Chronicle Days: 171–172 As told by Abercrombie Whalan

Abercrombie’s Note

The road tae Tor Dynal was meant tae be quiet — a simple journey after the madness of Knockmort’s cavern.

But quiet is a luxury adventurers rarely get.

Day 171 — Camp on the Road

The chill berries we’d been relying on were nearly gone, their magic fading. The day’s travel was uneventful, the road steady, the owlbears plodding along behind the cart with surprising discipline.

By dusk, we made camp and set watches.

First Watch — Sergei & Derek

Sergei spent the watch training with Derek, asking him tae throw daggers so he could practice deflecting them mid‑flight.

Derek obliged — perhaps too enthusiastically.

Owly and Mr. Hoots watched the training with growing interest. Their playful nuzzling turned suddenly aggressive, and they lunged at Derek with excited hoots.

Derek shrieked, sprinting into the hut and diving behind Kaz’s head like a terrified child.

The commotion woke the rest of us.

Kaz’s Owlbear Discipline

Kaz, half‑awake and already annoyed, decided the owlbears needed “roughhousing.”

He grappled Mr. Hoots, flew 30 feet straight up, then slammed him into the ground, pinning him until the beast passed out.

Owly received the same treatment.

The owlbears, chastened, curled up quietly afterward.

We returned tae rest.

Third Watch — Kaz & Myself

On our watch, Kaz climbed a tree, the owlbears tracking him with laser‑focused intensity. I kept an eye on them — and on Kaz — ready tae intervene if round two of the aerial suplexing began.

Thankfully, it didnae.

Day 172 — Hunting and the Tollgate

Morning came. I went hunting, asking Kaz tae distract the bears so they wouldnae follow me.

I found no game — only berries, nuts, and mushrooms. I fed the owlbears carefully, making sure none were poisonous.

Half a day’s travel brought us tae a tollgate township. We stabled the owlbears and ensured they were fed before heading into town.

The Child and the Sewer Story

As we walked toward the community hall, a child darted across our path and slammed into Kaz’s shin.

Kaz barely flinched.

The child apologized breathlessly and told us another child had fallen into the sewer. We followed him.

But the moment we reached the sewer entrance, blinding magic struck us. Our bags of holding were stolen.

The footfalls fleeing down the tunnel were not those of children.

When the blindness faded, we gave chase.

The Central Cistern — The Rats Return

We caught up tae them in the central cistern — and found the truth.

The rats were back.

Not ordinary rats — the same twisted, malicious creatures we’d fought before. They had the children. They had our bags. And they were ready tae fight.

Steel, spell, and fury filled the cistern. Kaz tore through them like a storm. Sergei shielded the children. Derek reclaimed the bags. Throsh and Ryn blasted the vermin with righteous anger.

When the last rat fell, the cistern grew quiet.

The children were safe. Our bags were recovered.

We escorted the little ones back toward the community hall.

Final Thoughts — Abercrombie Whalan

The road tae Tor Dynal was meant tae be simple.

Instead, we wrestled owlbears, hunted berries, fought sewer rats, and rescued children.

Such is the life of adventurers.

The Whalan Chronicles continue.