Once settled alone in the office, Thaegrin mutters a curse at the lack of his preparedness and makes a search of the room for any materials required for scroll scribing.
Also, curiosity lends him wonder at the ledgers and business history of the trading post.
|
You are able to find two sealed ink-pots, 3 rolls of parchment, and 1 uncut quill.
In the ledger you will find that Oleg is able to sell and get his hands on just about anything with enough time. Moreover, the post was extremely lucrative until a few weeks ago. Oleg has it that the bandits extorted nearly 200gp in goods from him in 5 weeks time.
You also discover a letter written by Oleg's son. The contents seem to point to the fact that Oleg's boy is in deep with the thieves guild of Restov and is working to secure a few men to come and defend his father's interest...if the guild can get a cut.
"Hm, peculiar."
Thaegrin returns everything to its place, save one inkpot, quill, and parchment roll. He spends the next two hours seated at the table, fastidiously scribbling his encrypted magics onto the parchment. His mental exercises from long ago allowed him full concentration while still able to think freely. A splitting of the mind, a teacher from his youth called it. He pondered the names of things, the information gleaned from the office, and the nature of his companions.
When completed, he allows the ink to dry before tightly rolling up the scroll of Mage Armor. He carefully places it within one of his many scroll cases.
From back under the rough-spun hood Anga looked out at the tired woman. The last bit of smoke wafted from his spent pipe. Tapping it out he asked her, "Is there anything else you can tell us about this first group? Perhaps something that stood out to you during your time with them?" Stowing the pipe, the Half-Elf drew out a whet-stone and began to test the edge of his rapier.
Svetlana purses her lips in thought.
"Ya know, They weren't here long. They seemed too eager to kill and control things. They made me nervous, especially the Orc. Be wary of him if you see him. There was a devil-spawn with them too, and a hobgoblin. I wouldn't put a copper piece against that creature in a sword fight. Still, rough men that they were, I hope they're alright."
"Huh, reminds me of a group I ran into down south some time back." Satisfided with the fine edge, he stood and flourished the blade before smoothly returning it to it's scabbard. Grabbing the whet-stone and returning it to his pack Anga turned back to the woman. "That should be all for me my dear, you said there were beds?"
"Just through there."
Oleg's voice is gruff and inpatient, but not unkind as he shuffles past Svetlana toward their home. He points to a small, squat structure near the stable.
"That is the guest house. Now, if there is nothing left, I am very tired. Until tomorrow."
"Interesting, But Oleg if I could just ask you one more question before you go. What do you want, outside of sleep?" He knew he was pestering the old man, however he needed more information. "Pathetic farts, someone should have put a blade through these gutter rats long ago. All they have done is fed a perpetual beast that will never be full. First, I need to decimate the bandits for living off these old people. Then I need to find people more capable of being my puppets and then use this hole to start a trading empire. A wolf with no teeth is just a rabbit."
"Oleg, Svetlana, is there anything I can do for you around the outpost during the night? Any chores that needs to be done? As way of saying thanks for giving my companions room and board?" Wraith asked as the elf sauntered off muttering to himself.
"I want to be left alone." Oleg says sourly, sadness in his old voice.
He smiles weakly at Wraith and shakes his head; No.
"Welp I'm beat, I guess I'll retire for the evening." Streatching his arms, Anga makes his way to the guest house.
"I am trying to help you, maybe relieve some pressure."
Diplomacy Check-
Oleg sighs and looks Eddric in the eye with a tired grin.
"I know you are boy, I'm sorry to be so short. Let me get some sleep and we'll talk more in the morning."
"Alright then, I will see you in the morning." Eddric finishes his meal and retreats to his bed. Eddric removes his armor and places it near his bed, quickly fading into a dream.
Stepping out of the office to see his companions head toward a squat building, Thaegrin follows them. As he passes the Leventons, he decides words can wait until tomorrow. He nods a thanks as he strides to the guest room.
As he had done every night of his journey, he rests with his tome under his crossed arms. Before entering a meditative state, he flashes a suspicious glare at the half-elf, and moves his unburdened pack closer his feet. Then he was still as stone, his eyes half-lidded in meditation.
Damn. With his options deprived for the night, Facion fell into a fitfull sleep. One eye wide open.
Wraith, with nothing to do during the evening, kept himself busy doing chores around the trading post. It wasn't unlike what he used to do back at the monastery during the wee hours of the morning as the other monks slept. Flipping up to the roof, Wraith patched a hole. Finished with that, he somersaulted down to fix the lids of the midden pits. Wandering over to the horses, he fed one a carrot and groomed the horses. The sun still was not up yet, so he weeded out the garden, hoping to barter with Svetlana in the morning for herbs to take on their travels.
"Oleg, I appreciate your stubbornness to survive this far from civilization. Such a venture requires some ingenuity as well. However, I found your office to be substandard. You would do well to keep a healthy stock of quill, ink, and parchment."
Thaegrin looks to the knight, monk, and thief in turn. "Whatever is decided to do today, I require at least an hour to prepare. I would prefer a decision reached quickly. I, for one, would like to explore beyond these palisades see what we have to work with. Perhaps we will happen across this first group along the way."
"I don't know Oleg, you get a couple women around here, maybe a few more drinks on tap. Might be able to have yourself a right fine establishment." Facions gaze turned to the road, "Though the Elf" He spat on the ground,"is right, the longer we're here the longer I'm not getting paid... With money." The thief hopped lightly to his feet and began pacing. "The way I see it, I reckon I'm good to go." He walked over to the gate and leaned against a support beam, looking out at the road.
"Easy easy boys, where are your manners. Oleg could have turned us away, but he took us in. Oleg lets continue our conversation from last night. I wish to know everything, and please start from the beginning leaving nothing out." Eddric looks at him with his best sympathetic look.
Oleg stares blankly.
"Everything? What do you mean?"
"I want to know how you got caught up in an extortion ring. I want to know what life out here has been like for you two. What happened to the first team, what direction did they leave towards. Anything that could help us, find them or find the bandits. Lastly, any dangers I should be aware of out there. Toss in some names of trusted rangers and trappers out there, I am not much of a woodsmen."
Wraith looks up from the bowl of porridge he's nursing. "Hope you had a good rest Oleg. You'll have less to worry about around the trading post, I had some time to kill last night. I TRUST you won't have an issue with that." Wraith looks sternly at Oleg.
"We should set off to find the 1st team. Our orders were to meet up with them, so let's do just that. If they're in any danger, it's up to us to fish them out of it."
"I would be in favor of finding the first team, but I am no tracker," Thaegrin looks to the others inquisitively, "and the more we learn about our immediate surroundings, the better. We may find them on the way, or what's left of them, as the case may be."
Thaegrin takes another spoon of breakfast. He nods to Oleg. "I am also curious about these thieves. Are they like the ones I heard of in Brevoy?"
Hearing the mention of theivery Angas ears twitch, and he begins listening in ernest to the conversation.
Oleg snorts.
"How does anyone come to be extorted? They showed up in force with swords and bows. We are not fighters, not really. They demanded coin and goods every two weeks; their greed grew stronger with each visit, but their numbers dwindled."
"The other group showed up the day before the bandits visit. The bandits we slaughtered, save for Happs Bydon: a sergeant of some kind. Happs rode away in haste and those adventurers gave chase to the west. That's all I know. It was 3 days ago now."
Oleg pauses to think.
"Oh yes. Life out here is peaceful and calm usually. I trade with the Rostlanders and trappers. I send goods north to Restov where I am paid in coin and other goods. It is a good system."
"There are many perils hereabouts. To name 'em all would take 8 days! Hahaha! Better just keep you head down and your eyes open if you're leavin' the post. Only soul around here I trust is Svetlana, but ol' Bakken the Hermit isn't a bad guy. Makes good potions too."
At Wraith's words, Oleg bristles.
"Nuthin' I can do 'bout it now. is there?"
His pride obviously wounded, Oleg grabs a wood axe and stalks out of the trading post in search of fire wood. Svetlana sighs.
"Thank you for the help Wraith. In truth, Oleg has been worried we'll run out of wood. Now he can get it. Your help is appreciated."
When the bandits and the thieves guild are mentioned Svetlana's face turns pale.
"I doubt they're similar. I wouldn't know though."
She adds a hasty question to change the subject and her composure returns.
"Oleg has been under too much stress lately. This subjugation is killing him. If you happen to find any moo radishes while you're out, please bring me some. They're his favorite. I can make soup for all of you."
"Oh! Before I forget. On the side of the barn are some posters. They explain some more dangers in the area. Some even offer rewards from the swordlords!"
|
|
The posters Svetlana spoke of.
_____________
WANTED: TUSKGUTTER
Bring the head of the devil boar to Oleg's Trading post and Vekkel Benzen offers a mighty bow and arrows.
______________
WANTED: KOBOLDS
Somewhere in the Kamelands dwell the Sootscale Kobolds. The Swordlords of Restov offer 800 gold dragons for their demise or a ratified contract of peace with them.
______________
WANTED: TATZLWYRM
Oleg Leventon offers gold for an undamaged Tatzlewyrm head.
______________
"Aye, thanks for your story. Me and my companions will be leaving within the hour to pursue the bandits as well as the first group. Thank you." Eddric stands and begins to walk out planning on revealing the mild plan to the rest.
Wraith looks over the posters. "Oleg put a contract out hm? We should inquire about this Tatzlwyrm. Also, we should hunt down this TuskGutter. I could use another bow and I'm willing to split the gold I get for selling my old one with you all if you were to help."
Wraith goes to where Oleg is. "Oleg, what is a Tatzlwyrm?"
"It doesn't matter to me where we go or what we kill, as long as there's money in it." He walked back to the group turning to Oleg. "And I care little and less what a Tatzlwyrm is, moreso why you want it dead."
Thaegrin nods quietly at Svetlana's response. This is not the time. He follows her to the posters. After reading them, he is motionless in thought, with a hard stare to the bulletins.
"HAHA! A Tatzlwyrm is the child of dragons and monsters. It is fast and mean. I want one to stuff and hang on the gate. Might make people think twice before botherin' me."
Go look up the tatzlwyrm on d20pfsrd.com. You win the things.
"Oleg, do you know who this Vekkle Benzen is that posted the wanted poster for TuskGutter?" Wraith asked.
"I do. He lives around here somewhere: not sure where exactly. He hunted the devil boar and lost a leg to it."
Anga shifts from one foot to the other, obviously anxious to be on the road. "Let us pick a target and be done with it! Delaying won't accomplish anything."
"Let us find the 1st team first then we can decide which of these wanted posters to pursue." Wraith said as he checked his bow.
After a moment, Thaegrin suddenly turns and sets a brisk pace back to Oleg's office.
"We don't know where either the boar or the tatzlwrym live specifically, we may as well strike out to find either," he announces as he passes Wraith and Anga. He begins thumbing the cover of his spellbook as he continues, "The tatzlwyrm is poisonous, and especially dangerous when it has you in it's coils. They can be crafty, and have some capacity for speech, though only the language of its kin. As for the boar, it is probably past full grown to be trouble for a huntsman. This is what you must prepare for. I will be ready to leave in one hour. Do not disturb me."
Thaegrin closes the office door behind him.
Cantrips
-Ray of Frost
-Detect Magic
-Read Magic
1st level
-Mage Armor
-Summon Monster 1
-Vanish (school slot)
-(bonded item slot)*
*see discussion board
"I've been prepared all morning!" Facion shouts at the retreating Elf. Throwing his hands up in frustration he looks back at the main building of the trading post. "Say Oleg, don't suppose you'll have any gear lying around? What could help us with our, err, tasks?"
"Were heading west after the first team, remember priorities men." Eddric leaves the room and saddles his horse. When the group is ready he heads west.
Thaegrin exits the office an hour later. He hoists his pack onto his shoulders, and strides to the stable.
"Oleg," he calls, half-distracted in readying his horse, "How long would it take for an order of writing supplies to arrive here?"
|
|
You all set out 2 hours past dawn, heading south west: the direction indicated by Oleg.
You make good progress on the horses and reach the forest at dusk.
Not long after entering the forest you come upon a lone troll. He doesn't notice you at first as everyone does a good job keeping their skiddish caravan horses in check. The knight's mount however, whinneys, rears and bolts.
The troll's eyes snap to your group. He moves closer at alarming speeds. Another few seconds will bring the beast in reach.