Appendix • The Warband

## Mountain Hunt

### Near Bael Barak*(7th of Riferen, 4E 776)*

Gera and Kalahan stood breathing heavily at the mountain’s precipice. The grey-furred tabaxi hunter had immediately gotten busy dissecting the small but chubby wyvern, falling quickly into routine. They had been tracking said wyvern for more than half a day, going all the way up from the base of the mountain, following it upwards as it carried its prey towards its nest.

Kalahan had considered just letting his Einherjar heritage do the work and charging towards it as he did on most hunting forays, but Gera seemed to know what he was doing, as well as enjoy it. Climbing along the sheer rock face, followed closely by his even furrier bear companion Misha, Gera never let his mark out of earshot, keeping an eye on his glowing magical Lantern of Tracking. The red glow painted the white-grey snow red, signalling drakes were nearby, and slowly but surely the trio made their way closer to their mark’s nest. Kalahan settled on simply enjoying the sights along the way. If Gera missed his shot, then the wyvern would attack, and so the claymore would be unsheathed.

The claymore would remain sheathed, however, for Gera did not miss. First a quarrel was loosed, dipped in viscous poison which grazed the creature and caused it to fall and slow down, making it easier prey. Without pause, Gera had his second quarrel ready, with a dark shaft and smoky feathers trailing in its wake, sending the drake crashing into its nest and the waiting claws of Misha.

Together, the two hunters harvested their felled prey. No part would go to waste, as Gera harvested its scales and poison glands, with Kalahan praising and thanking the Earthmaven for her bounty while harvesting the rest.

They would feast well tonight. Together with Kalahan’s half-tiefling companion, Marcella, they stayed at one of the inns further from the centre of Bael Barak. Kalahan was distrustful of dwarves, and preferred to stay as far from as many of them as possible, even in their own fortresses. When Gera mentioned that he was trained by such a dwarf, whom he calls the Flintbreaker, Kalahan made no comment. It was not his place to judge after all. Kalahan mentioned that he was chosen by the Bannerlord, and as he does with most companions, regaled Gera with the story of his birth and title. Gera in return mentioned his aspiration to kill a mythical dragon, as well as wanting to visit his family again. On both counts, Kalahan related on some level.

Regardless of his mentor, Gera fought well, and had good principals. The two had met near a bounty board, both incidentally grabbing the same bounty, the one that looked most dangerous. Rather than coming to blows, the two decided to work together, and later on that night they celebrated with a few drinks. Kalahan mentioned that he was going further north, trying to find his father Arlak the Cliff, and Gera, knowing of the many creatures which were bound to cross his path, offered to accompany him. Kalahan agreed. So they struck an accord. Not an oath by any means, but simply an agreement to cover each others’ backs until destiny took them elsewhere.

## Wild Pursuits

### Baraz Ankôr*(12th of Riferen, 4E 776)*

The capital of the Dûrandein makes for some strong breaths of fresh air and spectacular vistas from which one can see the breath-taking reaches of the Mogul Caí. It is not, however, a city that welcomes visitors with open arms. As Boryenka, an ursine - well-built for trouble, makes his way to the local inn he receives little bother apart from stern and sullen looks from passers-by. He is here to meet his sister, Vanya, although one could not tell by looking at them. Vanya, a shifter, had been travelling, and having landed back in Maíandir around a month ago, had sought out Boryenka to meet and catch up.

The two share a couple of drinks as well as some of their stories. Boryenka mentions that he had left their shared home to look for his biological family and clan, while Vanya confesses to him that her venture had failed, and she had been left betrayed and with nothing. Vowing to become a stronger person in every sense of the word and then return to her family, she is interrupted by a bar fight which sends furniture crashing their way.

It all started because of a half-deaf dwarf who heard the wrong thing. Kalahan's personality often clashed with people who took negative comments very seriously. One such comment was all it took for a dwarven nobleman by the name of Romlin, son of Dwalin, to come to blows, and Kalahan was promptly kicked out of the city shortly after he had started his service.

Fast forward to today. Kalahan has a few more scars now, and more patience. Dwarves have long memories, and as Gera, Marcella, and Kalahan settled in one of the inns, it wasn't long before Kalahan got recognised by Romlin. The inn grew quiet as a still morning as the disgruntled noble demanded of Kalahan an apology.

Anyone acquainted with Kalahan can tell you he is straightforward. Cue in more insults both ways, and then Kalahan's mug meets Romlin's face. Romlin's chair meets Kalahan's back. The inn quickly devolves into your typical bar brawl. A bar brawl, incidentally, in which Boryenka and Vanya were just prior catching up.

The duo's policy of staying out of other people's fights was thrown out of the window when they became the eye of the maelstrom around them. Boryenka roars as his conversation is interrupted, and with each hand he knocks other brawlers out, swinging wide, powerful blows. Vanya, in contrast, is like water dodging left and right in a rhythm of her own, disabling her opponents with precise strikes.

Several bruises later, the brawl ends the only way it could, with the parties left standing getting thrown out headfirst into the streets of Baraz Ankôr. Realising that he had ruined a few people's nights, Kalahan offers to buy the duo a couple of drinks. He introduces himself and his companions, and mentions that he is preparing to go further north in order to search for his father.

While not wanting to ask outright, he mentions that the two are welcome to join him if they wish, and since their goals align, they accept. So the pack grows larger, and they head on to Aldrhun.

## Old Blood and New

### Aldrhun*(3rd of Maer, 4E 776)*

The road to Aldrhun is long, with steep climbs and sheer faces, underground passages, and high, treacherous paths. The group is, however, well-equipped to mitigate the worst of these hardships, and now that the snow is starting to thaw and the warm suns are starting to make their presence felt, the journey could be much worse.

It takes Kalahan’s group three days to reach Aldrhun, a dwarven fortress that guards the edges of the Mogul Caí. The fortress is similar to others within Dûrandur, located high up on a mountain edge, with an intimidating array of fortifications and defences. It is here, that Kalahan and his group meet with the last three unusual members of their party.

Unlike how he met the rest of the group, Kalahan’s meeting with Arianne, Torfin and Rylan was straightforward. Perhaps this was for the best, as Arianne is a member of the Nievalski Rus, famed bodyguards of the Urski Czarina.

Wherever they go, the Nievalski Rus tend to do so on command of the Ice Queen herself, so finding one at the Old Blood, accompanied by a taciturn goliath and an Urski war veteran no less, was enough to pique Kalahan’s interest.

In truth, Arianne was under orders from the Czarina to investigate the undead menace to the north, and was looking for some added swords to combat the danger that such a threat would present. Torfin, a hulking goliath with several tattoos and a helmet that concealed his face, commented on little, betraying little emotion, while Rylan, armed and armoured in battle-scored war gear, made it clear that he was looking for tests of battle, plain and simple. Torfin kept his aspirations to himself, keeping his thoughts between him and his Tankard of Plenty. Rylan on the other hand admits that he is saving up for his retirement, and Kalahan and he spend sometime talking about the Bannerlord, which they both worship.

The two groups met while they were both making preparations to head further north, and stumbled into conversation merely through the curiosity such a colourful ensemble brought with it. In one city, a tabaxi huntsman looking to slay a dragon, a shifter looking to prove herself, an ursine looking for his kin, a half-tiefling following her lover, and a sword champion of the Bannerlord had met a member of the Nievalski Rus, and two more fearsome warriors looking to meet their mettle. Granted, all of these people are common to Urskaya, a land of strife, where nothing is easily won and earned. But, all of them in the same place looking to go in a similar direction?

Kalahan could not ignore such an omen. Clearly, the Bannerlord had sent them all here for a purpose, for something was brewing to the north. Perhaps his father is linked to something greater, or perhaps the Bannerlord simply used Arlak to guide
Kalahan forward. He knew not, but he wouldn’t let this go to waste. Arianne, of course, thought pretty much the same, for such a fearsome troupe of warriors could be put to good use in service of the Czarina.

So he approached Arianne, who was more than willing to make an oath under open sky to aid Kalahan on his quest, and in return, Kalahan would have her back when she investigates the source of the undeath. With an oath stronger than steel, and a determination to see their goals fulfilled, the band of warriors ventured forth, into the icy lands of Wyldcrown...