Start of the Road

A light rain starts to fall as you continue your travels. It has been two days since you left Aldbay in the company of Dalvin Iornarm and his sons. The “caravan” such as it is, contains three wagons – each driven by one of the dwarves with Dalvin setting the pace in the lead wagon and its sole piece of cargo a large rune covered anvil now secured beneath a tarpaulin. You have slowly come to the end of the farmland surrounding the capital – the wheat and grain fields had slowly given way to pastures for different animals as the farms that keep the large city supply begin to prepare themselves for the harvest. As you move beyond the road becomes slightly less maintained – and the inn’s along the road become fewer. Dalvin said there will probably be a night or so camping before you reach Kingsford.

 

The area itself is mostly plains with some copse’s of trees around, the suns has started to sink towards to horizon and Dalvin shouts back to his oldest son Jarren “Jarren, is that the hill we camped at on the way here lad?”

 

Jarren squints at it “Aye da that looks like it alright.”

 

Dalvin nods “We should probably stop here tonight then – we won’t make the next inn no matter how we push it and the hill gives good vantage. Lets go get some food and have a drink eh?”

Krun was walking close to the front of the convoy of wagons, making sure that should they encounter any trouble, he'd be the first one there to make sure that trouble ended up buried. The Orc's massive frame and build was a stark contrast to much of the other patrons in this merry little band they had formed out of nothing. All for coin. Coin made the world go round and without it, you just ended up smushed under the weight of it all.

The Half-Orc stood at a bit over 2 meters tall with thick muscles that were displayed for all to see, his arms sticking out of his tattered, frayed common shirt. However, the muscles weren't nearly as impressive as the littering of scars that seemed to cover every inch of displayed skin. The cuts, scrapes, nicks, gouges, and flesh wounds all told a tale of a particular triumph in battle. In the arena. In the Deathpits.

Krun stretched his arms high into the sky, looking up at the rain that had started to pour down around them. Just as quickly as he stretched, he moved his hands through his white-gray hair, feeling the slickness from the rain. They'd need to camp alright. No one liked traveling in this type of weather. He moves his hand up and scratches at the place where his left eye used to be. It still bothered at him, even after so many years acclimated to his condition.

The rumble in the distance made him jump, his arm deftly moving behind him to clutch the handle of his massive maul. He was ready, ready for the threat that was about to engulf him and the rest of the party. Ready to take the head off the enemy and drown him in his own...

It's just thunder, calm yourself.

He brings his arm back down to his side, the thunder having tricked him. He shakes his head from side to side, wishing away the sounds of battle. The clanking. Nearly constant in his ears.

He looks over to the dwarf making the decisions...Davin...Dervin...whatever it was. Gotta listen to the boss. When he says mush, you mush. he grunts his approval.

"Fine by me."

Eryn stared into the graying skies. The overcast weather quickly turned and raindrops began falling. They hit his cheeks in ones and twos, eventually becoming a steady patter that cooled and refreshed him. This was his preferred weather. If he couldn't be surrounded by forest, then he would prefer to be surrounded by the elements at the very least.

"Speak to me, Mother," he whispered in Druidic as the thunder began crashing and breaking all around. This was a holy time for the druid. He turned his head toward the caravan to his left. He had chosen to say some distance away - walking and protecting its right flank. The job had been an easy "yes" for him. Not only would it give him a deeper understanding of the world outside of the Drakken forest, it would allow him to see whether or not fiendish creatures were increasing in number here as well.

His eyes, one green and the other blue, surveyed the wagons and the members of the party. From his vantage point he could make out the half-orc. Even without his elven eyes he would have been able to see him. Krun, as he was called, stood nearly two and a half meters - a giant of a humanoid. The dwarves, in comparison, looked laughably small. He put his attention back onto their surroundings. The hill was a good place to camp. It gave them the high ground and a good field of view for some distance. But he would not go over yet. No, he needed to be alone now.

"Speak to me, Mother." He repeated the mantra in Druidic, listening carefully as the thunder rolled. What the Earth Mother said was often not as importance as what she didn't. So he listened even more carefully. He gently took his pack off of his shoulders and let it rest near his feet. Taking only his short bow and his quiver of arrows. Dinner would be soon and he wanted to contribute. He got low and listened, waiting for Mother to speak to him...

Will Brandiman sat in the back of the second wagon his short stature making it a necessity in keeping up with the caravan. Wearing simple commoners clothing he didn’t look like much but any who had seen him move saw a warriors grace in his footsteps. It took him little effort after the initial rejection convincing Dalvin Ironarm to sign him up once he’d explained that he was trained in the Temple of Arbiters. So he took the dwarfs coin although he would have done this task for free set on this path as he was by his mentor. He’d been tasked to find out why travelers were disappearing in these parts and if those responsible brought disorder, whether the intended to or not they were already dead. They just didn’t know it yet.

He drew his shortsword and considered the blade, the tool that he used to bring The Judges will, he was eager to use it and hoped that his plan of being the light to draw the moth would work. What better way to find out how and why travellers disappeared by being one himself.
As Dalvin called a halt to set camp for the night Will wiped the few spots of water from his shortsword before returning it to its sheath.

Time to make himself useful

He vaults over the side of the wagon and lands on the ground with the grace of a cat and approaches the lead wagon “Hey, Dalvin. You need a hand setting camp?” he queries cheerfully as he gazes up at the dwarf.

Eryn materialized from the right flank of the wagon train as camp was being set. He was not attempting to sneak up on his newfound comrades, but such was the way of things for an elf of his nature. In addition to his standard gear, a rope was strung across his chest. To it was connected a number of wild hares and rabbits. He had also been able to scrounge up a number of herbs and edible flowers. Together, he had found the fixings of a nice stew.

"There's no need for dried food tonight, master dwarves," He said in Dwarven as he approached.

He walked up calmly, setting his game near the beginnings of a campfire.

He easily switched back to the common tongue. "I've found a small stream with enough water for everyone to fill their skins or wash up. I would have brought more of the water back with me, but I lack the means to carry it. If anyone would like, I plan on heading back to fill up." His voice was strong, but soft. As was common for his kind, it carried an air of mystery to it.

He briefly caught the eyes of the halfling and the half-orc. A tiefling and an aasimar were also part of the caravan, and he couldn't help but think of how odd the makeup of such a company was. Personally, he loved seeing such diversity working together; it reminded him of his mentor, the werebear Adran, though he knew Archdruid Erevan, leader of his order, would not be thrilled in the least.

He patiently waited to see if anyone would take him up on his offer.

Krun had begun to help set up camp as well. His powerful arms making their usefulness known as he set up most of the tents and begun to gather bits and pieces for the fire. He was a bit startled at the approach of the elf, reaching for his maul, but quickly he realized who it was and brought his arm back down.

"Sounds good. Let's go"

He finished up the task of getting the firewood gathered quickly, gathered his waterskin and walked his way over to the elf.

"The stream has the potential to provide more fresh water than that." He gestured to the waterskin. Making reference to Krun's massive stature he adds, "Perhaps we could bring a barrel?"

His "we" very much meant "you," but he was being polite.

Isatrix woke as the wagons came to stop on the hill. He yawned and stretched, looking around.

The others were going about and setting fires and the like.

It was good to be away on doing something, but by the Gods he missed his bed.

He climbed off the wagon, nodding to one of the dwarves, and looked for his recently acquired traveling companions. A half orc barbarian, an elven druid, a halfing something...he still wasnt sure. And then there was the bard. A tiefling. He had always heard of animosity between their races.

Although he had had earlier reservations when he first started following the Platinum Dragon and had met tielfing acolytes. This was quickly and firmly corrected in his education.

Bahamut accepted all who wanted to follow him and uphold good and justice.

Overall the party was a mixed bunch, but so far things seemed to be going well. It was also a blessing to find a party heading the correct direction of the disappearances. He had no problems traveling alone, but coin and company always made things better.

***

Collecting his shield from the rear of the wagon, he sits it on wrist and kneels, bowing his head. With a hand around his amulet.

"Thanks be to the Platinum Dragon's blessing for another day of trouble-less travel. May his blessing continue through night."

Standing, he approached the fire, giving small greetings to the others.

"Another peaceful days travel Dalvin. What can you tell me about Kingsford?"

He turns to Eryn as he appears.

"Eryn. Fresh meat tonight. I look forward to it!"

Krun looks over to one of the barrels by the wagons and slowly nods his head.

"Good thinking."

He walks over and easily picks up one of the empty barrels that would soon be full of fresh water for the caravan. The Elf seemed to be clever, at least cleverer than him when it came to things such as this. While he hadn't seen him in a fight yet, Krun felt that he would be useful as well.

If he could catch so much food for them with that bow, he could do wonders with it against larger enemies. It would be welcome to have someone whom knew their way around a bow...

He lugs the barrel over and looks down at the elf.

"Lead on."

Eryn moved away swiftly. He made sure to keep a pace that Krun, holding now a barrel as well as his waterskin, could easily match. The rolling hills may have not been his natural surroundings, but they felt just as natural to him, and he could see himself getting willfully lost in them.

He stayed focus on the path only he was seeing. None of the others had taken him up on his offer. So, it was just the two of them.

"The stream lie just beyond that hill there." He briefly inclined his head to show Krun to which hill he was referring.

As he began to move out, he thought out loud. "If you don't mind my asking, how did you come to be a part of this caravan?"

Alissin spent the days playing her lute whilst sitting on the edge of the last wagon. Her tunes were jaunty, funny and uplifting, keeping the travelers minds off the dreary trudging of wet roads and the constant threat of highwaymen.

Seeing a servant of the gods, she couldnt help but poke fun at him, skillfully:
"And then mother took me to Grammer School
But I stopped all in the vestibule
Every time that bell would ring
catched me playin' with my ding a ling"

Which drew a hoot from the caravaners.

***

Unlike the rest, she found the rain refreshing. It was the like ocean spray she left behind. The bobbing of the wheeled wagons was a poor substitute for the way a ship was tossed to and from from the waves, deck slicked with a sheen of stomach contents.

she smiles and looks into the sky grateful for the rain.

Inside the camp, she strums along, singing softly to herself. The tune was still pleasing and seemed to inspire the men setting up camp in the rain. When a few break off to catch clean water, she stays behind. It would be an easy task to sweet talk some body out of a glass (better yet a pint), and what she couldn't sweet talk, she would steal.....

Krun lets the elf do what he does best, his knowledge of nature and the surrounding environment second to none. The barrel was nothing at all to carry and hopefully the others in the camp would benefit from it. He'd like to be as helpful as he could without enemies around. It was hard to not try and find violence in most things, but he was trying...trying hard.

He perks up at the talk from Eryn.

"Fought in the death pits of Aldbay. Things got dry, coin wise. Carvan job came up. Joined it."

His words were staccato as if he was saving time for some reason. He wills himself on.

Try asking him...just try.

"And...how about you?"

Isatrix laughed.

"Hahaha sorry Alissin, we dont really have vestibules sorry. You will have to find somewhere else to play with your "ding a ling".

He kept his hood up, covering his short unkempt white hair.

"How about a song to take our mind off this rain?"

Dalvin and Biggson seemed quite happy with the help - Biggson especially gathered up the food provided by Eryn happily and set to work preparing while his older brother sullenly got to work setting the fire.

Dalvin patted an empty water barrel for Krun "We have enoung for the trek, but me da always said to be prepared so a little extra won't hurt."

As the camp was taking shape the stew over the hot coals of the fire Dalvin spends his time making sure the anvil on his car is secured and has a few course words with Jarren who walks of sulking.

With the camp fully set Dalvin returns a small cask under his arm as he does
"Thought that without a tap room to quench our thirst this evening we could partake of some of this." He pats the cask
"It's not the best ale in the world-but some ale will always be better than no ale am I right?" He grins and gives a short laugh at his own joke.

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Will helped with the camp where he could, his bush-craft wasn't great but he knew enough to know where to find some dry wood for the fire. With food and drink sorted by others he soon found himself idle so using his backpack as a back rest he sat by the fire, his legs crossed.

Reaching amongst his clothing be pulls out a small flute and sets about cleaning it, he liked to keep all of his weapons in good repair.

She nods at Isatrix with a big toothy grin.

Long as I remember the rain been coming down.
Clouds of myst'ry pouring confusion on the ground.
Good men through the ages, trying to find the sun;
And I wonder, still I wonder, who'll stop the rain.

"Fought in the death pits? I didn't understand that to be a job that one could simply quit."

They had made it to the stream and Eryn knelt down and began filling his water skin. The water was cool, and dozens of small ripples blossomed where the rain drops hit it.

"I am a member of the Guardians of the Drakken Forest. As of late, there have been numerous fiendish creature incursions. I am here to see if that is the case across the land, or if they are focusing on the Drakken in particular. It is a task well-suited for me. Unlike some of my peers, I do not harbor any resentment or ill-feelings toward other races."

He looked up at Krun and offered a friendly smile.

Krun shook his head quickly from side to side.

"Sorry. The arena in Aldbay. Death pits was before."

He did his best to hold back the flashbacks. They came anyways as quickly as they left. His jaw clenches with the effort of subduing them.

"Guardians?...Druids?"

He was glad the elf was open-minded. Many he had encountered put themselves above other races. No one should be above anyone else. No one.

Isatrix smiles at the tiefling bard losing himself in the song as the drarves bustle around the camp.

After the song is finished, he addresses Alissin.

"So, what called you to be a bard?"

Eryn listened without moving. He was listening to Krun, listening to the wind, listening to the patter of rain on the earth. He listened and waited for his eyes to catch movement. It was second nature to him.

He decided not to press out Krun had come to get out of these so-called death pits or the Aldbay arena. The subtle clenching of his jaw and momentary dislocation of focus in his eyes told Eryn that this was deep territory. If there was a time to swim here, Krun would be the one to decide.

"Yes. We guardians protect our home from all that would want to hurt or pervert it. We are not all druids, no. But we are all wood elves. It is a very... efficient guardianship."

He left it at that. Krun was probably already bored of hearing about it. He finished filling his and the half-orc's waterskins while Krun filled the big barrel.

The light began to fade soon after the fire was lit - and Biggson's stew came along quite nicely paired with the beer provided by Dalvin meant that despite the drizzle and camping outside, the evening was pleasent.

Soon the dusk moved to night and the fire turned to a warm glow, Jarrett who had spent the evening sullen and distant from the group took to his tent early - Jarrett and Dalvin stayed later talking with their hired help before Dalvin declared it was time to set watches and head to bed.

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Krun was curious about the elf. He hadn't had much contact with any elves except the occasional opponent in the death pits. Prisoners of the Empire and all. It was refreshing to actually have a normal conversation for once. Instead of just trying to kill someone....or simply ask for money from a benefactor.

Krun nodded his head at the information. He didn't know much about it, but was glad for the help in understanding from the elf.

"That sounds...good. I hope your mission goes well."

Krun finished filling up the rest of the barrel with the elf in relative silence. There was more to be said, but they still hadn't fought in battle together. After that, they'd be able to talk about anything, so long as it went well.

Isatrix spoke up.

"Master Dalvin, i will take the first watch"

He stretches a little.

"I am still rather refreshed from my afternoon nap, so it will be no worry."

"Thank you, Krun. This has been a very fulfilling conversation. May the Seldarine watch over us on this journey. I will ask that they pay close attention to you." He smiled gently, touching his forehead and giving a deep bow.

When the water was filled, he took the lead again and led the two of them back to the camp in relative silence. He was genuine about the conversation being good. Two creatures, worlds apart, sharing small tidbits of information without any pretense. It was something to be celebrated. He decided that he would spend more time with Krun. He seemed, at least for now, a good companion.

The camp was set and dinner smelled nice when they returned. He felt a brief grumble in his stomach and and poured himself a bowl. The herbs accented the stew well, giving it some freshness.

When the watches were being set, his ears perked up.

"I do not require much rest, and my eyes do quite well in the dark. I will aid whomever starts the watch now, then take the middle watch. Though after that I will need to meditate."

Allissin keeps an eye out for anyone who brought out booze at mealtime, that would be her knew best friend.

Finding one, she approaches him,
"Pray tell, what would a girl have to do to get a hefty drink here?"

Will was helping himself to the cask of ale, he gestures over with his drinking cup to Allissin "The ale is here, graciously provided by Master Dalvin." He takes a half cup of ale, conscious that they were on the road and it was appropriate he kept his senses.

Will wanders over to his backpack and pulls out a bundle of black clothing, he then starts to undress without care that there was an audience.

Krun followed the way back to camp with the barrel over his shoulder. He notices the sun beginning to dip and the need for food was growing in his stomach. He'd need his fill to be effective if anything happened to them tonight.

He eagerly sits down with his companions, taking a bowl of the stew and eating it slowly, so as not to induce any troubles bodily. One had to be in tip top shape in the arena and that habit wasn't easily broken.

He partakes in a little bit of the ale, but like Will, he didn't want to dull his senses. He perks up at the sound of watches as well.

"I can take a watch. But, my eye...makes it difficult."

He points up the scar and where his eye used to be.

"Thank you kindly." She replies to Will before heading off to find her own mug.

She fills it and returns sitting next to Will.
"So tell me why they hired you aboard this land ship?"

Stood half dressed in his ninja suit Will throws a big smile at Allisin. He heard a bit about Tieflings and Aasimar to for that matter, their line linking them to an ancestor from another plane and The Judge had a fair bit so say about that. Maintaining the seperation of the planes was one of the key tenants of faith. However, there was no general execution order for either races so he'd just keep an eagle eye on them, he would not judge either of them on their cover, he'd see if they were an interesting 'read'.

Pulling his black kimono on he sits next to the Tiefling, he saw no reason to lie and he was interested to see her reaction if any. "I am an Arbiter of The Judge and have been assigned to these parts, something preys on travelers. If there is disorder I will find it." he says merrily taking a sip of ale "There is a saying in my Temple, 'those who warrant the attention of the Arbiters are dead, they just don't know it yet'." Will takes up his bowl and starts to munch on the Rabbit "Anyway, I figure what better way to find out whats going on than by being a traveler myself. Master Dalvin took a bit of persuading to hire me as a guard as I suppose I'm not the most intimidating sort but he saw reason."


"What about you?"

Will finishes dressing, tying the kimono around his waist and fitting a black hooded mask which he leaves pulled back for now.

She downs her mug real quick.

One of the people who judged her by her horns it sounded like, it was a good thing she hardly cared.

"The winds fill the sails my friend. We can hardly so anything but enjoy the spray of the ocean."

She tips her tricorn hat to Will, "Sounds like the wind brought you here as well, eh?"

"You don't believe your actions change the direction of 'the sails,' as you put it?"

Eryn had taken an elevated position, sitting atop one of the wagons. It held his weight easily enough, his balance keeping him sat perfectly still and cross legged. He looked down at the motley crew. He was surprised to hear anyone speak so carefree and cynically about their part in the grander schemes of the fates.

Krun wasn't quite sure what was being talked about. It had all gone over his head a bit. He leans against another of the wagons, not too close but also not too far away from the others. It would still take getting used to...talking to others...and not just fighting them and threatening them.

"Sails? We are on land."

Will shakes his head "The Judge guides me. The wind is far too capricious. As the druid says, if the wind sends you against the rocks do you not steer away?"

She laughs, "Life is the wind that fills all our sails, though for all it blows in different directions."

"Without the life that fills us with motion....." she trails off and stares into the cloudy sky, like she heard something.

Without warning she breaks her reverie and the lute is in her hands, as quickly as if by magic.
And she sings....

"Day after day, day after day,
we stuck nor breath nor motion
As idle as a painted ship upon a painted ocean
Water, water everywhere and
all the boards did shrink
Water, water everywhere nor any drop to drink"

Eryn didn't respond as he felt he wasn't given an answer. Perhaps that was the way of the bard though - wordsmiths had a way of saying everything and nothing all at once.

It was no matter. The tiefling's business was her own, of course. He respected that.

Isatrix smiled and relaxed.

Silently he offers thanks to The Platinum Dragon. He knew things can change sudden and that he needed to be on guard later, but for now he would relax and enjoy the music, company and fire.

Krun listens to the song briefly, not quite sure he comprehends the meaning of it. He shrugs his shoulders and begins to relax a bit more. He'd never admit it, at least not yet, but he felt as though this band could be...what was the word...fun? Yes, fun to be around. They definitely made for an odd group. Hopefully, they made for skilled fighters too.

He feels his eyelids begin to droop a bit and thus goes off to catch a few winks before his turn on watch.