Chapter One

## **A Ticket to Rime**

**Berrondag 6th Biriskjur 1770 to Latrardag 9th Biriskjur 1770**

As the Lightning Rail nears its final destination in the Northern town of Rime, views of open plains are replaced by the narrow crevices betwixt snow topped mountains. There are just six passengers, strangers to one another, left aboard; The blue-skinned elf Nixe-nona Airendil, a seasoned but socially unadept ranger; Brandyr Greybeard a Dwarven Faenor, a servant of Berronar Truesilver; the booksmart but world-naïve Gnominsh student of Artificery Booker Longsparkle; charismatic lecturer Plymouth Argyle, whose words have inspired many a student and Ryan Fitzpatrick, who introduces himself as Fitz, a monied Tiefling and capable fighter, with perhaps more to him than meets the eye.

The final member of their ranks is the precocious Melvin Dunkason, a Dwarf on the cusp of manhood, obsessed with the stories of Herman Crockwright, who is travelling to Rime to visit his Uncle. As the party while away the journey through idle chatter, they discover that they have a shared goal of reaching the settlement of Russet, as well as a mutual disdain for the Dwarven lad.

The newly discovered travel companions disembark the train in Rime, where they are introduced to the boys Uncle, the town’s Mayor Baern Dunkason, and bid their farewells to the young Dwarf. While in Rime they visit the clothing shop Hot Upset where they procure some rabbit, goat and (in Fitz’s case) lynx fur clothing from the store owner, Letti.

Better prepared for the cold that awaits them, the group decide to procure rooms for the night and while away the time until they can catch a taxi to Russet in the morning. They opt for the fancier of the town’s inns *The Succulent Spiggot* and meet its proprietor, the unsettling James Grappenhall and procure drinks of *Clifford's Candour* and the local pale ale *Ticket to Rime*.

In the morning, the party secures a discounted rate for the services of Easy Delg, the owner of a local taxi that runs from Rime to Russet. On the journey, the inquisitive Booker quizzes the footman about his past while he enjoys his pilchard sandwiches, but lunch is soon brought to an abrupt halt. As is the taxi. A small rockslide has caused the road to become impassable. As Delg and his driver, Wilf, work to clear the blockage, two erratically-behaved mountain lions beset the party.

Being a seasoned Ranger, Nixe is unphased by the animal attack and launches a volley of arrows in quick succession, striking true with each shot. Brandyr reveals unexpected bravery and sorcerous powers as he moves towards the lions, announcing his presence with a booming voice before surprising even himself with the force with which he strikes one of the lions with a palmed crossbow bolt.

The young Booker uses his magics to summon a bolt of fire but, unprepared for battle, the panicked shot goes wide and sizzles in the snow. Composing himself, Booker’s second bolt hits the lion square in the flank and the smell of singed fur fills the mountain air. Fitz fires a bolt, striking one lion, and drops the crossbow to the ground. He steps over it, unsheathing his spear as he does so, and blindsides the second lion, buying Brandyr some respite.

Plymouth, preferring words to weapons, unleashes a tongue as sharp as any rapier, bolstering his teammates and felling the first lion, who explodes with a cloud of black bile. Inspired, Nixe finishes off the second lion with a precision blow to the face, showering Fitz and Brandyr in a similar billow of bile. The tiefling breathes in the ichor and is poisoned, but the hardy Dwarf manages to stave off the effects, although he is not without injury.

Delg explains to the party that the lions have been stricken with "*Lyssa's Blight*", a virus that initially infected the crops around those parts before transmitting to the animals. Luckily, Delg has a cure on hand and gives it to Fitz. After he finishes puking up chunky jet-black sludge, Fitz rewards the footman with 10 gold pieces for the life-saving vial. The rest of the journey passes uneventfully and they safely arrive in Russet. Delg gives the Tiefling a box of Van Cleef’s Cigars as a parting gift and the party head into town to secure a room for the night as The Flange and Whistle and prepare for the next adventure.

Next: Chapter Two. Papers, Please!