After the brief appearance before Judiciar Trueheart for the murder of the three hoods during the home invasion, the troupe takes some downtime to assess their situation. Mar’Khabazza is concerned about the inevitable changing of the seasons and wants to make sure they have sufficient funds to lay quality provisions to last the winter in style. Ravenna is curious about the investigation of Edmond’s Crossing as well as the job of assassinating Earthcaller Halmgar for Earthcaller Franzahl.
Asa group they decide on a mission to Edmond’s Crossing to look into the issue with the redirection of iron away from Beryl while potentially making some coin, somehow, along the way.
July 2, 7761
After several days of provisioning, Ravenna, Mar’Khabazza, Magnus Strange, Schist and Feldspar leave Opal for the long trek to Edmond’s Crossing. The two days to the crossroads are uneventful with a quick check-in with the three rangers there, followed by another day through the pass over the Mulpara Mountains.
It is another two days out of the mountains to the eastern edge of the unnamed forest, and two days through the forest to the southern edge.
July 8, 7761
July 8th finds them on the edge of the forest on the Great Road facing the expansive plains of central Provence Brilend. The Great Road runs across the pains for hundreds of miles in a straight shot along side the Inaro River before reaching Edmond’s Crossing. On the plains surrounding them are massive herds of elk and spot a pack of wolves trailing them. For a moment Magnus considers doing some hunting but Mar’Khabazza prefers to press onwards, trusting to their provisions to carry them to the Crossing.
It is at this point that Ravenna realizes she forgot to pack enough alcohol and runs out. Her first sober day in several years begins with an unnamed irritability, shaky hands and fever that increase in severity for the next 24 hours to include seizures and hallucinations. After 72 hours, she is on her back in the back of the wagon, spiking a fever, delerious and shaking. Under the tender yet inexperienced care of Magnus Strange, Ravenna recovers by July 11 and she decides to remain sober rather than buying more alcohol from caravans passing them by on their own journeys north.
July 13, 7761
On their fifth day of their journey across the plains, the troupe spots a war band of Chakagari looting the shattered remnants of a southbound caravan and elect to hide until the marauders ride off to the east. They approach the remains of the plundered caravan and do some looting of their own, recovering bags of spices, pickled condiments and milled pine planks bound for the Jewell Cities.
The group continues south, speaking briefly with northbound caravans, warning them about the marauding Chakagari. They in turn are told about news from Edmond’s Crossing: apparently there is a band of rangers, renegate wardens, roaming the forests surrounding the Crossing. The band of outlaws is led by someone called the Rogue Knight and there is a bounty offered by the town council – dead or alive.
July 18, 7761
Early in the morning of the fifteenth day of their journey they spot signs of smoke and industry from the northernmost tip of the Thelan Forest on the eastern shore of the Inaro River. Their continued progress eventually brings them to the woodland town of Edmond’s Crossing.
