Tuesday, March 12, 2019

Lost Dispatches of Feraso #18 - The Duchy of Ostverk

City of Terstein, Duchy of Ostverk

To His Lordship, the Viscount Wilfrick of Verbobonc,

The Order of Merit has returned to civilization! 

Despite our best intents on returning to Verbobonc City and the spoils of society contained therein, we are well into the heartland of Ras-Prythax.

We are still traveling with Duke Hughethan Reikhoff of Ostverk to personally deliver reports on the attack on Schattenwurf, information on the elemental cults plaguing Verbobonc, and the disappearance of the wizard Greenwall.

The Duke still doubts large swaths of our story, but he does believe I worked in your castle, ergo I can be a trustworthy representative when we speak directly to the Krugraf.

As I previously mentioned, Ostverk lies the center of the Kingdoms, and its economy and good fortune affects even the lowly peasant.

The capital of Terstein is a fortified city.  The construction of the walls began just after the last Barbarian Invasion, and a second, lesser wall is being constructed to protect the new outskirts of the city's influence.  I don't foresee any suitible threats that could march well into Ras-Prythax and even attempt to penetrate even this new outer wall, but I leave that decision to the nobles and generals.
Terstein, Duchy of Ostverk
Our stay in Terstein is intentionally short-lived.  We are giving the Duke enough time to review his personal matters of state, and for all of us to obtain suitable clothing that is proper is the Court of Krugraf Mykul.  Our dwarf, Murag Moutainhammer, is furious over the requirement of "stuffy human" style clothing, and absolutely livid that Morya, our Northern warrior woman, has been permitted to stay in her equipment and furs, rather than a proper dress.

The Duke is a fine man, aged well past his significant years, and full of wisdom.  He's actively protected his dominion and all of Ras-Prythax since he became a Knight of Feraso, well before his coronation.

By the time we arrived into his city, he had warmed to our adventuring troupe and invited us to his castle for a small, unofficial dinner.

I discovered that his wife, Gabriella, had recently passed, but even more amazed that the heir to the throne, Prince Gregor, was actually one of the bodyguards and fellow Knight to, the Duke!

I also got to meet his grandchildren, whose arrival created a more jovial occasion.  Even so it was amazing to hear that his eldest grandson, Gunter, all but eight years old, was ready to be sent off to one of the far corners of Ras-Prythax to train to become a squire for one of the Knights.  It seems awfully early for such a tiny boy, but again, as a "Sage" it is not one of my areas of expertise.

I anticipate arrival in Feraso City in just a few days and will update you on any worthy intelligence at that time.

Your Humble Servant,
Elsderth Greyhawk
Former Sellsword, Sage of the Order of Merit, and Personal Escort of Duke Hugethan Reikhoff of Ostverk.

DM Notes: Ostverk is but a small town in Verbobonc in the orginal Greyhawk setting, but it sounds much more majestic than that, which is why I stole it for one of the larger Duchies in Ras-Prythax.

Finally a letter without mention of the elf! Truth be told, we're diverging paths from the original campaign, although I'm certain they made a visit or two to Feraso City.

The Lost Dispatches are published completely out of chronological order compared to the other campaigns I've posted. The only thing I intentionally added to this letter for the sake of continuity was the appearance of Prince Gunter. Regular readers might remember a one-time, but very important appearance much later in his life. Bonus points to the people at home who post the episode in the comments.


Next: #19 Feraso City

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