Chapter 5

The group of adventurers spends a week in Wayside, resting and relaxing, gaining new friends, listening to tales in the Buzzin Bee’s common room, and learning that Preet, from the Low Elves, is much better at telling stories than he is at playing the lute—and his song lyrics and poetry are still horrid. It’s been an enjoyable time getting to know the townsfolk and building relationships they’ll miss while on the road.

One evening in particular, Preet is entertaining a packed crowd with various tales when someone yells out “tell us about the Uprising!” With a lengthy sigh and conspiratorial look at the crowd, he quietly says “if that’s what you’d like, but know that it’s not always a welcome subject, so be careful where and when ye ask for ‘em.” His eyes are directed at a member of the Pride and Comfort seated in the back of the room, who is quietly scanning the crowd until his gaze rests on Gven.

The Uprising…

Several centuries ago, magic was common in Eritz and the rest of Olam, and magic users were well respected by the citizens, revered even. They made phenomenal discoveries and advances in the mystic arts that improved the lives of all in Eritz. One wizard, Acertep, led them with a noble mind and sincere heart, expanding their power and influence across the continent. As it tends to do, greater power lead to greater arrogance and the magic users began to see themselves as above the law. Who was anyone to question their benevolence or magnanimous intentions?

Acertep continued to lead the magic users in Eritz as they mutated into an unbending and unrelenting force for authoritarian control over all others. Along for the ride, the religious leaders allied themselves with the magic users. The clerics and paladins of the clergy would police the populace and fight in battles alongside the magicians and wizards. The magic users and clergy felt that they, and only them, knew what was best for the world, no one else could contribute or lead in their stead.

For all of their power, the magic users and clergy were few in numbers when compared with the rest of the population. Either of those paths took decades of disciplined study, earnest practice, and focused apprenticeship. Those were often the paths of the privileged and elite members of society, inaccessible to the average farmer, shopkeeper, or mercenary.

Finally, the tyranny became too much to endure for the non-magic and secular people. The regular folks had numbers on their side, easily outnumbering their authoritarian leaders by thousands to one. They also had the grit and determination that comes with knowing that losing isn’t an option for those who have nothing left to lose. The magic users and clergy were overthrown by the Eritzians over a couple of years, through bloody battle after bloody battle.

The new leaders created two groups to protect them from the sort of magical and religious tyranny they had endured for so long: the Hands of the Wand and the Eyes of the Star.

The Hands of the Wand keep track of the magic users in the land and the Eyes of the Star monitor religious and faith-based groups. They travel in pairs, working together to maintain the safety of the people. Their uniform consists of durable leather armor with deep purple cloaks that have large hoods—keeping their faces in the shadows—and conceal their weapons. It’s well known that the Hands of the Wand are magic users themselves, of course regulated and monitored by their brethren. While both groups are well respected, even revered by many, some look upon them with cynicism or concern that they’re just different authoritarian masters.

Since the Uprising, both magic and religion are allowed, yet viewed skeptically by the majority of folks. The Hands of the Wand and the Eyes of the Star keep the gatherings small and manageable so that power isn’t accumulated too quickly or in the wrong hands. All in all, most of the people trust them to keep order, which they do generally with a sense of justice and wisdom.

Pride and the Comfort riders have delivered the news and messages across Eritz for centuries as well, enduring even the chaos and danger of the Uprising. They wear a full-length leather duster over their unassuming dark gray or black uniform and a tricorne hat adorned with a bright silver buckle, matching the one on their belt and their coat buttons. Their horses are renowned for being the fastest, strongest, and having the most endurance of all horses across the land. The riders are provided with large allowances and spend it freely wherever they take a rest, making them quite popular. Because of the danger inherent in their work, riders are well-trained in self-defense and weaponry. Even though a single rider can often handle themselves, the group is acclaimed for its mounted division that provides militaristic support whenever needed. You don’t mess with the Pride and Comfort without experiencing the consequences.

The Pride and Comfort rider listens to Preet’s story of The Uprising without any visible reaction, yet every once in a while looks over at Gven. She notices the attention and meanders over to him, “is this seat available?” As they begin to chat amiably, the rider reveals that he’s recently seen a male half-orc that looks like Gven. It was about 7-10 days ago while delivering a package in the Legal Burrough of Elsemar. The building stood out to him because on its roof there was a statue of a merchant standing on top of an orc, as though they were its master.

Gven shares with the rider that her older brother, Torp, left their Barbarian tribe eight years ago for his Coming Out—when young-adult barbarians venture out into the world to gain experience and wisdom before deciding on their life’s path—and never returned. The rider describes how the young half-orc didn’t look to happy with his situation, but the rider’s job is to deliver packages, not stick his nose into other’s business. Seeing Gven reminded him of the situation and he thought she might want to know.

Dolor is listening thoughtfully to their exchange, interested to learn more about his traveling companion.

The next morning, the adventurers finally leave Wayside and the Buzzin Bee, saying their goodbyes to the sisters, Bonnie and Trill. Knowing this day was coming soon, Dolor spent the last few days creating two vases, one for each sister, to thank them for their hospitality and generosity. They were surprised by the gesture, especially Trill, whose eyes began tearing up as she threw her arms around Dolor in a tight embrace.

Walking out of town, they encountered Cindel one final time. With a ray of sunshine beaming down on her—and only her, because it was cloudy everywhere else—and the wind lifting up her cape majestically, she dramatically said “Farewell, I won’t miss you. Huzzah!”

Heading westward, towards Elsemar, the group finds the road slightly muddy from the light rain they’ve had the past several days. They make decent time through the Quiet Valley, keeping to the sides of the road where there’s better traction. The terrain of the countryside is turning more wooded, peppered with cedar and hemlock trees.

Their first night camping is uneventful, each taking their turn at a boring watch. Xantic takes advantage of their rest time to build a long-desired tool, an eldritch cannon. While Grindlefoot is taking the last watch of the night and pre-dawn is slowly lighting the sky, he hears a wagon coming from the East. He quietly wakes the others, wondering what’s headed their way.

The wagon has a box on it, like a traveling home, is painted with garishly bright colors, and has shiny colored wind chimes hanging from every available place along the roof. The driver is a young tiefling with clothing as bright as their wagon. He pulls on the reins: “Whoa there, Maeve and Mack! Whoa now, stop when I tell ya too!”

“Hey there, folks. The name’s Skeller and I’m a traveling locksmith.” Dolor recognizes the secret hand signal he gives during his greeting, denoting him as a tinkerer who follows the code. Trusting in the tinkerer code, Dolor invites Skeller to join the group for breakfast, which Gven and Grindlefoot have started preparing over their camp fire. During their chat, Xantic is finally able to get that gem he’s been searching for, to whatever ends.