Tom Cartos – Hofsteder Ranch

The Hofsteder family were among the first to leave the Empires protected lands and try to make a new life in the freeholds to the east. Life was hard at first, but they quickly learned the best ways to make use of the resources available and what started out as a small wooden house with a couple of sheds has grown in the extensive ranch that stands on the same site today. Dozens of acres around the ranch have also been successfully converted into farmable land and they now supply most of the local settlements with grain, cattle, milk, horses and meat.

Over the last few nights there have been break-ins. This is not unheard of in what is still a largely lawless region, but these episodes have been different. Some of the outer perimeter fences have been smashed down and only one or two of the cows have disappeared at a time, whereas bandits would generally be much quieter, using the gates and attempting to rustle all of the cattle in one go. Larger monsters and creatures occasionally roam the plains nearby, but there was no sign of blood and the remaining animals were quiet and un- spooked throughout.

Even stranger is that Gus, the lead farm hand, heard and saw nothing. His eagle eyes and alertness normally keep him well informed of all the goings on around the ranch, both night and day. After the third similar attack Vardin Hofsteder, the head of the family, has put out word in the local town that he is looking for adventurers willing to investigate.