[Out of Character]I assume reports of Adventures go to the general
List?[End Out of Character]
My travelling companions for my first expedition into the New World was an
experienced scout with a military bearing, well used to travelling the
plains of these strange shores and a little Urukin archer who proved quite
the scout himself, even if his magical tricks were quite peculiar. He
suggested we investigate some glints in the landscape his previous group
had discovered but had not had time to investigate. I agreed to pay the
old soldier his fee for his expertise, which all in all seems to have been
worth it, for I returned hear safe to recount my tales and he proved well
equipped to deal with the challenges of these lands. I can forgive him
his weakness for leading us into quicksand every now and then, for he at
least got us out of it. The trick is to bring a grappling hook, if you
can't persuade the grass to show you the way out.
The first day of our expedition nearly ended in disaster when a passing
band of Urukin set a pack of hunting dogs on us. I guess they saw the
three of us as easy pickings, but they should have better noted the bows
carried by my companions. The dogs were alas too riled up by the leaders
of their pack and fought to the bitter end. Suffice to say that a lot of
blood watered the flowers in that field that day and I'd still be laying
there but for the blessings of Fortuna and the swift thinking of the old
soldier. We traveled little father than day, hoping to get away from the
hunting paths of the hostile Urukin before finding someplace safe enough
to rest.
The next day we slowed our pace, the others foraging and looking for signs
of danger whilst I began the work of where one thing lies and another
stands. Our journey was quiet for the most part, the snap frost maybe
making such predators that frequent this New World warm in their lairs.
We ran afoul of a group of barbed plants amongst the gorse, the little
Urukin being riddled with the spines they flung from their concealed
positions. Following the old soldier's direction, I scooped up my injured
companion and we retreated to safety. The day ended with mixed feelings.
The promised point of interest north of the grassy mere had proven to be
nothing of the sort, but I had discovered a number of ideal camping and
foraging spots between the two lakes, which should make future expeditions
to the north quite reliable.
The third day we resolved to travel into more inhospitable terrain. I
located a number of cave systems about the desert. Future travellers
should be warned, for although the Urukin hermit living in one is quite
friendly, (he appeared to open up when offered forage and chatted with my
companions in his tongue for quite some time,) the other contains a nest
of great purple insects. The hermit apparently thinks them few in number
but quite deadly, although he also apparently found me quite small in
height so make of that what you will.
Electing not to disturb their lair, we instead made our way into the
mountains. After a particularly tricky climb up a 100' cliff, where we
just about skirted disaster, I was available to get a good view of the
local area and indeed spot the entrance of what turned out to be a disused
mine. Future explorers would do well to seek my map of the region,
letting them take the safer paths rather than have to scale the same
treacherous cliff or stumble upon the scree slopes that guard access to
the entrance. Or preliminary investigations found the mine to be the home
of a pair of horse sized trapdoor spiders which, (as the Urukin had
encountered smaller variants and found those deadly enough to tangle
with,) we elected to leave on their own.
Our journey home was more or less uneventful, the sheltered spots I had
mapped on way through indeed proving excellent places to rest, though we
did spot a group of the infamous thieving "blue rats" in the distance, of
which I will have to meet at another time.
Maps of the expedition are available for sale to other explorers and I am
available for hire should someone have something in particular in mind.
Just ask for the goatherd and one of the fisherfolk should point you
towards me. I'm usually easy to spot, I'm quite tall, most of the time.