The Veteran's Inventory

[Liqcrys]

The campfire burned low. Jof stoked the flames with a small stick, stirring the embers up to raise the flame. She stared into the cold night, the dim light from the camp reflecting off of the freshly fallen snow. Her comrades were huddled close to the fire, sleeping or meditating while she took her turn at watch. She moved away from the fire, staring into the darkness to regain her night vision. Once her eyes acclimated she began her ritual.

Its different somehow. Now it seemed that she could sense the small forces and tugs of the spirits as she cast the spell. No forcing this time, coax them. Her hands gracefully laid the fine wire around the small campsite and she silently attached a small bell to the end of the circuit. This should be fine. Spirits, if you're there, keep me warned.

Sensing the ward in place she quickly grabbed her pack and roll and moved just outside the firelight. The soldier shivered slightly in the cold as she laid out her pack's contents. Jof double checked her money pouch first, making sure every one of the 50 gold pieces were still there. She laid out her bedroll, placing the water skin and remaining rations on it.  seems like I've got about a week of food left.  She carefully inspected her long coil of coarse hemp rope, checking for knotting and fraying. The case of crossbow bolts was inspected for damage and possible leaks, and she went over each of her weapons for wear and rust. Crossbow seems fine, should pick up some new strings in Shattered Bridge. This old shortsword should fetch a couple coin too. Dagger seems good. Couple of nicks that can be ground out. She slowly drew the dwarven shortsword from its plain leather sheath and laid it on the bedroll admiringly. This is damn fine work, have to thank Dragon Clan again She reached out with her mind to the sword, hoping blindly to sense the spirit within. Gentle now. Gentle. Coax, don't force. That's what those monsters at the temple would do. Force the spirit to their will with their mental constructs. That's not you. You're not like them.. Her hands hovered over the sword, shaking slightly from the winter chill all around her as she tensed up, her shoulders raising up and then suddenly relaxed. Nothing. Was that all just an illusion? It seemed to make so much sense. I'll have to go back there. Its the first time any of it has made any sense....

She stirred from her reverie and gently slid the sword back into its sheath. Her arms dug deeply into the pack, removing the torches, mess kit and tinder box and placing them on the bedroll next to her other things. She groped in the bottom of the oiled leather pack, searching for a hidden seam. Her fingers grazed against the tell-tale knot pattern and she slowly pulled back the false bottom of her pack. Jof glanced back towards the campfire, making sure her comrades were still resting. She pulled out two small, finely engraved and polished wooden boxes. She opened the first and looked reverently at the collection of inks, quills, papers, dying agents and other tools of forgery. All of the paper seemed dry, and the cold doesn't seem to have gotten to the ink. Looks like I'm running low on some things. Will have to restock in town. She closed the polished lid quietly and opened up the other box, a bit larger than the first. The make-up seems alright. Could use some more of the red dye, maybe a bit of powdered willow bark. this wig has fleas! disgusting! Gods I hope it hasn't gotten into the clothes! She quickly reached back into the pack, digging deeply. She stood up, holding the fine clothes out from her body to inspect them in the firelight. She turned them round in the light till she was satisfied that no vermin had taken up residence. She laid them out on the bedroll, rubbing them clean and smooth.

Her inventory over, she glanced once more at her comrades was that a bear or Maru snoring? Did Lotus Clan move? and held still as a statue for a minute until she was sure that no one had woken. She quickly returned everything to her pack, storing the fine clothes, forgery kit, and disguise kit in the false bottom of her pack and then neatly placing all of the other items on top. She bound her bedroll to the bottom of the pack, re-belted her dagger and new shortsword to her hip and quietly returned to the fire. Her eyes moved to the moon's position in the sky and she judged it would be a couple more hours before her watch ended. Spirits keep me warned. She moved just outside the firelight and continued her vigil.

Bullet Point List for DM who doesn't want to read PC narratives:
(7 days) rations
10 torches
20 crossbow bolts and case
50' hempen rope
50 GP
(3) flasks of oil
crossbow
shortsword
shortsword +1
dagger
disguise kit
forgery kit
fine clothes'
Mess Kit
Tinder Box
Money pack