I met two other travellers this past evening, a short fellow by the name of Lyttleman, and an enthusiatic man called Deorwulf. Immediately, Deorwulf wanted my aid in being blessed by his father and wanted guidance from him on his future. In return, he pledged to help me find and kill a bear, I accepted this agreement, though I think he was as unknowing of bear hunting as I.
I both paid for the ferryman and for Deorwulf’s sacrificial offering, and gave him the blessing of his father. It seemed to please him well enough.
Later, we were having a drink and struck up conversation with Emma and Arkenwright, a blind harpist, who sang some useful songs, and some incediary ones too ! It was not long before things took a turning for the worst and we found ourselves in the middle of a bar fight. Being not very well equiped to deal with this sort of thing, we managed to hustle the pretty Emma and Arkenwright out to safety. Deorwulf, lucky git, then gets his leg over with Emma, but it looks like she’s not impressed the next day. Arkenwright needs a bit of company to a celebration, and we have nothing better to do that provide it to him. I am hoping I can learn a thing or two from him, though he seems keen not to share much at all with me, though from the runes on the boat it is clear he knows magics.
We head south to the stopper island on the rive to Upsalla. And finally reach the 3 islands of Micklenee, Middlenee and Leastnee, where the naming feast of the eldest grandson of the clan Ostnaffi is to be held.
While aiding Arkenwright to some business with Aemond, we are jumped by some foul undead, who are impervious to our iron weapons. It is Arkenwright who finally dispells the creature with a powerful ward, and we learn that these things can be only struck by fire or fist, or with stone or stick from the ground nearby. As the leader of the accompaniers, I give the looted shield to Lyttleman, the Franca to Deorwulf and keep the armrings for myself.
The next day we encounter more misfortune and are attacked by some escaped slaves, we only just win the fight but manage two captives who we take with us to do some rowing… it appears we ourselves are less than gifted in that skill.
Finally we reach the farm of Aemond and pick up information regarding bears… to the north, they say, and use dogs, or a bear trap – I make a note of this.
It turns out that we are there to do some baby-sitting, or rather bull-sitting! A simple task you would think, but how wrong we are. After agreeing there will probably be some diversionary tactic used, my two companions head off towards the very distraction leaving the bull to be lured away with the scent of hot-heffer.
The chase is difficult, but with good fortune and the help of the single-minded bull, we not only find but kill the two remaining rustlers gathering up some leather armour and armrings for our trouble.
We are warmly received back at the farm for our troubles, and I gain a good quality cloak for my part in the rescue, the others also are rewarded handsomely.
It occurs to me I need to find more aid in this bear-hunt of mine, I must learn more for it to be sucessful… that will be an uphill task I am sure.