The beggining

A misty morning, like the last one, and the one before. Spring came only a week ago and the cold still stubbornly holds on to your bones. But the mountains of Klutz are melting. Your Goola host was right, the Geama river grew wide enough for your barge to pass. His name is Batbayar Quick and he is the Sire of his small family. You sailed with him from Darkhan three days ago, which is pretty early in the year to dare the violent spring current.

"The early stirge drinks the most blood."

Batbayar is fond of saying. At this moment Else Quick is scanning the skies for just such vermin. It is cold still but one can never be too careful. Else is seventeen and, as all Goola women, capable. Not only is she a proficient cook, but also takes her turn at steering the barge, as her brother is now doing. Ake Quick is fourteen and already has a mustache almost as thick as his father's. He guides the pregnant barge carefully down the river, towards Mal'rock, where each spring hundreds of winter-worn people flock to trade and enjoy the week long Ju-Ju fest.

It's the fourth morning of travel and, beside a few rotting jetties, all signs of civilization are gone. Batbayar puts the spyglass back in it's case and, as is his custom, fills the chill air with stories of his travels past.

Batbayar: "Princess, did I ever tell you of Mal'rock? Any other time of the year it's nothing to look at but at the bloomfest, they call bloomfest Ju-ju-galaa. At the time of Ju-ju fest, the town is filled with hanging bells and chimess. The giant pines are..."

Else: "Yes Sire, you told me of Mal'rock many times. I shall see it in a few days my self so no sense in wasting wind."

Batbayar: "You might be right princess but..."

Else: "I asked you star-many times to stop calling me that, father."

Batbayar: "sigh Well, I'm sure Ake would like to hear more of Mal'rock."

Ake: "Whole winter we listened about all the places we'll see, Sire. There are no surprises left I fear. "

Batbayar, acting offended: "Well if no one wants to hear my story I better keep quiet or I'll have a mutiny on my hands. It's my turn to steer anyway, pass me the pole Ake."

If anyone asks Godfre to tell them more of Mal'rock he will gladly tell them of one of these things:

Batbayar on Jabu:

"I'll tell you of one funny character. Jabu is a Gnome, but, he has a business in town! Ain't that a rarity? Jabu's he calls it. Imagine a gnome among all those halflings and humans, how this one stands it I know not. Anyway, as gnomes tend to be this one is a master at his art. And his art is spirits. Not the Ju-ju kind mind you, the intoxicating kind. And what an assortment he has. Whatever I could think of, he had it, and of a quality and taste rarely matched. And listen to this, all of the alcohol he has, he makes him self. Ale, cyder, Dandelion wine, Araq..."

Batbayar on [[]]

The muddy princess

The barge is named The muddy princess. It is filled with salt, spice, iron, fruit, and other goods. The crew sleeps inside, among the cargo, but most of prefer to spend the days outside. The fresh air alone is worth the cold, not to mention the breathtaking views of mountains to the west and forests to the east.

Random encounters

Orc ambush, Geama