[Word carries of a recent massacre at the border of Barovia and Nova Vaasa. Though heavy upon speculation and bereft of corroborated fact, talk suffuses of a caravan of Duke Soren Rivtoff waylaid by horrible monstrosities of massive arachnids which left nothing but slaughter in its wake. One of the Duke's close confidants and advisors, Henrik Kjartan, was among the dead along with his private guard and a man of of the cloth devoted to the Iron Faith. The rumors speak of remains savaged by plains cats followed by extensive increased patrols of the road by Duke Rivtoff's men. Initial swarms of guards investigated the scene thoroughly, speculation rife that the expeditions sought out a valuable or valuables lost - though no one seems to know what the Duke's men scour for or what monstrosities might want with worldly possessions.]