Disclaimer: I do not own any of the races, classes, lore, spells, or mechanics of Dungeons and Dragons from Wizards of the Coast. This is a fanfiction story based in a personal world with original characters. No money is being made from this work. This is for pure amusement due to my fascination with D&D mechanics.
Missteps: A D&D Adventure
Part One - The Lonely Spider
The Lonely Spider was just like any other Inn you'd find on the edge of the wilderness. The rooms weren't large, the floors were dirty, and the air held a trace of old straw and stale ale with every breath. However, the food was decent, the ale cheap, and the beds were off the ground (for the most part). Situated at the southern edge of the Black Rock Woods, it'd recently seen an uptick in customers as the rumors swirled around the once-lost Dwarven Settlement recently found within the Woods.
Today had been particularly busy as the rain came down in buckets and the wind howled outside. Today had been no day to start a trek. It was about 7 o'clock in the evening now, and the inhabitants were beginning to settle down. Most of the patrons were either heading home or to their rooms or were already slumped in their seats tankards still in hand.
A soft melody played through the air, courtesy of a young Half-elf in a corner of the room. She sat on top of a table, a lute held in her hands. She wore a light blue tunic that plunged just enough to tease and ended just short of indecent. Black leggings concealed the rest of her legs before ending in boots that were folded down to the ankle. Her black hair was gathered in a bun on the top of her head, but some had managed to escape. She seemed to be playing almost on auto-pilot, as her aqua colored eyes were turned to another Half-elf seated at the table next to her.
This Half-elf was hard to miss with his red hair and tanned skin. It was clear that he spent quite a bit of time outdoors, and if his clothes, a dark green tunic covered with simple leather armor, brown pants, and brown woolen cloak, were any indication, he was probably a ranger. A sword hung at his waist, while his quiver and longbow were on the table in front of him. An empty plate, save for a few berries, sat in front of him. While the two Half-elves talked, he would reach up and lightly toss a berry into the bard's mouth while she played.
A few tables away from them sat an Elven maiden. Her blonde hair hung loose save for a single braid. It appeared that she was trying to use her hair to mask the fact that she was listening in on the Half-elf's conversation, but was failing uselessly. She wore a green dress with wide sleeves that ended halfway down her thigh. Knee-high brown boots covered her legs. A dark brown cotton cloak was folded on the table in front of her. A scroll case lay on top it with an etching in the leather, and an untouched tankard sat in front of her.
On the opposite wall, sat a Tiefling with violet red skin. Small curling horns stuck out of his head of light blond hair that was pulled back in a messy ponytail. A small golden hoop earring was in his left ear, and only one word came to mind when you looked at his wardrobe: pockets. His black pants were covered in small pockets, all sealed with equally small buttons. He wore a white tunic with short sleeves, but it was covered with a brown vest that was home to about seven or so more pockets. A backpack sat on the ground next to him. Notably, this Tiefling didn't appear to have a tail. He held a map in his hands and was studying it intently, tracing lines with his hands as he mumbled to himself.
With a sudden slam, the Inn's door was thrown open. A muscled human walked in, dragging a struggling Halfling in behind him. The Halfling was pulling against the human as hard as he could, but the height difference between the two was enough that the Halfling was on his tippy-toes trying to get away. Needless to say he was not winning the battle.
"I refuse to lodge in this dump!" The Halfling said, his already messy brown hair becoming even more of a mess. His dark blue robes that were cuffed in black signaled to everyone that he was a magic user at the very least. A silver necklace with a crystal amulet hung around his neck.
"This is the only inn for a hundred miles." The Human said, his tone almost bored as if they'd had this discussion a million times before. He wore a long-sleeved white tunic (the sleeves bulging from the bulk of his muscles) with a brown fur vest over it. Dark brown pants with brown stout boots adorned his feet. His auburn hair was cut short to his scalp, so short he almost appeared bald, and his face was scruffy. A large warhammer hung at his waist, while he carried two backpacks. For the record, the Wizard carried none.
The large Barbarian reached down and grabbed the Halfling by the scruff of the neck. Before he even knew what was happening to him, the Barbarian had swung the smaller man off his feet and onto a bar stool. Unfortunately the Halfling didn't stay there, for as soon as the Human let go of him the Halfling fell to the ground in a small heap with a small shriek. The Barbarian looked down at him for half a second before turning his gaze to the man behind the bar.
The bartender was trying hard to keep a grin off his face. The two Half-elves in the corner didn't even try, and neither did the Tiefling who'd looked up from his map. The Elven maiden managed to keep the grin off her face, but when the Halfling stood back up (only slightly annoyed that he'd lost his footing, which he blamed on his rather large feet) she did allow the corners of her mouth to curl slightly.
"Sorry for the fuss." The Human said, settling down at the bar himself and laying the packs on the ground.
"Not anything we haven't seen before." The bartender answered. "Did I hear right that you're in need of lodging?"
"That and information." The Human said. "An ale wouldn't be bad either. Want an ale, Ander?" He said, directed at the Halfling who was climbing back into the seat.
"No thank you, Jun." The Halfling said distractedly as he navigated the chair. The stool was proving to be a bigger obstacle than he had anticipated. This spectacle had stolen all thoughts of conversation from the two Half-elves as they both watched the battle.
"What kind of info are you looking for?" The bartender asked as he set a tankard in front of the Human.
"The settlement they found in the woods." Ander answered as he finally managed to get up on the stool.
"The settlement they found in the woods." Ander answered as he finally managed to get up on the stool.
"The Dwarven one?" The bartender asked, as he reached for a rag.
"Have there been any other ancient settlements recently rediscovered in the Black Rock Woods?" Ander asked curiously.
"No, just the Dwarven one." The bartender answered with a tired face.
"Then, that's the one we're looking for." Ander said as satisfaction brought a smile to his lips.
"What kind of info you looking for?"
"How do we get there?" Ander asked.
"You go through the forest." The bartender said non-chalantly.
"How far in the forest?"
"Couple days travel."
"Do we walk or rent horses?" Asked the Halfling, his smile dropping with each subsequent question.
At this point, the bartender dropped the cloth and took a moment to kind of study the Halfing. Finally, he tilted his head and answered. "I'd walk."
"Why?"
"All the horses have already been rented."
"By who?"
"Other travelers."
"What other travelers?" Ander asked, annoyance apparent on his face and his tense shoulders.
"The ones looking for the settlement." Answered the bartender, an amused smile on his face. The once tired eyes were now bright as he wondered how long he could stretch this exchange.
"The Dwarven one?"
"Yes." The bartender said. Ander started to say something else, but Jun covered his mouth with a hand (nearly knocking the Halfling off his seat, again.)
"Do you have anything useful, or do we just go in blind?" Jun said finally, sensing that the bartender wasn't going to end this soon, and seeing that Ander was getting fed up with the conversation.
"I'd recommend going in with Carric. He's a guide and he's been in the woods numerous times." The bartender said. At the mention of his name, the Half-Elf stood up. He exchanged a few words with the bard, asking if she'd watch his weapons and waited for her nod, before making his way over to the group.
"I heard my name." Carric said as he leaned against the bar.
"These people are headed towards the Settlement." The bartender said.
"Really? I've still got room in my group heading out tomorrow." Carric said facing the duo.
"Would you be willing to let us join you?" Ander asked.
"Sure." Carric answered. Just then the Bartender coughed and inclined his head slightly, indicating somewhere behind Carric. Carric glanced back, while Ander and Jun leaned around the side. All of them saw that the Elven maiden's attempt to eavesdrop on their conversation, was still just as bad as before.
"I guess I have room for five or so," Carric said loudly. Instead of drawing out the Elven maiden, his words instead caught the attention of the Tiefling. He quickly rolled up his map, and in one fluid movement stood up and deposited it into one of his many pockets. Picking up his bag he made his way over to the guide.
"Hi," He said when he got close. "My name is Iados." The Tiefling said as he held out his hand. Carric shook the offered hand and introduced himself. Iados then turned to Jun and offered him his hand as well.
"Name's Jun," The Human said as he shook his hand. "This one," He gestured at the Halfling, "is Ander."
"Nice to meet you." Iados said. Turning his attention back to Carric, "Just wondering, what do you charge for your services?"
"That's a very good question." Carric said as he settled himself on a stool. "I'm going to say 8 gold pieces for a round trip. Half now, half when we return."
"Eight gold pieces, are you serious?" Iados asked incredulously. He began feeling all his pockets quickly before he continued. "Anyway you can lessen that?"
"Sorry, but no. Winter's only a couple of months away and I gotta get stocked and ready." Carric said. The ranger turned his attention to Jun. "That alright with you guys?" Jun tilted his head down at Ander who was rummaging in a coin purse.
"Here's eight gold pieces, down-payment for Jun and I." Ander said as he passed the coins over. "When do we leave in the morning?"
"Just after sunup. As he said, it's a two-day journey and we want to use as much sun as possible." Carric said as he pointed at the bartender.
Ander nodded, then turned his attention to the bartender for their lodging and Jun's drink.
Iados meanwhile had returned to his part of the wall. He seemed to be having an internal struggle, and he kept patting several different pockets.
"Excuse me?" A voice said from in front of him, and Iados looked up from his rummaging. There in front of him was the Elven maiden. She smiled at him and held out her hand.
"Hi, I'm Lia. I couldn't help but overhear your conversation." Lia explained. "I think I can help."
"I'm listening." Iados said, giving the beautiful maiden all his attention.
"I'd like to hire you as a bodyguard. This is my first time traveling alone, and to be honest I'd feel better with a guard." Lia explained. "In exchange, I will pay for the guide's services, and reward you with five gold." Iados took a moment to consider the propostion.
"No," He finally said.
"'No'," Lia repeated, slowly. "Why the hell not?"
"Five measly gold for risking my life? No thanks." Iados leaned back against the wall and pulled out a map. Lia took a long look at him, her face scrunched up in thought.
"Okay, guide, five gold, and you can share my room tonight." Lia said, cocking her hip and resting a hand on it. That caught Iados's attention.
"Are you offering what I think you're offering?" He asked, slowly.
"Perhaps, but you'll have to agree to my offer to find out." She said with a grin. Iados's face twisted as he considered her proposal.
"Sorry, but still 'no'."
"8 gold."
"No."
"9 gold?"
"No."
"10 gold?"
"No."
"What will it take for you to say 'yes'!" Lia said, her eyes glaring now at Iados in frustration.
"10 gold for the bodyguard position, you paying for the guide and breakfast with a mug of ale, and that offer to share your room." Iados answered after a short pause. "I'll let you decide where I sleep in that room."
"Fine," Lia said with a nod. Without another word she left to go pay Carric and the bartender who also owned the Inn. Jun and Ander had already disappeared upstairs.
Iados grabbed his bag and went to wait by the stairs for Lia, a happy grin on his face.
The bard in the corner meanwhile, was smiling. She'd stopped playing just to watch the whole scene between the Tiefling and Elf unfold, and had been wholly amused. Now she gathered up her own bag from the floor and met Carric at the table that still held his weapons.
"It seems out little group isn't so little anymore." The bard said as she pulled out a few coins and handed them to Carric. As she did, she saw Lia and Iados head upstairs.
"Yep. I'm glad we've got some fighters among us now." Carric said as he put away the coins before picking up his weapons from the table. "What was your name again?"
"Kerri," the bard said. "You don't think I can handle myself?" Carric took a moment to eye the rapier at Kerri's waist.
"I've no doubt you can handle yourself." He admitted as the duo started heading towards the stairs. "What I'm worried about is what we'll run into. There are a lot of groups heading for the settlement, and even more ready to take advantage of travelers."
"Ah, so that's why you insisted on half upfront," Kerri said as they started climbing the stairs. "Just in case some of us don't make it back." Carric shrugged.
"It's just good business." He said. "We're heading out shortly after dawn, so be ready."
"I will, good night Carric." Kerri said before she headed down the short hall to the room she'd been provided. Not for the first time, Kerri was glad she could pay with a song.
Carric repeated the sentiment and disappeared into his own room. Walking in, he really hoped the sounds coming through the wall were those of someone's snores.
A/N: Please review or PM and let me know what you think. I'll be updating this story every two weeks. Please check my profile page for more information on the specifics of this project including the rules I followed while writing this.