Chapter 11: The Town of Rushfen!
The Tenth of Greentide, D.Y. 500
-----As dawn creeps into the sky the next morning, a thick crescent moon hangs almost overhead. The bright edge of the celestial orb points toward the growing light in the east. A majestic sense prevails momentarily as the white glow of the moon shines against a violet background of twilight.
-----Over the lake, a mist hovers bringing a slight chill to the air. The water on the shadowed surface is still and the small insects have long ago stopped their chirping.
-----Through the trees not a leaf stirs as the wind quit sometime during the night. If not for the birds, one might suspect an ominous foreboding of dread coming to fruition. However, a tinge of hope seems to grow as first one bird sings soon to be accompanied by another and then more.
-----Early on this day, the adventurers break their camp and ride off, following the road ever to the west. Within an hour, their trail leads them through a patch of woods where off to the north they see a barren hill. There it was, but a day ago, that the hunters had spied the trail road as they had ridden south from the Herald's Inn.
-----Soon the trees part once again, revealing the vast marshlands that stretch out across the southern regions of the Estate. Another long lake is passed whose southern spur seems much more extensive than that running parallel to the trail road. As the sun rises higher, dimming the moon's light, the road curves off to the south. For over two miles, the road seems to be the bordering line between the Silver Woods and the marsh, which names Rushfen.
-----As the road angles, a small house is seen over to the right, just in the edge of the forest. Movement is seen as a human family emerges to do the daily chores and enjoy the new day.
-----After the third hour since the adventurers started this day, the road turns back to the west. Here, they take a short break basking in the warm rays of the morning sunlight.
-----Sarah removes several items from Marlexana's belt pouch. A scroll bound in a ring, four vials, as well as a wide assortment of expensive looking jewelry. She casts a simple spell over the items ands waits to see if there is any effect.
-----A bright blue light begins to glow from the scroll and the four vials of liquid.
-----The young mage then places the magical items aside for identification, and suggests, "I think we should just split up the jewelry amongst ourselves. I have my eye on this medallion." Sarah picks up a magnificent piece of silver work. "That is if nobody objects." Still to be taken are a gold brooch, a silver brooch, a pendant made of gold in the shape of a five pointed star, a beautiful platinum seal that looks like a family crest of some type, a gold ring, and a gold decanter.
-----All of a sudden quite perplexed by the idea of treasure division, Sol flusters and settles on waiting till everyone has had their pick. He politely and firmly refuses any attempts to persuade him otherwise.
-----Rinda steps forward, curiously looking over the items. After a moment, she smiles and picks the gold brooch. Raven with an intense expression picks the gold ring.
-----The storm priest mutters about what could be the most useful before picking up the gold decanter. Nodding his head, he places it in his saddlebags. Romney quietly takes the gold star pendant. Garrison takes the silver brooch while leaving the platinum seal crest for Sol.
-----Sol smiles happily at the ease at which that occurred. He had no idea of what use the crest would be, but it was quite pretty, so he scooped it up and placed it in a belt pouch.
-----With the last hour of riding, the road takes them through a wooded valley on the northern edge of a swamp. They then pass a field of brambles and briars before the vegetation gives way to short scrub. Finally, the trail turns northwest, meeting up with another road coming from the south. They ride through a covering of tall trees before the riders see the tall wooden stockade-like walls of the town of Rushfen.
-----Two men atop the wall immediately spot the approaching riders and yell to guards inside the gate below them. The two large doors of the gate swing open and four elves dressed in leather armor rush out with bows in hand. Recognizing the adventurers, the elves usher them through the gates and the portals are then closed.
-----The Town of Rushfen looks unlike any town seen in Hearthorn. Very rustic in nature, the buildings and homes are spaced apart from each other, much like the village of Xyl. Openness prevails here as much of the trading and work done by the laborers is done outside or under shelters with open walls.
-----Most of the dwellings are those belonging to woodsmen and hunters as evidenced by the skins and furs seen drying in the sun. The clanging of blacksmith work is heard and the smell of wood fires sets the setting of the woodland town. Many people, including elves and gnomes, move about their business as children and animals play and run amongst the trees and buildings.