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Consider it leave time. Stay out of trouble. Rest. Shore up your gear and enjoy the local hospitality. You might want to find your room. The mayor has provided the conscripts with opulent quarters after hearing of their exploits. The rest of us will stay in the barracks.
The music stops in the great hall as servants begin to clean up and others drag their drunken comrades out onto the street for the journey home. The captain returns from the brief visit to the Mayor's office and announces to the conscripts and his sargeants that it will take at least three days, maybe four, before the caravan is ready to move again.
I didn't. We need more men and rations, and we have ample gold to pay for it.
Meanwhile, the captain enters the great hall and spots his scouts. After introductions, explanations and gratitude the captain looks at Silvash and drops two bags of gold in front of him. He says to Silvash, Here ya go, elf.This is the gold from Lilly and Tress's advance. I thought that you might want to split it up amongst your party. 400 coins, all there. Many eyes in the great hall fall upon Silvash and the gold.
Conscripts, scout ahead and make sure our unannounced arrival at the outpost is a welcome one and if they will assist us in our journey to Alkenstar. Thaane, if they let us in, you tend to the mounts so you have time to think about shooting out in the desert, drawing danger upon the caravan.
Okay. The Mwangi will remain in custody for now. Everyone tend to your wounds collect what is salvageable and let us proceed east. We should be close to the outpost on my map and barring any further incidents, we should make it before dark. We are low on manpower and we lost about one-third of the horses are gone as well. Let's not scout too far ahead. Keep your weapons at the ready. We will proceed shortly.
Besides you. He remarks to Thaane.
Anyone else care to verify this as well?
Who are you?
There are about 25 men left unscathed as the captain makes his way towards the conscripts. Why is the Mwangi woman shackled?
The caravan begins to move forward as the Captain yells out for his conscripts.
That settles it. We head east in the morning. Silas and Armi will take the first watch with a four riflemen. I would like our new conscripts to split the second and third watch. You choose.
Let's hope that these non-humans work out. I'm uncomfortable with what appears to be an agent of the Gorilla King amongst us.
So Verrin, you will vouch for the newcomer? Does everyone agree that the eastern route is a viable option?
Well hello scouts! The captain says somewhat mockingly. What is your report of the eaestern route?
The scouting party rides ahead about one half of a mile and notices a break in the battlementsand rides through to the left. There is an impression of tracks, fairly old, heading east. After about five miles the party stops as they notice a party of six orcs fighting two giant scorpions.
So, the wizard and the orc? NO ONE ELSE?
The captain is visibly upset. This new plan will add at least two extra days to his agenda and for some reason, he seems really unhappy about skipping Dongun altogether. He looks to the new hires and asks, I'll need scouts to check the east route, who'll volunteer?
The caravan passed along the well-constructed highway with ease. the Bridge of the Gods they call it and every mile passes with a small, well-armed garrison within a signal fire away from the next. The size of each garrison also increases as the road leads further away from the keep. About 20 miles down the curving road, the Captain rests the caravan and dismounts to inquire of the sergeant about what looks to be massive damage in the road. What has happened Sergeant? Dongun's Hold is our next stop and is only about 20 more miles. We were hoping to make it by sunset. I'm sorry about that Captain, replied the sergeant, Dongun's hold is under siege by an army of orcs. We have been fending off their raiding parties ourselves. My men are doing their best to repair the road. I was hoping you were the reinforcements from Cloudreaver." So, if we get this road repaired, we can proceed? Should we expect for you to be the last of the friendly faces we see along the road? the Captain asks. I think that it is best if you avoid this route altogether as we art the last station that we know of left. None of my scouts have returned. I know it sounds crazy, but it might be best to leave the roadway and circumvent Dongun's hold for now. There is an outpost about twenty miles east of here to rest and rethink your route. That is gnoll territory! You must be kidding!The captain objects. True, but much less in numbers. the sergeant replies. Damn! Dongun was one of my stops. Yes, but not the stop! The lieutenant reminds him.
Before heading to his quarters, the Captain turns over a large hourglass and instructs the Halfling to wake him when it is empty.
The provisioner has 4 potions of CLW for sale, 50 gold each.
Careful, the caravan leaves at sunrise. The company has paid for rooms upstairs for each of you as well as for the provisioner to stay open until midnight. Stock up. We've yet to make it to Alkenstar and the Arclords are growing impatient.
The Captain eyes up Tress, Lilly and Silvash quickly noting the way they carry themselves and the weapons that they possess and directs his lieutenant to pay each 200 gold now and has them sign a contract stating that they forfeit any payment should the caravan not make it to Alkenstar and back, explaining the many treacheries in detail. The Captain takes longer to scrutinize the tiefling and the half-orc. He gazes more deeply at the tiefling as Verrin feels and almost soul-piercing gaze go right through him. Well, he ain't evil. Remarks the captain. He ain't good either, replies Silas. Tell ya what, offers the captain, These two look fierce and if proven loyal, may make the difference between success and failure this time. Until we can be quite sure, I'm going to have two of the riflemen from the guard keep you in their sights. If you agree, sign the contract and take your 200 gold with the same promises as the rest.
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