The sun rose against the walls of Rosenbridge, the light spilling over the white bricks into the town beyond. The massive gate , shining against the sun, lay closed to the town. Two men stood before it, in blue tabards and steel plate. They leaned against their halberds, it had been a long shift.

A wagon approached the grand entrance, and one of the guards awoke. His head snapped up, his head taking in breath.

"Ah shit. Riclamin!" He nudged the man beside him, who elbowed him back

"Mmmmmm..... what?"

"We got a wagon coming in." He nudged him again, harder this time. "Get up you fucking slacker!"

"Fine...fine!" He lifts his head, squinting against the morning light. He raises his hand, hailing the wooden transport.

"Halt! Name your cargo and purpose!"

The driver came into full view. He wore full plate, with a tabard on his front and a halberd to his side.

Riclamin turned to his compatriot and patted his back

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"Huh... no need for concern then. It's Yorick."

He gave a smile, waving the wagon over. The wagon bumped against the holes in the ground, the driver and his contents shaking. 

Yorick waved to the pair, jumping off the seat. He led the old horse behind him, shaking the hand of the guard.

"How's the watch treating you Therai? You get that promotion yet?"

Therai smiled, flashing a metal pauldron emblazoned with a lion with the head of an eagle

Yorick eyes widened. "Sergeant? I didn't think you'd hit that until next year! Nice one!."

He gestures towards the wagon behind him.

"I got some cargo this time. Bigger than usual."

"Oh yeah. I remember now. You're part of that merc group run by that halfling, right?" Riclamin said, walking around the side of the wagon, glancing at the canopy.

"Yeah. I got myself a recruit in there. Quiet now, he hasnt had much sleep."

"Holy shit! You got yourself a fucking lizard man! How the fuck did you do that?"

Yorick shrugs, mounting the wagon " Pure charisma, obviously. Therins been waiting long enough anyway. Let us through Riclamin."

Riclamin sighs. He turns to the gate, shouting to the top of the wall. "Open her up!"

The gates creak and moan and they are pulled up, chains struggling to lift the behemoth. "Go on through Yorick, although you're the first caravan we've seen for a while."

"Really? I'll have to ask Therin about that. Thanks lads, try not to sleep too much"

Yorick spurs the horse on, the hooves now striking against paved stone. In the back of the cart, the cargo was moving.