define('WP_CACHE', true); Chapter 31: The Traveler’s Waypoint – Crossed Paths – Logs

Feb 21

Chapter 31: The Traveler’s Waypoint

Chapter 31: The Traveler’s Waypoint

In Which The Inn Turns Out To Be Pretty Fancy.

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Yazeth: ‘The Traveler’s Waypoint’ has a large foyer. To the side is a ‘mudroom’ with a shelf full of towels should any visitors be caught in the rain before entering. To the other side is an enclosed reception desk while the rest of the room is occupied with various configurations of tables, chairs and couches. A large fire place stands at the back, near the flight of stairs, and a door opens into what must obviously be the kitchen. The two are definitely in time for lunch.

Arrin Woodgreen: He grins. “Shall I check us in?”

Yazeth: The ferret nods. “Sure thing.”

Arrin Woodgreen: He grins. “Okay, you’ll go get the food then?”

Yazeth: “Yep.” She moves off to find a table and sets her pack in the chair before moving over towards the kitchen where a long table has been set up with plates full of lunch. Jozra carries two back to the table and waits for Soquan.

Arrin Woodgreen:  Soquan walks over to the front desk and waits for some beast to come over so they can be checked in, and he could eat.

Yazeth: A rat quickly appears at the counter. His friend, who had been lunching with him, chuckles as the flushed rat hurriedly attends to the otter. “Er, sorry about that.”

Arrin Woodgreen: He grins toothily. “Quite alright. I need a room for two if it’s possible.”

Yazeth: The rat nods and flips through a ledger. “What name shall I put you down for?”

Arrin Woodgreen: He thinks a moment. “Er, put it under Woodgreen.”

Yazeth: Nodding, the rat scribbles in the ledger and fumbles for a set of keys. “Lunch is on the house, dinner is an hour after sundown. I’m afraid we don’t do wake up calls,” he shudders a little, “had rather a bad experience with that. Breakfast is, well, you’ll know when.  Fresh baked bread every morn’.” He screws up his eyes in thought as he places the keys in Soquan’s paw. “Oh yes, and you pay upon checkout. We ask that you stop by the desk every evening that you are here, though.”

Arrin Woodgreen: He nods. “Okay, thank you.” He turns away from the rat and makes his way into the foyer to search for his friend.

Yazeth: Jozra calls to Soquan. “Over here, mate. There’s nothing in your way.”

Arrin Woodgreen: He grins as he hears the ferret and heads towards her. He arrives and sits down. “The room’s under Woodgreen.”

Yazeth: She nods and passes his plate over to him. “Eat up. It’s good stuff.”

Arrin Woodgreen: He grins. “Alright.” He does so, making delicious noises as he wolfs it down.

Yazeth: The ferret quickly eats her own lunch as well.

Arrin Woodgreen: He finishes quickly and leans back, sipping at his beverage.

Yazeth: “I suppose we should head off tomorrow. After breakfast, of course, if they’re breakfasts are as good as their lunches. That gives us plenty of time to restock our supplies too. Did they say when dinner was served?”

Arrin Woodgreen: He sips again. “An hour after sunset.  Are you sure you don’t want to stay an extra day and rest up?”

Yazeth: The ferret shrugs. “I’d rather we reach the more southern lands before it gets too late in the season. Do you know if we can cross the river here?”

Arrin Woodgreen: He shakes his head. “I don’t remember much about this place I’m afraid.”

Yazeth: “That alright. I’m sure we can find out from somebody.”

Arrin Woodgreen: He nods. “Okay. So do you want to drop off our things and go have a soak?”

Yazeth: The ferret grins. “Yeah. Besides, we need to figure out what we need to get first before we go to market.”

Arrin Woodgreen: He nods again, rising. “C’mon then.” He picks up the key and his pack.

Yazeth: Jozra hefts her own pack. “Room A5? I’m guessing that’s on the second floor.”

Arrin Woodgreen: He nods. “Okay, lead the way.”

Yazeth: The ferret leads the way up the stairs and sure enough the first rooms that they find are labled ‘A’. A5 is near the end of the corridor on the right. “Here we are.”

Arrin Woodgreen: He hands her the key. “You better do this.”

Yazeth: Jozra nods, takes the key and turns it in the lock. The door opens to a decent sized room – not too small but not overly large – with a window looking out onto the narrow street and over the building across the way. Two beds dominate the room, though a small washroom is near the door and a few pieces of other furniture are placed wherever they fit but don’t crowd the room.

Arrin Woodgreen: He looks towards her. “Well? How is it?”

Yazeth: The ferret grins in approval. “Quite nice, actually.” She walks in and sets her pack down in a chair and stretches. “I don’t think I could describe it well enough though. You might just want to feel around a bit.”

Arrin Woodgreen: He nods and does so, getting comfortable with the room.

Yazeth: The ferret walks to the window and checks out the view, working out a knot in her shoulder in the meantime.

Arrin Woodgreen: After a few moments, he seats himself on the edge of the bed. “C’mere.” He pats the place beside him.

Yazeth: Jozra quirks an eyebrow but complies.

Arrin Woodgreen: He moves so he’s sitting behind her and places his paws on his shoulders, working at the knots found there.

Yazeth: The ferret relaxes as her muscles looses. She smiles. “That feels wonderful.”

Arrin Woodgreen: He grins. “Good.” He keeps going, working at a particularly stubborn knot.

Yazeth: Eventually most of the soreness is worked out of Jozra’s back and the ferret returns the favor.

Arrin Woodgreen:  Soquan makes a soft, pleased noise as the ferret’s paws work at his back. “That feels great.”

Yazeth: Jozra merely nods and grins.

Arrin Woodgreen: His shoulders relax and his head lulls back slightly.

Yazeth: Finding no more knots to work out, Jozra pats the otter on the head and then moves to unpack. “Best find out what we have so we know what we need.”

Arrin Woodgreen: He nods and rises, opening looking through his pack as well.

Yazeth: Soon the ferret’s spare set of clothing is set on the dresser and what remains of their provisions is spread out on a table.

Arrin Woodgreen: He sets his extra clothing beside him and moves beside the ferret. “So what do we need?”

Yazeth: Jozra appraises what they have before them. The maple bars and fruit are long gone and the last of the rolls were eaten last night. “We have a tiny bag of nuts, enough smoked salmon for maybe two more meals and enough Wandering Cakes to last a week if we rationed. Three days if we don’t.”

Arrin Woodgreen: He nods. “I think a re-supply on everything will last us.”

Yazeth: Jozra nods as well. “Shall we go restock then?”

Arrin Woodgreen: He nods. “We’ll re-supply first, then a trip to the bathhouses.”

Yazeth: “Alright.” She grabs the key. “You have the coins?”

Arrin Woodgreen: He holds up a small bag. “Right here.”

Yazeth: The two exit the room and Jozra locks the door behind them. She places the key safely in a pocket and leads the way back down the hall and down the stairs.

Arrin Woodgreen: He follows, attaching the coin bag to his belt.

Yazeth: Soon the pair are back in the thick of the market. Jozra leads Soquan to a bakery.

Arrin Woodgreen: He sticks close, reaching for her arm again as they walk.

Yazeth: They purchase a loaf of bread. Any more and it would be stale and hard by the time they ate it. Jozra allows Soquan’s nose to lead the way to the fish booth.

Arrin Woodgreen: Still holding onto his companion, he leads her down the row of booths to the fish stall.

Yazeth: The stall is selling nearly every variety of locally river caught fish – smoked, dried and fresh.

Arrin Woodgreen: His whiskers twitch eagerly as he waits for his companion to order. He fumbles for his money pouch.

Yazeth:  Jozra selects a quantity of smoked salmon and trout.

Arrin Woodgreen: He hands over the payment and turns to the ferret. “What next?”

Yazeth: Jozra thinks for a moment. “Some dried fruit would be good.”

Arrin Woodgreen: He nods. “Aye, it would.” He sniffs the air and takes her paw, leading her back up the isle of stalls.

Yazeth: The stall next to the fruit stand is one that sells dried fruit. This isn’t lost on Jozra and she chuckles about the juxtaposition.

Arrin Woodgreen: He orders this time, getting out the coin as the tender gets it all ready.

Yazeth: Jozra looks to the otter. “Can you think of anything else we might need?”

Arrin Woodgreen: He thinks. “Maybe some flour so we can make our own bread cakes?”

Yazeth: The ferret nods. “Good idea.”

Arrin Woodgreen: He smiles. “Bakery again?”

Yazeth: Jozra grins. “Seems that way.” She leads the way back to the bakery.

Arrin Woodgreen: He follows, tucking the fruit under his arm.

Yazeth: They quickly arrive back at the bakery, now that they know where it is, and purchase a small bag of flour.

Arrin Woodgreen: He pays and turns to the ferret. “Is that all?”

Yazeth: Jozra checks their packages. “I believe so.”

Arrin Woodgreen: He grins. “Great, wanna drop them off at the room and head to the bathhouses then?”

Yazeth: She nods. “Sounds like a good idea.”

Arrin Woodgreen:  He walks back with her to the room and unlocks the door to their room himself this time. He places the fruit and flour on the counter and grabs his spare set of clothes.

Yazeth: Jozra sets the other packages of food on the counter as well before grabbing her own extra set of clothing.

Arrin Woodgreen: He grabs the key again and heads for the hallway. “Ready?”

Yazeth: The ferret follows Soquan out. “Yes.”

Arrin Woodgreen: He grins and shuts the door behind them, walking down the stairs. He nods a greeting to the desk beast before heading out the main door.

Jozra

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