For the first time in a long time I woke up feeling refreshed and somewhat less than ravenously hungry.  The Marvelous Pigments had created more food than we could eat or carry with us so there was no reason not to stuff myself.  After breaking camp Scorch lead us back to the road as he said he would. So far in all my dealing with them these worgs are all as good as their word – I wonder if they’re just too simple for deception. I tried to entice him to come with us but he wasn’t interested, at the least I told him if he saw Ajo or Malin to kill them where they stand.

After that it was just plodding along the road and Quinine’s endless checking for signs of Ajo being on our trail.  Healthy paranoia is one thing but this woman is getting on my nerves. 

Around the time we might have stopped for a quick lunch we came across a barker on the roadside cajoling us to enjoy the wonders of his “circus” which was a few tents and a maze constructed of hay-bales.  Day three on the road and we’ve almost made one solid day’s worth of progress so of course we stopped. 

I haven’t been to one of these things in years but it was much as I remembered – a few crooked games of “chance”, a few freaks – some real and some fake – a couple jugglers, some odd beasts in cages, and some overpriced food. I asked the cadaverous looking leader of this troupe why he had set up here instead of somewhere with more, you know people, and he gave me some nonsense about how love is everywhere and you have to give in to the energy of the universe.  I assume this a spot used by smugglers or the like – these traveling freakshows usually have something shady going on.

Once we finally got back on the road we overtook a lone traveler – which shows you how slow they must be moving.  Once we got closer the reason became apparent. Not only was she laden by an over-sized bulging backpack she was also pushing a handcart that was filled to the brim. A mongrel dog danced about her, wagging its tail enthusiastically.

She spoke only haltingly and seemed surprised when we joined her, I suppose most people would pass her by. She was clearly numbed by sorrow and exhausted by her burden.  When we made camp she spoke quietly about her family succumbing to a pestilence in her village, with nothing left for her there she seeks a new start somewhere else.  The only time she became animated was when venting her ire against Lord Gatz – the ruler of her town who had fled to a hunting lodge rather than doing anything to help his people deal with the disease that ravaged his lands.

I thought she’d be overjoyed when I told her about Lord Gatz’s fate – which of course was being killed by barbarians and nothing else – but she just nodded and seemed mildly satisfied at best.  Since she had no plans on where to go or what to do I invited Estera Solajo to accompany us to Graltontown.  This simple act of kindness seemed to almost overwhelm her.

____________________________________________________________

Funds: None 

XP: 6866

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

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, Hurmont Family

Anti-Revenge List: Dorehe the maid

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

Progress to Graltontown – 30 miles