Re: RoA One-Shot Adventures — "The Muster of Morach Tor"
When the merchant's son notices that a couple horses will be unused, he draws out a length of rope, hitching the two extra horses to his own. "Never know when you need a spare," he comments. When everyone has secured their gear and are mounted, he climbs onto his own mount. "No sense delaying; the sooner we get moving, the sooner we'll be there."
As the entourage reaches the point where the High Road touches the city's central market, a wide-shouldered dwarf comes jogging out into the middle of traffic, pushing people left and right along the way. As he emerges from the crowd, the half-orc looks down in surprise. "Aoth, I didn't expect you to see me off! I'd figured your customers would be keeping you busy."
"Aye, they are," the dwarf replies, "but I had somethin' for you to take with ya." He holds out a long wooden box, which Rihen accepts. "One o' them's for you to keep, the other's for my brother Kavik when you get to Nesmé." Inside the case are two finely-crafted short swords.
Rihen sets the case into a saddlebag. "Don't worry, Aoth, we'll get there and back safely."
"Don't forget to stop at the inns along the way, you don't want to go too long without drinking. As me pa always said, 'May the road rise to meet yer face.' Be seein' ya!" Aoth scrambles back into the midst of the crowd, his path to the market square made visible by the sudden displacement of taller folk in his way.
The half-orc spurs his mount, and before long the shops and guildhalls give way to the manor houses and villas of Waterdeep's nobility. Foot-traffic clears considerably, allowing better time toward the northern gate, as well as a quieter ride. Before long, the gatehouse comes into view; most of the traffic coming through the gate is inbound, so it takes a few minutes to clear a path wide enough to allow everyone out.