Thread: Curses [MR AZ]

The East road from Duncaster to Highhill was the easiest route, passing by Caerleon Archways in Ustad and Fort Lasthope to the north, after moving into the country of Leira. Heading West required three fort passes and a river crossing, over a less than reliable bridge that flooded all too commonly. Still, even being the shorter path, getting to Highhill on a hard-ridden steed took over a half a day. Getting there with a cart was a longer journey. They wouldn't arrive in the city until the youngest hours of the morning, and that was plenty of time for disaster to strike. The roads of Ustad were littered with bandits and swindlers, especially those between hot spots like major cities getting by without notice took luck, indeed. But things were quiet. Dirt paths for the cart to kick up pebbles on, trees to mark places on the journey. At one point, a fox bounded along between shrubs, likely chasing down a rodent for its midday meal, its streak of bright orange fur breaking up an otherwise green landscape. To the south, Ustad was a dusty, mountainous country, the altitude making it mostly too cold for plants to grow. Nearest its neighbor to the north, the landscape was lush and vibrant, hardy against the chilling temperatures and bounding with nature. Birds sang happily, following flight trails overhead as they moved between their homes. All was according to plan. At least, until arriving at Caerleon Archways. A string of carts were lined up, totally stopped, at the gates leading through. Because of the terrain, where the altitude rose to the east and made cart travel near impossible, there was no way to go around that wouldn't take days of backtracking - leaving the merchants ahead trapped. It was obvious they expected to be stuck for a while, as already many had set up tents despite sunset not being for another few hours. Guards swarmed the gates, armed to the teeth with spears and blades polished to a shine they were obviously royal guards, judging by their heraldry, which bore the family crest of the current Leider of Ustad, Amaranto Barese, whose luxurious home sat in the wealthiest district of Duncaster. A few merchants seemed to be arguing with the guards, gesturing angrily to the row of over a dozen held up carts and caravans behind them, but although the guards seemed peaceful, their patience was obviously wearing thin, and quickly. The tension rose with every moment of banter, and worse yet, it wasn't getting anyone through any faster than before. The main guard, the one seemed dressed in the highest level of finery and whose horse's armor displayed the most military achievement markings, was keeping the peace as best he could moving between his men, the knight attempted to defuse arguments and keep people calm. One pedestrian in particular began cursing at him, throwing what looked like an apple at the knight's head. In response, the man removed his helmet - recently assaulted by fruit - and looked the man in the eyes before continuing his attempts to prevent more violence. It was a demonstration of trust, perhaps, that if he wasn't armored, they wouldn't further attack, though others might take it to be an attempt to look more personable by revealing pale blonde hair and a more delicate face than one would attribute to a knight of his status.