East

Trina decided to head east. She would deal with the sorcerer.

As she and Daisy took the eastern path, Trina began to think over what she knew about the sorcerer. The guild didn't have much on this mysterious figure. They knew he practiced a combination of conjuration and charm Magic and was extremely powerful at both. He made his home in a mage tower somewhere in the eastern wilderness. It is believed he used to be a researcher and court mage for the lord of Neverwinter, but had abandoned his post. For the better part of two years he had been terrorizing the local towns and villages. He would use the threat of his destructive Magic to extort them for food and wealth. He had also recently taken to attacking caravans and supply trains on the road. Trina wasn't sure why he had been allowed to continue on for so long but she would put a stop to it.

She wandered down the path for about an hour before the pendant around her neck began to hum. She knew this would come in handy. This ancient relic had been a gift from her father, and had the ability to sense the presence of powerful magics In a small area. The pendant's hum meant that she was close.

After a few more minutes of careful searching, she spied the top of the tower, peeking out over the tops of the trees.

'Now it's time to get serious,' she thought to herself.

She found a nice quiet spot under a tall oak tree to tie Daisy up to. There was plenty of grass and even a little stream nearby, so she would be fine.

Then Trina began to prepare herself. She donned her undercoat and mail before putting her plate armor on. She preferred not to wear a helmet as it restricted her vision.

After attaching a small buckler to her left arm she began on her weapons. She placed a quiver with six wooden javelins across her back. To her right calf, she fixed a small but incredibly sharp dagger. On her right hip she attached a small hand axe for close quarters combat. In a small pouch running across her chest plate, she placed several potions and spell scrolls. Finally, on her left waist she attached her renowned family sword, Kraken's Bane.

The sword had been in her family for generations, and had been carried by some of it's greatest warriors. It had been forged in an ancient and forgotten time. The metal was a composite of steel and mithril. It had also been blessed by numerous paladins and clerics making it even stronger. Finally, it was etched with ancient Dwarven runes that gave it the ability to inflict lightning damage upon certain opponents. It was truly a masterful weapon.

Once she had fully equipped herself, she began moving through the trees toward the mage tower. Even in full armor, she made surprisingly little noise. Her years of training and preparation we're paying off.

She reached the edge of the tree line without incident but was now faced with a dilemma. The Mage Tower itself stood in a small clearing. There were no guards or sentries posted anywhere, but still, there was no cover left. As she scanned the area, she got her first good look at the tower. It wasn't much to speak of. A tower consisting of maybe four or five floors, made of simple stone blocks. The top of the tower was a bit larger than the main structure and sported a roof of what appeared to be ceramic tiles. There were no windows in any floor except for one at the very top.

She didn't get the sense that anyone was watching her, but they almost certainly were. The pendant at her neck was humming at the same frequency it had been for some time, meaning there was no magic anywhere in the clearing. She looked for every noticeable sign or indication of traps in the field but saw none. For all intents and purposes, it looked as if someone could just walk up to the small wooden door at the tower's base. She knew, of course, that was what one was meant to think. The sorcerer was renowned for being clever and diabolical. The real dangers would be inside the tower.

She needed to think. There was clearly no cover to be had. The only way into the tower was either go through that front door or climb the tower and go through the window up top. Although she had a small length of hemp rope with her, it wouldn't be enough to scale the whole tower.

She finally made up her mind. With a purposeful stride she broke from cover and walked toward the tower. She made no grand declarations of herself or of her intentions, but just walked quickly towards the door. Right before reaching it, she drew her sword. The metal sang as it left the scabbard and she felt the air around her begin to prickle with energy. She loved that feeling. She said a quick prayer to the Gods before raising her foot and slamming it into the door.

The door didn't just open, it flew off its hinges. Moving her arm with the buckler out ahead of her and raising her sword above, she walked into the tower.