The warp point in Pucklechurch was an utterly simple affair by city
standards, nothing more than a slightly raised area of stonework with a
few columns and a dome for protection from the elements. In comparison
with the temple, which was far too big for the town’s size, the warp
point seemed too small and too simple, not even fully enclosed, with
none of the guards or attendants that Alfric would have expected. With a
very simple, universally available spell, you would warp from anywhere
in the hex to the hex’s exact center. Even with how small Pucklechurch
was, he would have thought it would be someone’s job to watch the warp
point, but no, not even that. When he’d first warped in, he’d quickly
stepped off, but then looked around expectantly, not knowing what he was
supposed to do. It was
“It makes sense,” said Hannah when he mentioned it. “Warp points are most used by those who live in the hex. If you’re travelin’ long-distance, you’re probably using portals or leylines, or you have enough cargo that the warp’ll fail, ay? People goin’ through-and-through, overland, poppin’ over the hex border so they can warp, how many is that a week?”
“I’ve got no idea,” said Alfric.
“Not many, I’d reckon,” said Hannah. “Traders from other towns, maybe on market days, but it’s six miles from the hex edge. You haven’t been out of the big city long, ay?”
“Only a few days, most of them in travel,” said Alfric. “I’ll admit that there are more differences in custom than I was expecting.” Pucklechurch wasn’t the emptiest hex he’d been through, but as final destinations went, it was minuscule. Some of the smaller hexes had no more than a hundred people in them, and he would see them only briefly when he warped in before hiking out to the next hex edge.
“Sixth bell was two minutes ago,” said Mizuki, staring at the warp point. “Where’s our girl?”
“There,” said Verity, pointing down the way.
Mizuki gave a friendly wave, and Isra faltered for a moment before continuing forward.
“Ready to join the party?” asked Alfric once she’d come close.
Isra nodded, slowly, as she looked at the others.
“That’s Verity, that’s Hannah, and you know me, Mizuki, and Alfric,” said Mizuki. “This is Isra, ranger extraordinaire.”
“Are we ready to go?” asked Isra. She looked at them. “Is this what everyone is wearing?”
“I put on some boots and gloves,” said Mizuki, extending her hands to display. “I don’t know what anyone else expects of me.” Other than those two additions, she was dressed the same as she’d been before, with her arms completely bare except for the gloves, which went up almost to her elbows. With the cloak she’d be better covered, but not by much.
“It’ll be fine,” said Alfric. He looked Isra over. She hadn’t changed, but her pack was now nearly empty and rolled up so that its excess folds were tucked and strapped in. She had a bow too, strapped across her back, and a quiver of arrows, along with a sheathed dirk at her hip. She looked different though, and he realized that she’d removed the piercings from her face, which gave her a much neater look.
He pulled the spell from his pocket and handed it over to her. “Just follow along, Mizuki will do it with you.”
The spell was completed in short order and this time formed a pentagon connecting the five of them. Not long after that, Isra frowned.
“I don’t have the channel,” she said.
“The channel doesn’t appear until after a week’s time,” said Alfric. “We’re just a basic party right now.”
“Oh,” said Isra. She looked relieved. “Are we ready?”
“We’re ready,” said Alfric, keeping his voice firm. “The dungeon portal is a half mile outside of town. If we leave now, we’ll be able to get back before dusk, though I have a lantern with me.” He turned and started off, hoping that the others would follow him and feeling relief when they did. From what he’d experienced of Pucklechurch, he half expected that going anywhere would be preceded by an hour’s worth of talking.
“So, is this everyone’s first time in a dungeon?” asked Mizuki as they walked.
“I went when I was in seminary,” said Hannah. “A long way from here, Plenarch, with a party full of clerics, mostly so we could see what there was to see, and we got almost nothin’ from it. Still, interestin’ enough, and I’ve wanted to go again. To go properly, I mean.”
“Never been, never wanted to,” said Verity.
“I’ve been curious,” said Mizuki. “And I almost did go, a bit ago, before some things came up. But it seems like there’s a lot of traveling involved in being an adventurer.”
“It’s not that much,” said Alfric. “If you use the warp points to cut distance in half, going from center to hex edge, that’s only six miles of walking between dungeons.”
“Six miles is a long way to walk,” said Mizuki with a frown.
“It feels less long if you’ve got sensible shoes,” said Hannah, smiling at Mizuki. “But to your point, Alfric, dungeons aren’t always close to the warp points, are they? So you’d have to go further, ay?”
“Sometimes,” Alfric admitted.
