Alain Alone, the Road to Darkon

[ewancummins]

Alain’s contact, Jules, leans across the table. The older man’s ruddy face wears an uncharacteristically grim expression.
“The parcel was sent north; it's on its way to Darkon. The courier will wait at an inn just shy of the border, on the road southwest of Neufurchtenburg. A Darkonese rider will meet him and take the package the rest of the way. ” The ex-gendarme fondles the pouch of silver coins. “You’ve paid me a fair price, Alain, and I’ve answered with the best information I could find. This last bit of advice is free. Whatever is in that package, be it yours by law or just something you desire- let it go. No good will come of dealing with the warlocks and heretics of Darkon. That land is cursed. Turn back while you still have your soul and mind.” Jules pushes up from the table with both hands palms down. His peg leg clatters against the warped floorboards as he shuffles out of the tavern.

[Lord Skybolt]

"Thank you for the information, but in this case that is not the only reason I'm going there ."With that Alain leaves the table to follow up on the information he has received . Thinking to himself:I'm also wondering about the origins of our mysterious dead friend(considering he was right about Jon) the Knight Cirdan .

[ewancummins]

Alain is able to obtain a reasonably good deal on a spare horse, boat ride, feed, etc.

[Lord Skybolt]

After getting the needed gear for traveling, Alain makes one last stop to give Wat some upkeep money to watch and repair his house as needed . Besides money for any extra food he may need while he lives there . Then he goes to catch his riverboat .

[ewancummins]

The crisp autumn breeze blows away the haze wood smoke and the smell of manure; Alain can smell the damp coolness of the River Musarde even before he turns the corner to face the waterfront.

The keelboat crew is a scurvy looking lot of Richemuloise men; dressed in worn clothes, sporting tattoos, and in need of a barber's services. All were knives at their belts.

The boat master presents a more respectable appearance, a tall man with long auburn hair and a neatly trimmed beard. He wears a poignard with a fancy ivory hilt, in contrast to the plain knives of his crew.


The master tells Alain, "Mind your horses don't kick anyone. We'll be carrying a pretty full load, cargo and a few other passengers."

The boatmen load barrels, bags, chests, and bales of cotton and wool onto the long, flat topped keelboat. A thin man with long gray hair, muffled in a brown cloak, sits near the mast. He's not working with the crewmen, but instead plays with dice on the deck before his seat. Two more passengers show up while Alain is busy getting his horses onto the clear area of the deck. The newcomers are a young man and a young woman, both plainly dressed with backpacks and no arms besides knives.

Alain has his horses and gear situated when the boat master gives the order to cast off. His crew raises the simple square sail, and then pushes off with long poles. The vessel moves into the current and then downstream...

[Lord Skybolt]

Alain after stowing his gear and making sure his horse are situated so they will not bother anyone else on the trip . He goes and mingle with the rest of the passengers and crew so he does not ruffle any bodies feather as it were while on this trip and to gauge who to keep an I out as thieves or trouble makes too .

[ewancummins]

The young couple hold hands and occasionally kiss. They chat together, but are friendly to Alain if he speaks with them.
"We're going north to my uncle's farm in Dementlieu' the young man tells Alain. " He's passed away, Ezra guide his spirit, and now the farm is mine. "

The older fellow in the brown cloak will invite Alain to play dice with him.
"Name's Pierre. Wanna throw the bones, youngster? A few coppers on the barrelhead to make the game interesting? "

[Lord Skybolt]

"Names Al sure we can play for few coppers to make it interesting ."Alain replies with smile .

[ewancummins]

Pierre puts ten copper pieces on the barrelhead.

''Okay, lets play something fun and simple- craps.""

[Lord Skybolt]

Alain puts his own 10 cps on the Barrel head .

[ewancummins]

Pierre throws the dice several times. He loses his money.

""Well, there you go. Easy, right? "

[Lord Skybolt]

"Sure seems that way to me !!"Alains collects his money then puts 3 cps on the barrel head so as to maybe attract more people to ante up into the game .

[ewancummins]

The old man puts 3 more coppers on the barrel. Sure enough, the young man who inherited the farm comes over and puts his bet down.
"Don't worry, honey'', he tells his wife, "I'll win some extra money for us, I'm sure. I feel lucky."

[Lord Skybolt]

Alain picks up the dice and rolls he rolls a 9 on his first roll then loses on his seventh roll also with 7 too . Alain is wondering is if the dice are cursed on the seventh roll lol .

[ewancummins]

The old man wins the pot on his first roll, a seven.

''Heh, well it's just a small pot. Let's play bigger."

He plops 10 silvers down on the barrelhead.

"'You in, gents?"

The young man's wife shakes her head, but he ignores her and puts ten silver down.