<div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote">Quote</div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">Be it so known that the bearer of this charter has been charged<br/>by the Swordlords of Restov, acting upon the greater good and<br/>authority vested within them by the office of the Regent of the<br/>Dragonscale Throne, has granted the right of exploration and travel<br/>within the wilderness region known as the Greenbelt. Exploration<br/>should be limited to an area no further than thirty-six miles east and<br/>west and sixty miles south of Oleg’s Trading Post. The carrier of<br/>this charter should also strive against banditry and other unlawful<br/>behavior to be encountered. The punishment for unrepentant banditry<br/>remains, as always, execution by sword or rope. So witnessed on this<br/>24th day of Calistril, under watchful eye of the Lordship of Restov<br/>and authority granted by Lord Noleski Surtova, current Regent of<br/>the Dragonscale Throne.</blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br/>Three more charters had been granted, and their bearers arrived at Olegston just as the settlement's council was having its first mid-summer meeting. It had only been three months since the first pioneers had arrived and staked their claims in the surrounding lands around the trading post. Now the hamlet was a busy, if still small, hive of activity, with the farmers working at breakneck pace to till the virgin soil and plant the first harvest of crops, racing against time to try to ensure at least one harvest before the winter months. In the cool evening hours, the informal council gathered in the trading post in the centre of the hamlet, with the three newcomers invited to join them.<br/><br/>Mayor Bingley called the meeting to order, rambling on as he gave an unneeded opening speech that tended to get sidetracked into irrelevant topics. When the old gnome was finally finished, everyone breathed hidden sighs of the relief, and the real discussion began.<br/><br/>Kressle Tuskcleaver was the next to speak, reporting on the latest patrol into the Narlmarches. The scout's furs left little of her well-toned muscles and ample bust to the imagination, but most of those present had long gotten used to her scanty style of dress. As an ex-bandit who was personally converted to the side of good and law by Sir Silas, she and her men knew the lay of the land better than most and she was the most natural choice to lead patrols in the wilderness outside Olegston. "In short, the bandits have stayed south of the Thorn for a time," she concluded. "They are likely regrouping, but in the meanwhile we have some breathing room."<br/><br/>"Thank you," Kesten Garess nodded. As Captain of the Olegston guard it all its single-digit glory, Kressle technically reported to him. "I move we take this chance to secure our flanks. For example, taking care of the damned spider problem once and for all." He glanced over at the three newcomers, the latest charter-bearers to arrive, and elaborated for their benefit. "About ten miles from here, to the southeast, a giant spider took over some poor hermit's hut. It hasn't wandered far from its lair yet, but you can understand how the farmers feel about such a neighbour. The Greenbelts found out about it the hard way. We'll need to flush it out with fire and put an end to the beast, and better sooner than later."<br/><br/>At the mention of the Knights of the Greenbelt, eyes flickered over to the sole bearer of the trademark green belt in the room, Dame Lara. "Ahem," Lawrence Oleg coughed, drawing attention to himself. He was here because this was his trading post and his hall, after all. "Don't get the wrong idea," he reassured the newcomers, "the spider didn't get the rest of them. Only Silas took a bite, poor bastard, and he must have been allergic to its venom or something because he's still recovering. As for the others, ah, a word of advice for the ladies: moon radishes put buns in ovens, so to speak."<br/><br/>"But what about the temple?" Jhod Kavken cut in. "Even a god's patience has limits. I continue to receive visions of his temple in my dreams, still unreclaimed and unrestored. I hear<br/><br/>Marisa Mushroom rolled her eyes as the middle-aged priest began to recite. "Oh, here we go again..."<br/><br/><em>Across the Greenbelt's river<br/>Long lost among the trees,<br/>Beneath the stone elk's antlers <br/>The bear has paid his fee;<br/><br/>He counts his days in sorrow,<br/>The guardian makes amends<br/>Till sword, spell, lance and arrow<br/>Come forth to bring his end.</em><br/><br/>"If the first line is any indication," Kesten protested, "the temple lies on the wrong side of the Thorn. Even if we can defeat this mystery guardian, there's no promise we can hold it against the bandits. They're organized under their leader who they call the Stag Lord," he added for the newcomers, "these aren't your everyday ruffians and highwaymen. We knock the spider out of the equation and we can focus on bringing the bandits to justice. Then we can restore all the temples we want."<br/><br/>"Look not down upon the blessings of Erastil!" Jhod roared, rising to his feet at the provocation. "Divine favour can make or break your little hamlet. Only a fool ignores a direct order from a god."<br/><br/>"Calm down, everyone," Marisa said, trying to defuse the situation. "With our new friends here, why not do both at once? Split into three groups, one for the spider, one for the temple, and one to remain for defense."<br/><br/>"Even assuming they are willing to help," Kesten gave them a nod at this point, "we'll still be stretched thin and exposed to a raid."<br/><br/>"Didn't Kressle say that the bandits have been quiet lately?" Marisa countered. "Better we do this now than trying to salvage the situation when they're out in force."<br/><br/>"Fair enough," Kesten acquiesced. He turned to the newcomers. "We still don't know too much about your capabilities. Which task would be more suited for your strengths?"