Of the various routes proposed to Kyriel and Rory, Kyriel was most taken with the one along the Oise River.  Although it leads to a dicey jaunt through Hun territory towards the end, close to Lutetia Parisiorum, most of the way it cuts through wilderness and “friendly” territory.  In fact, for the next day they will still be in Theoderic’s land.

An added bonus- the route has been used quite a bit, by the “good guys.”  The long stretches of wilderness have caused Huns to avoid it.  They do not like thick forests where Fey creatures lurk.  So it has been used several times recently, and the people here know a little about what to expect.

“Don’t stay with the river past the town of Compendium,” one knowledgeable (or seemingly knowledgeable) veteran says.  When you get there, ask around for news.  Things change quickly, you’ll be closer to Lutetia Parisiorum than you want to be, and you’ll want to get some fresh reports before moving on.  But all the way to Compendium, the river should be free of Huns.

It's not much of a road- just a track along a river, often muddy, often interupted by streams, and often meandering to avoid wetlands.

Kyriel listens carefully to the advice that people are willing to give. While the trip isn't the shortest path, it avoids most of the area where fighting is likely to be occurring and having the river along as a guide for a good part of the way will help ensure that they don't get lost too. Even if they're going near Lutetia Parisiorum, they should be relatively safe as long as they act like they belong.

Even though they'll be heading into Hun territory, she finds her heart racing. They'll be going back to the Academy soon and she can't wait! While they're in relative safety she hurries them along the path eager to get back.

As they walk along she tries to keep Rory's spirits up. "I'm certain they'll offer you a teaching position, Rory. They wanted you to take one before! Now that you've helped against Zerova that will only make it better for you."

Rory is keeping up with Kyriel. He worries over minor details. "I need to retieve the wand, it was borrowed from the academy. Can you think of a way we can do that?"

She brings up the teaching position. "I would like to see Julia even more. I would take seeing her over some job. I know she won't be there, a teaching position would be a consolation only."
This message was last edited by the player at 15:43, Fri 18 May 2012.

It takes Kyriel and Rory a day to cross to the western edge of the region they’ve been told is “Theoderic’s land”, the border between his share of his father’s kingdom, and northern Gaul, held by his brother Clothaire.  This land is mostly wilderness- hours pass between settlements, and the settlements are small.  There isn’t much in the way of “official” royal power, it seems that authority here is based on personal loyalty more than anything else.  After all, until the death of Clovis and the division of the realm based on his Will, no border divided the land here.

But towards the end of the day (days end early in November) when the temperature begins to drop for the evening, there is a definite sign of where the loyalty lies, here.  They reach the small village of Vadon Curtis.  It’s nothing more than a modified rural Roman estate on the Oise river, probably home to about fifty people.  But they have a crudely made banner atop the main building, and it is blue, with a white Unicorn emblem.

There is no tavern here, but Rory knows that is customary in rural locations like this for villages to accommodate travelers somehow*, especially when the weather made staying outdoors difficult.  From what they see, Vaden Curtis is a ranching village, with barns and granaries and a cluster of homes around a central main building- the home of the lord of the village, as well as the main commercial and social hub.

Dogs bark.  Ever vigilant, for rural villages, dogs are generally the first to alert the others to visitors, or intruders.

*In the days of the Roman empire, it was law. 

Kyriel gives Rory a glance when he frets about the wand. "From what I understand, wands are things that can be used up, right? Wouldn't it be expected for you to use some or all of it on the trip, especially if something important like killing Zerova was accomplished?"

After walking for a little way, she comes up with something that may help. "If the wand is really that important, someone at the school might be able to send a message to the wizard that was working on it. Then he might be able to arrange to send it somewhere where we can pick it up. How does that sound?"

Even though she isn't fond of Julia she knows that the woman had a very strong positive affect on Rory, so she bites her tongue. "Maybe she'll hear of your exploits with Zerova and want to talk with you again? If that happens, maybe you could have both."

Along the way, she dons her usual disguise as a young human girl. It's been refreshing to be able to be relatively free with what she is, but as they approach dangerous territory she knows that she has to be on her guard. Their approach to the town is noted, and before they're approached by the curious or the guards she whispers to Rory. "Rory, what do we want to say to them? Most places ask travelers of news. Should we tell them about Zerova? What do you think about doing so in Theoderic's brothers' lands? That might push them to supporting Theoderic if they learn that they've been manipulated."

Rory agreed with her plan regarding the wand but remained silent on the Julia subject. Nearing the town and hearing the dogs barking made him think of how they would spend the night. "Your right they will want news. I am in favor of spreading the story of the death of Zerova, it will garner allies and expose enemies. Yes, we should tell the, but tell them as if we were observers not players in the game. I am a wandering bard anyway, it should not be hard to assume the identity. You are either my student of servant girl, you choose. lets get going, my bones do not like the cold these days." He pats his side, where some of the claws were extracted. It would be a long time before that wound fully healed if ever.

Vaden Curtis is one of those small, mostly self sufficient, isolated villages.  Vaden Curtis's wealth is its cattle.  Once a year the excess cattle are taken to a market and sold, and the remainder keep the village supplied with dairy, meat, and leather.  There seem to be more cattle than people.  Even though it is November, the herds are outside today, eating the last autumn grass before they have to switch to winter fodder.

Between the dogs, and the herders keeping an eye on the cattle, Rory and Kyriel are seen long before they enter the little town.  They don't get a hostile reception- a man and a girl, coming from the direction of Hiricio, don't appear threatening.

They are intercepted by a couple of men with horses, along with two dogs.  They are hungry for news, and volunteer the "Village Hall" for them to stay the night, in exchange for stories and news.  As Kyriel and Rory are accompanied towards the village, people stop what they are doing to take notice, but they don't rush up in a mob- they just watch, and go back to work.

Kyriel nods and decides to  take on the role that has been most effective for her in the past. "Being witnesses but not involved sounds like a good plan. I'll be your servant. People tend to think less of servants than other people."

She gives Rory a look of concern when he gestures to where Zerova's claws had raked his side not so long ago. Even though she took a nasty hit from Zerova's son, she's young and (let's face it) the brute wasn't in Zerova's class. "Have we been pushing too hard?"

As they approach the village, she isn't surprised to learn that they've been spotted long before they arrive. The men meet them and guide them in. She plays the solicitous servant girl taking care of her master as they go and lets Rory speak for them. She notes the way the people react, look just long enough to take in what's going on and get back to work.

Rory shakes his head at Kyriel's question. >"Normally I take less than it appears. I have gifts of my bloodline that make me resistant to damage other than cold iron. Also I have always bounced back quickly. (ie I have the Die Hard feat) This wound just lingers, nagging at me in the cold. Like one whose bone was broken and set, the cold seems to annoy the old injury. Fret not, I will be fine."

Rory makes an exagerated introduction, "I am Rory MacIntyre, a wandering Minstral. This is my servant. We have journeyed a long distance this day would would greatfully trade stories and songs, even news of the outside for a warm bed and a place at your hearth for the night."

He leans in and whispers to Kyriel as they pass the people. "My presence does not offend, in fact it is as if they were expecting us? WE should be vigilent and on our guard. I may summon a creature of the fey to watch over us, as part of my 'act.' I say this by way of warning, so you will expect it. Zerova may be no more, but I suspect her masters are still in play on this plane and ever will be."

When they are near to the hall Rory inquires, "Who do you appoint as your leader? Do you have a head man of this villiage, or head woman perhaps?"

A small village like Vaden Curtis is generally headed by a single person.  This may be the village priest, or a lord granted rights by a higher monarch, or the head of the most important household in the village.  Vaden Curtis is the latter kind, in fact, the name gives it away:  The Court of the Vaden household.  The village consists of the Vaden family, and tenants, who work for a share of the production.  The head of the Vaden family is Jornoman, who is in his thirties, but has the weathered look of someone who has spent his life outdoors, working.  He shows up on his horse.

There is something else evident in the little village:  cleared and now emptied campsites.  Not long ago, a lot of troops were here.

“Minstrels are always welcome, especially if they come from Hiricio,” Jornomon says.  “We don’t hear nearly enough news.  Your tales and songs will be your dinner.”

Most of the village gathers to hear Rory, and the “village hall” can accommodate most of them.  The rest are “spillover” outside and in other rooms of Jornomon’s home.

Rory and Kyriel pick up some of the gossip.

Theorderic’s army was here, twice, but moved on.  Hundreds of horsemen!  And Elves!  That was the most exciting thing to every happen to Vaden Curtis.

He didn’t let anyone from here volunteer, as he wanted them to watch the frontier.  This they do, daily, patrolling on horseback.

20:45, Today: Rory MacIntyre rolled 32 using 1d20+14. Perform.

Rory sings a group of songs he feels will go over well with the crowd. He listens to hopefully find someone among them with talent. He tells the story of the defeat of zerove, as if he was an outside observer. He feels that he is still giving good performances and a little more of the weight lifts from him. Maybe life was worth living after all...

Kyriel nods almost imperceptibly when Rory makes his observation. She whispers back at an opportune time. "Although it could just be that nothing bad comes from Theoderic's lands. There are unicorns there. I'll be careful and alert though."

While Rory is telling the stories and singing, she gets him his food and drink. As she circulates, she listens to what the people are talking about. If it sounds like they're interested in something in particular, she lets him know quietly as she pours his drink or serves his food.

Listening to Rory as he tells the story and sings, she can tell that he's sharpened his skills. She's impressed with the story he tells and she was there! If these people aren't impressed, there's something definitely wrong.

Rory's performance is so far above what they usually see out here in Vaden Curtis (a village not on any traveling minstrel's usual route) that the majority of the villagers don't really appreciate what they are seeing.  They know he's good, but they have no understanding of just how good.

Some, on the other hand, see it, and they are astounded.

Jornomon is in the former group.  He claps and shouts, "well done, well done!" but he looks like the sort who would do that for anyone who was able to play a musical instrument.

His wife seems to know a little more.  She asks a lot of questions after the performance, and tells Rory and Kyriel: "I have family in Quintiniacum.  When you get there you should talk to my sister Margaritte at the Golden Rose Hall on the Market Plaza.  Good performers play there, or they all want to play there, and they are paid fairly.  Margaritte arranges it.  She knows a lot that could help you find good places to play, she's been doing it a long time.  Tell her I sent you."

Rory watches the local youngsters.  While some may have some grain of talent or two themselves, in this village it is woefully undeveloped.  Even identifying prospective future musicians here would take some work.

Kyriel consults her knowledge of Geography.  They had planned to stick to the Oise river, but there's no way the people here would know that, of course.  They'd assume Rory and Kyriel were traveling the sensible route that a traveling performer might take.  Obviously, that means taking the trail to the nearest sizable town, and then traveling through "civilized" country.  That would be Quintiniacum.  On the other hand, the town wouldn't be that far a diversion from the river route, if they chose to divert.  It is only seven miles from the river, and the route there and then back to the river would take the two sides of a triangle, while the river forms the hypotenuse.  It's only a six hour walk to Quintiniacum, from here.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:16, Mon 28 May 2012.

Kyriel is glad that they're able to spend the night warm and indoors. Even though she's an elf, she's spent most of her time in the city and she's learned the value of having a warm comfortable place to sleep! After hearing Jornomon's wife (what's her name?) tell them about Quintiniacum and she realizes that it's not far off their path, she nods. "Thank you, Lady. That sounds very good. My master is the one that determines our path, however."

When she has a moment she takes Rory aside. "That's very close to where we need to go. Only a couple of hours out of our way.  If your wounds are giving you trouble in the cold then we should stay warm as much as possible, especially at night. Besides, this could let us gather more information while we spread the word. Besides, we don't want to raise any suspicions, do we? What do you think?"

The food here is basic, but there is plenty of it.  The hosts, being quite impressed with Rory's performance, provide the best of their table.  This includes steak, which isn't served that often as beef means sacricing a cow.  Meat is generally more available in this season, because butchering a few animals before winter means you don't have to feed them all winter.  But even so, both Rory and Kyriel know that wandering minstrels usually don't see this.  The keep the food coming and the ale cups filled.

The locals ask for news of Hiricio, and of course, the one all important topic:  the war.  They are quite proud of their own encounters with their king, who passed through here twice, and they tell somewhat embellished tales of Theoderic.   They seem rather confident that he will defeat the Huns.

Even though the food is basic, it's better than most of the fare she's ever had. They even have steak! Such a delicacy is something that she's rarely had and she digs into it with gusto. She does go lightly on the ale; she still needs to keep her wits about her.

She lets Rory tell the important news. After all, he's the wandering minstrel. She spends her time telling the children about Aelasuria and gaging their reactions (she'll probably get a number of the women listening in as well). "The King's fiancee is a high elf! She's very pretty and she rides a unicorn." If pressed on how she knows things about Aelasuria, she'll say that she was in a city and saw her there.

Rory scraps the idea of finding a singer here, maybe n a larger city. He thanks the lady for her advice and asks Kyriel to remember the name for him. He tells what news he knows, and listens to their own gossip. He wants to spread hope that defeating the Huns is possible.

The tales of Theoderic and his lady are met with interest, and discussion, but not amazement.  Kyriel realizes... they've been here!  Twice!  The people here remember them... how could they not?

Well fed, Rory and Kyriel get some shut eye.  Rory is given a place in the common room, the village's "great hall".  It wouldn't be proper for Kyriel to stay there too- but there is a room adjoining the main kitchen that is used as kitchen maid's quarters... well, it was.  There is no kitchen maid, just local women who show up to do the work for the lord's household.

Kyriel has the pleasant little room all to herself.  In one of those odd little quirks of culture, it's still considered "maid's quarters" and so it is a social step down from having a spot by the fire in the main hall.  Even though it's her own private room.  People are weird that way.


* * * *

In the morning they leave, headed along the Oise river, as was the plan, but the turnoff for Quintiniacum comes up quickly.

It is, as the map shows, only a short detour off the route.  They would be there in the afternoon, if they headed that way.

The people at Vaden Curtis told them that Quintiniacum is in the territory ruled by Theoderic's brother Clothaire.  They have never seen Orcs there.

Kyriel is amazed to hear that the king and Aelasuria have been here twice. She presses some of the women and children about when they were here. She asks about things like what they wearing, when they were here, and 'normal' stuff.

She sleeps in the maid's quarters. Even though it's considered a step down, it's better than a lot of places that she's slept in.  Well fed and warm, she finds a place to curl up and goes to sleep.

In the morning, they're on their way and they come to the fork in the road. "Rory? Do you think we should head that way? We might be able to get more information on what the king's brothers are up to and maybe help the king while we're doing it. Maybe all he needs is an excuse to act against the huns. We might be able to give him that."

Of course, she knows that she's persona non grata in the other lands as long as they cleave to the truce. That means that she's going to have to be doubly careful about hiding her true identity.

Rory too enjoys the food and warmth of the small villiage. He will always have a fond place in his heart for these people who welcomed him so gratiously. The next day is more traveling. Kyriel points the way to Quintiniacum (why are Roman names so hard to pronounce and remember?) and he noddes at her question. "A worthy detour to be sure, but we must still remember that winter is coming. I want to be at the Academy before snow blocks off travel. That said, I think we can spare a day or two, besides, a larger city might prove more fruiteful in my search for a student. Shall we keep this same ruse?"

Kyriel grins when Rory mentions his time line for arriving back at the Academy. "That suits me fine too. I don't want to be away any longer than I can help."

She nods when he asks about maintaining the same perceived social order. "Yes. I'm less likely to draw attention as your servant than as your understudy."

They approach the main gate into the town, which is at a bridge over a river that provides both trade and protection to the town, the Samara.  It is afternoon, and people are still busily going to and fro through the gate.  Rory and Kyriel are admitted fairly easily- Rory gets his share of looks, but people quickly figure out he’s an entertainer.  He’s supposed to look a little odd.  It’s in the job description.

Guards in general do not hassle entertainers.  There isn’t any point in taxing them at gates, as many towns do to merchants.  Most entertainers are flat broke.  Especially those arriving on foot.

As can be seen on the map, there is a sort of entry plaza at the main gate.  This area is very crowded.   There are no shops in this small area bounded by walls, but there are a few merchants with pushcarts, a “street preacher” and the customary gaggle of poor people, adults and some children too, hoping each visitor needs some help.  They don’t bother Rory and Kyriel.  Entertainers don’t pay well.

Once through the second gate, the main road is the Via Pontus (Bridge Street), the light blue north-south road.  The caravanserie is off to the right, (orange roof) and it's where many merchants and farmers stay, but the largest and best known tavern is further along the Via Pontus- the Heron's Wings Tavern. (pink building, on the light blue road, center of the map.)

Rory and Kyriel, though, were informed of another place, the Golden Rose Hall.  (pink, in the light yellow plaza, center north).  It’s got a smaller “footprint” but it is a taller four story building, right on the town’s Market Plaza.  It’s obviously the town’s “upscale” tavern, where people go when they can afford it.

The Market Plaza is still a busy place in the late afternoon- bakeries, candle shops, a spice merchant,  a leather shop… and many little push carts in the plaza, with food, flowers, little decorative pins, hats, and even a Cider cart, refilling people’s mugs with hot spiced (and fermented) cider from a mobile barrel.

Kyriel remembers what Jornomon's wife (did we get a name for her?) had said. Her sister Margaritte was at the Golden Rose Hall and could arrange things for Rory. As they go along, she turns to Rory. "I expect that we'll want to go to the Golden Rose? That seems to be the place everyone wants to get into. Though the Heron's WingTavern seems to have a large following too. Either one seems like a place where you'll make a big splash, right?"

As they go along she tries to tune into what the people around them are saying, specifically the street preacher and other street people.