The clerk looks up at you from his scroll, "The King has granted you his full support for the expedition. The King wishes several specialists to join you on the journey and we need some time to assemble them and arrange what is needed. Some provisions will be provided, but the crisis will make this difficult. You can use the limited time to prepare anything additional you need for yourself - a few extra rations and a new blade wouldn't hurt," the clerk says, as if you had never been beyond the city gates. He is not wrong though, and you do not know what you will find on this journey. You try to ask Guide how long the journey will be, and a few knocks convey the less than helpful 'long'. Careful preparation would be wise.