The One True Game: According to Hoyle, and Others

[howandwhy99]

“TO ARMS! TO ARMS!” Dram yelled. As he was yelled the blob moved up and engulfed Dram’s legs. He could hear the hissing coming from his leather boots as he tried to pull free from the thick goo. Fortunately for the others, no one had fallen asleep or removed their armor yet. Ormand the Redd backpedaled firing his bow at the thing, but the wooden arrows dissolved on contact. Dalin ran forward pulling his sword out. Swinging at the blob he missed and tripped to his knees inside the creature. The bull-like Pax moved up and grabbed both Dram and Dalin. Pulling as hard as he could he could only pop Dram out. Dalin was mired in the mass as it tried to suck him in. Dram looked down at his skinless toes in the grass. His leather boots were completely ruined. There were streaks on Dalin’s fanciful steel armor gleaming from where the goo had touched it.

Kayla maneuvered around to one side trying to stay far away from the blob. With everyone in the way she could not get a spell off. Diedre shadowed Kayla and tried to charm the thing, but her soft words had no effect. Rose backed up behind the fire and looked for a free weapon to use. Darius pulled out a flask of oil, lit it from the fire pit, and tossed at the monster. “Watch out!” yelled Dalin who ducked as the flask just missed him. The flames caused the blob to sizzle and Dalin was seared as well. Dram’s father Gil stood up and started running back along the road toward Hommlet as fast as he could.

Dalin contorted in his armor trying to pull free. Pax moved up again to help him and with two massive arms pulled out the fighter. Dram danced back behind the fire, pulled out his bow, and drinking his a healing potion. Kayla released her magic now that she had a clear shot, but the sleep spell had no effect. As the magic bounced away she recognized the blob as having an elemental nature, but she knew not which. Kayla grabbed Diedre moved farther away towards the road. Rose started tossing stones from the fire pit at the blob. As she hit they were instantly engulfed. Darius moved back to the fireside to light another oil flask, but the blob slid forward and wrapped up his legs. Somehow sensing the fire, the blob tried dragging him back towards the forest. Dalin was gasping for air and drank a healing potion as he scrambled farther away.

Rose pulled open a backpack and started handing out torches to those nearby. Kayla, Dram, and Dalin each lit one and started waving around them to ward off the creature. Pax lunged forward a third time hoping to pull Darius out. Straining with all his might, he tore the stout dwarf free. Dram threw his torch at the blob, but it split itself and it dodged the flame. Holding torches the rest of the team grew bolder and approached with the shifting ochre mass. Sensing a unified front, it shifted backwards and slid like lightening in a straight line over the fields to the south. In a second it was out of sight. A path of destruction was left as it fled. Rose examined it noticing all but stone and mud was dissolved by the blob’s touch. “Father!” Dram called out into the night. Gill came running back moments later with a look of dread on his face. It turned to relief when he saw his son alive.

Everyone was inspected after the battle. Dram would need new boots. Dalin’s and Darius’s armor on the other hand looked as bright as new in the spots where the blob had covered them. The difference was more evident on Cyrus’s old dirty armor. Dalin wondered if they could catch the creature just for cleaning purposes. Few had sustained wounds and the healing potions had done their job. Only Dalin was still a little worse for wear. Kayla mentioned that the blob had looked to her like something she had read in her books; she believed it might be something Zelligar had worshiped. “The eater of men perhaps from the Chaos Caves?” proposed Dram. Kayla did not know. Rose and Ormand were already out scouting around for any further evidence of the creature. Rose discovered the cleared path by which it had come out of the Greenwillow. “Do you think it might have any treasure in its lair?” Dram asked with a smile.
“Only one way to find out” replied Dalin.

[howandwhy99]

Ormand, Pax, and Dram’s father were left with the horses back at the campsite. They had been given specific instructions to ride back to town if they heard the monstrous hissing come back. Everyone else trudged into the forest hoping for an easy find. After a few hundred yards the blob’s path opened into a clearing. Within was an old ruined estate with a muddy moat around it. It was covered in ivy and had no windows. Moreover, its only door was closed, but there was a rotted bridge that lead across the moat. Four towers had originally cornered the curtain wall, but all had fallen but one. Much of the outer wall looked ready to collapse too. The inner roofs poking up around the wall had many caved in portions as well. “It must have come from inside there,” said Pax pointing along the dirt path. Rose walked forward and saw how it ended at the edge of the muddy moat. Dram, Dalin, and Pax moved up to its edge with her. The thick, runny mud inside gave off the scent of death. The rest of the team hung back and looked at the small estate. It gave off an eerie, forbidding sense of doom.

As Rose inspected along the side of the moat she saw a kite shield trapped inside the muck. She asked the others to hold her as she tried to lean over and fish it out. The forward team heard the guttural ‘ribbit’ of some strange frog. The rear team was still staring at the empty edifice when they abruptly heard a strange whooshing noise. Ormand the Redd pointed out several arrows freshly stuck in the ground before them. Darius could see they were black with white fletchings. He was about to call everyone back when several dozen bizarre, humanoid faces peered over the walls of the estate. They were difficult to see in the moonlight, but Darius was within range to look through the shadows. Every one of the silent faces resembled Rose. Only the Fey behind the walls had very different coloring and clothing. Their skin and hair were alternating black and white. The clothes they wore were all black and pointed in a strange fashion. Many of them had what looked like miniature crossbows in hand.



Sensing something was amiss, Rose looked up. Very slowly she backed away from the moatside. Gesturing to Dram, Dalin, and Pax who were with her she whispered, “there is no treasure for us here. Quietly now, we must leave.” One by one Dram, Dalin, and Pax retreated. The rear team was already backing up into the surrounding woods upon Darius’s vehement urging. “This is not a spot for us to linger,” warned Rose when the team regrouped. In a strange language Rose called out to the black and white Fey. She apologized for her and her friend’s intrusion. Turning to the others, she asked them to pull out meat and leave it beside the path. They had to leave an offering or they would be hunted for sure. After this was done, they silently pressed back down path towards the campsite. Less than half way back, they broke into a run. While everyone caught their breaths at the campsite, Rose explained that her brothers and sisters did not appreciate being bothered. “Where are we going to go now?” asked Dram. “We can’t go back into town.”

Rose guessed that with the offering they should be safe for the night. What she did not mention was her wonder at what the blob could have been doing with her brethren. Gathering their belongings and the horses in close, the team built the fire high and set watch again. It was a long night for those on guard duty. They all expected another attack, but fortunately none came. When the sun rose the next morning, the team saddled up and took off at a brisk pace through the forest and towards the Keep.

[howandwhy99]

[DAY 86 – Weddingday, Azer 18th, CY 81]

“Ho! On the road!” called out the watchguard.
“Hail to the Keep!” called back Darius and the gate was raised. The small band felt good to be back inside Keep Margrave. After the attack and now their long absence it had begun to feel a little like home to them all. It would be hard to leave it. Once inside, a soldier ordered them to relinquish their weapons. “What?” cried Dalin. “I’m not giving up my sword. We’re under a constant thread of attack, don’t you know?” The guard explained he was acting under orders from Lord Ratcliffe himself. Everyone had to surrender their weapons before entering the keep. Reluctantly the team agreed to the terms, but chose to spend the night in the barracks instead of the inn. As they unloaded their horses word was sent for Father Ben. He looked rather tired, but obviously pleased with their arrival. “Any word of a replacement?” he asked. Darius admitted to not having met any such person. They had never even reached a temple inside of Harling.

Moving towards the door, Darius said he needed to meet with Lord Ratcliff immediately. Before he could leave the barracks, however, he overheard Ben telling Dram how eleven refugees from Hamfast had arrived a few days ago. Darius stopped in his tracks. Father Ben explained how he had received their letter and was still fighting stop the guard from hauling the men to jail. Dram and his father became livid. Pushing Darius out of the doorway, they marched all the way to the gate of the inner bailey with the rest of the team in tow. Dram kicked and pounded on the door demanding an audience with the castellan. After a short wait the whole team was let inside. Sitting inside his quarters, Lord Radcliffe swung wide his arms and welcomed them back. Dram smashed his fist on the Lord’s table. “I DEMAND ANSWERS! (smash) Why have you put a price on my father’s head?! (smash) And why are you trying to arrest his friends? (smash) I won’t stand for this!”
“Then you’d better sit down,” replied Radcliffe.

Gil caught his son’s fist just as he pulled back to pummel the Lord. Darius leapt forward between the two.
“We have many questions for you, my lord.” He said. “There were many difficulties during the journey south and we have learned that there are more problems in County Margrave than simply those affecting the Keep.”
”Then let us by all means sit and discuss them,” suggested Radcliffe. He genuinely appeared to have no idea why they were all so mad. A circle of chairs was set up. For privacy’s sake, Rose, Diedre, and Gil were escorted from the room. Having not been privy to every discussion, the newcomers still needed to prove themselves. Inside the room, Darius first asked why Dram’s father was a wanted criminal. Radcliffe answered nonchalantly. It turned out Lady Harling had sent several orders to him. Pigeons were arriving almost every day. Upon hearing this news, Father Ben’s jaw fell open. “Just what is going on here?” he thought.

Many of the messages concerned the need of making weapons for the war. Right now the Keep’s own smith was hard at work with four new recruits forging arms and armaments day and night. Other messages detailed the crimes of several enemies of the County. One of these criminals was Dram’s Father, Gil Hammersmith. Apparently, word had been sent from Harling stating Gil was an escaped prisoner loose in the area. He was to be escorted back to Hamfast in chains when found. Darius pressed on. Radcliffe said Father Benedict reported contradictory evidence about the criminals from Hamfast. Moreover, the Father currently locked them inside the temple under rule of sanctuary. Radcliffe was not pleased about this turn of events, but he had ordered Sergeant Keenan to take ten men into Hamfast to learn more. Keenan had been gone for four days now and was expected back at any time.

During another round of questions, Radcliffe exclaimed Father Ben had said nothing whatsoever about a Mr. Hammersmith. Dram looked over to Ben, but the priest just shrugged in response. “I didn’t know,” he said. Lord Radclift recounted his understanding of events. According to Lady Margrave, Hamfast was an important supplier of weapons to the Front. It was absolutely imperative that the weapon production continued. The success of the war demanded it. “But if the story of Hamfast being run by goblins is true,” Radcliffe threw up his hands in frustration, “what am I to do?” The whole team pondered the question as the truth about Hamfast slowly sunk in.

[howandwhy99]

Ratcliffe also said he had received complaints from Harling. Several rumors had spread claiming Captain Darius had taken over the Keep. Radcliffe had sent back word clarifying Darius was no longer even at the Keep, but the messages of warning still came. Also, replacements for Darius, Kayla, and Father Ben were being sent by order of Lady Margrave. The last message he had received placed the contingent from Harling currently in Hommlet; a day’s ride from the Keep.
“There was also a message about a wild, drunken dwarf running nude through the streets of Harling claiming to be the ‘Devious Darius’.” Ratcliffe said no one afforded the talk any credence. “Everyone knows a Dwarf cannot get drunk.”

Darius reported that their “Guardian” Cyrus had turned out to be a fool in disguise. He felt sure Cyrus was the source of the rumor. Radcliffe looked concerned. He asked for a description of Cyrus so a reward could be posted for his capture. “Well he’s a dwarf like me about this tall,” said Darius hold his hand up. “And he has a thick red beard.”
“Like yours?” asked Radcliffe.
“Yes…” He paused. “On second thought, let’s not send out any sketched posters of Cyrus.”

After they were satisfied with Lord Ratcliffe’s answers the group adjourned. They regrouped with Diedre, Rose, and Gil outside and headed over to the temple and the refugees within. There Dram’s father reunited with his fellows townsmen. “What about all the rest of you?” questioned Dalin. “We must have sent three times your number back here.” The refugees related the story of how they had run, and kept on running, all the way to Outpost Bayer. Some of the older men could not keep up, and not all of them had made it to the outpost by evening. During the night several others left of their own accord, while only a few of the stragglers turned up. No one could say what happened to everyone. When the eleven before them finally arrived at the keep the watchguard attempted to arrest them. They had to beg for sanctuary from Father Ben to escape the stockade. In payment, it came out that they believed the Father was forcing them to rebuild the temple and Inn.

Father Ben was shocked denied any such treachery. “I only politely asked them to help improve the town” he declared. “So much work was is still needed by any who can give it. And it gives them a chance to prove their loyalty, right?” The others seemed dismayed at his actions. “In retrospect, I must admit the men left their job posts whenever I wasn’t’ directly overseeing them” said Ben.
Darius put his arm on his shoulder. “Many thanks for giving these men asylum. I think we can take over from here on.” The team left Rose, Diedre, and Gil with the Hamfastites as before so they could plan in private their next steps. Father Ben led them to the newly refurbished Head Priest’s quarters. Outside, Ormand the Redd and Pax were stationed to keep guard.

Everyone related the events of their trip together, while Ben sat pondering many of their major discoveries. The rat he had believed to be Elion was actually something called a “shapechanger”. Upon hearing of its nature, he was glad the team had destroyed it. Furthermore, Goodman Barth was not only a master assassin, but was also suspected to be a shapechanger. The mark Barth had on his hand was of an assassin’s guild. “But who hired him?” questioned Ben.
“I believe he may be a creation from Zelligar’s workshop” revealed Kayla. Ben gasped. Kayla believed evidence pointed to the wizard somehow being still alive. She had also read in his books that Zelligar had worshiped strange gods, including one that was made of fire. When they fought the blob near Hommlet she had observed its elemental nature. “Perhaps, it was made out of fire?” she guessed. “Fire destroys, doesn’t it?” Then she went on to explain how her mentor Balorn had told her of the danger of handling the red poweder from Quesquaton. “The Godnail?” exclaimed Ben. Kayla nodded. She related how each and every one of them had scrubbed down in Harling with acid-water to remove the taint. “Igor even chose to shave off all his hair.”

Ben swooned in his chair. He excused himself from the others claming he needed to wash and rest. He was all of a sudden feeling very tired and was visibly shaking. As everyone else filed out of his new office, Kayla set down the acid Igor had given her next to Ben so he could bathe. The next three hours were sort of a controlled terror in Ben’s mind. He locked the door to his chambers and scrubbed his skin raw. He also shaved every single hair from his body. His muscles were tense with exhaustion as he lied down to sleep for the night. The horror of infection still pervaded his mind. Sometime later during the dark hours of evening he finally dozed off. Nightmares filled his mind and his body shuddered. At one point he awoke panting. The nightmare had been too intense and he was soaked in sweat. He noticed he had pushed off his covers and was sleeping above them. Looking to his left he realized he was sleeping three feet above them.

[howandwhy99]

[DAY 87 – Thunderday, Azer 19th, CY 81]

In the morning Dram noticed Mouse’s old store was open. He wondered if the little guy had come back, or even better whether Igor had arrived finally. He was disappointed to find only a new small man at the desk after entering. The new storekeeper introduced himself as “Trifle”. Mouse had authorized him to run his shop in his absence. Dram wanted to lighten his load of coin and asked to see any available gems he might buy. Trifle went in the back room and returned with a large pouch. He poured out the contents on the counter. Dram’s eyes glittered. Literally hundreds of gems of every imaginable color were displayed before him. Pulling out his coinpouch he pointed to a small blue gem and asked if it was worth fifty gold or not. “Um… hold on,” said Trifle. The little man turned to go, but then wisely asked Dram to take a few steps back before leaving the counter.

Retrieving a long list from the other side of the shop, Trifle waved Dram forward again. He paged through the list with a confused look on his face. “That one there is… 100gp,” he said.
“Well what about this red one then?” Dram asked. Trifle search again. “Fifty?”
“How much for this big green one?” Dram asked pointing to a medium-sized gem.
“Uh….that one is also fifty.” Trifle admitted he was still getting used to Mouse’s pricing system. Dram looked through all the gems. Many of them looked like they had been pried up from somewhere. “Perhaps from a crown?” thought Dram. “Or a king’s throne?”

For the next hour he poked through the gems. He purchased all he could of the largest gems for the lowest prices. One of the gems for sale had even glowed red. But Dram was short on funds and Trifle was loath to part with it “in case it’s somehow faulty”. Kayla entered just as Dram was leaving. She browsed around and noticed something she had not before: a bookcase for traveling. She snatched it up quickly. Outside, Dram walked to the armory and smithy where he saw Dalin inside. He was buying new greaves as his old ones had been significantly weakened by the blob. Dram purchased some of his own footwear to replace the boots he had lost. The two returned together to the temple to talk with Dram’s father and the other Hamfastites. Dalin was laughing to himself. He wanted to know when they celebrated their “Festival of Ham”. He seemed to believe they had a lot of pigs in the town too.

The rest of the team kept to themselves. Father Ben had yet to come out of his chambers. Kayla read and explored what she could of Elion’s room with Diedre’s help before moving out. Just in case she might have missed something. Darius spent time with Lord Radcliffe in anticipation to the coming ceremony. Rose simply walked about town smiling at the children with her fangs. When the contingent of soldiers escorting their replacement arrived, all but Father Ben were waiting anxiously at the gate. Forty soldiers marched in flying a banner of the Keep (a winged hawk for Lady Devereaux) on one side and a banner of a large badger on the other. In their center were three young men: one a priest in brown robes and with thick gold rings, another in polished, heavy armor, and the last in rather frivolous gown. When formation, all in heavy armor, reached the town square their captain declare the arrival of “The Badgers” and bowed deeply to Lord Radcliffe.

Father Ben hurried outside into the square from the temple, while trying to hold an absurdly large, funny-shaped hat on his head. He had been asked to say a prayer at the invocation of the Keep’s new Captain and Advisor. When he bowed to the group many of them noticed he had no hair or eyebrows. He lined up next to the other priest closer to the audience. Lord Radcliffe stood in front center dressed in yellow with a yellow cape; to his right stood Darius and Kayla, on his left the two newcomers. All were dressed in either fine clothes or armor. The young man in platemail approached Darius and bowed deeply. He handed the dwarf an ornamental rod and stepped back. Darius bowed in return. The other young man in the colorful robes bowed to Kayla and handed her a rolled parchment. She also bowed in return. Darius declared Captain Rufus and Advisor Burné officially appointed to Keep Margrave.

[howandwhy99]

Then Lord Radcliffe gestured Ben to come forward. He was not sure what he was supposed to do, so he gave a sermon on the need for protecting the Keep, to protect all the buildings within, and every body and soul inside as well. Afterwards he led a prayer to bless the new leaders and the audience in the square. Instead of a calling on the divine power to bless however, he called on the power to see within people’s hearts. Auras emanated out of every man, woman, and child in the Keep, shining brightly in Ben’s eyes. His eyes scanned over everyone. Darius shined a bright white. Kayla shined white as well, which surprised him a little. Darius, Rufus, Burné, and nearly all their soldiers shined with white light. Some had different tints of color in their auras. Dalin’s had a tinge of green, for instance. Besides the white auras several shined blue as well. Father Ben was not shocked to see both Dram and his father were blue in spirit. He searched the crowd for any unusual colors spotting one young man whose aura was a deep purple.

After Ben had stood silently staring wide-eyed into the audience for a minute, Lord Ratcliffe tapped him on the shoulder. Father Ben quickly finished and gave a bow. The other young cleric stepped forward and was handed a scroll by Lord Radcliffe. Not quite sure of what to do, as there was no special ceremony for his exchange of position, Ben solemnly crowned the new priest with his large blue hat. It seemed a fitting tribute to Ben as the clothes he wore would soon belong to the new priest anyways. The other cleric unrolled the parchment and began to speak. “The church gives its blessing to this ceremony today. And… We accept the responsibilities to that we have each been charged. These trials will be difficult, but I’m sure we can overcome… And… We will end in prayer.” Raising his arms above his head, the priest sung in a high pitched voice a prayer Ben had never heard before.

When everyone had finished, Lord Radcliffe called out. “I declare this ceremony complete!” Everyone in the audience cheered. Father Ben, his friends, and the traveling dignitaries mingled while the audience slowly dispersed. Ben learned his replacement was named Father John. Kayla opened the parchment Berné had given her. It was the scroll she had requested during her visit to his tower. She made a mental note to give Berné his own pinch of dust before leaving. Darius inspected his new rod. It looked rather long for a rod. He considered it too ornamental compared to dwarven-made ones.

Rose approached the newly appointed Captain Rufus. Father John and Lord Radcliffe were conversing by his side. Rose kneeled down on one knee in front of them. “Sir, I come from the Front. I was ordered to return here and report to all who would listen. The news is bad. The war is going poorly and our forces are greatly hampered in the battle. There is a great need for more supplies. Foremost of these are weapons, so our soldiers might all join the combat. But anything you could send to aid in the fight would be prized. I have been commanded by my cousin Elves in alliance with Lord Margrave’s forces to search for weapons of any kind. I beseech thee to aid the Front in all manner you are able.”

Rufus extended his hand and helped Rose to her feet. All three men were intrigued by her exotic nature and began asking questions. Rose begged off saying her heritage was not nearly as important as aiding the forces at the Front. “Our smithy is already forging weapons within the Keep for the war effort” said Lord Ratcliffe. “Come. Let me introduce you to some heroes who are fighting the battle at home. They might be able to help you in your quest.” Radcliff began naming off Rose’s newfound companions. “Darius, Dalin, Dram, Ka…”
“We bring important news” said Darius cutting of the introductions. He explained the team’s intent to travel south and leave Margrave, possibly forever. Radcliffe looked deeply saddened. He promised to relay the news to Lady Margrave. “I accept the invitation!” Rose called out with a cheer. As she began hugging Kayla, Dram, Ormand, and anyone else standing nearby, it was apparent to Ben the little Fey was coming along.

[howandwhy99]

The hedgehog military squadron marched Captain Rufus and Advisor Burné through the open gates of the Inner Bailey. Rose was still hoping up and down when Sergeant Keenan entered the square through the main Keep’s gates along with ten other soldiers. Lord Radcliffe rushed forward and escorted the worn looking Keenan back inside the Inner Bailey as well. It was only after listening to hours of soldier gossip that the team eventually learned what had happened. Keenan had confirmed that goblins’ truly controlled Hamfast. Dram became irate and demanded the Keep militia invade Hamfast immediately. Ben observed Dram’s attitude was mercurial when regarding his hometown. Dalin and Ormand the Redd voiced their agreement with Dram, but Darius brought the point home quickly. “We have lost our influence here. The decision to invade is no longer in our hands. The fate of Hamfast is now up to Lord Radcliffe and his new commanders. We have more to worry about. We are still being hunted. Our only hope is to escape County Margrave. Any waiting could spell our deaths. Aiding the war effort will have to wait.”

Realizing the truth of the dwarf’s words, the team began packing for another early morning’s departure. Dram met with his father and the other refugees. He explained his plight and asked if is father would be willing to travel with him south. “Nay,” said Gil Hammersmith after a thought. “My place is with me fellow villagers. And if those short-sighted, noble pretenders don’t go to free Hamfast, we will! We can make our way home and attack. The news would shame the fools into helping us!” As Dram tried to say goodbye to his father, the rest of the team bid farewell to Mirel. The one-time “Lady-for-a-Day” had decided to stay with her parents and the keepfolk she knew so well. Since she had not traveled to Harling, it was a good bet she might be able to hide from their attackers. Words of caution and watchfulness mixed with ones of good luck, but all knew if any of their number could evade the suspicions of the killers, it was Mirel.

In the evening Lord Radcliffe found a drunken Dram wrapped in a large fur at the Inn. The rest of the team sat within as well looking bleary-eyed. “Never fear. I come with good news!” said Ratcliff. “Ldy Margrave had responded to my missive. The refugees of Hamfast are no longer to stand trial for their crimes and are hereby declared free!” The common room erupted into cheers and Dram let out a loud “Hoot!” He and Dalin immediately started a party. Everyone was running around gathering up friends and relatives for the celebration. Uninvited townsfolk began arriving too, but none were turned away. Father Ben thought to himself in one corner. He was secretly thankful for the old mens’ release. He had not heard whether or not Father John’s would maintain his pledge of asylum. Relieved, Ben stood up and announced his intentions to travel south too. Dram called out for another round of ale. The others look at like he was drunk as most had already assumed he would come. When some out-of-towners showed up at the Inn, they were treated to a free drink and asked of news from the outside. “Twas a large group of dogmen been seen by da’ outpost we left” said one man. “They were fleein’ deeper into the forest.”
“Huzzah!” sang out Dram and several others joined in. The newcomers warned about how banditry along the roads had increased. They were glad to be inside after their trip. Darius took note. To Ben, it appeared as if adventure beckoned from all around the Keep. Who knew what would lie in the southern lands?


[DAY 88 – Fastday, Azer 20th, CY 81]
– [DAY 89 – Holyday, Azer 21st, CY 81]

Early the next morning many of the members were still fuzzy headed from the night before. A drink or two cleared it right up. They team said their final goodbyes and bid so long to Keep Margrave. They chose the west road, which led through Hommlet. It was a long ride, but fortunately no bandits were seen along the way. The Welcome Wench Inn was crowded when they arrived. Exhausted from lack of sleep and riding, Dram, Dalin, and several others went to sleep early in the common room. Kayla stayed up and learned several rumors from some of the friendly commonfolk. Apparently, a mad hermit was said to be active in the woods north of Keep Margrave. He had several unusual things for trade, but was known to attack visitors as often as he traded with them. Kayla wondered if it was perhaps the dryad they had met long ago, or another forest creature working for Greenwillow the Ent.

She had to laugh when one of the men named Elmo gave a dire warning to all in the pub about a fire creature seen loose in the woods nearby. “I have seen the creature’s tracks with my own eyes” said Elmo. “And not a single living plant survived its touch.” Several women “oohed” appreciatively. Rose asked openly about the old manor outside of town. When no one spoke up, she warned them it was full of “Drae” and to be avoided at all costs. Elmo told her it had belonged to a noble long ago, but had fallen into a state of disrepair since his demise. “Only a few days ago a strange man named Spugnoir, a dwarf, and another man went to find treasure within. No one has seen them since.”
“A red-bearded dwarf?” asked Rose.
“That’s right, do you know him?” asked Elmo. Rose did not respond. She and Kayla agreed later it was almost certainly Cyrus the Black.

In the morning the team left Hommlet and traveled onward to Holmfaust. They kept a sharp watch out and traveled on horseback two abreast, but no bandits were seen. Darius surmised the team was probably being avoided as they were far too dangerous a target. Looking at the map Dram had drawn, Darius decided they would skirt the edge of the Greenwillow Forest during the journey south as long as possible. This left them and option to run and hide in case there was trouble. “But after we’ve left the County”, he thought, “there will be no certainty of safety. Who knows how far the killers will follow?” He spurred his horse again. As long as he was moving he felt the attackers were at the disadvantage. When the lonely wizard tower came into view just at the outskirts of Holmfaust, Kayla rode up and rapped on the door. It would be her last visit to Balorn for quite some time. Father Ben stood scratching his underarms as he had done for most the day. Balorn looked indifferent to their arrival, but led Kayla and Darius alone up the stairs to his library. The rest of the team either sat in his sitting room or walked around outside.

[howandwhy99]

“This is the magic of an enslaved creature,” said Balorn handing Darius back the ornamental dagger he had been loaned. Looking at it again it still reminded Ben of a miniature sword. “It is fueled by elemental fire” said Balorn. “There is a means to release the fire, but no one in their right mind would use such a weapon as this.” Darius asked how the blade worked; what fire it called forth. “A flame along the blade is formed when activated properly. But to do so one must bathe it in the blood of innocents and then call upon the fire,” explained Balorn.
“Should I destroy it?” asked Darius
“It is a vicious blade. You may do with it as you wish.” Taking the small steel weapon in both his gauntleted hands, Darius the paladin attempted to snap the blade in two. He strained with all his might and the blade began to bend. Its edge cut into the steel of Darius’s gauntlets and his blood poured over the dagger. As it snapped in his hands a thunderous rush of flame erupted from the break.

The flash of light seen downstairs and outside the tower looked as if a ball of flame had engulfed the entire interior of the top of Balorn’s tower. The wizard could be heard screaming, “NOOOOOO!!” Inside a ten foot tall creature of pure flame burst out from the weapon. Frantically Darius tried to push the dagger back together again. It did not work. The massive fiery form landed on the wooden floor. The books in the wall cases behind the creature combusted and the flames spread. The fire-beast grew in size as it fed from the dry paper. Darius felt a hand touch him from behind and his whole world shifted. The next thing he knew he was standing outside in the grass with Balorn holding both he and Kayla. Looking up from their dicing game, Dalin, Dram, and Ormand the Redd stared at the three in disbelief.

“Save the tower!” shouted Pax as he ran up the stairs with his sword in hand. At the top he saw the star field which had been in place on their previous visit. He charged into it and was shocked backwards. In return Pax spit at the star field perhaps hoping some bit of him might get through. Diedre ran outside towards Kayla looking expectantly for what to do. Rose grabbed a bucket of water and ran from the waiting room all the way upstairs to Pax’s side. “Be prepared,” warned Balorn. Then the wizard, Kayla, and Darius disappeared once again. Kayla felt the heat blaze across her face. Chanting the arcane words she had previously memorized a gush of water spouted from her clasped hands. Spraying it all over the fire creature it started to shrink. Kayla tried to stop the library from burning by using some of the spray to douse the flaming books. She succeeded by soaking every wall. Unfortunately the creature still lived, though barely three feet in size.

Down in the study Ben waffled on what to do. He ran half way up the stairs before realizing he was running towards an angry warlock. Turning quickly he ran out the bottom of the tower. Balorn dismissed the star field and Pax and Rose rushed inside the library. Pax swung his sword into the flaming creature to no effect. Rose tossed her bucket of water, but missed. Darius tried pounding the flaming creature with his hammer, but was burned for his efforts. Dalin, Dram, and Ormand decided it was time to quit the dice game and started running towards town. Dram looked back over his shoulder, “we’ll get some water!” But the town was several minutes away. Diedre walked towards the tower door just as Father Ben sprinted out. “I sense something is wrong” she said, but Ben did not respond.

Up in the library Balorn shouted for more water to be brought up from the laboratory downstairs. Pax took off running forgetting about Rose’s bucket. Kayla waved her hands again and whispered like the wind. A strong breeze began blowing from her form. Her clothes flapped wildly as its intensity increased. The little fire creature was pushed backwards along the floor as it sputtered in the wind. When the gust finally subsided the flame was but a foot tall. Rose started hissing in what sounded like a bizarre crackling language. Darius grabbed the bucket from Rose and jumped at the creature. His plan worked. The metal bucket covered the fire even as small daggers of flame managed to lash out along the seams of the floor. After a minute, Pax ran back upstairs looking for a bucket. Upon Darius’s command he smashed the bucket with his massive foot. There was nothing left, but smoke.

Balorn stood back silently surveying the damage to his library. Half the books were burned and the other half waterlogged. Darius began apologizing for the accident of releasing the evil creature. Kayla cut him off, “It has been a terribly long day. Time to leave.” She prodded her teammates towards the stairwell. Outside Ben had already run a good hundred yards away. As he looked back he saw Darius and the rest of the team exit the tower without the warlock. In the other direction, he could see Dalin, Dram, and his hireling casually walking towards Holmfaust. “I guess we won’t be coming back here” thought Ben and he turned to catch up with the other three. Standing outside the tower Kayla explained it would be best not to disturb Balorn any more. He needed time to cool off himself. When everyone was at last inside the Red Lion Inn in Holmfaust the team reserved one large room. Holmfaust had been safe before, but it was still a town they had been seen in. A single room would provide protection. Double watches were kept through the night.

[howandwhy99]

Chapter 2: The Journey South

[Session 12]

[DAY 90 – Sunday, Azer 22th, CY 81]

The team awoke to find a steamy, rainy morning. The once dusty roads were now drenched and sodden. Thick mud ran in furrows along the ground. The long night had passed unbroken, but the thoughts of their would be pursuers still weighed heavily on the travelers’ minds. Father Ben rubbed at his chest praying the quiet was an omen for their journey south. Beyond Holmfaust the land smoothed to empty fields of grass and upon Darius’s orders the team arranged itself into a circular formation for better protection.

After the morning mist had cleared Rose saw several birds flying quickly north in the sky. Larger predators soared above and behind. Whistling softly she managed to coax a small yellow bird to her hand. They tweeted to each other in some common understanding. “She says she and her friends are being hunted. Those that follow are vultures uncommon to the area.” Rose sighed. “Mother will have her will”.
“What do you mean? Mother?” asked Father Ben intrigued.
“You pray to the sun. I pray to Mother.” Rose explained. “I am Mother’s, but Father commands other Faerie. Sometimes they even work together.” To Ben it sounded as if Mother and Father were the King and Queen of the Faeries. He had heard Faery stories before as a child, but none had creatures like Rose in them. Few tales ended well too. Queen Titania and King Oberon were just mythical figures and not rightly worshipped by goodly men or women. Ben had spent no time studying such nonsense.

“Perhaps it would be wise to pray to a higher power? A divine source which could surely guide your path?” suggested Ben. “You see, I do not actually pray to the sun, but to the Goodly Gods above to let the sun shine on our travels.”
Rose took this in. “I don’t think Mother would like that. She is very protective of her sons and daughters. She sees and knows all they do.”
“Only the Gods see and know all,” declared Ben. “But do you mean you are actually a daughter of the Fairy Queen?”
“Hey, yeah! It sounds a bit like… well, a fairy tale” said Dalin. “Not really true, right?”
Rose leaned back in her saddle. Taking her time she began to tell the group the story of her life.

A Summary of Rose’s Story

Her early memories were foggy, the earliest memories she had were of waking up on a cold stone floor to the words "Awaken princess, breakfast is here". She was told the story of her birth once. She was never sure how true it was given the nature of the tellers. But it was simple enough. One of the Queen's dalliances was with a merchant from Elven lands. That supposedly made her a princess. In the same way all of the Queen's children were princesses at least the ones that she ever knew of. Much like the King’s princes supposedly, though for some reason the two were never allowed to intermingle. She never saw her mother. The only caretakers she ever knew were the ladies who brought food and clothes everyday and set up the rules. The rules, such as they were, were simple. The eldest sister would be allowed to be heir to the throne. All others would be cast out. Of course SHE would never be allowed to ascend to the throne, her blood was impure. She and those like her were mixed with those who mixed with the low races. She was kept alive as a toy for her sisters to play with. Perhaps the gods grant mercy to the bastard children of the world though. While she was beaten regularly for the slightest transgression, she was never considered important enough to spend effort killing. And so she grew up. In a room that was more a battle arena than a dormitory, with all the siblings of the queen's children. She was rarely unhappy for how does one mourn the lack of light if they have only ever lived in utter darkness. She simply was. Eventually though the call of her Fae blood became too strong. She grew bored with the beatings and wanted something different. So she left. No one stopped her, why would they, she simply left at a time when they had again lost interest in her. Had she any way to keep time, or been cared about by anyone who could, she might have noticed that approximately 50 or so years had passed since her birth. She wondered what to do with herself and decided to track down her father it seemed simple enough after all; surely someone outside the bedroom would know the way.

But no one was there. So she simply started walking until she found something interesting. The new walls were nothing interesting. Fabrics and stone the same inside the room. She wandered for a while. The universe outside the bedroom, as far as she knew it, was fairly empty and there didn't appear to be anyone except her brothers and sisters. She might have wondered where the caretakers were. So she walked on, for whatever reason. Eventually she came across something entirely new to her. It was different. There is no other way to describe it and no words can adequately express what her first view of light was like. For fifty years she had grown up in a world of utter darkness. Neither her sisters, nor nannies, nor anyone else of note had need for it, so what was the point. One could go on about what was behind the door. How strange the feel of straw is on one who has only ever felt stone, fabric, flesh, and blood. But those experiences are best left to the imagination of the reader.

[howandwhy99]

The story continues…

And so the first world ended, with a Fae princess fainting out of a shuttered window she had just opened onto a traveling merchant's hay cart as it was leaving the castle. Now in most stories the cart would be driven by the same father who sired her all those years ago and we would have a happy ending with her finally finding acceptance among the ones she would come to know as Elves. And anyone who knows the elves would probably laugh themselves onto the floor at the prospect of that image. Neither of these ended up being the case. The merchant who found her at least had the pity to give her to an orphanage.

Now one might think that a girl who had been raised blind in a formless darkness constantly being beaten by faceless voices might have some trouble adapting to a daylit world with creatures who had long ago mastered the art of sight as a way of navigation. They would be correct. And so she began life once again as if from the womb. No way to communicate, no way to understand this new world. All these strange new rules in a game you have no idea how to play. Even though the world was new there was so much to incorporate she had no idea how to start. And so once again she was as a child. And as a half breed from the Fae lands she was less common than even the half humans, so again she was at the bottom of the pecking order. But slowly she evolved. It only took her about a hundred more years to relearn everything she thought she knew.

Eventually she learned of the Fae and their nature and the elves and their nature until again she became bored and left. This time though she had learned about these things called RULES. Apparently in the world of the elves you didn't simply murder your siblings to advance in the world. You had to do something to live other than simply being too much effort to kill. So before she was allowed to leave she was examined to see what she was good at. Her childhood had left her body too broken to be an archer and the mages feared what her Fae blood might do to their magics. The priests would not accept her since they did not recognize her blood as that of a noble house. Thankfully however the woods folk would, though many feared such "nobility", they agreed her talents would be wasted otherwise. So she left to be with the folk of the woods. Strange tall creatures with rounded and semi-tipped ears and eyes called "humans" and "half-humans". Calling them half-elves in her presence one seemed to confuse everyone. Oddly enough it wasn't the Elven blood made her trainers feel a kinship to her. It was the lack of its purity. So they trained her, and showed her how to use her natural talents to enhance those she learned. She began to feel strange things among these semi-tipped ears. But before she could investigate her feelings the war came. Warriors were asked for, and she was sent. Feelings were strange things to her; she needed time to ponder what they were. This "war" sounded like she might have a chance to think. It sounded like a lot of people training at once.

Again, words are inadequate to describe the situations as alien as they were to her, as alien to us as she is. Picture, one who grew up around death and carnage, was then shown it in senses she had never used to understand it before; reevaluated with a mind that had been unable to comprehend the actions taken around her before. And in the blink of an eye (less than a year), she was sent away. She wasn't sure why she was chosen, but wondered if it might be due to her nature. It tended to make the non-elves uncomfortable, at least the ones who did not know her. She was told to get weapons, get reinforcements, GET HELP! Go to the West, help was in the lands to the west.

So she rode. Not soon afterwards she was pursued. But a pack of the green things*but bigger and orange*and on wolves*only those were bigger too. And she rode. They captured her. They tortured her. Foolishly they thought this would break her, rather than calm her down and clear her mind. Childhood memories often have that effect. And she escaped. They pursued and they fell behind. Eventually she felt she had lost them. She crossed the mountains and lost the last of her water in the process. And still she rode on. Word must get out. These armies could not be allowed to continue. All they sought was to destroy. She knew now this was wrong and some things were different than herself. Some things were worth something. And so she rode on, over hill and dale, her horse becoming as exhausted as she. Perhaps it was luck that her angle of entry brought her a few miles outside of a goblin occupied town instead of through it. And still she rode. Even as delirium of days without water set in. She rode on until she saw a campfire. It must be a good sign. All of the enemies could see in the dark. She placed her horse a distance away to give the poor creature a chance to rest and stumbled toward the light. In the light she saw only despair, there was an orc, silhouetted against the firelight. It called out to her in a gruffly accented common. She asked those who she had failed for forgiveness. She was wrong and she had not the strength to continue, only the hope of help had gotten her this far. And so she collapsed, despair at last claiming victory over her fatigue wracked body. As she lay unconscious a voice told her "Be well for you are restored" and she awoke to a face full of long kinky red hair.

And so she brought news

[howandwhy99]

Posted on behalf of Biorph

Rose’s Background

Name: Rose
Full Name: Red rose of the trellis outside my window that I look upon.

Description:
Height: 4'8, weight: 75 pounds, sex: female

Her hair is the color of flame literally, a mixture of reds oranges and yellows and seems luminescent even without light. Her skin is light ice blue. Her eyes (the irises anyway) match the deepest reds of her hair and are luminescent like her hair. In her mouth are a set of animal like fangs. Those only become really evident when she smiles. Despite her upbringing her skin does not show many scars and she seems to heal fairly neatly. Her armor looks to be crafted by an expert in animal skin working. It seems to be painted to blend in as much as possible with the forest. Her arms, legs, hands, and feet show the signs of numerous breaks and improper setting most of which has long since healed. While not overly attractive or unattractive, she has a strange alien beauty about her that is almost ethereal in its nature and seems to make it even easier to stare at her when she wants your attention. Her speech is in heavily accented common and her elven only slightly less accented. Although she has spent several decades with non-elves and non-fae, she still considers them and many of their customs strange. Her nature is very alien as VERY few exist who are like her and often comes out despite her efforts to hide it. She does her best to observe and try to understand the strange situations that arise as best she can. She is not overly devoted to her horse, it was simply an animal given to her to ride that has been surprisingly durable. Her weapon is a quarterstaff, and she becomes apprehensive when in close proximity to metals.

Currently she is wearing woven flaxen pants and a long shirt under her armor her hands are hidden by her leather gloves. At Deirdre's suggestion she has begun tying up her hair at night and wears a veil to hide the majority of her face, especially the fangs which seem severely off-putting to those she has met for reasons she does not fully understand yet.

[howandwhy99]

As Father Ben rode along, itching himself under his arms and sometimes elsewhere, and listening to the little woman who was somehow both Fae and Elven, he came to believe she actually enjoyed the beatings that had broken her body. “Why would anyone want to be hit by hammers?” wondered Ben. Dram waved his hands from in front to quiet the others. He silently pointed to the smoke of some campfires ahead. Veering off the road to their right, the team took a wide berth fearing the worst. A good distance away Dram pulled the horses even keeping the smoke to their left. A wide blue river crossed their path at the bottom of a hill. Dalin and Dram rode forward and tested its depth with a stick. The river was shallow and quite clear, so the horses were lead single file to the far side. The team moved back into formation on the far bank. Ten minutes later and Dram was steered back towards the southern road. “It’s best to avoid anyone out in the open,” Darius said plainly to his team. “We don’t know who to trust right now.”

Storm clouds chased each other across wide-open sky but ignored the party. The treeless plain offered no reprieve from the hot sun. As it turned orange then red blossoming into a spectacular sunset a small wooden palisade was spotted ahead. Worked lands encircled the tall wooden walls. Perhaps forty farms in all stood outside its’ doors. As they approached Ben noticed each of the houses stood empty with door barred or left open with nothing within. Dalin pointed out the fields were still being tended as the crops had reached harvest height. “None have been cut though”. Dram stopped a hundred feet from the wall. Darius rode ahead alone and knocked on the door.

“State yer’ business” a high-pitched voice cracked.
“We are on a mission from the Gods,” said Darius. A smaller door opened built within the larger one. A teenaged boy and an elderly yellow dog with one good eye looked out.
“Wait here. I have to check with the master.” The door closed and Darius waited impatiently. Five minutes passed and he knocked again. The larger door opened in response.
“Ya’ll have to stable yer’ horses at the Inn” said the boy.
“What inn is that?” asked Ben.
“Uhhh.. the Harvest Inn, I guess”
“What is the name of this town?” inquired Darius.
“This ain’t no town. We’re a thorp. Called Gone’way” the boy replied.

Inside the circled wall were less than a dozen houses. The boy and dog lead them to the only two-story building in town. It looked like a granary. Indeed, inside were no beds or stables, but a small pile of hay and grain were piled in the back. Darius started collecting coin from the others to pay for their stay. Rose had none. “I never carry metal,” she said. Darius let it pass. He gave the kid nine silver and fifteen coppers as a tip. As the boy goggled at his fortune Ben asked if he could be allowed to hold services while in town. “What? Yer’ a priest?! Really?” He seemed genuinely impressed. With hardly any urging he ran off to sound a tower bell.

Ben cleaned and changed into his vestments while the others unpacked and brushed down the horses. When the “inn’s” doors were reopened Ben was taken aback. He counted about ninety people outside. Each stared at him in wonder and fascination. Ben saw only elderly and young folk. It must have been all of Gonnaway. Reminding himself not to mention fathers and mothers or sons and daughter, Ben launched into a sermon about staying true in trouble times. He gave examples of trials where others had kept the faith and won out in the end. “Hallelujah” one woman shouted. He stressed how everyone was needed in Margrave to work each day to keep the County strong and secure. “Praise be to the Gods!” shouted another man. Ben asked for constant vigilance in duty and a sharp eye for possible invaders.

The whole crowd was hooting and howling before Ben could even finish. Those who could had started dancing and some of the older faithful had passed out. After a closing prayer the congregation surged forward and hands groped Ben from all sides. After what seemed an eternity Ben saw Dram pushing others away and led Ben out of the mass of bodies. Ben called out for the townfolk to have a peaceful evening as Darius shut and barred the door to the inn. “You would make a good sacrifice” said Rose. “Not like me, of course. I have impure blood. But yours is very worthy”.
“Thanks” said Ben confusedly. Thinking twice he decided to move his blankets to the far wall away from Rose. Secretly he staked them down from the inside and tossed some rocks in the bottom for good measure.

Darius and Dalin went to speak with the master as the others bedded down. The “master” turned out to be the old dog’s master in truth. He was very old and nearly bald with white wisps of hair sticking out erratically from the sides of his head. Swapping stories Darius learned the town had sent off many of its members to the Front. Then the raiders from the east had come and killed everyone brave enough to fight back. The attacks could come at any time, but the nights were especially bad. A dragon of legend haunted the nighttime skies. Few had dared to leave since then. Darius reassured the old man he would pass along the tale. Heading back to the sleeping quarters Dalin and Darius found the rest of the team already asleep.

[howandwhy99]

[DAY 91 – Moonday, Azer 23rd, CY 81]

Gonnaway’s deserted streets were still cloaked in shadow when Darius led his teammates outside the high wall. The sky was a smooth sea of cobalt blue thawing as the sun struggled to break the horizon. Father Ben hummed pleasantly to himself as he counted the few remaining stars above. The little thorp had renewed his faith in the world again. As the first rays of light struck his face, he felt certain whatever challenges the southern road held would be overcome. The sun rose rapidly and the morning air grew unusually hot and dry. Rose whistled out in bird song when Dram spotted more vultures circling ahead, but none responded. A carcass of some creature lied further on. Having grown up on a horse farm, Ben recognized it as buffalo. Rose walked over and examined the dry earth around it.

“There are no tracks anywhere”, she exclaimed. “It’s like it fell out of the sky!”
“Maybe it was the dragon?” said Dalin. Darius hushed him and passed on how the locals of Gonnaway believed they were being hunted by a mythical dragon of old. Dram looked upwards, cantered his horse and hurried the team on their way. As the day stretched, Rose started asking questions again about Margrave and why dragons would drop buffalo from the sky. She talked on and on unworried about the lack of answers. The team learned she had been trained in tracking and ranging the land as Pendra and Certa. A flicker of worry crept over Ben’s face as he remembered neither of the two men had ever been found.

Rose went on about her past and heritage. Apparently, her Fae nature allowed Rose to know exactly where she was at all times. “My impure blood keeps me from seeing in the dark though. I wish I could. But then I’d probably eat people too, so maybe it’s for the best for you.” Rose smiled merrily as the rest of the group noticed every tooth in her mouth was sharply pointed. Father Ben made a silent resolution to teach her the goodly faith as soon as possible. “Mother’s side eats, heart, mind, and soul.” Dalin changed the topic to card playing and the others readily took it up.

An hour or so before dinner a town came into view. Nearly a hundred buildings were clustered around with farmsteads extending back beyond and to the west. As they rode their horses in several people moved aside as the roads were full of activity. Darius stopped a passerby long enough to learn the town’s name: Custner. Picture signs hung from many of the buildings along the main road. A horseshoe hung above a clanging smith’s shop and a small barrel above the cooper’s. Darius pulled into the smith’s and the others followed. He and Dalin looked over his wares and had the horse hooves checked. Rose drew back and held her nose when see saw inside. Father Ben overheard her tell Kayla of her great dislike for iron and other metals. He turned away as it was improper to listen in. It was then he spotted a carpenter’s shop down the street. It was precisely what he was looking for.

Rose, Kayla and Diedre dismounted and headed towards what looked like a large commerce building in the center of town as Ben headed to the carpenter’s alone. Outside the building, the three women saw a number of young men staggering around with drinks in their hands. Hung over the door was the sign of a busty woman holding ale. “We’re just in time for the party!” yelled Rose. Kayla grimaced silently. Inside was a long bar and several more men. A half dozen women lolled about upstairs along the balcony dressed in provocative clothing. Several more danced slowly with the men as a fiddler played. Rose joined right in and started dancing with the men too, some of whom backed away in fright.

Kayla and Diedre stood their ground as three different men tried propositioning them. Kayla started examining the large common room while ignoring its inhabitants. A massive stone fireplace stretched along one wall. A six-foot wide circular buckler and massive ten-foot long sword hung above the mantle. Oddly the sword was missing its crosspiece. A small dwarven woman sporting a full beard and long, red gown approached. “Well met young ones. I am Gerda. Are you interested in working for our fine establishment?” Rose ran right over from across the room. “Why do they give the women metal for simple frolicking?” she asked. “It’s downright cruel!” Gerda laughed, but did not answer.

[howandwhy99]

After placing his order with the carpenter, Ben retraced his path back to the ironsmith’s. On his way he spotted Dram and Dalin hotfooting it into what looked like the town inn. Ben moved over to join them as Ormand the Redd and Pax came walking in behind. Inside Ben was completely shocked. “By the Gods!”
“Not quite” responded the ugly dwarven woman. “But we do serve any and all willing customers. Do you have a particular preference?” Dram, Dalin, and Pax stepped right up and ordered ale. Tossing a goodly amount of coin on a table each soon had two women on their laps.
“Come on, Ben. Live a little!” said Dram. Ormand quietly walked out the door.

“What is this place?” asked Ben stupidly.
“The Welcome Wench Inn”, said the dwarf. Turning back to Kayla, “perhaps you are interested? There are several good men available too?” Her gaze took in Ben as well.
“But…um… Wait a minute. That’s the name of the inn in Homlett?” Ben was still flustered.
“Yes, yes, so we call it the same thing. Who cares?” said the woman.
“Pardon me, but are you the owner of this establishment?” asked Kayla. At that moment Ben noticed Rose dancing with some of the other men inside. He quickly exited finding Ormand cowering outside the door.
“Grog is the owner. But he is sleeping now and I wouldn’t want to wake him.”
“Ahhh… So he the one who owns the sword above the mantle then?”, asked Kayla.

Outside Darius marched across the street and through the door before Ben could think to warn him. He had just finished stabling the horses and took a good long gaze at what was happening inside the brothel. Kayla took the chance to draw him aside and filled him in on what she suspected. Some large pimp ran the inn, but room prices were exorbitant. She suggested heading somewhere else before trouble started. Diedre was spotted across the room selling fortunes to some of the men and women. Darius decided they would stay awhile and try their luck.

“You are quite the fine specimen,” the dwarven madam said as she approached. “Do you care to practice some stonecutting while in town?” Darius laughed loudly. And then took her up on her offer. The two went upstairs in private. Alone again, Kayla determined to learn what she could about the town and ‘Grog’ while the others frivoled away the time. Outside Ben patiently explained to Ormand how not all women enjoyed places like this. “Rose isn’t like any other woman”, the red-haired man responded. Just then Dalin and Dram ran out and shoved two pouches in Ben’s hands. “Hold those” ordered Dram as he turned back inside.
“And don’t give ‘em back to us until tomorrow!” shouted Dalin as he followed. One bag was much heavier than the other. “I wonder whose is whose?” thought Ben. It occurred to him he should check on his special project and left Ormand to watch the door.

Time passed and Kayla noticed there was still no sign of Darius. She recalled that when he was determined little could get in his way. The men and women in the common room were easily won, however. Besides learning of another inn in Kustner, one where they could actually sleep the night, Kayla discovered a few juicy rumors. Apparently some ‘Skinny man’ was sneaking around during the night and scrawling bizarre messages on the outer walls of the Sleeping Dragon – the name of the other inn. The man was always shaking and scared of the townsfolk. Several of the men bragged about beating him whenever he came around town. In truth the whole town scared Kayla a little too. It was not like anywhere else in Margrave she had been.

One woman told her that the ogres from the mountains might be closer than she suspected. Only when the woman snarled and laughed as she told Kayla the information. Reflecting on it, Kayla guessed it had something to do with the sword and shield. Seeing her fellow companions had stopped drinking and looked somewhat in control of themselves she collected Diedre to leave. The young apprentice had actually made a fair amount of coin in the interim. Ben saw them leave and promised to watch over the others. Ormand had clammed up and with no one to talk to Ben was anxious. The carpenter was taking quite a bit longer than he expected.

[howandwhy99]

Dram was caught up in amusement, but he was also low on coin – unlike his stingy friend Dalin who was upstairs for the second time. Trying to make the best of the situation he decided to ask about his missing brother. Someone had heard a Gil Hammersmith had been sold into slavery, but it was old news to Dram. Darius finally came down the stairs and strutted around the common room with a big smile on his face. He was in high spirits. The madam was nowhere to be seen. “Who wants to join me in a drinking contest!” he called out. After a minute two tipsy men stepped forward. A woman brought each a large stein of ale, which Darius dutifully paid for. He took several gulps and looked at the other two men. They were chugging as fast as they could. “Hey! I thought were drinking to see who could stay sober the longest!” All the locals started laughing. The two men beat him handily. “No one can get a dwarf drunk!” said the winner.

Across town Diedre and Kayla finally located the other inn. It was run down and had all its rooms in separate cottages in a row behind it. The main building looked like a small and very dirty converted barn. The inside was no better. A small group of grubby men sitting around a table stared at the two women. She asked about the skinny man who was rumored to stop by in the night. The man laughed menacingly. They said they had beat him every night and hoped he would come back on this one. After a few minutes Kayla managed to barter a single cottage for the evening. Walking around to the back of the barn they noticed strange scrawling all over the rear wall.

DangEr....Forces of Evil Gather...Come TO me...Free the Power to Combat Evil....Hasten or Witness Dire Destruction....I Await the Coming of a Bearer....I am tHe Sentinel...Evel grOWS STRONG...Help Me! Overcome....DANGER

Dram was getting frustrated watching Dalin and Pax have all the fun while he sat being teased. Spotting the dwarven madam coming back downstairs he asked to meet with the owner. Dizzily she led him out a rear kitchen door and into a walled backyard. A tall shack stood on one side and an enormous misshapen man stood before it. The creature looked at least nine feet tall to him and probably a half-ogre. Dram introduced himself. He learned the half-ogre was named Grog and was rather friendly. They started talking about how he had retired from adventuring and now enjoyed the good life at his ‘inn’. “Gerda help with girls and food and beer.” Grog boomed. “Grog make sure nothing bad happen.” Dram could certainly imagine.




After awhile Dram introduced Grog to his friends inside the brothel. In short time it became apparent Grog was a little slow and knew nothing about the REAL business of his ‘inn’. The team did learn a Gar the Giant was busy hiring people to work for him. The giants normally lived in the mountains to the east. But Gar was working in the forest to the north as well. Grog said he had heard some adventurers had discovered the lost tomb of Zelligar and he guessed that was what Gar was after. Darius, Dram and the others put two and two together. Gar was the giant who had attacked Xavier.

Afternoon had passed it was getting dark when Ben finally retrieved his special project: a carved wooden ring looped inside a braided twine necklace. It fit perfectly over his head and he stashed it in his pouch. Ormond the Redd had long ago gone to find the women and the second inn. When the rest of the party stumbled out of the Welcome Wench he helped them to the room Kayla and Diedre secured. The two had cleaning the entire cottage and were a little upset to see the men enter. Darius convinced Kayla it was safer to stay in one cabin than to split. The prices were much higher in Kusner than in the north too. Everyone laid out beds for the night and Ormand took first watch.

[howandwhy99]

Ormand paced around behind the Sleeping Dragon Inn’s barn. Darius had given him special orders to keep a lookout for a skinny man who had left the message on the rear wall. He could not read it, but he was not interested anyways. Ormond was trying to think of a way to speak with Rose. He pictured in his mind her flaming red hair. “Sort of like mine”, he whispered. A shadow appeared in the moonlight. Ormand hid. An incredibly thin figure skulked up to the rear wall. It swayed back and forth like it might be drunk. He spotted a glove on one of its hands as it began to write. Ormand drew his sword.

“Wake up! Get up! He’s here!”, he shouted and pounded on the room’s door. The noise of stomping feet came from inside…and from within the barn too. Ormand charged, but the skeletal man was too quick. Instead of running it quickly climbed up the back the barn wall like a spider. Pax and Dalin ran out of the cabin followed by Dram. Ormand circled around the barn trying to keep an eye on the man as it ran, but it was too dark. Three dirty men were looking around in front shouting. “Urkwin its beatin’ time!”, one yelled. The other two shouted cursed threats of what was in store. A dog started howling from somewhere nearby.

Splat! Something fell on top of Ormand before he knew what happened. From inside the cabin Rose started howling too. “OOOWWOOOOOHHHH!” Pax helped Ormand up. The three men were very angry and mocked Ormond for letting their favorite “beat it” man get away. When they saw the rest of the team arrive the three decided to go back inside. Ormand apologized for letting the man get away, but the rest said it was unnecessary. He felt bad, however, as he was pulled of guard duty for the rest of the night.

Father Ben walked over and saw two more letters had been written on the barn. “H. E. Help perhaps?” He decided to leave his own symbol; a variation on a circle. (the peace sign) Darius noticed a small rusty dagger stuck in the wall missing its crosspiece. He borrowed Ben’s quill to write: “I will be here!” under the H and E. Kayla examined the dagger and wondered if it had anything to do with the massive sword she had seen before. Both were missing hilts. With the excitement over Pax took up watch while the others withdrew back to bed. It looked like they had missed their chance to talk.


[DAY 92 – Feastday, Azer 24th, CY 81]

The rest of the evening passed uneventfully and Ben awoke at sun up. After surreptitiously removing the rocks from his blankets he prayed. It was not Holyday, but Ben felt Kusner was due for a good church service. The general lawlessness of the town astonished him. He wondered if Darius had reported the troubles of Gonnaway to the authorities here. Calling on Pax and Ormand he asked them to go around town and announce a holy mass to be held behind the Sleeping Dragon Inn today around midmorning. Before the two could leave Dram ordered them to find out what they could about his brother Tankurd as well.

As Ben prepared his vestments he decided it was time to give Rose his gift. “Here, Rose, this is for you”, he said as he handed her the necklace. “I think it is time for you to consider worshipping Gods who actually protect men and women and not those who wish to destroy others.” Rose stared at him in disbelief. “I would like you to attend the ceremonies today, so you might understand the power true belief can hold. The warriors you seek to help at the Front are fighting evil. They seek to push back whatever demons and beings of chaos I imagine are there”, he continued. Rose shrieked piercingly and ran over to hug Ben. He was not expecting such a positive response.

Rose asked Ben to put the pendant around her neck. Afterwards, she declared to the others that she and Ben were now a married couple. Ben stood dumbfounded. He could barely take in what Rose was saying. “WAIT! No. No, that isn’t what this means at all! The wooden circle is a sign of unity and immortality like the Gods. It is a means of meditation. You focus your eyes upon it and become one with the grace and justice of…” Rose cut him off.
“You want an annulment?” she asked. Ben tried to explain as a priest he must remain open to all people. He pointed out how the Gods were his first devotion. Rose smiled. “Oh, is that all? Well you can have as many wives as husbands as you wish. I don’t mind.”

“But…but… it never happened. We aren’t married,” said Ben. Rose began crying. She pointed out the wooden ring he had given her and when he tried to take it back she jumped away. The rest of the party looked bemused and chuckling. The scene ended with Ben stuttering and Rose declaring she had an awful lot to teach her new husband. Ben went into a closet to dress in his vestments and then outside to wait for mass.

[howandwhy99]

Awhile later, Ormond the Redd came running back to the cabin to report to Dram. Someone had mentioned a Tankurd Hammersmith being held prisoner in a place called Adlerweg. He had found this out from Grog the pimp. Tankurd was thought to be held because of his smithing skill. How he had made it to Adlerweg Ormand did not know. But rumors were rampant that day about a group of Trolls – a type of Giant – had come down from the mountains to Adlerweg. The townsfolk were worried they might try and invade the city of Kera to the east. Dram ran off to find Grog. Kayla sent the others after him and headed over to the smith’s to fetch Darius. He had left earlier to pick up ordered supplies and missed the report. Ben stood alone waiting behind the inn to hold mass. When he was quite sure it was past midmorning and not a single person had arrived he sheepishly went to the brothel as well.

“Way back, Kera peaceful. Now Kera different. Keep of Adlerweg is strong. Keep defends pass through mountains. It heavily fortified. And trolls very dangerous.” Grog was explaining to the group what he knew of Kera. Everyone was gathered around in the backyard of the brothel when Ben entered. Dram had a stern look on his face, but stayed quiet. Darius asked what questions he could to Grog. The mountains were where Grog had come from before he decided to adventure. Darius shared how he was also from the eastern mountains. “Hellfurnaces”, Grog said. The group discussed what they could do. They had learned Kera was a small city near the mountains. Darius decided it was worth traveling.

“Once we reach this Keep Alderweg and free Dram’s brother we can continue southwards”, Darius explained. The only problem was there were no roads from Margrave to Kera. Darius looked back up at Grog. “We will need your help. I have heard you are a great warrior. Can you lead us to the city?” Darius the paladin turned on the charm. Grog said yes, then changed his mind. “Grog retired. Now Grog innkeeper and make lots of gold.” Darius tried again and finally convinced Grog by reminding him of the mountains. The half-ogre ordered Gerda to fetch his sword and shield. “Grog know hermit skinny man who scrawls. Hermit scrawls for…” Grog paused and counted on his fingers. “Seven weeks”, he finished.

A rumbling came from within the brothel. It occurred to Kayla that Grog’s sword was twice the size of Gerda and likely as heavy. A hideous beast eighteen feet tall stepped into the yard. It carried the sword and shield. “Dwarf, ogre, dwargre?” thought Ben to himself. The huge Gerda now in grotesque form handed down the sword to Grog half her size. When she did so Grog grew and she shrank to normal again. He was now eighteen feet and looked similar to the ogre they had killed at the Chaos Caves. Grog took the shield from the ground and closed his eyes. He shrank back down to normal. Everyone else was put off, but Dram stepped forward.

“Can I see your sword Grog?” This time Dram grew. His muscles bulged and his shirt tore off. Closing his eyes Dram tried to grow as large as possible. He kept growing until he was about twenty-four feet tall (and wearing next to nothing). He handed the blade back to Grog and immediately shrunk back down losing his balance. Gerda went to fetch him some clothes. “Plenty of men have forgotten them”, she said. Darius and the others decided to start east as soon as possible and asked Grog to prepare. With the sun high in the sky the group left town. Even with his heavy sword, shield, and giant’s sack, Grog kept pace with the nine riders.

The team was now finally outside of Margrave County. As they road Darius explained the Dwarven Kingdoms were in the mountain range south of Kera and so was something else. He had been having a strange feeling since before he had travelled to Harling. Something was tugging on his soul and he believed, if they turned south after Kera, it was along this route. Father Ben could relate, but stayed quiet. Darius pointed to the little map of Margrave Dram had drawn. At the place marked “Sky Knights” he expected to find a mount. He explained it was something every paladin does at some point during their life.

[howandwhy99]

After leaving the harvested fields of Custner the green grasslands so common on the ride south turned to barrens. Grog led due east at a brisk pace with the team following in their now traditional circular formation. Ben could see the southern edge of the enormous Greenwillow Forest a mile or so to his left. Nothing else broke the horizon until several hours later when Grog pointed out a villa ahead. “Grog’s friends stay there”, he said. He had traded with them frequently, mostly for mushrooms. As they rode closer the structure appeared smaller and smaller. “Are they of the littlefolk?”, Diedre suggested. Grog agreed, but then again he called everyone littlefolk. When they were within one hundred yards Grog stopped. “Something wrong. The gate closed. Nobody here.” Grog approached alone. Ten small helmets rose up along the villa’s outer wall. It reminded Darius of the Fae near Hommlet, but he saw no faces.



Grog wavered in mid-step. He fell limp to the ground backwards. “Foul sorcery!!” shouted Darius. The gates to the compound opened. “Charge!” commanded Darius. Diedre and Rose hung back as four mountain lions raced out of the entrance. Dram, Rose, and Ormond launched arrows at the creatures and one fell dead. Kayla cast a spell and a second collapsed to the ground. The last two pounced onto Grog biting and scratching him awake. Darius arrived first to the bizarre lion & giant wrestling match and tried to avoid stab Grog. One lion jumped aside barely missing Pax with its jaws. Grog’s massive fist swung wide and smashed into the head of Darius’s horse. Gobbets of blood and flesh sprayed over both of them. Dram spurred his horse towards the gates with his bow ready. As he climbed the slope and reached the wall’s edge he spotted an ugly witch crouching inside. Dram shot her just as she pointed a stick at him. White light streaked out knocking him unconscious and to the ground.

Grog wrestled around raising dust as the large cat bit into his shoulder. Rose growled to the other lion trying to sooth it, but it ignored her. It chased after Pax, but he galloped away towards the wall. Ben and Dalin charged forward and drew the second lion from following Pax. The gates of the compound slammed shut. Dalin hit the lion solidly. Ben swung with his mace and connected too. Grog cracked his lion’s head with his bare hands. Severely hurt, the last lion ran. It leapt over Darius’s horse and knocked the paladin down. Grog scrambled over, wrenched Darius aside, and kicked at the lion. He missed badly and smashed the dead horse carcass into pulp. Ormand the Redd fired and felled the final beast. Darius walked over and smashed in the skull of the sleeping lion.

Pax carefully lifted Dram’s body and ran with it away from the littlefolk’s wall. Darius started ordering Ormand and Dalin to drag his dead in that direction too. He called on Thor to heal Grog as Ben helped him lead the half-ogre out of danger. Rose ran off in the direction of Dram’s missing horse. In a patch of dirt outside of bow range the group scuttled Dram’s dead horse, divvying up the gear among other mounts. Ben healed Grog and bandaged him before tending to Dram. Rose walked back with Dram’s horse and agreed to double up on Darian’s horse. Dram awoke with a start when Ben touched him. “There’s a witch inside! And I need to kill her.”

Ignoring the others he stood up and walked over to Grog. Taking his sword Dram grew to 24’ tall and stomped towards the gate. He saw the yard inside was deserted. The ten helmets were attached to sticks and lifted a ruse. Angrily he kicked at the gate and it smashed to pieces. “I’m comin’ ta eatcha, ya evil, foul, horrible, WITCH!” he boomed. The hill rounded inside the wooden wall. Dram spotted a green circular door built into its side. Atop the hill a flimsy tower stood. Standing on his toes he could make out nothing inside. “And after I eatcha, I’m gonna find your family and eat them too!” Dram noticed the rest of the team had ridden up to gate.

“Grog’s friends not here”, Grog said to no one in particular. “Normally dozen friends guard here. They farm. They sell Grog mushrooms.” He looked very worried and out of sorts. Darius called up to Dram to release Grog’s sword. It took a bit of coaxing, but Dram knew the sword was not his. Darius gave the sword to Pax thinking he was the strongest amongst them, but he grew now stronger than Dram had. After growing to maximum height, Pax reached down and ripped the circular door from its hinges. Darius ordered him to keep guard and to look for anyone trying to escape. The others dismounted and prepared to enter the dark tunnel that had been hidden by the door.

[howandwhy99]

Darius went first. Looking inside with his dwarven vision he saw the dugout tunnel sloped down and several yards further was an intersection. He walked up to it. Crash! The dirt floor collapsed under him and Darius fell ten feet into a pit. Those outside heard. Dalin lit a torch and Kayla followed him in. “Not yet”, said Darius as he climbed from the pit. But the two lit up the area anyways. The tunnels left and right ended in wooden doors. The main tunnel straightened and extended out of sight. “Stand guard here with the light. I’m going to check the left door,” said Darius and he moved away. Dalin edged around the pit to the right cave.

Outside now one came back to report. Dram was impatient and entered. Diedre and Ben decided to stay behind and watch over Grog as Rose and Ormand entered too. Dalin explained what had happened as Darius opened the left door and walked into the darkness beyond. He saw the passage fork left and right again. The passages curved all over. Nothing was in a straight line here. Prodding the floor in front of him with his sword he took the left passage. “Left is always right, pappy used to say.” Dram’s blood was still up. Lighting a torch off of Dalin’s he inspect the right door. It looked safe, so he opened it. Cautiously he walked down the passage as Rose and Kayla followed.

“Great. Ormand, take this and guard the center passage”, said Dalin. “I’m going with them.” Darius found discovered another pit trap, this one already collapsed. He skirted around it as the passage wound right. Ahead an oddly shaped alcove had hundreds of mushrooms growing on its floor. Pressing on he found the passage simply looped back to where he had entered. Confident the floor was safe he started inspecting the walls for secret passages.

In the other tunnel Dram led until Kayla convinced him someone needed to check for more pit traps. As the tunnel curved left it opened a long oddly shaped room. The floor to the right was covered with mushrooms while the left-hand side was cleared to pass. Rose spotted writing on the far wall. Pockets of space were cut into the walls to allow more mushrooms to grow. The little half-Fae collected some as she moved through. On the far wall letters from the human tongue were carved, but had been almost entirely scratched away. It looked to Rose like the same handwriting as the skinny man’s. And it was less than a day old. She told reported it to the others who had held back.

As he inspected the outer wall of the ring Darius discovered a stone behind the dirt just to the right of the mushroom alcove. He pulled out his sword and started clearing it off. It looked like a large stone door of some type, but without a handle. A smooth circle was carved into its center. Perplexed he went back to the intersection and saw Ormand all alone and looking scared. He told Darius everyone else went through the other wooden door. “That’s just great,” he said and took off after them.

Just as Darius caught up, Kayla prodded into another pit trap. Dram helped her collapse it and immediately pressed on. As he had the only light most everyone else was forced to follow. The passage kept curving to the left. After a few more yards it split again, this time sharply to the right and sloping upward to the left. Kayla saw Ormand silhouetted down the left passage. “Ormand” she said and the man jumped. “It’s okay. We’re safe. We’re going to explore a little farther. Keep your eyes open.” Ormond nodded, but only Darius could see it. Dram led briskly down the left tunnel, the main one that ran straight from the entrance. “It’s time to kill a witch.”

The passage slowly curved left again, but at less of an angle. After several yards another mushroom pocket was passed and the curve sharpened. Dram saw the tunnel end with another wooden door. Next to it was another mushroom pocket. He shushed the others in warning. Carefully prodding forward with his sword he made it to the door and listened. There was no sound. He searched the door and found it locked. There was no handle or keyhole. “I’m comin’ for ya!” he shouted and began to hack at the door. The rest of the team waited fearing the worst. After a few minutes the wooden door splintered into two. Dram picked up his torch and tossed it into the room beyond.

It was oddly shaped. It looked like it was still being dug to make it larger. All around the edges and in pockets more mushrooms grew. Unfortunately the witch was not inside. Dram prodded into the room and everyone else followed bumping into each other in the shadows. Dalin noticed the ceiling had a tunnel leading upwards. Dram and Dalin boosted Rose up and she climbed the vertical tunnel with her claws the rest of the way. A wooden trapdoor was at the very top. She found no traps, but discovered the door exited under the base of the tower outside. Rose waved to Pax with a smile.

[howandwhy99]

Dram was furious and was convinced the witch had escaped them. Kayla wisely suggested searching the walls for secret door and that is when Darius told them of the stone door he found. The five headed back to it and Rose started examining the tubular-like hole. She was convinced it held some sort of magic that dissipated when the hole was filled. Several more minutes went by. Several trips to the horses searching for suitable items to test almost proved fruitless until Dalin remembered the rod of strange metal he had won at Keep Margrave in the strength competition. He slid it into the hole. It fit perfectly and clicked into place. It was stuck. Turning it left and right the door finally released and opened of its own accord.

“Finally!” shouted Dram in triumph and he charged down the tunnel beyond. The rest of the team hurried to keep pace as Dalin struggled to remove his rod from the door. After only a few paces Dram fell into a pit trap. He let out a cry of frustration. “Hey! Its not every day you get your rod stuck in a door. Take it easy,” said Dalin. After pulling Dram out and clearing the pit Dalin finally succeeded in removing his rod. Feeling vindication was at hand the crew hustled down the long tunnel and found only a room with empty beds at the end. Quickly they searched for more secret exits.

In an alcove without mushrooms Dalin saw the wall was shaped like a dirt door. Darius ran in as he told the other and smashed at it with his hammer. The weapon went straight through into air on the other side. The door was quickly broken apart and a tiny, rope ladder leading down the backside of the hillock was found. Dram pushed ahead, but it nearly broke from his weight. “This is too damn small for that witch!” he said. Rose was both light and short so she climbed down. At the base she found several small tracks, one human sized set, and a folded piece of paper. Following the tracks to a gate inside the rear wall, they led out into the broken grasslands beyond. No one was in sight. “No! No! No!” Dram shouted in frustration.

The team regrouped outside the entrance to the hole. Kayla read the parchment Rose had found. It was not a taunt as Dram suspected. It was some sort of map of the area. Kustner/Kusnir was on it as was Gonnaway. Rose could tell it was very poorly made however as all the directions were wrong. “How could you possibly know that?” asked Kayla.
“I’m Fae. I always know exactly where I am. If not always what’s around me.” Rose explained how Fae were never lost. She always knew where she was in relation to everything else. “At least everything I already know. I’ve never been here before, so I can only tell you the direction and distance things are.”

Kayla turned the map over. “What was the other skulk wearing?” she read. “What’s a skulk?” No one knew.





Darius was not ready to admit defeat. Calling Pax over he obtained the sword and shield from him and had Rose lead him using the tracks she had found. After a half mile the two came upon the edge of the Greenwillow. The tracks entered inside, but Darius called off the search there. Rose guessed his dwarfish instincts did not trust the forest. “Which is rather wise”, she thought to herself. Back at the compound Dram had started drawing a map of the mushroom caves so they could come back and kill the witch on their return trip to Margrave. No one wanted to think about how far in the future that might be though.



It was late afternoon before the team began traveling again. Grog admitted he was unsure of the way to Kera after the mushroom caves. He was still feeling down after not finding his friends. Rose was confident she could lead. “It’s east, right? With the forest’s edge in sight we should come up to the mountains in a few more days.”