Our land is beautiful, the life it gives
us good. How could it be otherwise?
The land is the Goddess.
But the Goddess serves the Balance,
and as goodness grows in power, so
must evil have its day. Wherefore all
who live in the Moonshaes have felt the
bite of evil as it rises again and again to
threaten us.
What can vanquish it, for a time? The
forces of good. And what are they?
They have a thousand faces and a thousand
names. We call them—heroes.
—Andabbar Meihklann, Bard of the
Snows
Ffolk Lore Year of the Hunting
Hawk
The tavern/inn called the Golden Apple was place of commerce. Many would be heroes have found their start here. The Golden Apple sits in the harbor district where many ships set sail up down the Sword Coast.
Tonight the Golden Apple is hosting its famous brew contest and drinks are plenty. A older gentlemen dressed in wizard robes and a younger man of western descent come into sit down. The younger man goes up and speaks to the owner of the Golden Apple, he passes some coins to him. Then the man goes to the wall and post a paper with a job offer on it. When he is done he goes to sit down to see who will respond.
After an uneventful trip from Silverymoon, Varis finds himself interested in almost anything out of the ordinary, even someone posting a job. He gets up from his seat near the window and wanders over to read the scrap of paper.
Paper reads Wanted Adventurers strong of heart. The job to see a cargo of valuables to their destination. Applications made to Pashda the wise in the back.
Evander walks over to the man who posted the job and asks him "mind if I sit?" As he pulls a chair across to the man's table.
Having read the posting, Varis moves to speak to this 'Pashda', but sees someone already speaking to the man, so he waits his turn.
Kolfax notices the job posting and sighs...I'll be glad when this weather spell is over. This old trick knee is paining me quite a bit. He then feels the heft of his purse and decides that maybe it's time to power through the aches and work again. He takes his place in line behind the elf...
"Well met stranger". "Unless I'm mistaken you were part of our caravan coming over from Silverymoon"? He speaks to the elf in front of him as they wait.
Varis turns and smiles at the human.
"Indeed I was. A bit of a boring trip. The most excitement was the poor weather, I'm afraid. I am Varis Liadon, recently from Silverymoon and my masters tutelage."
He begins to bow, in the elven way, then stops and grins sheepishly.
"Sorry, been among my own kind for too long it would seem!."
With that, he offers his hand.
A halfling dodges through the crowd carrying a couple of large ales when he gets to the table he hands one to Evander, "Sorry that took so long, I had a hard time getting the barman's attention. I ended up having to help myself." In anticipation of the cleric's inevitable question, "Yes I paid, I left the money in his pocket"
Roscoe looks over the others and holds his ale closer, "What? Sometimes ya got do stuff yer'self or it'll never get done."
Varis turns and smiles at the human.
"Indeed I was. A bit of a boring trip. The most excitement was the poor weather, I'm afraid. I am Varis Liadon, recently from Silverymoon and my masters tutelage."
He begins to bow, in the elven way, then stops and grins sheepishly.
"Sorry, been among my own kind for too long it would seem!."
With that, he offers his hand.
Kolfax takes the proffered hand with a wry smile. "Ah the weather was rough". "Really made my old knee injury flare up...still less painful than an orc arrow in the groin". Kolfax then laughs at his own painfully bad joke. "Names Kolfax...Kolfax Darkraven of Silverymoon".
Varis shakes the man's hand.
"So what brings you to Neverwinter? I myself am looking to increase my knowledge of the lands, as well as increase my practical knowledge of my art."
Evader gives out a sigh as Roscoe hands him the mug of Ale and asks "When you say that you paid, do you mean YOU paid full price, you threw a single copper in his purse so you could say you paid, or did I pay full price." As he asks this he feels for his coin purse, making sure it's still in his possession, then he turns the man who posted the notice and says "So, what's the job?" As he helps himself to a seat at the man' table.
Setting before are two men. The first is Panthras the wise and the second you can tell is a mage. Panthras is a short, fat, richly dressed merchant. He then speaks to your group. "Your pardon,
sirs," he says in a quiet, determined voice. "Could your services be had for hire? I am Panthras, of Panthras Procuring, and I'd like to do business with you. Can you recommend a better place for us to talk business?" Panthras has shrewd eyes set in a weather-beaten face. He has the look of veteran caravan master.
"I know a really dark ally that nobody uses...umm, err...or maybe you meant a quite room to talk."
After some hand motions from Panthras to the inn keeper. A small rooom is provided. Panthras sits downs and says The job pays 30 gp some special potions that will heal you. I am asking you to perform a guard mission. I am in need of a band of adventurers who command some magic and as much experience as possible to see a shipboard cargo of his safe to its destination. The cargo consists of sixty tarred and sealed wooden crates, each containing twenty new long swords of the finest make. The swords must reach the Cantrev of Aithe in Callidyrr, a kingdom on the Moonshae Isles. I will need you to deliver the swords safely to the local lord, Haembar "Hawkenhound" Cauldyth. Those are the terms if your ready I will have you sign this contract. Panthras also produces a
contract for the heroes to sign. It specifies how many swords the PCs are being hired to "...see safely into the hands of Lord Cauldyth of Aithe, or his successor in the lordship of Cantrev Aithe, to the best of their honor and abilities." It is a standard Sword Coast contract, which Panthras will post with the rulers of the city. As a person whose has lived or traveled in the North or the Sword Coast lands will know that it merely
prevents the unscrupulous from making off with a valuable cargo and selling it in the next port. All merchant guilds, companies, and rulers receive bundles of such contracts to prevent such deceit.
"Ah, a trip to the far-off Moonshae Isles. A good chance to maybe meet some of my more distant folk, the Llewyrr! I am more than willing to agree to your terms sir and will sing."
Zaris scribes his name on the requested spot of the contract, then hands the quill to Kolfax.
"This should be much more exciting than the wet trip from Silverymoon!"
Evander looks around at the others in the room, trying to judge their opinion on the deal. Then he turns back to Panthras and asks "30gp each or all up? how many of these potions are we talking? how far away is this "Callidyrr"? how big is the ship? What sort of a crew will there be? Why does this Lord Cauldyth guy need twelve hundred swords? And what sort of resistance should we be prepared for? if we're supplying a war effort I need to know." then he rests him chin on his hand and stares blankly at Panthras, his mouth hinting at a satisfied grin, as he awaits an answer.
The gold is for each of you and you each get one potion. The trip is 10 days and the Mermaid Sword is a merchant ship. Recently there has been some trouble in the Moonshaes and the swords are needed. If the gold is not enough I am prepared to offer you a 100gp. Does that answer your questions?
Kolfax grabs the offered quill, and slowly and carefully signs his name. You can see that he is not used to writing. "Well I have never been to the Moonsheas...and if there are swords going there I might as well go to". "They might need someone to wield them".
As he hands the quill to the next in line his eyes widen at the increase in the fee, then a big smile crosses his face as his hand drifts down to his nearly empty purse involuntarily. "Not that's what I'm talking about". "Besides, I've never taken an ocean voyage.
*whispering to Evander* "It's 30gp, we can figure out the 3 w's later."
Roscoe eyes the contract but waits for Evander to make his mark first.
Evader smiles and says, "well, I didn't have any problem with 30gp, but I'll take the hundred now that your offering," as he signs his name on the contract and hands the quill to Roacoe.
Roscoe sign's as well, Now I get a chance to play all the sea shanties I've learned down on the docks.
Panthras will turn away from the heroes for a moment, saying, "There is more.
Read this, please." He produces a portable hole a wonderful magical item that you have heard aoubt and draws from it a sealed parchment, slipping the hole back into the breast pocket from whence he drew it. Before proffering the parchment,
he hesitantly adds, "I must warn you: once you've unsealed this document, I cannot allow you to withdraw from the mission and live; this is a matter of state security. Consider your
actions carefully, then. Upon my honor, the document contains no alteration in
your agreed task." The parchment is sealed with a wolfs head: the Lone Wolf of the Kendrick
family. Panthras opens it and puts its on the table for the group to read
The parchment reads
To those who accept the bond of
Panthras and with it the swordguard
mission to Aithe:
My thanks and my debt. Dark days
have come to the Moonshae Isles
again, and we are in need of the
strong and the valiant. Be it known
that I personally shall award four
thousand pieces of gold, above and
beyond your pay, to each adventurer
in your band who comes to Caer Callidyrr
and asks for it, assuming the
blades arrive safely in the hands of
the Lord of Aithe. I will offer more,
at that time, to those among you who
will give us substantial aid against
the foes that beset us in the
Moonshaes—dark men skulking behind
witless pawns who may try to
seize that which you guard.
Bring this letter to me in Caer Callidyrr,
and accept the thanks, welcome,
and hospitality of:
Tristan Kendrick
High King of the Ffolk
After allowing the heroes to read it then says are there any questions if not here is your gold He gives you 150gp up front as agreed apon.
I will see you tomorrow night at the dock He waits and then will then leave if no one asks any question.
Varis stands shocked, not even reading the parchment at first.
"Yyyou have a portable hole? That is...amazing!"
After a few moments to digest the significance of the powerful magic item, he reads the parchment and Panthras' speech takes hold.
"Well if I was willing to help before, now I am doubly so! A quest like this will strengthen my craft and allow me to help the people of the Moonshae! Are we not lucky Kolfax to have been selected for such an important mission! And greetings and well met to you Human and you halfling! I am Varis, wizard apprentice and now, by the goddess, your travelling partner! This is Kolfax, a valiant warrior. We are both recently from the city of Silverymoon. Well met!!"
Varis enthusiastically shakes the human and halfling's hands.
Evader takes Varis'(s) hand and shakes it firmly. He it hen states "Greetings and well met to you, Varis, and you Kolfax, my name is Evander and I'm a cleric, to go any more into it than that would probably involve recutting my life story, and your not here for that. And this here is Roscoe, but I think it's best he introduced himself."
"Nice to meet you all". "I'm sure we'll have chance to get to know each other well upon the journey".
I keep trying to buy 2 potions of healing, but the website at my hotel won't let me.
No, i'm all set.
The next day the group moves down the dock in Neverwinter. What they see before them is a two-masted wooden ship of beautiful, slim lines. Its bow
rises into a figurehead of a mermaid thrusting a long sword ahead of her
(the bowsprit). Its stern rises into an elevated captain's deck with a long steering oar used for navigating rocky straits. This ship is the Mermaid Sword
As the group boards the ship you greeted by what appears to be the Captain and a crew mate.
Welcome aboard I presume you are the heroes hired by Panthras. My name is Veldyrina Flaenitarr, and this my second, Arenthor. Know that your passage and meals are free for aiding Panthras. We are waiting for one more passenger. After he has boarded we will be on way. Feel free to meet with others on the deck. Your cabin is underneath for the fordock. Any questions Veldryina says.
Well why we waiting around? Let's adventure.
Evander extends his hand towards Veldyrina, and says "'tis a fine ship you have here, how fast can it go? and how much can it hold? if you don't mind me asking."
Kolfax immediaetly heads to where they will bunk, and picks out the best bunk...up high...and best place to store his gear.
Varis wanders around on deck, looking at everything and speaking to the crew about what they do and what things are.
The crew is working hard to get underway. The other passengers stand around looking at the ship. There are two women who capture the attention of the Elf and halfling.
About the time the one of the girls makes a move towards the elf. The last person shows up he is dirty as if he had come from a farm. Under his arm is box, he seems to be going out his way to make sure no one touches it.
Hessalo Avrein nice of you to show. Maybe a sea wizard will whisk us away. the captain says in jest.
Hessalo looks annoyed at the capt but the leaves the deck. The Mermaid pulls ups anchor and the set sails.
Varis looks up at the approach of the lady.
"Saesa omentien lle", he says while bowing slightly, one hand placed over his heart.
Pleasure meeting you
Roscoe is watching the crew to see which ones are the slackers and which ones listened to by the others. Also doing the same with the officers if three are any while keeping an eye out for a place to nest.
Evander eyes Hessalo's box curiously, then turns to the captain and asks "may I see the goods we are to transport? and could you give me a rundown of the route we are to take and the possible dangers?"
Kolfax doesn't volunteer for anything in particular, but if he is asked to assist with anything he does so. The journey for him is just to arrive at the destination.
While we're waiting for DM Ashman to finish basic who wants to play a 4e placeholder game?
No thanks, he should be back soon, and I'm not particularly well versed on the 4th edition rules.
Hey guys I am back I will post tomorrow for you thanks for sticking around.
Helesso looks and says My stuff has nothing to do with you. he pulls the box more tightly to himself.