Magic
Chapter 7
They went due west for half a day until they encountered a trail going north and south.
"This is the road to Triboar, a trading town. It prides itself on being the Gateway to the North. Though, any number of towns claim that title as well," Rick said.
Kate blinked, not believing what he said. "This is a road? At best, this is a trail, not a road."
"Well, much of Faerûn is like that. It's not until you get into a large city that you'll find paved streets, though I admit that most of those are cobblestone streets," Rick told her. "You won't find any taxis here."
"Pity. But I didn't expect to find any of those based on what you told me about this place. So I guess we walk?" Kate asked him.
"At least until we reach Triboar, which may have horses we can buy and ride to Silverymoon," Rick said and started walking.
"Horses, lovely," Kate muttered. She had never ridden a horse in her life. Still, she began walking with a bundled-up Alexis in her arms. Rick wanted to keep his hands free in case he needed to cast a spell.
Rick stopped suddenly. "I'm an idiot! A real idiot." He searched his bag for the two potions he would need.
"Not that I'm arguing about you being an idiot, but what in the world are you talking about?" Kate inquired.
"I have several potions of Phantom Steed." Rick saw the blank look on her face. "It's a third-level spell that will create a phantom steed."
"Oh, that was one of the spells I could have taken as third level." Kate shrugged. "I didn't choose it."
"Phantom Steed creates a steed with a black head and body, gray mane and tail, and smoke-colored, insubstantial hooves which make no sound. It has what seems to be a saddle, bit, and bridle. It can travel at a maximum of 240 feet. It can bear its rider's weight plus up to ten pounds per caster level," Rick explained. "And at 14th level, which I made it at, it can even fly."
"So we don't need to buy horses, and we can get to Silverymoon faster," Kate realized. "How many of those do you have?"
"Six of them," he replied. "Two now, two later, and two more after that. Meanwhile, I can memorize that spell twice more, and we'll be in Silverymoon in no time."
"Well, what are you waiting for? Create the horses, and let's ride!" Kate exclaimed.
Rick smashed the vials on the ground and kept one for himself. He gave one of the Steeds to Kate, who would hold onto Alexis. They mounted their steeds and rode for Triboar. They still intended to stop there, get something to eat, and spend the night.
Alexis slept all the way there. Kate got her first look at a local restaurant and had local food. It certainly would put meat on your bones, she knew that much.
The Inn was another eye-opener. And their room, while nice, was rather basic. All it had was a bed. And she wasn't sure what they used to stuff the mattress. Then Alexis woke up and started crying.
"That's my cue." Rick took her and put her on the bed, unwrapped her, took off the stinky diaper, and applied lotion, powder, and a new diaper. Then he went down to the restaurant to get them to warm up his bottle, came back, and Kate fed her.
"She's taken a shine to you," Rick commented.
Kate looked down at her. "You think so?"
"She doesn't look at me like that when I feed her. Oh yes, she's taken a real shine to you. Better get ready, Kate. She's going to grow up and start calling you mama."
"But I'm not her mommy, Rick."
"Not her birth mother, no, but she's going to grow up knowing only you. So de facto, you become mommy," Rick told her. "It's inevitable. You'll have to get used to it."
Mommy. Kate didn't know how she felt about that.
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They had breakfast in the Inn, and Rick said he had something to get and would be right back. So Kate sat there with her backpack and Alexis and waited.
He was back in about 15 minutes and gave her something to put in her backpack. "What are these?"
"Trail rations; I bought a week's worth of them. It would normally take us about 20 days to get there, but I think if we used Phantom Steeds all the way, we could do it in, say, ten days, maybe," Rick told her.
Kate rolled her eyes. "Then what are you waiting for? Create the Steeds, and let's get going while Alexis is in a good mood."
Moments later, they were whizzing past farmland until they were out in grasslands and flying across a river that they came across.
They stopped only to eat quickly and tend to Alexis. Otherwise, they were always on their steeds. In fourteen hours, they had to stop, and their steeds vanished into the wind.
"Now what?" Kate asked him. "It's not even dark out yet."
They were just on the other side of a river. They had traveled next to it for a while.
"Watch." Rick took a small piece of cloth out of his backpack. He placed it on the ground and said the command word while a tent popped up instantly.
"That's amazing and so big, too," Kate exclaimed.
"It even keeps a constant temperature on the inside," Rick told her.
"Really? I'm done waiting. Let's get in out of the cold." Kate ducked inside and felt the warmth instantly.
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Kate's and Rick's gear was on one side of the tent, and they and Alexis were on another.
Kate was busily eating one of her MREs, while Rick ate one of his trail rations. It had been a while since he had eaten one, and he wanted to see if they improved; they hadn't. He would eat one of his MREs the next day.
After taking care of Alexis, Kate slid into her sleeping bag. She had bought a mountain sleeping bag in case it was cold. She hadn't counted on Rick and his tent. She almost didn't need the sleeping bag.
"Night, Kate," Rick told her. "Night, Alexis."
"G'night, Rick," Kate yawned. "G'night, baby girl."
Kate woke up. There was something out there; she was sure of it. So what she went with was, "If she didn't bother them, then they wouldn't bother her."
It eventually went away, and she went back to sleep. She woke up again, positive there was something out there. But it went away, and she went back to sleep.
Rick got up and left the tent to pee, and he didn't see anything out of place. He went into the tent and found Kate standing there with her dagger. She relaxed when she saw it was him.
"Couldn't sleep, I take it?" Rick asked her.
Kate shook her head. "No, I guess I'm not used to sleeping outdoors. I woke up twice and was almost positive something was out there."
"There probably was something," Rick told her. "A raccoon, a skunk, nearly anything. But whatever it was, it's gone now."
Kate kissed him. "You're cold."
"It's cold outside, Kate. It's only nice in here," Rick said. "I had to pee, so shoot me."
"I need to pee too. There isn't a porta potty out there, is there?" Kate asked him hopefully.
Rick shook his head while he began to get dressed. "No."
"I was afraid you would say that. Well, here goes nothing." She rushed outside, squatted, peed, and hurried back inside. "It's cold out there."
After tending to Alexis, they got dressed, put on their respective backpacks, and Kate carried a bundled-up Alexis. They stepped outside while Rick took down the tent and put it in his backpack.
"What else have you got in that thing?" Kate asked him.
Rick shrugged. "All kinds of things. Since we have the time and will be in a town later tonight, now is a good time to practice your new spells."
"My new spells. All right, here goes." She tried her new 0-level spell and got it to work. Then she tried Ray of Enfeeblement and saw a ray shoot out, getting that to work. She tried Web, a new spell for her, and got it to work. Then there was Mirror Image; it worked, too. Then she tried Invisibility Sphere and failed on her first try.
"BLAST!" Kate cursed. Undaunted, she tried again, and it worked. "It works! I think. It did work, right? I can't tell. I take that back. You do look funny."
"It worked, all right. Nicely done, Kate." Rick kissed her, and of course, she kissed him back.
Rick made a pair of Phantom Steeds, and they were off like the wind; wind was right, too. They were moving so fast that they felt it. It was cold out, and they felt that as well.
They only stopped to tend to Alexis and drink some water. After that, they were off again.
Fourteen hours later, they were just outside of a town. "What is it called?" Kate asked him.
"Yartar. It's about half the size of the last town. Maybe 6,000 people, mostly human. It's also the last town between here and Silverymoon, about eight days away if we can keep it up. I need to do some memorizing."
"Lead on. Alexis won't be silent for long, Rick."
They found an Inn and had something to eat. It was more of a put meat on your bones but it beat eating an MRE. Believe it or not, their room was even more basic than others they'd been in, with four cots to sleep on.
"Oh, great, an Army cot." Kate kicked it and cursed since it hurt her foot.
"You can put your sleeping bag on it," Rick suggested.
"That's great for me. What does Alexis sleep on? There aren't even any sheets," Kate snapped and saw Rick smiling. "And what are you smiling at?"
"You…Mommy."
"I'm not…her mommy." Except she sure sounded like it.
"She sleeps with me, Kate. My sleeping bag is bigger than yours."
"Fine. …I hope she has a bowel movement in your bag and stinks it up," Kate huffed and listened to Rick laugh.
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They had breakfast in the Inn. Then, Rick said he had something to get and that he would be right back. So Kate sat there with her backpack and Alexis and waited.
He was back in about 15 minutes. "What are these?" She was given some of whatever it was to put in her backpack.
They didn't take a cold shower again, but they did use the bathroom. Rick memorized his spells. They tended Alexis and took their backpacks and Alexis down to eat breakfast. It was going to be their last meal for a while.
They went outside where Rick cast his spells and made Phantom Steeds for both of them. They mounted them and took off. It took a little while for them to clear the farmland and go out into the open grasses.
They traveled fourteen hours after taking a quick break. Tired, they set up the tent and went inside it for the night. They stuck close to the mountain range to the south which had a river running through it. They didn't see the river, but they could hear it.
Kate managed to sleep the night through, much like Alexis did. They got up in the morning, went outside into the cold, and did their business. They also tended to Alexis while Rick memorized his spells.
Then he cast those same spells and created Phantom Steeds for both of them. And, they were off. They were traveling fast, too fast for anyone who saw them and thought they might be easy pickings. By the time they got organized, they were already past them.
They stopped for a break and took off again. Fourteen hours later, they had to stop and set up camp. Again, they stayed close to the mountain range and could still hear the river.
They had something to eat. There were MREs for both of them; then they drank some water and went to bed. Come morning, they repeated the previous day. And while Kate tended to Alexis, Rick memorized his spells.
Then he cast those same spells and created Phantom Steeds for both of them and they were off. They took a break and were off again. Fourteen hours later they set up camp and this time they were on the edge of the mountain range and could finally see the river.
They got up the next morning, went outside, and did their business. And, while Kate tended to Alexis, Rick memorized his spells. The man then cast those same spells yet
again and they were off.
This time they followed the river and set up camp close to the edge of the river. Rick filled their water bottles and Kate used her water purification tablets, not believing Rick when he said the water was clear.
They ate MREs, tended to Alexis, and went to bed. Come morning, they went outside and did their business, and while Kate tended to Alexis, Rick memorized his spells. Then he cast those same spells and they were off yet again.
After fourteen hours of travel, the next night they set up camp on the outskirts of a forest. "It's called the High Forest. What lay within this deep forest was somewhat of a mystery, and few traveled there to explore its depths. The more notable locations in the forest included the majestic Star Mounts—providing the headwaters of the Unicorn Run and the Heartblood River; the Lost Peaks in the northwest that form the headwaters of the Dessarin River; the fabled Grandfather Tree; the Dire Wood in the east, as well as many dungeon ruins, abandoned settlements, and mysterious locales. The forest is old and has been here long before I was even born," Rick told her.
"Grandfather Tree?" Kate asked, curious.
"The Grandfather Tree was considered hallowed ground to both the barbarian tribes of the north and other inhabitants of the High Forest, such as satyrs and Wood Elves. The tree was also considered sacred to a number of forest spirits, such as dryads and treants, and a number of deities," Rick said. "I don't know where in the Forest it lies."
"Interesting." Kate wondered about satyrs and Wood Elves and dryads and treants.
"We're going to skirt the forest for about five days, staying away from the Evermoors, though we will be getting close. Can't help it," Rick told her.
"Swell." Kate didn't like the sound of that. She reached into her coat and ran her fingers over her potion bandolier.
They set up camp, tended to Alexis, and went to bed. Come morning, they went outside and did their business. And while Kate tended to Alexis, Rick memorized his spells. Then, they were traveling again.
Fourteen hours later, they were forced to stop and set up camp. "The Evermoors is right over there." Rick pointed at it. They were on the edge of the forest, yet it was that close.
"Lovely." Kate looked that way and didn't see much, but it looked boggy to her.
The next day they went outside to do their business. While they did, they both saw something. "That's a band of War Trolls. They're worse than the regular Trolls."
"They're headed this way!" Kate almost yelled at him.
"Put your potion bandolier on and come outside. We need to defend Alexis. They'll eat her – and us – if they catch us," Rick warned her, then ran inside to put on his potion bandolier, picked up his staff, and went outside.
Kate put on her potion bandolier, went outside, and stood next to him.
Rick didn't wait for them to get close enough to throw their potion vials. His spell had more range. He cast Fireball and a tiny red ball left his hand, headed straight at them, exploding right up front of them.
They were walking their way; now they were running their way. His next spell was a Wall of Fire. It forced them to either go through it or go around it, gaining them some time and breaking them up.
Rick only had the one fireball memorized but his staff had Fireball. He was reluctant to use it since it cost him a charge and he didn't know if or when he was going to get to recharge it. But this called for it since it had the distance his potion didn't.
He fired another fireball at the group on the right. Then he used another charge for the group on the left.
Now he pulled out a potion vial which got Kate to do the same. "I'll take the three on the left while you take the three on the right," Rick told her.
"Got it." Kate threw her potion as did Rick. They both blew up in a fireball.
Rick cast Mirror Image, so now there were four of him. Kate saw that and cast her own Mirror Image. As with Rick, there were now four of her.
They both pulled out another vial, but this one was going to be close. They both threw them and they exploded, doing damage to the trolls, but they were all still there.
All six swung on them. Thankfully, all six hit illusions, but in doing so, those illusions vanished. So now there were just two of each of them.
Rick cast Magic Missile; five stars came out and three of them hit one of them and the other two hit another. Lucky for him, they both fell.
Kate was scared almost out of her mind. She cast Invisibility Sphere, and she and her illusion became invisible. She took one step back after she did that to get some distance between her and them.
Rick and his lone illusion got swung on and his luck still held. His illusion vanished, leaving just him.
The three of Kate swung wildly in the hopes of hitting her, but they all missed.
Rick cast Burning Hands, fanned it out, and hit all four of them; all four dropped.
Rick started breathing again. That was close, far too close. He went into the tent and grabbed what he needed, ignoring the crying Alexis, and coming back out; he poured oil on all of them, lighting them on fire.
Kate stood there, not believing it. They had almost all got killed.
"Wherever you are, are you all right, Kate?"
"I'm right here, and I'm fine, Rick. That was close."
"You have no idea how close. War Trolls are the worst. Not because they use weapons, though that's bad, but they have a lot of stamina. It takes a lot to kill them. Look on the positive side. Fighting these War Trolls is worth a lot of experience. I wouldn't be surprised if you gained a few more levels. Plus some new feats and maybe two ability score increases," Rick told her.
"REALLY!" Kate launched herself at him and kissed him. Rick found it weird being kissed by an invisible person.
While Kate tended to Alexis, Rick memorized his two spells. They then packed up and broke camp. "I don't like the idea of moving, being down this many spells and being this close to the Evermoors and maybe more Trolls, but the fire of these burning Trolls may gain us some unwanted visitors," Rick said.
He did a quick search of them and found a total of 223 gold, 456 silver, and 1,345 copper pieces. In addition, he found six gems worth 300 gold pieces each, cast Detect Magic, finding that all six of them had magical weapons, and one of them had a magical belt.
He cast his two spells; they mounted their Phantom Steeds and took off. They stopped for a break to tend to Alexis and drink something. Then they got back to moving for fourteen hours and were forced to stop.
They set up camp and ate MREs. They went to sleep if you could call what they did sleep. They were both worried about more Trolls. "Rick, are you awake?" Kate whispered.
"No, and this is a recording," Rick said dryly.
"I can't sleep," she murmured.
"And you want me to be awake with you, is that it?" Rick asked her.
"No… Yes. I can't wait. What level am I now?" Kate asked him. Sighing, he got up and produced a light. "Let's see. Six War Trolls are worth divided by two since there were two of us makes it and you're… Kate, you're 12 level!"
"I AM! I'm twelfth level. That's amazing. What do I gain being twelfth?" Kate wanted to know.
"Let's see. At twelfth level you can have four new feats, three ability score adjustments, you can know nine 0-level spells, five first-level spells, five second-level spells, four third-level spells, three fourth-level spells, two fifth-level spells, and one sixth-level spell. You can cast six 0-level spells, seven first-level spells, seven second-level spells, seven third-level spells, six fourth-level spells, five fifth-level spells, and three sixth-level spells. In addition, you gain 48 skill points," Rick told her.
"WOW! I gain all that after just six War Trolls? That's amazing." She got out of bed and kissed him, a nice long kiss. "Let's see, I'm going to need spell lists so I can plan what spells I want to know. I need to decide which four new feats I want, so I'm going to need that list. I need to divide up my 48 skill points.
"HEY! Maybe I can make better Beer now. …Except I don't have any beer-making equipment. Shoot!" Kate was bummed.
"Um, how long will all this take me?" she asked him.
"Hours, Kate. Several hours at least. We may need to spend the day here. Wherever here is, exactly. We're still close to the Evermoors, not a place I want to be," Rick said.
"Yeah, and if we run into any more War Trolls, we're dead meat," Kate said grimly.
"Literally, Kate, quite literally, since they will eat us."
"YUK!" Kate didn't like the sound of that at all.