Going,
Going, Gone
12/15/10,121 - Samadum
As they travel Molin assess their new found wealth, the silver rose & miscellaneous coinage will go some way towards his task however it will, he concedes, be a pity to melt the pretty bauble. The others spend most of their time studying the acquired books, maps & scrolls particularly that concerning the chronology of Athalau.
Progress is dreary but steady & by midmorning the following day the decrepit walls of the Samadum are in view. Heady days are long forgotten in Samadum & what little business remains is brought by the spasmodic visits of the nomadic horn bull herders. With the exception of beggars, cut purses & vagrants, little interest is paid to the dusty travelers, eventually they are directed to a run down inn, The Bloated Cow.
Once they are are assured that the animals will be well cared for, & despite the protestations of the landlord concerning the murderous monster, Gunter, the four, now five, relax somewhat & pump their host regarding the services of a scribe who could translate some texts they have acquired, other than the shrug of his shoulders, information is not forthcoming. Scouting out the pitiful market, they again search for the services of a scribe or translator as well as prospective buyers for the dispersal of goods "acquired" on their travels.
A desultorily but peaceful night is spent in the comfort of the Cow, a guard seen at the gate during their entry to the city is recognised & after a few drinks provides the current gossip, rumours & half truths. Amongst current popular opinion was yet again the ensuing invasion by orc's, the reappearance of lizard folk & the subsequent, but as yet unseen invasion, the bitch queen, Synalon, & her attempts to take power over the continent (nobody can understand why they just happened to have stopped before Samadum) & the lights seen several weeks before in the direction of the mage Kest-I-Mond's tower as he summoned demons to steal the wealth of Samadum.
As the others retire for the night Molin departs for the stable, not trusting their goods or animals to be cared for or that they would indeed still be there the next day.
Under the all to soon to fall snow-laden skies of the next morning the friends are lead an infuriating dance by reluctant & cheating traders seeking to avoid, trick or barter to the last brass half penny. Eventually there is some degree of success as a little miserly faced scribe is found who can translate, for an exorbitant sum, the Jorean text allowing them the theoretical use of the staff of H'ajorcy.
As a second night is spent in the bowl's of the Bloated Cow the falling snow outside does not deter our friends from planning to forgo the further delights of Samadum for a single night longer.
Next morning, 14/15/10,121, they find themselves pushing, coaxing & generally berating the wagons as they stubbornly refuse to go at more than a snails pace through the drifting snow.
Heading for Illyra's hometown, Brev, Illyra reflects that it is some considerable time since she left hearth & journeyed north, sometimes she wonders was it all worth it.