Journey's Start

The Long Road stretches from Mara in the east to Grayhaven and, perhaps, beyond. As the early spring rains finally stop long enough for the sun to break through the clouds, the caravan master, a frazzled dwarf named Dugal Stonepick, rushes to take advantage of this narrow window to get underway before the torrent begins again. The dwarf yells orders at the different drivers, browbeating them to get the seven wagons lined up and the draft horses in their traces ready to leave through the gate opening onto the Long Road. Centuries ago, in the time of the War of Succession when the cowardly Gray Generals fled the Empire, this gate was mockingly dubbed "The Heroes' Gate," and the name has stuck ever since.

Dugal takes a break from yelling at people to come over and clasp hands with each of you: an old merchant custom for agreement. "It's my preference to hire a team of guards like you. I was on a caravan once when my beard was barely grown a foot where they had hired a bunch of mercenaries. They were all fearsome, but they didn't know each other and were so suspicious of each other that they couldn't do their jobs. Ever since, it's been much better to hire a bunch that know each other and work well together." He smiles approvingly at your party. "My usual group just finished two trips there and back again, and they won't go again so soon. My usual fee is one gold sun a day for twenty days, but this group" he gestures to the assorted wagons, where two teams have gotten tangled and some halflings and dwarves are good-naturedly yelling at each other to get the mess straightened out, "really wants to get on the road right away. I don't like the weather, but the rush they're in is why I'm offering you each 25 gold suns for the journey instead, on top of meals, to make sure we all get to Grayhaven with our cargoes intact. I'm going to sort this out. We should be ready to go in ten sands." You see a lean half-orc helping to get the horses back in alignment; he's probably the groom. Soon there are two draft horses in the traces for each wagon. A rotund dragonborn is loading sacks onto the lead wagon; it nods in your direction, recognizing that you are the new guards.

In the second position, a very put-upon-looking dwarf driver and a friendly-looking short woman (she's maybe a half-elf or just a short human) sit on the buckboard of a sturdy old wagon.

The third wagon, sturdily-made of dark-stained wood and bronze fittings, has a halfling driver nodding patiently in response to the agitated gestures of a very slim dwarf.

The fourth wagon is very garishly colored with thick coats of paint. The smiling halfling driver is making various observations to the person seated next to her, a handsome human man with a long, lush beard and a rich laugh.

A dwarf and a prosperous-looking gnome merchant trade tall tales at the reins of the fifth wagon, a caravan with crimson-laquered wood and brass trim.

The sixth wagon is as ostentatious as the fourth is garish: a beautiful vehicle with large wheels, advanced suspension, and a very sour human woman seated on a velvet cushion driving it.

The last position is occupied by a morose halfling driver sitting alone on the buckboard of a solid wagon with iron fittings drawn by the two largest horses in the caravan.

You don't have time for more than these observations as Dugal gives a yell, the drivers snap their reins, and the caravan lurches into motion, traveling through the Heroes Gate and onto the muddy track that is the Long Road, heading west by southwest toward Grayhaven and the distant sea.It was raining up until recently, and the caravan left in early-to-mid-afternoon. For this first stretch, you can talk about and decide how you want to arrange yourselves in/around the caravan to protect it while it's underway, and describe how you arrange yourselves in a few hours, when the caravan stops for the night.

Elowin hopped onto the lead wagon, squeezing between Jalon the dragonborn cook and Dugal the dwarven caravan master. "Exciting, huh? I could do with a trip with a bit less excitement and more sunshine, myself. They say there's been more than the usual amount of trouble on the Long Road lately. One caravan went missing entirely. That's excitement nobody needs."

---

Gunter climbs onto the third wagon with the dwarf and the halfling. The halfling nods out of professional courtesy, and the two dwarves size each other up for a moment. "I feel a bit better about this trip with dwarven guards," he says. "I'm Javon Macehammer." The halfling driver starts to say something, but subsides with a warning look from Javon.

---

"What a marvelous tune AND a voice as clear as a bell!" calls the handsome man in the fourth wagon. "Come and join us! It hardly seems fair that you should walk while all your companions ride!" The halfling looks a little unhappy about the man's attention being drawn to the bard, but she makes room for Princess all the same. "There! Isn't that better? And from here we can hear you so much better! Do you know any elven songs? I understand that we're going to travel through elven woods on this road. This is my first time on this road, how about you? Ferona here" - he indicates the driver - "was telling me all about her experiences with the caravan and previous trips to Grayhaven! Oh, but where are my manners? I'm Vanidron, Turighe Vanidron. Please call me Turighe!"

---

The gnome suggests that Bram can put his pack on top of the fifth wagon, as it is of solid wood construction, unlike some of the other wagons that have canvas tops oiled to keep out the moisture. "Bram, this is Flint," the gnome introduces the driver, who nods, "And I'm Findal. Findal Dinfizzle Findazzle. Pleased to make your acquaintance. Us two old-timers were exchanging stories, trying to see which ones we have in common. It's good to hear from some new blood, however. Has a young lad like you got any interesting stories to share?"

---

The dour woman on the fancy wagon is elegantly dressed with a fur collar to keep her warm in the damp spring air. She looks tired, and eyes Adran for a bit in silence. Then she says: "Mind? Why should I mind having one of the guards join me? You're here to protect us after all. I love having company to pass the time. I'm sure we'll have great conversation." and proceeds to not speak for the next few hours.

---

Morik hops up next to "Smoke's the name!" the halfling says, brightening considerably. "I was afraid it was going to be another lonely trip." The two of them quickly get to chatting, not saying much, but enjoying each other's company.

---

Since the caravan started in mid-afternoon, it is only a few hours later than Dugal calls a halt, driving his team off the road into a damp field with plenty of room for everyone. The drivers follow and soon all the wagons are drawn up in a circle. Gavath, the half-orc groom, sets to watering, currying, and staking the horses to graze nearby. The drivers gather some wood from a nearby copse and stack it in the center of the ring. Jalon breathes on it, starting the fire, and begins to cook a savory stew for the company.

How do you want to proceed this first night? Will you set watches? Will you pursue conversation or ask particular questions?

During the afternoon, in response to her question, Dugal talked with Elowin about what to expect:
"The first week or so will be spent traveling through these high steppes, gradually descending through hills and valleys: the southern edge of the Nubetanya (which is the arc of mountains that form much of the northern border of the old Empire). But on the 7th or 8th day, we'll be taking the bridge crossing the Sowkalt River, which most people agree is the eastern border of the region they call the Greenwold. After that crossing, it's only another day in the hills and then we'll be in green midlands, descending real slow for 6 or 7 days with the Tanglebrier to the north and the Trollfell and Hornwood to the south. When we reach the point where the road from Thile joins the Long Road, we'll have 3 days more to Crosswell, and then three days more to Grayhaven."

Turighe is VERY impressed with Princess! "You're so experienced!" He explained that this is his first trip to Grayhaven and he doesn't know what to expect. But he has high hopes that he will find a good market for his wares: silks from the south, linens from the east, and thick woven wool from the north.

As the caravan is making camp, Elowin shares with the group what she gleaned from the caravan master: that there has been an increase in violence along the Long Road, that one caravan went completely missing, and the route that was described to her.

Dugal is the caravan master; he collects fees from the merchants in the caravan and uses that money to pay for drivers, guards, the cook, and the groom. The first wagon is his. The draft horses either belong to the merchants or were rented by them. Jalon cooks for the employees; the customers can pay extra for food or bring their own.

Turnip, the halfling driver of Javon's wagon, seeks out Gunter after the fire is started so that he can share what he wanted to say earlier: that Javon is actually kar'Javon Macehammer. The "kar" before his name means that he is a dwarven peer of the Maran throne. Turnip, who is clearly a bit of a gossip, explains that kar'Javon has been hired for a matter requiring his expertise in Grayhaven. He doesn't know what that expertise or the matter is, but he's pretty excited about driving for him.

Bram shares what he learned: that Findal Dinfizzle Findazzle is a sage and scholar who is traveling to Grayhaven for research. The gnome is also clearly a storyteller and has a huge amount of lore committed to memory, judging by how many stories he shared just in a few hours (he tends to go off on tangents).

Smoke mentioned to Morik that the food merchant/passenger in the wagon he's driving (last in the caravan) is called Tesko. Smoke thinks he isn't very sociable, judging by how he's stayed hidden in his wagon most of the time.

Most of the merchants eat in their own wagons, but Turighe and the woman from the second wagon, a dry goods trader named Swelvie Raba, join the employees in sampling Jalon's stew. "I've got plenty of food meself," Swelvie chortles, uncorking a bottle of wine and offering some to everyone, "but I wanted to see what dragonborn cooking is like!"
"It's great if you like meat!" Smoke laughs, "Just don't ask what it came from!"
"Meat is meat," Jalon huffs, and the drivers all laugh. Even Dugal smiles. But the pudgy dragonborn is clearly more concerned about Adran and Elowin: "Can you eat zis? 'Cause I cooked for some ozzer elves on ze road once, and zey said zey wanted meals wizzout flesh in 'em. Is zat normal for elves? When I was a hatchling I heard stories about people who didn't eat food, but I never believed zem. Zat's weird, right? Aberrant?"
Gavath the half-orc groom says "Jalon makes the best salads." He takes a dramatic pause. "Little bit of greens, a lotta meat." The company chuckles good-naturedly, while Jalon looks a little confused.

"So, how'd you like your ride with Belany Stick-in-the-butt?" Swelvie raises her cup to Adran. "Best conversation you had in a while, I bet!" Swelvie snorts and takes a long drink. "Or does she think she's better than you, too?" The human woman is quick to laugh - a loud, throaty laugh - and smile, and she eyes Adran appreciatively. "Tomorrow, you're welcome to sit and talk with me. I've got enough to say for Salt" (she indicates her dwarven driver) "and anyone else."
"It's true," Salt says, deadpan, "But it's more of a monologue than a conversation." Swelvie laughs and throws the cork at him.

After the meal, the merchants retire to their wagons and the drivers to their tents. Gavath rolls out a mat and sleeps under the stars; it's a cold but mercifully clear night.

Princess and Elowin take first watch together, then when Princess retires to her tent, she rouses her brother Adran. They are joined by Bram and Morik. After several hours, Elowin goes to rest and Bram and Morik are relieved by Gunter, who watches with Adran until daybreak.

Then, in the morning, Gavath and the drivers gather the horses, feed and water them, and begin hitching them to the wagons again while Jalon makes a sort of flatbread meat pasty for the employees to enjoy. They're succulent and seasoned with many herbs. "Plants are good for flavor," he tells each of you solemnly.

So, for the next stretch of the journey, I'd like each of you to name one interaction you have with somebody in the caravan. This can be with any of the merchants or any of the employees, including other party members. What is that interaction about, and what is your goal with that interaction? Are you just being friendly, are you developing your character/backstory, or are you trying to get or impart some information?

By describing those interactions, we will fast-forward time on the journey until something unusual happens.