Our Story Begins...

Quietly, I keep an eye over the whole caravan, checking to see where Reinhardt and Geros are riding.

I turn back over my shoulder as Zugor rides up, my brow knitting with bemusement. "You certainly have more experience with goblin folk than I, Master Ranger. But caravans cross into the borderlands regularly to do business with them, and I’ve heard they’re a common sight in Frisia in return. They can’t all be vicious."

I study Zugor for a moment, just long enough that I’m not full-on staring at him. I’m looking for some kind of answer under that brow, but I don’t ask the question directly. Then I turn back to the road, meditating on my observations.

RangerRanger Zugor snorts and he continues on, "Only with show of greater force could even hope to deal with them and then you only get a worthless one. Any Goblin with something of value isn't the one you're going to see." "Only a leader type is going to have anything of value."

"If it attacks you you can be fairly certain it isn't friendly!". Reinhardt's booming voice rings out, as he leads an unhappy donkey. "Poor donkey, having to carry his own feed. The indignity of it all..."

"Don't worry about the little buggers, even they'd think twice about attacking a large, armed group. Unless they had numbers on their side. Hah!" He clapped Wilfred on the back. "Easy money, simple job!" Reinhardt tried to project confidence, he knew how easily panic could take hold in the ranks.

Geros took care of buying food for the trip while in town, and finds his place in a wagon when the caravan departs. He rests during he ride, following sparsely the conversation about the morality of goblins, which is not a subject of great interest to him.

"Damn!" he says, all shaken up when Iron-Eye shouts and his wagon begins to shake. He immediately spring into action and attempts as much as he can to help the driver handle the horses pulling his wagon. It proves difficult to him, because he is not used to it!

"I'm your man! Have this cleared up in no time!" Reinhardt moved toward the front of the caravan. Raw strength was something he was more familiar with.

RangerRanger Zugor is caught between securing the horses or try to save the wagon. He decides that he can deal with the horses later and wagon needs him now. He leaps off his mule and rushes the wagon. Using all his strength, he puts himself up against the wagon. Gritting hard he works to keep it upright more and take the weight off the wheels before they splinter. "Calls to the others. Take care of those horses."

RangerRanger Zugor replies back, "Zugor. And I hope we don't have more problems." He isn't a pretty mug and not used to a lot of attention. At least not good attention.

And he adds on, "You have good horses." from a guy that is riding a mule.

I hold onto Kornblume’s halter and Stay Out Of The Way, watching with concern as my three companions fight to keep the wagons on the trail, then with relief as Zugor makes the critical move. Too late to assist, I wait until the last wagon is safely past before following behind, picking my way over the tricky shale path.

Like Barnaby, Geros looks at Zugor with appreciation. Without his intervention, he would have been in great trouble. "Thank you, friend. I owe you one." he says, happy to have the ranger in his team.

Eager to prove my worth a little, I tie my pony up by a tree and drop my pack beside her. As I head into the woods, I pull a small, clear quartz crystal from my pocket. I hum a low tone, then add to it these words:

"Inzae, Dragon of the Deep
Stir in Your eternal sleep
Like the fiery quartz within your heart
Let this crystal burn with light."

I hold the quartz aloft and it (hopefully) begins to glow softly, providing enough light for me to see easily as I gather tinder. I set it casually on a rock by the firepit as I struggle to stoke a flame by hand, eventually having to borrow one of the others’ tinderboxes as well to get a fire going.

After a modest meal, I take my leave, preferring to stretch out beside a tree at the border of the campsite, wrapped in my traveling cloak, watching the stars through the branches.

Geros helps as required, then share the meal with everyone, not saying much. He goes to sleep as soon as he can, proposing to take the last watch.

RangerRanger Zugor does what he can't to aid in setting up camp. He has learned to love rations since he can't cook at all. Most of his efforts are taking care of his mule. He does search our area for any tracks. Always good to know what has been around.