Follow Directions

SPACE Meggana cuts between several buildings nearby, heading north.

SPACE The party decides that Cain requires their attention, but not until they have equipped themselves. Alliandra remains interested in the nearby spider cult to Ochretia as well.
SPACE Deciding to follow Meggana’s map, the group looks off down the road. It winds further into Deepbush. There’s no telling what type of trouble the group might run into.

SPACE “We hunt little man now,” Conner says.
SPACE “We get Cain,” Tharg acquiesces. “Me never like.”
SPACE Tharg and Conner make their way up the stairs to fetch their weapons.
SPACE “We get Cain. Make friends happy.” Conner finishes.
SPACE “What about new weapons? We have to go and sell these gems and buy you both some new weapons,” Alliandra replies.
SPACE Conner won’t take no for an answer. “Me mad,” he begins, accenting his anger by punching the side of The Meaty Tusk with his bare fist. “Tharg, we hunt now,” he finishes and enters the door to the upstairs common room.
SPACE “But Tharg want shiny, new club,” the other barbarian calls after him.
SPACE Conner reappears in the doorway, a hesitant expression on his face pointed at Tharg. "Okay," he agrees. "But Conner want sword anyway. To protect."
SPACE “Wait,” Alasdair stops them. “We can’t just walk around carrying all sorts of swords and knives and such. Why, we’re sure to be targeted that way.”
SPACE “Aye,” Grant echoes, “especially by the town guard.”
SPACE Tharg and Conner stop and stare dumbly at the group from the top of the stairs. Walking about without a weapon is like walking about naked in their homeland.
SPACE “We’re fairly safe in town,” Alliandra attempts to comfort them. “We’ll come back for the weapons if it gets dark.”
SPACE They seem dissatisfied with the consolation. They do as the cleric says, however begrudgingly. The barbarians follow along down the road, feeling quite naked.

SPACE Following the directions given to them earlier by the pretty elven woman, the group makes a left at their first intersection.
SPACE The sights of the town excite everyone. Civilization at last! The shops, the gentle faces… hell, the solid earth beneath your feet. For the survivors of The Salty Death, there is nothing more comforting. the smells from a nearby bakery, the clanging sound of metal on metal, and the shine of coins as they pass from owner to owner. It’s not a city by any means; the streets are not crowded and most of the smells are pleasant. It is merely a populated, settled, small village, and that suits the group just fine.

SPACE As they walk, Cyrdan begins to apologize to the entire group.
SPACE "I just want you all to know that I was only travelling with Cain for the mere safety of having someone watch my back," he says. The elf pauses, but the rest of the group remains silent. "I apologize for my lack of foresight that he might do something like this. I knew he was nuts, but I had no idea he'd pull this."
SPACE Grant dismisses Cyrdan's apology with a shrug. "We'll not hold it against ye, elf."
SPACE Cyrdan bows slightly as the rest of the party is throwing out their comments of agreement. "I just felt the need to explain my association with such a pus-bag twerp of an elf," he finishes.

SPACE Feeling somehow happier now, the group continues passed a few shops and homes, getting a few mildly strange looks from merchants and passersby. Nothing to be worried about – merely the curious stares of small-town natives.

SPACE Three soldier-types, dressed in chainmail and tunic colored periwinkle-blue, stand on the corner talking. They take notice of the group’s approach, growing silent as they pass. They stare at the party crossing the street. The tallest of them makes a comment and the other two nod. They walk away to the south.

SPACE As the group travels passed the building on the corner, they can see into an amazing bakery full of pastries and treats. An older woman and a young, waif-like blonde woman are arranging pastries on the shelving inside. Garn pauses to stare in at the blonde woman, who blushes and giggles and the buff warrior. She is scolded by the old woman behind the counter, returning Garn back to the group.

SPACE Once they pass a tailor’s shop, they stumble upon the “X” that marks their own proverbial spot. A sign hangs over the door of a windowless building made of cobblestone. A large shining diamond is portrayed there, nothing more. No words, only a picture telling all who pass that this is a place to trade gems and jewelry.

SPACE Alliandra decides that it would be best if only she and Grant enter. She does not want to alarm the proprietor with the group’s numbers, and she feels that the presence of a dwarf may keep the jeweler from swindling her.