There is really nothing in town--it's in essence a village with a wall around it to make it defensible against bandits.
Camelot is west and a bit south; you've come mostly north and a bit east, so it's not exactly back the way you came but you'd probably have been closer had you gone the other way.
Penrose is a bit curious as to whether the wizard who magicked you to England was doing you a favor or expressing his wrath. (Penrose obviously believes that the use of magic is limited to a very few individuals, and since you're obviously a knight you're not also a wizard.)
--M. J. Young
*shrugs* "Probably a little bit of both, I suppose, either way we are here now, and looks like there is someone I am looking for here.
Adam
"Oh? Well, good luck in your search." Penrose apparently has no idea who it was you meant by that, but he's not going to say so.
"In any case, we should provision you for the next, er, day or two of your journey. What do you need?"
--M. J. Young
*smiles* "We have been provisioned with rations and water, we knew we were going on a long trip. I do appreciate it, and I hope not taking anything but refilling our canteens with water, is alright with you Lord Penrose."
*once we say our goodbyes, we will head towards Camelot, and see what we can see*
Adam
You are welcome to the water from his well. Although he seems relieved that he isn't being asked to provision you, it's also evident that he does not wish to appear dishonorable as he insists you at least take a few pounds of the dried apple slices with you.
You return to the woods in the early morning light, following the road on which you came; in about a mile you find a fork to the right leading more in the direction in which you've been given to expect to find Camelot, and take that. It is a quiet road, and you encounter no one all morning.
--M. J. Young
*We will continue on the road until we reach Camelot*
Adam
You follow the road and come to a village shortly after noon which is clearly not Camelot and probably not even really a town--no walls, some hilly cleared forest area for pasture for the sheep, and some pretty simple stone and thatch homes clustered together along the road.
--M. J. Young
*We will continues through as it's not nightfall yet*
Adam
You pass through that village and another in mid-afternoon.
As the sun sets, you are following the road through the woods. Dusk gets dark under the trees rather quickly.
--M. J. Young
*we'll find a spot to setup the tent, unroll our sleeping bags and rest for the night*
Adam
You find a clearing, pitch the tent, and settle in.
Are you doing anything about dinner?
Are you taking any other precautions before going to sleep?
--M. J. Young
Dinner will be dried apple slices and MRE's, precautions, other than alert rest, and our weapons near our hands, that's about it.
Adam
You rest in your tent.
In the middle of the night you think you hear something outside--something that might be nothing more than a squirrel exploring your campsite, or might be nothing at all.
--M. J. Young
*I'll get up, grab my sword and check it out, if it's nothing, will go back into alert rest*
Adam
The woods are dark. There might be something or someone in the trees, but in this light you are guessing. Do you wish to do anything to facilitate your checking?
--M. J. Young
No I will say "Stop spying on us", and go back to the tent, and resume alert rest. All this is assuming I don't feel a connection like that this is Horace, in that case I will call him to me, and spend sometime with him.
Adam
The voice replies, "May you not die--or worse--in your sleep." It sounds like one of the forest people.
This is followed by silence, but for the chirp of tree frogs and sounds of the night.
--M. J. Young
*goes back in the tent and goes back into alert rest*
Adam
The rest of the night passes without incident, and you are both fully rested by dawn.
Presumably you are continuing your journey along the road that may lead to Camelot. By late that afternoon you come within sight of a considerably larger castle, a walled fortification with a palatial inner keep and a banner of a rampant lion fluttering from the top parapet.
--M. J. Young
*looks at the banner*
"I do believe we are here M'Lady, Let's see which Uther from what version of the story we are in"
*we will hasten a bit to get to the castle by nightfall, so we don't have to wake people up*
Adam
The castle is surrounded by a rather large town, with many wooden and stone buildings, busy streets, merchants and farm carts and plenty of bustle. It winds down as the sun sets.
It is dusk by the time you've reached the gate, but it is still light. Two armored knights stand behind the closed portcullis. They watch your approach, but wait for you to speak.
--M. J. Young
*We walk up to the portcullis*
"Greetings fair knights, I am Ashe Valerin, and this is Jade Bladesong, we wish enterence into Camelot"
Adam
The guards look at each other.
"Well, welcome to the City of Camelot," one says. His gesture indicates that he means the town in which you are standing is Camelot; he is guarding the gate to the castle within that town.
--M. J. Young
*nods*
"Thank you, I thought it was custom in this country to introduce oneself to the Lord when entering their property? If not, we will wait till tomorrow morning to see Uther."
Adam
The knight who appears to be the superior or senior nods in response. "I am certain that King Uther will be eager to meet with you tomorrow; however, he does not open the gates to his castle nor admit guests after sunset whom he has not first met in open daylight. Something to do with advice given him by Merlin. You will find a good inn with decent food and good mead three blocks south," his head gestures in that direction, "under the sign of the Red Gryphon. The owner will treat you right."
--M. J. Young
*smiles*
"Well I guess we need to prove we aren't vampires my beloved. Let's get something to eat and a room at the inn. Thank you for the directions*
*slight bow of the head and heads toward the direction and looks for the sign of the Red Gryphon, once inside, order a large amount of mead, some food and a room, I will use a nugget of gold for payment if they accept it, if not I'm sure we have a jewel that will pay the bill between the both of us*
Adam
The guards chuckle. "Yeah, right, vampires. Next you'll be telling me that there are werewolves in the woods."
At the inn, they think your gold nugget is a generous gesture by a noble knight and lady, and you are given fine accommodations, better food than one would expect in such an establishment, and a selection of mead, ale, and wine from the cellars.
The room is ruddier than that at the castle two nights back, but similarly appointed with bed, washstand, pitcher, and the chambermaid brings up clean linen and towels for you.
Geniece asks, "Do you think there are vampires and werewolves out there? I mean, you said everything was possible. Are those things possible?"
--M. J. Young
*smiles* "They are possible, are they here, I don't know. If they are, they likely have some or all the strengths or weaknesses that various sources have reported them to have. If real magic exists here, then it is more than likely they are here as well. There probably is a Lady of the Lake, Excalibur, which are common in all Arthurian stories. I've personally have seen at least 4 adaptations of the King Arthur legend. This could be based on one of them, or it could be something new. If the last world is any indication, it will likely be based on one of them, or take a lot of cues for it."
*starts removing his armor*
"There probably are also probably the bad people of Arthurian legend. Mordrid and Morgan Le Fay who are often portrayed as enemies of Arthur likely exist as well. Who knows if she knows magic, but it's likely she exists. Either way we'll find out in the morning, till then, I do believe we are sleeping in a bed tonight, so I think it's my knightly duty to carry you to the bed and make sure your safe" *winks*
Adam
"Why of course, sire; I would not have it any other way," she teases playfully.
In the morning, you are called to breakfast in the dining room.
--M. J. Young
*uses the a washcloth and basin to clean up, wipe down my armor, put some deoderant on, and a fresh set of clothes, and I assume Geneice follows suit, and we head down to breakfast*
Adam
There are a number of people at breakfast. The innkeeper and his wife serve, assisted by a very young daughter. A nobleman and his lady are dining, and an elderly man who does not seem at all wealthy but to whom everyone seems at least a bit deferential. There are a number of persons who are apparently men-at-arms, and a knight traveling with the nobleman, and a few others.
The food is a cut above the usual porridge of such places, more a cold stew with meat and potatoes, and the others praise it; the innkeeper's wife is gracious in handling compliments. Meade and tea are offered.
--M. J. Young
*I am not a fan of cold stew in the morning, but it is better than porriage, I will have some and give them them compliments on it. I will have tea with breakfast, and watch the interactions from others.
Adam
The nobleman seems to be in conversation alternately with his wife and his knight, but never with both at once. He talks with her a bit about meeting King Uther later in the day and presenting their suit to him at that time; he talks with the knight mostly about preparations for the journey home. He seems a bit miffed that they, too, were turned away from the castle late last night, but understands that Uther can be a bit superstitious and puts a lot of stock in the words of some old wiseman.
The old man smiles at that comment, but otherwise pays the threesome little attention. He speaks little, and only to the staff. However, he seems very attentive to the two of you, as if trying to understand who you are.
The tea is good.
--M. J. Young
*between bites*
"Well, you seem to be an important man in Camelot, as references by the way people reguard you, you aren't wearing armor, or carrying a visible sword, if I had to hazard a guess on who you were, it would be Merlin. I also noticed you were trying to get a read on who we are, as people who are quiet and attentive are usually gathering information. Is any of the above correct?"
*this is to the older man and not to the noble*
Adam
The elderly man raises one eyebrow in surprise.
"Indeed, it is not often that I encounter someone who knows more about me than I about him. However, I do know that there is a couple here prepared to be my students for the next few years, and I have good reason to think it more likely to be you than his lordship. You have, I think, some experience at wizardry already, and you come from a land so distant you cannot easily return, and have much experience as a warrior against evil. It appears, too, that I must be careful not to underestimate your abilities."
--M. J. Young
*smiles*
"I have dabbled in magic, but have had no instructor, so it is self taught. As for other abilities, both my wife and myself were two of the greatest warriors of the land, and can take care of ourselves with weapons or unarmed. We've been sent here, for what reason I don't know, but I would assume it would be to learn and help this Camelot utopia that I have heard legends of. If you are offering to teach, we are wanting to learn Merlin."
Adam
"Are you more familiar with the inner or the outer--ah, but perhaps we should not bore present company with our conversation. After breakfast you can come back to my abode, so that you will know where I live, and then you can show me where you are staying. That way we will be able to find each other, at least until you have learned enough that you can find me without coming to me.
"The innkeeper here sets an excellent board, I must say. Please, enjoy your meal."
--M. J. Young
*nods*
"Inner or Outer Magic, hard to say, as I have never had to classify as that before. As for where we are staying, we don't have one. I was hoping to trade services for Uther for a room in the Castle. We are just about finished, but we shouldn't be rude to the others here"
*continues to eat his breakfast*
Adam
"Oh Uther."
You hear a flash of unguarded disdain in his voice, but a hasty glance at the lord and lady and their knight brings him back to reticence.
"I would suggest you look for a more practical place to stay. Uther can be very, er, demanding of his guests. You might consider staying at this inn, if you can afford it, until we can arrange something else. But we can talk more about that later."
He takes another mouthful of the stew.
"As well as discussing the inner and outer powers, and just what you have learned."
--M. J. Young
*nods as he finishes his meal*
"We didn't know what passes for money in these lands, but we have many gems of value, perhaps we should inquire about purchasing a cottage in town, or buying some land to have one built, either way, we have the means to do it without needing other "assistance"."
*finishes up making small talk with the lord, lady and Merlin, and ready to go with him to start the journey*
Adam