Adventure in Shite

>Today was the day, the day you left on your own journey
>Your parents had told you all about their youth spend traveling the land and meeting interesting people
>They had worried over you leaving, you should keep your magic hidden they said
>Both of them were druid, talking to animals and trees and all that
>You were a necromancer
>The cards fate had drawn for you they said, everyone is chosen by a magic at birth and this was yours
>Said people would fear you, that most neromancers were as bad as the worst feral animal
>Abusing their strength to kill and subjugate anyone
>Finding out you were one was enlightening
>Your parents had taken you with them on a hunt for a feral dire wolf that was harming a nearby village
>After your fathers bear, Borus, had killed the wolf the spell had flowed into your mind
>Put there by a power far stronger than you, your parents had said this was how everyone got their first spell, also said that you should use it immediately that you were given it for a reason
>So you did and the wolf that they had killed rose again and followed you
>Your parents were somewhat happy, thinking they hadn't killed it and you healed it from the brink, like their own partners
>It wasn't like your parents animals, they said they could hear them talk in their mind
>All your wolf did was listen to your thoughts and moved on them, no words needed
>You had been preparing for months, hiding away food and the small amount of money you could
>At your side the dire wolf that had been with you for nearly 4 years now
>By god, he was so ratty, it would be pretty hard to pass him as a tamed wolf
>The likelihood that you would have to leave him behind was almost certain
>Moving through the forest that you called home you headed for the plains to the south
>Your plan was to head to the mountains in the south, from there the road west would lead you to the hub of the world as your parents had called it
>Never could remember what the city was named, some word in a crap language that no one ever used anymore
>You had just passed the heart of the forest when you could hear the screams of a woman
>Rushing to see what was going on you happened upon a lizardfolk being chased by a bear, Kobolds your parents had told you they were called
>You weren't about to watch someone get eaten alive, certainly not when you could help it
>Yelling at her to get her to move towards you, your wolf already charging the bear
>She turns towards you and as the bear swipes at her your wolf grabbed his arm and threw it in the opposite direction with his momentum
>You charged the bear with your axe, something you found on a caravan that didn't make it through the forest
>Swinging you hit it in the right hip, it roars in pain
>Flailing, the bear hits you sending you flat on the ground
>A strange sound rings and you see a fat arrow going all the way through the bears skull
>Looking over you see the kobold has a strange bow
>The bear falls to the ground and your wolf released it's arm and goes to tearing its throat out
>You leave it to the gruesome task and go to looking over this traveler
>She only seems to be 3 1/2 feet tall, vibrant green scales with horns almost like a rams
>You could see some leather armor but most of it was covered by very wooly shirts or pants, she even had a wool collar on her that made you think she was trying to hide as a sheep
>She had a short sword on her side and her bow was in her hand
>"You alright? These woods are dangerous to travel alone."
>She spoke with a far deeper voice than you would expect "Yes, and even so I must continue"
>You look to see your wolf still tearing into the bear, most of it's neck is missing at this point
>"If you must continue there are some druids to the north that can help you get through these woods."
>She's shifting on her feet, staring at the wolf "That sounds nice but its opposite of where I'm going, is that wolf going to attack us?"
>she's started to ready another arrow
>"No, he's tame"
>He begins to approach with a noticeable limp, the bear in it's flailing must have hit him into a tree
>"He can go back to the druids, if your going south we can go together. I only know these woods but it's still better to travel in a group."
>As your wolf limped off she shouldered her bow and seemed to think about your proposition
>"Well, I do owe you for the save and it beats getting lost in these woods. My names Tullia, how about you?"
>"Names Iomar."

>A little past midday you and Tullia reach the edge of the forest
>You had learned quite a bit from your companion. She came from a town far to the north and was headed to family to the southwest of the Mor Mountains
>It seems some conflict has arisen and her family sent for her to come help
>Trying to find out what conflict was happening hit a brick wall
>Seems she wouldn't tell you what was going on, your not going to pry into her business
>Night descends onto the plains faster than you anticipated, winter must be coming
>"I'd rather not sleep in the open if we can avoid it" Tullia spits, seeming to be annoyed with the fact that plains are rather flat
>It brings a small chuckle to you, even through her glare you can't help it
>You do take a moment to feel the nearby area, feeling death in the air
>It seems a little below ground, perhaps someone else made a small cave to escape the night at some point
>"The winds tell of a burrow nearby, perhaps we could take shelter in it?"
>"...You druids and your weird way of talking" she said under her breath "lead the way nature boy"
>Still hadn't told her that was a lie, probably wouldn't unless it was necessary
>The night was fast approaching when you finally arrive at the entrance to the cave
>It was far bigger than you thought, the entrance was almost twice your height
>"I'll scout the cave out, if there's any animals I can talk them down."
>"You sure, what if you can't talk it down?"
>"Well I've always been fast on my feet, I could probably get back before anything too bad happens."
>That got a chuckle out of her "Alright then, see you soon speedy."
>Glad you brought a torch with you, the cave isn't large but it's enough to extinguish the last light of day
>In the furthest chamber you find what had made this home, a large 6 foot tall Burrowing tortoise
>It's been dead for at least a few hours but not enough for the scavengers to come and claim it
>You return to Tullia and tell her of the dead giant and you both make camp for the night
>Vaugly you remember hearing that kobolds are cold blooded and offer to start a fire to keep warm for the night
>She shoots it down though, pointing out that it would attract the local kobolds and if she must deal with them she would rather do it with a good nights sleep first.

>You awake before the sun rises, Tullia however seems to be a late rising, groaning whenever you make too much noise
>Having no reason to awaken her, you might as well feel the calm of morning while watching the sun rise
>It's been about an hour since sunrise and your companion still shows no signs of waking up
>Time to try and wake her up, good thing you were prepared
>You take some of the deer jerky you made and hover it next to her snout
>She sniffs the air and you can see her start to move towards it without opening her eyes, you lead her along for a moment before she awakens
>"you better be sharing that, or there's going to be trouble" theres a slight growl in her voice but the smirk shows she's not that serious
>"If you don't mind jerky for breakfest then feel free"
>After breakfest you begin traveling south again
>The journey is rather uneventful, although your companion has perked up after warming up
>You were preparing to ask her if she had anywhere in Stultus Nominis Oppidum she planned to stay when your cut off by a voice
>"HALT"

>There go your prospects of passing through without paying a tribute to this kobold tribe
>You came prepared however, you had found a rather sizeable amethyst on a destroyed caravan back home
>Always seemed strange to yourself that they preferred gems to weapons or food. Must be that they want to emulate dragons and are making their own hoard
>As you turn to greet the new voice your thoughts are cut short by the glare this person is giving you
>This kobold standing before you is at least 6 and 1/2 feet tall with pitch black scales
>The have 8 horns, four on each side of their head. Two large ones at the top with the others
growing smaller in size the farther down they go, there's some webbing between each horn that makes them almost look like fins. In the middle of their forehead is an almost ruby scale that almost
looks like a third eye
>Their death stare at you is starting to freak you out so you begin to fumble into your pockets to
get your gem when they speak again
>"Hold your tribute human" Turning towards Tullia they continue "Has he treated you well little one?"
>Tullia's openly rolling her eyes "Oh yes, unlike some lady who's yelling at us in the wee hours of the morning."
>This large kobolds scowl grows "Oh really, and what brings one our mountain-born sisters this far away from your precious caves?"
>Tullia squints at her before side-eyeing you, then grabs her hand and drags her out of earshot
>Almost an hour later they come back
>Seems that this new kobold, named Ziskra, would be joining the two of you

>You ask if she still wants your tribute
>"No you can keep that, you've shown enough courtesy to our kind already"
>Tullia chimes in "Enough of that, times wasting let's go"
>The rest of the trip across the plains is fairly uneventful
>Some more of the local kobold come by but Ziska quickly shoows them away
>Turns out Ziska was leave the plains to see the world, and visit the other tribal kobolds to see how strong they are
>Once reaching the road in the valley of the Suuri mountains it's a straight shot to Stultus Nominis Oppidum
>Only a little way along the road and you get approached by a troup of knights in full plate
>Guardians of the realm is what these warriors call themselves, they travel the land and fight any threats within the kingdoms boarders
>Bandits, rogue mages, ents, anything that's not a dispute between lords or countries
>"Adventurers, take care the cave nearby housed dwarves within the last season and we're here to make sure the extermination went through. Our work will take at least a week, but we won't stop you just know you travel at your own risk."
>Tullia and Ziska seem to freeze up and stiffen
>You ask them if they want to wait for the knights to finish their work
>Tullia speaks first "No, I have to get to Velká Dutina as soon as possible"
>You can hear the nervousness in her voice, but she walks past the knights anyway
>Ziska and you follow after her, as you pass the knights you hear one speak to you
>"I wish you best travelers and hope you have a safe journey"
>You hope so as well