As I began to walk up the steep cobblestone path I couldn't help but to stop and look over to my left to admire the beautiful Xanadu coast. I also spotted a spider on the path I just came from so I felt like I got lucky there. I may be able to walk right by a few wild cats but I don't think a spider would let me slip by so easily. Further up the path I walk right by an old looking anaconda. He was resting on the rocky mountainside looking for unsuspecting prey such as myself.
Ouch!
While trying to stay as far as I could from the slithering serpent I tumbled off of the side of the cliff landing on a rocky cliff side flat on my back. The fall left a medium sized bruise on my torso. Luckily I only fell about 15 feet, that could have been much worse! I got to my feet and found that my only option was to climb back up the way I fell down. I grabbed on to a protruding rock and pulled myself up grabbing another part of the rock face and then stepping where I had first grabbed with my hand. Slowly I climbed to the cliff edge I had fallen from and barley mustered enough strength to pull my body back over. I laid there for a moment catching my breath and shaking my head at myself for being so careless, I could have lost my life!
I got back on my feet and continued up the cobblestone path walking towards a dark hole in the side of the mountain. It looks as though someone has mined out an entire cave. As I get closer I see there are not one but two giant spiders right inside guarding the entrance to the mine! Instantly I think of just going back down the mountain, surely there is no way I can get by this mine without alerting the creatures. I decide to ignore my better judgement and begin to sneak by the same way I snuck by the snake. It worked! I slowly was able to walk by the entrance of the mine without disturbing the 8- legged guards. I made sure to keep the mine in site as I slowly backed away, just then...
Whoaa!! Ouch!!!! Again!?
Some crumbling rubble by the cliff edge slipped beneath my feet causing me to careen down the cliff side giving me another medium bruise on my body. At this point my decision is to go back down the mountain. Either this mountain path is much too dangerous or I am much to clumsy, either way I don't want to find out if the third time is the charm. Carefully I laid down on the mountainside and slid my way back down to the path below.
Once I got down to the path an old brown dog came running right up to me, he looked pretty hungry so I pulled out a few herbs from my backpack and fed the old mutt. I take the rope from my bag and create a makeshift collar to walk the dog with me. He seems to be as happy to have a friend as I am. I pull on the rope and he follows me down the crumbling cobblestone path. We come upon a settlement that I had passed through yesterday. This time there is a cart in the middle of the road. I glance inside as I pass wondering if there may be anything useful. I think to myself, I probably would steal something if I really needed it. Ashamed of this thought I look back at my new friend for some reason as though the dog would be giving me a disapproving look. He wasn't though, he seemed happy, happy even though he was dirty, hungry, and lost in this dangerous wild world. Maybe I can learn a few things from this pooch.
While walking through the small village a beautiful female merchant walked up to me. She offers to show me what she has for sale but I decline, explaining why my pockets were empty and telling her a bit of my story (exaggerating the good parts of course). She seemed interested in me and I can't stop looking into her gorgeous green eyes. I asked her if there was any work around and she told me that work was pretty hard to find around this area but she told me about a few settlements to the south that may need an extra hand. I thanked her for the information and told her I would come back to visit one day when I had enough silver to spend. She waved and smiled as me and my new pet companion continued down the old stone road.
Just up the path there was a sign pointing out the direction of a tar pit for public use. Knowing tar is a wonderful fuel source I swiftly pulled out my shovel and dug up some precious tar. After gathering up quite a bit of the purple gunk I glanced out over the ocean and down the shore to spot the most wondrous thing. A massive statue of a warrior, the monument must have been at least 100 feet tall. It's truly a marvel, I couldn't believe my eyes. I must get a closer look!
By the time I had reached the colossus the sun was starting to set and I realized I had no where to make camp for the night. I decide to quickly carry onward so that I could find a place to settle down. I decided to walk though a nearby market first just out of curiosity. I see nothing of interest, mostly just empty stalls that had closed up for the night.
After passing through the market I walked through a small grouping of trees and found a iron hammer laying on the ground. I looked around to see if anyone was looking, I was considering stealing the hammer. Suddenly A horn sounds and the gates are locked in a nearby settlement. I hear a town guard yell "I'll take care of that aged troll!". I breath a sigh of relief, I thought the horn was sounding because of me! I decide to leave the hammer where it is and continue on. I was a bit worried about the troll but the voices sounded distant and I was walking away from the shouting.
I again find myself at the same fork in the road I had been at yesterday with the ominous looking tower outside of Glasshollow. I guess at least now I know where the path goes in one direction, Now to head the other way.
Oooorrrooooo!
Out of no where my dog lets out the saddest sounding yelp I had ever heard from an animal. I turn to my left to see a troll bashing my companions body with a wooden club. Quickly I pick up the end of the rope-collar and pull the dog inside the Glasshollow city wall, Slamming the iron gate shut behind me hoping to be safe from the troll. The monster throws open the gate without hesitation and charges at me and my pet. I turn to run and try to pull the dog along with me. I only make it about 10 feet before I hear another blood curdling cry from my little friend. I turn to see the aged troll smashing his club into the dog, his body falls onto a rock and blood begins to pool.
"No!" I shout, as I face the beast. He again charges towards me forcing me to jump into the nearby pond for safety. I then see another town guard running towards the troll with his sword drawn. He takes a stabbing leap at the troll forcing his blade into its stomach. They both battle valiantly but the guard eventually falls to his knees before he receives a final brutal blow to the head from the troll. I assume this was the same fate for the first guard. I am still wading in the water feeling it is the safest place for now. I can tell the troll has been badly hurt but he could surely hurt me just as bad, if not worse.
I had been in the water for about 30 minutes and have lost site of the troll. The night is now in full force and I still need to find a place to camp. It's hard for me to find motivation to do much at this point though. I can't believe this happened, my only friend in this world has been murdered by an ugly beast and I am too much of a coward to have done anything about it. I think the troll is gone or dead so I decide to climb out of the water back on to shore, I walk over to my dogs body and begin to feel even more weak, I lay down on the cold ground next to him exhausted and depressed. I put my hand on my friends body and close my eyes...
Ouch!
While trying to stay as far as I could from the slithering serpent I tumbled off of the side of the cliff landing on a rocky cliff side flat on my back. The fall left a medium sized bruise on my torso. Luckily I only fell about 15 feet, that could have been much worse! I got to my feet and found that my only option was to climb back up the way I fell down. I grabbed on to a protruding rock and pulled myself up grabbing another part of the rock face and then stepping where I had first grabbed with my hand. Slowly I climbed to the cliff edge I had fallen from and barley mustered enough strength to pull my body back over. I laid there for a moment catching my breath and shaking my head at myself for being so careless, I could have lost my life!
I got back on my feet and continued up the cobblestone path walking towards a dark hole in the side of the mountain. It looks as though someone has mined out an entire cave. As I get closer I see there are not one but two giant spiders right inside guarding the entrance to the mine! Instantly I think of just going back down the mountain, surely there is no way I can get by this mine without alerting the creatures. I decide to ignore my better judgement and begin to sneak by the same way I snuck by the snake. It worked! I slowly was able to walk by the entrance of the mine without disturbing the 8- legged guards. I made sure to keep the mine in site as I slowly backed away, just then...
Whoaa!! Ouch!!!! Again!?
Some crumbling rubble by the cliff edge slipped beneath my feet causing me to careen down the cliff side giving me another medium bruise on my body. At this point my decision is to go back down the mountain. Either this mountain path is much too dangerous or I am much to clumsy, either way I don't want to find out if the third time is the charm. Carefully I laid down on the mountainside and slid my way back down to the path below.
Once I got down to the path an old brown dog came running right up to me, he looked pretty hungry so I pulled out a few herbs from my backpack and fed the old mutt. I take the rope from my bag and create a makeshift collar to walk the dog with me. He seems to be as happy to have a friend as I am. I pull on the rope and he follows me down the crumbling cobblestone path. We come upon a settlement that I had passed through yesterday. This time there is a cart in the middle of the road. I glance inside as I pass wondering if there may be anything useful. I think to myself, I probably would steal something if I really needed it. Ashamed of this thought I look back at my new friend for some reason as though the dog would be giving me a disapproving look. He wasn't though, he seemed happy, happy even though he was dirty, hungry, and lost in this dangerous wild world. Maybe I can learn a few things from this pooch.
While walking through the small village a beautiful female merchant walked up to me. She offers to show me what she has for sale but I decline, explaining why my pockets were empty and telling her a bit of my story (exaggerating the good parts of course). She seemed interested in me and I can't stop looking into her gorgeous green eyes. I asked her if there was any work around and she told me that work was pretty hard to find around this area but she told me about a few settlements to the south that may need an extra hand. I thanked her for the information and told her I would come back to visit one day when I had enough silver to spend. She waved and smiled as me and my new pet companion continued down the old stone road.
Just up the path there was a sign pointing out the direction of a tar pit for public use. Knowing tar is a wonderful fuel source I swiftly pulled out my shovel and dug up some precious tar. After gathering up quite a bit of the purple gunk I glanced out over the ocean and down the shore to spot the most wondrous thing. A massive statue of a warrior, the monument must have been at least 100 feet tall. It's truly a marvel, I couldn't believe my eyes. I must get a closer look!
By the time I had reached the colossus the sun was starting to set and I realized I had no where to make camp for the night. I decide to quickly carry onward so that I could find a place to settle down. I decided to walk though a nearby market first just out of curiosity. I see nothing of interest, mostly just empty stalls that had closed up for the night.
After passing through the market I walked through a small grouping of trees and found a iron hammer laying on the ground. I looked around to see if anyone was looking, I was considering stealing the hammer. Suddenly A horn sounds and the gates are locked in a nearby settlement. I hear a town guard yell "I'll take care of that aged troll!". I breath a sigh of relief, I thought the horn was sounding because of me! I decide to leave the hammer where it is and continue on. I was a bit worried about the troll but the voices sounded distant and I was walking away from the shouting.
I again find myself at the same fork in the road I had been at yesterday with the ominous looking tower outside of Glasshollow. I guess at least now I know where the path goes in one direction, Now to head the other way.
Oooorrrooooo!
Out of no where my dog lets out the saddest sounding yelp I had ever heard from an animal. I turn to my left to see a troll bashing my companions body with a wooden club. Quickly I pick up the end of the rope-collar and pull the dog inside the Glasshollow city wall, Slamming the iron gate shut behind me hoping to be safe from the troll. The monster throws open the gate without hesitation and charges at me and my pet. I turn to run and try to pull the dog along with me. I only make it about 10 feet before I hear another blood curdling cry from my little friend. I turn to see the aged troll smashing his club into the dog, his body falls onto a rock and blood begins to pool.
"No!" I shout, as I face the beast. He again charges towards me forcing me to jump into the nearby pond for safety. I then see another town guard running towards the troll with his sword drawn. He takes a stabbing leap at the troll forcing his blade into its stomach. They both battle valiantly but the guard eventually falls to his knees before he receives a final brutal blow to the head from the troll. I assume this was the same fate for the first guard. I am still wading in the water feeling it is the safest place for now. I can tell the troll has been badly hurt but he could surely hurt me just as bad, if not worse.
I had been in the water for about 30 minutes and have lost site of the troll. The night is now in full force and I still need to find a place to camp. It's hard for me to find motivation to do much at this point though. I can't believe this happened, my only friend in this world has been murdered by an ugly beast and I am too much of a coward to have done anything about it. I think the troll is gone or dead so I decide to climb out of the water back on to shore, I walk over to my dogs body and begin to feel even more weak, I lay down on the cold ground next to him exhausted and depressed. I put my hand on my friends body and close my eyes...