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15th Springmonth I
Night
Pine Woods, East of Pontes

The broad-faced bearded man seems like a rough customer indeed, a mighty-thewed man holding a stout sword in large, calloused hands. Another of the torch-holders, this one with a head bald save for a little tail of hair near the back of his crown, holds up an oddly-curved sword with an air of competence. The other five men, armed alternately with swords or daggers, seem far more reluctant and by no means as puissant.

After a few blinks, the bearded man addresses the adventurers: "Maybe nobody has to get hurt here. You're looking for gold in the hills to the northeast? That's your business, and I can see why you wanted to camp under the eaves of the trees for the night."

"However, you might not have realized that these woods are private property, and not just wild, unclaimed land. How about you and your boys back up, leave these woods right now, and find somewhere else to camp for the night? Apologies about the harsh words, but we thought you might be thieves, and we heard some sort of odd screaming howl. A bit unsettling, as I hope you'll understand."

"So, how about it? You leave the property we're guarding, and there doesn't have to be any trouble. Sound reasonable to you lads?"

Tacitus the Multiloquent

"I think that's pretty fair, myself."

Bearded Blade-Bearer

"All right. Glad we could work this out like men. We'll wait here a bit to make sure you're gone and all, but we aren't looking to spy on exactly where you're headed. If you're prospecting for gold up in the hills, that's no business of ours."

Wyzard wrote:Tacitus the Multiloquent

"I think that's pretty fair, myself."

Cadmus the Confused

"Sounds fair," declares the cleric, "only tell me, if you please, what manner of man or monster you guard these lands against, so we may be forewarned, and if you could let us know how to get to these hills of gold without trespassing upon your property, as well."

Bearded Blade-Bearer

"I'm not in an entirely loquacious mood, but the hills that you're looking for are many days' journey to the northeast, up near Far Valeria. As far who we guard these woods against---trespassers. This is private property, stranger."


***

The adventurers gather up their horses and gear and make a dignified withdrawal from the woods.

Alfius the Aeviternal, Fighter

"I suppose we should head northeast, according to their directions," Alfius says once they are out of earshot. "It would arouse the least suspicion. I will light us a torch when it gets dark; I do not think we need travel more than a mile or so."

Vektunaxa wrote:Alfius the Aeviternal, Fighter

"I suppose we should head northeast, according to their directions," Alfius says once they are out of earshot. "It would arouse the least suspicion. I will light us a torch when it gets dark; I do not think we need travel more than a mile or so."

Cadmus the Confused

"I agree. Let us plan on leaving at first light. I further propose we stuff the corpse of the chaos creature into its log lair and leave it."

Decimus Numerous

"Yes, let us make our way along the trail and make camp when we are off this property".

15th Springmonth I, Night / 16th Springmonth I, Morning
Country East of Pontes

The party comes to a consensus, and quickly departs, leaving the slain chaos-creature where it lies in the forest, for others to discover, or not, as the case may be. The adventurers backtrack out of the woods and head about a mile or so in a northeasterly direction, so as to allay any potential suspicion from any who might be watching their progress. Soon the adventurers are making camp and settling in for the night.

The night passes without further incident, and the morning of the 16th breaks cold and clear. The adventurers can observe the pine-woods they left, as well as the surrounding terrain, which is largely flat and clear, save for the occasional lone tree or small copse. In the sunlight, the members of the party examine the five gems.
Four of the gems are red stones which sparkle and scintillate in the strong sunlight. The fifth is a larger red stone, more lustrous and fine in all respects. Being utterly unacquainted with the finer points of gemology, the farm-lads can make no accurate assessment of the exact worth of these items. However, via the use of common sense, as well as drawing upon stories they have read or legends they have heard, they are reasonably sure that they are now in the possession of a number of precious stones worth quite a goodly sum indeed.

Much heartened, the youths gaze about. Aside from a few hawks circling overhead, they see no signs of rustic predators of any sort. To the east, at far hailing distance, they espy a small herd of sheep and a lone shepherdess. The day seems peaceful.

Decimus Numerous

"I worry that if we have been seen in those woods then any nocturnal activity will be guarded and we may be recognised and met with a truly hostile reception. So do we push on further towards these hills and the rumours of gold or head back towards the main road into Camulodunon? We could even try to reach this city of mages where they are sure to appreciate mithril".

MonsterMash wrote:Decimus Numerous

"I worry that if we have been seen in those woods then any nocturnal activity will be guarded and we may be recognised and met with a truly hostile reception. So do we push on further towards these hills and the rumours of gold or head back towards the main road into Camulodunon? We could even try to reach this city of mages where they are sure to appreciate mithril".

Cadmus the Confused


"I think we should head back to the main road and make for Camulodunon. My concern is that, if the creature we slew was truly one of the lycanthropes of legend, it most likely has a human form, as well! If the body -- perhaps changed back to man form -- were to be discovered while we are still in the area there would no doubt be many questions raised, and perhaps torches and pitchforks, as well."

Alfius the Aeviternal, Fighter

"We are not outfitted for an extended stay in the wilderness. Do we know how to reach the mageopolis? My preference is for Camuludunon."

Tacitus the Multiloquent

"We have slain a creature of chaos and gained much treasure thereby. I move that we return to the main road and resume our journey, counting the night a success!"

Decimus Numerous

"Though I long to see this city of mages I will come with you back to Camulodunum as I agree that we are not equipped for a trip into the wilderness".

16th Springmonth I

The party traces its way back to the main road, and then continues on eastward. Here and there they encounter travellers in passing. Some seem to be boring bumpkins or mundane merchants with no news of note. Others seem to be better informed travelers; they share old news of war and famine and refugees coming from the west, as well as new tales of an army from the east marching westwards upon the road.

Towards nightfall, the party sees lights in the distance---a settlement! The horses are tired. If the adventurers press on, they could make the settlement and sleep under a roof, according to their determination of the distance. Such a feat of far-faring fortitude would likely require that the entire day of the 17th be spend in rest and recuperation, however.

Decimus Numerous

"Let us ride on to the settlement then take a days rest from our endless travelling"

Alfius the Aeviternal, Fighter

"Hmmm. It would be nice to rest -- but any more delay will see our adversaries that much closer to Camulodunon and setting an ambush, or the city, against us. My preference is to rest here the night, and continue to ride to the city in the morning. If the party decides otherwise, however, I will comply."

Tacitus the Multiloquent

"I'd rather camp here. If any trouble comes into town, I'd hate to be too tired to deal with it."

16th Springmonth I

The party makes camp where they are, and the night passes without incident.

17th Springmonth I

The party makes an early start, and soon hits a town which is subdivided by a river. Although much larger than their hometown, this settlement seems not so large as either Danum or Pontes. Many of the buildings here are of square, wooden construction, rising several stories. A number of them have odd flat roofs, and most look new-built, being no more than five years old. Here and there, a familiar-looking farmhouse is hemmed in old sides by newer, squarish structures.

Before the reach the center of the town, and the river, the party finds their progress impeded. Although the streets are not swollen by refugees, many rough-looking sorts loiter or dash about, choking the common thoroughfare. Wagons move through the streets, churning them into mud. Many men micturate openly in the streets, or spit tobacco as they argue and shove each other.

A swivel-eyed teamster stands in the party's path. He wears a disreputable chapeau, and his skin is sunburned considerably. He appears to be accomplishing the remarkable feat of simultaneously chewing tobacco and swilling some sort of cheap potable.

"Well, la-dee-da!" he cries out mockingly. "What do we have here? A bunch of young bumpkins who probably stole some war-gear from some sleeping merchant's guards! How about you hand it over, and I won't tell the Queen's Guards that you're a bunch of little larcenists?"

Decimus Numerous

"Not such bumpkins as you think with legally acquired accoutrements, step aside and leave us in peace or face the consequences".