FitzTheRuke
Legend
Their goal was to reach the Uldoon trail about a third of the way along its route, as it rose northward as it travelled east. East by south-east they travelled, and the winding criss-crossing old roads were a constant frustration to Hawthorne who set the route, and to Broun, who drove it. But they had no major setbacks in their navigation.
On the following day, they passed the ruins of Durlag's Tower. Many tales were told of the place: Dwarven treasures; fiendish traps; and undead or demonic horrors. It stood, quiet and crumbling, on its barren hill of volcanic rock. Broun was happy to turn the horses away from that place.
Two days later, they were reaching the outskirts of the Green Fields - leagues upon leagues of rolling grasslands. The coach travelled quickly on a good stretch of road - as much as six miles per hour without pushing the horses - but they took frequent breaks. Ruznami calculated that they were making forty miles per day, on average (though perhaps not all of it took them closer to the Uldoon Trail). Still, Hawthorne was satisfied with their progress.
The coach had slowed its pace to work its way up a short but steep hill. Broun was driving, with Crock Jon beside him. Shedrick was standing on the footman's board outside on the rear of the coach, and the others were inside, seated on the two comfortable benches (Argenti was in her amulet).
Suddenly, the gravel of the road heaved as the coach rolled over it. The horses pulled one way, and then another and the coach lurched. Broun kept the whole thing under control with ease, but he had not had time to fully grasp what had happened when Shedrick gave out a cry from the rear.
From the footman's only vantage, after the coach had gone over some sort of growing gravel lump, the road burst open and a massive cone-shaped head emerged, all teeth. It lunged at him, and it would have eaten him had he not grabbed with both hands onto the brass handle (which he normally held to keep himself on the board) and he pulled his lower body up as the creature snapped powerful jaws at him. The creature put its front, clawed feet on the footman's board as it reached for him, and it was heavy enough that the coach tipped down toward the rear, raising the driver's seat.
From inside, the creature's large claws made a raking noise along the back wall, loud enough to drown out Shedrick's cry. Not sure what else to do, Broun began to pull the horses to a stop. Still, there was enough forward momentum, that the creature, now fully above ground, fell off the board and the coach dropped its weight to the front with everyone shaken inside.
On the following day, they passed the ruins of Durlag's Tower. Many tales were told of the place: Dwarven treasures; fiendish traps; and undead or demonic horrors. It stood, quiet and crumbling, on its barren hill of volcanic rock. Broun was happy to turn the horses away from that place.
Two days later, they were reaching the outskirts of the Green Fields - leagues upon leagues of rolling grasslands. The coach travelled quickly on a good stretch of road - as much as six miles per hour without pushing the horses - but they took frequent breaks. Ruznami calculated that they were making forty miles per day, on average (though perhaps not all of it took them closer to the Uldoon Trail). Still, Hawthorne was satisfied with their progress.
The coach had slowed its pace to work its way up a short but steep hill. Broun was driving, with Crock Jon beside him. Shedrick was standing on the footman's board outside on the rear of the coach, and the others were inside, seated on the two comfortable benches (Argenti was in her amulet).
Suddenly, the gravel of the road heaved as the coach rolled over it. The horses pulled one way, and then another and the coach lurched. Broun kept the whole thing under control with ease, but he had not had time to fully grasp what had happened when Shedrick gave out a cry from the rear.
From the footman's only vantage, after the coach had gone over some sort of growing gravel lump, the road burst open and a massive cone-shaped head emerged, all teeth. It lunged at him, and it would have eaten him had he not grabbed with both hands onto the brass handle (which he normally held to keep himself on the board) and he pulled his lower body up as the creature snapped powerful jaws at him. The creature put its front, clawed feet on the footman's board as it reached for him, and it was heavy enough that the coach tipped down toward the rear, raising the driver's seat.
From inside, the creature's large claws made a raking noise along the back wall, loud enough to drown out Shedrick's cry. Not sure what else to do, Broun began to pull the horses to a stop. Still, there was enough forward momentum, that the creature, now fully above ground, fell off the board and the coach dropped its weight to the front with everyone shaken inside.
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