We made it. WE MADE IT! We're in Dryden and we're still alive! We defeated the Giant Crabs and arrived at the gates of Dryden three nights ago. We were cold, wet, low on rations (and more importantly, beer) but our spirits were high at the thought of 150 gold pieces each. Then we met a jobsworth guard at the gates who wouldn't let us in:
"Gates close at 7.00 pm - it's 7.05 pm." We explained we'd been marching through that bloody swamp for eight days and does five minutes really matter?
"Course they do, what if we chopped five minutes off every hour - matter then wouldn't it? Anyway, can't let ANYONE in - you might be spies." Qara tried explaining that that's OK because it would be easier to spy during daylight and as it was now dark, even if we were spies we wouldn't be able to do anything until tomorrow, by which time he could alert the entire town guard. (Never debate with a blood.) That didn't work either, so we restrained Qara's blade-thrwoing hand, Rochine cast Sleep I and in we went!
Despite the battles outside, it's fairly quiet in the city itself, although you have to look out for Magic Blasts. Mages should not be allowed to drink beer - they lose all self-control. I know there's an image of drunks where they get "tiddly", make bad jokes and then pass-out, but the reality is quite different. Most drunks, especially habitual drunks go on and on for hours and rarely pass-out. There's no way to sober them up, all you can do is to try and put them somewhere quiet where they can't upset anyone. The simple solution would be Sleep or Slumber but the damn priests are usually as legless as the mages and if you try and sleep them, they cast Strength or Disease. You can't use a bow in town because of the crowds and even if you could, they'd only heal themselves and turn you into toast. You can't win!
We've decided to spend a few days here, re-equipping, before buying a journey to Fentham or Granalf - I'm not going into that swamp again! We're doing quite well what with the money from the quest completion and Qara's theiving exploits (we'll have to slow her down, she's beginning to jangle). We should be able to recruit a proper priest and an extra fighter or two. We can also afford to buy one suit of chain mai. To decided who gets it, we're having a fighting contest, the winner getting the suit. I pity whoever has to fight Taunus, you could get killed, let alone getting better armour! At least I don't have to fight - I'm not strong enough to wear chain mail. Wimps of Kharne Unite!
Oh well, time for my work-out at the gym. 250 gold pieces to lift a bar with a couple of big plates on either end! Can't see the use in it myself.
Back later. Thera.