Chapter Four: Haggling At The Hickory Stump
With all the excitement of the day done, the party retired to their beds soon after for a well earned rest. After a good night's sleep, they left the Manticore's Tale and continued on along the King's Road to Zephyr. As they traveled, the party began to feel the air grow colder and colder despite being on the tail end of Spring. By the time that the party reached a hill that Cascade would know to be hiding Zephyr behind it, the weather had turned uncomfortably chilly for their current state of dress. But as they approached the foot of the hill, something occurred that would make the drop in temperature the second strangest thing to happen today.
Waiting for the party at the foot of the hill were three crates filled with warm clothing. And in front of them, perched upon the stump of a hickory tree, was a tiny red figure waving at the party in most eager greeting. As they drew closer, the party began to make out more features of the waver. Leathery wings. Claw-tipped hands. Horns. Cloven hooves. And most notably of all? A long tail that ended with the venomous, daggerlike point of a scorpionesque stinger.
"Greetings to you, adventurers!" The imp called out happily as the party entered earshot. "Rather cold today, no? Unseasonably so in fact. I guess the Northmen are bringing their problems south with them. But that won't be a problem for you much longer. I have come bearing gifts!" The imp gestures to the creates. "I have here some nice, warm clothing. Enough for you, your wagon horses, and all the denizens of Zephyr. You are welcome to them free of charge as a token of my good will and the good will of my most esteemed master." The imp tilts its head then, leans in with a conspiratorial grin, puts its hand to the side of its mouth and adds. "If you are interested in more than that however, I do have a choice assortment of other useful goodies you'd might like to peruse."