Bern
After a long stay at the inn. I was back in fighting shape. We agreed to rest one more night before continuing on. You hear? And I haunted to build up our supplies, while Pelf spent her time talking with the cook in the basement and doing the accounting for the inn. Pelf concluded that the inn was spending most of its income on raw materials for the cook and that was responsible for its noticeable lack of profits.
The cook seemed somewhat hostile to her investigation and complained about the situation, so Pelf volunteered to go to town and try to acquire the supplies she needed at a better price. Reluctantly, the cook agreed to the deal, providing a shopping list and a pouch of money covered in strange runes.
We set off the next morning for Fort Vulgar, which was supposedly close by and which might provide information on some of the other mysteries we had been investigating. On the way, we passed a hive filled with giant killer bees. We gave the bees a wide berth and they did not attack, though I suspected the honey would be effective at treating wounds. None of us were eager for a fight after spending so long recovering.
The road crossed a surprising number of bridges as well. I kept expecting a troll to demand his toll.
Fort Vulgar itself was a small town with a defended harbor and some kind of lurking sea monster which screamed at us as we approached. Despite the terrifying nature of the creature’s cry, most of us took it well and continued on toward town. Our barbarian, however, turned and fled. We waited for him to catch back up when the effect wore off and he regained his courage… eventually.
Approaching the gates of Fort Vulgar itself, we encountered a long line of people waiting to get in. Knights in armor were diligently questioning and searching everyone in line. Morin managed to strike up a conversation with some local businessmen and discovered the knights were very strict about who and what entered their city. The holy objects we had recovered from the abbey would not only be confiscated as contraband, but we would likely be unable to sell them at all. That said, we were still in need of supplies, and I needed to replace my lost gear, so we arranged for a camp outside of town where we could leave our contraband goods before entering the city.
I left my enchanted shield there, figuring its orcish nature and the disconcerting effect that bearing it had upon my eyes would get me more attention than I would appreciate. Pelf left nothing, a decision that would haunt her a few hours later when we finally reached the gate.
She did take the opportunity to check the shopping list provided by the cook from the inn. Disturbingly, the shopping list included unicorn meat. Even setting aside the moral questions, such a meal would be very difficult to acquire, and certainly would not be for sale at a market. At least not a normal market. That did not bode well and raised dire questions about the nature of the cook herself. Another item on the shopping list was honey. Pity we did not check the list until after we arrived, the beehives we passed on the way would likely have some.
As we approached one by one, we were each questioned closely. The guards asked about my withered arm, and I explained how I came to acquire it. They asked me to step aside, wait for a moment, but did not seem unhappy or threatening. u-Heury carried no contraband, but they asked him to step aside as well, without further questions.
Pelf, on the other hand, had her pouch of ruins with the cook’s coins within them. The guards took one look at the pouch and confiscated it. They claimed the runes were hag runes, and questioned Pelf from where she acquired it. They did not seem inclined to let her enter the town, nor to trust her. If in fact the cook at the inn is a hag, it would explain a great deal. Luckily, only Pelf had made a deal with her, although the proximity of hag to the strange pillar that had apparently cured my arm was a matter of concern, as was eating her food while we stayed there. Perhaps Pelf will learn a lesson about cheerfully agreeing to do errands for strangers.
After a great deal of arguing with Pelf, the guards let me and u-Heury pass. They did request that each of us meet with the local Lord as we seemed like adventuring folk and the local lord had need of such. Perhaps we can bring up the topics we need information about with him.
- The location of Maidenhead Priory
- The Pillar of Ambule
- Local sources of cheap ale
Inside the walls, the markets were extensive. But the prices were high. Almost double normal. I preferred not to re gear at such inflated pricing. So aside from replacing my weatherproof cloak, I left the rest of my shopping for later. Perhaps when we meet with the local Lord, we can negotiate for better prices In return for our service as adventurers.
