The way ahead is temporarily clear after the battle, but Cantergloak remains tense. Though you survived unscathed, you realise you have expended a lot of your supplies.
>>5493968>>5494011In a strained voice, the Bird Mask Stranger warns:
-Stay alert! This area is not safe. We should keep moving!
Lescurel is shaken from the battle, but appears to have recovered some of his composure, though not any cheerfulness. The Red-Cloaked Troubadour whispers fretfully, with an undisguised accusatory and hopeless undertone:
- I thought you said this Mountain Path was a shortcut! Does it even lead to the Circus? Do you even know where we are going? These adventurers have a sky vessel, we could have just waited for daylight back at the Two-Necked Crow, and voyaged there on the ship! But now we have used so many supplies fighting! What are you really doing here, Cantergloak?
Cantergloak sighs as he slowly turns to look at the red cloaked bard. The Bird Masked Stranger seems to pause as he struggles internally with a great weight or secret, though finally he straightens himself as he sighs again and admits:
-I really wasn't much help back there, during the battle. If it weren't for you four adventurers, well... I dare not think what would have become of us all!
I have met the Maestro and ringmaster of Circus Charivari before, we have an... understanding. But that is not why I am here, nor why I came to the tavern and the village at the Two-Necked Crow. You see, it is not as easy as Lescurel believes - you cannot simply fly a sky vessel over the mountains. Not only are there dangerous gorges, treacherous winds and cliffs, but also the Maelstrom above - the Lightning Storm. The sky vessels of today simply cannot achieve or even control the elevation to ascend and pass safely. The Warguild know of this, which is why the East Galernese Trading Company have built their cannon-towers and wind-spires all along the alternative routes around and beneath the rock cliffs, so that you cannot escape paying their tithes - unless you want to run the risk of being shot down.
But what if an alternative route exists - a safe, hidden passage through the mountains? I have an idea as to how to find one...
