Adam hoisted the last of the barrels onto the wagon, letting out a short grunt. Jurot only let out a soft breath as he placed down two barrels, one in each arm, before stepping back, eyeing up the items within.

‘How can you be both handsome and strong? It’s not fair, Jurot.’ Adam shook his head lightly. “Kitool, will you double check we have everything?” Adam asked, handing the journal to her. “It would be best for you since you’ll have fresh eyes.”

“Okay,” Kitool replied, doing as he asked.

‘As much as I probably could just make a bunch of magic food, it won’t do good for the morale of the party,’ Adam thought. He checked on the wolves, who had been feasting well within the town. “Sky, you’re the one whose going to be leading the pack whenever we send you out.”

“Okay,” the awakened wolf replied, a soft growl escaping his throat.

“If you guys take that opportunity to run…” Adam raised his brows, as if daring them to do so. He stepped around towards Kit’a and Jay’a, reaching out to rub their heads and scratch their necks gently. “If they’re mean to you, let me know. Just cause they’re awakened wolves, it doesn’t mean they can bully you.”

Kit’a and Jay’a brushed their faces against Adam’s, the young half elf continuing to dote on them while the others double checked their gear. Adam made his way to the group of Aswadians within his party.

“Korin, did you grab any of the…” Adam paused, trying to recall the name.

History Check

D20 + 3 = 13 (10)

“Pepo? No, pero, right?”

“Pero,” Korin confirmed. “I still have a pouch from East Port.”

“Great. I’m putting you in charge of cooking. You can use as much spice as you like, since we’ll be heading to East Port later, and I’ll give you enough to buy yourself at least a barrel of the stuff.”

“That would be expensive.”

“How expensive?”

“Over one hundred gold.”

“A cask, then.”

Korin chuckled lightly, nodding his head. “I will cook well, Adam, you do not need to worry about that.”

“Alright, are we all ready to go?” Adam asked, clapping his hands to gather his party’s attention. “If you need any help or anything, just ask me, Jurot, Kitool, Jaygak, Vonda, or Dunes.”

Once the party was settled with their affairs, they began to make their way out. The group was full of Aswadians, Iyrmen, Aldishmen, wolves, and elks. Adam did his best to ignore all the attention they were receiving, though he couldn’t blame the townsfolk.

“Aren’t you a big group?” the guard called out, glancing back towards the party as they approached the gates. “Haven’t seen this many Iyrmen pass by in some time, not since the war’s end.”

“We’re preparing for a sort of war too, I suppose,” Adam replied. “We’re heading south west to deal with the outbreak.”

“Ah! May the Divine bless you, adventurers.” The guard eyed up their tags. “Are only a few of you bronze rank?”

“Well, technically we’re all Experts, but yeah,” Adam replied. “A few of us placed well in the Noonval Tournament back in East Port, and actually, two of us won. Jurot and Nobby.”

The guard eyed up the pair, who were built as though they had been carved from marble. “I wouldn’t be surprised if the pair of you came first.” Though there was doubt in her voice, she faced Jurot, staring at him through her visor.

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“Kitool also placed second,” Jurot informed.

“You’re all so strong, aren’t you?” The guard replied playfully, nodding to Kitool. It only made sense for the pair of Iyrmen to place so highly, especially considering the lack of real competition. ‘…’ A thought crossed her mind. ‘Didn’t they say the order members were also in the tournament?’

“Adam also placed third,” Kitool added.

“Speaking of placing, my Cousins all did well too,” Adam said, deflecting the attention towards the younger Iyrmen. “They all placed really high in their segment.”

The guards whistled. “So you’re all some kind of tournament champions? I’d offer my advice to be careful, but since there are so many Iyrmen about, I doubt you need it.”

“Oh, aren’t you a sister of Life’s Rose?” the other guard asked, bowing her head gently towards Vonda.

“I am Sir Vonda, of Life’s Rose,” Vonda replied, bowing her head gently.

“Blessings to you, sister,” a guard said, removing her helmet, revealing her beautiful face. She was strongly built, with long brunette hair, and a handsome smile. Her eyes were a deep, piercing green, like the most enticing field that you would find in a musical about romance, the female lead pressing herself against the lone tree which appeared from nowhere to speak about her forbidden love.

The other guard had also removed her helmet, and though she wasn’t quite as pretty, it didn’t mean her looks could crack mirrors. She looked very similar to the other guard, with her brunette hair and piercing green eyes, but her face was slightly more gaunt, and there were small scratch marks against her cheek.

“Oh!” Adam removed his own helmet, smiling towards the pair. “It’s been a while.”

The guards glanced towards Adam awkwardly, noting his leaf shaped ears. “Don’t think I know anyone like you, half fae.”

“You guys don’t recognise me?” Adam asked, frowning slightly. “Well, I guess that makes sense, you probably see thousands of people yearly.” Adam chuckled, though he noted their curious gazes. ‘Did I not take off my helmet?’ “Anyway, you two were the first people I met when I first came to Red Oak a few years back.”

History Check

D20 + 3 = 18 (15)

“Marie and Mary, I believe. You mentioned you had brothers named Harold, Harry, and… Harri?”

“That’s right, yes,” Marie replied, narrowing her eyes slightly. “When did you say you had come about?”

“It was… three years ago? Is that right? It was on the first of dawnval. I was a fresh boy joining the Adventurer’s Guild.”

“It does sound familiar, but like you said, we meet thousands of people every year.”

“Death and taxes,” Adam said.

“What?”

“I think I made a joke about death and taxes.”

“Oh!” Mary, the guard with the faint scars, whispered. “That is familiar, yes.”

“Well, it was a pleasure to see you both again, but we shouldn’t be keeping you.” Adam placed his helmet back on, a smile still plastering his face. The pair were the first people he had met in this life. ‘Good to see them doing okay.’

“Wishing you all the Mother’s blessing,” the guards replied, allowing the group to continue on their way. As the group made their way, the pair glanced between one another.

“He seemed to be the leader.”

“To the Iyrmen?”

“Didn’t he say he was an Expert?”

“If he’s the leader, isn’t he stronger?”

“That’s right…”

“He must have spent all his time with the Iyrmen.”

The guards watched as the large group continued to trail his way along to the horizon. They were a large group, larger than most, with creatures they weren’t used to. The pair had heard about the wolves over the past couple of years, though they had scarcely believed it.

“He can’t be too bad if he’s helping out during the outbreak,” Marie said.

“I’m thinking the same,” Mary replied, also thinking about the Massacre of Rock Hill.

“Right, I forgot that they didn’t like elves around these parts,” Adam admitted, flushing slightly in his embarrassment. “I spent all that time hiding my ears with a scarf and then I went and took my helmet off.”

“They may have had family in the town,” Fred said.

Adam glanced back towards Fred, slowly nodding his head. “It is what it is, I suppose. It’s not like I can say I had nothing to do with it, no one would care. That’s how it is…”

“I don’t think you’re so bad, Adam,” Fred stated, the sudden rush of awkwardness rising within him.

“Yeah, thanks.” Adam exhaled lightly. ‘Elves. Half dragons. Goblins. Demons.’

“…” Jurot remained silent, and the others left Adam be in his thoughts.

As late afternoon began to swallow the land, Adam squinted his eyes. “Is that a…”

“Yes,” Jurot replied.

The large walls of the minor fort imposed upon the plains, earth having been stacked at least half a man tall, with wooden logs set within them. A large ditch ran around the fort, with carved wooden stakes pointed outwards in front. The large banners flew above the group, a black flag with a golden dragon. The fort was large, easily large enough for the likes of a few hundred soldiers. A new road shot out towards the east from the outpost, disappearing into the distance.

“I’m fairly certain there wasn’t an outpost like this here last time,” Adam said.

“There are two more,” Jurot informed. “They were built last year.”

“I see…” Adam stared at the ominous walls of the minor fort. “The war is over, isn’t it?”

“Yes.”

“We going to have any problems?”

“There should be no problems.”

Adam exchanged a knowing look to his brother, his lips almost forming a smirk. “Sir Vonda, would you be willing to speak with the soldiers on our behalf?”

“Of course, Adam.”