[GAME] The Long Journey Begins

Mid-morning, and the snow once again fell softly around them as the two adventurers made their way back to Weddenvale for their supplies. The five day hike ahead of them to Lord Blenheims' palace had caught them under-prepared, and they needed to stock up. Garf made his way to the blacksmith, but found little to help out there, finding instead that the leatherworker had a good supply of tents and bags for the journey. Lafayette tried unsuccessfully to hire a known felon from the prison, the guards naturally not wishing to release criminals back into the general populace. The guard pointed him to the Merchant Adventurers Hall, where Lafayette found two people lounging outside looking for work. Lafayette walked straight up to the larger of the two and punched him squarely on the nose. In a flash, the man had pulled his sword and levelled it directly at Lafayette's throat. "You're hired", was all the ranger said. Brad, for 'twas his name, looked blankly for a moment, then laughed uproariously and clapped Lafayette firmly on the shoulder. "I like your style!", was all he said, and the companions had added a third to their number. Lafayette unceremoniously then punched the other man in the face, who fell in a crumpled heap to the floor. Unsurprisingly, that fellow received no job that day.

Garf, Lafayette and Brad then convened at Bartholemews house and checked in with the old Dwarf that the armour of Arthur was still stowed away safely in his basement. Bartholemew confirmed that it was, and offered the adventurers lunch before they set off. All readily agreed and ate their fill, then with the Dwarf waving at the door, they began their five day trek.

As they passed out of town, they couldn't help feeling a certain atmosphere to Weddenvale that had not been there before. Neither of them chose to question a local about it though, so they passed unawares out into the surrounding countryside. As the afternoon wore on, the snow began to fall thicker covering their tracks on the road nicely, although all three companions shifted uneasily in their seats as the sound of wolves in the countryside nearby continued to reach their ears periodically. Presently, conversation turned to religious matters and Garf was stunned to discover that they had in common a mutual friend in Abbot Kempo of Waterdeep. It turned out that Lafayette had fought at the Abbott's side in the Siege of Waterdeep and Garf had enjoyed some tutelage at the monastery from the aging cleric. A common friend strengthened the blossoming friendship between the two unlikely companions, and as the afternoon wore on they discovered that they had more in common than at first thought. Brad travelled several metres back covering the rear of the party, and despite his insistences as the afternoon wore on and the sun started to set, no camp was set for the night until well after darkfall.

Despite the freezing cold and the pitch darkness, the camp was set for the night and the fire soon roaring with their evening meal cooking. After some quiet dinner conversation, Brad offered to take the first watch, and settled down some yards from the camp (within the confines of Lafayette's hastily erected defenses) to take his turn. After four uneventful hours, and with the fire now well and truly dying, he awoke Lafayette to take his watch. Lafayette refused to get up, and instead told Brad to go kick the cleric, a duty to which he duly obliged. As Garf took his watch, his keen senses heard a rustling on the outskirts of the camp. Coming alert and hefting his mace, he quietly woke the others again, and all three took up arms against the night. Within moments, a bell rang on the camp perimeter and all three spun to see two cold blue eyes staring back at them through the darkness. The fire lay dying as the creature made its attack, leaping at Lafayette! The ranger grappled the creature, and started a vicious fight with it. Garf swung his crossbow around and quickly loaded a bolt - his aim was wild and he narrowly avoided striking his companion Without warning, something large suddenly struck Garf in the back, sending him crashing to the ground, and within an instant the animal was almost upon him. Desperate, Garf cried out to Kord, and his deity duly obliged as a deafening burst stunned the creatures attacking them. As their eyes became accustomed it was obvious they were under attack from two winter wolves. "If only we'd kept the fire going!", muttered Garf as the two wolves tried to shake the deafening burst from their heads.

Suddenly, one of the wolves opened his mouth wide and breathed cold all over Garf, who knew a magical touch when he felt it. Freezing and stunned, he was helpless when the wolf sunk it's giant fangs into him. The creature could not get a good purchase through Garf's armour and was presently wrestled from his prey by Brad who was enraged and hacking and slashing with his battleaxe as hard as he could in the direction of the deadly creature. Lafayette finished off the wolf he was wrestling and threw his tomahawk at the wolf, burying the hatchet in the animals shoulder. Dazed, and moving poorly the wolf leapt at Lafayette, leaving Garf (now unconscious) to his fate. Between them, Brad and Lafayette subdued and killed the second creature, then breathing heavily set about patching up Garf's wounds. Though unconscious, Garf was saved from an almost certain death by the moderate healing skill administered by Lafayette.

All three companions, plus Lafayette's dog, laid back on the ground breathing heavily, and looked up at the dark snow laden skies. They had been lucky to escape, even considering Garf's injuries. A little voice somewhere in the back of Lafayette's mind suggested he make a mental note to ensure the fire is kept stoked at all times during the night in future...