The small caravan reorganized and headed toward the mines. Austere and oft abandoned cabins dotted the roadside. Near the midpoint of the journey they came upon the oft used way station called Jack’s Refuge. The owner Jack Taylor had a longstanding relationship with the Burgomaster of Gnome-town and the Copper Mountain miners, but his neutrality allowed all sorts to utilize his facility. The beasts of burden were handling the trip well and only required a brief stop for water and a snack of hay. The travelers paid Jack Taylor’s nonrefundable and always required entry fee and entered the palisade. The guards gobbled down a hot midday meal. Insalubrious types evaded the direct gaze of the Gnomes and particularly Longbeard Nineteen-names, who many referred to as the short arm of the law. Dwarves, Gnomes, Kobolds, mountain men, and a few miners wandered about the quadrangle of Jack’s Refuge. Jack Taylor’s guards quickly broke up an altercation between a Dwarf and Kobold and quickly escorted the pugilists to the gate. The fight ensued outside the gate. Taylor’s guards on the allure actually cheered the fighters on. The dwarf’s rounds of ale slowed him down and allowed the Kobold to keep the fight interesting for a while, but eventually the stout dwarf managed to get an arm bar hold on the wiry Kobold, who quickly tapped out. The dwarf accepted three JR tokens as payment to release his vanquished adversary. The three tokens would buy three rounds of ale at Jack’s Refuge’s tavern. Another couple of shouting matches broke out but did not lead to fisticuffs. Longbeard inquired of the barkeep as to the proprietor’s whereabouts, but Jack Taylor was just said to be away. Longbeard told the barkeep that the party would stay over on their return journey. The barkeep made note of it and affirmed that rooms would be available in the rustic inn.
The two wagon caravan reorganized and started on for the mines. By late afternoon they arrived at the Copper Mountain mines.
benjamintowe 