Chapter X in an ongoing
saga
As night falls, Jon limps along the path. His lower leg is throbbing in pain.
He suspects poison. Jon's senses are dulling, and his psionic powers are
weakening. The psionic cocoon that carries Gilfried is sinking lower to the ground.
Jon limps toward the lights of the inn. As he steps into the clearing, his powers
finally give out. The psionic cocoon disappears, dropping Gilfried to the ground
with a CRASH. As Jon slips into unconsciousness, the last thing he sees is a
shadowed, hooded figure approaching him.
A few days later...
~~Oooo...... sh*t. Wot `appened to me?~~
As Jon slowly opens his eyes, the first thing he sees is a young woman. The
strange thing is that she has pointed ears.
~~Wot the `ell?~~ Jon says with a start, forgetting his surroundings.
"I am Sharra, an elvish healer. You were found unconscious just near this
inn. You were poisoned, and in a feverish state. The man that was with you, Sir
Gilfried, I believe, he died yesterday. We feared the same for you.."
Jon relaxes as she speaks, realizing where he is. His vocabulary slips back
into his earlier pattern.
~~Thank ye, milady. Wot do I owe ye?~~
"Nothing, m'lord. You removed the goblin threat from the surrounding
forest. That is enough. Now all of us may return to the city."
~~Wot city, if I may ask?~~
"I am not sure of its exact name, but it is the center of commerce for this
area. It is said that all roads lead there."
~~Good. I am in need of guidance.~~
"Oh. We, the people of this inn, thought that it would be best if you received
Gilfried's belongings."
~~I thought ye would bury `im in them...~~
"No. There is a crypt not far from here. We place all the people that die
near here in there."
~~Oh. Well, wot do I receive?~~
"Gilfried had a pouch of golden coins, about two hundred, a set of silver
plate armor, and an elegantly crafted longsword, which was placed with him."
~~That is good. Wot `appened to `is `orse?~~
""The steed was never found. But if you require one, several await in a
stable just near here."
~~Excellent. I need some transportation.~~ Jon says, and he starts to rise.
"How do you feel, m'lord? You made a remarkable recovery, from a poison
that is fatal to all."
~~I `ave a great body. I feel great, aside from a slight `eadache.~~
Jon walks out of the room he was in, and down the stairs. Sharra follows.
~~Where is the armor? And the gold? I don't mean to sound `arsh, but I
need to get going.~~
"The armor is in here, m'lord, and here is the gold." Sharra says, and she
walks toward a room in the back, after tossing a pouch to Jon. She unlocks the
door, and brings out a set of gleaming armor.
~~Cool. Can ye `elp me into it?~~
"Yes, m'lord." She says.
After a bit of loosening and turning, Jon picks the helmet up from the table.
He walks over to a crude mirror and inspects his new apparel. On his legs,
gleaming silver boots and shin guards. His upper body carries a silver chest plate.
His arms are covered by shining silver gauntlets. He sets the helm over his head. Light from nearby
candles gleams off the helm.
~~I look great.~~
"Yes, ye do, m'lord. And the horse is outside, in the stable."
Jon walks out to the stable, with a bit of difficulty, unused to the weight. He
lightens the load psionically.
"This is your horse, m'lord." Sharra says, pointing out a grayish stallion.
Jon gets up on the horse, and turns to Sharra.
~~Thank ye for your `elp, milady Sharra. I shall never forget your kindness,
or this inn.~~ Jon turns and kicks the horse into a gallop.
Jon rides for a day and a night, passing the occasional small camp. As
daylight breaks, Jon sees the city Sharra spoke of. It is a coastal city. The city is
an immense one, spreading for miles from the port. As Jon rides closer, he can see
a tall wall surrounding the city. Jon rides up to a gate.
"Halt." Says a soldier. "What is your business in Monitor?"
~~I `ave come from the inn on the far side of that forest. I was told to come
to Monitor if I wanted to get anywhere.~~
"Well, stranger, it costs 10 gold coins to enter Monitor." The soldier says.
Jon can tell the soldier is lying, even without using his psionics.
~~Very well. I shall pay the 10 gold coins.~~ Jon says, and he pulls 10 gold
coins from his pouch on his belt. As he hands the coins to the soldier, a small
scroll drops from Jon's side, from a compartment in the armor. Jon scoops it up
before the soldier notices.
"Thank ye, good fellow. RAISE THE GATE!"
The gate raises slowly and carefully, and creaks. Jon's horse backs away,
but as the gate stops, it proceeds forward.
"Have a good stay in Monitor, stranger."
~~Thank ye.~~ Jon says, and his horse tromps into the city. It is a bustling
town, with taverns, shops, and a central marketplace, with vendors calling out their
wares
As Jon walks his horse down the street, he examines the scroll. It is a crude
diagram of something. Jon can make out a map, with several landmarks. At the
end of the marked path, what seems to be the diagram of a cave. As Jon looks over
the map, he notices the first landmark is Monitor, the city he is in. He sees the he
must go north to start the trail. After replacing the scroll in his pack, he looks at
his surroundings. His horse has wandering into the central market.
"Travel gear!! Here's yer travel gear!!" one merchant calls out.
~~Ye `ave travel gear?~~ Jon asks.
"Yes I do, m'lord. What do ye be needing?"
~~Basic supplies. I'm going on an trip.~~
"Well, we have various dried meats, torches, bedrolls, healing supplies, the
usual."
~~I need enough food fer myself for about 3 days, a few torches, and a
bedroll.~~
The merchant nods, and gather the things Jon asked for.
"That'll be five hundred fifty gold coins, good sir."
~~Hmmm...~~ Jon says as he counts out the coins. ~~Five hundred fifty.
`Ere ya go.~~
Jon hands the coins over to the merchant, and the merchant helps Jon load
the gear onto Jon's horse.
~~Where can I find a place to buy a compass?~~
"Down that way. The is an excellent craftsman who sells compasses.
Thank ye fer yer business."
~~Thank ye.~~ Jon says as he walks his horse down the street. ~~Pardon
me..~~ Jon says to a merchant. ~~Do ye sell compasses?~~
"Yes I do, milord. Do ye need one?"
~~Yes, I am in need of one.~~
"My cheapest one sells for four hundred. Are ye interested?"
~~Yes, I would.~~ Jon says, and pulls a stack of coins from his pouch. His
money situation is getting low.
"Thank ye, milord." The merchant says, and hands Jon the compass.
Jon looks at the compass, and north is to has left. Jon turns his horse and
starts it at a gentle pace. As Jon gets closer to the gates, he sees various species, all
fantasy to him. Elves, dwarfs, and several other types of beings. Jon is puzzled
still, but he rides on.
"Halt, traveler!" A soldier calls out as Jon approaches.
~~Ah, good soldier, let me pass outside the city.~~
"As you wish, milord." The soldier says, and raises the gate.
~~Thank you.~~ Jon says as his horse trots towards the forest.
(
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