Chapter Three: On the Road

"Drinks it is, then!" she says, disappearing into the crowd and reappearing a few minutes later with a tray laden with drinks. She sets them down and you can smell a distinctly citrus smell, "House special, got some fruit in it, mango they call it," she says, "Enjoy. I gotta say, it's pretty good."

As you have a chance to sit back and relax for the first time in weeks, you feel the exhaustion wash over you. The battles, the long trip, and the constant vigilance have been non-stop for most of you. The smell of pipeweed, the taste of a sweet, pleasantly so, alcohol, and the sounds of low conversation and the strumming of a lute from the musician in the corner are very relaxing.

Some hours later, the young lad returns, holding out a hand expectantly toward Bughu and with a big smile on his face.

The lad nods, eyeing the coin in Bughu's hand hungrily, "Yes, I sure have," he says, "They were already signed up to be on the next caravan north to Carnath Roadhouse, the supply depot for the rebuilding of the road to Neverwinter."

Bughu leaves and heads over to the building that the lad indicated Old Hector works out of and is stopped at the door by a pair of armed guards, "Hold there," one of them says sternly, "What business do you have here?"

The guard looks Bughu up and down appraisingly, "Well, leave your weapons here, then, and we'll see what Hector has to say about that."

After taking his weapons, one of the guards leads you in. The inside of the warehouse is cramped, hot, and busy. A number of workers scamper about, moving boxes, labeling them, and consulting a number of ledgers. They barely spare a glance at Bughu as he is led through to the back.

In the back of the warehouse is a couple of rooms where a few men and women sit around, poring over even more ledgers and forms. You are led quickly through this section and to a door at the far back. The guard steps up and knocks loudly, "Got a fresh one for ya, Hec!" he says loudly.

"Alright, send him in," the response comes back a moment later, and you are let into Hector's office.

Hector's nickname "Old" is well-earned, as his face is lined and he wears spectacles on his face as he looks down at some papers. His skin is wrinkled and nearly brown from sun exposure. Despite his obvious age, his arms are still muscular from years of hard work, and he still has a full head of hair, grey now. He looks up as Bughu enters and waves for him to sit, mopping at his brow with a handkerchief, "Damned heat!" he grumbles, "Keep asking them to send a wizard out here to cast some cooling spells, but they claim to be too busy! Bah! Busy drinking and whoring, I think!"

With a sigh, he winks at Bughu, and then smiles, "Ahh, well, what can I do for you, my boy?"