FIVE HUNDRED EIGHTY TWO
(I/C)
“Looks like we got just enough food ta get to where we need ta… we good ta push on?” Wyn asked.
Looking miserable, Brendon shook his empty wineskin again and sighed. “We’re more than halfway there let’s just press on.”
“We could do some huntin iffin we want to be safe,” the elf suggested, “but it will take us a little longer ta get where we be going. What everyone tink?”
“While I don't like the idea of slowing to hunt,” Lannis said, thumbing through Mirabellis’ book a bit more, “a hunter’s lodge is probably the best place to do it from if we have to, they built it here for a reason. I wonder what heffalump tastes like...maybe we'll get lucky and find some woozel too."
“What the fuck are wither of those things?” Lyra frowned. “Sounds made up.”
“Yeah? Like and Moose and Bison and Antelope are real sounding things?”
“You know what? Sitting in here with you for any length of time is going to result in someone getting a flail to the back of his skull.” She dusted off her boots and stood up. “I’m good with pressing on. Being shy on some food rations might do some of you good. You’re all starting to look a little portly.”
“I’d say look in the mirror, but truthfully, that’s unfair to do to any mirror.”
The party left the hunter’s cottage and pressed on. The day was a notch warmer than yesterday and the sky was a mix of blue and grey. We had a good head of steam going and made the most of it as we marched on. (BX Hex Daily WMC: Red/Black 2. No) Watching Brendon march ahead of us, the Scout scanning the air and ground, Kovid called out, “Brendon, I’m thinking Korona Ale House will have seasonal winter stout called “The Scout” in honor of you pal.”
“Thanks, Li’l Man,” he called back, giving a thumbs up.
Leaning over, Kovid whispered to Abraxas, “Because trying to backstab Jowass was COLD. Hahaha!”
“Si! Bastardo!” The Fighter chuckled, “But I am over that. It’s gracioso to see Senor Limpwrist and Senor Undone go at it.” He rubbed his chin. “I would still drink it.”
“Hmmph,” the wizard snorted. “If you plan on stocking alcohol based upon any or all of us, besides getting my share of the royalties, just make sure ‘The Lannis’ is always out of stock. You wouldn't get it anyway"
“Korona Ale House would never stock such a watered down imitation.” Kovid stroked the base of his beard as he strode on. “Beer like that is only fit for the immature and their mothers.”
"It's not a beer, Foot Rest, it's a liquor,” he retorted. “Bitter out of the bottle, and a lingering after taste. One is never sure if they like it, only way to find out is to finish the bottle."
The rest of the day passed without issue. When it came time to rest up, the Scout came upon an easily defensible hollow and we took the time out to prepare it properly for the night. Eventually we arranged for watch and sleep after eating and drinking, Lyra sharing her wineskin with Brendon, giving him a welcome, “You’ve done great,” as he drank. Lannis and Wyn each took the time to scribe Wizard Lock into their books and the group settled in for the night. (BX Hex Daily WMC: Red/Black 1. Yes. # encounters 1d4: Red/Black 2. Random d8: Red/Black 2 – Flyer. Random Flyer table d12: red/Black 7 – Pegasus (Qty 1d3: Red/Black 2:1). And Later: Random d8: Red/Black 3 – Humanoid. Random Humanoid Table d12: Red/Black 11 – Cleric. Band of Clerics! #? D6+3: Red/Black 5+3=8. Avg Level d6+3: Red/Black 3+3=6th! Alignment d6: Red/Black 1 – Lawful – lucky you!)
During the earlier portion of the night, we heard the beating of wings and the party was awakend and prodded to be ready. However, when the almost silvery form of a Pegasus dropped out of the sky and trotted closer to the party, wings spread and head thrown back, the party was stunned to silence. It looked the group over and then nodded to them, cantered off a bit and then flew off again.
“Damn it, Lyra,” Lannis complained. “You just had to give it up, didn’t you?
“What? What are you talking about?”
“Pegasi only like to be around maidens who are not sullied. Virgins. Never had sex. Which I can TOTALLY believe about you. Imagine if you didn’t play hide the kielbasa with Johnny Rottencrotch at Cleric School, we could have had a damned Pegasus hang out with us and it would have helped carry us back to Specularum!”
“So much to unpack there, asswipe. One. It’s unicorns, not pegasi. Two. I’m sure you’re still a virgin so we have that luck going for us should a unicorn show up. Three. His name was not Johnny and I’m not going to tell you who any of them were. And Four. 6 of us laden down with a castle’s worth of goods could not all fit on the pegasus’ back.”
“Hmmph,” He frowned and rolled over. “Well, you are fairly horse-like, so I guess you’d know.” He snorted. “I still blame you.”
We rested on and the night was turning to day when we heard some chanting carried in the morning mist. A voice called out to approach the fire and after we all got up and were ready, gave permission. And approaching were a band of wandering Clerics! 8 of them, led by a Father Tommen.
“Holy shit!” Lannis exclaimed. “You DO exist! Wow, this is even better than a unicorn!”
They were of the Mendicant order and making rounds along the wildlands, going from Thorpe to Thorpe, offering succor and healing to the people who might need it and never have the chance to get to civilization. They assured us we were a day, tops, from Kelvin’s Edge and we shared stories and bread with them. They did not our full bags and general state of disrepair, aches, bruises, and weariness; but made a point to not dwell too much on it. We thanked them for the time and then after we all broke camp, left them to continue on south and east while went west and southwest.
As we were making good time, Abraxas was talking about what our plan was upon reaching Kelvin’s Edge. “We can get just outside of town, make camp, send someone in with 100 Crowns or so to get rations, water, arrows, whatever basic supplies to last us the trip to Specularum.”
“I’ll do it,” Brendon offered.
“No, I’ll do it,” Lannis affirmed.
Kovid shook his head. “Yeah. I’ll go, thanks to both of you. Go on Abraxas.”
“We have enough to do that. Maybe even pick up an extra waterskin or 2 - it's why we saved some carry space and didnt completely load ourselves anyway, right? Hell, maybe we see about a horse and cart/wagon in town. Or a few mules with saddlebags?"
“That is an excellent plan,” the dwarf assured them.
The party continued on, the land vanishing behind them (BX Hex Daily WMC: Red/Black 6. No) It was closer to 5 that evening when we could see the lights and walls of Kelvin’s Edge. We all ate and drank and then Kovid wished the group well and wandered into town alone. He was gone maybe 3 hours while we had camp set up, Lannis copying Detect Magic into his book, Wyn not needing to as he had exhausted Mirabellis’ grimoire.
Eventually we could hear the clomping of hooves and Kovid rode up on a sturdy wagon being pulled by 3 mules. There was a barrel with water, two boxes of actual food stuffs as well as feed for the animals. More than enough to get us back to Specularum, and at a faster rate than we had spent over the last 6 days travel.
We thanked the dwarf for his efforts and purchases and we all rested, setting up watch again (No WMC – too close to town). We slept fantastic and awoke in good humor and with light hearts knowing that we were now, thanks to the wagon and animals, 2 days from home and the end of our adventure.
Time now is Day 20, 8: 30 AM
(OOC)
Made it to Kelvin’s edge. For the next…and LAST POST…let me know what your character would like to do after we turn over the crown and get our reward (200 crowns each from the Academy of Explorers). I will be referencing everyone’s homework on their wishlist as well. If there is anything that someone wants from the treasure pile that they have not taken, last chance for it before it is sold off for coin and split.
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