TB9 Chapter 3

Jan 9: Brandyn started the day by cooking the steaks for his parents. His father ate the whole thing but his mother left some for later. He then left immediately to the museum to talk to Chloe about the trip east. They had a long conversation where Brandyn learned several interesting things about the Barbarians and the urgency of the trip, and so he agreed to leave the following day on horseback. Chloe then signed Brandyn as an official of the museum and gave him the right to lay claim to any artifacts he may find in the cave. They agreed he would take no cart and travel light so to beat the representative from the Royal museum. He then left to the mages guild whereupon he was offered a job escorting one of the professor's daughters to a monastery. Brandyn, to the disappointment of the professor, refused the job in favour of his current agreement with the museum. Brandyn spent the rest of the day preparing for his trip the following morning.

Jan 10: As Brandyn is making his way to the museum the next morning he runs into Jordus, who informs him that a posh man by the name Dargent is looking for him urgently. Thanking Jordus, Brandyn uses the business card given to him to quickly make his way into the richer part of the city, to the restaurant named "Dargent's", where he recognizes an old bard classmate by the name of Vinkus. After a quick catch up Brandyn flashes the business card and is speedily ushered into Dargent's office. There, Dargent convinces Brandyn to investigate what is surely a great and immediate danger to the health of the people: Aldo's. Brandyn shares what information he had gleaned from his visit to Aldo's and even rushes home to bring Dargent what was left over from his mothers steak the previous morning, and confirms Dargent's suspicion that magic was being used to enhance the steaks and poison the patrons. Dargent handed over 650 gold pieces and promised double that if Brandyn returned with three things, evidence that Aldo was using magic on the steaks, a recipe book and secrecy about the matter. Brandyn quickly agreed before rushing to the museum to inform Chloe about the delay. Being unable to share why, Chloe is disappointed, but before she can object Brandyn is out the door and rushing to Aldo's. There he finds a crate full of raw steaks in the back alley, stealing a few he brings them back to Dargent before returning to Aldo's. There he uses his wit and skill in magic to distract the 2 fierce guard dogs and steal mages robes, a potion and a recipe book from the kitchen in Aldo's. He returns the items to Dargent and receives his payment. Pleased with his short work and heavy pockets he returns to the museum and leaves on his trip posthaste.

Jan 11-12: Brandyn travels uneventfully.

Jan 13: Brandyn arrives in Cordale by evening and heads immediately to his uncles house, there Arthur feeds him and offers his house for the night. They share a pleasant dinner and Arthur shares some info about the roads to the mines. Warning Brandyn about bandits.

Jan 14: Brandyn travels until reaching the turn off towards the mountains. He begins the treacherous journey towards the mine. Brandyn travels all day and sets up camp on a flat patch of grass, casting alarm on the campsite before bed.

Jan 15: Bradyn travels until late afternoon, before searching for a place to make camp for the night. He finds a small stream in a gulley. As he is setting up he notices fresh blood in the water flowing downstream. Concerned, he follows the water into a thicket where he finds what appears to be a heavily tattooed traveler with an empty scabbard and a wound in his back. Brandyn quickly fetches his medicine pack before dressing the wound. Assuming the man is unconscious Brandyn quickly waters his horse before returning to find the man has vanished. Upon arriving back at his campsite he sees the man attempting to steal his horse. Brandyn immediately attempts to put the man to sleep with a spell but it is reflected back at him by a ring on the man's finger. Overcoming his own spell Brandyn reasons with the man and convinces him to turn around, but before he can the man falls unconscious from blood loss. Brandyn sets him on the ground, removing his rings and a pouch full of intricately carved wooden sticks before setting up camp and re-dressing the wound.