Tribulations of a Dragon

“Lauren, I might have a mission for us. Culling, three teams, the lister is in Plainshold and the mission is a while west of the town.” Glancing at the listing Reinfold brings me, three things stand out.

First, the description of the mission leaves much to be desired. The listing mentions an infestation in an old, abandoned frontier town, and that the beasts will be lightly armed. Not much else about what we'd be up against is mentioned.

Second, the high reward. The mission offers three gold, but it sounds like a mission worth only fifty silver.

And third, that Reinfold brought it. Considering the dangers Kello and I might find ourselves in is not something he does frequently.

The person who submitted the order for the Guild appears to be the lord of Plainshold. We'll need to stop by there on our way to the infestation regardless, so information might be more forthcoming.

That sounds like a pretty easy mission. Reinfold hands me the parchment with the details, and I read through it. The details are lacking, so stopping by the lister, the lord of Plainshold, is a necessity. "We need more than this, Rein. Lord Prick did a piss poor job when he posted this."

As I continue to stare at the parchment in my hand, a sense of unease builds up within me. This mission feels wrong, but the issues I see are minor. The lords in these parts tend to pay well, so that isn't too unusual.

The lack of information is somewhat disturbing, but it isn't listed as a call to arms, so there's no rush to find Guild members to take care of it. There is a date listed for when they intend to begin the assault, but we have enough time to prepare and make our way there.

Should we end up walking, we would be at risk of beasts and bandits, requiring additional preparation.

Of course, the journey on foot also invites misfortune at our own hand, such as forgetting sufficient supplies or forgetting to pack up camp properly.

On the note of forgetting, I give Reinfold a look, but before I can speak up, he interjects with his own thoughts on the matter.

"I know that look, Lauren. I’ve got my daggers sharpened, a satchel of arrowheads, and a couple of carving knives, so I think I have everything I need. You’d better make sure Kello has his stuff too. I wouldn't want him to forget his sword again.”

The man has a point. Kello's affinity for forgetting the obvious when he packs is well known in the Guild. Stories of a frontliner who forgot his extra weapons and went on to win the battle regardless are told to rookies as a cautionary tale. And they tend to feature Kello.

I'll need to make sure the fighter remembers his sword and daggers this time. He solves most of his problems with the blade of an axe, but it happens at times that what you need is something shorter.

Since we left Kello at the inn, I can't get a rundown of what he's lacking, so I'll have to be mindful of the obvious things, such as whetstones and oil. Whenever we leave for a multi-day mission, two things are certain: the weather turns and Kello forgets his maintenance supplies.

Looking around the main hall of the Guild building, I'm again surprised by how crowded it is. Under normal circumstances, the hall would be barren, barely a soul in sight, but these days it remains populated.

Setting my sights on the receptionist, I make my way to the front desk. "Hey, clerk. Why in the hells are folks just slacking off around here? Doesn't line up with normal Guild behavior."

"Something is spooking the beasts; we've got reports of a large flying beast, but no specifics. It prowls the plains and forests to the west. Not much for our people to hunt when everything is too scared to approach. And nobody wants to take on an unknown flying beast. Too much risk."

With that, the unease builds further. The Guild rarely leaves something unknown, especially a risk to our members. Scouts, rangers, and the like should have made easy work of identifying the beast, so why not this time...

Drawing my mind away from the unknowns, I hand the mission listing to the receptionist. She readily accepts it with a smile and begins the acceptance process. Turning my head, I see Reinfold getting antsy, so with a wave, I dismiss him. He returns the wave with a nod and leaves in a quiet rush.

I hope he picks up some of the supplies he obviously missed.

"It looks like you've got five days to get to Plainshold. On foot, it should take three or four days to get there. Two if you really push yourselves."

With that time frame, we've certainly got a couple of options, as she said. Although pushing ourselves won't be worth it. If we can find a spot in a merchant's wagon, that would be ideal, but if we end up walking, having it take three days is acceptable.

The receptionist lets me know that everything is ready on her end, so I bid her goodnight and speak a short prayer to Merciferus, Goddess of Health and Vitality.

Leaving the Guild building, I'm once again struck by how beautiful Arrenfret is. The streets are kept clean, the Flameglass orbs are frequent and fueled, and the people look happy.

Out here in the wildlands, you can determine how safe a city is by looking at what the people do to maintain it. In an unsafe city, the effort and manpower go into securing defenses and maintaining the militia.

Most settlements this close to the untamed parts of the wildlands cannot afford to prioritize their streets like this, making Arrenfret something of a wonder.

And personally, it's a relief not to have to clear mud off my boots every time I enter a building.

As I continue on my way, my target comes into sight. A commerce district. Looking around, I try to spot a general store to restock our camping supplies. I spot a wooden sign swinging gently in the evening breeze. Just what I was looking for.

Moving toward the store, I learn that Reinfold has decided my evening is too enjoyable, as he sneaks up on me, giving me quite a start. "We need a damn bell for you, Rein. I'm getting sick of your stupid jokes."

"Kello should still be back at the inn, so we won't have to go looking for him today." Startle aside, that is a relief to hear. Fighters and frontliners in general have a remarkable and consistent tendency to rush ahead and find trouble. A tendency Kello doesn't seem keen on resisting.

"Rein, make sure to restock your supplies and double-check everything. I don't want us to get in trouble because we didn't get something obvious." With a groan, he agrees and moves on.

I find myself once again appreciating Arrenfret's comforts as night falls, but the streets remain well-lit.

With Reinfold out of the way, I make my way to the general store I spotted. We'll need some fire starters, rope, and cuffs in case we find any bandits. Bringing bandits to a nearby town is an easy way to make a trip more profitable.

As soon as I enter the general store, the shopkeeper greets me in a booming voice. A tall beast of a man stands behind the counter, smiling at me.

"Hello! What can I getcha? Got everything an adventurer might need! Even some things you think you don't!"

I rattle off the list of things we require, and he dances around the store with practiced grace. I find myself mesmerized by the precision of his movements as he navigates between shelves.

"And there ya have it! Rope, cuffs, a few fire starters, a whistle, and a few pouches of spices. My missus grinds 'em herself, you know!"

I can't help but notice that the last two items were tacked on without my say-so. I give him a look as I pick up the whistle. "It works for wolves, keeps 'em away."

My skepticism rises as I give the whistle a try. I don't hear anything. "Too loud for humans. Scalefolk can sorta hear it, and some beastkin might punch ya for usin' it."

It's only a few coppers for the wooden whistle, so I don't mind adding it to the list. Glancing at the other items, pouches of spices, I note the pungent scent wafting off them, and the man grabs a pouch and holds it out for me as he opens it.

"Give 'em a taste! Works for meats and veggies too! Add 'em to a broth to kick it up a notch!" His sales pitch is pretty good... Giving the spices a taste, an explosion of flavor overwhelms my tongue. We'll definitely need some of these pouches.

"Might need another two pouches of the spices. Just in case, you know how it is in the wilderness."

"Aye, lots of stuff out there, best be prepared! Two more comin' right up."

A sense of sorrow fills me as I look at the cuffs. It's one item I hate buying, as it represents the plight of the people and our inability to solve it. Very few folks choose banditry, and most bandits are simple villagers displaced by beast attacks or incompetent nobles. A dark reality of our world.

Drawing my mind away from such depressing thoughts, I look around the store to see if there's anything here I might have forgotten. I don't see anything that stands out, though this would likely be the place to look given how well-stocked this man's store is.

As I pack up my goods, I notice a third item I'm unfamiliar with. A rod of metal with notches carved into it. Before I can ask what it is, the shopkeeper speaks up.

"That's a new fire starter, no magic required. You just run a blade across the notches, and it creates sparks."

I want one of those. Perhaps Kello being useful when we set up camp will become a real possibility. A normal fire starter is a simple crystal mounted on a stick; feeding it magic heats up the crystal, which you then use to ignite some tinder.

I glance at the smiling shopkeeper, he seems quite pleased that I've fallen for a few upsells. I suspect I may even have overpaid if the grin from ear to ear is anything to go by.

"I thank you for your goods. May Merciferus smile upon you as I wish you luck in your business."

"Oh, old man like me will always be lucky, don't you mind me, miss!"

Yeah, I bet...

Leaving the store, my mind drifts towards the spices and I'm looking forward to our first opportunity to use them in the wild. Using spices as a deterrent is a common strategy among the Guild's members, and it works very well. Although those spices tend to be specifically for that purpose, having an opportunity to enhance our meals with them is very welcome.

With most of our supplies replenished, it's time to head to the merchant's lot. A fenced area for merchants to leave their wagons and beasts. Instead of having beasts crowding the streets, this results in young folks having a source of extra coin as they haul goods to and from the shops.

My thoughts drift toward the mission once more as I walk toward the merchant's lot. The possibility of hidden dangers fills me with worry, and I find myself wanting to abandon it. We would take a hit to our reliability score, but that's better than getting hurt in an unforeseen battle.

We still need to reach Plainshold to meet with the lord there, so I have time to consider what to do. He will likely have more information, and my worries will turn out to be unwarranted.

Turning a corner, the smell immediately hits me. I've arrived at my destination. The merchant's lot consists of a large enclosure within the city walls. A haven for merchants and beasts alike. Guards patrol the area at regular intervals, keeping out potential thieves.

There is an impressive assortment of wagons and carriages, each decorated to suit the owners and their target customers. A spark of the owners' creativity marks each and every vehicle.

As expected, there are a number of rough wagons drawn by Giant Lizards. The rough wagons can be identified by their much wider wheels, giving them a benefit in the rough and unreliable terrain of the wildlands.

Unfortunately, that comes with extra weight and higher demands. Simple horses won't be able to pull them for long, so instead, the Giant Lizards are used. A formidable two-legged beast with tremendous strength, I have always liked their beautiful scales and light plumage.

For a beast with a taste for flesh, they are remarkably friendly. It takes a buffoon of extraordinary caliber to anger one of these beasts, but once they have been angered, death is guaranteed. As a result, rough wagons need fewer guards.

As I move through the lot, I hear locations called out by people seeking passage. Every time a location is called, whistles can be heard returning, signaling those heading for a given place.

The code is simple; one whistle means they're headed there, two whistles, and they need guards, three whistles, and they have room for passengers.

I call out ‘Plainshold,’ but all I get in return are single whistles. Damn it, it appears we will be walking. It's doubtful that any new merchants will arrive and leave in our time frame, since any heading here would need time to unload and bargain. We could gamble on it and wait, but if we did, we wouldn't be able to get there in time if it weren't successful.

Rather than standing around grumbling about missed opportunities, I turn away from the lot and head toward our inn. Being somewhat familiar with the city, I know I'll pass by a blacksmith, allowing me to pick up the whetstones and oil Kello no doubt forgot.

Although I find the responsibility for our supplies frustrating at times, it can also be quite enjoyable. Even more so because I'm weighing down the scale in my favor. Some mild embezzling is expected among Guild parties.

The three of us have been working together for quite a few years now, and I've managed to get myself a decent set of equipment. I'm confident Reinfold knows what I've been doing, but as far as I know, he's tacitly approving of it since he doesn't have to care as much about preparation.

With everything we need collected, aside from passage to Plainshold, I can finally head back to the inn and get some rest. The day hasn’t been particularly troublesome, but this region is colder than I’m used to. I want to head back south again, even if I have to fight the damnable Undead.

As soon as we're done with this mission, I'll be suggesting we head back home, the North is terrible. It’s cold, moist, and there’s too little sun.

Memories of home flood my mind as I reminisce about walking through the sun-baked sand of my home's desert. I like the plants here, but the weather outweighs that pleasure.

My thoughts are brought back to the here and now as the noise of a gathering pulls me back. A group of people are clustered around someone or something, so I push my way through and see an older lizardman having fallen. As a disciple of Merciferus, it's my duty to offer assistance when I see someone who might be hurt.

Giving me a short look, he readily accepts my offer, and I kneel down beside him. Reaching out to touch him, I push my magic senses into him, and his injuries, both old and new, are revealed to me.

With a sense of what I need to do, I prepare a mild healing spell and pray for Merciferus to assist me. I feel her presence and the telltale sensation of her worry as she blesses my spell, empowering it. I'm not a competent healer, but for some reason, Merciferus has chosen to listen to me when I pray.

With her help, I can heal most wounds, but I still need to be the one to actually cast the spell.

As a human, my blessing comes from Terragaraem, God of Humanity, but as a healer and cleric, I can call upon the wisdom and gifts from other Gods, although they may ignore me at their discretion.

Merciferus, Goddess of Health and Vitality, is particularly helpful in mortal matters.

She acts to protect life in this world, and her blessing is given freely to protect against illness and disease. Without her, a single plaguemancer could ruin a country.

She stands as the second strongest God of our pantheon, and she is revered for not hoarding that power. Instead, she shares it with mortals, and through her blessings, we can fight back against the evils of the world, such as the Undead running rampant in the south.

Her kindness and generosity are truly boundless.

As soon as I feel his injuries disappear, I stop my spell. The old lizardman will soon find many aches and pains have disappeared. Merciferus’ Glory be with him.

As I get up, the old man grabs my hands and starts thanking me profusely. “Thank you, Priestess. Thank you!” I stop him as he tries to push a few coins into my hand, but taking payment for Merciferus' gifts is sacrilege. Her gifts are hers to give, not ours to exploit for profit.

Managing to untangle myself, I bow. "Don't worry, Merciferus' gifts are for us all. Pray to her when you need guidance and she'll listen. My presence is required elsewhere, so I must be going. May Merciferus smile upon you." It's getting late, I need to get to the inn soon, otherwise, I won't be able to buy any dinner.

Fortunately for me, our inn is well known for catering to Guild members, so they usually keep some food available for most of the night, but if someone else buys it first, I'll be out of luck.

It is common knowledge that if you want to cater to Guild members, you need to be prepared for a group of fools who manage time like the wind manages sand.

The large wooden sign featuring a mug of ale is finally in sight. A sense of relief fills me as I'll finally be able to rest for the evening.

Gripping the door handle, I twist it and push the door open with my full body weight. This one tends to bind, so unaware folks tend to assume they’re closed. That’s how they ended up catering to the Guild, normal folks are simply too careful.

With a loud thud, the door swings open… I’ve hit someone on the other side…

On the ground inside the threshold lies a dwarf. Clad in heavy armor, my heart is quick to sink… This is going to be expensive…

A steady stream of very colorful language informs me in explicit detail of how incompetent I am and how promiscuous my parents are.

Fortunately, I’ve dealt with dwarves before. Reaching for my coin purse, I grab a few coins and show them to him. He quiets down while eyeing me with suspicion.

"Looks like you got in the way, doorstop. How about you join me for food and drink and we call it even? I'm hungry after a long day, and my coin pouch grows heavy."

“Well, why didn’ya say so?! Let’s head back in and get some grub going!” It’s a pricey form of diplomacy, but it’s better than an angry dwarf. They tend to remember grudges and share stories with their friends. One bad experience can easily lead to issues with a whole host of their kind.

He's quick to find a bench and shoo the current occupants away. One man isn't cowed so easily, and he glares at my new friend. "I said shoo, boy."

I'm familiar with how foolish it is to stand up to a dwarf, but I suspect this man isn't. The dwarf grabs the end of the bench and lifts it a few times. Not wanting to leave, the man at the end takes hold of the bench with both hands. As soon as he does, the dwarf twists the bench.

Can't fault the man for weak fingers. The man had a firm grip on the bench, and now he has a face full of soup. "Shoulda fuckin' listened, boy!"

The man skulks away with the pitiful remains of his dinner as the dwarf sits with a joyful smile. "So what brings a Southerner this far north?"

Before I can answer, a waiter arrives to take our order. A meaty soup with bread on the side for the both of us and several mugs of ale for my new friend here.

While waiting, I explain how my team is here for the well-paying lords, how we'll be heading to Plainshold in the morning. And I bring up our mission to clear out an infestation in an old settlement.

I hadn’t expected his face to turn sour, but he’s now wearing quite the scowl. “Nay. Do not go there. My kin talk of a Dragon in that area. And you don’t mess with Dragons unless you’re sure you can kill them and all of their kin.”

As he talks, our food and drink are delivered, and I dig in. He takes a swig of his ale and continues.

“Trust a dwarf when he tells you to stay away. We all carry the curse of past transgressions. Don’t let this become your curse. Don’t fuck with Dragons or whatever those beasties lay claim to.”

Taken aback by how serious his mood got, I find myself wanting to abandon this mission more than ever. The hit to our reliability rating is a small price to pay for our lives.

With my worry at an all-time high, I change the subject. "So what does someone like you do for a living? Can't imagine most human places offer workstations short enough for your kin."

"Hah! Nay! Fuckin' humans won't even bring out a crate to stand on. Got me own workshop for working leather and I hunt. If a backpack's what ya need, find me. I'll make the best ya ever had." His enthusiasm for the subject is infectious. And I find myself enjoying how his accent changes with his mood.

“Hey Lauren, mind if I interrupt your date?” Appears I won’t have to look for Kello, he has managed to show up on his own.

“Join us, boy. Got plenty of bench left.” Shifting into a spot next to the dwarf, Kello sits down and waves over a server. “Lookin’ to make the lady pay for ya too, boy?”

“Pfft, of course I am. She’s my teammate, and she manages our coin.”

Giving me a wink, the dwarf looks me in the eye. “I bet she manages them well…” He figured that out quickly.

Now we just need Reinfold to join us, and we can go over the plan for tomorrow. "Kello, have you seen Rein around? Sneaky bastard must be hiding somewhere nearby."

“I’m right here, Lauren.” I’m gonna kill that guy someday… Scared the shit out of me…

The dwarf bursts out laughing while I scowl at Reinfold. The sneaky bastard moves to a spot next to me, and I prepare to go over the plan. Given how useful my new friend has been so far, I ask him to chip in with any info he has. So far, the plan is to leave at first light since we need to walk there.

“Ah. Me buddy Addy's goin' to Plainshold for something or other. Just go to the merchant's lot and look for an old dwarf. Red robes, white beard, far too many potions to count and a slight case of brewer's madness. He'll get ya to Plainshold safely and quickly. Just tell 'im I sent ya."

And just like that, it occurs to me that he never introduced himself, and I never asked… As I try to rectify that, he bursts out laughing again.

“Hah! The name’s Kaldren. Pleasure's mine, Lauren.”

Now that introductions have been made, we continue to go over the plan, with the transportation situation amended.

I bring up Kaldren’s worry about this Dragon situation and how the Guild doesn’t know whether it is or isn’t a Dragon. Kello still wants to go, but I feel it’d be a mistake, so the vote is in the hands of Reinfold.

“Could just go and see what happens; if it smells like rancid shit, we leave.”

“Are you kidding, Lauren? If it hasn’t shown itself before and we’re only hearing rumors, it has to be young! Think of how valuable the parts would be. Dragons are full of Dragon things, like Dragon bones and blood.”

Sometimes I feel like smacking him.

“Don’t be daft, boy. Wealth is useless if you die getting it.”

Kello doesn’t seem to particularly like the dwarf anymore, but I think it’s solid advice. Having finished his food and ale faster than I expected, Kaldren gets up and thanks me for the treat. “Remember, it was Addy the Alchemist. I hope you find what you seek and your pick strikes true.”

"May Merciferus smile upon you and bring you luck in your endeavors, Kaldren. I hope to meet you again."

As he walks away, I hear him mumble something. “Damn shame to lose another team of young'uns…"

Redirecting my attention back to my two teammates, I check in to see if they’re prepared for our excursion.

“I got everything I need: my axes, my sword, my knife, and my rations.” Yeah, I bet he’s got everything. Time for me to take a jab at him.

"So how's your whetstone supply, Kello? I assume you have enough for a week as you're supposed to." His expression quickly sours.

“Okay, maybe I missed one thing, it happens.” It happens a lot with this guy. I bring up several items that he also didn’t mention, and he just glares at me.

“If you’re so great, do you have everything ready?” Feeling a little petty, I list off the items I have for me, for Reinfold, and for him, which doesn’t improve his mood, as it turns out.

"Okay, fine. Thank you for looking after us, Lauren the Great Logistics Manager, hero of our party and savior of the ill-prepared!” And that is why I allow myself some extra financial leeway.

Reinfold chuckles, delighted to not be my focus. “This is why you’re in charge of the coin, Lauren. We’d piss our vast wealth away on dumb shit and forget about the important shit.”

Getting back on topic, I let these two knuckleheads know that I’ve ordered a knocker for tomorrow while I ask Reinfold to find this Addy person. It’s getting late, and he’s faster than me.

Giving the two a look as Reinfold gets up and heads out, I find myself wondering how our team works. Kello is reckless, forgetful, and battle-hungry. Reinfold is susceptible to Kello’s influence, but otherwise unmotivated to do much of anything. And I worry about too many things. The Reckless, the Lazy, and the Worried. Great team...

There isn’t much left to do today, so I head off to our room and make sure to double-check everything, laying out the things Kello and Reinfold need on their beds. Being caught unprepared is unacceptable and has been the reason for many Guild teams dying.

Now that I’ve done that, it’s time to offer my evening prayer to Merciferus. I’m hoping she might give me a little guidance, as I’m feeling somewhat lost because of this whole thing. I’m not confident that this mission is right for us, but we’ve always voted on such things.

Kneeling by my bed, I pray to Merciferus. Prayer always helps me feel closer to the Goddess, as if I can feel her presence just on the other side of a wall. Like she’s just out of reach but listening to my every word. A reliable friend and guide.

Whenever I pray, I get a sensation of how she feels. Normally she’s just worried for us. Mortals do have an affinity for trouble, after all. But today she feels… nervous and sorrowful… That worries me.

I’m not one to think I can guess what the Gods have to feel nervous about. It’s not our place to meddle in the affairs of the divine. Pushing those worries aside, I focus on my faith as I lie down in my bed.

Although turmoil roils within me as the day's worries try to settle, sleep comes easily, and I drift away.

————————

My rest is interrupted abruptly as the knocker arrives earlier than I had expected. I don’t feel like I’ve slept at all… I don’t remember dreaming, but I can’t shake this uncomfortable feeling. Something is very wrong.

Forcing myself up, I notice my body feels sore and exhausted. I have no idea what’s going on, but it isn’t normal. I get out of bed and kneel beside it. I need to offer a prayer to Merciferus.

Clasping my hands, I begin my prayer, but as soon as I feel the connection to my Goddess, pain overwhelms me.

The Cataclysm wakes. The Darkness walks. A Traveler must be found.

“What the fuck was that, Lauren?!” I have no fucking idea… Fuck... my head hurts… I look around the room and see Reinfold and Kello staring at me.

"What in the hells happened? I didn't feel entirely conscious..."

“I was just lying here hoping to catch some side boob when you suddenly started screaming about some cataclysm, darkness, and a traveler. Are you okay? I haven’t seen anything like that before.”

"I'm fine, creep. Fuck off to a brothel if you're so desperate to see some breasts."

Any other man and I’d break his knees… “Yeah, sounds like you’re okay. The day you don’t tell me to fuck off is the day I’ll really worry.” Smirking jackass.

"You got anything to add to the conversation, Kello?"

“No. You know I don’t swing that way, and Reinfold doesn’t like playing in town.” Not what I meant, but okay.

After taking a minute to collect myself, I get up, gather my things, and prepare to head out. Looking over at the guys, I notice that they aren’t moving. "So, Reinfold, got anything you wanna share with the group? Didn't you do something yesterday?"

“Oh, right. I found that Addy character. He leaves for Plainshold at noon and expects to be there by nightfall.”

"That's really fucking fast." It seems more likely that Reinfold misunderstood something, but he's usually pretty good when it comes to gathering information.

“Yeah, I thought so too, so I asked about it. Says he has some experimental concoction to improve the speed and strength of his beasts.” Sounds like this dwarf is about to become very rich very fast.

Appreciating that I prepared for our departure last night, I won't have to do much while dealing with this splitting headache. It's time to move on.

Heading downstairs, I ask someone if the innkeeper is available, since we need to notify him of our departure, but I'm told he isn't.

Kello and Reinfold head outside while I find someone to take note of our departure. "Hey! Need someone to take note of us pissing off!" After a moment, the innkeeper's daughter shows her face and I let her know we're leaving, dropping a few coins on the counter for their service. A few more than customary, since I may have been a bit harsh.

Now that I’ve sorted that, it's time to head out and join the two knuckleheads. We start moving towards the merchant's lot when a thought occurs to Reinfold. “Oh, we should head outside the walls. Addy isn’t at the lot. It took a while to find him last night because he’s outside the west gate.”

"Yeah, that's pretty fucking relevant information, Reinfold. Thank you for sharing it..."

Feeling like shit after the rough morning, I let Reinfold know that he’s in charge of getting us to Addy’s wagon and I’m just gonna follow quietly. I barely pay attention as we’re walking. Kello and Reinfold are talking about something or other.

As we reach the gate, the guards wave us through, and Reinfold points to a monstrosity of a wagon. Addy's from the looks of it.

The tarp covering the man's goods glistens in the sunlight. Fabric depicting bottles has been sewn onto the tarp, which I suspect has resulted in some loss of its functionality against the weather.

Somehow he has managed to fit a door in the back of the wagon, but it doesn't look all that well attached. Even the wind here is moving it back and forth.

Right now, though, I don't really care, I just want to sit down and get rid of this headache.