By the time they made landfall, the torrential downpour had soaked the members of the 5th Spear far beyond any had experienced in their short lives. Centurion Andronicus accompanied the short manned spear to the coast in a lurching longboat. Taking shelter in an abandoned hermit's stone hut, Andronicus took out a bronze capped red scroll that you have come to expect as conveying official business. Breaking the wax seal with the pommel of his gladius. He began to read:
Salve, members of the 23rd cohort, 5th spear. You have been brought to the Isle of Man in order to assist the 23rd Brittanicus cohort in the Holy task of defending the Empire and her allies against the forces of darkness. In this region you will find pockets of orckind and goblin servants.
Remember that in all things you represent the 13th Legion. Report at Ballasalla, a small mining town, to Centurion Longinus Gallus Dronicus called the Wanderer for orders.
Should you encounter those not yet friendly to the empire, deal with them fairly. Should you find those hostile to the empire deal with them forcefully, but do not throw away your lives. You are the property of the Holy Roman Empire and may easily grow into the service that you were intended for should you survive the Year of Proving. May the Almighty guide your paths. Strength and Honor!
With that (and brief direction to the mining town), salutes were exchanged and the centurion rapidly disappeared in the growing darkness. None too eager to return to the gloom outside, the Spear nonetheless soon made their way to the old Roman road (or as the locals referred to it, "The King's Highway"). The familiar path of basalt under their Caligaes, the four tromped through the mud for hours. Though catching a glimpse of lights in the far distance, no other sights disturbed the monotony of rain and mud until the bridge was reached. After a harrowing experience of crossing the rickety bridge, which the Goliath narrowly escaped only through an exhausting battle with the river itself.
Some time later the lights appeared again, leading the soggy quartet to another monk's stone cell, this time recently abandoned. Boot prints were observed in the muck within (sans hobnails - these weren't made by Legio!), as well as a half a glass of particularly fine wine and a meal half eaten. Water droplets left on the table in a square pattern (not unlike the bottom of the lantern carried by Aleksandra, the Spear's light bearer) pointed further yet to the hasty abandonment of the ascetic's cell.
Left with no other option, the 4 continued through the morass of rain and gloom until they came to a place where the old road ran through a deepening ravine, with cliff facings creating a natural valley. Lightning strikes illuminated a trio of gray wolves in the distance, casually barring the path of the 5th Spear. Combat ensued and despite the tripping attacks of the wolves, the party was victorious. As the third wolf fell, it spoke in an eerie voice, exclaiming, "Unwelcome" before it perished. Each of the wolves was discovered to have a slender, razor sharp silver coil around its neck. With 4 miles to go in the rain and muck, the weary spear continued.
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