?
DM/
A new adventure begins...
With the city repairs nearing completion, the Company of Four takes on their next challenge. The distance from Ordulin to Yhaunn is less than 100 miles. You expect the journey to take about a tenday, and prepare the necessary provisions. You spend your final
evening in Ordulin with friends in the tavern saying your goodbyes, and receiving small gifts from admirers; flowers, notes, coins...?(A total of 72 gp, 44 sp)
North is given a crude Wand with a single Cone of Cold charge. The giver says it has been in his family for four generations and once saved his father¡¯s life.
Sweet William (if accepted) has his axe handle wrapped in the leather claimed to be of a young red dragon and therefore offering a Protection from Fire aura. The Tanner says he traded 30 beaver pelts and a silver dagger for the half-meter
strip of hide when the merchant proved it could not be burned.
And we¡¯ve already discussed Tabby¡¯s bracelet, but I¡¯m adding it here again for convenience. North was able to identify it as being magical. Each of the trinkets holds a single use spell, the same way scrolls are consumable.?Over the
winter months Tabby asks every Mage she meets to help her identify the spells. One is Darkness. One is Protection from Evil and Good. And the third is True Seeing. One offered you over 100gp for the bracelet, mainly for the True Seeing spell. You were also
able to get the Jet Gemstone enchanted with North¡¯s ¡®Fists and Feet of Fiery Fury¡¯ enchantment added to the bracelet. On a Critical Hit you add 1d6 fire damage per level.
. . .
Shortly before sunrise the following morning, you depart from Ordulin and start off toward Yhaunn. A surprisingly large crowd has gathered in the early hours at the East gate to cheer you on, tossing flowers and well wishing. The early morning
air is crisp but the sky is clear. As the sun rises ahead of you, you follow the High Road toward Clear Water Forest and the locally famous Clear Water Falls, a cascading rapids rumored to be protected by Dryads or other Fae beings.
The forest is mostly fir and aspen with small clusters of white birch along the roadway. It takes two hours to clear the forest, and by midmorning it is well behind you. Cresting a small rise an hour or so before noon, you see a group of workers
about a hundred yards or so up ahead. Using shovels and buckets and ox carts, they appear to be doing something to the next half-league of road.
As you approach, a pair of uniformed male elves step out from the shade of a large maple. They wear red silk sashes draped over their right shoulders and tied at the left hip. The taller of the two, a black haired, skinny fellow, moves to the
center of the road and holds up a palm, stating, ¡°Hail, and well met, journeymen. By proclamation of Lord Ashbury, Duke of Stillwater Ridge and Mayor Regent of Yuthgalaunt, we are authorized to collect a toll of six silvers per foot, per traveler.¡±
He looks briefly at Sweet William, overlooks North completely, and approaches Brother Ashley. ¡°Goodman,¡± he addresses the Cleric. ¡°The toll does not apply to you, but the others are required...¡±?
He pauses, having noticed Tabby.
¡°... to pay for the maintenance of the road,¡± he continues. ¡°The storms three weeks ago caused the Stillwater River to breach her levee.¡± He gestures toward the workers. ¡°It is now passable, but it¡¯ll be two more days labor at least before
it¡¯s safe. You aren¡¯t merchants?¡±
Ashley shakes his head ¡®no¡¯. ¡°We¡¯re travelers on our way to-¡°
¡°Travelers pay six silver per foot,¡± the Elf interrupts, turning to better examine Tabby. ¡°Twenty-four for this,¡± he states matter-of-factly, glancing briefly at the end of her arms. ¡°What is it?¡±
¡°She,¡± Brother Ashley retorts sternly, ¡°is called Tabby. And-¡°
The black haired Elf has turned his attention to his younger, ginger companion, who is attempting to explain.
¡°Tabaxi, sir. From the jungles of Maztica.¡±
¡°-she can speak for herself!¡± Brother Ashley finishes, exasperatedly.
The dark haired Elf turns back to Tabby, interest now expressed in his eyes. ¡°You can speak?¡± he asks with amazement. ¡°Common? And can you count? How many feet do you have?¡±
Before she can answer, he turns to Sweet William, and almost says something, but suddenly decides not to press his luck with the angry looking warrior. Clearing his throat, he turns back to Brother Ashley and says calmly, ¡°Thirty six silvers,
if you please.¡±
¡°Sir,¡± the redhead Elf interrupts. ¡°I believe these are-¡° he begins whispering to his commanding officer, glancing over the elder¡¯s shoulder to better glimpse Tabby.
¡°Well! Why didn¡¯t you say so?¡± he exclaims, suddenly, turning back to face the group. ¡°Is it you?¡± he asks. ¡°The Heroes of Ordulin? Deniers of the Arch Lich and his necromantic armies? I heard you leapt across the sky to knock him right off
his Dracolich.¡±
And what do you do?
/DM
