A pleasant time in Thantabaar, but with a troublemaker

We stayed at the same Inn as Lina... I mean, the large caravan did.

The dawn came, and I was, of course, ready for my first breakfast. I went downstairs and saw Lina across the room. I asked her if I could join her and the other person at their table. Was he also a caravan officer or her... something?

She introduced him to me: her second-in-command, Pandal Roughchest. What a surname! After less than one minute of conversation, by the veins in their foreheads, verbal and non-verbal cues, I could tell her that the relationship there was not symmetric. As you might have guessed, dear diary, she was not interested. I felt guilty to feel relieved. Sorry, pal! Honestly.

I then ordered tea, bread, and soup, mirroring what she had. Well, that has been working for me so far, so what not?

The caravan would be doing one day of trade in the town. Lina takes care of more... uh... point-of-the-dagger affairs, so she was somewhat free. Then, I asked her to tell me about the trip ahead of us, telling her that I had never left the Shires.

"Why not, rookie?", she said, with a gorgeous smile.

Without realizing, we were strolling by the sea, and most of our conversation took place during that walk. I could quickly tell Lina was nervous, blushing, yet trying to avoid it. That made very nervous as well. Totally not true!! That made me feel awesome! The more I learn to use and trust these "superpowers," the more confident I get. Yay!

She used beach rocks and rough sand to show me the towns and dangerous places we'd be going through. That - allied to that newly-acquired perfect memory of mine - came in pretty handy. Thanks, Lina!

During the conversation, we had apples and peaches for second breakfast. As the time for lunch approached, we headed back to the Inn, where Pandal received us with a confused look - and towards me, a hostile one.

We focused on further preparations to resume the journey the next day with the sunrise.

For dinner, I stayed on a table with other folks, not Lina. Also, I gossiped with Kashorn Alemaker, the Innkeeper, but not much happens around those parts. The only interesting fact I got from him is that Mr. Roughchest is not to be trifled with.

I asked him: "Why are you telling me this? Did he mention something?"

He said, "No."

And he was lying.

A Hin called Lina Thinbrow

The time has come for me to start moving... and to meet Lina Thinbrow. I live in Deepmoss, and the caravan would be departing from Shireton, so I planned to catch them at Thantabbar, using Deepmoss Road.

There was a smaller caravan departing from my city to do exactly that, so I went with them. I knew everyone there. Small town and all, and I'm this likable fella...

Well, we departed right after the sun showed up and arrived a little bit after sunset. A beautiful and uneventful trip with that flavour of the Shires.

During this time of the year, the oaks did not have leaves, but they did have some snow left, giving that nice effect, especially when the sun shines through them. We had magnificent views at the start and end of the trip.

That same night, we found the more massive caravan and its Inn. I then looked for Lina. She was with two other folks having what I guess it was her second dinner.

I introduced myself, asked to join the caravan, said that it'd be good for her to have one more arm (and dagger) and that would prevent me from travelling alone.

"A win-win scenario you propose, eh?", she said, with a gracious crooked smile.

It seems that my uncle Cillidox has a crystal ball (well, actually he has one...): she said "Yes." I could tell from her facial expressions, blushing, her eyes and body language that she:

1) has a deep respect for my uncle;

2) liked me.

How could I tell it so easily??? I was always good with people, but this new thing I have in my ear, this green gift of awesomeness is really something!

Maps, guides, and the earring

My now enhanced memory (love it!!) helped me remember that in a chest here at home Cillidox kept a bunch of maps and other adventuring material.

There I found many maps by Thorfinn Tait, legendary cartographer. My uncle once told me that he even mapped other worlds (???!!!). Man, I wanna have that much adventure and have that many stories to tell and sing about.

There was also a cool map by human hero Tim Roberts on the Grand Duchy of Karameikos. I know, I know... on a previous page of this journal I called it a kingdom, but, man, this earring is phenomenal! Things are so much clearer now! Thanks, Tim, wherever you are!

Also in the chest, I found a description by retired adventurer John Walter Biles. It was about the Riverfork Keep, some 25 miles past the border between Eastshire and Karameikos.

I also gathered as much info as possible on "werebeings and other undead" since my uncle sounded so ominous when referring to those.

I was gathering as much info about the route as possible. In fact, I wish I could carry the whole chest with me... everything so useful.

On the other hand, maybe I don't need to carry all that material around... you know, I perused all those maps and pages and have a nearly flawless recollection. And I did it ten times faster than I'd have before the earring. What is this thing?