Chapter 1: Journey


MORAN Zinbar slowed her pace as she finally caught sight of the well-kept, golden colored inn. She smiled as she read the name on the sign. The Golden Stag Inn. She hurried inside the inn, so as not to be late. A wall of smoky air hit her as she entered. Yet the air smelled good because the cigar smoke mixed with the scent of honeyed meats and sweet desserts. The smell alone made her mouth water.
She was greeted by many of the local custom, for she was well-known here. That was probably because she was a part of the place even if she only worked here. She settled into her corner by the fireplace, on her stool, and pulled out her harp and her flute. She looked around the place to try to get a feel for the mood of the custom. She needed to decide if she wanted to play lively dance tunes or soothing ballads and laments. Since the custom was cheerful and talkative, she decided to play dancing tunes.
She tuned her harp and worked her fingers loose until she was satisfied by their performance. She put her fingers to the strings and started "Hayride", a local favorite with a jig that goes along. From "Hayride", she move to "Harvest", the "Country Flowers" and "Two Fine Maids", until there were many people dancing. She let her fingers wander to different songs, so that she could see if there was anyone new in the inn. Her eyes flicked from familiar face to familiar face until settling on an unknown face.
He sat alone at a far table He was tall and as skinny as a branch. The man was paying particularly close attention to her and anyone else wearing a weapon. He seemed to be of high or noble birth, perhaps maybe a merchant. He had on fine clothes that couldn't have come from this island, because it was tailor to keep someone warm and this island of Makki is always warm. The man either wasn't planning on staying long or wasn't familiar with this area before he came. She let her mind go back to her songs and put him away for further examination later.
After awhile she noticed he was still there and he was still alone. Her curiosity overwhelmed her, so she decided to take a break and see what his interest was in people who could use weapons. She put down her harp and motioned for a serving girl to bring her some cider to drink. That was one of the plusses about her job her, the unlimited drink offered because of the tendency to get a dry throat from singing. She took her mug and gulped it down, then set it back on the tray.
She walked over the the man's table and said, "Can I sit her," while motioning to a chair.
The man looked at her and nodded. She sat down and decided to get to the point.
"I noticed you were eyeing anyone with a weapon or anyone who could use one," she said.
"I've been sent to find adventurers for a campaign in Dew, you have a dagger at your waist and I thought you might be interested," he said. "I was going to talk to you after your shift was over, but it seems you beat me to it."
Moran smiled at the last thing. She could understand why he was looking for adventurers here, considering the size of the capital city. There was a large number of adventurers here, most of whom were taking a vacation for a while. The island was large and mostly tropical, except for the inhabited desert to the far west of here. The capital city was a good place for soldiers and adventurers alike. It was easily defendable, too, because it was surrounded by a ring of mountains and only had two entrances- a road to the southeast of here and the river to the southwest.
"What is this campaign that you're collecting adventurers for?" she asked. This had perked her interest. She had always wanted to go on a adventure.
"There's a disturbance in the forest that we need someone to look into. We've sent unarmed scouts in, but none have returned. Dew is a small, peaceful city, without many weapons or warriors. We've been forced to import people who know what to do in these types of situations," he answered.
Moran's father had taught her many things that would come in handy in an adventure, such as how to use a few weapons - daggers, quarterstaffs and blowguns. All three of which she was rather proficient with. She decided to get some more information from this man.
"How much money will I make?" she asked.
"If you succeed, you will be give 100 gold and 50 silver pieces," the man said simply.
She considered the offer carefully. She had always wanted to see the world away from these islands. She knew how to fight and how to survive in the wilderness, thanks to camping trips with her father. She also knew a few languages, such as elven, pixie, silver dragon, treeant, gnome and dwarfish, thanks to her mother's teaching skills. She decide to accept.
"When do we leave?" she asked.
"Whenever your shift is done and you can get your things ready," he said. "I'll be at this inn when you're ready to leave."
With that she stood and walked back to her stool. She picked up her harp again and started to play another set of songs. She did another set after that. By the time she was done with those sets it was noon. Her shift was now over. She gathered up her things and let the other musician past her. His name was Joe and he worked from noon until dusk, whereas she worked from dawn to noon.
She went up to the innkeeper and explained about the journey she was going to make. The innkeeper was sad, but he said goodbye and farewell to her. She then left the inn and walked back to her house. She knew this was a good time to catch her parents together so she could talk to both at once. Her parents worked irregular hours but they both got a break to come home for a mid-day meal with their family. Her mother was a musician at another inn and her father was a cook at a local tavern.
She found them as they were arriving. She walked in after them and told them the news. They were sad, but they had known it would happen eventually because of her adventurous spirit. They were very considerate about it, some parents might have been unreasonably angry. Together the three of them planned out what she would need for the journey, over their meal. Her mom though in terms of what she might need, just in case, and her dad though in terms of what she would definitely need. They determined that she should take her weapons, for defensive purposes or incase she got into a fight with a wandering monster. She wold also need spare clothes, her instruments, a sewing kit, flint and steel, a backpack and any personal items she wanted. She decided to take her perfume and her favorite book. She also was taking her horse, Blossom, for a means of transportation.
When all of her supplies and things were gathered and packed into saddle bags, she said goodbye to her parents and lead her horse down the busy street toward the golden Stag Inn. She tethered her horse in the stable so that it wouldn't go anywhere while she was inside and so that her things wouldn't get stolen.
Moran entered the inn and found the man that had told her about the job. Together they discussed modes of transportation to get from the island of Mikka, which they were on, to the city of Dew on the next continent. They would take a ship through the winding rivers in the island and travel by the same ship through the ocean to the port of Newport, which was south of Dew.
They both went into the stable and got their horses. They talked while they traveled through the streets toward the busy docks. Moran learned that the man's name was Lee Moroe and he was a police officer and merchant in Dew. Moran told him her name. They talked about Dew, also. Moran asked questions and Lee answered as best he could. She learned that Dew had a few wealthy people in it and that the city is near a much larger city, Leigh, which boasts a faire in a large market square at the center of town. The only way to get to Leigh from Dew is either to go through the forest of take the road around the forest.
They approached the dock and Lee led Moran to a ship that Lee said he had traveled on before. Moran looked at the mane of the ship, The Lucky Lady, and instantly knew the man had made a wise choice of ship. The Lucky Lad was on of the fastest and most well known ship that frequented Makki. The ship was double masted and had a mermaid carved on the bow of the ship. There were many sailors onboard that were bustling about doing their work.
Moran followed Lee up the plank and onto the ship and watched as he paid the captain for two small cabins. She the followed Lee as he followed a sailor that was showing them where their rooms were. The two rooms were next to each other. Hers had a bed, a dresser and a wash stand. There was also a bathroom that connected the two rooms to each other. Their horses had been led down into the stockhold of the ship with all the other animals. She set her bags on the dresser and sat down on the bed to rest for a minute.
The journey would take anywhere from a few days to a week, depending on the wind. Until then all she could do would be to keep herself entertained and wait. To keep her mind busy, she decided to take her harp to the main tavern room on the ship and see is she could play for awhile.
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