Two years ago a Skeliri courier offered War Chief Korvash Durr silver and steel to raid Naath's trails, and he took it. The steel blades are Naath steel that the Skeliri took from caravans they ambushed. Korvash tells his band the steel was won in raids, and he uses it to buy the backing of other band chiefs. He has four and needs six to take the empty high chief's seat at Vrahn-Ur Hearth.
The new mark on Murgha's slab is a Skeliri meeting mark, a row of spires and a full moon. It means Glimvale Teeth on the night of the next full moon, which is the night of 0001-04-15. The courier cut it here because Korvash's scouts stop at the shrine before every raid. Korvash will come to the southern spire with two guards to collect his pay. Anyone who sees the meeting, or takes the pay, holds the proof that could turn the other chiefs against him.
The drum beat in the opening is the war drum at The Three-Ledge Toll Post, far down the pass. One beat means one traveler.
Murgha Ashvein wants to know who cut the mark and which chief it was for. She will not name anyone before there is proof. With proof, she sends a warning to the chiefs at Vrahn-Ur Hearth.
Korvash Durr wants the high seat, and he denies any deal with the Skeliri.
Hagra Stonecut keeps the toll post half a day down the pass. She wants Korvash brought down, and she has smelled Skeliri scent charms on his runners. She helps quietly if her name is kept out of it.
Drakha Mol-Urn at The Seekers' Hall wants to know who pays for the raids.
Budgets for one level 3 character are Low 150, Moderate 225 and High 400 XP. Add the same row for each other level 3 character present. The Bronthok Reaches are Wild (12+) for Encounter Checks. Glimvale Teeth is on the Skeliri border and counts as Deadly (9+).
The mark. The Cracked Shrine of Kol-Daraz, 0001-04-12, 16:30. A Skeliri reads part of the mark with no roll. The spires are Glimvale Teeth, and the moon is the next full moon. Anyone else needs a DC 15 Intelligence (Investigation) check to see it was cut with a fine Skeliri tool, not a Redfang chisel. A Redfang knows that a Skeliri mark cut on a Redfang shrine is a deep insult. Murgha knows the moon. It is full three nights from now. Glimvale Teeth is a long day's walk northwest, about 10 hours.
The runner. The Cracked Shrine of Kol-Daraz, 18:00. The single drum beat was a Redfang scout coming back up from the forest trails (Redfang Orc Grunt). He was one of the scouts Murgha blessed two nights ago. He goes straight to the slab, copies the mark onto a scrap of hide with charcoal, and leaves for the Redfang Warcamp of Skorvul Crag. He smells of Skeliri scent charms, which a DC 12 Wisdom (Perception) check notices. A Skeliri knows the smell with no roll. Hiding from him takes a DC 12 Dexterity (Stealth) check. Talk works in the Redfang tongue. A DC 14 Charisma (Intimidation) check makes him admit the war chief wants word whenever the Skeliri mark the stone. A fight is 1 Redfang Orc Grunt (200 XP, Moderate for one character). He gives up when hurt below half. Murgha will not allow the slab to be touched. If he never reaches the war camp, Korvash still goes to the Teeth on the full moon, and he brings 2 more Redfang Orc Grunt.
The toll post. The Three-Ledge Toll Post, any day. The toll is salt, an iron tool or a day's food. Hagra Stonecut weighs it and names its worth. Alone with someone she trusts, she says she has counted eleven of Korvash's runners with Skeliri scent charms since the snow melted. She can ask for an outsider to be heard at Vrahn-Ur Hearth.
The meeting. Glimvale Teeth, 0001-04-15, 23:00. Silk lines run between the spires. A DC 13 Wisdom (Perception) check spots one in the moonlight. Walking into one deals 1d6 slashing damage, and pulling free takes a DC 12 Strength (Athletics) check. A Silkbound Ascendant walks the southern spire once an hour. It is 1,100 XP and never a fight for level 3 characters. Hiding as it passes takes a DC 13 Dexterity (Stealth) check. The courier (Skeliri Grunt) comes down the spire path alone at 22:30. Korvash Durr arrives with 2 Redfang Orc Grunt. They talk in plain common. The courier hands over a sack of silver and a bundle of six steel blades, and tells Korvash to hit the Merchant Guild cart train on the northwest road before the month ends. Then the courier climbs back to meet his partner. Korvash with his guards is far beyond any budget here. If they find the players, Korvash orders them taken alive to the Redfang Warcamp of Skorvul Crag, to trade back for iron.
Proof can be taken three ways. Catching the courier alone on the path before the meeting is 1 Skeliri Grunt (200 XP, Moderate for one character). He falls back when hurt, and his sack holds the silver and the blades. Catching him after the meeting, with his partner, is 2 Skeliri Grunt (400 XP, High for one character, Moderate for two). Stealing one blade from the guards at their first rest takes a DC 15 Dexterity (Sleight of Hand) check. The blades carry the marks of Naath smiths.
The chiefs. Vrahn-Ur Hearth, 0001-04-20, 12:00. With proof in hand, Murgha sends word, and the chiefs meet at the Hearth. Murgha or Hagra invites the players to speak. Korvash comes with the Redfang Giant. Turning the chiefs takes a DC 15 Charisma (Persuasion) check with only the players' word. It is DC 10 with a blade or the silver, and no roll with the courier himself. Speaking in the Redfang tongue gives Advantage. On a success most of Korvash's backers turn from him. On a failure they stay, and Korvash names the players his enemies.
0001-04-12, 18:00. The runner copies the mark and leaves for the Redfang Warcamp of Skorvul Crag.
0001-04-15, 23:00. Korvash takes his silver and steel at Glimvale Teeth.
0001-04-17, 10:00. Two of Korvash's warriors come to the shrine and scrape the mark off the slab. Murgha tries to stop them, and they knock her to the floor.
0001-04-18. Korvash buys a fifth chief with the new steel.
0001-04-26, 07:00. Korvash's raiders hit a Merchant Guild cart train on the northwest road near The Craghowl Fork.
Good. The chiefs hear the proof at Vrahn-Ur Hearth. Korvash loses his backers, and the raids slow.
Mixed. The players know the truth but hold no proof, or Murgha is hurt before word goes out. Korvash keeps his backers for now.
Bad. A character is taken to the Redfang Warcamp of Skorvul Crag, or Korvash takes the high seat.
75 gp from Drakha Mol-Urn at The Seekers' Hall for a true report of who pays for the raids. She offers the Ridge Route Reporter job.
The courier's silver is worth 150 gp. A steel Longsword from the bundle is the players' to keep once the chiefs have seen it.
Murgha Ashvein and Hagra Stonecut become contacts. Murgha heals the players at the shrine for free.
Heroic Inspiration for speaking at the Hearth.
The challenge. Any Redfang may challenge Korvash at Varruk's Teeth. The son of the chief Korvash beat there wants revenge, if someone can match the Redfang Giant.
The hammer sign. The sign over the shrine arch matches the one on Thurm-Gar's Cairn. Hrodmar would be furious to hear the Skeliri cut marks here. Any contract that takes the party to Thurm-Gar's Cairn leads there.
The cart train. The raid on the northwest road is still planned, and the bone piles at The Craghowl Fork count the Warden patrols.