After a brief breakfast with the militiamen, the Biscuits were on there way. As they travelled east on the road, talk turned to the remaining items of party treasure.

The Biscuits continued there discussion down the road. A bit later they all resolved to leave their horses behind, and Dollin volunteered his folks in the Celadon could probably watch them. Each of the party then turned to private reflection, thinking what items they would leave behind for the rest of this quest.

By late afternoon, the adventurers rode up to the gnomish mining town which Wed referred to as Sourlode. All were hot and sticky from the road, and Gimar was making noises about buying a small keg of beer, "as long as it's cold". A gnomish sentry greeted them at the edge of town.

The party were able to enjoy quick baths, and the beer was indeed cold, brought up from storage in a played out mineshaft. The restaurant served large portions of vegetables obviously freshly picked, with side portions of the standard meats, cheeses, and breads.

The warrior frowned at the green gnome, and his beer mug descended back to the table. Up front there was a bard playing a song, and Gimar went up to pass him a note and a few coins.

There was a brief round of applause, and the minstrel tipped his cap. After that, the singer started a song about the mines of Sourlode. Each verse started with the miners finding a gem that wept an "acrid, sour sweat." The stories of monsters rampaging and the valiant fight of the gnomes was quite rivetting, and Gimar recognized the descriptions of a manticore among them.

When the song finished, the Biscuits applauded heartily, but also noticed that many of the Gnomes in the room were saddened and contemplative. The bard then took up an upbeat song and was joined by a small band of gnomes on stage, and everybody's mood lifted.

The Biscuits were off with first light, eager to make tracks across the Duchy of Urnst.

The party travelled on that way for many miles, making good tracks. Wed updated his local map in Sourlode, and the party figured they were on their way to Leukish, via Goldplain. It would have been straighter to cut across the valley floor to Nellix, but Gimar wanted one last chance to find recent maps of Irongate in a large city.

Dollin looked out over the gentle slope, leading down to the Lukala and then back up towards his beloved Celadon forest, somewhere over the eastern hills. He thought fondly of his family and wondered what they would think of this party of adventurers he was travelling with.

The Biscuits made a quick camp and ate a meal from their packs. Recently, the hunting had not been the greatest for the party. Dollin assumed it was due to the competition from the local Hill Giants. As the adventurers turned in for the night, the druid came up with an idea.

Dollin then jammed the pointy end of the rod into the ground. With the rod activated, they hit the sack. The Biscuits kept their standard watches, just in case Wed had been mistaken about the properties of the magical item.

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