Spring fades, then Summer goes merrily past and we’re onto Autumn before anyone realizes.

As anticipated, the crops were not great, but your people are confident that, with the help of the fish you got, they will make it past winter. Failing that, they are certain the dragon will, if needed,  hunt in the south. Which means, they are not so thrilled to realize you will be gone for a long time adventuring in the east.

The search for the magical object turns out a lot of possibles, but nothing of real value. There’s a sceptre that, according to Vermillion, may once have been a truly magical object, but these days it’s mostly rotting metal and little else. During the search Vermillion begun to wonder if you have all been searching in the right place at all or if the object is far more elusive than it seems. Randulf speculates on your back story. He says that, if true that you were left for your parent’s to care, someone might have taken the magical object as a guarantee of their interest in seeing you mature as a fine dragon. He mentions that it remains true that your lands were given to your parent’s for ‘past favours’ so that’s a bit of an unknown, but it shows they were not adverse to a bit of ‘wheeling and dealing’.

All that starts to fade into the background, when a though looking young lad shows up. He mentions he was sent by Master Gilmartin, to tell you that preparations are nearly completed and your expedition can depart whenever you want.

Into the frozen land of Nador, where they were forced to eat Robin's minstrels. And there was much rejoicing. ^_^

I am not the best hunter. Or much of a hunter at all, really. I lack the patience for it. Hunting for food that is. Noble hunts are more like practice for war, with men on horses driving herds of boars at archers and then skewering the same with lances and so on. That I have no need or desire to practice. Why would I ride a warhorse, which is extremely expensive, when I can fly?

It sounds to me like another trip to the Waterdeep archives is in order, to see who deeded the land to my parents. Grants in allod, that is, without an overlord, are exceedingly rare, so whoever did had to have extraordinary motivations. As much as I am loathe to admit it, Randulf is probably correct that it wasn't a reward by some duke for noble service to the realm.

I'll swing by when we go to the city to gather the expedition members. We'll pay another visit to Randulf's sister of course, and the guild masters might have more interested souls besides Gilmartin and the guards.

One thing, you found this on your last trip. It was one 'Lady Aurgloroasa of Winterfare ' and the land is noted as being donated for 'past favours'.

Coincidence of names? Someone impersonating her? Who's the real Aurgloroasa? Who knows...

Oh right okay. Well everything else still stands!

Behold my medieval legalisms! =p

Thanks for the reminder.

After consulting my journal to recall that I already, in fact, determined that Aurgloroasa was the name on the letter patent of grant in allod to title in real estate, I make sure to inform Vermillion and Randulf of that fact.

It's a bit worrying, actually. Would that mean Aurgloroasa is somehow responsible for my rearing? That'd be weird. Oh well. Onward! To adventure! And mystery! And maybe treasure!

And… we’re back… fingers crossed all will go smoothly from now onwards.

Vermillion starts by saying… ‘ah what’s in a name…’ but a look by Randulf makes him sigh before saying ‘…I know… coincidence? Nobody will believe it…’

I’ll jump a wee bit here

You make your arrangements at home, give instructions and then start the road down to Waterdeep. You can see the Spine with more snow, which is a sure sign that Winter is fast approaching. Vermillion keep saying he hopes the east will be more kind weather wise. Randulf chuckles saying ‘it’s not the weather that will kill you, it’s the bandits’.

Banter aside, you make your road to Waterdeep. By sheer coincidence, there’s a familiar face at the gate, Ailig is there. She gives a brief nod to your group and then departs the city northwards with a group of guards. You can see they are in big haste. True to his word, Master Gilmartin has assembled the caravan. Drivers, beasts of burden, equipment, supplies, carts, everything you need for the journey eastwards. He proudly introduces you to the drivers. Everything is set for your departure, waiting for your command.

Deserts are cold at night, or so I've read, but it's much easier to build heat than to get rid of it, generally speaking. Bandits though, psssh, no problem. I'll just eat them. I wink at Randulf about that.

I did mean it though.

I've always wondered what humans taste like. Or elves. Elves are supposed to be extra-delicious.

I make sure to politely greet Ailig before she leaves. Then, I thank Gilmartin for assembling a party, and I make sure everything is in fact ready, giving it all a once-over myself. I also introduce myself to the "crew," so to speak, and I tell them where we're going and what we hope to find there.

Then we're off! Slowly, I imagine, with a bunch of carts, but that's how things go. I'll have plenty of time to get to know all of these characters, and I'm sure they're, well, characters. Everyone has a story to tell.

Key - Blue is the route, red is the current hex you are about to start.

Rate of movement - 3 days per hex
Start date - Month 10, day 1
Current date - Month 10, day 4

The expedition starts slowly but soon you are making steady progress along the route north, aptly called 'the long road'. Ultimately, your goal is to reach Everlund and use that as a base camp to explore the Nether Mountains.

This close to Waterdeep, other travellers, adventurers and Waterdeep's soldiers and guards are a normal sight. The road is in good condition, secure in such close proximity to the large city and everyone relaxes their guard. For most of the time Randulf is sitting on a cart enjoying a pipe, his sister brought her own horse and often scout ahead of the group, whilst Vermillion spends most of time over an ancient tome, the travels of an ancient wizard in the Nether Mountains. As you start yet another stretch of the road, everyone is in good spirits.

OOC: I can keep a hex-by-hex progress or, I can keep rolling dice and only stop if anything significant happens. Largely depends if you're happy just following the route or if you want to check or do something along the way, even change route! Your choice.

Sorry, I thought I posted, but what actually happened was that I was going to say that I couldn't get the map to load, then I had to go to work, and I forgot that I had not, in fact, posted. The map is working fine now.

Anyway, the end destination is a river! I thought we were going to the desert.

I don't mind little snippets of countryside narration. I'm fine following the route until something interesting happens. We might be able to do some trading along the way and make a bit of profit, which would be neat, but otherwise it'll be a bucolic, relaxing journey.

Right?

Guys?

Right?

And we're back.



You continue your crawl along the high road.

At the end of the day Randulf's sister returns from her usual scouting forays. She comes back excited and accompanied. With her there is someone that you recognize by the uniform as one of the Waterdeep´s guards. She says that just to the north, in the shadow of the Kryptgarden forest they spotted a bandit's camp. She says that that they were busy right then dividing booty. The guard confirms it and confirms that they have long been chasing this group, he was returning on the double to Waterdeep to get assistance when she (and he nods towards Randulf's sister) mentioned that you would be able to assist. He looks slightly doubtful.

Proudly, I puff out my chest and declare that I can, in fact, help with that! I'm a dragon! Rawr! Keeping the bandits from melting into the woods will be the hard part though. Anybody have ideas? My best trick is being really big and scary.

Randulf suggest staging a target to lure them into the road. His sister is initially doubtful but then starts to see merit on the idea.

That sounds good to me! I am almost incapable of maintaining a deception like that, so I hope somebody else can do it. Do we have a small number of people who could reasonably pass as distressed travelers ripe for the robbing?

OOC - Do you want to be part of the 'ambushed' party, or are you going to be ominously flying about and then pounce on any attackers?