You are on the road somewhat later than you had planned to be this morning. The enormous breakfast served at the inn was not something to be hurried through.
Outside, the weather is very warm, with low humidity. The sun shines down on you out of a cloudless sky.
Once you set out, though, you make excellent time, heading east down the Great West Road. After an uneventful day, you reach the halfling town of Hobbitown. It is little more than a village by human standards, but nevertheless it is the capital of Milkland. It is also a major intersection of several roads, as the signpost in the main square indicates...
The Great West Road: Northeast: To North End, Adford, Derextar.
West: To Bilboburgh, Hambol Hollow, Westmarish.
The Amlad Road: East: To Burl Grav, Calamlad, Golgar.
North: To Tallhollow.
South: To Hilltop.
McTavish insists that you stop here for the night.
"We'll be spending enough time sleeping on the ground before long," he explains, as he leads you into an inn.
That night, after another excellent dinner followed by fine drink, he tells you a little about the area.
"Milkland was founded about 600 years ago after the fall of the Empire," he says. "To the east is Amlad. Its people are semi-nomads...herders and ranchers. Their horses are the best to be had anywhere. On their eastern border is Golgar. When I first visited that place 30-odd years back it was a ruin, filled with evil ruled from the Tower of Golgar. We damned near got ourselves killed there, before we turned chicken and fled. I'm told that about 10 years after that the forces of Golgar invaded Amlad...but they were defeated and the city fell. When I passed through the area last summer with my brother, the city was still a ruin...but now controlled by Amlad.
"We aren't going that way," he adds. "We're heading north."
Farad laughs. "I imagine whatever lies to the north is even more dangerous, eh?"
"Aye," replies the dwarf, not sharing Farad's humour.
Raz nods absentmindedly and continues to listen with unfocused eyes.