Soon the walls of Ever Green, built upon raised ground, greeted them. The gate, set uhe walls thick stone walls, loomed at the end of a long, swerving road, paining all traveller’s soul upon the way there. All traveller’s save Adam and his panions had brought along a wagon and cart, so their calves remained cool.

  The guards allowed the group in after the appropriate gate fee, which hadn’t ged even under new ma.

  Ever Green’s roads were wide, with small clusters of buildings dotting the area, small, but stacked high, three to five stories tall. Yet, sing from one side to another, all one could see was greenery. Green greenery, the gree greenery one could possibly see. There were as many parks as there were roads, some of which became pathways from one area to the , and even though ses of the town were formed upon a grid, some ses of town gave way to a more natural yout, vestiges of old.

  “You know, it’s so muicer travelling through the levels with a wagon,” Adam said, letting out a long sigh, the wagon following the rge side road. “So much better.” Adam tio look out at the town, which soothed his heart. “I should have taken cues from this pce.”

  “It is beautiful,” Jurot admitted.

  “I should take Vonda here once our baby is born. The fresh air would dood.”

  Jurot he smile on Adam’s face, which was both genuine and apprehensive. “It is a good idea.”

  “I should buy some tea while I’m here, I ended up running out a short while ago. I should also buy that damn pouch I’ve been wanting to get ever since we set out, but screw Red Oak if it thinks I’m going to spend another penny there!”

  The Adventurer’s Guild in Ever Green was slightly rger than the one in Red Oak. It was fairly simir to the Adventurer’s Guild in Red Oak, made of stone for the first floor, with a tiered design of wood above. However, one could have gotten lost within the flowers and vines growing around it, and there were small ses on the roof top where older folks rexed. The fenced off area to the side also housed herbs Adam could only envy.

  ‘I should get myself a herb garden.’

  The sweet earthy smell invited him in, the flowery st coaxing him to the front desk, where an older man sat, reading a book.

  “Barks.”

  “Adam, wasn’t it?”

  “Tha’s right. How’s it going?”

  “Fine enough. You?”

  “Not too bad.”

  “What brings you to Ever Green?”

  “We were hoping to adventure. I’ve got a little one on the way and I thought, why not make some before they’re bet them a tle something, and something for the missus too,” Adam said, his voice lower and slower.

  ‘Why’s he talking like that?’ Lucy thought.

  “If you’re ied, there’s a forest drake about that’s been giving me a headache, and if you could ha, we’d greatly appreciate it.”

  “Sure,” Adam replied.

  After a lovely bath, the group went to sleep. The m, the group set out to the nearby forest, allowing Jurot and Kitool to lead them, trekking through the nearby forest.

  “Adam, you o let us fight first,” Lucy said. “If you fight, it’ll be to.”

  “Fine, but I o do a little bit at least.”

  “You ’t do much!”

  “Fine, fine.” Adam shrugged his shoulders. “I’ll let it go for your sake.”

  As the pair of Iyrmen trekked forward, they began to notice the disturbed nature all around them, from broken twigs, to trees which had seemingly been cut by a bde, tearing off the bark.

  “Adam,” Jurot said, raising his shield quickly, as the wind around them rushed.

  Adam quickly donned his shield.

  Dexterity SaveD20 + 1 = 18 (17)

  Health: 91 -> 65

  The wind bsted the group, enough to push even Jaygak back, who smmed up against a tree with a grunt. The wind gathered together to form the shape of a long wyrm, branches and leaves f the body of the creature, the whistling wind screeg in the air.

  Battle OrderD20 + 1 = 2 (1)

  The roar of the Rage Dancers filled the forest, and the bdes struck against the long creature, while Adam could barely see what was happening through the debris. He raised his shield up, hiding himself behind it, while hoisting up Wraith.

  “Jaygak, you alright?” Adam asked, though the shining bde cut through the air, literally, striking through the creature, which writhed in pain, the leaves and branches pulsing.

  Fighting Spirit: 3 -> 2Health: 65 -> 70

  Attack - Wraith (Advantage)D20 + 10 = 13 (3)D20 + 10 = 19 (9)Hit!Wraith: 3 -> 2Mana: 25 -> 24Ability: Divine Smite2D6 + 2D6 + 2D6 + 9 = 36 (8)(10)(9)36 damage!

  Attack - Wraith (Advantage)D20 + 10 = 11 (1)D20 + 10 = 26 (16)Hit!Wraith: 2 -> 1Mana: 24 -> 23Ability: Divine Smite2D6 + 2D6 + 2D6 + 9 = 36 (10)(9)(8)36 damage!

  Adam darted forward, through the blizzard of debris, filing his axe wildly, managing to strike through the leaves ah and wood, and as his bde fshed cold and hot at ohe whipping wind fell still.

  Victory!XP Gained: +1500XP: 13 000 -> 14 500

  “Huh. That was… easier than expected.” Adam turo face the rest of his panions. “I didn’t even do that much.”

  Adam had only done enough to pletely knock out pretty muy Expert he would e across, and he didn’t even Onward Soar, or use his greater Divine Smite.

  Jurot picked up the core, which looked almost like a tiger eye gem, but rger, and was green and gold rather than brown and yellows.

  “No point in pig up the mud, is there?”

  “No,” Jurot said.

  “It was rhetorical, but I appreciate that.” Adam looked around. “Guys. Are we strong?”

  “A little,” Lucy said, having beeain she would have knocked out an Expert too. Even without Bell, she could tell, and so could Mara, from the way their blows had scattered rge portions of the creature.

  Jaygak decided against mentioning how she felt she had dohing, si was already so disappointing.

  Quest plete: Forest DrakeXP Gained: +500XP: 14 500 -> 15 000

  Stamps Gained: +2Stamps: 3 -> 5

  Sitting in the er of the Guild, the group eheir meal of roasted boar meat, grilled vegetables thered in herbs and butter, and their palm sized cheese, though Jurot’s cheese was twice the size.

  ‘Huh. Feels kinda… I don’t know…’

  Mana: 23 -> 20Spell: Sending

  “Hey, Aunt. I hope you’re well. We have an okay story t back. Please tell the children I love them so much.”

  ‘Hello, Adam. I am well. That is okay. I will tell them. I hope you are well.’

  “We are well, thanks. Jurot sends his love too. Also, he is eating so much cheese. He had two whole fistfuls, and he keeps on-,” Adam felt the spells magic leave his lips. ‘Oh. Oops.’

  ‘It is good to hear. Thank you,’ Adam heard within his mind, sensing the gently joy of a mother’s voice.

  Adam decided to send a message to Vonda too. “Hey. You alright? Tell me if anyone is bullying you, unless it’s Jirot. Love you.”

  ‘I’m well, thank you, darling.’ Adam inhaled sharply at her words. ‘She is not. She feeds me well. Mother Soza bless you. I love you too.’

  ‘Should we go kill another forest drake?’ Adam thought, feeling the echo of his wife’s love filling him. ‘Why not two more?’

  Adam spent the day rexing, however, going to buy gifts from the town. Wheurned, many gold lighter, he gowards Barks, who motioned a hand t him closer.

  “Got a mert that has an emergency request. She’s looking for a capable party, and is paying good .”

  “Sure.”

  “I’ll call for her.”

  She was short, stoutly built, with dark hair, and bright eyes. She wore the typical clothing of the Aldish, a blouse and trousers, and a pair of thick boots. At her side she wore a shortsword, and ws of silver and gold all along her left hand, sometimes multiple of each finger.

  “Oh,” Adam said. “It’s you.”

  The mert narrowed her eyes, certain she reised this figure.

  “Sorry, Barks, yoing to find anroup of suckers to tolerate her,” Adam said.

  “I do recall you, yes. Alchemist, wasn’t it?”

  “Troublemaker,” Adam corrected.

  “Unfortunately, I’m in a hurry. Thirty gold a day to your party.”

  “Nope,” Adam replied.

  “Forty?”

  “Nu uh.”

  “Fifty gold a day?”

  “Even if you paid a hundred gold each, I wouldn’t subject myself to you. Last time, I wao go about my life, and you had to go and mess around. I don’t need your .”

  “This is business, dear, nothing personal,” the woman replied, a mert’s smile pstering her lips, and a rian’s annoyance creasing her forehead.

  “The first time we met, you were so rude to me. Now that you need me, and it’s inve for you, you waet? I’m too rich to be dealing with your nonsense any more, miss.” Adam leaned back, inhaling deeply, the taste of satisfa upon his lips.

  “Isn’t there anyone else who is dependable?” The woman bit her lower lip, and rubbed her rings with her palm.

  Barks shrugged his shoulders to the mert. “If you want a group that’s Bronze, we’ve got a few. Steel? Yoing to have to wait.”

  “Damn it!”

  As though Fate had wished to answer her prayers, a few hours ter, a group of figures ehe Guild, each who were well armed and armoured, most in , their leader in full pte, each wearing deep red scarves.

  ‘Oh,’ Adam thought. ‘Red Scarf, right?’

  “Aha!” the mert called, rushing up to the fellows. “The Divine have blessed me! Sir Stephen!”

  “Yes?” Stephen replied, eyeing up the woman for a moment. “How may I assist, miss?”

  “I raying to the Divio send me a group of great warriors, and thus the Divine have brought to me such fine warriors. I require esc to Jaghi immediately.”

  “We will not be able to leave today, but if you are willing, we arrao leave tomorrow m.”

  “That is acceptable,” she said, shaking the man’s hands with her own. “Uher petty adventurers, you are not only strong, but of good pany.”

  “Red Neck Stephen, wasn’t it?” Adam called. “It’s been a while.”

  “Has it?” Stephen replied, before narrowing his eyes. “Yes. A short while. Last year?”

  “I fought Eddard,” Adam said. “Bck Bde, was it?”

  “Bck Blood,” Stephen corrected. “You fought well.”

  “Thank you.” Adam smiled. “I know it’s rude of me to ask, but would you be willing to spar?”

  “What is the purpose of the spar?”

  “I’d like to gain some Experience.” Adam’s lips twitched into a small smile. “I want to know the differeween you and I.”

  “I am simir in strength to Bck Blood,” Red Neck said, gng aside to notice the Iyrman who had an eye on him. “I fear I would only disappoint you.”

  ‘What am I even doing? She riled me up and now I want to fight Red Neck Stephen? He’s apparently one of the guys around.’ “Ah, I’m sure you must be tired from your journey, how could I be so rude to ask you to spar now. Sorry about that, Sir.”

  Red Neck bowed his head politely towards the half elf.

  ‘Wait a sed.’ “Sir Stephen, do you by any ce wield a magical on?”

  “I do.”

  “Is it rude to ask what it does?”

  “It is Greater Enhanced, and strikes harder than a typical on of its appearahe man replied calmly.

  “Do all of your panions possess magical ons?”

  Stephen remained silent for a long moment. “No, two do not.”

  “Which ons do your panions prefer to use, the two without magical ons?”

  “…” Stephen furrowed his brows slightly. “Pike and greatbde.”

  “Good to know. Well, apparently you’re about to make some , so if you need magical items, we sell some at our business, the United Kindom. If you follow the road west from Red Oak, right at the border of the Iyr, you’ll find our business.

  “Which magical ons?”

  “Basic reater.”

  “How much are your Basic ons.”

  “Typically around a thousand.”

  “Unfortunately, that will be difficult to procure for some time, as we often accept whatever little the onfolk offer.”

  ‘Ah! I knew I wao make this deal for a reason.’ “Well, perhaps we could… work out a deal?”

  “What kind of deal?”

  “The mert is about to offer your party fifty gold a day for your jouro Jaghi. Let’s say, five hundred gold total, for two Basic ons, and a favour from the Red Scarves?”

  “We will sider it.”

  Adam bowed his head. “It’s an honour to formally meet a hero like you, Sir.”

  “You as well, Adam.”

  ‘He’s a mert who works for an enter?’ the woman thought, entirely befuddled by the versation.

  ‘A favour?’ Jurot thought, w if part of the favour could be a spar with Red Neck Stephen.

  The group decided to rex that day, having no idea the old faces they’d see tomorrow.

  These rolls are crazy. The amount of old faces we're meeting is hirious.

  Also! I posted up two chapters today because I was going to make another offer for this week, from the 22nd to the 30th, for every new patron, Silver old, I'll post up an additional chapter a day. Someone ended up subscribierday so I decided to t it. Silver and Gold tier patrohe same thing, +40 chapters, and by the time you read this, Y05 should have begun!