Yawning, I stretched my body out after last night's sleep as I can see the campfire is still smoldering with small bursts of fire occasionally popping out.
Oof, it wasn't very comfortable for me, as I laid the sticks and moss down, making it a crude bed. If I am going to do any more adventures, I will have to purchase a camping kit with bedrolls in future after I do my business in the town.
I took one MRE out, leaving me with one MRE left which I know that I will need to go to town ASAP to purchase food there or purchase bows/arrows via a shop to hunt for game animals in future. No matter, I get the MRE ready, finding out that it's maple pork sausage menu at this time. Good, I love maple sausages, time to get it ready for eating then begin my journey.
Oh yeah, it reminds me! I need to go back to the shop and purchase maps and compass so I don't get lost in the woods, so I clicked on the store section then browsed the shop to find those mentioned items that I will need for my journey.
Not bad, a basic compass cost me around 10 caps and the map for Riverlands cost me 50 caps, leaving me with 165 bottlecaps. Wait a minute, why did it cost that much to get a map…? Oh, I just read the description, it appears that the map is at highest quality, aka satellite-quality map with few new additions on the map added from high tech scanners instead of hand drawn map by cartographers. Best part is that I can 'install' that high quality map to my pipboy to load the map interface.
Neat, it makes it easier to keep track of the map while I'm traveling. Too bad that it doesn't include myself in the map as it doesn't have GPS tracking or locator tracking built in, so I must traverse through the map through old fashioned methods like coordinates, compass and whatnot. I know for sure that I am somewhere in the Whispering Woods and considering that there are two towns nearby, one at north and one at south-east.
I suppose I will make a decision to pick one of two towns after I eat my breakfast as I spy my MRE packet being nearly done with cooking itself. Picking the compass up, I can see that it works fine with this world as the compass' red arrow always swerved to the north. You know, this is the most valuable tech I have that most seafaring houses would literally kill for to get that because it would allow them to navigate through seas much easier and never get lost. I can bet that Corlys Velaryon the Sea Snake would sell his soul to get this compass, heh. At least he won't be born for the next half century at most.
Oh, I already hear hissing sound as I look down at the MRE packet being done with the cooking part, good! Time to eat, as I'm starving like hell. Oh yeah, I should include berries to this so it would make it a bit more flavorful to eat since it gets a little tiring to eat the bland flavor of MRE repeatedly.
Hah, nothing beats eating breakfast in a beautiful landscape. It reminds me of my wee days at camping with family & friends in my previous life.
"Man, I miss my family and friends, I wonder how they'd be faring after finding out about my death." I wistfully mused, scooping the maple pork sausage pocket with the spoon. I sighed sadly, knowing that I will never see them again.
All done, time to sell MRE junk then prepare for the journey towards the town to check up and gather information to find out what is happening currently then get a few jobs to make some money. I already have decided that I will be going for Seagard in north, ruled by House Mallister, as I figured that it would be the safest option to go there since I have no wish to see Hoares as I'm sure that they'd be present in Fairmarket as it was recently conquered by Hoares in odd twenty or more years ago as I know this is during 14 BC, twelve or thirteen years before my half brother, Aegon along his sister wives begin their conquest.
I sighed, knowing that it'll be a long day as I don't know how far Seagard is from me since I'm somewhere in the Whispering Wood. At least the river stream along my compass will help me to navigate out of this area to Seagard.
Time for a quick check on the quests section as I clicked on the quest again, so there is one quest for today, one is finding Seagard as the main objective and one bonus objective hidden by question marks. I wonder what it is, maybe a surprise appearance or something? I'll find out eventually. Those rewards for completing that quest are pretty hefty, as the main objective reward is around 200 bottlecaps followed by bonus objective reward still being hidden by question marks.
Whelp, time to get ready for my first journey!
I walked along the river stream towards the north, hoping to find a well used road as I suspected that it would take hours to find something as I know that GRRM has no sense of world scaling as Westeros is simply massive to the point where it would take days to weeks to travel around.
Ugh by the time I get to the city, my feet will be sore as hell. At least I'm thankful for modern-ish boots that I bought earlier in the shop. I started to whistle in a merry tune as I kept a watchful eye on the surroundings, knowing that there would be any dangers hidden in the area.
I lost track of time as I walked further along the stream as the sun was moving from horizon to midday as I could feel sunlight's warmth on me, feeling great. Just like the old days of hiking. I spotted a nice rock nearby to sit down for a short break as I walked over there and sat down. I massaged my legs to soothe the aching muscles, then brought my pipboy up, clicked on the shop section to purchase a filled water canteen for five bottle caps then greedily drank the canteen, feeling cold liquid slink through my throat, soothing the dryness out.
Looking around, seeing that forest still there but I can see subtle changes like more rocky terrains and whatnot, I must have walked a considerable distance, probably around fifteen miles at most.
All right, the break time is over, I have six to eight hours left before night hits, so I need to travel again.
"Sorry, my feet, it's time to walk again." I apologized to my aching feet as I stood up, stretching again.
Within two hours of walking again, I was finally able to spot the road leading to the wooden bridge to the other side of the river. Good, about time! It will make my travels much easier, although the roads are in shit quality since it's mostly a dirt path. I got on the road, walking to the bridge until I heard faint commotion from the other side as I lightly jogged across the bridge, widening my eyes at the carriage train that was under attack as I can see several guards desperately trying to hold off against bandits.
Knowing that if I save them, they'd be grateful for me and may be amicable to give some rewards and give me some information that I need, so I decided to take my 10mm pistol out, aimed at the nearest bandit and pressed the trigger.
First shot fired in anger, causing numerous people to exclaim in shock as the nearest bandit screamed in pain as blood spurt started to erupt in his back, downing him to the ground as result.
Urrkk… I already can feel my stomach content getting angsty after I had my first kill. I'll puke later, I needed to save those people first so I forcibly ignored my stomach's protests to focus on my immediate situation.
I switched targets immediately, fired three times, two hits and one missed. It was more than enough for remaining bandits to flee in fear after losing three members so fast in a span of seconds. I slowly turned my pistol down to the ground as I cautiously walked closer.
"Hey, are you all right, sers?" I called out to the guards that were frozen in shock after my display, keeping my guard up because some people may react poorly at this so-called witchcraft since my gun is not exactly normal in this world since no one has seen it before.
One guardsman shook his head, clearing shock out and pointed his sword at me.
"What is that sorcery?!" Guardsman exclaimed in fright as his sword slightly shook as sweat was glistening in his forehead and his eyes were fanatic. I sighed at this, knowing that people's react like that, so I need to be careful.
"Hey, calm down. This is no magic, it's a new weapon that acts like a better crossbow as it flings metal arrows at higher speeds." I calmly explained, trying to placate the nervous guardsman, I'd prefer to not shoot him in self defense.
Another older guardsman walked, sheathing his sword then placed his hand on the nervous guardsman.
"Calm down, son. He means no harm to us since he saved us from bandits, I figure that we owe him." A grizzled guardsman sternly replied, giving a hard stare at the nervous guardsman who visibly took deep breath, calming in his nerves.
"You have our thanks, Ser…?" A grizzled guardsman trailed off, staring at me.
"Ser Gaemon Waters, an ordained knight from Dragonstone under Lord Aerion Targaryen." I bowed my head in respect after holstering my pistol.
A grizzled guardsman raised his eyebrows. "You're awfully far from your home, Ser."
I nodded in agreement. "Aye, good man. I chose to travel to Riverlands to offer my services to any willing nobles as there is no future for me as a lordly bastard in Dragonstone."
"Well met, Ser Waters. I am Jors. This fellow is Paleshanks and the other one guarding the carriage is Tomfool. There are two more in the back, they're called Joseth and Radolfth. Like I said, you have our thanks for saving our asses from being gutted like a pig from filthy bandits." Jors gratefully replied, putting his open hand out for handshake which I complied by grabbing his hand and gave him a firm handshake.
"Tis' no problem, Ser Jors. I am more than happy to give my aid if anyone asks." I honestly admitted that I'm like that as I have helped a few people in my past life before.
"Well, in case, ser, you have saved the traveling merchant from having its goods taken by bandits as it's meant for Seagard, so I'm sure that merchant will put in a good word for you at Seagard." Jors gruffly said. "In fact, I can take you to the merchant, I'm sure he'd be delighted to meet his savior."
Oh? That is good news to hear. I nodded in appreciation, prompting him to lead the way. "Lead the way on, my good man."
It didn't take long as Tomfool swiftly opened the carriage's door as the figure came out. All I can see is a large man with a large girth dressed in his finest silk and golden jewelry. Typical wealthy merchants, they show their wealth off by wearing expensive jewelry. I wonder what goods he sells, it'd be interesting to check it out later.
"Well met, ser!" A fat man jovially roared, grabbing my hand and shaking it like an overexcited handshake. "You have my thanks for saving my goods, saving me from loss of profits! I would like to reward you properly when we arrive at Seagard if you agree to travel with us."
Huh, what a happy greedy fat man. No matter, his rewards would be useful to get even if I don't like those greedy assholes but I have to be respectful on this matter.
"Won't be a problem, I'd be more than happy to travel with you fine folks to the Seagard." I politely smiled at the fat man who smiled widely as his double chins wobbled.
"Good, good! We're a half day out from Seagard." A fat man assured me. "Please confer with Jors, my loyal guardsman, he is the leader of my guards." Then the fat man simply turned around and entered in his carriage as Tomfool closed the door.
"My good man, I need to take my business to a bush, if you do not mind?" I respectfully asked the old guardsman.
"Aye, go ahead. We need to take a short break to check bodies and inspect the carriage for any potential damages." Jors confirmed as he turned around and shouted orders to his men.
I briskly walked to the bush nearby then promptly vomited, projecting my stomach contents out then it finally stopped when my stomach emptied itself. I groaned in dismay, knowing that I'll need to get a toothbrush and toothpaste to get acid taste out of my mouth.
"First time killing someone, ser?" Someone called out, causing me to swerve my head to see the guardsman who was tilting back on the tree nonchalantly.
"Aye, it is my first kill." I admitted as I never killed anyone before in my previous life aside from rare hunting trips where I only hunted deers with my friends.
"Figured so, considering that you look young. Have you been ordained as a knight recently, ser?" Radolfth knowingly nodded, giving me a hard stare.
"Aye, I was ordained recently a few moons ago." I admitted after searching Gaemon's memories.
Radolfth nodded in sympathy. "Aye, I can see that. My advice for you is you'll be doing a lot of killing as a knight. Best to not think too much about that, as the world is a cruel and harsh place, Ser."
Morid advice from a hardened killer, indeed. Although, he has the point, the world is not all daisies and other shit, as I know that this world is much worse than modern one. Sometimes I will have to throw away my modern sensibilities if I want to survive this harsh world.
Ugh, fucking middle-age equivalent world, it'll take some time to get used to that. I sighed, deciding that it is time to move on and help the folks out.