I knew the path to Foxhovel wouldn’t be as treacherous as the one to Winterwood, but what I didn’t expect was a litany of branching paths. It seemed that every time I came across a fork in the road there was no signpost to point me in the correct direction. The sun was high enough in the sky to not be much help as a compass, and I was sure I had been turned around. “At least there have been no wolves,” I said gloomily. Hirsham could be dead for all I was aware. This excursion to Foxhovel was a miserable idea. I am not meant to go on adventures! I am meant to sit in my chamber and eat grapes while my servants folded my lacey garments.

I pushed the thought out of my head. I tried not to imagine Hirsham killed and pressed on. I tried not to become discouraged by the labyrinthian woods that I found myself lost within and did my best to keep my bearings straight.

Eventually, I encountered a wandering man moving in my direction. Keeping my guard up, bow ready at a moment’s notice, I approached the man. He was wearing commonfolk clothing and seemed to moving with purpose. “Excuse me, sir?” I hazarded. The man looked friendly enough. “I am Lady Jane of Wolfspire, and I am on a quest to find Foxhovel. Would you perhaps have the knowledge of these twisting paths to be able to lead me the correct way?”

The man eyed my sack. “Lady Jane of Wolfspire, eh? Why, I know the lay of the land in these woods as if they were the veins on the back of hand, I do! But, lady, I am quite hungry due to my long, arduous travels. Might you spare some food and water?”

I rummaged through what little I had in my sack. In my haste to get out of Wolfspire I did not think to replenish my food supply. “Er… yes, of course.” I pulled out a waterskin and a little cloth wrap of berries. “I can’t spare much, but I can—”

The man extended a hand to accept the food and water. “No coin, eh? Never mind, coin doesn’t take you far here in the Ironlands. Still, my favorite pub in Foxhovel won’t say no to a few coppers.” He pointed behind his back. “Right. Left. Left. Right. That’s all, m’lady. Thank you for the… well, thank you all the same.” The man gave a little bow that was steeped in sarcasm and continued going in the direction from whence I came. Slightly perturbed by the man’s attitude, I made note of his directions and pressed on myself.

Right. Left. Left. Right. No signposts at any fork. This leg of my trip took about 45 minutes until I reached a fork that took me either straight or right, which was not what I was expecting based on the man’s directions. One quick look at the signpost and my stomach sank down to my knees. The path to Foxhovel was pointing in the opposite direction. Straight was Wolfspire. To the right was Frosthaven. My fury was palpable. Did this man mislead me on purpose?

I pitched a tent and rested off the path a way. It was relaxing enough, but I found no food and no opportunity to resupply. The night was drawing near and I started feeling like I lacked good sense trying to run to Foxhovel alone so close to nightfall. I bolstered myself and started to head in the direction toward Foxhovel, but soon a frightful storm passed over me. Curse this tumultuous Tempest Hills weather! I did an about-face in a massive huff and set off toward Wolfspire. I was going to get a proper night’s sleep and clear my head. This was clearly a sign that I was too hasty. Perhaps I can try to gather more information while I’m home; I don’t even know how big Foxhovel is or where I can even find this Tahir in the first place. I embarked myself on a fool’s errand to be sure.

I awoke after a night’s sleep to a tense atmosphere. Hirsham’s disappearance had rung through the village and more people had been taken into the healer’s quarters with the Sickness. No one available to tend to their needs. I began to wonder if Hirsham had let his guard down completely knowing that he needed some assistance, any assistance, and Tahir — whomever he was — took advantage of the situation. But why?

Quest #3
Investigate the Motivations of Tahir

I felt much more alert today, even ambitious. With so much daylight ahead of me, another attempt to reach Foxhovel didn’t sound completely asinine. I supplied up and, with determination, started again down the path beyond the southwest gates. Hirsham may not even be there any longer, a thought that has entered my head many times always, but I had to try. What else could I do?

With the sun low in the eastern sky I had much more control over my bearings. I checked the sun with each fork in the path and felt confident with every choice. At one point in my trip I saw a man walking ahead of me at a slower pace. I quickened my own pace and caught up with him. “Hey! Traveler!” I yelled ahead of me. I had my suspicions.

The man turned around and caught my eye. “Aha, Lady Joan, was it? Do you have anymore dried fruit and tepid water you could spare?” he said snidely. I was balling my fists so tightly that my knuckles turned white. So he had misled me. All because of my bare-bones supply. “It’s Jane,” I said with conviction before drawing an arrow from my quiver. I pointed my bow in his direction. “And you’re going to tell me if I’m on the right track to Foxhovel or this breath will be your final.”

He held his arms up, but an air of stubbornness was betrayed by his smirk. “Put down the bow, Lady Jane. Nobility such as yourself shouldn’t be carrying something so dangerous. Especially female nobility, if that’s what you purport to be.”

That’s when I shot him squarely on the foot. He yelped and rolled on the ground in pain while I nocked another arrow. “Do you think I am playing, sir? Do you like both of your feet?” I made a motion toward his uninjured foot, and he cried for me to stop. “I have a village full of sick people and my healer is missing. He may be in Foxhovel and I need to find him before the Sickness spreads and everybody dies. Do you understand me?”

The wanderer nodded his head vigorously, still gripping his hurt foot. “Damn it! Yes, fine! You are on the right path, I promise you!” He continued wincing and panting while I wondered if I had shot the arrow clean through. “Gah! Just… please…”

I threw the man a little pouch of poultice. “For your trouble.” And I left him sitting there injured on the path. I wasn’t going to be pushed around by anyone. This is who I am now. I am Ironsworn.

It wasn’t long before I could see a little village in the distance. With rejuvenated energy, I increased my pace and traveled the final length to Foxhovel.

Click here for all the boring game-related notes! On second thought, don’t bother!