Heading South

Magellen’s Journal

August 1993

Having visited Mytherial, I found myself reminiscing about a potion shop in Glendale, wondering if the owner still lived, I set off South. Thinking I could bulk up my potions and see if they had any adventurers to hire around the town. Having a pretty extensive job board (that I have taken ample use of in the past), they typically have a fair amount of adventures hanging around.

Taking a few days to travel towards Glendale, I found myself traveling with some guards on their way to Kohkiri. Apparently a portion of the fey wild has transported itself into the country. No one seems to know how or why but they are aimed to go check it out. My inquisitive nature has me wanting to follow them but at the moment I have more important matters to look into.

Stooping down to enter The Mortar and Thistle I find Bramble the shop keep carefully weighing some dried herbs and putting them into packets. The halfling looks up at me with tired eyes, not seeming to recognize me. “Bramble! my old friend, how are you this afternoon?”

Bramble looking confused, “I’m sorry, I can’t quite seem to remember you, I have many who come through that door.”

Putting down my pack and sitting on the floor in front of the counter, “ah, I’m sorry to hear that, you were always so good to us when we came to refill our vials.”

Bramble looks over the counter at me sitting cross-legged on the floor, “Ah Mage, I do remember you, I’m sorry. What can I get for you, do you have any companions with you? I feel like it’s been years.”

“No, today it’s just me, I am in the market for some adventurers or mercenaries, if you know of anyone reliable in the area?”

Bramble thinks as he collects some healing potions and a few other items for me. “Drent and his group seems to be competent, they just took out a few trolls that were raiding farms, brought me back a good bucket of troll blood. A few weeks back they hired a team of horses to bring a purple worm carcass back for the inns in town. He typically has a well thought out list of items for each job they take. Thinking through the job in full before heading off.”

Taking a full compliment of potions and healing scrolls, I thank Bramble, and give over a small sack of gold and head off to Drent’s house which also happens to be their home base for their operations.

A tall, imposing tortle answered the door, at the large house I was directed to, at the center of town. Informing me that he was busy, he let me know I could meet him at the tavern across the way after dinner hour. Glancing across the street I saw that it looked as if they had rooms above. I nodded and headed off to see about a room.

Entering The Fire’s Maiden I was surprised with the well swept floors and the gleaming glasses and mugs behind the bar. The tiefling that greeted me let me know rooms were 2 silver a night. Dragging my pack up the stairs I quickly set an alarm and grabbed some books before heading back down to see if I could get a private room for my meeting with Drent.

I was led to a back room that was surprisingly quiet what with the heavy commotion of the front common room. I carefully spread out maps and the drawings I had of Jony and Nevyn. Repeatedly reviewing in my head the reasons we can’t go into the Santane Pass with bow strings taught and swords raised while I waited for my meeting with Drent and his group.

Just as the clock in the square tolled 7:00 I heard a knock at the door. Drent, an elven cleric of Helm (God of protection if I am recalling that correctly), a human warlock (of the raven queen if the clasp of their cloak is telling), and a goblin artificer. As they walked in and I scrutinized them, I was also impressed that they also scrutinized me, my papers, and the room as they filed in.

As we made our acquaintances a bar maid brought carafes of wine and pitchers of ale. Drent has been leading the same team for three years now. They only accept jobs they know they will come back from and they expect to get paid half up front and half at the end. They will not tolerate secrets and want to be able to plan for as many eventualities as they can ahead of time.

I explained that I wanted a protection detail to take me through The Santane Pass to talk to whoever the current leader of the orcs is. Which, I was promptly informed was a new leader as of a month ago, who so eloquently goes by the name of “Skull Crusher” they had talked with another adventuring party who was heading to Phinwyn to take care of a job there.

Two heavy hitting adventuring parties heading to Phinwyn at the same time, curious…focus, back to the task at hand.

After talking with them for some time, they decide they will take me to the pass but not into the pass. They have no notions of grandeur and they know their limitations. Not feeling confident against possibly thousands of orcs living in the pass they set their boundaries. Drent gave me the evening to think about it, although I already know my answer, and they file out. After they leave and I’m left to clean up my maps, I notice they barely drank anything, if they did at all. Again, I’m impressed, none of my adventuring parties would have been so reserved.

Meeting with Drent in the morning I agree to their terms and we plan to set off the next morning. Handing him 5 platinum to complete the deal.