Ash 28, 121
Franky had a bottle of mead in hand, tossing the cork up and down in the other, as he watched the cart pulled by the highland horses made its way up the road toward him. There was a small crowd of people who often came around for lunch at the tavern waiting with Franky. "Looks like our ride's here lads." A small cheer went up from them, "Last chance to grab a bite or a piss before hoppin' on."
Franky took a long pull on the mead, turning to see some heading in for food, and others heading down the nearby alley to relieve themselves. Several of the people here he knew were familiar with the Imperial ways, but there were a few unfamiliar faces. "Alright, for those of you new to this, it's a fun little tradition from back home in the Imperium. It's originally a way of honoring the merchants and guards and the like that helped fuel the supply lines of the Imperial March. Everyone knows that soldiers fight and die in war, but often the traders, the messengers, those that kept us with full bellies and delivered the letters from our loved ones, those were just as important, if not more. Many of these heroes died too, and they didn't do it solely to chase the profiteering that comes with war, no. They did it because they believed in our way of life, they believed in our people, and they believed in each of us."
Franky turned, gesturing at the cart that was nearing, "So on this day, we drink to honor those we lost and those we still have. Each of you will pay a gold to ride the cart, and be accompanied by a barrel of something Imperial, bourbon hinted lager this go around. You get as many drinks as your heart desires as we do our lap through town. If you exit the cart, by any reason, you cannot get back on until the cart returns back to here, and you must pay again. And if the cart finishes the lap and there's still beer in this barrel, everyone is kicked off the cart and a new round is started. We will do this until nightfall."
The wagon pulled up, an older elf driving it. "Hey there Jerya, ready?" The man smiled showing off his many gaps in his stained teeth, "Always ready for the Cart." The back of the cart had rectangular bales of hay loaded along the sides of the cart, leaving an aisle in the middle. Franky hefted up the barrel of lager he had sitting near him, placing it into the back of the cart, just behind the driver. Then he pulled out a pouch, "One gold gets you a ride and flagon. Hop on up. We leave in five or when we have a full load, whichever happens first."
Franky then climbed up into the wagon, taking one of the flagons he carried and filling it, handing it over to the driver. "Who's comin?"