Roderick shook hands with the gate guards as they left the Grand Station, quietly pressing a gold coin into each hand. He was known as a 'generous' merchant', one who knew the rules, didn't make trouble, and paid a little extra to make his road a little easier. Time was money, and he rarely had to wait in long lines to travel.

The money also meant that his manifest was simply glanced at, but his goods weren't pawed through. Opening a cask of gourmet bacon around hungry guards was a good way to lose half a cask of product. And based on what Myrna had told him, might just cause one of them to spontaneous combust. That would be...Bad. Very bad.

A little gold smoothed the way when you had a good reputation. That disappeared when you were under investigation by an imperial auditor or the inquisition. Every merchant house had a code they operated by. One of the tenants of the Kallvek code was play by the rules set by the authorities, nobility, or local merchant guild. You could bend rules, of course, but breaking them eventually caused trouble. A Kallvek merchant could trade legally in any part of the empire and that meant more money than the extra profit of an illegal deal.

The streets were quiet at this time of night, but never totally deserted. The oil lamps of the street lights gave enough illumination to move through the streets, aided by the light streaming from the better shops. Some merchants paid the city council to place extra lamps near their buildings, or installed their own. A well-lit building had far less to worry about from thieves than one left in the dark. But oil was expensive, especially when the council specified that only high-grade oil could be used. The reasoning was sound: Less smoke added to the haze of the city was better air and less spent by the council on air mages. It also meant more money for the oil merchants. And more in kickbacks to the council.

The Kallveks didn't complain and put-up lamps around their properties and paid the oil bills. Cheaper than thievery, and they understood how money wove a web through the levels of society. It often was accompanied by power, but not always.

A few of the more exotic shops in the city had gone to the extreme to have the Fae light their buildings. Fairy lamps never had to be filled with oil, seemed to know just when the sun rose, and gave off light in different shades depending on the day and time; a warm yellow to compliment the rising sun or a stark white as the full moon soared across the sky.

They were horribly expensive, and meant dealing with the one Fae trading house in the city. If you could find the damn thing. The small cottage seemed to move from place to place, and often no one was there if you did find it. Trading with the Fae took perseverance. Or something very interesting to trade. They were effective, he had to admit that. Mortal trickery was twice as likely to be exposed under their light.

Needless to say, the Great Kallvek considered such lights to be too expensive, both in gold and in the time to arrange the deal. His trading house was known for its open doors and willingness to trade silver with anyone, despite your social level. What difference was it if the silver for a barrel of salt pork came from a farmer or a noble’s minion? It was one of the reasons Roderick liked traveling to the different Legion outposts that had merchant fairs attached to them. Granted, they had started out as a benefit for the new players coming into the world, but as time went on, more and more business was done at them. He wondered how the expansion of Rowan Keep would affect that? Another reason to look for land or a building near Sedgewick, or in Gadobhra.

After a short bit of travel, his little group arrived at home. The Kallvek compound, like many of the oldest merchant houses, resembled a small fortress. The area had not always been as safe as it was now.

The city had grown from several villages surrounding a minor noble who moved here from the West. Whatever reasons Baron Lyssiter had for moving from the grasslands of Argo were lost to history. After he built a small keep and announced he was staying in the region, the local villages gladly tithe to him for the protection of his knights.

The Kallvek family was already buying and selling goods in one of those towns, and didn't need his protection, but had tithed anyway. Knights needed food, and the new Lord would be a good customer. Back in the day, a merchant protected his own from raiders, thieves, greedy lords, and civil wars. Even as those villages merged and became a larger city, the threat of thieves or looting was still something to worry about. The Kallvek family had continuously purchased land near their first enclave to increase their holdings, and paid to have thick walls built to protect their goods and loved ones. Those walls got thicker over time, as the Kallvek family got richer.

Roderick entered through a tunnel in the walls. In theory a portcullis dropped down between the two sets of stout doors, but it had been ages since anything beyond the outer set of doors had been closed. But the other defenses were still tested each month, and the machinery and hinges were well oiled. They'd be ready if ever needed.

Which might be soon, Roderick thought. The city of Lysitania would be hosting the Festival of Wintertide in just a year. Preparations for the every-10-year were already underway. Normally it was a huge boon to all merchants with people from all over the empire traveling to take part in the three-week long festivities. The city normally had a population of just over a million. The festival added half that again with huge tent cities surrounding the capital and rooms in any village inn within a day’s travel booked solid. Residents rented their entire homes for steep prices and slept in their basements.

This year however, the festival would also be attended by one million players. New breweries were being built just to build up the stocks of beer and ale. Merchants were building new warehouses near the city and filling them with long-term goods like salted pork, barrels of fruits pickled in wine, and Crunchy Brownback Stompers. Players were often powerful and unpredictable. Anything could happen. But on the bright side...that was his father's problem, not his. It was one of the reasons he liked to travel.

His father met him with open arms in the courtyard. "You are home early. And traveling with goods by teleporter? These old bones smell a story and opportunity for profit. What else could make my good merchant of a son pay the highway robbery of teleporter fees? " As usual, his father wanted the details of the business first. Roderick thought that was a good habit. Details could get lost in the shuffle of family greetings, and details could mean the difference between profit and no profit. He would do the same when it was his turn to shoulder the burden.

"You nose is as correct as it is large, my father. I bring new opportunities for profit, and several odd stories to tell. But let's get a bottle of wine and sit down, you may need both."

It actually took a meal and several bottles of wine. As the conversation grew and options were looked at, both his mother and his wife joined them. He made a great show of greeting his wife and children, during which he quietly asked her: "Are you still wanting your own house and your husband at home more?"

Melissa Kallvek was no fool. "Meaning you found a good place with fat enough profits to tie you down. Yes, I'm bored of this golden cage."

They rejoined his parents and he brought forth a small wooden cask, heavily sealed. "I thought you might like to look at this, father. It was produced by the local Butcher who is dabbling in smoke magic." The Great Kallvek examined the small cask, noting the air-tight seal, and thick staves. He cast cantrips to examine it for curses or traps. It meant nothing that this had come from his son, and Roderick would take no offense. A good merchant was a careful merchant. Opening the half-lid on the cask, the smell of pepper, maple, and bacon filled the room. The Great Kallvek pulled back, choking and took a long pull from his glass of wine.

"Potent. Very Potent. What did your little kobold, Myrna, think of this? I'm sure you asked her."

Roderick shook his head. "We were at dinner with the Butcher when he showed me this. Myrna leaped over her grill and snatched it out of his hands. She has a need for hot things, and is hasty at times." Everyone nodded and laughed. Kobold Fire-Shamans of all types were notorious for those traits, and Myrna was quite powerful.

His mother smiled. "I take it she liked the taste. What did she think of the quality?"

Roderick pointed to some of the paperwork he had brought. "You will note I require another fire-proof tent? She later told it was too tasty to eat slower. She was over-whelmed by the amount of power it gave her. Luckily, she directed the resulting fireball straight up, turning the tent into a glowing balloon. She even had heartburn later and drank some milk."

His father had been about to take a bite. Instead, he carved off small slivers for everyone to try, and ordered glasses of cold milk, just in case. The 'Burney Death Bacon' had exceeded his expectations. He understood why Myrna had been enticed. It was very heavy in mana, and was very tasty. His belly was still rumbling and he had the urge to toss a few fireballs into the sky himself. He compromised by lighting his pipe, and pondering the news his son had brought. "How large was this little village before these new people arrived?"

That information had come to Roderick from the keep. Soldiers often talked when they were bought a beer or a meal. "Barely fifty people if you counted the children. And two years before that less than thirty. To prepare for the arrival of the Players an Inn was built and a Mage's Guild agent set up a scriptorium. An alchemist was found who would move to the area. All things needed to support the players who would adventure in the Hollywood. The area is very low level with a few higher-level encounters if you dug hard enough."

Roderick laughed. "That has certainly changed. Just within the last year the recurring threat of the Old Wolf has reappeared. A war was fought over the village, which triggered the overflow of the local dungeon. It took no less than Great General Themis, an order of Paladins, and the Legion to put that down. The town was totally destroyed."

"And then something happened."

His mother waited for him to continue. She didn't appreciate long pauses. "And what would that be?"

Roderick learned forward in his seat. "I don't know. No one is talking. NO ONE. It's like the soldiers don't quite remember, and my one spy in the inquisition just told me it was best not to pry. But somehow the entire town was rebuilt better than before and the ancient City of Gadobhra re-appeared to the north. The city chose a Baron and has proclaimed itself open for business."

His father looked serious. Only one thing fit. "Gods."

Roderick nodded. "So, I surmise. Something big happened. Gods got involved. Shit happened. Most people forgot and the rest aren't talking. Although to be truthful, I may have been asking questions in the wrong places. I may have to be a bit rude and inquire of my new friends and ask around the village. Those aren't normally villagers; they might remember something where others would not."

His wife added her knowledge. "Two of my customers in the archives have ties to the inquisition. They found it strange that several inquisitors were looking for any information on the Circle of Druids and a lost city to the north. The only information that was found mentions that the Druids had 'ringed the city in Holly and Rowan, Oak and Apple. Its darkness was contained and they would remain to deal with it, lest it corrupt the natural world.'

"Interesting. There is certainly a magical forest there. It regrows nearly as fast as it is cut." Roderick chuckled. "Not nearly as much oak as there was though. The village and the Oak Treants got into a dispute and the oaks marched on the town. The town won. There are huge piles of oak timbers being hauled up to the Legion Keep for use in the rebuilding."

The Great Kallvek had heard enough to make a decision. He cleaned his pipe, began pacing before the fire, and then spoke. "I smell an opportunity. The expansion of Rowan Keep will bring in a large number of soldiers that need to be supplied, and farmers will follow to do so. Farming in that area was always dangerous, but far less so now. We should buy or claim land nearby. And a building in both Sedgewick and Gadobhra. We need to buy while the price is low."

"You are already turning a large profit with the magical items you have traded for, not to mention the bacon! I can easily sell the weaponized variety to any number of people. Who knows what else these people have? It's easily worth the gamble."

He turned to his wife. "Authorize the money counters to allow my son to draw what funds he needs for a mercantile establishment in Sedgewick and Gadobhra along with a warehouse for goods. Begin the shipping of foodstuffs to the village. Take what they are asking for and multiply the number by tenfold, adding anything you think appropriate. Cheaper to send one large caravan than several small ones. Hire the Golden Lions as the guards.

His wife raised an eyebrow. "The Golden Lions charge triple what we would pay other mercenary guards."

The Great Kallvek nodded to her, acknowledging her point. "True, but that is a long road, and The Golden Lions are made entirely of retired Legionnaires. They can be trusted, and won't flinch if Baron Pinchpenny comes looking for "road taxes".

"Roderick, fill the order as fast as you can. We will return by teleporter. I think it good to move quickly."

All three looked up at that statement. "We?"

His father nodded to him. "I want to see this little village where you smell so much profit, and gaze upon the ruins of Gadobhra. I don't get out much anymore. Time to stretch my legs. And if things work out and you move your family there, I'll be traveling now and then to visit grandchildren."

Only a few days later, six heavily laden wagons were pushed into the teleporter station of Wolfsburg. Like a good merchant, The Roderick had scheduled his load, and requested the use of one of the largest platforms. One big load was much cheaper than the cost of several small loads. Still...this was going to be expensive.

The mage on duty took his paperwork. "Merchant Kallvek, I see that all is in order. A bill of lading for six heavily laden wagons, yourself and twelve other people traveling with you. I took the liberty of contacting Rowan Keep to have the area around their pad clear. Bad business if you arrive and someone is already standing nearby. We do have a small complication with your payment and the amount of power being used."

Roderick felt his stomach drop. He had so wanted this to go smoothly. His father was watching from only a few paces away, traveling without fanfare. Complications meant lost profit. He sighed. "Yes, and what has happened now. I'm certain I prepared all of my forms correctly." And greased all the palms I needed to.

A senior Centurion and two other mages walked up. One mage held an account book, he wasn't smiling as he offered Roderick a quill. "Just sign here please." The Senior Centurion, on the other hand, was friendly. "Nothing to worry about sir. I know you wanted to pay your fee like a good citizen, but I've authorized the mages to not accept. Rowan Keep is unable to store more mana and has been sending the excess to us here. Quite a bit of excess. It's eased a few problems"

"I also have a list of a few people that Rowan will cover the cost of travel for. You happen to be on that list, so all your fees are waved. Good travels to you and your family."

"And please, convey a message to Centurion Marcus from Senior Centurion Gaius. We're old friends. Tell him 'Good Work'."

Roderick recovered from his surprise and simply smiled, shook the Centurions hand, and assured him he would deliver the message. As they pushed up the wagons onto the platform, his father whispered to him. "This is getting interesting already. What other surprises do your 'new friends' have in store for us?"

The teleport was a little rough, as if there was a disturbance in the local mana. The reason was obvious. In the direction of the village, a column of fire reached up above the rooftops. The local soldiers seemed un-concerned for some reason. One remarked: "Wonder what the Butcher is cooking up this time? "

The keep was busy and Roderick quickly hitched up the wagons with the horses his sons had ready for them. They were just leaving the keep when the screaming started. It was far away, and yet it still made his head hurt and spooked the horses. The children were crying there were shouts of alarm from the keep.

He saw Myrna standing on a tall tower, laughing and pointing at the fire.

Things got worse. The pillar of fire turned white-hot and shot into the sky. The screaming was louder, dropping men to their knees. Then with the angry wail of a child deprived of a toy, something glowing was knocked high into the sky. It never came down, shooting into the sky higher and higher. The fires cooled; the screaming stopped.

Rejoice! The village of Sedgewick, aided by the intervention of Saint Arinna and a Circle of White Witches have thwarted the ancient evil of the corrupted Star-Spawn, M'F'ARGLE.

The area is pronounced clean by the Circle of Sequestered Mages. To celebrate, all citizens within 10 miles of Sedgewick may add +1 to a stat of their choice.

Don't worry, I'm sure you were never in danger.

From behind him, he could hear his mother and wife advising the children to put this un-heard of bonus to either intelligence or perception. He heard the noise of men and horses from the keep, and got his own little caravan started down the wide, stone road that led to Sedgewick. Myrna came running up to a wagon and jumped in. "Go, Go. I need to see what fat-fingers has done now!"

An older man hailed him from the road. "Going to town? Would you give an old man a lift?" Roderick slowed the wagon and helped the man up into the wagon. He recognized him from the keep. "Of course, Inquisitor. Heading to Sedgewick to get the story of recent events? Let me introduce you to my father, The Great Kallvek."

Diego nodded. "I'm sure I'll have a good report from the local courier. He is a frightfully honest young man, but it's also good to check around for stories on my own. Also lets me sample the local beer. It is an interesting town."

"Good." said the Great Kallvek. "I like this style of interesting. I'm in town for only a few minutes and already I walk better with an extra point of constitution. Maybe it will get more interesting."

Diego was happy with that bonus himself. His knee was feeling much better. "Be careful what you wish for. I think we are just at the beginning of the story of this town."