Type: Core
Cast: Party, driver
Setting: Road between Lakeshore and Valys
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The PCs take the Proconsul’s coach from Lakeshore to Valys. This trip is nearly a hundred a fifty miles, but can be completed in three days because the coachman is pushing the horses hard. The road is hard packed earth that is regularly repaired.
On the way the PCs pass through three small towns, each spaced so that they are a logical stopping point at the end of a day’s travel. Each town exists solely to cater to traffic between Lakeshore and Hasra.
There is a great deal of traffic on the roads, everything from traveller’s on foot to entire caravan’s carryng an array of goods.
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Events
- The PCs will have to find a stable for Bufford when they arrive in the first town (it has no obvious name). There is an inn there called the Fine Cup, which has a large stable behind it. If the PCs pay a few extra silver marks the innkeeper will allow them to stable Bufford.
- If the PCs leave Bufford alone some enterprising rogues will try to kill him. They will be awoken by the sound of crashing timber, and will emerge to find the barn half destroyed. All three rogues are dead and the town constable is summoned. Since Bufford murdered the men and destroyed the barn the innkeeper is arguing to have the beast killed.
- The constable will ask who the beast belongs to and will inspect the scene. Once it becomes clear that the men were there to steal the animal and that Bufford was merely defending himself he will agree to remand the beast to Tobius. However, he does order Tobius to pay restitution so the barn can be repaired. It will cost three golden eagles.
- Near the end of the second day the city of Valys comes into view. It is utterly massive, far more so than even Lakeshore. A massive mountain looms in the distance, though it is missing it’s peak. The entire mountainside (name of districts- mountainside, east slope, etc) is covered in structures visible even at this distance.
- The rest of the trip is uneventful. The traffic thickens the closer they get to Valys, and eventually they reach the city. A wide road spirals up the mountain towards a truly massive pair of iron gates set about midway up the mountain. Traffic stretches from the base of the mountain all the way to the gates, and it will take nearly six hours for the PCs to reach the front of the line.
- Whey then arrive they are met by six guards, each wearing eldimagus armor and longswords. The driver shows them the Proconsul’s letter, and they are waived through. When they see Bufford one of the guards start’s cursing, but the captain overrules him. They are sent by the Proconsul. They can bring the beast. It’s not for the likes of gate guards to decide.
- If the PCs ask where Daffyd is the guards will suggest they begin with the temple of Celeste, as he is a battlemage and thus will have quarters prepared for him.
