Chapter 10 - Drinking & Planning
posted: 29 December 2019
How much money
?
I'm sure all these materials will be readily available and definitely not well-guarded or difficult to obtain
Meh- its the usual "please go get us this rare and dangerous stuff and we'll make you one!"
nope- not buying it
hold out for cash. and all expenses paid. And bonuses
Oh, I'm sure we'll find lots of cash along the way.
Thats just a tip for good service
Saving the world's magic, the adventure, the glory. Chicks dig glory
Only magical chicks. The rest could probably care less
stilll.. I know some pretty hot druids....
Or, you can sit in the bars not basking in the free drinks you would have received.
Besides, if we stay here, you'll never get the chance to try the Dragon's Breath spell
/r d20 +4
BOT
@Bongo: d20 +4 = (6) +4 = 10
{kinda dropped that charisma roll}
Well Rammbutt, whatd'ya think?
At the sound of Dragons Breath I chuckle and there is a hint of electricity sparking through my grin.
"Coin or no we must set out to find these items. The good people of this world are depending on it."
You mean, the Good Wizards.
There are non magic people protected by the magic of this world, my friend.
My clan lost almost a dozen non-magic users because of the failure of magic to keep that volcano at bay.
So don't live near a volcano?
Anyway...as long as we get paid. It beats people trying to pay me to track things down in a forest
If it's not a volcano it's a floodplain. Or a mountainside. There is danger everywhere and people across this realm use magic to protect and better themselves. This, friend, is a worthy endeavor.
Worthy schmirthy
As long as we get paid
I sigh and lean back in the booth.
You have me at least until the coin dries up. I go where Gumbar goes, as long as I can keep him in one piece. Then if there's pay beyond that, we'll talk.
{I just realized we got a down payment already}
(your group at the temple or whatever did, our group that was here at the bar doesn't know that)
Pardon my memory in all the recent excitement, but the Council has provided us with an initial finder's fee
Octavious has the details
Do pray tell of this hidden coin
"belkor... you have to be the worst ranger I have ever met."
I sit down.
"thanks for the drink."
Gents, This is the list:
I suggest we start with the nightstone.
I was given a bit of funds to start us off and fund the initial purchases for the expedition.
the nightstone is our best lead thus far from our research in our employers own extensive library.
it means travel to a dwarven hold, and some time underground. likely if the adventure proves successful we may even be able to procure two additional items while we are there.
there is risk of course. but the pay is just as good if not better than what we just recieved.
and hey we can always ask if the Protectors need anything delivered up there as well and make some coin along the way.
if there is questions on getting paid... let me remind you that we didnt get paid up front by the last job and my current patron just dropped a few hundred gold up front just to set us up to go.
What do you mean, "Worst Ranger???" I'm the most efficient! I concentrate on killing- and leave that tracking thing to something better- like a well trained dog.
In fact, a dog would be better as a tracker: he doesn't need a share of the gold, doesn't balk at danger, and in case you ran out of food would make somewhat acceptable emergency rations!!
(mentions to Bongo... maybe we should buy a mastiff? Might be a better fit?)
I could even ride the mastiff
1
truth.
The dwarven hold of Crasmere is the destination with the most likely opportunity for the Nightstone.
Any of you been there before?
Hey- wait. I didn't know you all were going to hire your Mother In Law- I wouldn't take her place
( @Bongo that mastiff is sounding better and better than a ranger)
Why'd I have you raised again??
the whitty conversation?
@Octavious make a history check
This at -4?
yeah
/r d20-3
BOT
@Octavious: d20-3 = (10)-3 = 7
Le sigh
the -4 explains why you think Crasmere is a dwarven hold 
It’s what you told me in omg they split the party if I recall
I read it again
"Nightstone is in my area of expertise - it is very rare, a pure black form of iron which can only be sourced in the fragments of a massive meteor which fell in the mountains west of Crasmere millenia ago. I believe the smiths of that region are the only ones who can properly forge the metal. It is notoriously difficult to work."
ah, you might be remembering one of the books in the library
"5 minutes isn't much - you skim through a few of the books in that time and the only relevant bit that jumps out is a reference in Designcraft of the Dwarves about Nightstone. the book mentions how difficult it is to work, and how even simple processes like forging bars of the metal can be without the right tools and techniques."
Yup. Nightstone>Crasmere>Dwarves.
That’s probably how I made the leap.
You do know the area of foothills between Crasmere and the Darkwater Mountains is an area known to be inhabited by hill dwarf clans
Crasmere is a large city of the Empire though, not as large as the capital of course, but it is the last main city before you leave the Empire to the north
And there we head first.
Seems like low hanging fruit
I agree gathering the materials for those items seems very important to us and to me personally
As long as there's a paycheck in it, and stabbings, and loot, and women, I'm in
I agree we should endeavor in this way.
Belkor I can only promise 2 out of 3. And I’m not sure which.
there were 4 things....
Loot and paycheck are one and the same. Loot’s part of the compensation
No its not.Loot and paychecks are separate
I begin to see why you got crushed by a hammer
I’ll buy a fence post for you for the trip.
I get X amount per component. X does not change whether we fight a lootless slime or raid a dragon lair
You’ll like the post
I'll stick that post up yer ...
It’s so you can argue with it
...
We’re going to need mounts. Horses or such.
I want my 500 gp back. SOMEBODY apparently botched the raise dead spell
they forgot to reanimate your brain
Back to horses and such. We could possibly make passage with a wagon caravan and get paid for the trip.
@Ramza do the protectors run guards for any trips up?
Our budget is 300 gp
We’re also going to need a few healing potions.
Yes I intend to purchase a few just for myself.
We can find out when the sarge shows up at the bar @Octavious
We'll also find out if we get a citadel contact. If we do, we could go there first and see if it yields further leads and/or funding for our venture
I agree. That may be extremely useful as 300 gp won’t cover mounts for all of us.
Healing potions aren’t cheap.
Let’s hope sarge hurries in. I’m on my second cocktail. And I need a good rest tonight.
I don't need a horse; that mastiff you mentioned yesterday will do.
I got yer....
we could get a horse or 2, and a wagon or 2 maybe and ride in the wagons
It’s either that or we charter a ship directly maybe?
We could do 2x draft horses, a wagon, two mastiffs for the half pints, and a riding horse or two maybe. But that eats the budget.
Let’s see after we find out about the contact. Chartering a boat direct, or acting as security for a wagon train may be our best ways to defray costs and pick up some extra coin.
yeah
Gumbar do you have any contacts who can get us healing potions cheap?
We definitely need a few. They usually run 50gp each
we can go check out the local temple district and see if there is a temple dedicated to my goddess. maybe they have some contacts for us
We’re going to need to hurry
Before these spendy fools buy the dern town, can you bring the Sarge in so we can see if we could get something that'll pay our way
And don't forget the toilet paper guys
I'm sure you want extra soft stuff for your tender bottoms
shall we consult with the local priests of my faith?
That's my secret
I don't wipe
And yeah that sounds good too Gumbar
Why don't you go do that while we wait for Sarge
if we are going to a dwarven fortress, the priests of a dwarven faith might be of aid
and never split the party again
1
we ride n die together
you die more than most
Yeah I agree wholeheartedly
I don't die. Bards die
And I don't want to be around any more stinky smelly dwarves than I have to
Have you smelled yourself lately?
we are going to a a dwarven fortress...
You work with poo...
I havent been in a sewer...
I'm gonna stay outside while you go in
Don't want any Dwarf goop on me
It’s apparently a city of the empire. Not a dwarven hold.
I was mistaken
hmmmm
needs more dwarves
Be the change you want to see!
LOL
“Ramza... what’s taking Sarge so long? I’m on my second tall drink and I doubt I can make it through a third.”
I shrug while glancing at the graveyard of finished ale tankards created by myself and gumbar. "Couldn't say. Can't imagine it can be too much longer."
"ye should learn to drink like a dwarf, laddie."
As i add 2 more empty flagons to the pile
4 more flagons
9 more flagons of ale melt
Mysteriously vanish into the night
Flagons are bigger than tankard btw @Ramza
Get on my level
you are very drunk
just as you start having real trouble holding your head up the door opens and a large form you recognize as Tegan walks in
Im a dwarf, we can handle all the ale and still be in fightin form!
All I know is I been drank @Gumbar
I (in a moderately inebriated manner) flag Tegan down from our seats
We dwarfs can imbibe all manner of alcohol in vast quantities and still be able to..... passes out in the pile of empty ale containers
1
Tegan walks over and grabs a chair. "Ah! So how'd the job go? I hear you had a bit of a scuffle - just like the old days, eh?"
"It's done, thankfully. We were caught off guard, you'd be disappointed in me. We lost one, but gained two so I suppose it evened out in the end. On to the next."
"Huh, well, them's the tides of war I guess. So are you looking for more work? Want one of these fancy-ass badges to keep?"
"I'll hold on to it." I take a drink and let out a burp. "That depends, though. Did you procure a contact for us at the citadel? Our work is looking to take us back out of the city for a time, on a series of find-and-try-not-to-die-and-fetch ventures. Do you happen to need anything or anyone transported to Crasmere?"
"Aye, I know someone at the Citadel. I'm not sure how influential he is, but he's been a guard there since the war. His name is Jevard. Should be on duty tonight actually, if I remember correctly. Last time we talked he mentioned he walked the wall near the southwest gate."
"As for transport, there's a caravan that hired us to take them as far as Darkwatch, but nothing to Crasmere at the moment. That being said, I doubt you'd have trouble finding a job to take you farther north once you get there."
wakes with a snort "let's go" hiccup "find the goat" burps "and ride it, mommy" passes back out
I give Gumbar a nice pat on the head. "I'll look into the guard, hopefully he's a standout or it won't do us much good. Either way, we'll take escort duty over for that caravan if that's no issue to you. I have no doubt myself we can find our way after that."
"Excellent! It is a pretty large caravan - 8 or so wagons if I recall correctly. They leave in two days - I believe their cargo is at the Purethought docks, but we had arranged to meet them on the road just outside the city at noon. Get them safely to Darkwatch and then talk to our contact at the Yawning Rabbit. I'm not sure who is up there now, but they'll be wearing the badge. Pay is 250 gold for safe delivery of goods. No idea what'll be in the wagons, but if they're willing to pay that much gold to keep it safe, you better be on your toes."
"im awake! i'm awake. I'm aw.. snores
1
"Consider it done. Can't pass up an opportunity so convenient. We can handle our share of adversity."
"Need any equipment for the road? We take care of our own when we can."
"We have weapons, armor, potions, et cectera. Protectors discount." (he winks)
"We'll certainly take a look, my friend."
@here The Protectors will sell you any weapon/armor/gear in the PHB (pages 145, 149, and 150) for a 15% discount
hmmmm
So basically all the stuff that we already bought lol
yep!
"if you have healing potions, I'd gratefully purchase one."
42 gp per healing potion
I like this plan! I'm excited about this plan!
Why are we putting our dicks into the sausage grinder and going to the castle?
what?
Oh. Dwarf Drunk.
WHY. WE. GO. TO CASTLE?
1
THEM BIG GUARDS THERE
is friendly palce
no place swarming with cops is friendly
and that still doesn't answer the question
last i checked, im not wanted by the cops
Apparently the crew who went to the library decided that we're going to have a nice meal of death with a side of dismemberment for the sake of making some magic stone that we probably don't even get to sell
So us, as the guys who can't read so gud, are going to just tag along blindly
Ah. Thats cool
wait until the "smart" guys get the reward then stab em in the back. I can dig it
BARTENDER!! MORE CHEAP ALE!
HEAR HEAR
anyone else want to purchase anything?
Debating a health potion myself but it's like half of my coin
Do they provide the horses? Transportation?
you can ride on the wagons, or walk alongside
Walk? ... hrmmm
It'll be good for you!
I didn't want to mention it before, but your armor is starting to look a little tight
I’ll pick up a potion of healing, a light crossbow, and replace my armor with studded leather.
I’ll be riding on a wagon. I’m still beat to hell after that resurrection ritual.
I'm happy to ride as well. Preferring to watch forward.
I'll buy a potion too, might as well. We'll probably make the gold back and more
Can’t hurt to have a few, especially at this discount rate.
Aye I'll take 2 of them damn potions
Tegan leads you down a set of wide stairs to a surprisingly large storeroom under the Soldiers' Grave. There is a guard outside, and you see all sorts of armor, weapons, and other items (including a locked chest full of potions).
Go ahead and subtract the gold for anything you want to buy (15% discount)
By this point it is around 10 PM or so
Yo! Smelly human- oh, wait, I have to narrow it down..
Ramza-- you ready to go to the castle?\
I'm gonna stay here- do they have rooms until its time to leave the city?
Guys. Let’s assume a Tavern stay?
And we wake up the next morning?
We have to sleep or we go into exhaustion. (And I might die again)
So there’s that.
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