We make our way to the northern gates, there are many people with carriages, one man mounts which look like large emu’s and several trades people who are setting up shop along the main road into and out of the city. The early morning has only slight clouds and plenty of sun.
As we approach the city north gates we are stuck in a line for a time, while we wait I check the map mode for a few moments. I noticed something, a red blip on the map, an Institute member, but it does something strange. The red blip appears and disappears on the map, only for a moment, that’s a bit weird.
Whispering I say, “Lock, Koda, Wotjek, keep an eye out, we may have company.” We don’t have Voice Chat enabled yet so I send the Party Invite out again to Lock. We haven’t been using it unless on jobs or missions (Calling them Jobs or Missions seem to get used interchangeably here.)
“Understood” replies Lock while I get similar acknowledgements from Koda and Wotjek. Number 2 made a Recollection Report for Koda and Wotjek actually, I need to remember to read it when we get back.
As we approach the gates a guard steps up, “Identity Cards and reason for travel.”
“Adventurer Society Job, we’re heading for Basswood Chain for a scouting mission.” says Lock showing the job listing. After a quick read the guard takes it away and returns with two cards.
“Here’s your Right to Return cards, please turn them in once you return from this mission.”
“Thank you”, “Cheers” we reply taking a card each, we make our way through the gate without further issue and start walking along the main road north.
As we walk we are passed by several caravans, some wave or say hello as we go past. One is about to pass us and slows down as it comes up alongside. A old grandfatherly Elf man is piloting the carriage and asks
“Hullo Adventurers, need a lift?”
Turning to Lock and getting a nod in return I turned back around, “Sure mate, we’re heading for Basswood Chain up north.”
“Ah easy, welcome aboard!” While the caravan is still moving, Lock and I climb on and sit next to him in the steering seat. This carriage is being operated without animal power but there are several being dragged along by other beasts of burden. In saying that this carriage looks like it can support animal power.
We spend the next 30 minutes talking with Malmar Klaf as we make use of his caravan, turns out he is an old Adventurer who didn’t go too far but made a good enough living to live comfortably, didn’t tell him that I was an OutWolder but we had plenty of stories and laughs to share.
After 20 minutes we see it, a massive chain of hills covered in massive trees that stretch along the horizon from north toward the east with the road leading westward toward the sea and away from the hills.
Hopping off we say a happy goodbye, waving to Malmar and disembarking after seeing a trail lead into the woods that appears on our map. It’s apparent due to a set of rocks stacked next to the trail and a similar marking next to the trail shown on the map.
As we walk along the tree covered trail we can see the cloudy sky above us, with the tree tops leaving a line of sky in the middle of the trail. As we walk down quietly I send Koda and Wotjek out to recon the surrounding area and start reminiscing.
“I remember once, I went on a camp ages ago called Waratah, you had to evade the “wraiths”, leaders or your team would lose a “life” and so would lose points. One group walked about 40 kilometres in one night all the way to the finish line so they would not have to walk the whole night.”
“Well one late night as we neared the finish line we had no lights on so that we would not be found and I had looked up above the trees. It was like this, the tree tops not covering the whole trail and so leaving a band of stars between the dark trees. You could see the entire galaxy in that thin band of light between the trees. It was beautiful.”
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“Sounds like a fun time. I can’t imagine it, looking up at the night sky one day and seeing a whole new night sky.” replies Lock looking up at the space between the tree tops with a gentle breeze shaking the leaves..
“Maybe one day, many years from now I’ll find a way back to Earth, maybe even a way to go back and forth between worlds.”
Lock nods his head in reply, “Now that would be interesting.”
I am about to reply but I receive a message from Wotjek in Voice Chat, “Contact along trail ahead of you, one man, Trax, remaining concealed. Your ETA to him is 10 minutes at current pace.”
Wow, did Number 2 and the others teach them that while I was away that was well said, I reply to the message, “Understood, keep an eye on him till we approach then move into his shadow.”
“We have company up ahead, one guy, Trax, we’ll catch up in about 10 minutes.”
“Was that Koda and Wotjek?” asks Lock, “Yeap, they have gotten fast.”
After about 9 minutes we see this mystery guy up ahead, confirming a Trax with red skin like he's been under hot water for a while and who then turns to look at us, must have heard us coming.
Waving at us he says, “Hullo, are you here for the other Crystal Scouting Mission?”
We catch up and stop alongside as Lock replies, “Yeap, you must be the one who took the other job.”
“Yes, sorry if you wanted to do both. I just wanted to do a quick and easy one you know. I’m not that good of an Adventurer haha. I should probably introduce myself, my name is Millerney Creik.” he replies rubbing the back of his head. Seems friendly enough and I’ve had the Map Mode open the entire time, no red blimps in 30+ metres.
He’s dressed similar to us, maybe another newbie at Adventuring? He’s wearing a light, brown dyed gambeson with similar pants, boots and a type of halberd resting on his shoulder. No red cape like Lock. (Reminder to myself: I need to ask him why the cape?)
We get to chatting as we walk, talking about previous missions and the like, but it gets interesting once we start talking about city gossip. Well, Lock and Millerney does, I haven’t been in town long enough. During all this Wotjek moves in Millerney’s shadow.
“Hey, did you hear about the OutWolder who appeared? They say he was seen holding the Detection Pen at the guild a few days ago. So cool right?!”
Jumping in for the first time in a few minutes I reply “Yea, could put Oghqoa on the map. Too bad the Institute might get to him first.”
“Pff, Institute, you really think they would go after OutWolders? They have other things to focus on and besides, it's not like OutWolders have been a big help to Land. How many of those guys have been trying to take over the world or change how we live?”
“I can see your point of view” I reply nodding, “but in saying that, isn’t it likely that a group like the Institute would take a more than special interest in OutWolders? Even hunting them if they are unique enough?”
“I mean sure, but come on, hunting? Yea right… Unless you’re an OutWolder?” he asks with a sly grin turning toward me. I turn my eyes slowly back to the Map Mode hovering invisibly on my right, no red blips. He sees my eyes move to the right, away from him and he grins even more, possibly seeing me move my eyes away from him as a sign of defeat or acceptance.
“See, I know you think I’m right. Anyway, let’s not talk too much about OutWolders shall we? I know it’s a sensitive topic with some people. Some of them even think they are really people after all and not some alien from beyond the stars.”
Lock sees me frown and says, “Hey, did you hear about the accident with the dignitaries at the docks last week? I hear they accidentally dropped anchor on the Harden city off the coast.”
Thanks for changing the topic Locky! I was getting a bit pissy there despite having a now somewhat literal thicker skin.
After a few more minutes of talking we part ways, following a trail to the right we eventually come up to a stone pillar with a geode like crystal embedded in the stone with multiple quartz crystals in the geode. The procedure to take out one of those crystals was easy and went without issue. Press a few specific areas and fill them with mana and it pops out, add the new crystal into the slot and re-press the same spots in the reverse order and boom. Job done.
We make our way back to Oghqoa, meeting up with Wotjek who informs us that the guy did not do any more talking and just continued to move toward the second crystal location. I suppose technically this was a scouting mission, just scouting for information rather than any actual scouting like I’m thinking of.
I am quiet some of the time walking back toward the city, Lock must know how I feel about what Millerney said and so stays quiet. Koda and Wotjek give us some space to practise recon some more. These two are getting good.