Part 2: Learning of the Land
We stepped out of Ferontar and headed into the lands surrounding it. Its quite a nice place, I must add. Except it is filled, and I mean FILLED with ridler valley bandits.
I was still thinking about the reply I gave to the warchief. "Not yet"... It was like being in his presence made this all sound normal to me... As if... I don't know... I guess I just wanted to impress him...
Suddenly Zenit came towards me. He was one of thos Taleran adventurers who came to help me at the start of my adventure. "Aslym, i'm sorry to tell you but.. we have no money left... you gave all recruiting those feron tribesman..." Suddenly I was back to the real world. Money... Where do I get it, and I need it fast, my men will be demoralised when I'm unaible to pay for their wages, few as it may be for the moment... First I tought about the arena, I got 250 coins from it once, I could do it again... Then the memory of Krugs words came to me: "not enough scent of blood on my clothes". Blood + Ridler valley bandits = doing a good thing for both my moral, my purse and for the warchief! I grinned, "thanks for letting me know Zenit, its time we go milk some cows!"
Not far from Ferontar we found some ridley valley bandits Riding by. Me and the 5 adventurers went to stand upon a hill and started to taunt them. The moment they saw us they started laughing. They were 16 men strong, all hill. I grinned to Dycan for his excelent tactic. The moment they charged at us we started to "run" of the mountain away from them. The bandits started to laugh and shout even harder, until the moment they passed the top of the hill and I shooted "CHARGE!!!" They suddenly had 25 armed men charging towards them, even tough none on a horse, all of the feron tribesmen had long, sharp, wooden sticks. And believe me they excel at poking!
Together we made short work of them. Lesson to us all, never be overconfident and ofcourse never charge 5 men on a hill ^^.
I myself got wounded by a lost arrow but I recovered pretty swiftly under Rufus his care. We then buried the feron tribesman who was trampled by one of the horses who tried to escape the fray. Now the good side of the battle: the loot. In coins they gave us about 178 gold, which was not bad at all! And in loot, they provided me with a horse, some silly head protection and a bow I could use as soon as I found me some arrows. The rest we shared and I sold my part for another 150 coins! Now I had enough money to pay the men!
Lavitz later came to me with the idea of joining tournaments. They can bring good money and some renown to a man with enough skill to last all 6 rounds. I asked him where can I find one at this time? He replied "the Western Wing Of Shalador" an ancient Gladeborn town... or atleast the western part of it... The rest of it lays in ruin and is ocupied by the blighted plague...
We traveled onwards, crossing a small stroke of land that separates the ocean and a great lake. While crossing this we saw in the distance something that seemed to be a great city. Gaint towers, higher than anyone of us had ever seen. Suddenly Lavitz began to talk once more. We slowed our march as everyone was listening to him.
"That which you see used to be a great city. A city, none of us can imagine to exist. Those towers where minor parts of huge castles, huge castles with everburning fires, huge castles who gave shelter, to mages."
Some of the feron recruits where like "ooooh"
Lavitz cleared his troath and continued: " These mages practiced all possible kinds of magic, from black to white from aiding to destructive from reviving to necromancy. They had huge gardens with all kinds of plants. The most powerfull mages. Until one day... the world was black for a night. No one knows what happened this night. All that remains are the arcane fires fueled by the magic that still lingers, some of those topling towers and one old archmage. Who does nothing more these days then selling items to try and keep himself alive."
By the time he finished talking we had halted our march. When it was clear for everyone that the story was over we continued our march, unspeaking all knowing we would go explore the ruins.
Arriving there we got shrouded by a thick mist. Most of us didnt want to enter. So I went to check first to see if it was safe. It was weird, scary and close to creepy. The arcane fires, were indeed still burning, did not shed any heat. Maybe it was the chill of death that took it away... After walking around for a while I talked to the arch mage. Who looked nothing like I would have expected him to. He only talked about trading so I left shortly thereafter.
Disappointed we continued our journey towards the western wing of shalador. Traveling is not as interesting as many people say except for the funny stories those fenron seem to tell. What I did notice was some disputes between Lavitz and Mardek. But it never went out of hand, so I tought it would solve itself.
Something very bad I can tell about myself is that I think alot. A leader should constantly be aware of his surroundings! Suddenly we were being chased by Barbarians of Elsgard. Not the nicest man to cross on your path and they usually travel in packs of 150! Even with Dycan excelent tactics we wouldn't stand a chance, so we ran!
Finally coming close to the western wing of shalador we saw an army of the blighted plague. All of us became quiet and hided as if I just yelled the command. Headless horsemen, Fallen heroes, Revived corpses, Blighted ones...
A bit later we arrived in the western wing of shalador wich was, tough only half of its former glory still a city worth seeing
I signed in for the tourney and took quite a risk. I betted all of my money (which was quite safe since it was only 170 after paying the wages)
In the sixth round I had to fight a Sword Sister. She is most peoples favorite warrior and really not easy to beat. We both got horses, bow and arrows. When we both charged in she hit my left leg with an (luckely blunt) arrow. I realized that she is to accurate to face head on. So i kept riding right behind her in her death spot, showering arrows, missing most of them, at her. After a while I drove her into a corner and finished her with a head shot. Boy was I happy that it wasn't in her face, imagine what it could have done to such a pretty young lady!
After wining this tourney the tournament master told me about an other tournament being held nearby. In a blighted plague town... I said no! I wont risk my mens lives for a tournament! The tournament master laughed, "indeed you are an excellent leader good sir, but there is something, or better said, someone of interest there for you" "Tell me more" I replied. This man, if you can call him a man is Lotsalz. He is what people call blighted, but for some reason, he still has a normal mind. He is human, but looks like a blighted one. Now you might want to ask, what can he offer me? Everything! He knows ALL about the blighted plague, and as you and I know, the blighted plague is enemy to all living!"
We departed the day after resting in the pleasant tavern of the western wing of shalador. Arriving at the blighted city I ordered my men to hide in a small but dense forest. It will be easyer to sneak in on my own.
I got to the tavern succesfully, and I found Lotsalz right away. For a small fee he wanted to join my party on one condition, If i could beat him in the tournament. Luckely for me he underestimated me and charged head first into battle. I blocked his first blow with my shield and kept my wooden sword un his chin waiting for him to surrender. He smiled and replied "Let's leave whenever you are ready"
A small view of myself and party
Right before leaving the town, a peasant came running to me. A living peasant? i tought to myself He begged me to save his village of marauding bandits. Ofcourse I said yes. I can imagine those blight lords not caring for their peasants being killed when being able to revive them as mindless slaves...
I gathered my (small) army and rushed to the town. Arriving there, we were immedeatly charged by the barbarians of Elsgard raiding the village. Luckely for us they where only 16 men strong. After a simple tactical spearrow we took down their horses, and the rest simple got overrun by the horde of peasants following us into battle. Together we stood victorious!
We had a drink with the villagers And started to ride. Where we were going? To where the roads would take us.
