Quantium Leap
Game Master DragonBlood472

"Oh, yes, money. It must have slipped my mind." I take the slave rings from the girls and slip them into my pocket.

The slavekeeper grudgingly hands over a coin purse, filled with 6 blood rubies.

Anyone who wishes may make an Appraise check

The bazaar hustles and bustles with the evening crowd. The largest tavern has a pavilion tent attached to a permanent sandstone structure. The sign depicts a busty earthy genie girl polishing a large boot. In Common it reads Shaitan Shinola. Amid the colored smoke wisping from the open tent flaps, sounds of laughter and celebration can be heard.

Many of the stalls peddle their wares, hocking to the crowds.

What would you like to do?

I head to the Shaitan Shinola and order a meal and mug of ale, chatting up people who look like travelers.

Appraise 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

I make my way to the tavern, ordering some food and drink for myself and my grumbling scaly companion. I also make conversation with the other patrons about possible work.

Diplomacy 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19

To Lia, "Have you found the elf you're looking for?"

"These are not the elves she is looking for."

Talking amongst the patrons, I order my next glass, getting lost in the evening's revelry.

I eat from my pack.

To Ray'lyn I haven't yet, but I am used to disappointment in this matter.

The evening winds down, many patrons heading to their tents, a few taking rooms at the tavern.

As Ray'lyn inquires about potential jobs, a few merchants are willing to hire bodyguards to escort them and their cargo to their next destinations, and one scar-riddled veteran offers a substantial reward to anybody who helps him bring down the blue dragon that attacked him years ago.

Many of the stalls in the bazaar are still open if you need to purchase supplies, if you wish to stay in the tavern, rooms are 2gp a night.

Without a gentle repose spell, the body of the cult leader will start to reek and rot, though without air in the bag of holding, if you hold your breath when you open the bag it won't cause much trouble yet.

Turning to Jin, "We need to arrange transport for the target now. Advice?"

"We left the college with the barred carriage, but as our quarry is no longer living we could send the carriage back and acquire horses or camels, which are much faster. Phantom steed would be ideal, but that would mean at best only one person could carry the thing back to the college. Are you even wanting to return to the college yet or would you prefer to wait out the situation?"

"The target needs to be returned. Something seems impractical about this. It was much too easy, and not nearly as time consuming as I would have expected. We should return, but I think we should do it as swiftly as possible and send no word to the college until we arrive."

"I agree with you. The longer we linger, the more likely it is that other gnolls may catch wind and band together. They have the advantage in the dark though so we should wait until first light."

To Lia "No worries, I'm sure your search will find success in time if it is Fate's will."

To Jen/Arture "The sooner we can be rid of the foul beast's corpse the better. It's very nature is still an affront to the balance of things, even in death. Jen's suggestion holds the most promise for me, considering the carriage will only slow us down. We should rest here for the night and make way to the college when the sun rises."

Taking the last swig of my drink, I make my way from the tavern out into the streets, seeking a blacksmith that might be able to fashion armor from the bullete scales I collected.

I follow Ray'lyn, intent on mocking her religious beliefs, until I see where she's headed and decide to follow, remembering the scales I have as well.

I go to the tavern keeper to rent a room and get some rest, letting Jen know of my intentions.

So Jen knows which room Lia is staying in, eh? Scandalous!

After scanning the bazaar, Arture and Ray'lyn find a dwarven blacksmith hammering at his forge.

Blacksmith

"What can I de fer ye?"

"Evening. I've got 60lbs of bullete scales with me that I'm hoping you can fashion into suitable armor. Would you be able to do this and if so, in what time frame and at what price?"

"So ye got yerself a landshark, eh? With sixty pounds o' scale I can forge ye one suit of full plate for two thousand pieces o' gold, or two suits of bulette leather fer a hundred a piece. If ye only want one suit of leather and ye'd be willin' ta part with the other scales, I'll forge it fer fifty. I could whip up the leather in a few hours, or the plate by dawn. If'n ye want it masterwork or enchanted, either piece would take me til mornin' and the price goes up. I'm not too skilled in the art, but I can craft a minor magicking in me trade."

Masterwork armor adds 150gp to the price, +1 enchantment adds 2,000gp

Bulette full plate weighs 65 lbs and the max Dex is +2, hardness 12. Bulette leather weighs 20 lbs and functions like studded leather armor.

"I'll take the full plate, masterwork and enchanted. I'll be back at sunrise to pick it up."

As I begin to count out the coin, Boiid grumbles softly and I lean down to pat his head. "Soon we'll be a matching pair, you and me. Too scaly and tough for anyone to think twice about messing with." Contented that his mood has improved, I rise once more. "I believe my...travelling companion has business with you as well." Pulling the 4,150 GP and bulette scale from my bag, I hand both to the blacksmith and step back for Arture.

"How much will you give me for all of these scales?" I hate 60 lbs. as well.

"I'd gladly give ye two thousand 'n five hundred pieces of gold for yer scales, m'lad."