Captain Borin Stonebeard's gaze remained fixed on Drake, his expression unreadable beneath his thick, braided beard and the brim of his steel helmet. The crackling bonfire cast dancing shadows across his weathered face as he considered Drake's request for passage towards the Serpent's Tooth mountains and the legendary [Echoing Forge]. The captain had named his price for security, a price Drake suspected he could barely meet.
"The Echoing Forge is not a destination for the unprepared, nor the light of coin, Bladesworn," Captain Stonebeard rumbled, his voice like grinding stones. "Passage on this League caravan to the Serpent's Tooth foothills staging post is 75 Gold. Non-negotiable. Covers your rations, water, and a share of the warding costs. And you'll be expected to pull your weight if we hit trouble. We're not a charity cruise."
"Seventy-five Gold! That leaves me with barely 20 Gold for anything else. But it's the only secure way. Walking alone through those high-level unmapped regions would be suicide, or take weeks of cautious travel." Drake knew this was his best option, despite the cost.
"I can pay the 75 Gold, Captain," Drake stated, trying to sound more confident about his finances than he felt. To further legitimize his purpose, he accessed his quest log interface and displayed the relevant entry from Elder Jian. "My quest, [Legacy of the Twin Souls], specifically directs me to the Echoing Forge. It is a matter of considerable importance, tied to ancient Alvari concerns." He hoped the mention of Alvari and a formal quest from a recognized (if reclusive) master like Jian would add weight.
Captain Stonebeard leaned closer, his keen eyes scanning the quest details Drake shared. He grunted, a sound that could have meant anything. "Elder Jian, eh? Still meddling in things best left buried, that old recluse. Alright, Bladesworn. If Jian himself sent you, then your purpose is likely genuine, however foolhardy." He straightened up. "Seventy-five Gold, and you follow all caravan protocols. No wandering off. You fight when called upon. Understood?"
"Understood, Captain," Drake confirmed, relieved. << Gold Deducted: 75 >> His coin pouch felt significantly lighter. He was now down to just 21 Gold. << You have secured passage with the Explorer's League Serpent's Tooth Caravan! Departure at dawn. >>
"Find a spot for your bedroll. We break camp at first light," Stonebeard said, then turned back to his duties, already shouting orders to a pair of dwarven guards wrestling with a heavy supply crate.
Drake found a relatively quiet spot near one of the outer wagons, unrolled his basic bedroll, and settled down, though sleep was far from his mind. He observed the caravan camp with keen interest. It was clearly a professional, high-security operation. The reinforced wagons were circled tightly, creating a defensible perimeter. Warding totems, pulsing with faint protective magic, were being set up at regular intervals by a robed NPC who looked like a League-affiliated mage. The guards, a mix of heavily armed humans and dwarves, all appeared to be Level 30+, many even higher, their gear practical and well-maintained. They moved with a disciplined efficiency, their patrols constant and alert.
There were perhaps a dozen other passengers, a diverse group. He saw a pair of elderly scholars poring over maps by the light of a flickering lantern, their conversation peppered with academic jargon about Alvari ley lines. A stern-looking woman in explorer's gear meticulously cleaned a set of complex-looking survey tools. A few younger, more nervous-looking adventurer-types, likely on their first major expedition, huddled together, speaking in hushed tones. None of them looked like simple tourists; everyone here had a purpose, a reason to brave the dangerous journey east.
"This isn't some merchant caravan heading to a nearby town. This is a serious expedition into dangerous territory. Good. Means they're prepared for trouble." Drake kept [Relic Hunter] active at a low level, passively scanning his surroundings, while [Perfect Recall] absorbed the layout of the camp, the faces of the guards and passengers, the rhythm of the patrols – all potentially useful information. He noted the types of weapons the guards favored, their apparent formations, the way Captain Stonebeard commanded.
Dawn arrived too quickly, the sky a pale grey. The camp was already a hive of activity. Wards were taken down, bedrolls stowed, wagons hitched. Drake ate a quick breakfast of [Iron Rations] and refilled his waterskin. Within the hour, under Captain Stonebeard's booming commands, the caravan began to move. << The Serpent's Tooth Caravan has departed! >>
The massive, iron-banded wheels of the wagons crunched over the rocky terrain as they left the staging post behind, heading east into the rugged, untamed wilds that lay between Silverhaven's settled territories and the distant Serpent's Tooth mountain range. The pace was steady, dictated by the heavy wagons, but the guards remained constantly vigilant, outriders scouting ahead and on the flanks.
Drake maintained a low profile amongst the passengers, usually walking near the middle of the convoy, his [Initiate's Twin Blades] sheathed but ready. He spent most of his time observing. He watched the meticulous security formations: the vanguard of heavily armored dwarves, the mounted human outriders who constantly scanned the horizon, the rearguard ensuring nothing crept up from behind. He listened to the snippets of conversation from the other passengers, [Perfect Recall] filing away mentions of specific ruins, dangerous creatures, or local legends related to the eastern territories. He used [Relic Hunter] passively, scanning the terrain they passed through, noting faint energy signatures from buried Alvari remnants or unusual geological formations marked on his [Cartographer's Route Maps] if they happened to align with the caravan's path.
The first day of travel was relatively uneventful, a testament to the caravan's security and the respect it commanded. They encountered packs of Level 25-28 Highland Prowlers and occasional Stonehide Behemoths, but the League guards dispatched them with professional efficiency, their coordinated volleys of crossbow bolts and heavy axe swings making short work of the threats before they could even reach the main convoy. Drake was never called upon to fight, which suited him fine; he preferred to observe and learn for now.
As evening approached, Captain Stonebeard selected a defensible position for their first night's camp – a small, box canyon with easily guarded entrances. The wagons were circled, wards were erected, and cookfires were lit. Drake found a spot slightly apart, observing the camp routine.
Just as the passengers were settling down for their evening meal, two of the outriders galloped back into camp, their expressions grim. They reported directly to Captain Stonebeard, their voices low but urgent enough for Drake's keen hearing to pick up key phrases: "...unusually large pack... Shadowfen Howlers... far south of their usual territory... and frenzied, unnaturally aggressive..."
Captain Stonebeard swore under his breath, his hand instinctively going to the hilt of his massive two-handed axe. He quickly issued orders: "Double the watch! All passengers armed and ready! Mages, prepare defensive barriers on my mark! Those Howlers are bad news on a normal night; if they're frenzied, we're in for a rough one."
A wave of tension immediately swept through the camp. The other adventurers checked their weapons, their earlier casual demeanor gone. The scholars looked nervous, clutching their research bags. Drake stood up, drawing his [Initiate's Twin Blades], their faint purple enchantment glow almost invisible in the firelight.
"Shadowfen Howlers... Level 30+ pack hunters, known for their speed and ferocity according to the bestiaries I skimmed. 'Frenzied' means trouble. Looks like my first contribution to this caravan's defense is coming sooner than expected."
The first day of the Echoing Forge expedition was concluding under an atmosphere of heightened alert. The journey had truly begun, and the dangers of the wild, untamed lands of Xylos were already making their presence known.