... coming up the road from the south of Belinara (Nesar Kingdom), you experience drastic changes ...
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Already in Nith and later in Fort Miritix you hear several rumours concerning Kuhl. They range from horror stories about demon cullings to tales about the peaceful state of the land thanks to their draconic protectors. It seems that more dragons have emerged - Bastion, Protector of Phal, is no longer alone.
As you enter the Kuhl Kingdom you notice a change of atmosphere. At first it is nothing you can point your finger at, but as you reach Vilsar you feel and see it everywhere - Kuhl is preparing for war. Everywhere there are posters asking young men and women to sign up for the army. Outside the city you notice large camps alongside training grounds for cavalry, archers and pikemen. There is no panic on the hamlets and villages, nor on the streets, but people are slowly filing into the city from the country, leaving their farms behind.
Queen Alise Langovale has ordered the city militias on full alert and has passed on authority to the lords of each city to raise armies. Nothing has yet been said about the 'why', so people are speculating. Many feel, however, that it has to do with the unrest up north.
You travel to Amaria and encounter more patrols and check points along the road there. The state of affairs here is no different than what you experienced in Vilsar - although preparations have gone further here. You stay here only shortly before continuing to Westgate, the capitol of Kuhl.
The military presence increases as you travel north and you follow a small regiment of soldiers that is dispatched from Amaria to Westgate. Even though there is good natured talking along the way, the men and women are tense and know very little about their objectives.
As you reach Westgate you join a mile-long line of fugitives waiting to enter the city. People are pushing and at one point a panic nearly breaks out. For hours you wait and movement happens in small increments - it seems that everyone entering the city is checked and has to answer questions. When it comes to you, you decide to be truthful (at least to a certain degree) and admit that you are adventurers who have come to Kuhl to see what is going on here. After long explanations inside a guard office you are allowed to enter the city, but also asked to return to the guard office in case of emergency - it seems they count on you to help in the fighting, should such a time arise. Probably partially the reason for allowing you entrance.
Westgate is a city preparing for an attack. There are soldiers and commoners everywhere. Farmers are selling their wares for outrageous prices, but the city is passing out rations to the needy twice a day, so that no one will starve... for now at least. Discipline is strict to keep a sense of lawfulness and peace within the city and the military seems efficient and well trained. Ballistas have been arrayed on top of the city walls and archers are posted at every murder hole - Westgate is waiting for something. What? No one seems to exactly know. At least none of those you speak to or are willing to speak with you.
Finally you leave Westgate behind, aiming for either Tammil or Tulam. A few miles along the road north take you to a blockade. A military outpost has been hastily erected here and few people are allowed to pass. Once you tell that you come from Westgate the soldier in charge lets you know that they cannot let you pass the blockade and risk you falling into the hands of the enemy, where you might share tactical information about Westgate and the disposition of it's troops.
Furthermore you are warned that going north takes you into enemy territory - although no one elaborates on what that actually means. It seems that only officers know anything about what is going on.
Among those who file through the blockade from the north there is talk about street fighting in Tulam - it seems that a city militia is fighting for every home and defending every street mouth against the enemy. People are uncertain, however, as for how long they will be able to keep up the resistance. Tammil is lost, so say the rumours.
