May 12th is partly cloudy and still hot, but drier. You continue your southward trek, and midway through the afternoon come to End, the capitol of Riverland.
End is a good-sized town (population 5500), located on the east bank of the Mississippi. It is an important trading centre, lying near the mouth of the Mississippi and also astride the main trading road linking Nlad and Saltar. The place bustles. After paying a toll of 2gp per person you enter the town. The road you have followed since Bridgewater takes you into the centre of End, where there is the main square filled with a large market. Goods from all over the world, it seems, are available here. You see exotic fruits and gold items from the islands of the Caribbean Sea, silver from Central Amrica, furs from the Pacific coast, industrial goods from Nlad and Saltar as well as carved jade from the northern lands. Surrounding the square are a number of temples: Forseti, Mielikki, Sif, Aarth, Red God, Uller, Loviatar, Gods of Lankhmar and Hate. In the centre of the square is a signpost, for a Great Road passes through here -
The Imperial Road: East: To Tybol, Vandrake and Arble.
West: To Portland, Crystal Valley and Galvast.
North: To Point and Guardian Ford.
South: To Orleans and Bayou.
There are several inns around the square as well, as well some taverns and restaurants. And, Rage spots an alchemy/magical supply shop.
To the west the Imperial Road runs to the edge of the Mississippi River. Once a great bridge crossed the river at this point: you can still see the pilings which once supported it, though the bridge was destroyed during the civil war. Now, one must take ferries across to the western shore. There are many ships at anchor along the wharves.
All in all, End seems to be a little less rough than Point, though there are still many mercenaries about.
Niko claps his hands together. "Now, this is a town! I bet I coulda made a fortune trading here!"
Kadlian looks around. "I think we shall stay here a few days and look around. Keep your wits about you and keep your tongue quiet, okay? No fights and do not get drunk."
"Rage, Kailar, now might be the time to try and identify whatever magical items we have that are still unknown including the ones that the others found in their assault on that keep."
"Selvfølgeligmin kaptein. Vi skal skal sjekke tingene nå." the mage says.
Kadlian skips a step. "Come again?"
"Also, some magic shopping might be in order. We could probably use some wands or such for some of the newer mages."
Rage rolls her eyes, but bites her tongue before speaking in tongues again. "Jeg mistenker at det det skal skal være liten av anmerkningher i denne byen. Kanskje en potion eller topå en exhorbant pris. Bedre å å få ruller av magiske raketter for alle. "
"Yes, I expect there might be exorbitantly priced, but check anyway, please. And please translate the rest of it. I do not speak whatever language that is."
"Elfe sind so verschlechteter Humor. Oder vielleicht ist es nur Rangers. " Rage says to whoever is next to her. "Logan, you should come along too, we might need your muscle."
"Ah, glad I am not forgotten!" Logan says with a smile.
Turning back to Kadlian, she says, "I suspect we will find little other than a potion or two, or perhaps maybe a scroll of dubious value. But I will look. Perhaps Kailar might have better luck, if there is a guild here, where he could negotiate."
"Always good to know that one is appreciated," he winks at her and falls in line as the trio go shopping. "While we are out and about, I could definitely use some sort of magical protections, as all of my gear was destroyed some time ago."
"Come Malvis, let's see what items yonder shoppe might have that we can avail ourselves of."
"Good luck."
Malvis eyes Rage with wonder yet again. He knew she was capable of multiple personalities, but had yet to hear her speak in tongues. Rage grew more mysterious the longer he knew her.
"Right here, mistress," he answers quickly, "And let's see what we can find."
"Oh, and keep your ears open for any dungeons or places full of monsters. We could always go to one of those places to replenish our magical and money supplies."
"Bet I can drink you under the table this time," Dor challenges Niko.
Niko chuckles. "Heh! Now that's a challenge I accept! Of course, as you are the initiator of the challenge, I expect you to provide all the weapons!"
Kadlian looks sharply over to them. "I just said that I did not want anyone getting drunk. And no fights, either. Wait until we are someplace safer."
Dor looks disappointed.
"I wasn't going to get drunk. Only he was." He points at Niko. "I can hold my liquor."
"There is this famous spell, Kadlian, that allows the caster to meld shut the mouth of the person it is cast on. There is a famous story too where it was done," the mage says, pulling out a cranberry and a blueberry , "Chose the red, and learn the truth, chose the blue and remember nothing but bliss," she says, offering it to Dor.
Dor looks at the berries with suspicion.
"We could have used that with Furgh. But, for now, I would settle for Dor, Niko and Logan. Think you can arrange that for me, Rage?"
"As you wish," the mage says.
"That'll prevent them from eating and drinking too. Which should be pretty useful. It should keep them out of trouble, for the most part."
Niko smirks. "Care to put some money on that?"
"No, Niko, that will just encourage you to be creative. It might be more interesting to reverse the bet."
Niko winks. "Heh! How much you willin' ta wager?"
"Ten gold pieces. But, that means you also have to keep Dor and Logan from getting into trouble as well. And not entice any of the rest of our group, either. In other words, you have to behave and set a good enough example that no one else gets into trouble."
The elf grins widely, "Fifteen says he fails, twenty that he gets drinks by this time tomorrow or earlier!"
Niko shakes his head negatively. "Nope. Now you're changing the bet. Also, I don't believe in being responsible for other people's behavior, unless they're working on my ship."
"Fair enough."
"Now, if you want me to baby sit Dor and Logan, well, that'll cost ya extra..."
Niko then adds with a wink, "but I won't change their diapers!"
"I did not know they wore any."
"How about you behave because I ask you to and leave it at that."
Niko shrugs, "Sure."
He eyes Edelle with a small grin "I'm sure I can find something to do to keep me out of trouble for a while..."
"A short while that will be for sure," says Sian with a grin.
"Bah! That's just an old wives tale meant to scare the youngin's. Next you'll be telling me that this reality is but a dream..."
"How do you know what you experience is not controlled? How do you know this is reality?" the mage says. "What is your proof?"
"Feh! You either believe or you don't. If you don't, then all of what you've accomplished in your life was for naught."
"I for one believe that this is reality and that what I've done counts and has made a difference."
Niko cuffs Dor in the head. "Yeah, didn't you hear Kadlian?"
Dor gives Niko a charlie horse by way of reply.
"And what does Charlie have to say about that?" Rage asks, her voice that of a child.
Malvis smiles, but is a little unsure if Rage is still just teasing the care-free warriors, or is suffering a relapse of some sort. He tests her by interjecting, "And what of his horse?"
Dor rolls his eyes. "I'm hungry and not for stupid berries. And I don't need babysitting."
He sets off in search of a good meal.
Kadlian heads for an inn to see what rooms are available.
"Rage, when you get back could we check on Umboth and make sure that all is going well with him? I would hate for something to have happened to them," says Sian.
He follows Kad to the inn and gets some rooms for all of his followers.
You take rooms at the best inn in town, The Dog, which is just off of the main square. The rooms are clean, the beds comfortable, the food and beer first rate. It is not cheap, though: 1gp per night which includes breakfast. If this is too rich for some people then there are other inns: The Castle, of fair quality (10sp per night); The Ship, a real dive down by the wharves (5sp, prostitutes an additional 1gp per night); and The Whistling Wizard, fair quality (11sp per night).
Once the matter of your accommodations are settled you scatter on various errands...eventually regrouping over breakfast two days later.