Check out the Cabin.

The cabin looked weathered, but intact. As if someone was at least maintaining it. Hobgoblins and other monster creatures do not live singly, they live in camps. Perhaps it’s the home of someone reasonable, like that fellow that often trades in ‘Gator skins and other much needed items that comes from the swamp.

Talking to him once he described living in a place similar to what you see. Your sure if it is him he would recognize you as he spoke to you not more then a couple months ago. And you to had such a good laugh over several beers as others ignored him as they did you, being a stranger in town.

You recalled him offering you the art of ‘Gator hunting some time. You even remember his name Forlin.

“Mr. Forlin” you say as you pull your self and the horse out of the muck onto his board walk that had a ramp leading up to the cabin. “Mr. Forlin.”

You leave the horse next to the hand rail that lined the edge of the walkway as you stepped up the stairs to the door. If it was a place of evil, of monsters certainly the horse would have been spooked and it looked nothing but tired. The horse was able to allow you to avoid several issues as he would get Andy and nicker when creatures where about.

You walk up to the door and knock.

You hear movement inside. You announce yourself so as to no to be mistaken as a bandit or something. “Greetings, I’m traveling by, I’m from the village of Corehill going to the mountains.”

The latch on the doors quick slightly as it unlatched.

There standing in the slightly opened door is a young maiden, one who seems entirely too clean in cloths and skin to be a resident. Pretty and endowed in a tight fitting dress. She glances over her shoulder. “Mother, we have a gentleman caller!”

You hear a soft but firm feminin voice say in a pleasant tone. “Do let the weary traveler in my sweetie”

She gives you a warm smile as you glance up from her bosom which bobs as she swings the door open. “Do come in Sir.” She says the words formally.

You step in and see a warm inviting cabin of some size, almost larger then what is possible from the outside. String of garlic hanging above the cutting board near once side next to a open hearth fireplace with a fire in it. As you step in you don’t recall seeing smoke from the chiminney as you approached the cabin. Whatever they are using for fuel it must be clean burning.

Then as your eyes adjust a little to the darker light of the interior you see more hanging herbs, some smoked fish and other things hanging. The fragrance from in the cabin is pleasant as you take in the rest of the cabin. It is well lit by many candles.

You finally see the woman of the house. Very pleasant on the eyes, light sandy brown hair that flows down to the top of her well shaped bosom. A tight fitting satin dark blue dress that draws tight on her waist and wide hips, and amazed to see such a flat stomach. She dropped what looked like sliced carrots into a coulderan that was in front of and to the side of the fire place. Then she wiped her hands on the plain white cloth that was in her other hand. Her eyes where a light blue as was her daughters. Her daughter had much darker hair, almost black that shown strands of a dark golden brown in the sunlight as she opened the door but the glints disappeared inside of the cabin.

Both mother and daughter were stunning. The daughter had to be at least of your age, the mother was fairly young and appeared to be the same age of the bar maids in town.

“Oh you poor haggard traveler, how is it you found our place?”

“I am traveling to the mountains.” You reply.

Then you add “I’m from the village Corehill.”

Both of them offer you warm eager smiles. Kind and inviting, and if it wasn’t for being driven to find Shar, you might have forgotten why you would ever want to leave them.

“There is a path along the base of the mountains that would much easier then the swamps. This is not a place for casual travel, you could get lost.”

You nod politely to her and thank her as the daughter closes and latches the door behind you when you step in. The daughters soft voice behind you says. “You poor thing.”

You give the mother a smile and say. “The mountain peak is visible always and that is where I am going so it is easy to follow.”

The two glance at each other. Then back at you. “Why would a..” She hesitates while she looks you up and down looking at your build and then as if for the first time noticing the sword strapped to your side. “Man such as your self be traveling to that mountain.”

“I’m on a quest my lady.” You try to match the younger woman’s formality.

She looks you in the face and you fight to meet her gaze instead of looking at her well shaped breasts. “The only thing there is Hore, a place of unspeakable creatures. You should avoid that mountain. Perhaps you can stay with us for a bit to recover.”

You are taken back a bit. “You know of Hore?”

Her smile lessens a bit. “Anyone living in that mountains shadow knows of Hore. The unnatural things that move on that mountain are of regular sighting. Stay with us dear.”

You glance around to look for signs of a mans presence. There is little to suggest a man lives here. How is it two such fragile and beautiful woman as these would not have a man.

“Where is the man of the House, May I speak with him?”

Her smile fades slightly as the daughter says in a sad voice. “Oh papa.”

Then the woman speaks as the girl walks up to her and she holds her daughter. “My husband, Grillard, caught the grip of fever about five months ago and passed on. We are by ourselves now.”

She gently stroked her daughters hair as the leaned against each other. “Oh I am so sorry, I had no idea, I didn’t mean to be so careless in my words.”

She attempts to give you a warm smile. “It is okay stranger, there was no way for you to know.”

She says to her daughter, who is of striking form and beauty. “I believe I heard the hooves of a horse as he walked up my daughter, go take care and feed his horse, and give it fresh water while we talk a moment.”

The daughter immediately responds and says in a almost cheerful voice as she glances at you with a coy grin her eyes looking at you with what seems to be hunger of sorts. You seen that look before, with bar maid Clara, the look she would have when hero Bram walked into the bar. And they would go upstairs to the rooms for pan hour or so before coming back down for drinks.

She looks at you the entire time she walks across the room and out the door. She hesitates closing the door while she looks at you as if she is going to miss something, and the mother waves her hand. “The horse dear, take care of his horse.” She glances at her mother and then shuts the door.

“What is your name Sir?” You apologize for not properly introducing yourself. “I’m sorry my lady, I am John, John Handcock.”

She smiles warmly. “ nice to meet you Mr. Handcock, I am Vinessa and my daughter’s name is Autumn.”

You both nod at each other. Then she says as she walkes over to the caulderan with a ladle and a large ceramic mug. We are alone now and in much need of a man. Perhaps you can stay with us for a bit. She fills the mug with broth from the caulderan. “That mountain devours traveler and hero alike. No one returns from it, except with stories of frightful creatures that they manage to hide from.”

She turns and offers you the mug. It smells of soup, warm and inviting. Steam rolling off the top of the mug. I have prayed to the gods for my daughter before my husband took ill. For a man such as yourself. A man of marriage age”, and she smiles warmly, “you see she is in need of a husband, and I know that look of hunger in her eyes for you.”

Your heart skipped a beat. Had it not been for Shar, you would so eagerly accept this offer without even putting thought to it. “However.” And there is a long pause as you absentmindedly take a sip from the mug. The fluid is very flavorful, like of chicken soup, flavored with spices and herbs. The best you have had in your memory. “I find myself lacking a man too, and you are striking indeed, perhaps you wouldn’t mind a woman such as myself.”

You were taking another sip and accidentally spit out what you had sipped startled at her words.