Progress up the river was slow. After an anxious day waiting for the ice to break, a day of sweltering heat sent torrents of melted snow downstream. The next day, rain fell so heavily that what little progress they'd made the day before was lost. Cundeeplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigCaptain J. Cundee
As a seafarer and merchant I am probably as alien as an elf or dwarf to most landlubbers. I am educated, but not a clergyman. I am obviously modestly wealthy, but not nobility. I have a physical appearance of a farm laborer (tanned, rough hands, etc), but I clearly am not a peasant. I dress in strange dress, walk differently and even talk differently. I carry a sword and may have even trained in its use, but I am not a soldier. was becoming more and more concerned. A little more bad luck like this, and he'd miss the Winter Fair altogether, but the next couple days went well. The weather was unpredictable but not severe, and with the water level higher from the snow, there were fewer rocks to worry about, even if the current was stronger.
Cundeeplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigCaptain J. Cundee
As a seafarer and merchant I am probably as alien as an elf or dwarf to most landlubbers. I am educated, but not a clergyman. I am obviously modestly wealthy, but not nobility. I have a physical appearance of a farm laborer (tanned, rough hands, etc), but I clearly am not a peasant. I dress in strange dress, walk differently and even talk differently. I carry a sword and may have even trained in its use, but I am not a soldier. played the role of unofficial captain well. The first mate was competent but unexperienced, and Cundeeplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigCaptain J. Cundee
As a seafarer and merchant I am probably as alien as an elf or dwarf to most landlubbers. I am educated, but not a clergyman. I am obviously modestly wealthy, but not nobility. I have a physical appearance of a farm laborer (tanned, rough hands, etc), but I clearly am not a peasant. I dress in strange dress, walk differently and even talk differently. I carry a sword and may have even trained in its use, but I am not a soldier., while he'd never captained a barge before, had the experience and confidence that the others lacked. While he had concerns about the limited profit he'd make from this trip, he didn't let it show, and the crew responded.
The Messenger remained as enigmatic as ever. He seemed to know when the weather would change, and he was more distracted than before, but at least he didn't bother anyone. The crew kept their distance after word got around that he'd predicted the blizzard. Joos and Jan seemed the only two who even remained polite.
On the seventh of Saulturithaggon, the first day of the Fair, flurries of snow in the morning threatened another storm, but the day heated up, and by noon, the sailors had taken off their shirts. If all went well, and if they rowed through part of the night, they'd arrive in Huerten within a day. Cundeeplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigCaptain J. Cundee
As a seafarer and merchant I am probably as alien as an elf or dwarf to most landlubbers. I am educated, but not a clergyman. I am obviously modestly wealthy, but not nobility. I have a physical appearance of a farm laborer (tanned, rough hands, etc), but I clearly am not a peasant. I dress in strange dress, walk differently and even talk differently. I carry a sword and may have even trained in its use, but I am not a soldier. might have to cut prices to unload all the cargo in only half a day, but at least it wouldn't be a total loss. The number of villagers they'd seen traveling north was a good sign as well. If these were the latecomers, the Fair had to be pretty big this year.
The day went well, and by evening, they were getting close to Horn's End, the lake known inside the barony as Andan Huerten, after some ancestor of the baron. It would be nice to see a city again, even if it was a backwater compared to Marais or Gerenois.
Late in the day, the Messenger seemed to be waiting for something. This put the men on edge as much as the fog that slowly settled over them. When evening came, the fog was so thick that it was hard to see more than ten feet ahead. Cundeeplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigCaptain J. Cundee
As a seafarer and merchant I am probably as alien as an elf or dwarf to most landlubbers. I am educated, but not a clergyman. I am obviously modestly wealthy, but not nobility. I have a physical appearance of a farm laborer (tanned, rough hands, etc), but I clearly am not a peasant. I dress in strange dress, walk differently and even talk differently. I carry a sword and may have even trained in its use, but I am not a soldier. and the Messenger, each for his own reason, stood or sat at the fore of the barge and stared ahead. The mate came up behind them silently, his footsteps muffled by the damp wood and the unnaturally thick fog. “What do you think?” he asked. “It'll be hard to make it far through this, but it's your cargo.”
“There's not much we can do in fog this heavy,” Cundeeplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigCaptain J. Cundee
As a seafarer and merchant I am probably as alien as an elf or dwarf to most landlubbers. I am educated, but not a clergyman. I am obviously modestly wealthy, but not nobility. I have a physical appearance of a farm laborer (tanned, rough hands, etc), but I clearly am not a peasant. I dress in strange dress, walk differently and even talk differently. I carry a sword and may have even trained in its use, but I am not a soldier. replied. “Pressing on risks going the wrong way or crashing. We'll do what we can to maintain position. We'll occasionally float some junk off the side to get a feel for currents and movement. If we contact land, we'll tie off. As soon as we get a bearing on a feature we'll continue on. In the meantime, try to get the crew working on minor repair or cleaning activities as visibility allows. Let's hope the Fair is fogged in to delay all the other merchants as well…”
“That's a good plan. We'll do it…” The mate started to turn away, but stopped and looked like he wanted to say something else. After a moment, he did. “Thanks for… your help,” he said, and walked away quickly.
The Messenger's name was Gereon. As Gereon heard the mate ask the question he asked himself if there was something missing from his vision. After his first brush with the future he was always nervous when he knew something was supposed to happen. On one hand, he knew he could change the future. On the other hand, he wasn't certain he wanted to, especially when something that seemed vital was about to occur.
Gereon felt under his shirt for the sapphire earring punched through a leather thong, and began to concentrate on the boat, trying to see it in the future as Gabriel had taught him. This brought strange and unwanted feelings from him. Gabriel had betrayed him, but in his four years of wandering after finding out the truth he began to feel that perhaps he hadn't understood everything.
Gereon pushed his feelings aside and concentrated. He pinpointed the time he wanted as the rest of this day and the next, trying to make out if the barge would find its way to Huerten without problem and if it did, what needed to be done to ensure its arrival.
Gereon felt the water all around him – soaking his damaged underside, and lapping against his head. Despite the chill of the day, the sun warmed the waterlogged wood that was Gereon's body. Something had happened last night. Something strange. Now, people were talking in the cabin which rested on his back.
“It just doesn't make sense.”
“I tell you, it's true. Look around you. Where are the villages? Where did all these trees come from? And Andrithaplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigAndrithanism
Based on original ideas from Karl Schinke (Ardith). Symbols for aspects other than the Mother, along with the artwork, were contributed by Myron Wyles (Halaren).
Andrithanism and its variants are the dominant religion in Rang and the surrounding kingdoms. Within the boundaries of help me, where's the damn lake?”
“Simple. We were washed downriver.”
“Is that the best you can do? Come on. It ain't even the same river. The color's all wrong. It's too narrow.”
“Snap out of it. The only other river system in Huerten is the Roe. Are you saying a tributary magically opened up and we just floated dozens of miles away without anyone noticing?”
“I don't know, but I know what I see. This isn't the Hornblow.”
“Look, just keep quiet about all this nonsense. I'm sure it will all make sense soon enough. If the captain hears you talking this crap –”
“Alright, alright, but I know what I see.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
The men left the cabin, and the only sounds remaining were the water, and the typical banter of sailors.
As the first mate walked away, Gereon asked of no one in particular, “Where are you taking me, woman?” He held his hand to his chest and mumbled under his breath, looking out into the fog. After some time he added, “The winds of the Zioth bring about strange happenings,” and proceeded to make sure that all his belongings were secure on his person.
While continuing to look forward into the mist, Gereon said softly with the intent that only Cundeeplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigCaptain J. Cundee
As a seafarer and merchant I am probably as alien as an elf or dwarf to most landlubbers. I am educated, but not a clergyman. I am obviously modestly wealthy, but not nobility. I have a physical appearance of a farm laborer (tanned, rough hands, etc), but I clearly am not a peasant. I dress in strange dress, walk differently and even talk differently. I carry a sword and may have even trained in its use, but I am not a soldier. should hear, “Captain, I suggest we proceed carefully, lest we run aground. Perhaps we should attempt to make our way towards the shore to ensure that we have not gone off course.”
“I think it is best to maintain our position. If we make for the shore we may get hung up on rocks and then the raft could flip or break up when the wind and waves come. If we make contact with the shore we'll tie off again and wait it out on mooring line again. In my experience it is better to stay put in fog, then it is to grope about. Do you have any information that may help me make a better decision?”
“The Zioth brings strange musings and I think we should heed them. If you feel so strongly, perhaps the Zioth speaks to you more than me. But, I think shore should be found … carefully.”
Cundeeplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigCaptain J. Cundee
As a seafarer and merchant I am probably as alien as an elf or dwarf to most landlubbers. I am educated, but not a clergyman. I am obviously modestly wealthy, but not nobility. I have a physical appearance of a farm laborer (tanned, rough hands, etc), but I clearly am not a peasant. I dress in strange dress, walk differently and even talk differently. I carry a sword and may have even trained in its use, but I am not a soldier. nodded, and had the crew anchor the vessel in what he hoped was the middle of the channel, though he was careful not to let the crew know that the Messenger influenced his decision process. Once anchored, he kept them keeping the raft together.
The evening passed slowly, and even those men who had remained light-hearted through the blizzard showed an ebbing of enthusiasm. The fog weighed them down, almost unnatural, almost magical. Even those not on watch were unable or unwilling to sleep.
The hours passed, one by one, or at least it seemed like it – there were no stars by which to gage the time. Two of the crew fell overboard, not cautious enough in the ever thickening fog, but both the fall and the noise from dragging them back on board were muffled, like everything happened far away.
After an unknowable amount of time, the calm waters suddenly began to roil. A distant rumbling came from upstream, which increased in intensity along with the river. Soon, the barge was being tossed about as if it were in the open sea. It was all the men could to do hold on.
To everyone's surprise, the Messenger showed himself to be as handy a sailor as the rest of them. Later, this sudden show of skill would make some of the sailors resent Gereon's lack of help earlier, but at the moment, any help was appreciated. When the raft threatened to flip, it was Gereon who got a few of the men to the other side, to use their own weight as a balance.
No one could say how long the noise and turbulance lasted. It seemed like forever. Then, as suddenly as the noise had started, it was over. The rumbling calmed and stopped, and the crashing of waves was all anyone could hear. Then, slowly, the river calmed, and the only sounds were the huffing of men, and even that was muffled in the fog.
“Well done, sir! Simply brilliant!” Cundeeplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigCaptain J. Cundee
As a seafarer and merchant I am probably as alien as an elf or dwarf to most landlubbers. I am educated, but not a clergyman. I am obviously modestly wealthy, but not nobility. I have a physical appearance of a farm laborer (tanned, rough hands, etc), but I clearly am not a peasant. I dress in strange dress, walk differently and even talk differently. I carry a sword and may have even trained in its use, but I am not a soldier. reached out to shake the Messenger's hand in full view of the other sailors. “May I ask where you learned to work the lines like that?”
Gereon glanced at Cundeeplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigCaptain J. Cundee
As a seafarer and merchant I am probably as alien as an elf or dwarf to most landlubbers. I am educated, but not a clergyman. I am obviously modestly wealthy, but not nobility. I have a physical appearance of a farm laborer (tanned, rough hands, etc), but I clearly am not a peasant. I dress in strange dress, walk differently and even talk differently. I carry a sword and may have even trained in its use, but I am not a soldier.'s dirty hands and gave a slightly disgusted look. He then bent carefully over the side of the raft and, after extracting a bar of soap from one of his pouches, he began washing his hands. “Likely much the same places that you yourself did,” Gereon said as he looked off the side of the raft into the distance. “Does this water look different to you, perhaps like the North Roe river?” he asked quietly.
“Perhaps it does,” Cundeeplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigCaptain J. Cundee
As a seafarer and merchant I am probably as alien as an elf or dwarf to most landlubbers. I am educated, but not a clergyman. I am obviously modestly wealthy, but not nobility. I have a physical appearance of a farm laborer (tanned, rough hands, etc), but I clearly am not a peasant. I dress in strange dress, walk differently and even talk differently. I carry a sword and may have even trained in its use, but I am not a soldier. said, accepting the snub quietly. He then directed his attention to other areas on the raft.
The fog became notably thinner after the river calmed, but visibility was still low. Cundeeplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigCaptain J. Cundee
As a seafarer and merchant I am probably as alien as an elf or dwarf to most landlubbers. I am educated, but not a clergyman. I am obviously modestly wealthy, but not nobility. I have a physical appearance of a farm laborer (tanned, rough hands, etc), but I clearly am not a peasant. I dress in strange dress, walk differently and even talk differently. I carry a sword and may have even trained in its use, but I am not a soldier. took the opportunity to speed up the journey a bit, but he retained his natural cautiousness. This was no time to run the raft aground.
Progress was slow, but it was progress nonetheless. More than once, the raft got too close to the shore, which was odd, given the bredth of the river. It wouldn't be long before they hit Horn's End.
But the night passed and morning came, with no sign of the lake.
Two of the barge's crew, Kale and Bug, a man who got his nickname from his slight build and large, bulging eyes, were having an argument in the rebuilt cabin. Cundeeplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigCaptain J. Cundee
As a seafarer and merchant I am probably as alien as an elf or dwarf to most landlubbers. I am educated, but not a clergyman. I am obviously modestly wealthy, but not nobility. I have a physical appearance of a farm laborer (tanned, rough hands, etc), but I clearly am not a peasant. I dress in strange dress, walk differently and even talk differently. I carry a sword and may have even trained in its use, but I am not a soldier. thought little of it until he noticed the Messenger surreptitiously listening in. Then he went a little closer and paid attention.
“It just doesn't make sense,” Bug said.
“I tell you, it's true. Look around you. Where are the villages? Where did all these trees come from? Andrithaplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigAndrithanism
Based on original ideas from Karl Schinke (Ardith). Symbols for aspects other than the Mother, along with the artwork, were contributed by Myron Wyles (Halaren).
Andrithanism and its variants are the dominant religion in Rang and the surrounding kingdoms. Within the boundaries of help me, where's the damn lake?”
“Simple. We were washed downriver.”
“Is that the best you can do? Come on. It ain't even the same river. The color's all wrong. It's too narrow.”
“Snap out of it. The only other river system in Huerten is the Roe. Are you saying a tributary magically opened up and we just floated dozens of miles away without anyone noticing?”
“I don't know, but I know what I see. This isn't the Hornblow.”
“Look, just keep quiet about all this nonsense. I'm sure it will all make sense soon enough. If the captain hears you talking this crap –”
“Alright, alright, but I know what I see.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
The men stepped out of the cabin, trying to look casual when they noticed Cundeeplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigCaptain J. Cundee
As a seafarer and merchant I am probably as alien as an elf or dwarf to most landlubbers. I am educated, but not a clergyman. I am obviously modestly wealthy, but not nobility. I have a physical appearance of a farm laborer (tanned, rough hands, etc), but I clearly am not a peasant. I dress in strange dress, walk differently and even talk differently. I carry a sword and may have even trained in its use, but I am not a soldier..
It sounded like it might be time to stop and ask for directions. The next time the barge got close to the shore, Cundeeplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigCaptain J. Cundee
As a seafarer and merchant I am probably as alien as an elf or dwarf to most landlubbers. I am educated, but not a clergyman. I am obviously modestly wealthy, but not nobility. I have a physical appearance of a farm laborer (tanned, rough hands, etc), but I clearly am not a peasant. I dress in strange dress, walk differently and even talk differently. I carry a sword and may have even trained in its use, but I am not a soldier. anchored the raft, and tied it to a fallen tree branch. “This has been an arduous journey,” he said to the crew. “I think it best to go ashore and purchase fresh provisions and repair this rattled raft. I need a volunteer to go ashore and buy provisions, Joos will go along to help you carry everything. Given the weather, supplies will be scarce, so get what you can. Oh – also ask around about some local landmarks and conditions upriver so I can better predict our arrival.”
There was no shortage of volunteers, so Cundeeplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigCaptain J. Cundee
As a seafarer and merchant I am probably as alien as an elf or dwarf to most landlubbers. I am educated, but not a clergyman. I am obviously modestly wealthy, but not nobility. I have a physical appearance of a farm laborer (tanned, rough hands, etc), but I clearly am not a peasant. I dress in strange dress, walk differently and even talk differently. I carry a sword and may have even trained in its use, but I am not a soldier. picked a man with a broad build who looked like he could carry half his substantial weight without breaking a sweat. Joos and the other man went ashore to find wood – trees, branches, anything that would float and could be used to reinforce the raft.
The two returned later than Cundeeplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigCaptain J. Cundee
As a seafarer and merchant I am probably as alien as an elf or dwarf to most landlubbers. I am educated, but not a clergyman. I am obviously modestly wealthy, but not nobility. I have a physical appearance of a farm laborer (tanned, rough hands, etc), but I clearly am not a peasant. I dress in strange dress, walk differently and even talk differently. I carry a sword and may have even trained in its use, but I am not a soldier. had expected, but with enough strong wood to repair the barge and more, maybe even enough to fetch a bit of spair coin at the Fair, if it was still going on by the time they got to Huerten.
“Captain, can I talk to you?” Joos asked, gesturing toward the cabin.
Cundeeplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigCaptain J. Cundee
As a seafarer and merchant I am probably as alien as an elf or dwarf to most landlubbers. I am educated, but not a clergyman. I am obviously modestly wealthy, but not nobility. I have a physical appearance of a farm laborer (tanned, rough hands, etc), but I clearly am not a peasant. I dress in strange dress, walk differently and even talk differently. I carry a sword and may have even trained in its use, but I am not a soldier. nodded and followed him to the cabin.
“Something ain't right, captain,” Joos said. “There's a city up ahead, but it can't be Huerten, not if anything I've heard is right. And there's a whole army camped outside. I don't think they saw us, and I made sure Mas wouldn't say anything, but – where are we?”
When Cundeeplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigCaptain J. Cundee
As a seafarer and merchant I am probably as alien as an elf or dwarf to most landlubbers. I am educated, but not a clergyman. I am obviously modestly wealthy, but not nobility. I have a physical appearance of a farm laborer (tanned, rough hands, etc), but I clearly am not a peasant. I dress in strange dress, walk differently and even talk differently. I carry a sword and may have even trained in its use, but I am not a soldier. finished talking with Joos, Gereon was waiting for him. “So the Zioth brings armies together on strange shorelines. When will you meet with this army?”
“Yes, it seems it does. I haven't decided whether to meet them or not. There are some armies that are best avoided. Even the more civilized ones aren't entirely safe as it can be quite hazardous encountering a small patrol in an isolated area without witnesses. Murder is seldom a crime during war. Do you have any suggestions on how we might find our way to an officer?
Gereon grasped the front of his shirt and concentrated.
He was wearing a uniform, of no style he recognized, but everyone around him wore the same. He was tired, filthy and irritable, like most of his compatriots. This hadn't been as easy as expected. First resistence, then a blizzard, and the mud everywhere from the quick melting of the snow. The leader left his tent to give a speech, or more of a pep talk, really. The average height man with thinning brown hair was unimpressive in appearance, but he had a presence to him, and a purpose he could get people to believe in. By the end of the speech, Gereon's spirits were lifted just a bit. He could continue on for a few more days at least.
After a time, Gereon looked up and said, “I believe the Zioth will tell me who we are seeking when I see him again. Shall we wait for your crew first?”
“Yes, let's wait and see what is on the other side of the river before setting out. The otherside could prove more interesting. You have been spot-on with your weather prediction, so I am hopeful you can help guide us to a safe and productive contact with the army.”
While they waited, Cundeeplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigCaptain J. Cundee
As a seafarer and merchant I am probably as alien as an elf or dwarf to most landlubbers. I am educated, but not a clergyman. I am obviously modestly wealthy, but not nobility. I have a physical appearance of a farm laborer (tanned, rough hands, etc), but I clearly am not a peasant. I dress in strange dress, walk differently and even talk differently. I carry a sword and may have even trained in its use, but I am not a soldier. double-checked that the raft was securely tied and prepared for a resurging river, though he made sure they could quickly cut the lines to push off in a hurry if unwanted shoreside attention appeared. After that, he got a bite to eat and prepared for the upcoming hike.
Joos came back again after an hour. His party had scouted out a cluster of homes too small to be called a village, in the middle of several farms. He'd gone as far as to talk to an old man he'd found there, and learned something he couldn't explain. The town with the army around it was Maelbourgplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigMaelbourg
[This map is obviously missing a lot. There aren't huge open spaces in Maelbourg.]
Maelbourg is a walled town in the Barony of Huerten, with a population of approximately six thousand. Its primary exports are textiles, wool and coal, the last of which it acquires from deposits in the nearby hills. The land on which the town sits was added to maelbourg index, more than eighty miles from Huerten and on a totally different river system. Unless a monumental canal-building project was taking place in this barony, there was no natural way the barge could have gotten here.
Although Cundeeplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigCaptain J. Cundee
As a seafarer and merchant I am probably as alien as an elf or dwarf to most landlubbers. I am educated, but not a clergyman. I am obviously modestly wealthy, but not nobility. I have a physical appearance of a farm laborer (tanned, rough hands, etc), but I clearly am not a peasant. I dress in strange dress, walk differently and even talk differently. I carry a sword and may have even trained in its use, but I am not a soldier. privately wondered about the shift in the river's course, his bigger concern was selling the cargo. At this point, the army was the best prospect for that. He asked the Messenger again, “Are you sure you can find a safe contact?”
Looking out in the direction of the camping army, Gereon said, “We will soon find out.” He then turned towards Cundeeplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigCaptain J. Cundee
As a seafarer and merchant I am probably as alien as an elf or dwarf to most landlubbers. I am educated, but not a clergyman. I am obviously modestly wealthy, but not nobility. I have a physical appearance of a farm laborer (tanned, rough hands, etc), but I clearly am not a peasant. I dress in strange dress, walk differently and even talk differently. I carry a sword and may have even trained in its use, but I am not a soldier.. “I am at your pleasure. Lead on when you will.”
Welcome, Matt, player of Gereon!