's also given you a crate containing all that remains of Lycia's wealth, totalling:
* A small bar of an unknown metal
* A small fossil of a weird multilimbed bug
* A pennywhistle that can only play exactly 1 note
* A circlet that requires good posture to wear
* A bonsai tree in a ceramic pot.
* A bronze box containing a well-carved wooden owl
* A vial of nice perfume
* A backpack that sounds like it's eating things when you put something in (a magic mouth spell)
* A pewter spork with a royal seal set into it.
You've also heard some rumors about the greenbelt:
* An archangel of Freya was once the patron deity of the region. She was named Vallyr, and was the patron god of pears.
* A storm giant lives out in the wild. He hunts great beasts on moonlit nights
* The Greenbelt is swarming with tatzlwyrms, and we once used as combat mounts by a race of tiny people that lived in the area.
* The fertile soil in the Greenbelt is due to it being so close to the still sea. The antimagic nature of that water stops the foul dust in the soil from strangling crops.
* The fertile soil in the Greenbelt is due to the winds blowing mineral-rich dust off the mountains and into the Valley below.
* Ferrik’s Forge uses golems disguised as men in it’s famous Unbreakable Legion. This is how their soldiers are so well disciplined and so tough.
* Necromancers avoid the Greenbelt, as buried bodies are transmuted from flesh and bone into moss and wood, making them unusable in their dark rituals.
* Pirrat is a nation of such great culture that they have developed spells and arcane rituals unique to them
You're not sure how true any of these rumors are, and some are quite dubious indeed.
You've received at least a little intensive training from other members of the Great Downward. Chief Engineer Foil has spoken with you, and echoed Illden's sentiments. He's hopeful for the venture, but not able to offer ou much support.
Importantly many of the Valley's powerful nobles and adventurers are spooked. With the recent divine altercations, more potent magic has become unreliable. Spells that return people from the dead are now no longer sure things, and people fear death and assassination in a way they haven't for centuries.
=== Setting Out ===
You will take a wagon from Skor, and head west until you hit the South Rostiland Road. From there you will head as close to Lycia as you can, before stopping at a small trading post. There you will get one last chance to resupply before heading out into the wilderness. It's expected to be a 25-day trip to the outpost.
Good Luck.