Thread: The Magic of the Open Road (Kara Lyonsbane x Fun_and_Games)

Spring was waking up the land. That was both good and bad for a person dedicated to a life on the road. It meant warmer weather that was the good part. It also meant more merchants with their goods to sell, the first sprouting of edible plants...lots of good things. It also meant mud. Awakening of hibernating monsters. The ability to move armies around the land again. Snow melting and turning rivers into raging torrents. So, yeah, the bad-stuff too. But it all had its sunny side this was still the open road, and the open road always invited adventure. At that moment, a heavy wagon pulled to a stop at a crossroads. The road it was on carved through a forest, the snow still clinging to the bases of most of the trees. They were not that far north, but enough that the forest was a mix of evergreen and leafy trees, meaning there was still some color to the wood even this early in the spring. The wider trail was still bumpy and not well cared for, but at least it was wide enough for the wagon. The trail now bent a good sixty degrees, turning with the valley to head down toward the nearest city of Toren. The trail bent with the valley, but there was two other trails that intersected it here One of the trails was barely recognizable as such. It was more of a crude staircase cut into the bedrock of the hillside. It climbed steeply up toward the higher points of the hill. Then, the other smaller trail led up a smaller stream run-off, heading deeper into the forest lands. The heavy wagon driver hauled up on the reigns of his draft horses, dragging them to a stop. He reached around and banged on the slats covering the windows into the inner part of the wagon. Most of it was filled with his own wares for the markets of Toren. But, there was a small nest dug out for the passenger he had picked up a couple days back. The driver's name was Henri, a little past middle-age, a little stocky, and mostly carrying the more boring sorts of items. No jewels, only wooden spoons carved by farmers a couple counties away. He slid open the slats, and leaned in to give the girl his friendliest smile. Still looked gruff, because that is who he was, but...well, he tried. Well, here it is, lass. Promised you I'd show it to you when we got to it. See there, that stair in the rock? Takes you over the hill and down into what we call Black Quarry. Dwarf lord known as Haxhalk rules there ain't known to be friendly, but he's a fiend of lore. Loves knowing secrets, that one, and damn anyone who wants to take it from him. And that's if you don't run afoul of a rock troll or a hungry drake-kin as you make yer way over. Then there's that there path into the wood. Go that way, and just don't get near the swamp, cause I know for a fact a small clan of goblins call it home. Nasty critters. But, if you stay out of trouble, you'll eventually walk onto the lands of Sanbantion. Not much known about him, but that you can hear what sounds like explosions rock the mountains, clouds of smoke rise up...and worse things stay well clear of it. If yer looking for something magic, then whoever he is, you'll probably find he knows something of the sort. Not a single noble tries to claim his lands, and he owns a good part of the central forest. You'll know it cause of the peanut flowers everywhere. Has a mighty taste for them, he does. Merchant can make a killing selling barrels of them to his servants when they come to town. He waved in dismissal at the two paths, But don't go chasing fancies, girl. Let me trundle you on to town. I can introduce you to a couple folk there. Know a cleric at the chapel of knowledge, and I bet they have a few choice books to read through. And while I don't have the ear of the City Duke, I've seen his Right Hand wander through the markets from time to time. If I can catch his ear, I can make introductions...maybe even get you a chance to read through the castle library itself if we play it right. Come on, want to stay warm and go into town? I'll be staying with a friend of mine tonight, owns the Hoghead tavern. Free lodgings for at least three nights before he kicks us out or starts to make us pay. Ain't gonna get a better offer than that, will ya?