BSF
Explorer
Let's see how our friends in Greerson are doing.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
It is mid-morning when the river ship glides into the dock. Refugees gather up sacks of grain, apples and dried rations. They are close to running out of food, but should be fine for a few days yet. They wrap their clothes a little tighter around their bodies. They are further north then they are accustomed to and winter is approaching.
The Seeker's of Legend disembark and look around. It doesn't seem so long ago that they stood at these docks seeking a ship down south so they could learn more about the Gnolls. Still, the last time they stood on these docks, their friend Felix was with them. Now he rests peacefully beneath the plains far to the southwest.
Li shakes the captain's hand before he leaves. Greerson is nearly two days travel on the road so they have agreed that Li will send word back to the captain on any potential cargo within a week. Once Li has done that, they will discuss when the ship should return in the spring to leverage the trade contracts they have discussed.
Soon, the entire band is moving toward the outskirts of town. The refugees look wary as they proceed toward the forest. These are old trees and dense forest. They are more comfortable with open plains. Kind finds the terrain to be interesting though. He can sense a deep undercurrent of harmony within the forest. There is also a sense of power. As the group enters the trees, Kind feels a presence watching them for a moment. Then the sensation passes.
Ayla and Ceru are also familiar with the terrain. They have trained in this place in the past. By their observations, the forest is still healthy. The deciduous trees are turning color, berries on bushes have ripened, birds are migrating south. Autumn is well underway, but it makes the forest seem peaceful somehow.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The road to Greerson is roughly 40 miles and Li's manor is on the eastern edge of Lord Tannerson's holdings. It will be a hard two day journey to get to Li's manor.
There are 5 cleared camp areas along the road. They are roughly 8 miles apart and various organizations in Greerson make sure they are maintained and safe. Since the band arrived mid-morning, it will be after dark before you decide to stop for the evening.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
There is very little traffic on the road today. The roads in Greerson are never as heavily travelled as the roads around Stormhaven, but it is quiet even by Greerson standards. Twice Skye tells Ceru that others have watched them, but they never interfere with the band as it travels northeast. Tortoise doesn't seem concerned so Ceru doesn't feel concerned.
Twice during the day, Tormal gets a strange feeling. He can almost feel something watching him. He isn't sure what, or where, but the feeling persists for several moments, then fades.
The band stops for a brief lunch during the day, but proceeds into early evening. It is a long, hard march and the refugees are pushed close to exhaustion before they stop. The hike through the forest has done much to comfort the refugees however. Early grumblings about a lack of farmland have given way to the comforting sounds of the breeze in the trees, the refreshing streams and the obvious fertility of the land. It is a difficult march, but most of the refugees are hoping that they are nearing the end of their journey.
Ayla quickly recognizes the latest campsite area. This is the one nearest Greerson. Still, it is nearly a three hour walk to reach the city. The refugees are simply too tired to go any further. Besides, after a quick consultation with Ceru, both are sure there is a path that leads eastward from here. If the band uses it in the morning, they will be able to arrive at Li's manor sooner.
The camp area has stacked firewood and several firepits. A stream provides fresh water. At the edge is also a small shrine. It is dedicated to the forest runners that protect Greerson. There is little conversation as everyone settles in near small campfires. Crickets sing their symphony in the dark. In the middle of the night, as Ayla is on watch, she finds the crickets to be mesmerizing. The cadence of their song lulls her for a moment. Out of the corner of her eye, she thinks she sees a porcupine shuffling in the undergrowth. But when she turns her head, she sees nothing and the song of the crickets breaks the stillness of the air.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
In the morning, Ceru and Ayla lead the group to a small path that diverts eastward. The band will have to proceed in single file to travel along it. Kind is not as sure as Ayla and Ceru. To him, it looks more like an animal trail than a road. He even notes some bear signs on the trees nearby. This causes a little concern among the refugees, but the reassurances of Ayla and Ceru, as well as the acceptance of Li, help quell their fears.
There are no camp areas along the trail, though there are small clearings in several places. There is a large stream that crosses the path at one point, but the trail leads to a place where two trees have been felled across it. Several trout can be seen in the water from the bridge. Finally, the trail connects with an obvious road. Travelling slightly southeast, the band reaches the edge of Li's holdings by midafternoon.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Soon the roof of Li's manor is seen. A young boy calls out and rushes into the manor. Moments later, he emerges with his mother. Li easily recognizes the two and he can see that they have been busy clearing the worst of the overgrown orchards in the time that he has been gone. They approach before the woman stops in front of Li.
"Lord Gao, welcome back to your estate. I apologize for our lack of progress, but it is difficult with just the two of us."
She surreptitiously eyes the refugees. Whether out of hope that she will have more assistance with the manor, or out of concern for being able to feed this many visitors is difficult to tell. She pulls out two slips of folded parchment.
"Letters arrived for you and for Miss Ayla while you were gone. Will we be having guests?"
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
It is mid-morning when the river ship glides into the dock. Refugees gather up sacks of grain, apples and dried rations. They are close to running out of food, but should be fine for a few days yet. They wrap their clothes a little tighter around their bodies. They are further north then they are accustomed to and winter is approaching.
The Seeker's of Legend disembark and look around. It doesn't seem so long ago that they stood at these docks seeking a ship down south so they could learn more about the Gnolls. Still, the last time they stood on these docks, their friend Felix was with them. Now he rests peacefully beneath the plains far to the southwest.
Li shakes the captain's hand before he leaves. Greerson is nearly two days travel on the road so they have agreed that Li will send word back to the captain on any potential cargo within a week. Once Li has done that, they will discuss when the ship should return in the spring to leverage the trade contracts they have discussed.
Soon, the entire band is moving toward the outskirts of town. The refugees look wary as they proceed toward the forest. These are old trees and dense forest. They are more comfortable with open plains. Kind finds the terrain to be interesting though. He can sense a deep undercurrent of harmony within the forest. There is also a sense of power. As the group enters the trees, Kind feels a presence watching them for a moment. Then the sensation passes.
Ayla and Ceru are also familiar with the terrain. They have trained in this place in the past. By their observations, the forest is still healthy. The deciduous trees are turning color, berries on bushes have ripened, birds are migrating south. Autumn is well underway, but it makes the forest seem peaceful somehow.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The road to Greerson is roughly 40 miles and Li's manor is on the eastern edge of Lord Tannerson's holdings. It will be a hard two day journey to get to Li's manor.
There are 5 cleared camp areas along the road. They are roughly 8 miles apart and various organizations in Greerson make sure they are maintained and safe. Since the band arrived mid-morning, it will be after dark before you decide to stop for the evening.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
There is very little traffic on the road today. The roads in Greerson are never as heavily travelled as the roads around Stormhaven, but it is quiet even by Greerson standards. Twice Skye tells Ceru that others have watched them, but they never interfere with the band as it travels northeast. Tortoise doesn't seem concerned so Ceru doesn't feel concerned.
Twice during the day, Tormal gets a strange feeling. He can almost feel something watching him. He isn't sure what, or where, but the feeling persists for several moments, then fades.
The band stops for a brief lunch during the day, but proceeds into early evening. It is a long, hard march and the refugees are pushed close to exhaustion before they stop. The hike through the forest has done much to comfort the refugees however. Early grumblings about a lack of farmland have given way to the comforting sounds of the breeze in the trees, the refreshing streams and the obvious fertility of the land. It is a difficult march, but most of the refugees are hoping that they are nearing the end of their journey.
Ayla quickly recognizes the latest campsite area. This is the one nearest Greerson. Still, it is nearly a three hour walk to reach the city. The refugees are simply too tired to go any further. Besides, after a quick consultation with Ceru, both are sure there is a path that leads eastward from here. If the band uses it in the morning, they will be able to arrive at Li's manor sooner.
The camp area has stacked firewood and several firepits. A stream provides fresh water. At the edge is also a small shrine. It is dedicated to the forest runners that protect Greerson. There is little conversation as everyone settles in near small campfires. Crickets sing their symphony in the dark. In the middle of the night, as Ayla is on watch, she finds the crickets to be mesmerizing. The cadence of their song lulls her for a moment. Out of the corner of her eye, she thinks she sees a porcupine shuffling in the undergrowth. But when she turns her head, she sees nothing and the song of the crickets breaks the stillness of the air.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
In the morning, Ceru and Ayla lead the group to a small path that diverts eastward. The band will have to proceed in single file to travel along it. Kind is not as sure as Ayla and Ceru. To him, it looks more like an animal trail than a road. He even notes some bear signs on the trees nearby. This causes a little concern among the refugees, but the reassurances of Ayla and Ceru, as well as the acceptance of Li, help quell their fears.
There are no camp areas along the trail, though there are small clearings in several places. There is a large stream that crosses the path at one point, but the trail leads to a place where two trees have been felled across it. Several trout can be seen in the water from the bridge. Finally, the trail connects with an obvious road. Travelling slightly southeast, the band reaches the edge of Li's holdings by midafternoon.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Soon the roof of Li's manor is seen. A young boy calls out and rushes into the manor. Moments later, he emerges with his mother. Li easily recognizes the two and he can see that they have been busy clearing the worst of the overgrown orchards in the time that he has been gone. They approach before the woman stops in front of Li.
"Lord Gao, welcome back to your estate. I apologize for our lack of progress, but it is difficult with just the two of us."
She surreptitiously eyes the refugees. Whether out of hope that she will have more assistance with the manor, or out of concern for being able to feed this many visitors is difficult to tell. She pulls out two slips of folded parchment.
"Letters arrived for you and for Miss Ayla while you were gone. Will we be having guests?"
