Chitleen Shudra |
Chitleen's mood darkens when he finds the Archive closed as well, an atypical scowl settling upon his face he mutters darkly "Sons de chèvres mère. Une telle indifférence ne seraient pas tolérées dans Vudra ..." turning away and stalking into the city towards the Breakstride, assuming his dwarven surrogate parent will follow in his wake.
Surak Kekmor |
"Ah, yes, Kurgess - another fitting patron for you. I can see why you would admire him!
"Can you show me where this 'souk' Chitleen babbles so much about is? We can spend the money the group has set aside for healing magic, and perhaps I can teach you a bit about spells granted by divine patrons. Who knows? You might even have the knack."
Hungry Voodoo |
Stymied by the holiday, Chitleen and Tararr meander through the festive crowds of the city. The only businesses open are booths selling shish-kabobs shaped like burning swords, wooden swords festooned with red silk flames for the children, and religious tokens. Certainly tomorrow will be a more successful day for shopping once everything settles down again. Hopefully, Kipp will be understanding about another delay.
Daeron Gwadestael |
Waking up to find his wounds flaking off and fully healed brightens up the day for Daeron as his intent to coop up for the day and peruse his newly acquired spellbook.
He walks down to the dining area, and sits alone, sipping measured drink of herbal tisane known to heighten one's concentration and ward off sleep.
Fueled up and ready, Daeron climbs back into his chambers and starts rummaging around before he lays the book on the table.
Giving it the longest stare, he murmurs the words for Detect Magic before pondering his next action.
I hope it's not spellwarded. If not then Daeron casts Read Magic and sees what spells has he gained.
Hungry Voodoo |
Daeron pores over the newly acquired spell book and finds most of the spells sordid and necromantic in nature (all level 1 necro + command undead, false life, spectral hand)
There is a selection of abjuration and conjuration though. (protection from good, alarm, mage armor, summon swarm, create pit)
Shirish and Surak are interrupted by the boss as Kipp wanders into the main room, "Are you done with your little errand for the Sunshine Boys or whatever? Where are the rest of you? It's time to get to work and make plans for tomorrow."
Tararr Trollspiltter |
"Stand aside,boy, and let me work here.", Tararr says with a good natured smile. Sniffing the air, the dwarf quickly catches a scent he finds appealing. Leading Chitleen to one of the stalls with the flaming meat sticks. "How much fer some of them little doo-dads there?" he ask the merchant with a good deal of matter of factness.
Daeron Gwadestael |
As the elf leafs through the pages, an amount of unhappiness shows through as he realizes the bulk of magic from the spell-book comprises of mostly schools unfamiliar to him. His down mood takes an uplift once he notes the spells of Create Pit, Summon Swarm, Command Undead and False Life in the mix. A whole day free in front of him, Daeron lifts up his quill and prepares to copy the spells down.
A 3 hours per 2nd level spell, Daeron is going to spend 5 hours copying the spells Alarm-DC16; 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16 and Create Pit-DC17; 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25 for 50GP. Is there any more time for the day?
Hungry Voodoo |
Leading Chitleen to one of the stalls with the flaming meat sticks. "How much fer some of them little doo-dads there?"
The merchant grins. "Three silver sheikhs, but be careful. They are spicy!"
Back at the Inn, Daeron spends the day in study and scribing. Kipp drags Shirish and Surak to a nearby caravansary to go over supplies and the six pack mules he is providing for the journey to the mines.
Hungry Voodoo |
Kipp calls everyone to dinner at the Breakstride for a final briefing. He's dressed in his typical grungy worn leather trousers and tunic, but he has greased his hair back and tended to his beard. "So no more delays, huh? Tomorrow I want you all off to ‘Urkatka. I reckon it'll take near a week to get there. It ain't that far as the vulture flies, but pretty tough land in there. Got yer gnolls, griffons, razorscales, bandits, an' much worse. Hopefully you won't have any problems. Remember we're just interested in the Mine so don't go looking for trouble."
”Ya got six mules and vittles and supplies to last you a month. Here’s three raven feathers to send me a message. Just put a feather between your hands, say “To Kipp”, state your message, give her a puff and a big black bird will appear and get me the message, ok? Once things look cleared out enough and you’ve dealt with that damned spook Tib, send word. I’ll be back and forth between here and Katapesh, but that bird'll find me. Just get it all done before the snows fall.”
Daeron Gwadestael |
Tomorrow? I would be needing some time before leaving to obtain some improved equipment. Specifically a high tension long bow that would suit my physique readily. A long list of wants and good to haves has already been formulated in between my study earlier today but what I have seen of dwarven nature would probably make me keep my silence.
Daeron fingers his full money pouch and ponders.
I would entrust my a portion of my current savings with you, Master Kipp so if I 'kick the bucket' the wealth would find its way back to my homeland, or if needed to purchase further supplies whilst reclaimation is underway.
Daeron would further inquire with regards to the 'raven post', any word limit or time limit and speed of travel. To clarify, Daeron is looking to trade his shortbow for a composite +2 lomgbow.
Hungry Voodoo |
The irritable dwarf scowls, "If you still got errands to run just do it first thing in the morning. I don't care what time you leave as long as you are on the road by tomorrow night! There's a narrow trail that runs north along the river for about a day and a half before you can cross on an old dwarven bridge. Then it's about five days west into the mountains to the old mine."
Tararr Trollspiltter |
"Listen here, grey beard. We got dumped in this slum by you an' a couple of these guys almost got killed fer it. Yer lucky we don't charge ya more fer stickin' us with such a garbage situation. We'll complete our contract, but the next time we get left holdin' the bag cause you didn't give us the right information, it is gonna cost ya!", Tararr says as he jabs a thick finger in Kipp's chest. Classic dwarven interactions at there best.
Hungry Voodoo |
Kipp just grunts at Tararr's outburst, "You can take care of yerself, Big Boy!" With that he gets up and heads for his room. As the others finish their dinner, a messenger enters the inn and hands a package to Erilene who brings it over to Chitleen. "Delivery for you from a mister Ringbaud," she announces as she lifts the bundle to the elf.
Chitleen Shudra |
Chitleen accepts the package with a smile "My thanks" before slipping it under one arm for now. After a few more minutes he retires to his room.
I'm ready to move on to tomorrow...
Stealth take 10 for 13 to make it easier.
If Tararr sleeps in only his smalls then no further action - if he wears some kind of outer clothing then Chitleen would seek to render it unwearable for a while using some powerful and foul scented perfumes. Which to a dwarf probably means floral notes...
Hungry Voodoo |
Tomorrow looks to be a big day so you all retire for a final night of rest with a roof over your head before your journey into the mountains. You sleep fitfully, but Tararr wakes to find that some sneak thief has stolen his sturdy dwarven clothing and replaced it with a package of silken frippery in yellow and red colors, fine silver beard rings, and a ridiculous black hat with a golden tassel.
Chitleen Shudra |
Like this from neck down
You have also been furnished with a cap as black as night with a golden tassle sprouting from it's centre. It sits snugly atop your head and although the tassle initially fouls your eyes, a swish of your head is sufficient to send it hanging behind you.
Similar to this
Lastly, and most beautiful are a twin set of silver bandlets that are engraved with elvish runes. Having seen these before among some of your kin you recognize them as beard rings - designed to both keep a beard neatly restrained as well as accentuate the grandeur of attire.Two like that but staggered to suit your chin's hirsute nature
Chitleen has woken early to brew his morning chai and sits calmly at a table picking at bread... patiently watching the stairs that lead towards their rooms.
Tararr Trollspiltter |
"THIEVES!!!!! ARGHGHGHGHGH!", Tararr bellows like some bull elephant. "LOOK AT THE CLOWN SUIT THEY LEFT IN PLACE OF MY CLOTHES." Standing atthe bottom of the stairs, Tararr holds a pile of silk in one hand and his urgrosh in the other. Besides a face of anger, the dwarf wears little else. "They'd have me lookin' like one of yer kind, elf.",he roars again as he stomps off up the stairs returning a short time later wearing the beard braids and pants, but nothing else. "Who steals a man's pants....", he grumbles as he eats his breakfast.
Chitleen Shudra |
Chitleen smiles and sips his chai, contended and unafraid to show it before Tararr. When the cantankerous dwarf returns with the beard braids he ventures "Good morning Sahib, does the second coming sit better with you than the first? The anneaux barbe suit you well." languidly reaching for another piece of bread.
Hungry Voodoo |
Erilene wanders out of the kitchen and notes Tararr's new style. "A dwarf in pajamas! Now aren't you the very image of trendsetting leisure! I honestly thought relaxation was against some dwarven code," the halfling quips.
"So I hear you all are leaving us today. I'll be sorry to see you go, you've been an interesting lot."
Surak Kekmor |
Surak will pay a share on the communal CLW wand. I believe that would be 150 from each of us?
Other than that:
6x more cold iron javelins (12gp)
a healer's kit (50gp)
surgeon's tools (20gp)
2 bags of caltrops (2gp)
4x bags of powder (4cp)
5x silver weapon blanch (25gp)
2x 50' silk rope (20gp)
grappling bolt (1gp)
1 bag of marbles (1sp)
Do we need to worry about food or will be handwaving it and just figure a long term cost of living expense?
Also like to take the half hour or so it would take at a fire to apply 2 silver weapon blanches to 20 of my cold iron crossbow bolts.
Chitleen Shudra |
Chitleen makes a visit back to the Archive to give the custodian a gift in thanks for his assistance. He also visits the souks to fulfill his shopping needs before returning to the Breakstride in the mid afternoon in order to get ready to sally forth.
Day ran away from me, and net is still down at home - so have put up a stop-gap post to cover Chitleen's actions before setting out.
Shopping won't be for anything too far out of the ordinary.
Hungry Voodoo |
By early afternoon everyone has conducted their business and returned to the Breakstride where Kipp has readied the mules. He grumbles as he adds the new gear requiring a little repacking, but he works with an experienced hand and it really doesn't take much more time.
He rubs the sweat from his brow as he gives the gear a final check and then brusquely turns to the party. "Alright, that'll do it. You should have plenty to last you a month. I threw some canvas and spikes in there for shelter as well. Just send a bird when you've cleared out all them claim jumping spooks and gnolls."
Daeron Gwadestael |
Well, a quiet journey to the mines is all I ask. I hope when you hear from your bird the next time round it would be of good tidings. As we Elves like to say, À la prochaine.
With that Daeron rechecks his newly acquired goods and finds the most calm mule to ride on.
Hungry Voodoo |
Daeron finds a bony seat upon the spare mule, the only one without a pack saddle, and you follow an old trail above the river away from Solku. You make about 10 miles into the summer evening before setting up camp. The night passes without mishap as does the next day where you make the rest of the distance to the old dwarf bridge across the river where the trail heads westward into the mountains.
The shadows from the mountains creep toward you as night falls darkening an old dwarven watch tower across the river. A man in gray robes and a keffiyeh watches from the ruined doorway.
Chitleen Shudra |
Chitleen regards the man in grey with a curious and appraising eye. Responding "We are still near enough to civilization that I do not view all travelers with abject suspicion... and yet.." internally considering something before waving it off "At any rate there is a field of water between us... are you to swim across and interrogate him to ease your worry dear Tararr?"