Name: Todd Longfellow, Race: Human

Height: 5’6”, Weight: 130, Sex: Male

Archetype: Fighter

HP: 18 / 18, Mana: 0 / 0

Stats:

Physical: 4, Moxie: 2, Spiritual: 2, Luck: 2

Agility: 2, Magic: 2, Mental: 2, Energy: 3.

Relevant Skills: Physical - Awareness, Physical - Jump, Physical - Skewer

_________________

Todd chewed on some bark one of the caravan guards had given him. The stringy fibers were bitter, but it dulled the headache, and he didn't feel as tired.

"Charisse had a long conversation with the voice," Todd said. Mark was walking beside him as they followed the last wagon of the caravan.

"Still, wish you would have humored him, even if it was Furcas, who knows we may have gotten more info," Mark said.

"I'm sure he would have twisted it into something that'd mislead. We can always go back." Todd looked up the road, the line of eight wagons moved slowly. A glance behind them at the empty road cutting through the woods. "With as slow as this is going, I don't get why Samson doesn't distribute the stuff in his wagon to speed things up."

"I doubt I'd make it through the tunnels, do you think there were creatures in them?" Mark pointed a hand up in the air, stopped walking, and tensed.

"You still creating force fields in the air, or do you need to use the little boy's room?" Todd said as he stopped to pull up the map. The road was threading through the forest to the north and west blank space. Deep in the middle of the empty area, a circle of mountain shapes with the name Sparkling Peaks and a single word, Haltheen.

"Getting to rank four would be nice, but I know it's not gonna happen," Mark said as Todd returned to the world.

"Ooo, that reminds me," Todd said. As he started walking, he began to hop like a bunny.

"Gods, you're gonna give me a headache," Mark said.

"I already have one," Todd said. "lack of sleep does that."

"You could have slept," Mark said.

"Having a healer on night watch is more important, besides I barely notice it." Todd reached for the pouch with more of the bitter bark, and it was empty. Licking a finger, he swapped the inside of the bag before sucking on the digit.

"What is that stuff?"

"A version of coffee, I think, with a touch of aspirin. We should get some in the next town."

"Great a fantasy version of WhoopAss, what if it is addictive?" Mark said.

"I'll have Reggie heal me, Jax I expect will give me a lecture and say I deserve to suffer the withdrawal," Todd said. "You want to play eye-spy or something while we watch?"

"Na, I'm already at Rank 3, getting to 4 is just going to be a pain in the ass." Mark looked up, stopped walking, tensed, then pointed upward.

Todd jumped up, trying to get some height rather than a simple bunny hop. Coming down, his foot slipped, and he tumbled face-first on the road.

"Dude, you ok?" Mark held out a hand to his friend.

"Yeah, tripped." Todd took the hand and stood up. Wiping some of the gravel from his cheek, he frowned at the spot of crimson. "Tis only a flesh wound, but I'll have Reggie heal it when he comes by to relieve one of us."

"Stop jumping. All we need is you to critically fail and break your neck." Mark said.

"The odds… nevermind, don't want to curse me. I want to get at least one skill up to rank 4." Todd said.

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

"Is an additional dice really that important?"

"You tell me, is really an additional success worth it for your spells?"

"I get your point, then practice your melee, the jump skill doesn't seem like it would benefit."

Slightly after the sun hit its zenith, the caravan slowed until coming to a stop. A shout went down the line from the front to the rear, "Lunch, ten minutes." Reggie approached Mark and Todd, holding a small loaf of bread and a strip of dark red meat skewered on a pole.

"I brought lunch, and if Todd wants to sleep, he can ride a wagon," Reggie said. He held up the rod of skewered meat. "Mark, could you assist with this?"

Todd took a step back, and Reggie held the skewer as far from his body as he could. Mark produced a jet of flame that rushed out and seared the meat. The tip of the metal rod started to glow.

"Um, Reggie, maybe you should," Todd said.

"Yeaaouch!" Reggie dropped the skewer as the metal rod heated up. Todd and Mark were too far to try and catch it before it fell into the dirt. "Dammit! Sorry guys." Reggie sucked on his finger for a moment, a wave of relief washing over him.

A fount of water sprayed from Mark's cupped hands, hitting the skewer, steam sizzled until it was no longer red hot.

"Sorry, hold it up; I'll wash it off, then we'll figure out how to cook it," Mark said.

"Never thought a ring of fire protection would be useful for cooking," Todd said.

"Haha, this is your guy's lunch, I already ate," Reggie said as he dipped the food toward the dirt.

"I'm sorry," Todd said. He reached a hand out and took the skewer from Reggie. Each end of the metal rod was pointed, but not sharpened. Gripping the skewer tightly, Todd thrust it like a spear into a tree.

The metal rod slammed into the tree and buried an inch into the trunk. Todd carefully lowered the end he was holding, keeping his hand near in case it fell. Verifying it hung by its weight, he carefully removed his hand.

"Try that," Todd said.

"It'll need support; once the metal softens, it'll bend," Mark said.

Todd sighed, pulled out his sword, and stabbed it into the ground point first. Nestling the end of the rod upon the underside of the pommel.

"Better?" Todd took a step back.

Mark shot out a gout of flame from an outstretched hand. The fire covered the strip of meat, causing the moisture inside to sizzle and pop. A second later, a slightly charred piece of meat was left hanging.

Todd stopped himself from reaching for the rod. The faint red glow was visible even in the daylight. Reaching into his backpack, he pulled out a canteen, poured water on the end of the rod, and took care not to hit the meat. Steam rose but soon ceased as the heat drained from the metal.

"Lunch is on," Todd said, giving a glance to Mark. Tentatively touching the pole to verify the temperature, he grabbed it and pulled it out of the tree. The meat still sizzled and dripped from the water. Mark pulled out a dagger, cut a big chunk, and stabbed it with the blade. He pulled the bit of meat away from the rest.

"You can have the rest and a rest," Mark said, tilting his head toward one of the carts.

Todd nodded and walked to the cart, taking small bites of the meat. The charred bits were crunchy but buried underneath, the reward of savory bits cooked to perfection. Finishing the meat even as it burned his mouth, he flicked the empty pole a few times to dry it off.

The only wagon with space for him to sleep and not be in the sun was the water and ale wagon. Nestling under the tarp and between two barrels, he fell asleep to the sound of water sloshing back and forth like waves.

"Town ahead!" a deep voice pierced the fog of Todd's mind. The dream of sitting on a beach was interrupted. Sitting up and hitting his head again, a tarp covering the back of the wagon. Bumps from the road still shook the cart as it rolled along. Todd moved to the rear of the wagon and slid to the ground.

The road widened as they approached Worthington. The forest replaced with farmland. Cliffs rose along the north side of the town, a jagged canyon splitting the towering rocks. To the south the land sloped down sharply with a river cutting through the middle. Tall stone walls surrounded the city, some shacks and huts dotted the outside wall. Massive gates loomed over the only entrance Todd could see.

Jogging up to the driver of the wagon, Todd tapped the cart.

"My first time here, what do you know about Worthington?" Todd said.

"A bunch of money stealing liars and cheats. Ever since the War of the Fallen, this is the only trade route going to Tremain from the west. Otherwise, ya gotta take a boat through the Silent Sea. So they squeeze every pence they can out of ya." The driver said.

"Thanks, I'll keep my coin pouch in a tight grip."

"Won't help, even if you hide your gold in yer arse, they will find a way to make you shit it out."

"Um, ok." Todd slowed his walk, so the wagon moved ahead of him. Turning, he waited for Mark and Reggie to catch up. "So, this town seems to work hard at taking your money."

"So like Vegas," Mark said.

"Yeah, one of the drivers seemed to have a very low opinion of it," Todd said. They were getting closer to the city, as the sun slowly disappeared over the horizon, rays piercing through the few clouds that had rolled in. Occasionally the glint of the sun against metal would flash along the walls. Shadows and shapes moved back and forth, as the guards patrolled the defenses.

A dozen wagons lined up to the gates seemed to have a splitting trail of people walking away from the gates. Several little groups of people wandered toward the huts and shanties along the edge of the wall. Several shapes along the walls followed larger groups.

"Anyone notice the people not entering the city?" Todd said.

"Huh," Mark stopped and looked at the gates, "that is odd. I wonder if they inn's in the town are full?"

"Perhaps we should plan on sleeping in the wagons tonight? Maybe present it to Samson as a safety measure." Todd looked around, no other wagons or caravans behind them. Dim light limited how far he could see. Shadows and dark shapes moved in the trees. A gentle breeze rustled the leaves as it blew toward the town.

Charisse came jogging down the caravan line. She slowed down and let Todd, Mark, and Reggie catch up to her.

"It costs money to enter the town; if you don't pay, you can't get in. Samson will pay for whoever is watching at night; the rest have to wait until tomorrow unless they pay for themselves." Charisse said.

"That explains all the people," Todd said.

"Most of those are refugees, Goblins attacked a village downriver, and they came here. Most of them didn't bring any money, so they have been camping for the past couple of days." Charisse turned toward the mass of people and makeshift tents near the wall.

"Damn, does Jax know?" Todd said.

"Yeah, he said he has an obligation to guard, so unless one of us relieves him, he will go into the city tonight." Charisse looked toward Mark and Reggie.

Todd also looked toward Mark and Reggie. Reggie pointed toward Charisse.

"Hey, she can watch too," Reggie said.

"No, I'm guessing from her silence she already plans." Todd raised an eyebrow toward Charisse, causing her to blush.

"I'm that transparent?" Charisse said.

"In this case yeah," Todd turned and looked back toward Mark. "I'm volunteering you; the ability to create light and set up fields to protect against a sniper would be quite useful."

"Wouldn't a healer be more useful?" Mark said, giving an elbow to Reggie.

"Hey, don't volunteer me." Reggie took a step back.

"Yeah, how about both of you and me, we can swap Mark and Reggie, so you both get some sleep, and if shit goes down we'll be able to take care of it."

"Or burn the town down," Charisse said.

Todd took a step back and almost threw up a hand to protect himself as Mark glared at their friend.

"For the record, you were the one who started the last fire at an inn, was right before you died, and we had to run back to the glade to get you," Mark said in an even tone.

"Guys lets just do it, I have a feeling this is a setup for something, and its best we are prepared. Charisse, I want you to keep an eye on Jax, the last thing I want is him causing a riot in the name of justice."

"Dammit, I was hoping to sleep in a comfy bed," Charisse said.

"We all were, but if we don't do this intelligently, we'll end up back where we started," Todd said. He clapped his hands together, "Let's do this. BREAK!"