There are four hobgoblins in total and they are armed/armored like common thugs (leather armor, knife, club, etc.).
You guys are NOT getting paid by Albuin at all. You didn't come to any agreement other than 'walk with me and I'll take you to the Bloody Market'.
I'll wait until you act on this information before replaying.
Questions?
Game on!
"Nice to know my imperfections are so obvious that they are easily documented."
"This one assures you it was a pleasure to be of assistance," Palisade said, proving once again that just as with jokes, you had to hit it square on the head for it to take any note of sarcasm either.
Albuin looked at his guards, "Well? Are you going to stop this or what? What kind of guards are you?"
"Honest answer. The kind that are not getting paid," Palisade said, glancing briefly at the self-important merchant before returning its full attention to the potential threats before them.
"Hmm, and I thought I was the charitable one." Rokko took his hand from his bow. Rokko knew that he shouldn't, but he was quite enjoying the merchant's discomfort. And in choosing the lesser evil, he wasn't sure if it was Albuin or the hobgoblins anyway.
"Well, Albuin, you can either give them a crate, or give them the 50 gold. Or you can give us the 50 gold and we'll make sure they don't bother you. Or I can just inform them of your comments to me on the road and see how much they feel about charging a merchant with your views about goblins."
"Honest answer. The kind that are not getting paid,"
B nodded, "He's right. We just agreed to walk with you, that's it. You never actually hired us. I suggest you pay them. They look kinda mad."
Val smiled grimly as the others showed the unpleasant merchant just what he could expect from them. He took a few steps further from the man, distancing himself in case it came time to run.
A very annoyed businessman dismissed his guards and turned to the hobgoblin, "OK, I give 50 gp but you come with me and make sure no other toll collector asks for more. Deal?"
The hobgoblin nodded and Albuin started counting out gold.
He then turned to his guards, "You can just leave for all I care. I'll make sure the local guard guild or something finds out about your performance. You're a disgrace to the civilized races in the land."
tag?
"May you walk in righteousness," replied Rokko through gritted teeth as his farewell.
"I have an urge to tell them the crates are full of something expensive." muttered Squeak.
Squeak switched into bodyguard mode. Carefully he surveyed the room for potential threats. He walked towards Failin, dragging two chairs for Bronwyn and Val.
Once the chairs were positioned, he moved to the left of the corner, turned so his back was to Failin, and stood straight. "Talk quietly." he warned Bronwyn in a low voice. "Palisade and I can try to make sure the curious are kept at a distance."
Read the OOC.
Questions, comments, and/or suggestions?
Game on!
PS: I recapped but didn't move the game forward; we're still at the scene where you approach Failin.
Bronwyn sat down in the chair Squeak provided, obviously forgetting she wasn't in a dress. Keeping her voice low as Squeak suggested she asked, "I assume you're Failin? You seem a cautious fellow but we're in a rush so I'll be blunt. We were told by Lady E that you could provide us with transportation. I can show you the letter if you'd like."
Once again, Val grimaced at Bronwyn's rush to the truth. The two of them certainly had different ways of handling things. He supposed it came from a lifetime of being proud of your heritage and having nothing to hide, unlike the life that Vi had led. Still, it mostly seemed to work out for Bronwyn, so he kept his mouth closed for now, and watched Failin.
Bronwyn sat down in the chair Squeak provided, obviously forgetting she wasn't in a dress. Keeping her voice low as Squeak suggested she asked, "I assume you're Failin? You seem a cautious fellow but we're in a rush so I'll be blunt. We were told by Lady E that you could provide us with transportation. I can show you the letter if you'd like."
Failin took his time speaking. He sipped his cup slowly. "Lady E? You will need to provide more information if you expect me to recognize her. I have many clients."
tag?
He then added, "Speaking of which. My clients hire me for transportation so it seems you came to the right place."
He sipped his drink again and passed his fingers through his long, red curls. "However, I need to know where you want to go to see if I can... facilitate your travel."
tag?
"I'd rather not speak her name but I can describe her for you." Bronwyn proceeds to paint a picture of Lady Elaydren using words so that Failin would know who she's talking about.
She then leans in so she can lower her voice even more, "We need transportation to Rose Quarry."
He didn't give away whether he knew Lady E or not but responded, "Rose Quarry? Very Jar away. Near the border. Near the gray mist Mining town. l can take you. Yes. But it will cost you. 100 gold each, 50 up front. You bring your own supplies."
tag?
----------------
I intend to recap ad move this along later today.
Val didn't like his manner, but she didn't suppose they had a choice. "Exactly how far is it? How will we travel? When would we leave?"
tag
Turning to Rokko, Val said, "What do you say? Want to come on an adventure? B told you a bit of our quest - it's taking us next into the Mournland. If you'd like to join us, we'd welcome your company."
tag Rokko
To Failin, he said, "It'll be the five of us. No trouble here, not yet, but our mission is time-sensitive."
This I forgot. How much did he promise?
"I am quite heavy" Squeak interjected from nearby. "Will that be an issue?"
"We will need to tell our current employer we are leaving. We have fulfilled our contract, but he may worry for us. We also need to get my tools. This will be very quick." Squeak pointed out.
[dice=perception]1d20+1
No, but I will let you if you give me a good post about it. :)
As Bronwyn was about to get up from the table, she thought she had seen something inked on Failin’s arm when he collected his bag but she couldn’t say for sure. It was possible that because of her run-in with Marcus that she had dragonmarks on the brain. She needed to be sure but couldn’t just come out and ask. As she got up from her seat, she tripped over her own feet and fell directly into Failin. On instinct he went to catch her and as he did, his shirt pulled up enough that Bronwyn was certain he bore a dragonmark.
But she doesn't get a good enough look at it before Failin readjusted his clothes and covered it back up again. "I'm so sorry," she mumbles. "Sometimes I'm just two left feet."
"We will need to tell our current employer we are leaving. We have fulfilled our contract, but he may worry for us. We also need to get my tools. This will be very quick." Squeak pointed out.
"Prudent. Go, this one will remain here," Palisade said, eye roaming the bar and its patrons for any sign that one of them wished get too curious.
Rokko gulps. "The Mournland?" Then he squares his shoulders. "If we must seize this schema to prevent it being used for evil, and that is where it is, then that is were we shall go." He grabs Val's hand and shakes it gravely.
Val was glad to have the goblin coming with them - he'd proved useful in the fight, and having somebody who could speak the language could only help.
"I would rather have company." Squeak explained "If I head out alone I may be stolen. I'm not inexpensive, and this market condones slavery."
Grinning, Val slapped Squeak on the back. Khyber-lover! I gotta stop doing that. Shaking out his hand, he said, "I'll come with you...I can't let my designate priority two go out in danger alone. Anyway, I want to grab a few more tanglefoot bags. Anybody want anything else while we're out?"
Action 1:
Bronwyn always enjoyed shopping so she was more than happy to look around the store that Failin took them to. She definitely picked up some food, even if it was just rations. She tried not to wrinkle her nose as she picked them up, remembering all the glorious choices there had been in Sharn.
As she wandered the store, she also picked up a couple flasks of alchemist's fire. It wasn't her favorite method for making fire but it would do in a pinch when her own resources were tapped out.
Action 2:
Bronwyn was grateful to be behind both the 'forged as they were confronted by three bugbears. She didn't know whether to be relieved that they were there for Failin and not them, or dismayed. He was their only method of transport so if he fell then they had failed. She repositioned herself to try and get all the bugbears in a line and prepared to cast firejet if necessary.
"Whoa! Whoa there, fellas. What's the problem?" Heart beating furiously, Val stepped between Failin and the bugbears. Hands spread low and open, moved slowly, not threatening. "You say you were cheated? Maybe we can help you work it out."
The 'forged drew its sword and stepped forward protectively to get in place between the aggressors and the party before threats could escalate into violence. Palisade did not know what the issue between the bugbears and their guide was, but for now, the survival of individual Failin was critical to their mission.
I'd like to move this along later...
If I get nothing from Squeak and Rokko, I'll just delay them...
Questions?
Game on!
1,335 + 130 (Jurak, 5 tip) is 1,470! (not 1,270)
1,470 - 250 (Failin upfront fee) is 1,2201,220 - 100 (tanglefoot bags) - 40 (alchemist fires) is 1,080 gp.
I think I got it right this time. Phew! :)
Read the OOC.
Questions, comments, and/or suggestions?
Game on!
, pass
, miss
, miss
, miss
, miss
Rokko looked up from the stall where he was assessing the dried frogs - only the chewiest were worth buying - as the bugbears attacked and Failin vanished. He grabbed his bow and called out, "Our purpose is clear, our cause is true! Let not the darkness prevail!"
"Please desist so we may resolve this matter peacefully," Palisade said in a calm, loud voice even as it chopped at the enemy that had tried to penetrate its defences. The 'forged proved more successful as its heavy blade bit deeply into its enemy, gouging a deep wound down the goblinoid's left arm before lodging itself in the creature's leg. A savage wrench and an armoured boot briefly applied on the bugbear's chest freed its weapon and sent the severely injured foe stumbling back.
Val was too busy not getting beaten to death to notice Failin's disappearance. What he did notice was Palisade knock a bugbear back a few steps. He took advantage of the gap to throw himself forward onto the ground and tumble diagonally through it. Coming up behind the bugbear facing Squeak (assuming Squeak moves to the north enemy), she drew her dagger and attacked from behind.
The bugbear had no idea what happened - the rogue rolled past him in a blur of motion, and suddenly there was a dagger in its spleen. Howling with pain, it groped around to find the source of the pain, but Val had already withdrawn the weapon, and was covered in a gout of blood for his efforts.
With such close quarters, Bronwyn knew that her favorite spell was out of the question so she once again pointed her finger at the bugbear in front of her and released a jet of fire at it.
"Son of a goat!" B exclaims as Failin disappears. It was too little too late to know now that his dragonmark was that of Passage. Makes sense to how he was going to transport them. Hopefully he was just cowering close by and not using this distraction to disappear. As much as Bronwyn was disgusted by his lack of character in making them face danger alone while he fled, they needed his help to get to Rose Quarry. However, she didn't have time to focus on Failin because there were three bugbears that demanded their attention.
Squeak leapt to engage the north enemy, hammer swinging wildyly above his head. With the sound of a spinning gyro he realised his attack avenue was blocked by Palisade; and Bronwyn was in danger. Grinding at the handicap, he stepped into the gap.
Turn 097 - Protecting the Driver
Read the OOC.
Questions, comments, and/or suggestions?
Game on!
, fail
, miss
, miss
, miss
Bronwyn didn't want to keep fighting and waste resources on the bugbears. She wanted to find Failin and get to Rose Quarry. "You aren't our objective. Leave while you can," she yells from behind Squeak.
Val was just getting ready to stick the bleeding bugbear again when he heard Bronwyn's words. He looked around, and realized for the first time that Failin was gone. Bugger!
Their enemies paused, as if considering. Val flattened himself against the wall and added, "Go now. But don't let us see your ugly faces again or we'll finish what you started.
"Begone, villains!" boomed Rokko.
Action 1
"We still need to inform our current employer and retrieve our supplies." Squeak pointed out. "I do not anticipate this would take much time if we hurried."
Action 2
Squeak quickly entered the cart, careful not to disturb the shifting gems. "Very impressive." he allowed. "How fast can it go? Is it safe?"