The gang is packing up their gear, preparing to journey east to deliver the badge from Darathra to the half-orc, Dral, at Danivaar’s House. As the gang watch as Londer disappears up the street to buy a horse, they see Narth’s wife Illestra walking briskly up the path towards them, skirts shuffling. She approaches the adventurers and says Narth is still recovering, but that he has a favour to ask the adventurers. They look at her expectantly.
Illestra begins earnestly and is halfway through explaining what Narth needs when the man himself hobbles up to the adventurers, to some cheering. Illestra rapid-fire blinks as she looks expectantly at her husband, then to the gang, then back to her husband as he talks.
Narth explains slowly and carefully, looking at each of the adventurers in turn as he speaks. The situation, he says, is that Orthovir has made five very fine harnesses for a customer of the Lionshield Coster, Amrath Mulobar, the castallan, who is based in Noanar’s Hold.
If the gang wasn’t sure where this chat was going before, they do now. The adventurers shift on their feet. They know how hefty harnesses are. Maybe one could fit on a horse, but five would require a cart for sure.
Looking down at his injured body, Narth says, “I’m in no position to be travelling that far. It’s too dangerous for us- ” he gestures to Illestra, and trails off, appealing to the adventurers. Feeling like they didn’t have much of a choice in the matter, between the slow-talking and very earnest Narth and his ever-blinking, just-as-earnest wife, reluctantly, the party agree to the burdensome chore. Noanar’s Hold is more or less on their way. The gang are keen to get hold of the weapons that might defeat any giants they might encounter in future. This battle has left them tense.
Narth nods in thanks, then disappears around a corner, returning leading an extremely old draft horse pulling an equally old cart. Leshanna and Lia exchange a glance. Miss Moss rolls her eyes and declares they will not be taking Boris with them, thank you, that instead, Patricia would take his place. Upon further inspection of the cart, however, Miss Moss realises it will be extremely uncomfortable to ride upon, and retracts her complaint, resigning herself to loosely linking Patricia up with Boris for the first leg of the journey. It’s going to be a slow one. Losing agility as an adventurer is quite the loss.
The gang’s eyes brighten somewhat when Narth pulls out 100 gold pieces as payment. Things, suddenly, don’t seem so burdensome. The mood is buoyant as the gang continue to re-tighten straps and gather supplies. Boris is patted and welcomed to the gang as the gold pieces jingle in pockets. Boris seems mildly pleased but generally uninterested, lazily frisking away flies with his grey-speckled tail.
Londer returns from his solo trip to Willard the Horseman’s without a horse. After some expectant looks, Londer explains how he made his choice of horse. He’s clearly enamoured. Londer animatedly chatters about how he was immediately drawn to the black beauty with the wicked look in his eye, then regaled the gang with his unimpressive animal handling gaffs. The horse is to be delivered shortly.
While they wait, Thoradin, who is all packed up and ready to roll, heads to the apothecary to rifle through the rubble trying to find potions. He manages to find two little green bottles of healing potion, but in his pilfering, has also managed to also upset the apothecary owner’s son. The alchemist had been killed in the recent battle, much to his son’s deep sadness. Thoradin is forced to explain himself and why he is rifling through the rubble, ultimately winning over the son. Thoradin then generously offers a valuable gem in the hopes it will help the son to rebuild. They part amicably and warmly.
Gunther, meanwhile, has his eye not on a horse, but an axebeak, and knows just where to get one. He heads to Orthovir’s shop. Or at least, where the shop used to be. It’s now a crater. Orthovir is mystified by Gunther’s request and refuses to accept money for the cursed critter, being more than happy to part ways with it, but after much insistence, accepts a 10-gold-piece donation to help the rebuilding fund.
As Gunther attempts to lead the axebeak out of the yard, the axebeak immediately attacks Gunther, causing light flesh wounds. Gunther takes this in his stride, even when it happens again, smiling and laughing good-naturedly at the axebeak, who seems perturbed. The dance between the two continues for some minutes, Gunther looking very much like he is attempting to dance with the axebeak. Workers nearby stop and rest on their shovels to watch the spectacle.
Soon, the axebeak starts to mimic Gunther, one step forward, one step back, step to the side and twirl. Gunther starts to hum a tune. The pair then get in sync and are – true story – dancing together. The crowd, which has started to gather, claps with delight and amusement. Nobody has ever seen this before.
Gunther and the axebeak have become fast friends. Without any ceremony at all, Gunther names his new best friend Bill. Bill seems to like it.
Once back with the others, Gunther riding Bill proudly, Bill instantly becomes one of the gang. Although wary, defensive, and certainly not to be patted, he seems chuffed to be there. Lia looks nonplussed. Lia is feeling morose about her performance in battle and more than a little hungover.
Londer’s horse is finally seen being led towards the party. Londer is hopping from foot to foot, an unimpeachable smile on his face. Miss Moss can see Londer is not necessarily making amazing decisions, and before the handler can run off with Londer’s money, she insists on doing her own checks. The horse’s eyes are making her nervous.
Eventually, after a thorough inspection, Miss Moss has to concede that besides the eyes, the horse is a fine specimen. It appears that the horse has a lazy eye, just like Miss Moss. She softens and rubs the horse’s neck then steps back. Londer, reaching out to pat his new horse’s nose, exclaims to nobody in particular, “How great is his personality!” The horse whinnies and rears away from him. “I shall name him Osric!” Osric responds by biting Londer’s hand.
Making Moves
The adventurers have decided to complete Darathra’s request and head towards the Evermoor Trail. The townsfolk gather to wave goodbye to their new friends and heroes.
The going is slow, as everyone gets comfortable and settles into their new rides. The cart, with the magnificent bridles safely tucked under a cover, seems to need frequent checking but appears to be holding up. The same goes for rheumy-eyed low-key Boris.
Thoradin, who is holding out for a ram befitting a dwarf, is nestled in the back of the cart. Little would anyone guess what he has tucked in his belt. The rest of the gang are nowhere near as innocuous-looking.
Leshanna is secretly grateful that the gang has Boris and the cart, so she doesn’t have to dink Thoradin. She doesn’t like sharing Maximum, especially not with a dwarf. She wouldn’t ever say it out loud, but the aesthetics are off.
Patricia, carrying Miss Moss and Lia, is in the lead with Boris’s leather strap loosely linked through Lia’s slack arm. Londer, bringing up the rear, is struggling with a very spirited and disobedient Osric. The pair sometimes disappear from view entirely as Osric goes off-course into the forest, apparently unconcerned or deliberately obstinate at Londer’s demands.
Gunther and Bill are a loving and affectionate team. Lia is turned, staring in disbelief at the pair. She isn’t sure, but thinks maybe Bill gave her the stinkeye. She looks away, stung.
The road is remarkably busy, with many people leaving Triboar for good. There are entire families, forlorn-looking and bedraggled, who have clearly lost everything. There is a deep sense of melancholy on the road, and the journey is largely silent. A townsperson with a very nice hat catches Gunther’s eye. Gunther asks where he’s going. “Out east! Stay out of the way of those giants,” the man replies, shaking his head. Gunther is told to keep his eyes on the road.
Londer, ever the curious chatterbox, soon notices a hooded, shifty-looking cart driver in a handsome cart heading back towards Triboar. He decides to chat with them on the way past to see what they’re all about. Talking is not hard, because they are going very slowly already and the road is narrow.
Londer is trying to talk to the very reluctant, uncommunicative driver while managing his dancing horse as they pass each other at a dawdle. Londer has the attention of the driver but is not getting much out of him. While Londer is making the driver angrier and angrier with his nosy questions, Thoradin, bored and feeling mischievous, quietly pulls the entire cover off by holding onto a corner as they pass.
To everyone’s surprise – because by now everyone is looking – four hooded figures are revealed bit by bit under the cover of the cart, them equally surprised to be revealed without warning. All eyes then go to the shiny, shimmering mass of weapons loaded into the back of the cart. All eyes then start darting around at the other eyes nervously. Londer, a grin spreading across his face, points to the weapons and states the bleeding obvious in a boisterous tone. “Nice collection of swords!”
The gang is on high alert for trouble. Thoradin sees the potential for problems quickly, and magically whispers, ominously, “Beware, watch your step” in the hooded ears. The hooded figures all look at each other and shrink down a little, yanking the canvas back over their bodies.
Thoradin and Londer can see the clear markings in the cart of the underworld network of Zentharin. Gunther, moving into place beside Londer, feels an affinity to the hooded figures – they appear to be in a hurry to deliver their supplies and don’t need any fucking help.
The hooded figures all turn and stare for a moment at Gunther and Bill. Bill, sensing their staring, let’s out a horrible noise in their direction. Gunther bulges his eyes and asks icily, “What? Never seen a ginger cat before?” before trotting up to the front of the gang.
Londer’s horse is skittish, dancing around, clearly out of Londer’s control. This now draws the hooded figures’ attention away from the disappearing Bill and Gunther. There are raised eyebrows. Miss Moss whistles loudly and giddy-ups Patricia to get Boris moving a little faster past this awkward and uncomfortable scenario with people who are clearly up to no good. Everyone except Londer breathes a sigh of relief. Londer is too busy trying not to fall off Osric.
Once upon a time…
As the gang moves on, they see a plume of smoke coming from the forest ahead and north. As they get closer, Londer and Gunther go ahead to find out what’s happening.
As the pair sneak up to what appears to be a campsite, they see that it’s a settled camp, with makeshift wooden buildings and tents. A tent is very much on fire.
The adventurers are surprised to see two giants lying on the ground, horrific beasts in loincloths, covered bizarrely in raw meat and animal carcasses, perhaps like a trap or lure, they can’t quite tell. The giants, the lowest of the low hill giants, seem to be dead. They certainly aren’t sunbathing.
Surrounding the giants are seven human barbarians, also dead, wearing horned helmets. Carrion birds and wolves are feasting on the carcasses. Gunther and Londer can see there has been a battle here, likely about a day ago based on the state of the corpses.
They have a good look around and then head back to report to the others.
The others are still plodding along the busy road, playing a little eye spy and 20 questions to pass the time. Well, Miss Moss is trying to get someone to play with her.
Gunther and Londer tell the others what they’ve found, piquing the interest of Leshanna, who wants to see for herself. The threesome venture back to the campsite while Thoradin, Lia and Miss Moss set up camp in the forest opposite.
Gunther, Londer and Leshanna determine that the giants have robbed the hunters for meat. After inspecting the campsite further, there isn’t much more to see besides some ritualistic carvings of birds and gryphons and a stash of barrels and crates. Tucked away in the back, they find a battered chest with 100 silver pieces. A bloodstone, initially confused with a ruby, is found in a barbarian’s pocket.
Back at camp, Thoradin has lit a spectacular fire, low visibility, low smoke, high warmth. He’s very pleased with himself. Thoradin and Miss Moss are playing a dwarvish drinking game best enjoyed with fine mead, which is exactly what they did. Lia watches on, still quiet, sharpening her arrowheads and keeping an eye on the dark forest.
Once Londer, Gunther and Leshanna arrive back at camp, the loot is divvied up between the adventurers, they’re all updated, and everyone settles into bed. Leshanna casts an alarm for the morning.