I barely slept a wink, laying in a pile like dogs in the common room– this is no way to live.  Despite being exhausted I was eager to hit the road and I woke up my three companions to get an early start.  However we didn’t get up early enough to avoid trouble.  Before we even got out of town a young woman in a mud-spattered dress came running up to us.  She was fleeing was an unwanted betrothal and wanted to come with us.  My thought was that we had enough problems with tagalongs but Quinine overruled me – since she was mostly funding this expedition and was leading it I had to bite my tongue.  I’m already regretting this venture, I don’t do well in groups. 

Our new friend, Elth Belker – lovely name huh? – talked about how skilled she was at carpentry as we got underway.  You know how useful carpentry while you’re traveling.  She failed to mention the pile of gold he had in a satchel over the shoulder – of course I took a peek – we’ll see how that plays out.  Where does a farmer’s daughter find that kind of coin?

The day passed uneventfully.  I learned that the tedium of riding in a caravan wagon is nothing compared to the tedium of walking all day.

Quinine was saying we should start looking for a place to camp when I noticed a thin wisp of smoke.  Just visible from the trail, a moss-covered shingle roof of a dilapidated old building peaked over a stand of thickly growing trees filling a small dell.

Once the home of a charcoal burner, the current occupiers, the Hurmont family, make a living as hunters and trappers. They also make a little extra coin letting travelers sleep in their barn.  It wasn’t that long ago that I would have screamed myself hoarse rather than sleep in a barn.  But compared to last night’s accommodations or the potential for sleeping in a tent on the ground I took it as a godsend.  Trying to make a meal of trail rations though was almost enough to make me scream.

I almost found myself missing Graltontown, but I stopped myself in time.   

____________________________________________________________

Funds: None 

XP: 5866

Inventory: Signet ring, Ring of Many Garments, noble’s traveling outfit, Marvelous Pigments, thieves’ tools

Revenge List: Duke Eaglevane, Piltis Swine, Rince Electrum, watchman Gridley, White-Muzzle the worg, Percy Ringle the butler , Alice Kinsey , “Patch”, Heroes of the Lost Sword, Cardshire Arms manager, Erist priest of Strider, Riselda owner of the Sage Mirror, Eedraxis,  Skin-Taker tribe, Kartak, Królewna & Bonifacja Trading Company

Anti-Revenge List: Dorehe the maid

Graltontown Rumors : Murderous servants (Reoccurring), exiled noblewoman (Reoccurring), vigilante “Litheria”(30%)