Fulgun Dregg |
Dregg looks sideways at Aramis as she casts her magics and remarks, ”Say, I’ve been meaning to ask, you know your skin sometimes shimmers and turns green for a bit when you do that?” He looks down at his forearm and his own always green skin and shrugs. ”Huh. Think mine’ll turn pinkish if I learn a lot of magic?”
The glow up ahead catches his attention then and he gestures to it with a thrust of his chin. ”Want to scope that out, Googles?”
Arryn Dawood |
Stealth: 1d20 + 11 - 1 ⇒ (12) + 11 - 1 = 22
Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10
Arryn sneaks up behind Dregg, but Dregg’s manky muskiness distracts him from actually noticing anything of import.
Aramis Ekerton |
Dregg looks sideways at Aramis as she casts her magics and remarks, ”Say, I’ve been meaning to ask, you know your skin sometimes shimmers and turns green for a bit when you do that?” He looks down at his forearm and his own always green skin and shrugs. ”Huh. Think mine’ll turn pinkish if I learn a lot of magic?”
The glow up ahead catches his attention then and he gestures to it with a thrust of his chin. ”Want to scope that out, Googles?”
Aramis chuckles. "Wow, I wish I knew! I'm not sure why mine changes. I don't think it's normal." she shrugs, then grins. "Good thing I like the colour green." She gives Dregg a wink, then follows him towards the broken passage.
Perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21
Isabella Blackleaf |
Isabella skulks after Dregg and Arryn, crossbow primed and ready to fire. One of her hands reaches up to tug down the goggles Dregg likes to remark on...
Perception 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14
Stealth 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12
motteditor RPG Superstar 2014 Top 16, RPG Superstar 2012 Top 16 |
As you creep carefully closer, you see what looks like a bald gnome, with rocky gray skin and a wiry physique, sitting against the small wall. Her pale eyes are overly large and expressive, but focused on a strange mechanical device in her lap.
She doesn't seem to be aware of your approach.
2d20 ⇒ (8, 11) = 19
Isabella Blackleaf |
Isabella eyes the strange creature. "You ain't no Gnome like I ever seen before," she says. "You uh... keepin' entertained? Keepin' busy an' all?"
Trying very hard not to ask "are you in the fading". :p
Aramis Ekerton |
"Oh! Hello, there," Aramis remarks in surprise. "So you live down there?" she gestures at the broken wall.
motteditor RPG Superstar 2014 Top 16, RPG Superstar 2012 Top 16 |
motteditor RPG Superstar 2014 Top 16, RPG Superstar 2012 Top 16 |
motteditor RPG Superstar 2014 Top 16, RPG Superstar 2012 Top 16 |
Arryn Dawood |
Stealth: 1d20 + 11 - 1 ⇒ (3) + 11 - 1 = 13
Bluff: 1d20 ⇒ 10
Arryn sneaks off, then returns, pretending to casually amble up to the group. He greets the gnome and gets ‘caught up’ on what’s been said. He then asks, ”Were you trapped behind that collapse or does this passage lead to an entrance to the Darklands, and do you have other entrances near some human settlements?”
Aramis Ekerton |
"I'm Aramis. May I ask your name?"
motteditor RPG Superstar 2014 Top 16, RPG Superstar 2012 Top 16 |
"I am Novvi," she replies. "And, yes, this leads to the Darklands. But I do not think it leads to other settlements, at least near here. We mostly try to avoid you, so we don't end up ..."
Her mouth seems to snap shut, as if she's biting her words.
"They trade little coins for bigger, and gems for gold. But also sometimes for other goods. I have many things of value. You want to trade?"
Isabella Blackleaf |
Isabella carefully lowers her crossbow and slips on the safety.
"Y'got nothin' ta worry about," she says. "We're not after you for slaves or your supplies or nuthin'. Matter o' fact, we might as well set up a chokepoint here, so's folks can't move back and forth too easy-like.
From our perspective, the Darklands is full of danger. From yours, we've got idiot townies up top. Best to make sure this passage is taken care of proper.
Heh. You might make a toll booth here. That'll keep the townies from exploring too much."
Fulgun Dregg |
Dregg's head simply keeps turning from speaker to speaker to speaker as Novvi is showered with questions and returns answers in kind. He keeps taking a breath, readying himself to offer his own introduction, but he gives up after a few tries and instead just watches the proceedings.
He does manage to sneak one quick phrase out with an approving nod, "Yup. Trade's good." Though he hasn't any idea what goods or supplies they all have at this point.
Arryn Dawood |
”We don’t need a nearby settlement. A far one is perfect. We’d be willing to pay well for a guide to take us pretty much anywhere.”
motteditor RPG Superstar 2014 Top 16, RPG Superstar 2012 Top 16 |
After nodding in appreciation at Isabella's words, the svirfneblin looks at Arryn like he's crazy.
"I don't want to guide people through the Darklands. Too many people is just an invitation for attracting trouble..." she replies with asperity.
She's willing to trade -- if you want to go through what you might have, she's willing to stick around a bit -- but not anything more.
Aramis Ekerton |
"What do you have to trade?' Aramis asks.
motteditor RPG Superstar 2014 Top 16, RPG Superstar 2012 Top 16 |
"I have many things," she replies, "but you look like the sort that wants magic. I have a potion that will make you faster for a time, a ring that can turn back spells, and a necklace of divine magic."
Novvi can buy and sell as if she were a village market, offering almost anything worth up to 500 gp and buying up to 2,500 gp worth of goods each week. In addition to this stock, she is also offering a single potion of haste, a ring of counterspells, and a lesser strand of prayer beads.
Aramis Ekerton |
We have plenty to trade if anyone wants something specific. Any takers?
motteditor RPG Superstar 2014 Top 16, RPG Superstar 2012 Top 16 |
Fulgun Dregg |
Dregg works his jaw back and forth, considering the gnome’s pitch. ”Oh yeah? Let me see.” The half-orc then regards the necklace as it’s presented, working his jaw in his same, familiar manner.
After several long moments, he breaks his silence. ”Yeah, ok. You convinced me.” He looks to Aramis, the group’s de facto money-keeper and holds up the necklace. ”Forget the potion and ring, let’s trade for this. And some armor so you don’t have to keep using your magic up.”
Also, I would really like some armor! Looking to sell back my steel lamellar (sell back for 75 gp) and pick up a masterwork chainshirt (250 gp)
Arryn Dawood |
Arryn takes the necklace from Dregg and hands it back. ”None if us are divine spellcasters so it really wouldn’t do much good. Besides, they really clash with your eyes.”
”Would you like to come topside and meet with our town’s tradesfolk? They would be best suited for perhaps striking up a more regular trade partnership.”
Isabella Blackleaf |
"You do silverwork? Only I'm in the market for a holy symbol of our Lady of Graves, Pharasma," Isabella tells the Svirfneblin.
She shoots Arryn a glance. "Might be wise to send someone topside and tell the townies someone new is coming up first. Don't want 'em running their mouths and saying something to offend the honourable merchant."
As a Ranger, I'm technically a clerical caster. Is it worth the expense to get me that string?
motteditor RPG Superstar 2014 Top 16, RPG Superstar 2012 Top 16 |
The woman shakes her head.
"No, I am good down here. You can come see me if you want to trade, but I have no wish to go up any higher," she says.
She thinks a moment at Isabella's question.
"I can probably find that for you, though it may take me some time..." she says.
Also, she doesn't show you the necklace. She's willing to make deals, but she's not actually all that trusting of you at this point. You could all be murderhobos, for all she knows.
Aramis Ekerton |
@ GM: Goods we trade for her wares are not included in the 'buying up to 2,500 gp worth of goods each week' maximum. Yes?
@ GM: If we want to order a silver holy symbol of Pharasma from her, is it pay upon delivery, pay in advance, or pay half in advance?
@ PCs: We have plenty to trade, but not enough for everything. But I like your ambition! Haha. We can trade for everything that was mentioned except for the ring of counterspells. We would give her a bunch of our unused goods, Dregg's steel lamellar, and nearly all of our gems and coins, and would get a masterwork chain shirt for Dregg, potion of haste (for someone?), and a lesser strand of prayer beads (for Dregg?). That's fine with everyone?
Fulgun Dregg |
Works for me! Though I'm happy to just take the potion if someone else would make better use of the prayer beads.
Dregg looks at Arryn, his brow furrowed deeply. "She said it would bring out my eyes! And what do you mean we couldn't use the necklace? You think I make my axe as big as a frost giant's with nursery rhymes and high hopes?"
He then turns back to the gnome and nods. "You're smart for wanting to stay down here. There's a bunch of hobgoblins on the warpath up topside and it's bad news for everyone. Happy to deal on your terms, Novvi. I'm Dregg, by the way."
As the group hammers out the terms of the deal, he pitches in a bundle of fine furs and skins he's been carrying since the group first found him (worth 100gp)then gestures to the device the gnome had in her lap with a thrust of his chin. "That's a weird lookin' thing. That a puzzle or something?"
motteditor RPG Superstar 2014 Top 16, RPG Superstar 2012 Top 16 |
Aramis Ekerton |
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Aramis empties out their loot bag, makes a few trips topside to bring back some more, and counts out gems for the rest, trading a big pile of goods, coins, furs, some of Aramis' gear she had been holding onto but didn't need, and Dregg's armour for a masterwork chain shirt, a potion of haste, and a lesser strand of prayer beads.
"Pleasure doing business with you, Novvi."
We owe her a total of 10,600 gp worth in value. The objects we're trading 'sell' for a total of 8,037.5 gp. We're paying the rest in platinum, gold, silver, copper, and gems. We have a few items on our loot list leftover that were unidentified and a total of 1 gp, 2 sp, and 5 cp remaining.
Dregg: you've got the masterwork chain shirt, potion of haste, and lesser strand of prayer beads.
Isabella: we had a pearl of power (1st) on our loot list I didn't sell. As a ranger you can use this item to recall any one 1st level spell that you had prepared and then cast that day. The spell is then prepared again, just as if it had not been cast. You have spells now, yes? Why don't you keep this item? We also have 10 masterwork crossbow bolts you can have.
Buying:
Masterwork chain shirt - 250 gp
potion of haste - 750 gp
lesser strand of prayer beads - 9,600 gp
=10,600 gp
Selling:
Steel Lamellar - 75 gp
Dregg’s Furs - 100 gp
Scroll of darkness: 75 gp
Scroll of ray of enfeeblement: 12.5 gp
Dust of Illusion: 600 gp
Scroll of delay poison x2: 150 gp
+1 longbow: 1,187.5
Leaf pin: 150 gp
Masterwork Aklys x4: 610 gp
Continual flame crystal globe: 125 gp
geode periapt: 25 gp
Masterwork spear: 151 gp
Heavy crossbow (2): 50 gp
20 bolts: 1 gp
+1 arrows (x5): 100 gp
Potion of owl’s wisdom: 150
Masterwork dagger: 151
Masterwork hide armour: 82.5
Masterwork stonemasonry tools: 25 gp
Silver locket with hair inside: 25 gp
Oil of magic weapon: 25
Masterwork hide armour w/ armour spikes: 107.5 gp
+1 Warhammer: 1,156 gp
Javelins (x5): 2.5 gp
Wolf fang necklace: 100 gp
Masterwork quarterstaff: 150 gp
Two platinum rings: 100 gp
Silver and velvet case decorated with mum and cypress: 125 gp
Gold holy symbol of Iomedae: 100 gp
Breastplate emblazoned with a bronze angel: 100 gp
Masterwork smith tools x2: 50 gp
Masterwork mining tools: 25 gp
+1 light steel shield: 579.5
+1 buckler: 577.5
Steadfast gut stone x2: 800
Antitoxin x2: 50 gp
Longbow x2: 75 gp
Healer’s kit: 25 gp
Longsword (4): 30 gp
Battleaxe: 5 gp
Light steel shield (2): 9 gp
=8,037.5 gp
CP: 1.15 gp
SP: 73.6 gp
GP: 469 gp
PP: 300 gp
Gems: 1,720 gp
=10,601.25 gp
1 gp, 2 sp, 5 cp left over
Arryn Dawood |
Actually, Arryn will take the crossbow bolts. He thinks it would be handy to have something on hand to use as a focus for his telekinetic blasts, should they ever encounter the need to fight when there isn't handy debris lying around, and he can draw ammunition as a free action.
motteditor RPG Superstar 2014 Top 16, RPG Superstar 2012 Top 16 |
Aramis Ekerton |
You're welcome! And sounds good. I'm in for boot hunting. FYI, I'm going to be unable to post this weekend. Back to regular posting Monday.
motteditor RPG Superstar 2014 Top 16, RPG Superstar 2012 Top 16 |
Your deal complete, Novvi ducks behind the barricade and returns about a quarter hour later, now with the items you've traded for, which she hands over in return for the items you've promised her, which she hauls off beyond the barricade. She offers to return in a month's time if you'd like to continue trading.
Afterward, you return upstairs and spend a little more time getting the caves into good shape, largely clearing out things that contain troglodyte stink and setting up beds and more for the survivors. Finally, though, everything seems to be working -- highlighted by Oreld approaching you and gifting you a couple vials of alchemist's fire.
"I was able to use some of the materials here in the cave, and well, I thought some more defenses might be good," he says gruffly. "I know it's not a lot, but I hope it helps."
Aubrin approaches you not long afterward with a look of concern.
"It's good that we have these caves -- I think everyone is much more comfortable knowing we don't have to worry about shelter, and being able to spend more time trying to get food -- but ... What's happening back home, in Phaendar? I think everyone knows the hobgoblins are still out there. Are we just going to stay here forever? Is it safe to go out and hunt?"
Arryn Dawood |
”Tomorrow, we’re going back out to scout some of the areas we know the hobbies have taken, to see how far they’ve advanced, and try to obscure our trail here a bit. We’ll try to swing another look at Phaendar. That centaur is still out there, though, so if folks are planning to hunt, they should stay together, and not go far. Better we hunger a bit than lose people.”
motteditor RPG Superstar 2014 Top 16, RPG Superstar 2012 Top 16 |
Aramis Ekerton |
"Scouting out too far before we've properly secured the surrounding area will put these people in danger," Aramis points out. "We need to scout out the area around here first. Once we're sure it's safe around here, and the people go out hunting safely, then we can scout further afield. Once that's done we can make plans for the future."
Isabella Blackleaf |
"Arright," Isabella says, shrugging in a disinterested way. "So I'll skulk close to cave, first. Who's coming with and who's sticking here to defend the homestead?"
motteditor RPG Superstar 2014 Top 16, RPG Superstar 2012 Top 16 |
You set out toward the den, planning to make that quick excursion and maybe find out how far the hobgoblins have come out of Phaendar, before returning to the caves. With your fellow refugees staying behind, you're able to move quickly and quietly.
You've got perhaps half a day when you hear movement in the forest, and see a group of three hobgoblins along with a lean dog walking in your general direction. They didn't seem to be taking any special precautions, making them easy to notice, but before you can react, , Dregg manages to step on a stick. The crack seems to echo through the forest and brings the lead, female hobgoblin's head up in a jerk. She raises a fist and says something to the others, looking in your direction!
Aramis: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11
Arryn: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27
Dregg: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8
Isabella: 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 10 + 2 = 22
1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 8 + 2 = 30
1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6
1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11
1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9
Aramis: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17
Arryn: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20
Dregg: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (12) + 11 = 23
Isabella: 1d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 9 + 2 = 17
Aramis: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
Arryn: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18
Dregg: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 = 20
Isabella: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 5 + 2 = 12
Antagonist: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 4 + 2 = 14
Dregg and Arryn are up. A presumably now-familiar map is now up.