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"We were given no duration for the length of our stay." Kesten says to Torsten. "Being mercenaries and all, as long as the gold keeps showing up, we'll be here."
"Nothing directly to you or your fellow charter holders." Kesten says. Turning back to Oleg, he asks, "Mind if I put this poster up?"
Oleg shrugs in response. Without a disagreement, Kesten puts up a notice on the inside of the trading post wall, just to the right of the gate.
Adventures Wanted
There has been an increase in kobold
activity in the hills of the Kamelands.
Remedy the situation for a monetary reward.
-- Swordlord Nikolai Trevian
Source: Wanted poster at Oleg’s Trading Post
Task: The Sootscale kobolds dwell in a cave
somewhere in the Kamelands. Normally not a
problem, they’ve been riled up by something lately.
Find their lair and ensure that the kobolds aren’t
going to continue being a threat.
Completion: Either slay the kobolds or forge an
alliance of peace with them.
Reward: The swordlords send a reward of 800 gp
once the kobold activity is under control.
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Where is the Kamelands located in reference to where oleg's is at?
"These kobolds might be a good place to start our exploration, wether we have to remedy the situation with might, or diplomacy, we could use it as an opportunity to rally some more forces against the Stag Lord."
I clasp Gavin on the arm and give him a friendly smile once the trials have finished, "Tell me Gavin, does working in a tavern or store sound like something you would like to do?"
I spend the rest of the day talking politely with both Gavin and Velsin, laughing and trying to be friendly with them both. I am clearly in a very good mood as a life has been spared.
I watch the soldiers arrive and listen carefully to each word they say. I walk over to the wanted poster and read it.
"Captain Garess, I can see that you are not here for the money. Would this have anything to do with atoning for the slight your family thought you brought upon them last year?" I then look to the rest of the group, "It says we could forge an alliance of peace with these Kobolds, maybe they could help us defeat our foe?" I look around quickly, as if to spot any spies listening in.
Kesten's eyes go wide at Theodore's comment, before quietly stating, "I volunteered to lead this band of soldiers to help guard Oleg’s Trading Post after my own depression and shame grew too much to handle. Not just being disowned by my father, but what he had done to Tania. She didn't deserve any of that, and I was too much of a damned coward to do anything about it."
"Maybe I can redeem myself as a defender of this remote fort, or maybe find an honorable death among the bandits and other dangers in the region." He solemnly says.
Changing the subject, Kesten says, "Perhaps while you are out you could keep and eye open for someone for me? A mercenary I worked with months ago was a Varisian man named Falgrim Sneeg. Falgrim robbed the group and fled into the Greenbelt to become a bandit, and it is my hope to catch him alive and return him to Restov for punishment. Either way alive or dead there would be a reward, although the reward would be higher should you bring him in alive."
I walk up to Kesten and take his hand, "I meant no offense or to trouble your with scars of the past. If you are wishing to redeem yourself and have anew life, then this is the perfect place to do so. As for this Falgrim Sneeg, you may be in luck, for I try to capture anyone we come across. So if I were to come across him, he will surely answer for his crimes in a proper court ... speaking of which, we have 2 bandits who have surrendered to us and are willing to repent in their ways. We have given them both a fair trial, through Erastil's holy magicks we have discovered they truly wish to repent and start new lives. They have both agreed to serve the time that they should first, I was wondering if you could arrange for someone to take them up to Restov to serve their time?"
"And following their time served, Velsin wishes to be taught vocational skills, to help him earn a true and honorable life. We wish to ensure that he is given the opportunity to pursue such path" Raz says,
I turn to face Razarak, "When the times comes, there is little need to guarantee them work already. I have decided that if they are able to get work, I would pay the first months wages, so that the employers can see if they are right for the job or not without worrying about paying an ex-bandit."
"I suppose I could send Alton and Kev back to Restov with your two prisoners. The other option would to send for someone to come and get them, but that would likely be three or four days before someone gets here." Kesten says, looking to Oleg for an opinion.
Oleg shrugs. "Gavin hasn't been any trouble as of yet...can't say I know the other one well enough to have an opinion. If these fine folk think its okay to wait for someone to pick them up, I'd just as soon you and all of your men remain here, Captain Garess."
At the mention of honest work for Velsin, Garess's mouth curls into a half-smile. "I don't think you'll have to worry much about that for a while. I suspect these two have a year or two hard labor ahead of them."
At the mention of honest work for Velsin, Garess's mouth curls into a half-smile. "I don't think you'll have to worry much about that for a while. I suspect these two have a year or two hard labor ahead of them."
Jacobus interceded, "Here's an idea. How about they start their penance right here right now? Under your watch of course. I'm sure Oleg has plenty of work that could be done around here."
He shrugged, "Who knows, they may even make decent frontier scouts. They know the area..."
Torsten shrugs back. "Four or five men should be able to keep an eye on two for a few days. I am well with that. If they stay here longer I am well with that too. We will be here tonight and leaving in the morning I think.
"This Falgrim though, how should we know him? There may be more than one Varisian to be found in the Greenbelt."
Oleg nods in agreement. "We can certainly keep 'em here a few more days without a problem." Contemplating Jacobus's idea a bit longer, the proprietor says, "With Captain Garess and his men here, I think that might work. I still have quite a bit of work to do around here to get this place the way I'd like it...yeah, they can stay."
Kesten says to Torsten with a chuckle, "I suppose a bit more description couldn't hurt. Falgrim's an older fellow, graying hair and the last time I saw him, he had a rather unruly beard. Fairly average stature. Usually carrying a greatsword."
"we plan to offer them all repentance and it they do, do you mind some extra free labor, Oleg? But don't worry, if the are truly set in their ways, they will hang."
Oleg holds up his hands, "Hold on a just a minute. I don't mind a few of 'em, but I'm not running a half-way house here. I could probably take a few more on, but not too many."
I look to Razarak in confusement and shake my head in disbelief, "They still have to serve their time, Gavin and Velsin are fortunate that they cannot head back straight away. What you are suggesting is letting anyone we capture to go free with very little sentence ... and that is not the lawful thing to do."
Jacobus took care in making sure the healing supplies they had bought were well packed. He knew they were not his but he cared for them like his life depended on them.
He thanked Oleg for ordering the healing wand.
Checking things one more time, he was about as ready as he was going to be to start exploration. And heading east was the direction that everyone had agreed upon...
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1 potion of cure moderate wounds
3 vials of antitoxin
2 vials of antiplague
Squinting into the light of the rising sun, Torsten hoists himself up onto the former bandit's horse. "Ready to go, my friends?" he calls.
Tove wakes well before dawn the next day, excited for the true adventure to begin. They would finally be exploring the Greenbelt, heading out into the untamed wilds.
She says her morning's prayers, her words condensing in the cold morning air before her, as she meditates on her spells for the day.
After a quick wash, she gathers all her gear and saddles up Ros. She leads the horse out of the stables into the yard, then climbs up onto its back.
Looking ahead to Torsten and the rising sun guiding their path east she takes a deep breath.
"Aye, I'm ready." She smiles.
I wake early, wash and then join Tove in her hour of prayer and meditation, silent the whole time. Once finished I grab something to eat and put my Rufus' armour on, and then my own. Once I am ready to head out, I walk over to Gavin and Velsin and tell them to show everyone that they are worthwhile to keep around.
I then head to the gate and mount up, ready to head out.
You awaken to a crisp but sunny morning. Without much doubt it will warm up a bit today and make for a fine day set out on you exploration of the greenbelt.
The smell of bacon wafts through the area as Svetlana is obviously busy preparing what promises to be an excellent breakfast for you before you leave the trading post.
"Good morning." She says brightly. "I'll assume you all will be having a bit of breakfast with us before you head out. A bit of bacon, eggs, and freshly baked biscuits. Oleg will probably grumble at me, but you can take any biscuits that are left over with you for a snack."
Breakfast finished, you saddle up and head off to the east. The weather does indeed warm up making for a pleasant bit of exploring and mapping.
- none
Nothing of note come up other than the odd tree or large rock that can be used as a landmark until mid-afternoon when you stumble upon a smallish thatched roofed hut. Smoke from a fire drifts from the hut's chimney. Obviously someone is home.
Jacobus munched on the extra biscuits he took from Svetlana and enjoyed the ride, at least for the first few hours.
Although not an unskilled rider, long rides really were no his thing.
He was glad when they actually found something and quickly dismounted.
He raised his hands and called out, "Hello? Anybody home?"
You hear from the hut in a jittery, swift and clipped tone, "Yep. Who want's to know? Best not be wantin' to try and rob me or I'll blow ya up but good."
Razarak said: "Thank you for your help, it would have been a tad more difficult had you not threw that vial at the one bandit. Speaking, what was that vial, anyway?"
At mention of the vial, Oleg smiles, "Oh that? I think Ol' Bokken called it 'Pyro's Delight'. He claims it's some sort of extra special alchemist's fire." Oleg shrugs, "Based on the results, I'd wager he's right."
I dismount and stand beside Rufus before calling back to the voice, "Am I correct in assuming that you are Bokken? If so please don't blow us up, we have seen first hand what your concoctions can do! My name is Theodore Logan, from the Order of the Blue Rose and one of Erastils faithful followers. We have been given a charter to make this land safe once again."
"Yep, I'm Bokken alright. I assume y'all have something on ya to prove that claim, right?" the skittish, but noticeably calmer voice within the hut responds.
"Yes, we have a signed document from Restov," calls out Ivo. "Incidentally, Oleg used one of your 'pyro's delights' on a bandit just the other day. Quite effective! As an alchemical hobbyist I applaud your formula."
"Alrighty then. One of you bring that paper up for me to look at. Nice and slow like. I leanin' toward believin' ya, but ya can't be too careful round these parts."
Hearing reference to his rather explosive formula, he says, "Yup, that's a good one, a little unstable though...gotta be real gentlelike with those."
Ivo whispers, "Sooo... who's a good talker?"
I nod to Ivo and walk towards the small hut, my sword sheathed and the charter in one hand. My other hand ready to draw my blade in case something untoward was to happen. Once I get to the door and hold the charter up so that he can read it without having to take it.
"We mean you no harm, we may even be interested in purchasing some of your concoctions at some point, if you feel we are worthy of your business?" If he attempts to take the charter I allow him, but wait for it to be returned and worry over the damage that could be done to the official document.
Tove watches the scene play out with bated breath. Having seen what Bokken's concoctions could do she worries for Theo, getting so close, but Oleg had spoken well of the alchemist and things seem to be going well so far.
After looking over the document, Bokken says, "Well, everything here seems to be in order. Why don't you all come on in for a cup of tea...or maybe somethin' stronger."
I nod and roll the parchment before placing it back in my packpack. "That would be most refreshing, many thanks." I turn and smile to the rest of the group before turning to Rufus and pointing at the hut. "Rufus, Guard!"
Jacobus nods in agreement, "Yes that would be most welcomed."
he then asked, "So how long have you lived here? is there something that you can tell us about your surrounding areas? We are here to properly explore and would benefit from your knowledge."
He then added, "Also what is your stock of alchemical items and their prices? Do you make on request?"
"Bokken, you seemed pretty cautious of us saying we better not rob you, have you had much issues with bandits?" Raz says as he enters the hut.
You all file into Bokken's, now somewhat cramped, hut.
"Who wants tea and who wants somethin' with a bit more kick?" the skinny, wild eyed man asks.
"Oh I guess I've been out here ten years or so, give or take. I really don't get out too much other than gatherin' ingredients or if I decide that a trip to Oleg's is in order."
To the question of his inventory he says, "Oh, I have a little of this and little of that. Standard stuff mostly, alchemist's fire, tanglefoot bags, antitoxin, antiplague, a few magical curatives and whatnot."
3 x alchemist's fire (20 gp)
2 x tanglefoot bags (50 gp)
4 x antitoxin (50 gp)
2 x antiplague (50 gp)
2 x potions of cure light wounds (50 gp)
2 x potions of endure elements (50 gp)
potion of cure moderate wounds (300 gp)
Pyro's Delight (250 gp)
"I haven't had many troubles lately, guess they figure Ol' Bokken is more trouble than it's worth. That being said, it is still the Greenbelt and we have more than our fair share of bandits."
"Some tea would be lovely, thank you." Tove says, kindly.
"I'm glad to hear the bandits leave you mostly undisturbed. From what we've seen so far they are a vicious bunch. Do you mostly trade with Oleg or do you find a regular stream of customers out here to see you by?"
Bokken goes about getting everyone their drinks, be it tea or otherwise, as the coversation continues.
"Mostly just tradin' with Oleg these days. Legs don't work quite as good as they used to." His eyes light up as he seems to realize something.
"Hey, you all are explorin' the area, right? It's been a while since I've been there, but there's a thicket of fangberries a good day, two days dependin' on just how fast you are, southwest from here. Bring me a bunch of the berries and maybe a clipping or two that I can plant for future use and I'll give ya a 25% discount on any thing I make for a month...including special requests."
"We are exploring, as well as ridding the area of bandits so if you have any information about that we would welcome it, and what do these berries look like? We will try to keep an eye out for them if we stumble across them."
"The berries look like reddish-black raspberries. Watch out for the thorns in the thicket though, those damned things'll draw blood if yer not careful."
When subject of bandits is brought back up, Bokken says, "Like I said, sonny, I don't get out like I used to as much. So unless it's real close like, I'm not likely to have any information that'll be much use to ya. On a side note if you are out and about and you run across someone who looks like a balder, bigger version of me, smack him around a bit. That dirtbag would be my lil' brother."
Bokken spits at the mention of his brother, bitterly holding up his right hand and indicating his missing pinky finger. “Bastard cut that offa me the last time he hit my mamma, Desna rest her soul. But he took off right after to live in a hollow tree down south rather than face the guards, so I guess it all worked out well enough.”
"Well, I'd love to putter around the lab a bit next time we can visit. I'm sure that alchemical fire is a great remedy for the bandit problem."
Jacobus enjoyed his strong drink after he coughed to clear his throat a couple of times.
"Strong stuff. You make it yourself?"
He then added, "Well, we're going to be exploring all over the place so we'll definitely keep an eye out for your berries."
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"Bring me some of those berries and I'll be happy to let ya mess around a lil bit." Bokken says to Ivo's request.
At mention of the strength of the brew, Bokken says, "Yep, sure did. There's fangberries in that too."
"Thank you kindly for the hospitality Bokken. I think we will continue our explorination east of hear before turning south and looping back around. We should make it to your fangberry thicket before the end of the week, we can stop off here to deliver them on our way back to Oleg's." Tove says, looking around at her companions for signs they support her idea.
"Sounds like a good plan to me, Tove. Hopefully we can find some chance to hone our skills against some bandits."
Torsten raps his knuckles against the door. "That, good Razarak, is asking the evil gods to interfere with our journey!
"East and South to check that none are coming from that direction, then around to see these fangberries sounds like a fine plan, if our dragon-blooded sorcerer will refrain from taunting Norgorber and his minions."
"What is so wrong with wanting to become a better warrior? To sharpen your skills on the whetstone of combat? Besides isn't that what this journey is about? Cleansing these stolen lands of unlawful behavior?"
I nod in thanks as Bokken brings me a nice hot tea and I drink it carefully so as to not burn my mouth. "I'm sure we can find you those berries easily enough, your brother may be a bit trickier to find, but I shall keep my eyes open." As Razarak speaks I shake my head once again ,"What's wrong with this man?" "I think you'll find our duties were to travel and explore the lands primarily, removing banditry was a secondary objective. But no one should want to find danger, let alone want to find some just to test themselves."
Jacobus interceded between the two before things took a turn for the worse, "I agree with both of you. Or charter is for exploration but we are also here to make things safer for future and current settlers."
He added, "Lucky for the two of you, I think we'll get a chance to do both activities."
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