Benji's Journal - Scribbled Notes
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Page burned
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Benji's head was a thunderstorm of pain as he regained consciousness. He could feel a small calloused hand lightly slapping at his face. He blurted the first thing that came to mind.
"What the fark."
"Wake up Pa!"
He was overjoyed to hear his daughter's voice in his ears, though the high pitched nagging didn't help his headache. Memory started returning. A bugbear scout daring to walk into the Valley. Grabbing his crossbow. A muscled arm wrapping around his neck in a choke hold. He let out an annoyed groan.
"Ughh… what happened..."
"Ma knocked you out. Pa, what's the name of the bugbears' boss?"
"She wh… Ostromog?"
He looked around in confusion still unable to tell where he was and what had happened.
"Thanks Pa!"
Junior hugged him and ran off toward the crowd.
"Why?"
Junior didn't hear him. She had already climbed a lamp post and started shouting something down to the crowd. Lamp post… do we have lamp posts in the Silver Valley? Benji looked around. Tall doors and muddy streets. Somehow they had gotten to Peltarch.
Odd. A sea of bewildered, somber, and angered right-sized faces, but no wounded. The council must have found us a way out without a fight. Those Silver Dragoons are going to be -pissed- they didn't get a chance to slice into some bugb-
His eyes snapped up to Junior, still perched on the lamp post shouting at the crowd. She threw a kick in the air.
"… SO HARD THAT THE NEXT OSTRAFROG WANNABE IS GOING TO FEEL IT! TO WAR!!!"
Dumbfounded, he watched her bounce off of the pole, gather as many warriors as she could, then sprint south to battle.
-
When Benji woke up the women tried to break the news to him softly.
"What do you mean she's 'missing an arm'?"
They all looked at him blankly. Tressa stirred in Talyna's arms.
"WHERE THE FARK IS IT?"
Tressa started crying. They all stared at him angrily.
"Don't look at me like that! I'm going to fix this! Don't worry Tressa, Daddy is gonna fix this ((string of gnomish expletives)) mess."
He stormed out of the tent, doing his best to (unsuccessfully) slam the tent flap on the way out.
-
“What was that?” Talyna asked as she tried to sit up a bit to have a look.
Ginger pushed her back down, “Nothing. Benji fainted.”
Talyna huffed and puffed a bit, “Benji? Should we try to wake him up?”
Ginger looked back at Benji, sprawled out on the floor of the tent, and then turned back to Talyna. Both broke out into a bit of laughter and shook their heads. “He'll be fine. Now, let's keep pushing. You're almost there!”
The midwife continued to coach Talyna along. Minutes passed by as Benji lay dreaming his future time as a father. Teaching how to fire a crossbow, tossing a ball around, building a ball tossing device, dodging explosions…
“You're doing good, Talyna. The head is out. Give me another push... and... oh my.” the midwife exclaimed.
“What? What's wrong?” the mother-to-be as she huffed.
Ginger shot the midwife a 'not now' glance. “Nothing, Taly. Just keep pushing.”
Minutes later, the sound of a baby crying filled the tent. “Congratulations, Taly! It's a girl.”
Talyna sighed with relief as the ordeal was over with. She looked over to Ginger and burst into giggles.
“What's so funny?”
“Just thinking it was good Benji fainted. Else my daughter would probably end up being named Benji Junior!” Talyna exclaimed, and all three ladies burst into laughter.
“So, what's going to be her name?” Ginger asked.
“Let me see her,” the new mother asked.
The midwife shot Ginger a 'now is the time' glance as she handed over the newborn girl, wrapped in a blanket, to her mother. “We do need to talk about one thing, Talyna.”
“Oh, you are a precious thing, aren't you?” Talyna cooed to her daughter.
“Talyna, about your daughter,” the midwife started.
“She's adorable!” Talyna exclaimed, obviously not paying attention.
Ginger sighed and decided the blunt approach was best, “Taly, she only has one arm.”
Talyna's eyes grew wide as she glanced at Ginger. She then peeled away the blanket, confirming what her friend just said. The little halfling girl had no left arm. She frowned a moment then hugged her daughter. “I'm sorry, precious. I was careless.”
Ginger patted her friend on the shoulder and everybody sat for a few minutes without a word.
Talyna then looked into her daughters face and smiled. “But you are my daughter and the most adorable thing in the world!”
“So what's her name?”
The new mother took a few moments of admiring her baby girl before answering. “Tressa. That's her name.”
-
"IT'S TIME!!!"
Talyna yelled from the other side of the tent. Benji came running.
"Time for what? Dinner? Do you have another craving for General Grag's Chicken? I can go get y-"
He swung around the bookcase and found her standing in front of the bed holding her big round stomach smiling nervously. She she cut him off almost whispering.
"Time for the baby…"
"What? It can't be time for the baby. It's only been … "
He started counting months off on his fingers. They had been told she was four to five months pregnant when she was brought back badly injured from the Goblin Hold. It had been about five months since then.
Benji adjusted his glasses as he looked down at the five fingers he had counted out. He stared up at Talyna. She snapped him out of it quick.
"…Benji..."
"I'LL GO GET GINGER! SHE'LL KNOW WHAT TO DO!"
He nearly clothes-lined himself on the tent flap as he sprinted next door. Ginger was waiting for him, probably already having heard him shouting.
"GINGER! BENJI-JUNIOR IS COMING OUT! WHAT THE FARK DO WE DO?!?"
She winced as he yelled in her face, but responded calmly.
"Relax Benji! I'll go get the midwife. You go next door and fetch a few towels and some water to boil."
"YES MA'AM!"
Out of habit he threw a salute then dashed out. Back at his tent he opened a chest and started dumping out clothing. Leathers, socks, rags, a crossbow, pants, and finally towels. He handed them to Talyna then grabbed a pot and ran out before she could respond.
He bounded into the pond and scooped up water then raced back to the fire and set it to boil. He watched for a few seconds then shook it the pot. He shook the pot again. A few valley dwellers were gathering to watch. They seemed relieved to find him with a simple cookpot instead of another explosive invention. A few of them even grinned when he started cursing at the cookpot in gnomish.
"BOIL YOU BASTARD!!"
The gathered smallfolk scattered when Benji drew his gnomish blunderbuss. He fired it into the pot, only managing to splash some water and melt a dent into the iron.
"GONDAMN IT!"
He resigned himself to stand and watch the pot, quivering in silent rage. The minutes passed like hours. Left to his own thoughts He started mumbling to himself.
"It's fine. It's going to be fine. Calm down. Things are fine. The gods wouldn't let Talyna and me go through all this just to …"
He helds his breath for a moment then closed his eyes to pray.
"Gond, a child is kind of like an invention… sort of ... so ... don't let this one be one of my fark-ups."
He winced, shook his head, and tried again.
"Arvoreen, thank you for always protecting my wife, especially when she got wounded in the Goblin Hold while carrying our child. Thank you for protecting her and Benji-Junior when the elves were getting all the shards out too. Please protect them both again and bless us with a safe birth."
He felt a searing pain on his left hand. Boiling water had splashed out of the pot onto it.
"FAAARK!!!"
He took one look at the boiling water then ran back into the tent. He swung around the bookcase again to find Ginger at her side. Talyna was laying on her back in the bed with the midwife near her ankles speaking to her in a soft, calming voice.
"That's it Talyna, you're doing fine. Another push now, that's it."
Beads of sweat were forming on Talyna's forehead and her face was flushed from exertion.
Benji watched from the far side of the room holding his breath. He wanted to tell Talyna he loved her but he couldn't speak. He wanted to go squeeze her hand but he couldn't move. All he could do was stand and watch.
His vision started going blurry. His knees buckled. Everything went black. Benji fainted, crumpling to the floor with a dull thud.
-
Benji slips out of the bed and pads to the desk. By candlelight he finds a piece of parchment. He grabs a pen, some ink and starts scribbling out a letter.
@69ab55cb6c:
'Now what?'
Good question Captain. That's the story of your life. Now what.
Grag wants to make you a Troff Legion General.
Ha.
Legion generals are meant to be farking war machines. Built to spear head the charge. You're no spear head.
Think about Grag, Lyte, Theaon. Invincible Legionnaires dedicated to the cause. They bleed black and blue.
And you?
Married. Hoping for children soon. You're a Gondamn softy.
And what about children? Do you suppose Talyna feels the same way? You could ask her… but ... nah. You're a coward too~
Benji bitterly throws the ink and pen off the desk.
<g>Fark!</g>
Talyna snorts and stirs in the bed behind him. He freezes and watches her for a moment. She's still sleeping soundly. Snoring loud as a bear. Benji doesn't mind. He can't hear it that well with his horrible hearing anyways. He smiles and adjusts his glasses.
Benji forgets the spilled ink and the note on the desk. He sneaks back in to the bed and falls asleep peacefully.
-
Later that night Benji and Talyna found themselves alone in their tent. After a few glasses of wine, laughter about Benji's horribly pronounced hinnish vows, and a toast to their years to come, there was a moment of silence.
…
"So… should I actually wear that purple outfit that they got me?"
Talyna watched Benji for a moment … then nodded with a smile.
"Okay. Be right back."
He hid behind the armoire and dressed down. He swore as he kicked on the boots. After a moment of cursing and struggling he stepped out.
"How do I look?"
Talyna looked Benji up and down. He was wearing nothing but a purple sash and knee high boots. She giggled and nodded in approval.
Talyna took a step toward him. Benji spoke up quickly.
"Say… uh... rumor has it that ... well... situations ... like these lead to children... so... I, uh ... "
He held up a potion. Red lips decorated the label.
"It's for … you know... when..."
Talyna stepped close to him and held a finger to his lips. She took the potion from his hand and drank it.
Benji adjusted his glasses.
"So… now wh-"
She threw him on the bed then pounced.
-
Benji strolls into his quarters. The room is dusty as if he hasn't visited for a while. He has a seat, grabs some paper, and starts writing.
@646e7bb020:
You got that sinking feeling in your stomach. That wrong, ugly, vomit feeling. That same feeling you got when they told you Telli wasn't coming back.
Just because somebody told you they saw a magical vision of you running yelling "It's going to blow!"
It's that stupid imagination of yours. You saw a future vision of yourself going out with a huge bang. Giant explosion, the death you always wanted. But you didn't want that anymore, did you?
Talyna deserves better than to be married to a farking crater.
Well, she won't be. Those visions are visions of the past. You blew the tunnels below Jiyyd in the war, remember? You aren't fated to die in a horrible cloud of fire.
Besides…
Since when do you believe in fate?
Benji adjusts his glasses and read over what he wrote. He nods a couple times then stashes it away with the rest.
-
Benji and Ferrus Felf, Talyna's father, had been having a grand time at the tavern. They drank a fair share of ale and ate a long staled Felf family pie out of a battered and dented pie tin. Ferrus patted his stomach.
"There's no denying it. That is the BEST pie from here to Narfell."
Benji let out a satisfied sigh and nodded.
"Sure is Mr. Felf."
They both sat quietly for a moment. Ferrus stared at his nearly empty ale mug.
"So. Mr. Benji. Benji the gnomish 'Legionnaire.' What reeeaaallly brings you all the way over to Elmbrook?"
Benji was nervous again. He scratched his head. Ferrus continued.
"Even with your magic teleport shortcut from that friend 'Raramule' of yours, it's still a looong ways to go just to deliver some pie from my daughter."
Benji tugged at his jacket collar.
"Well uh… Mr. Felf..."
Ferrus cut him off.
"Call me Ferrus."
Benji could see in Ferrus' eyes that he already knew why he came. Benji continued.
"Ferrus… I've come to ask for your daughter's hand in marriage."
Ferrus let the words hang in the air for a while. Benji shifted nervously on his barstool.
"Why?"
"Why what?"
"Why did you come to ask me?"
"I thought you'd appreciate it! I know Talyna would! She's always talking about you!"
Ferrus nodded a few times.
"Do you love her?"
Benji was baffled.
"Well of course I do! I didn't ride all the way out here just for the pie!"
"Well Mr. Benji. When did you know that she was the one for you?"
Benji took a deep breath. Things weren't going as he had planned.
"Now… Mr. Felf... I know that your daughter isn't the most ... uh ... perceptive person in the world..."
Ferrus' eyes flared for a moment. He nodded for Benji to continue.
"… but she knew what it meant when she gave me this bolt."
Benji unwrapped a glowing bolt from his pack. He told Ferrus the story of the Bolts of Hopeless Love.
"Hells, I'd throw myself into the sea just like that Gondamn dwarf if I lost Talyna. She means that much to me."
They were both silent. Ferrus sat studying Benji. Benji spoke up again, awkwardly.
"And … uh... about her being ... not so perceptive. I love that about her. I love surprising her and she loves being... surprised..."
Benji trailed off. Ferrus spoke up.
"I always thought that my little Talyna would come back home hanging off the elbow of some muscle bound, broadsword swinging hero. I never once in my life thought that a stringy, crossbow slinging, gnomish talking, goggled man like you would show up here like this…"
Benji bit his tongue.
"…BUT… I can see that you really, truly do love her and you'll always be there for her."
Ferrus pointed a finger directly at Benji's nose.
"You had better."
Benji spoke in almost a whisper.
"Does that … mean...?"
Ferrus couldn't help smiling.
"On one condition, Mr. Surprises. You tell me how you're going to ask her. It better be good."
Benji grinned and opened up a quiver of shimming bolts.
-
Benji hopped off the boat with a renewed sense of determination.
”Just southwest of Waterdeep. No more than a day‘s travel. Almost there.”
Benji walked swiftly in the most south westerly direction he could. He jostled through crowds, swatted away street vendors, and ignored the majestic buildings. He didn’t even slow down… until he heard a familiar sound.
Thunk
He stopped and stood still.
Thunk, thunk
He sound was coming from up ahead. He slowly weaved through the crowds listening.
Thunk
”… <g>I‘ll be damned.”</g>
There was a father and his young son running an archery range out of an open windowed building. Benji hesitated.
”Well… I can stop for a few rounds… can‘t I?”
He approached the father and son.
”Five coins for three arrows! Two bullseyes gets you a prize!”
Benji handed the man the coins. The man offered him a small bow and three arrows.
”Can‘t I use my own weapon?”
”Sorry friend. Use mine or don‘t shoot.”
”Well… do you have any crossbows?”
The man muttered and turned to rummage through a wooden chest. He stood and turned to Benji to hand him a crossbow. The crossbow was dusty and decrepit. The three bolts were crooked.
The crossbow shuddered as Benji cranked it. He locked in the bolt then took aim. His first shot barely made it to the base of the target, his second in a low middle ring, and his last he lobbed to hit just shy of a bullseye.
The man laughed. His son grinned.
”Figures. Nobody can hit anything with a crossbow.”
Benji flashed a glare at the man.
”What.”
”That crossbow there. It‘s a child‘s toy. I keep one handy incase some kid comes along wanting to spend some coins but isn‘t trained with a bow and arrow yet. Best we ever saw was with some kind of magic short bow. Some elf adventurer put three arrows right in the center of the bullseye. Isn‘t that right Tommy.”
”Bows is best.”
He patted his son’s shoulder. His son smiled.
”We had to limit everyone to our own bows. We were getting run out of prizes from people like him.”
Benji adjusted his glasses.
”I can do better.”
Benji started unpacking his crossbow.
”Whoa there fella. I can‘t just let you shoot with th-”
”I‘ll pay triple.”
He handed the man fifteen coins and continued meticulously readying his crossbow. He stood and wiggled the sights a bit then carefully aimed the crossbow. A few passersby stopped to watch.
Benji took his shot and hit the inner ring. He stared at the bolt in the target with contemplative rage. The man started laughing. Benji took his second and third shots, both inner rings.
”I told you. Bows are better.”
Benji angrily handed him another fifteen coins.
”Three more shots.”
The man chuckled and nodded. Benji took three shots, all were outer rings.
” <g>Mother fark.”</g>
Benji tossed the man a small sack of coins and loosed more bolts. Outer ring, outer ring, outer ring, middle ring middle ring, middle ring, middle ring, inner ring, outer ring, middle ring, he kept shooting. The man just chuckled and counted the coins in the sack. The passersby tilted their heads slightly to the left. A few of them smirked and murmured. Benji stuck his tongue out, took one last shot, then nodded to himself.
The man’s son squinted at the targets.
”FFfffffaaa- Fffaaaarrrr- Ffffaaaarrrrr- … what does that say Daddy. I can‘t read it.”
The father looked up from the sack of coins at the target. Benji cut him off before he could speak.
”It says ‘Don‘t believe everything your daddy tells ya.’”
Benji packed up his crossbow, picked a sucker off the rack as his prize, and walked away with a clever smile on his face.
-
The women sailors were angry, but they weren't stupid. They charged him double fare due to his late arrival then put him to work with the rest of the ship's crew. They worked him like a dog.
Benji only complained once during voyage. He was mopping the decks on his second day when he slipped, fell, and cracked his head against the mast.
Farking this STUPID boat with it's slippery decks and it's farking dumb arse mops and … FARK!
He angrily tossed the mop across the deck. A bearded, dwarven woman near him cracked her fingers and approached.
If yuh don't like the boat yuh can go swimming the rest of the way…
Benji stared at her in confused horror.
No, no. I'm quite all right… really... I'm fine...
She made a quick, unexpected lunge at him, grabbed him by the leg and torso, and hoisted him above her head.
Are yuh sure?! Say yuh like the boat! Say it!
SHITE! FARK! I LIKE THE BOAT! FOR GOND'S SAKE! I LIKE THE BOAT! IT'S THE BEST BOAT EVER! I LIKE MOPPING TOO! MOPPING IS GREAT! JUST DON'T THROW ME OVERBOARD!
She swung him around and slid him like a bowling ball back toward his mop.
Carry on den, hinny.
The women that were watching chuckled.
Benji didn't mutter another word until they arrived in Waterdeep.
-
Dottie squinted out toward the piers as they arrived at the docks. She pointed a few hundred feet away to a worn but sleek ship. The words 'Fish Wing' were carved on the side. The crew had just cast off the lines and shoved away from the pier.
"We're too late Mr. Hin. You should have hurried back at the inn. Now you've missed it."
Benji narrowed his eyes at the ship.
" <g>Oh fark no I haven't."</g>
He threw back a small potion and exploded into a sprint for the pier. His arms and legs blurred. Benji's mind raced as the gap from the pier to the boat widened.
(How far is the jump? What if I miss it? Are my legs moving fast enough for me to run across the surface of the water? How do you run across water? Do I have anything I can use as a grappling hoo- JUMP!)
He reached the edge of the pier and threw himself into the air. He allowed himself a smug smile as he saw he was going to make it to the ship. The smile disappeared when his chest slammed the ship's railing and the wind was knocked out of him. He gripped and climbed over the railing onto the ship's deck.
_cough "How fast-" wheeze "was I-" cough " <g>Farking-" cough, cough "-taking a warhammer straight in the Gondamn-" cough "-chest."
cough
" <g>Fark. "</g></g>_
He picked himself up off the deck and looked back toward the pier. Dottie had run down to the end of the pier by then. She was shouting something but he couldn't make it out over the sound of the waves.
"She must be wondering about her money."
He fished a single coin out of his jacket and smirked. He hurled it toward the pier. Dottie nearly caught it but instead lost her balance and nearly fell off the pier. Benji yelled.
"GET YOURSELF A RESPECTABLE PROFESSION YOU CLUMSY IDIOT! HOW ABOUT HOUSEMAID OR BAR WENCH!"
Benji laughed to himself and turned. He froze. The entire ship's crew was staring at him. They were all women.
"Or uh … sailor?"
-
Benji was woken a few hours later by a pounding on the door. He tiredly jumped to his feet and scrambled to get the pile of tangled blankets off. He took a breath to yell out the door but decided against it.
Instead he unpacked his crossbow and started loading it.
"Gondamn it!"
His poisoned arm moved at the elbow but the fingers wouldn't budge.
" <g>FARKING TROLLSHITE!"</g>
He wedged his crossbow against the wall and held it with his elbow while he turned the crank. There was a muffled girl's voice from the door.
"Mr. Hin. Your boat leaves in a half hour."
"Uh … OKAY!"
Benji cradled the crossbow with his elbow while he unlocked the door with his good hand. He pulled the door open an inch and greeted the girl with a pair of exhausted bleary eyes staring up the sights of a loaded crossbow. Again, it was Dottie.
"What boat."
Dottie stiffened.
"Didn't you… say you'd pay me to find you the fastest one out of here?"
Benji pushed the door farther open and took a cautious look outside. He kept the crossbow on Dottie as he did. He stepped back into the room.
"How do I know you're not going to lead me into some dark alley for a bunch of your friends to rob me?"
Dottie took a deep breath as if summoning some courage.
"I do have my reputation to consider. Being bested by a half lame, half blind hinnish tourist doesn't look well to potential employers… safer for you to leave before rumors start spreading."
Benji was silent for a moment. He lowered his crossbow.
"So…"
She cut him off.
"So I'll get you on your way and you'll never speak of this again. Any thug friends I might have would be awfully curious as to why I didn't get away with thievery last night."
Benji smirked then laughed.
"Yeah, and I'd probably toss them on their crying arses just like I did with you."
She stifled.
"That… was an act."
"Sure, SURE it was. "
Her cheeks turned red. She stared at Benji for a second.
"The boat leaves soon Mr. Hin. If you want have time to haggle the captain down to a fair fare then we best be on our way."
Benji's chuckling trailed off.
"All right, all right. Let's be off then. Lead the way."
She took his arm briskly and lead him back out through the streets of Yartar.
-
BZAAAT!!!
Benji was startled awake by an electric crackle and a bright flash. Frantic footsteps sounded somewhere in the room. He instinctively threw himself out of the bed but landed on his crumpled, still mostly numb arm. He jumped to his feet and raised his good arm ready to fight.
There was no movement. The room was completely quiet. Benji's eyes darted around the room. It was almost pitch black save for a patch of moonlight on the far wall.
A small plume of smoke rose from Benji's backpack. The floor creaked as he took a step toward it. There was a nervous breath from the other side of the room. Benji squinted. A hooded figure was crouched by the opposite wall. He whipped his raised fist around to face it.
"Who in the hells are you?"
The figure slowly rose up against the wall. The moon light coming in through the barred windows shined on the figure's face. It was his guide Dottie. She drew a dagger and pointed it at him. Her voice wavered as she spoke.
"You're lucky to be alive Mr. Hin. I could have cut your throat as you were snoring."
Benji took another step forward.
"I'm lucky? You're lucky all you found in my pack was a Gondamn flash-zapper! There's enough fire in there to bring down this entire <g>farking</g> inn! How'd you get in my <g>farking</g> room!"
She shook the dagger at him.
"I'm warning you! I'll-"
"You'll what? Gut me with that measly butter knife? Franky Dottie, if that's even actually your name, I doubt you'll-"
Benji sprung at her mid sentence. Dottie winced hard and stabbed the dagger out toward him. He dodged outside her clumsy thrust and slapped the dagger out of her hand. She clutched her hand and backed away from him.
There was a look of horror on her face. She stumbled back stuttering while Benji picked up the knife.
"I- I- I thought you were just a travelling-"
She tripped backward over her own feet and fell on her butt. Her eyes welled up and she started crying. She sobbed as she spoke.
"I just wanna make a living! My momma is sick! PLEASE don't turn me in to the guards! I can't go back to jail agaaaaaaiinnnn!"
Benji stared at her angrily for a moment then softened.
" <g>Fark!</g> Fine! Just get me on the first, fastest boat out of this stupid thief-den of a city!
She sniffled and stopped sobbing.
"You won't turn me in?"
" <g>Shite.</g> I'll even PAY you if you find me one that's leaving tomorrow!"
She studied him warily then responded.
"Okay."
They kept their eyes on each other as she slid toward the corner of the room. In the corner she pried up a hidden door in the floor boards. Benji watched dumbfounded. She dropped into a tunnel and dashed away. Benji stuck his head down the hole and shouted after her.
"Go on! Get out of here! Let me get some <g>farking</g> sleep! And tell your innkeeper friend that I want my <g>farking</g> money back for him letting you in here! And don't try getting in my room again either! I'm going to trap the <g>fark</g> out of this place! Expect a face full of acid if you try your stupid little thievery stunt again!"
She had already disappeared into the darkness of the tunnel. He dropped the floorboards shut on the hidden passage and let out an exhausted sigh.
" <g>Un-farking-believable."</g>
Benji grabbed all the blankets and pillows off of the bed and piled them on the hidden entrance. He didn't bother setting any traps. He just fell in to the pile and went back to sleep.
-
As dusk settled Benji continued riding. At the top of every bluff he squinted further west for Yartar. After a few hours had passed and the moon was high in the sky he saw the shape of a gate and guard tower. Past the gate he could see small boxy buildings and a few larger round ones. None of the buildings had torches lit.
" <g>Fark me. Don't tell me trolls have ransacked this place."</g>
Benji dismounted the phantom pony and continued on foot. He ducked low and crept through the grass and bushes. His right hand sagged limply and dragged through the grass.
" <g>Shite. Stupid arm."</g>
He shook his arm angrily before tucking it in to his pants. Benji continued creeping through the grass until he got to the wall. He braced his back against it and slid toward the gate. He heard a loud snuffle from inside the gate and froze. He stood for a minute and listened. He whispered to himself.
"A horse?"
Benji inched toward the gate. At its edge he leaned carefully to look inside. From up above in the guard tower there was a shout.
"OY there little man! Don't think nobody sees ya with your hand in your pants!"
There was a merry uproar of laughter from all around him. Benji drew his shield with his good arm but didn't know which way to point it. Two armored men trotted on their horses around and out the gate. Three more rose out of the bushes behind Benji. The man in the guard tower shouted again.
"Ahoy and welcome to Yartar."
The man climbed down the ladder and approached Benji. He could see polished military officer insignia on the man's lapel. Benji lowered his shield and spoke.
"You mean it's not overrun with trolls?"
The men doubled over laughing again. Only the officer kept his composure down to an amused smile.
"No Traveler. It's the same way it's always been: fine."
"Well where are all the torches?"
"Yartar doesn't light torches on the streets at night. Old tradition. Made for a good laugh for us tonight though. Thought you were being sneaky weaving and cursing your way through the brush Little Man?"
Benji muttered to himself and shook his head.
"The name is Benji."
"Right, right. Well met Benji. No offense meant… well... not too much offense meant. I'm Shield Captain Otian of the Shields of Yartar."
The captain bent over and grinned as he gave Benji's lame arm a pat.
"Might I ask why you've got your hand down your pants like that?"
"A bunch of Gondamn trolls ambushed me on the road about a half day back. One of them tossed some magic poison quills or something at me. Made my whole damn arm go numb. It's tucked in there because I can't move it."
The captain stood up again and turned his attention east down the road. He sighed.
"They're moving farther and farther south. You're lucky to be alive Little Man. Find yourself a light lass to show you to an inn. I'm sure you could use the rest."
Otian turned his attention to his troops.
"Fun's over troops. Back to your posts!"
Benji squinted at the captain with a confused expression.
"What in the hells a light l-"
A teen-aged girl took Benji's arm and led him through the gate. She talked quietly to him as they walked.
"Light lasses know the streets of Yartar. We lead the way for you travelers at night. It's tradition."
They weaved around corners and through alleys. Buildings rushed by as the lass steered him through the dark streets. She came to a stop abruptly. Benji looked around confused. He looked back at her. She whispered to him.
"It's also tradition to tip generously."
Benji looked back down the street and tried to get his bearings. He couldn't see the gate or the guard tower or even a sign noting the street's name. He swore to himself. He had no idea where he was.
She watched him carefully as he dug his hand into a fat jacket pocket and fished out a few coins. She kept her eyes on his jacket as she accepted the coins. Benji adjusted his glasses and looked at her.
"So…"
She blinked.
"So now I'll lead you to your inn. I have one picked out for you that I think you'll like Mr. Hin."
"The name's Benji."
"Ah yes Mr. Benji. You can call me Dottie. Shall we?"
Dottie took him by the arm again and led him back through the winding alleys of Yartar. After a few corners they were in front of a larger seedy looking building. She pulled him up the steps and into a dimly lit entryway. The innkeeper stood near the door. He nodded slowly to Dottie and she nodded back. Dottie whispered to Benji then coaxed him forward.
"He'll give you a good price on a room Mr. Benji."
Benji nodded then spoked to the innkeeper.
"Uh… hi. I need a room. Just one night. Nothing big or fancy."
The innkeeper said his price for a room he had to spare. Benji was baffled by how low it was, but payed without question. The innkeeper nodded and handed Benji his room key. He pointed Benji back at his rented room.
Benji padded past the innkeeper toward his room. He turned and waved to Dottie and the innkeeper who were still lingering at the entryway watching him. They both waved and smiled. An uneasy feeling crept over Benji.
Benji faked a smile back to them then turned to the door to open it with his key. He squinted at the heavy door and the complicated lock. Inside he saw nothing unremarkable about the room other than a set of iron bars on the window. The uneasiness left him.
"At least the room is <g>farking</g> secure. <g>Shite.</g> This place is almost catapult proof."
Benji closed the heavy door and locked it. He took off his coat and packed it into his backpack. He squinted at the bed for a moment then back at his pack. He went back to his pack and tinkered with with a few of the pockets then tightly tied them closed.
" <g>What a farking day."</g>
He crumpled into the bed and sighed with relief. Before long he was snoring. He didn't even take the time to untuck his hand from his pants.
((more to come))
-
The first leg of Benji's journey went by quickly. He learned to control the phantom pony and was amazed at how fast it could go. Originally he had planned to stop at the settlement of Everlund, but was making such good time he rode right through.
A few more hours passed and the road curved west. Benji stopped to check his map. He squinted at it confused then looked up at the sun high in the sky.
" <g>Fark me."</g>
He stuffed the map back into his pack with a smug grin. He was nearly a quarter of the way to Waterdeep after only a few hours of travel. He gave his pony a kick and took off again.
"This is going better than I thou-"
As he zipped down the road something black flew down his throat. He choked and yanked on the reigns nearly sending himself over the top of the ghostly pony. He coughed and hacked off the side of the pony for a few minutes. Finally he spittled the crumpled remains of a dragon fly on the ground. He stared at it in disgust.
"Blech."
He dismounted to catch his breath. Further along the road he could see that the bugs wouldn't be getting any better. He patted the ghostly pony.
"I don't suppose you brought a magical anti bug scarf or helm or something did you? I sure didn't."
The phantom pony just gave him a vacant stare.
"Well then. I guess that's a 'no'."
He jumped back on the horse and caught his bearings. To the north Benji could see that the fields slowly gave way to a huge stretching land of hills and bogs. He unpacked his map and squinted at it.
"So… that must be the Evermoors. Charming place."
Benji adjusted his glasses and looked out across the Evermoors. In the distance he could see a circle of huts.
"How much do you want to bet one of those folks has something to keep the bugs away?"
The pony didn't respond.
"<g>Fark me.</g> You'd think Aramuil could have magicked some personality into you."
Benji quickly trotted the phantom pony toward the huts. As he approached he saw a couple oddly green dressed men exit the huts and point at him. He waved back. A bug buzzed by his ear. He swatted at it.
" <g>Shite.</g> I don't know how these morons can live out here with all these Gondamn bugs.
Two more bugs buzzed by him. There was a 'pat-pat' on the ground behind him. He reigned the pony around to look back. Two arrows were sticking out of the ground. Benji turned back to wave his hands at them.
"Don't shoot! I just want to buy a <g>farking</g> SCARF!"
More arrows buzzed by him. He ducked and squinted at the huts. He could see the oddly green garbed men charging him weren't men, but trolls. The leader of the group raised a bone-skull scepter and pointed it at Benji.
"Oh shite."
As he turned the phantom pony and dug in his stirrups he heard the troll chanting a magic spell in a garbled tongue. Benji felt the pitter-patter of needles hitting the shield on his back. He felt sharp stings on his right arm. Benji kicked the phantom harder.
"Go faster you stupid ghost!!"
An arrow bounced off his shield and knocked him forward into the horse.
" <g>Farking hells!"</g>
Benji looked back toward the trolls as he rode away. The arrows were falling short. After an hour of riding he was content they had given up the chase. He dismounted to check himself and the phantom pony. Four poisonous quills were stuck in his arm. He pulled them out with his free arm expecting ripping pain from the barbs but felt nothing. He shrugged and tossed them away.
When he got around to the backside of the horse he stared at it in astonishment. The phantom was covered in quills. Benji smirked.
"Stupid trolls. Bet they didn't figure poison wouldn't work on a ghost like you. Didn't work on me either."
He smiled and tried to raise his arm to pat the horse. His arm wouldn't move. He wiggled his shoulder but still couldn't get his arm to move. After a few more minutes of shaking his arm he gave up.
"<g>Fark."</g>
He struggled to unfold the map with his left arm. He traced his path along the road from Everlund toward Yartar. Looking up from the map he could see a river to the south.
"That must be the river … Desss...? Dessar...? Uh..."
He looked up at the sky. It the sun was almost setting.
" <g>Faaaaark."</g>
Benji awkwardly struggled to climb the ghostly pony with his good arm. After a bit of fumbling and cursing he managed to get himself on the horse.
"Let's see… now what?"
He looked around confused for a minute before resting his eyes on the setting sun.
"Right."
Benji gave the pony a kick and rode west.
((More to come))
-
With a crackle of lightning Aramuil and Benji arrived in Silverymoon. Benji adjusted his glasses and gave the area a once over.
"Quite the bridge they got there. Wood isn't good enough for these folks?"
Aramuil nodded and proceeded to explain the magical origins of the Moonbridge. Benji just nodded along and half listened as he traced his trip on his map. He looked up and squinted west while he waited for Aramuil to finish. When Aramuil was done with his explanation Benji nodded and tried to look impressed.
"Wow."
Aramuil nodded again then began another magical spell. Black and gray smoke whirled around him as he chanted the incantations. When he finished a ghostly pony with wispy hooves stood before them.
"Now Benji. There are a few things you should know about a Phantom Steed-"
Benji had already mounted the pony as he interrupted Aramuil.
"Relax Aramuil. I think I know how to ride a <g>farking</g> ghost pony."
Benji dug his stirrups into the pony and it flew out from under him. He tumbled and bounced off the ground. With the hint of a smile Aramuil continued.
"As I was saying. The Phantom Steed is extremely quick. You'll have to be gentle with it as you've already noticed."
Benji climbed on the pony again. He gave it a slight nudge to get a feel for it.
"Well then. I … uh ... I guess I'll be off. Thanks for the spells... and the directions... and the encouragement ... and ... thanks."
"You're welcome Benji. Take care."
Benji nodded and turned the ghostly pony south toward the moonlit bridge. He braced himself and clenched the reigns as tightly as he could then gave the phantom pony another kick. Other bridge crossers cast annoyed stares at Benji as he rocketed across the Moonbridge and out the Silverymoon Gates in a cloud of gray smoke.
<g>FFFFFFFFFFAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRK!!!
((Added link to a picture of the Moonbridge))</g>
-
@9dc9ae0721:
Shite to remember for the trip:
The sun rises in the east.
Don't travel at night.
Elmbrook is southeast of the city.
Don't do anything stupid.
Benji stuffs the note in his jacket pocket, nods once, then leaves.
-
Upon returning to his quarters Benji immediately finds his most recent letter and continues writing.
@85251313ac:
Love her.
There's no worry or regret. You don't have to convince her she can love you too because she already does.
Now what do you do?
For yourself? You could show the Legion you haven't gone soft. Especially those damn corporals who think they're ranked high enough to get out of that jogging shite. Run them ragged.
For Talyna? You'll think of something.
He sits tapping his pen against the desk.
-
He enters his quarters and closes the door behind him. For a moment he's startled by a bright white sparkle near his desk.
"That glittery sheet really is a bit much."
A broad smile crosses his face.
"Oh well."
By the light of the glittering sheet he writes himself another letter.
@f919d16ebe:
You do realize that you just spent a fortune for no reason other than that comment she happened to make wishing her gear was lighter?
But there's more to it than that. You want her to be safe…
There's the problem right there. Being safe isn't the way she is. She's adventurous and fearless. But that's why you L
He cuts himself off of at the 'L'
Do I?
-
Benji wanders through the the Legion Hall to his quarters. He has a giddy smile on his face. When he reaches his room he grabs a piece of parchment and starts writing himself a letter.
@8c1bbc2709:
You're a lucky man. You know that, don't you? Farking lucky. You're lucky you have all those people coaxing you along like that. Elbow nudge here. Fancy bottle of wine there.
The way Uljas made up that whole fancy, candle-lit dinner for the two of you? No wonder he has so many wives. He farking earned them. Yes, you owe him for that. But still… give yourself some credit.
She's after you. She gave you that light-up bolt didn't she? Don't try to be all tough and manly about it. It was romantic and you liked it. In fact you probably stopped breathing long enough that you nearly passed out.
Stop wasting your time here writing this stupid letter. Legion patrol down south. Give yourself some extra time to buy some flowers on the way.
He abruptly dots the period on the end of the last sentence and quickly reads it over.
"Yup."
He walks out the door with a skip in his step.
