Day 9:

Finally, the sky clears up, revealing a nice, calm day and I find my way west, looking for signs of this bandit. I come across ancient volcanic caldera. As I kneel down to feel it, I look forward and see a wagon being pulled by a horse followed by 10 guards, half of them on riding mounts of their own.

I hail them down to speak with them. The driver of the wagon halts. He wears garish clothing and a floppy hat.

“I deal in artifacts and you do not look the type to be worth my time. Why do you bother me?” The floppy man asks, waving a fan at his face. His guards stood there, looking unpleasant, hands near their weapons.

“I only ask if you’ve seen a bandit around here, to the west.” d6 = 2 = No.

“We have not. If they saw us, it is likely they kept their distance. Goodbye now,” The merchant flaps the reins to get the horse moving and the group headed off.

I continue to the west before finding a place to camp. -1 ration. 6 left. The night is uneventful.