DnD Wife Stories

Off in the distance, another Traveler opened his eyes. He had not awoken peacefully. Two swifts kicks to the side were what had roused him. A loud holler accompanied the pain,

“Get up you lazy cat. It’s time to go!”

The creature speaking to him was a large gray MyrRin with huge ears and a trunk. He was well dressed and carried himself with pride, a well polished, jeweled sword at his hip.

The traveler he had been yelling at was Tobias. He was a black Rohmar male, towering at well over six feet if not taller. He was young with a few scars but nothing too bad. His attire was a set of old, weathered armor. He slept in the mail shirt and donned the breastplate upon waking. The Tuskari who had kicked him knew that and had taken his opportunity at day break. Unfortunately, Naz was Sodia’s son and she was the leader of the caravan. He could not cause problems or raise alarm over this harassment. It was hard enough as it was to find any caravan that would take him, let alone the famous Sodia. She tried to keep the peace but she couldn’t be there all the time. With a last swift kick to the side, Naz snarled at Tobias,

“I don’t know why we bothered taking you with us, but mom thinks you’re a good cook. May we should just cook you one day you…”

He didn’t even finish the sentence. Naz spit on the ground to define he was talking about Tobias with disrespect and walked off.

It had been a long journey so far. In the three short months since he had joined, they had traversed over fifty five thousand miles en route to the festival grounds, stopping by various settlements along the way to sell their wares. With a groan, Tobias sat up and got himself ready for the day. He approached his horse next to tend to him. He cherished his horse. Torvas had carried him for a long time and he appreciated all that the animal had done for him. He hoped they were together for a long time to come.

Tobias made sure to feed him and give him enough water to drink before they set off. He ate a light breakfast himself before packing up and getting ready to head out. He looked on and saw, to his unsurprised dismay, that the caravan was already a good few yards off and going. he hurried to catch up, trailing behind as the outcast that he was among the caravan members. He was, after all, the only Rohmar among a caravan of Tuskari. They despised him and his shunned status made it difficult to work with them as they refused his food directly from his hand. He had to cook the meals, set out the pot, and leave before they would come and sit down to eat.

After a long time of Traveling towards the rising sun he saw a figure getting larger as it headed towards him. The figure looked similar to Naz but more slender and a littler shorter. As she got closer he could begin to make out more details. She had an ornate headdress wrapped around her head, encrusted with jewels that glittered in the morning light. It was Sodai, dressed in her usual regalia of colorful robes dyed deep, expensive colors with jewels sown into the folds to wink out when she moved. She had invited him to join the caravan on a whim after sampling his cooking and that had been that. He had been traveling with them ever since.

“Tobias, I will be riding with you today. I see it as only fair to ride with all my members to get their opinions on things and see what you might know.”

Sodia was a sponge for information. Most of Tobias’ interactions with her up to this point had been her just asking him questions that he had to answer. She had been very curious as to why he was by himself but had let him join her caravan.

She lifted herself up onto the passenger’s side of the riding bench and beckoned for him,

“Come, come. We don’t want you to fall too far back now.”

Tobias, gave a small resigned sigh, knowing it was best not to argue and just hopped up next to her and took the reins. As he urged Torvas forward, Sodia began her verbal dance.

“We’re only about a half a day’s ride to Kal Marha. Once we’re there, we will replenish our supplies and head to the sacred clearing. Only maybe two weeks longer now. Then maybe you’ll get the information you’re seeking. Well it only happens every five years. It is an opportunity to make a lot and learn a lot. So, I know my son gives you quite a bit of trouble.”

It was just like her to make innocuous conversation only to turn it to more serious matters in an instant.

“He’s a nice boy.” replied Tobias with dripping sarcasm.

“Yes but,” continued Sodia, unfazed by the sarcasm, “he holds a rather tough grudge. It was about fifteen or so years ago that your father and he dueled once. That large scar you see was given to him by your father. So…”

“So he got off easy then.”

“Well, though he is a little head strong, he is very practical in his merchantry. A little strong handed sometimes but he gets results. Don’t let his grudge bear anything against him. He’ll get over it some day but the constant reminder does make his view more askew. I know he won’t tell you personally, but he loves your cooking.”

“Ah the one thing I can do right!” Tobias said with a sad smile.

“Do you happen to have some more of those vegetarian buns I saw last night? The ones with peanuts!”

Tobias reached into the back with one hand and a small smile. He had set aside a few for her knowing she would want extras eventually. With her intended prize in hand she sat back to enjoy it.

“So how far have you traveled these lands? I know we fount you some way from your home village but, I don’t hear of many Rohmar traveling.”

“Yes well, I didn’t have much reason to stay and many reasons to travel and explore.”

“Ah, I can understand that. I set out when I was very short in the tusk and found that it was easier to keep traveling. You gather more information, more knowledge, and with that, more riches! Soon many joined me, just like you have and we formed this caravan. Just remember that even if you don’t find what you are looking for, you are more than welcome to keep traveling with us. Perhaps in the next encampment you might find information about your strange woman in the sky. Be sure to get yourself ready for this next town as it may be the last stop at an encampment before we reach the sacred clearing. Keep an eye out for an easy way to make a good amount of gold. “

“Yes, I have made preparations to serve various foods upon arriving.”

“Ah, very well! Then um, tell me more about your homeland. I, I have actually never visited as it is quite taboo as you know.”

“Yes, well it is not the biggest place ever. There are lots of buildings built out of clay, plastered over and painted. Mostly white but there is a variety of accent colors to identify where you are in the village. Not too many ways in. Very guarded on the way out.”

“That sounds interesting. It is a shame that your people have to suffer the sins of the Betrayer.”

“It is a great shame that hangs over our people.”

“I can’t say I haven’t profited from it but, nonetheless it is sad to see one of our own punished like this.”

“May one day someone will redeem us or time will allow everyone to forget our shame.”

“Perhaps one day, but unfortunately, I do not see that happening anytime soon my friend.”

“Yes, that’s true.”

“Well, shall we continue on? They seem to be getting rather far ahead. Let’s make an exception since I’m with you. Get right behind them. We’ll be alright.”

“You sure you’re son will allow it?”

“Well, he can deal with it.”

As she licks her hands clean of the last bun she turns to Tobias with an eager look on her face.

“You wouldn’t happen to have any more would you?”

“I do not, but my the first of my next batch will be for you.”

“Ah!” Sodia exclaimed with giddy excitement. “Say no more, I should be watching my figure anyway.”

“Nonsense.”

Tobias urged the horse to move a little faster bringing the cart closer to the last of the caravan in line. He keeps an eye out for Naz as he does, worried of the backlash hey might receive for moving too close. However, with Sodia in the back with him, Naz would have to be out front to lead the caravan so he wasn’t getting an eyeful of him getting too close. He almost wished Sodia would mention it to him later, just so he would know it had been done.

Down the rolling valley the caravan traveled. Through a winding trail with a large stretch of mountain to the left of them. At the peak he would swear he could see things swirling through the clouds up there. Off to their right, in the distance, was a vast ocean with a clear emerald shine to it. It was calm right now, looking like emerald glass. In the distance a small town is visible. Some ships with torn sails were docked. Tobias knew these were MyrRin travelers come to join the festival in droves. The last time he was here was fifteen years ago, during a happier time, and he could remember the ships from back then looking very similar to they way they looked now.

It would be a few more hours before they reached the town as it was still only the eighth of Satta. They would travel for a few more days after their arrival in town. Plenty of time to prepare more buns, gather more supplies to make more coin and find out the information he hoped to gain at the festival. One chance in five years did he have when all the MyrRin tribes came together for a week to test their mettle and might. They would also barter, trade and bargain to gain supplies for their own people during this time.

He didn’t know what kind of reception he would get being from an exiled tribe, but he had questions about the woman in the sky, about what the hell had happened to his family. Tobias prepared for what lay ahead as Sodia delicately licked her finger clean of all the bun flavor left. A powerful gust of wind brushed by him. Spring was ending, giving way to the summer when new life teemed and young ones grew up. Something new was coming. It lay on the horizon like the promise of the coming season.