Campaign Lore: The Great Talon

(Originally posted to my Patreon page)

In the southern range of the Solde Mountains, the tribal people of Wolf's Watch were keeping vigil over the road, although their old enemies had been gone for three entire generations. The mountains may have been perilous, but the people had grown accustomed to this life. Also, they were watched over by The Great Silver One.

This peace changed when the first of the terrible lizards appeared. They were small, with a sickly brown skin, and their bite carried a horrible poison, which made the sufferer dream and fall asleep while they were to be eaten alive. These dreams were not pleasant ones, sometimes forcing the victim awake to see their tiny doom. These were the little ones, called "compos", first of their kind to arrive.

Soon other beasts appeared in the mountains. Some were docile, others were aggressive, but there was one kind that the people called "dynos". The dynos were smart, clever, and knew how to hunt as the people did. Many of the people died, and once again the road south became perilous for a time. The chieftain declared the War of the Talons, and began sending warriors to eliminate the scourge from the land.

At first, there was great success, and the numbers appeared to thin. Soon, however, the monsters grew stronger, smarter, and more organized. It was Sivion, a youth who had been gifted with visions, who saw the truth - that these monsters were not of the world, and that they had a leader. One of their own, who was fierce, strong, and had the mind of a man. Of all of the "talons", this was the most dangerous. The Great Talon, they named him.

A terrible poverty began to fall on Carasa, as the trade routes became assailed with planned attacks by the dynos. The people's warriors were falling, and one night, the chieftain, Eka, was killed in his sleep by a dozen dynos. The people believed their gods had abandoned them, and called out for the Great Silver One, to no avail. Many fled Wolf's Watch for the lands to the south.

Not all grew afraid. Though Sivion was never able to walk, they had no end to courage, and demanded that the warriors remain. Some listened, and even called to name Sivion as their new chieftain, which they refused. Instead, Sivion named Arta as the new chieftain, and the people accepted him. Arta was Sivion's cousin, and a great hunter. Together, led by Sivion's visions, they came up with a plan.

Arta took Sivion to the mountains in a great chair, leaving him out in the cold. The warriors began to hunt down a pack of the dynos, drawing them away from Sivion. Alone, and with the attackers distracted, Sivion called out to the Great Talon, and the Great Talon responded. It drooled at the sight of its next meal, a helpless human of great power. It was eager to play with its food. Sivion was not afraid, and did not fight back. Only beckoned the beast to come forward.

What the Great Talon did not know, however, was that Arta was waiting under the snow. As The Great Talon leapt at Sivion, Arta sprang up with a spear, piecing the beast's heart. Then he drew out a curved sword, and in one swipe took the beast's head off. He put the head in Sivion's lap, and carried the chair down the mountains. Once at the base, he took the head, and walked to the center of the village, the site of the town well.

The warriors returned from the hunt, having lost many, but with many more dyno skins and meat. Their hearts sprang at the site of the head of the Great Talon, and Arta was praised by the people. The dyno attacks became clumsy and random again, and the roads were kept safe from that point on by the warriors. Those who abandoned Wolf's Watch were shamed, and Arta was known as one of the great chieftains. Sivion, meanwhile, became the people's Seer, a figure of great honor - perhaps more than even the chieftain.

The keeper of The Wolf's Den Inn saw the beast's head, and admired the hunting prowess. While the remains of The Great Talon were taken for meat, young Ochan asked to buy the trophy from Arta. The people, however, did not engage in trade, instead asking Ochan to show a favor to the people. This favor was repaid, but that is another story...