The Augur Lodge
The Augur Lodge is located east of the northern settlements of Chybisa, halfway towards the Anadel Hills. It is one of several secret outposts of the Navehan sect of Aedlad the Imprisoned, designed to bring the local Pagaelin tribes under the control of the cult. The lodge appears to be a trading outpost. The augur, Kadon of Nurisel, carefully maintains the disguise and has built up contacts to the settlements in the region. His main objective, of course, is converting the Pagaelin tribes in the region.
The Augur Lodge near Shenadun is one of the youngest of its kind in the area. The Navehans have their headquarters Bejist and therefore focused on the western tribes at first. This particular lodge was built in 703 TR and serves the double purpose to create a foothold into the kingdom of Chybisa and to subdue the local Pagaelin tribes.
The lodge has been a popular assignment for those priests who preferred to work on their own and far from the influence of the mother temple. Cult members with this attitude tend to be mistrusted by their superiors. Consequently, the person of the augur has already changed several times since its creation.
In 716 the last augur, Valdran, decided to curb the expansionist tendencies of the Ceselryds by using his influence on the local tribes to have Lord Barian killed. Assuming that Cheorl, his son and likely successor, would be less enthusiastic to civilize the wilderness after a bloody drawback, he laid an ambush, aided by local tribesmen. While he succeeded in killing Barian, his plan otherwise failed abysmally. Cheorl was killed as well when he unexpectedly turned up and tried to help his father. While Cheorl was a calm and modest man with limited ambition, his younger brother and successor, Lardis, proved to be fanatic crusader whose skills matched his ambition.
The high priest of Bejist decided that Valdran was no longer bearable and that measures had to be taken to draw suspicion away from the sect and to calm the region. The Navehans burned the lodge and dispatched the Pagaelin Raunir (acolytes) that Valdran had recruited. Valdran himself was flayed alive in Pagaelin fashion and his body was placed in the ruins to make it appear that he was yet another victim of Pagaelin unrest.
His successor, Kadon, carefully tried to calm the situation. He visited Shenadun six months later, claiming to be a relative of Valdran. Reestablishing the contacts with the Pagaelin, he counseled the local chieftains against any reprisal acts when the Ceselryds were avenging the death of Barian with a series of bloody attacks on Pagaelin camps and hunting parties. Following his counsel, the Pagaelin Ollin tribe moved their camp out of the immediate vicinity of. This move prevented any further escalation of the conflict and achieved an uneasy peace in the region. Instead of opposing the expansionism of the Ceselryds, Kadon has been very successful in using it for his own ends.
Kadon is very careful not to draw any suspicion to his person or the lodge. He keeps close contacts with the local trappers and miners and is generally a cheerful and friendly host to anyone whose disappearance would likely cause trouble. Anyone else is usually ambushed and murdered shortly after leaving the trade post, preferably after drinking some of Kadon's drugged wine.
Kadon has been known to aid both trappers and miners in the past and both groups regard his lodge as a valuable safehold in the dangerous wilderness.
Kadon claims to come from island of Melderyn. The Ceselryds have Melderyni origins but never ventured to the island.
Local Map Notes
1. Trading Post (Kadon of Nurisel)
Size: 3 Quality: *** Prices: Very High
The trading post serves as cover for the augur lodge. Kadon has six Raunir (barbarian initiates) who help him with the day to day activities and to assist him during the rituals. They also serve as messengers, guards and assassins if need be. Kadon mainly trades with Pagaelin and the local trappers and miners. His Raunirs even occasionally trade with the Chindra Gargun. Kadon raises some vegetables in the adjacent garden for his own consumption and at the same time uses the garden to plant several alchemical herbs to produce the necessary drugs for his ceremonies.
3. Clearing This place is used for the augur feasts.
4. The Walker's Hills These Jarin hill graves have been a taboo to the Pagaelin for many generations as they are said to be haunted by the graves' inhabitants. Kadon has claimed that the Walker of the Heath is the master over the restless souls and has thoroughly impressed the tribes by setting up the place for the high ritual of the Akan-Shri on the center hill. Only those who have passed the ordeal are permitted to go near the graves. Any others who have been foolish enough to do so have suffered the wrath of the dead, usually carried out by Kadon's Raunirs.
Interior Map Notes
Trading Post Interior
1. Courtyard The palisade wall is 10 feet high and stoutly built. While this offers a reasonable defense, the real protection comes from the spiritual powers of the inhabitants.
2. Trading area This is where Kadon stocks his trade goods and makes deals. He tends to make honest bargains with trappers and miners to avoid any suspicion. He also sells to the Pagaelin, mostly metal tools, gargun weapons and drugs.
3. Main Hall Most of the social life in the "trading post" takes place here. Kadon always has a pint of ale or wine ready for customers and usually offers some food as well. He to keep close contacts with the trappers and miners of the region. Those who enjoy the protection of a local manor lord will usually find him a cheerful and hospitable host; strangers will usually disappear forever a short while after they leave him.
4. Kadon's quarters Kadon's room is moderately comfortable and gives no hint towards his real identity. A trapdoor under the bed leads to the escape tunnel. Kadon's black cat "Sirlah" frequently sleeps on his bed and hisses loudly if any stranger enters the room.
5. Tannery Kadon occasionally buys pelts and hides from tribesmen which he stores here until he sells them in Shenadun.
Tunnel
1. Tunnel entrance The trapdoor under Kadon's bed leads to this escape tunnel. The chests contain the cultish items that Kadon does not want to store above ground, including some drugs, poisons and ritual garb and weapons.
2. Storehouse entrance This second entrance connects the storehouse with the living quarters. The trapdoor concealed with a large box above ground through which it may be entered.
3. Well The well shaft is accessible from the tunnel difficult to climb. Kadon leaves the rope from the winch hanging down so that it can be used to climb if need be.
4. Spike trap Kadon has constructed a simple trap here to slow down any pursuer if he needs to use the tunnel as an escape route. A dozen concealed wooden spikes in the floor make sure that anyone stepping on the sustains a nasty wound to the feet or knees (depending on whether the victims walks or crawls).