Pleased to meet you, won't you guess my name...

March is a turbulent month for the Iron ridge.

With the Ruby Kings envoy long gone from your lands the northern borders settle, the Rivering raiding parties disappearing back into the flatlands.

The month does not pass with out bloodshed however. Runners from the mountain hamlets and mines report frequent Beastman raids, many lives are lost and production is slowed to a crawl. The raiding parties all bear the mark of a red star set on a black goat skull. The mountain men claim this is the mark of the Longhorn tribe and that many of the Beastmen groups have flocked to the call of their new war chief Graab the blood drinker!

The men of the valley are not with out strife either. There was a brief respite after Duke Iven and Elessars battle with the forest bandits, but as the month nears its end stories of giant spiders attack farming villages in the dead of night start to become common news in the Moose head inn.

With only a few days left in the month a trading caravan flying the banner of the Riverun merchant’s guild sets up camp on the outskirts of Blackwell castle. The following morning two merchants approach the castle gate and seek an audience with the King. After being availed of their weapons they are shown into the throne room.

A strikingly beautiful human lady introduces herself as “Trader Topaz” of the Rivering merchant’s guild. She is expensively dressed in fine silks and her posture and speech lead you to believe she is of noble stock. Her offsider, she introduces as “Trader Adam”. Adam appears to be a Devil, his skin shines with an off-putting metallic sheen and his eyes are with out iris, only sharp pinpricks of black at their centre. From his head sprout matching horns and his teeth appear sharpened like tiny dagger. Adam is also well dressed in fine garb and an honest and friendly smile sits awkwardly on his face. Those of you who have spent any time in Faraway have no doubt heard tale of a Devil operating within the Rivering merchants and it appears those stories were true.

“Noble and brave king Blackwell,” Trader Topaz begins “We come as representatives of the merchant guild of Rivering to offer our congratulations on your rightful ascension to the throne of the Iron Region. We bring many gifts to celebrate this mementos occasion and wish only to broker a friendly relationship between our two glorious cities.”

As this sentence is finished half a dozen laborers are lead into the throne room carrying three large chests which are placed before the Blackwell throne.

The King seems entranced by the Traders words and quickly orders refreshments prepared for his honored guests.