Consciousness returned swiftly, and Ulgrin found himself lying on a hard wooden bench, a cool and wet rag resting upon his face.

“Looks like he’s awake,” Saezz spoke, sensitive hearing catching his change in breathing.

Ulgrin groaned and rubbed his temples, feeling half-healed wounds itching somewhat fiercely as they knitted themselves back together. Potions and healing magicks tended to do that, he’d learned. “Couldn’t have let me lay in silence for a few more minutes, eh?” He asked. “I’m tired and feel like a hammer being put to its paces by an enthusiastic apprentice.”

“No rest for the virtuous,” came the amused voice of Raelza. He could also hear a snoring Wreath, who had somehow managed to fit inside the passenger car’s central hallway.

“You’re calling us virtuous?” Alyss asked, confused. “I’d hate to see what wicked folk look like in your eyes.”

Raelza promptly threw the bone she’d been using to pick her teeth at the human. So they’d eaten without him. Bastards.

Trying to ignore their antics, “So? Last I saw the flock was flying away. Are we all good on that front?”

“Saezz believes they have learned from their mistake. The toll was too great for them to continue.” The lizardfolk sat across the hall on a newly vacated booth, discarding the option of sitting on a bench and taking up the middle space between. “They have wisely chosen to flee and leave this train alone.”

That was good, he admitted.

Perhaps in the future any trains running this stretch would also learn and add weaponry? Perhaps a trebuchet.

Alyss piped up excitedly. “On a more important note, we’ve secured the patriarch’s corpse. It took some cajoling with the conductor, but eventually the Guard sided with us. Said it’s proper pay for mercenary volunteers. On that note,” she plopped a bowl into his lap. “Eat up! You need the energy to heal.”

Ulgrin gladly accepted the offering of pterosaur stew. Fresh and still hot, he quaffed it down. Oddly enough, this didn’t taste like poultry when it by all rights should have. More of a gamey taste, he had to say. Still good.

He paused only to reach into his bag and pull out his vial of traveler’s spice. Just a normal mix of salt, pepper, garlic powder, and basil. Simple, but it made all the difference in the world. Whoever had cooked this were a bunch of cheapskates.

Especially considering they’d just risked their lives for this hunk of junk!

Finishing with record speed, “That’s a good haul. It’ll certainly bring in some extra coinage.” He slurped the last of the broth. “Do we get any of the other bodies?”

“Five more.” Raelza said. “Pterosaur hide isn’t great for armor, so he should probably just sell that.”

“More importantly, the patriarch possessed several vital organs capable of conducting magic and electricity!” Alyss said, beaming. “And its horn could be used as a decent focus. Maybe some kind of staff or wand? I can make some serious mana potions with what we got.”

Ulgrin nodded. “That’ll be good. I assume the other organs can create something to resist electricity?”

“Yup. I can make four resistance potions with what we’ll harvest. Three mana. Should help us in the future! Or we can sell them,” she said begrudgingly.

“Who knows what we’ll find down below,” he replied with a shrug. “Keep them. I’ll take a look at this horn when we arrive.”

The conversation turned to softer topics as Ulgrin received a second serving. It was good to relax after facing death so closely. Beyond the horizon the suns began to set, settling down for the night. The world grew dark and the moons rose.

Ulis, Fragi, and Runi. Three sisters, his culture said. Orbited one another in a triangular pattern, gossiping the night away.

While they were all roughly the same size, Ulis was the largest and a pale gray. Fragi followed, a light purple. Runi was the smallest, and took on a yellow tinge. Together, they spun around one another, occasionally eclipsing one or another. Rarely, all three would form a line. Stories said they danced, a cosmic rhythm mortals couldn’t comprehend.

The three sisters followed their brothers, eager to catch up but in no rush. Time would bring them together one day.

Having long since passed the river that flowed down from the Skyhammer range, Ulgrin could see distant torchlights on the mountain side. What might have been a three day trip via the underground rivers became a single day’s effort. The train had taken them far. It was breathtaking to watch their destination approach.

Fort Balbedur was the north-most point of fortification in the Stoneborn Collective. Small villages and hamlets dotted the hilly terrain, but none supported more than palisade walls and hillside holes.

Enacting a war against a group of peoples who retreated below the earth was difficult. It tended to shift more towards skirmishing and raids than lines of infantry crashing against one another. Rohl and the Stoneborn had their differences in the past.

It ultimately ended with the Collective hiding in their burrows until the cause for aggression was forgotten.

But when war did happen, the Fort acted as the first defense. The fort loomed over the hills below, resting on the edge of a mountainside shelf. Only one passage led up the side, wide enough for a few wagons but little else. Dunvi boltholes had been carved into the sides to allow them to pepper anyone trying to get up with bolts.

At a certain point the two countries had decided it was too much of a pain to fight each other. The Stoneborn couldn’t raid their forested countryside without being ambushed by archers, and the Rohl couldn’t hold a pick to save their lives.

If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

Fort Balbedur had readily accepted the railroad being built, and Ulgrin could see their path running along the mountainside towards it. Lanterns were raised and signals given.

The train pulled up to a set of recently constructed gates and the portcullis was raised. Ulgrin watched in amazement as they pulled inside, now safe from the wilderness. In short order the train was pulled to a stop and a final whistle called. Staff began moving up and down, ordering people to make their way off.

Around them, the passengers gave him and his crew a wide berth. Awed and amazed at their intervention, but also naturally wary of being smushed by Wreath and Saezz.

Waiting for him and his companions was an armored group of individuals. Depth Guard, clad in a mix of mithral for the troops and being led by a dwarf wearing what seemed like adamantine. Ulgrin’s eyes widened as he spied the set of plate armor gleaming a dull green in the torchlight.

For a moment there was silence before the lead dwarf spoke up. “So you’re the adventurers who decided to throw caution to the wayside and get involved.” While one couldn’t see his face behind his menacing masked helmet, the corners of his lips curled in amusement. “Brave bastards ye lot. Somewhat stupid, but heroes tend to be.”

Ulgrin shrugged, somewhat nervous to be in the presence of a high-ranking Depth Guard. “Just doing what we can. The passenger cars were defenseless.”

“And I wish I could’ve been fighting alongside you. Longbeard Ilvin.” He held out a gauntleted hand and Ulgrin gladly shook it. “Politics kept my hand tied. The noble coward wouldn’t allow even a single dwarf to leave his side.”

“Well it all worked out in the end, aye?” Ulgrin asked. “Ulgrin Hoofhome.”

“That it did. You’ve done good work, Ulgrin.” He paused, thinking. “Hoofhome? I know that clan. Your kinsman earned a bit of status with his honor and service.” Ilvin shook his hand tightly. “It pays to know what our ancestors accomplished. Good to see you’re following in his footsteps.”

Alyss piped up. “Don’t forget about us!” She leaned forwards and grinned. “How about a reward for a job well done?”

Ilvin laughed, beard decorations jingling. “Cocky lass! You are being rewarded. The corpse, remember? Standard procedure is coin or loot. You’ve chosen loot. That’s all you get, I’m afraid, but drinks are on me tonight.”

Raelza rolled her eyes. “Don’t be too greedy, Alyss. Isn’t that supposed to be a Dunvi stereotype, not a human?”

“I’ll have you know humans are plenty greedy. If you think I won’t outgreed you then you’re mistaken.” She crossed her arms.

“Saezz believes you’ll find that he is the greediest.” The lizardfolk spoke, hand on both their shoulders. “His hunger outmatches yours tenfold. Maybe not for coins, but meat is certainly more valuable.”

Shaking his head Ilvin continued, “Quite the group you’ve got under your banner. Keep up the good work, Ulgrin Hoofhome. Stop by the Hermit Crab and get your friends a drink in my honor. You’ve all earned it. Now…” He groaned, turning around. “I’ve got a group of foppish nobles to babysit.”

“Godspeed, Longbeard.” Ulgrin said with a smile.

With that dealt with, the four of them were guided to the cargo car where their loot awaited them. A bit of gruesome work was done to butcher the corpses, but Raelza proved excellent in shearing scales from skin. Ulgrin was left with a long, somewhat curved horn. While the manic Alyss slobbered over a bunch of organs, he held the real prize.

Just touching it had the hair on his body rise. Magically, the bone reeked of power. He was no enchanter, but he knew a powerful reagent when he saw one. Taking this to the right craftsman would allow them to make something strong.

That’d cost money, though. A lot of it. Working on this kind of material wasn’t cheap.

Once again bemoaning the state of his coin purse, Ulgrin held up the makeshift rod. It’d work as a focus for now, boosting the capability of his lightning magics even unworked. A bit awkward to hold and aim, but a small price to pay. A bit heavy, coming in at atleast five feet in length.

Rather than staff, it could become a bow. It had the right shape and material to be used as such, he imagined. That would be an interesting creation.

Pushing away daydreaming, he wrapped the horn up and followed his companions to the Hermit Crab. Time for a break. The night passed with merriment and happiness. Much drinking was had, as was only natural. Getting to drink on someone else’s dime made it all the sweeter.

Each of them enjoyed the fruits of their labor. Slabs of lean, gamey meat were tenderized and minced into patties. Ulgrin was jealous of the Half-foots and their affinity towards making good food. Thick loaves of freshly baked bread, toppings of greens and sauces, and an herbal blend of spices made their dinner worth all the fighting.

Sandwiches are king in the culinary world. This I decree.

Morning came soon enough, leaving several of the number suffering from quite the hangover. Luckily, alchemy was a miracle worker and the poor human and drow had a solution. A foul tasting one, given their expressions.

The four of them gathered their things and set down the mountainside. Clear weather blessed them. Wreath lazily plodded alongside, pausing to consume a prime-looking shrub. Thorn was happy to be outside, the canid creature reveling in scents and smells. Following the trail was easy, a path having been carved long ago.

One day of boring walking passed in peace. Getting used to his sore feet was going to be a problem, but Ulgrin toughed his way through it. Finding water, setting up camp, and keeping watch was another new thing to get used to. Raelza helped quite a bit, her experience ranging aiding them in their endeavors.

The second day brought with it a thick, hazy fog. One practically couldn’t see their own hands a few feet from their face. But it cleared up as the morning ended.

By the time the suns were high on the horizon, they were close to the border. The fog had cleared and granted them excellent visibility. While one could turn around and still see the mountains, Ulgrin felt a little bit… uneasy. He’d always lived with them close at hand. Now they felt so far away it was downright unnatural.

Gradually the terrain had shifted from rough and ragged hills to a more verdant stretch of rocky prairie. Beasts roamed the plains, feasting on waist-high grasses that grew quickly with the river's influence. Hooved creatures reigned supreme, naturally adapted to such a place.

But clever predators lurked in the green. Occasionally the quartet would be treated to the sight of a giant grazer being taken down by a pack of creatures. Thankfully their trip remained peaceful. In part due to Saezz and Wreath and their sheer intimidating presence.

Glittering blue on the horizon marked their arrival at the border. Ulgrin let out a sigh. “Y’know, I would wax poetic about this being the furthest I’ve ever gone from home.” He paused to take in the view. “But wouldn’t every step after be the furthest? It’d be a pain in the arse to keep having to say it.”

Saezz nodded wisely. “Not if you turn around. Then you would be free from such a curse.”

Raelza laughed from atop her mount, eyes scanning the horizon for any lurking foe. “And it’d get confusing when you take direction into consideration. Will you have to add ‘This is the furthest West’ I’ve gone?”

“Underground, too.” Alyss replied, smirking. “Ulgrin, we get it. No need to be all emotional about it. But… I will admit, this is a team effort. Three cheers to us for making it this far! May we go even further!”

“Here, here!” Ulgrin replied, raising his hand. Saezz and Raelza followed, and their calls filled the air for miles.

Continuing, the sight of River Rohl grew closer and closer. Rushing water split the continent in twain, the ice melt flowing until it met the edge of the continent. Here, though, it was wide and expansive. Why is it called the River Rohl and not, say, the Skyrange River? Perhaps that’s the original grudge.

Here the river split, one half heading further into Rohl territory while the other snaked back around through the Stoneborn Collective. It was a popular trading path since a bridge had been constructed long ago. Despite being centuries old, the granite construction still appeared sturdy and strong.

From this point they would cross and arrive at the road between Trentenhaunt and Port Pinehill. Numerous villages dotted its length, and he was aiming for one situated right where the river split once again. “Here goes nothing,” Ulgrin called to his companions. “This concludes our first steps into Rohl!” He stepped onto the hundred-foot long bridge and began crossing.

“Kind of anticlimactic,” Alyss said, following along.

“Saezz wouldn’t enjoy fighting a troll if the stories are to be believed. Why do they haunt bridges? He has no idea.” The lizardfolk plodded along, warily sending a glance below and into the waters.

“It’s a human thing, you wouldn’t get it. They’re a strange folk. Trollkind doesn’t even like water that much. Unless they’re a seatroll.” Raelza replied, much to the chagrin of Alyss. Soon they were all across and could see the tall trees rising in the distance.

Their journey continued swiftly, and soon the party found themselves in Rohl. No small amount of adventure awaited them.

A bit of of downtime and travel. Rohl awaits! A heavily forested region for the most part, Rohl is a relatively large but sparsely populated country. Most of it is temperate, while the western side is subarctic. Much of it is untamed wilds. North of any towns there is little civilization due mostly in part due to a large population of megafauna.

Lexicon of Words and Terms Used:

Longbeard - An unofficial rank in the Dunvi military. Typically used for the most veteran of soldiers.

Adamantine - A rare metal, practically unbreakable compared to steel. Has an almost one hundred percent magical nullification effect. Typically possesses a dull green appearance. Weapons made of such materials are tough or sharp enough to punch through most protections.

Half-foots - A group of peoples notably shorter than most. They possess nimble fingers, sharp senses, and a love for homesteading. Despite their small stature, Half-foots make up for that with their sheer bravery.