Packing up to Leave

We've had a really quiet afternoon.  My woollens that I wore in the Gurgam prison have been laundered, and they look really tatty.  They've not managed to get all the blood out of them, either, although I don't mind that - it's a little memorial of my adventure.  I'll be packing those away when I return to my home.

I feel a little torn over my time here.  On one hand I'm really proud of what has been achieved, and I know that my contribution to it has been valuable.  I've come to really like the Gnaeblin and their ways.  They're normally such a peaceful people.  If the Gurgam weren't so aggressive towards them, I just know that the Gnaeblin would be happy neighbours.  They have such a practical, inventive streak to them, it's a source of wonder some times.

On the other hand, of course, my time here has been filled with a personal trauma, and for that reason I'm glad that we're not staying longer.  I need to get back to the delve, to spend some time in the deep with solid stone both beneath me and above.  It'll only be a week or so, though, before we're out into the open world again.

Elenhugh has been talking a little about the lands of the Hznamen, how he and his friends have hired themselves out to various factions, even working for one of the minor barons in the lands near to where he grew up.  They've always looked for the most interesting work, and have often been well rewarded.  It's good to know how the currency we use in the delve, the Kathron coin, is accepted universally in their lands.  I'll be taking several hundred gold coins with me, and that should tide me over nicely until we receive our first pay.

Earlier today I sent a note ahead of us to Enzknn where, I'm told, Mishrune has been keeping things working smoothly in my absence.  The dispatches that Harik had received suggest that he's more than capable of picking up my work for as long as is necessary.  I asked Mishrune, in my letter, to find for me a replacement axe for the one that was lost on the battlefield.  I hope he finds one that has the right weighting - although he's pretty familiar with the one I had before.  I told him where he could find funds to cover any asking price, although there is some money owed to me by Bekzham if needed.

I also need some new armour because mine, like my axe, went missing when I was captured.  Before I had simple light leather armour, but now for my new challenge I think I need some made of sturdy Dzarraf chain links.  There are plenty of armourers on the route back, so I'll buy that myself.  I was also thinking carefully about having my beard plaited professionally.  When I mentioned this to Daran, though, he told me that there's a thriving industry supporting these kinds of services among the Hznamen, so it will be better to leave it until later.  Elenhugh explained that the Dzarraf living among his people tend to wear chain mail, but most never use for what it is intended.  It seems such a pointless weight to wear if you're never going to need it.  I, of course, fully intend to exploit mine.

As part of the plans for the journey we have bought a crate of the Cider that was imported from the Hznamen city of Keenalan, the bottles are quite fancy.  We're also bringing some Gnaeblin beer (and this is in much plainer bottles) to enjoy.  It is odd that the others did not allow me to contribute to the cost of these crates - they implied that they consider my contribution to it already paid.  I'll also be buying some new woollen clothes when we reach Kazaral, these clothes that I originally borrowed from other Dzarraf have been given to me, but they're a poor fit.  I need something a little more comfortable to travel in.