The Best Way Out Is Always Through

They all look around, trying desperately to see through the thick woods surrounding them.
What 'herald' means, none could be for sure. Scout is what the others decided, preparing for the worst.

I can't believe I didn't smell the scoundrel on the approach. The stench of battle and my new travel companions must have masked it. The tiefling topped the hill as we prepared to move onward. He commented with an air of superiority his surprise that we even ventured in this section of forest. Pointing out the strange configurations of sticks and bones lining the treetops the tiefling pointed out the warning signs to ward off trespassers.  We had seen them, but chose to ignore them. Did the innkeepers family do the same?

If not for the tiefling's offer to assist us with information for our quest, it would have been easy to find a reason to dispatch one of his kind. It would be a disservice to the innkeeper to allow old traditions of hatred between my kind and his to cloud the mission at hand, but trust will not come easy.

We followed him back to his home.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep.

But I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep. - Robert Frost

Fe'male jumped into a group of the kobalds. They looked different than the kobalds she was used to seeing back home and on the docks at Devils Bay, as if the pigment had been washed off their scaly skin. These creatures seemed a little off, crazed. She swung her halberd wide and strong. 

Battle was the perfect way to get to know her fellow travel companions. It was the easiest language for Fe'male to understand. The paladin, Roland, glowed with holy light and used his hammer to smite the kobalds that ambushed him. The secretive half-elf, Loom, darted to and fro stabbing and slashing with speed and cunning. The human, Merghast,  cowered by a large rock.

The battle proceeded with a lot of hacking and slashing and a few moments of teamwork. However, Fe'male was taken by surprise when she was cornered by a couple of kobalds. She was not surprised by their strategy, but that the human stood up confidently, pointed at one while whispering and the thing just took off.  Loom quickly dispatched it and Fe'male took care of the other.

One kobald had barely survived this misguided attack.  He lay dying in a pool of his own blood. Coughing he tried to speak. He did not call out for mercy, but spoke a single word repeatedly. The others in the party looked at him in confusion. Fe'male listened carefully to this things dying words. It was speaking Draconic, an old dialect.

Fe'male spoke aloud. "Herald"

The Path Less Traveled

They all gathered outside of the inn. Looking down the path before them, they realized that it was far too treacherous to bring the horses. Fe'male looked to the young boy and paid him enough to feed her horse till they would return.  She stressed that he tend it well. She hoped that he could handle this responsibility as she still owed money on the horse and it would be a shame to loose the key to swift completion of her mission.

As they walked, Fe'male glanced behind her analyzing the party.  She took the lead as she was born for the role. The paladin took up the rear position. The shady half-elf swung out to the side to do cursory scouting. He quickly disappeared into the trees. If not for his faint trail on the air Fe'male may have questioned if he was still out there or on his way back to the Hurry. The human stayed between Fe'male and the Paladin and jumped when twigs would snap under Fe'male's heavy stride. She wondered how he could even walk straight when his hands were covering his eyes every few minutes.

After walking for quite a while, nearly half a day, the party approached a steep hill. Fe'male was instinctively wary of hills as they would give an opponent the advantage in battle. The scout returned as they eased up the hill. The forest was dense surrounding this place. As they reached the top of the hill and continued forward, Fe'male realized they were now in a bowl of earth. A most unsavory fighting position. She drew her halberd and looked around. The smell of these humans was no match for the stench of what approached.

The paladin drew a mace. The other half-elf drew a sword. The three stood looking at the circumference of the hillside as they became silently surrounded. The only sound that could be heard over your own heartbeat was a faint whimper.

Two Paths Diverged in the Woods - Part 4

The innkeeper sobbed. Her little boy tried to console her. She explained how that huge sword on the mantle belonged to her  husband, but he had been gone for so long. He and her eldest son had left to go hunting. The meat had become scarce, so she expected them to be gone for longer than usual. However, now months had passed and she feared the worst. Also, with her husband gone so long, her husband's brother who leads a band of thieves up and down the Hurry was trying to recruit her youngest son by force.

It was a sad story. All staying in the inn felt concern for the lady and probably a little proud for helping her keep her son and drive off the gang of miscreants. But all hesitated when the innkeeper continued with "Would you all help us? Would you go out and bring back the truth of my husband and son's condition?" Fe'male was on a very important personal mission of her own. She was sure that each of these other patrons were as well. This didn't seem a real tourist attraction on its own.

Fe'male quickly reflected upon the two paths that lay before her. On the one she could leave this place and head north on the road to her destination and continue her path to honor. On the other she could venture into the forest to track down half of a family and potentially save a young boy from a life of crime. Fe'male envisioned herself looking back on this decision and how there was only one truly honorable way to proceed.  She will get back to her mission soon, but chose to help make a difference now.

Two Paths Diverged in the Woods - Part 3

Fe'male surveyed these thugs with dragonborn reflexes. She had been trained to evaluate a band of warriors quickly and determine strategy for their defeat in moments. However, she was not with a team of her own.

The leader of the band of hooligans demanded the young boy. He pointed to the large sword above the mantle and spoke about family.  Fe'male could not understand most of what this man was talking about, but the face of the innkeeper spoke volumes. The bandits struck the lady. With that the shiny paladin that had been sitting beside Fe'male sprung into action. With her doubts came lost opportunity.

He pushed a couple of the weaker followers out of his way as he made for the leader. It was obvious to this thug that he was looking at his better and he made a cry for support.  Fe'male now stood, ready to ensure a fair fight for the paladin.

Fe'male wanted to strike fear into these men quickly. Her halberd sank into the first opponent deep and she let out a fierce battle-cry.  She turned to her side and inhaled deeply. She opened her mouth and expelled a piercing breath of ice that hit two other men.  Looking past their frosted faces, Fe'male smirked as she watched a man run from the inn in pure terror.

Looking around, the breakfast table was empty. The entire inn was fighting for this lady. Whether it was the honor of protecting a damsel in distress or just blood-thirst, none were sitting it out.

The battle wrapped up and the last of the band was thrown outside. Fe'male smiled as she wiped her blade clean, pleased to know that despite current setbacks her ice breath was still as strong as ever.

Two Paths Diverged in the Woods - Part 2

The stairs creaked with her weight as she descended back into the eating area.  Fe'male could smell the food being prepared. She reached the bottom of the stairs and quickly glanced around to see most of the others tenants were already sitting, ready to eat.

Fe'male entered the room and began to survey for the safest table for herself, but mid-glance the owner made her way through with a large pot and sat it on the long center table. Her young boy followed her with bowls and spoons that he placed beside the pot.  "We're all going to eat here like civilized folk" she said gesturing towards the large center table.

The tenants reluctantly grabbed their belongings and moved towards the table. Fe'male took a seat towards the end closest to the door but took up enough room that none could sit too close to her and still eat comfortably. Surveying the room she could smell human, but also a hint of elf.  A very dark figure sat at the other end of the table and was obscured by his coat and top-hat, but definitely smelled like a half-elf.  The man beside him looked almost afraid to eat and was dressed in a bright robe. Between this cowering human and Fe'male sat a large half-elf in shiny armor.  He seemed a little over-dressed for breakfast, but Fe'male commended his preparedness.

Yet again, a light meal. The innkeeper apologized for the lack of meat, but her apathetic tone was of one who had repeated this apology for many mornings. Fe'male wondered if she would ever eat a full meal again and whether these light meals would impede her mission.  She would have to test her endurance soon to make sure.

Towards the end of breakfast, but before any had finished, there was a loud ruckus outside and a band of men entered the inn. They strutted into the place like they owned it.  Fe'male glanced back towards the innkeeper and her face showed both anger and fear.  Fe'male's opportunity would come sooner than she anticipated.

Two Paths Diverged in the Woods - Part 1

Fe'male looked around the outside of the inn. Little Choice was indeed a fitting name for this place. It wouldn't have been her first pick of places to stop, but there was no other choice.  A young boy approached and Fe'male allowed him to take her horse and feed it.  She entered the establishment to get a room. It had been a long ride and now the day was growing dark. Fe'male felt more at ease in the dark over here. She felt as much an outcast here as she did at home before leaving on this mission.

She made her way to the bar and was served a stew by the lady of the inn.  This place had no meat, a great disappointment.  She was not used to such light meals.  There were very few in the inn and, like Fe'male, it seemed they wished to be ignored. She finished her meal and was showed her room. It was small but she only needed it for the night.

Fe'male saw her brother standing right in front of her. He was yelling, but she couldn't hear what he was saying. She looked around and the beach shore was packed with dragonborn. Her brother was battle ready, leading an army of dragonborn soldiers. He was in slow motion as he began to run towards the mountain pass. Something was wrong though. Fe'male felt immobilized. She tried to run, to catch up. She struggled, fear and anxiety welling in her chest. They had all made it into the pass ahead of her and she strained to see any of them now. 

Fe'male awoke in the morning heart pumping, but could not remember why. She made ready to depart. She put each piece of her dragonborn chainmail armor back on. It fit perfectly after years of wear. She pulled the bag of black shells from under the pillow and tied them back to her belt.  She readied her sack of belongings and her halberd and carried it all downstairs.