Eldrog Vongrat - The Beginning

Starday, 1 Planting CY591
The past months have found you content. The ringing of metal on metal, the screams and cries of pain an anguish on the battlefield are long gone, living only in your dreams as you rest peacefully in your room at The Hammerhead Inn just south and west of Gradsul. Dwarves are not known as a nautical people and having grown up in the mines of Haven Hill, you find it ironic how you came to be here. Yet you cannot deny, the slowness of the pace and the fresh breeze coming off the ocean have done much to renew your spirit.

Istus, the goddess of Fate followed by the human clans, must have been smiling upon you last night, spinning her golden threads containing your future as you suddenly found yourself in the employ of Bastion Sales, Merchant of Mining Wares headed to a small village to the west.

Saltmarsh. You had never head of it, but you have been growing increasingly uneasy. The wanderlust was setting back in, and there was much more of the world you needed to see and explore before you set your feet into stone a final time. This sounded as good as any place to start, so you find yourself up much earlier than normal, anticipation giving you a much-needed boost in energy.

The smell of wood burning wafts up through the floorboards, bringing with it the promise of a hot meal. Typically eggs, salted meats, porridge, fruits and drink were available, with the ever-present stock of fresh fish thrown in the mix. The day was already warming, with Low-Summer having just arrived, and with your gear gathered you find yourself with but one task left to complete: where the hell do you meet Bastion Sales?

Eldrog
Leaving the inn gives you a view of the city in the distance, perhaps 3 miles away, its high walls blocking further view of the countryside beyond. To your south lies the vastness that is the Azure Sea, and nothing but green fields lie between here and there. Sailing vessels dot the horizon as ships are already departing and arriving at the Gradsul harbor with the early morning tides.

Locating the stables is not difficult, nor is finding Bastion Sales. Just past the stable there is a wide open area where four wagons are gathered. Most are laden with boxes and crates, along with various bolts of cloth. Five people in total make up the small train, including yourself and Bastion. His is a slim man, and his visage si very different from when you met him last night. Today he sports a suit of brown leather, and at his side hangs a short blade. In his boot, you spy another, perhaps a dirk or a dagger.

"Ah! My dwarven body guard! You have made it! That is a good omen. I had feared that you might yet be sleeping off last night's drink,a s your kind is wont to do."

Smiling, he adds "Come! You shall ride in my wagon. These other nae'er do-wells traffic in trinkets and baubles, not in the real moneymaking wares as I have. Onward to riches, I say, yes?" he asks, making a final check of his wagon.

The other gathered appear to much the same as you, save for the fact that you are the only dwarf. Everyone else is human, and all sport either leather armor or some small shirt of chain. None of them look like real merchants, though most merchant wagon trains you have seen in your day were larger affairs with pompous men protected by well-armed men.

Eldrog
"Strength in numbers, though competitors they may be." Bastion replies as you board the wagon. "While I would not ask you to shirk your duty of protecting another's life, this lone wagon is mine, and the other wagons.... are... not mine. " his voice trails off at the implication that he is your lone life to worry about.

Eldrog
The wagon is a typical wooden affair, with metal supports around the edges. The cargo area is filled with crates and boxes, some opened and some sealed. The open ones contain what appear to be various mining tools; picks, axes, shovels, lanterns, etc. You are very familiar with such items and the ones you see here appear to be of average to below-average quality. You would even say that some look used, albeit cleaned up some for possible re-sale.

Eldrog
"Fear not, sir dwur, Istus smiles upon the stalwart traveler. And if she does not, I am sure there are dwarven gods we may appeal to. And, should that fail as well, our wits and fortitude shall see us through to the end. And, barring any malady or otherwise unforeseen detractor we should be in Hommlett by week's end."

With a flick of his wrist, the reigns crack against the horses pulling the wagon. They lurch into motion and begin plodding out of the small community and onto the King's Way, a well-traveled road that runs west along the coast of the Azure Sea. To the north likes the expansive Dreadwood, her thick trees proving a high canopy of protection for those who live within her borders.