Top Tips: Packing For Your Adventure
by Deatrice Unibon, Gentlefolk Adventurer
Dearest Gentlefolk, as everyone knows, it is an exquisite delight to go on an adventure. But you must always pack for success! Here are some of my favorite tips:
The Backpack
Firstly, your backpack. You don’t want to look like a murderhobo, that would be quite frightful. So make sure to obtain a fine magical bag or two before you step out of the city. But remember not to mix your magic when it comes to bags! Not only is it in poor taste, but if you put one inside another, terrible things can happen. If the arcane store is in a merchant district known to contain bad elements, send one of your most reliable servants to obtain the bags. We all know how lazy servants can be, so make it clear to them that any bag-within-bag nonsense is a no-no.
If the worst happens, and the magic selection proves unfavorable, you may need to make a custom order. This can mean an appalling wait. But all is not lost! You can still go on an adventure in the meantime. This is what hirelings are for. First find yourself a light bag for essentials, making sure that it doesn’t impede the dramatic swirl of your cloak or your hair. (Shudder. Imagine!) Then, have a hireling along to carry your bigger bag of bits-and-bobs.
Choosing Your Hireling
Even when you have a magic bag or two to provide plenty of encumbrance-free storage, having a hireling along can be a blessing. You don’t want to be mistaken for a vagrant (the thought of it!) so you shouldn’t be expected to perform any tasks that might lead to unnecessary grime or muss. Pick a hireling who will do these things for you without fuss. Only one, mind. Having too many attendants is most unseemly when you’re off on a grand adventure. If the potential hireling is agreeable, make sure that they can cope with a poke or two from a sharp object without falling over. Accidents happen, after all.
Pick a hireling who is optimistic and enthusiastic about your prospects; you don’t need to deal with any negative energy. Not that kind, anyway. But make sure their personality isn’t too big, either; you don’t want them thinking they can steal any of your limelight. You’re the hero here, and never forget it!
Your Wardrobe
While you will want to look like a seasoned traveller, you don’t want your attire to look out of season. So strike a balance. If you’re striking out across a marsh, instead of hideous wading boots, consider taking a several spare pairs of smart walking boots (your hireling can carry them). Then you can throw the wet ones aside before your glorious return in a fresh, clean pair.
The same applies if you’re making your way through other vexatious terrain. Just because you’re travelling through an enchanted bramble forest, doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice your style. Stride through and let those thorns snag at your cloak all they want, you can pack another pristine one ready to don on the other side. Magic!
The Essentials
Hairbrush and comb, obviously, are a must. As is a mirror, even if you have a complexion so sublimely pale that you’re not able to see yourself in it. (You might meet someone on your travels who is even more averse to mirrors, and you can help them see for themselves how frightfully petrifying they look.)
A fine quill pen and ink are also vital, in order for you to keep a journal. The journal itself provides a wonderful opportunity for you to pamper yourself. Choose the fanciest one possible, so you feel the utmost satisfaction when filling it with the delicious details of your travels. Even if you should engage in ill-advised merriment with tentacle-bearded fellows, or a brain-dog jumps on your head, you’ll have a record of your deeds on paper. That way, you can still make all your peers jealous of your exploits, even if you have no memory of them. When possible, you may also want to ward your journal against chronomancy, fire, and pot-pourri gremlins.
Your Pet
Always bring a beloved pet. They are a great way to share the danger! Preferably something universally sweet but convincingly durable-looking, like a shrub otter. That way, when traveling with other adventurers, you always have an excuse to remove yourself from a situation if it becomes too awkward or explosive. Whatever the threat, everyone will understand that if things get too hairy, you need to leave in order to protect your otter. Journals are splendid, but it’s always best if you can narrate your tales first-hand.
Happy adventuring, Dearest Gentlefolk!