"I was told by master Binderbook that I could get some type of magic bobble or something that will help me in my next mission. So what items do you have to offer?"
"Well well my small friend, good of you to drop by. Ive a few baubles that could come in handy for an enterprising young wizard such as yourself, and a few things ive been producing for other uses. Let me show you."
She began rising from her chair with a tired sounding sigh. She led you back down two flights of the tower stoping in front of a thick dark wooded door. Closing her eyes She reached forward and touched the door several arcane runes flared to life in a bright pinkish hue...then the door creaked open. A magical bluish light flared to life as she entered and you could all sorts of sheles and counters with a strange assortment of items.
Small skulls the size of your fist, glowing rocks, strange metal rods all lay silently in their spots.
"Hmm, if can make small chain armor out of aszite, Rav be interested in it. Must be really really good quality though." The goblin shows off the masterwork chain he's wearing under his dark clothes. "Like this..."
"You want contractor/contractor people captured if smuggling or taking bribes, or just want let you know so can use as cat paw?"
The halfling frowned for a moment clearly thinking about it.
"No. If you see proof of him doing anything underhanded turn your head to it, just let me know. As much as I would like to stamp out all forms of illegal trades, its not pratical nor in the job description. Besides They've been good folk to work with before. I just have a feeling something more is going on than he mentioned. So uh yeah tell me so I can cat paw it.... I guess what does that mean precisely?"
Rav rubs his chin, and then makes motions reminescent of a cat digging at something. "Cat paw. Like, let cat dig paw in hole. Stand at other entrance, catch rats when they scurry out. Have rat for dinner. Use as Cat Paw mean use them to flush out other criminals. Basically, it mean use trader find bigger rats."
Gudleifr is clearly interested in the talk of the ores and metals, but when the old dwarf mentions noqual disrupting the spells of necromancers, his interest is visibly even keener.
"Aye, I would have that noqual, forged into the heaviest suit of armour I can find here. I would make good use of that."
You can select any item on the wonderous item list up to 800 gp for free, or you can use your funding to supplement the 800 gp. Or if you wish I have a list of custom items you can select for free, but much like that dang weapon metal list, I seemed to have misplaced it. Will give the closet a good search for it tomorrow >.<
"Wow lots of choices. I may need some time to take a good look at everything. Thank you for helping me out.
Zinar starts to look at the items.
"I'd also like as heavy an armour as I can get but forged from Sunsilver, the idea of catching foes off guard with Sarenrae's light appeals to me I must admit."
Looking at the wands, feather's, scrolls, and other bobbles Zinar's eyes lock on a small dull white pearl. He picks it up and examines it.
"I know what this is. It's one of those pearls that brings back used spells. I could use this one can I take it.? I have some coins to help cover the cost."
Rav rubs his chin, and then makes motions reminescent of a cat digging at something. "Cat paw. Like, let cat dig paw in hole. Stand at other entrance, catch rats when they scurry out. Have rat for dinner. Use as Cat Paw mean use them to flush out other criminals. Basically, it mean use trader find bigger rats."
"Oh... well thats very clever Ravboom I understand what you mean now, but no. As much as I would like to round up every criminal we could its not a part of our charter with the government and we are not authorized to do so. Just let me know if you find something shady."
He began nodding to you all.
"The ship I believe is scheduled to leave tomorrow afternoon from the dockyards in Macridi, You are expected at the shipping companies office before noon however. Dismissed until then."
He began letting you all go take care of final business before you go.
"Noon it is!"
"Indeed, we shall meet again at noon."
"I'd like to look over what you have for sale that's already finished as well." Zardu tries to locate some new weapon and armour in exchange for his coin.
The morning arises a bit on the dreary side, low hanging dark clouds hover overhead threatening rain. The rain held off even as you entered the city, and found yourself in front of the trading offices of the Riveroak trading coster.
Once inside a pretty enough young woman led you to a back meeting room pointing out the small cask of ale, the pitcher of water and some sort of small circle shaped cakes sat on a tray. The table in the room was stout and well made, eight chairs sat around it.
"Master trader Dalbreth will be with you in a moment, help yourself to refreshments if it pleases you."
She said with a warm smile offering you a half bow before leaving you to yourselves in the room. The room itself didnt hold much interest, the table and chairs were nice, the built in shelving along the back wall held the refreshments, and there were two window overlooking one of the trade roads. It was relatively empty considering the gathering dark clouds over head.
Since the rubber hammer wasn't possible immediately, Rav requests a hammer with some leather covering, which should be doable by the leather workers over night, since it just requires cutting a few bits of leather and then sewing them over the hammer ends. This quieter hammer is then secured in his pack, at the bottom.
When offered treats, the goblin sniffs at the plate of cakes tentatively, and then picks the plate up and tilts it so they all slide off into his very large mouth. Putting the empty tray back down, he says "Thanmpfoo." With a small spray of crumbs, and then takes the pitcher of water over to the table where he hops up on one of the chairs, and begins to wash the cakes down with the pitcher of water.
Zinar goes over and gets some refreshments. Then finds a seat and opens his spell book to start reading.
Glancing at the dark clouds out the window he thinks to himself. That is going to be bad form books, I will need to find something to protect them.
Kelisa spends some time teaching Untari some more flanking moves, and simple commands, hoping to improve their in combat actions. Afterwards she would be ready to leave in the morning with the rest, meeting with them, sipping some of the ale as the weather worsens outside.
"Perhaps we will have the cover of the rain."
Zardu sits with the others eager for this to begin. His hand starts to move to take one of the cakes but underestimates the speed and appetite of Ravboom.
Gudleifr is glad that he didn't skip breakfast.
Doran is about to select a cake when the goblin devours them all. He wrinkles his face a little before shrugging and pouring some ale. "Perhaps it will rain, perhaps not. All I know is being on the road is better than being stuck inside."
The wait was actually pretty short. With there being no little snacks left however perhaps the wait seemed to take forever. The door to the meeting room opened and a demure halfling woman just shy of her 30's entered. She was dressed in a very fine white dress, long white lace gloves came up to her elbow. She moved to the head of the table, pulled the chair out and then proceeded to stand on it giving her the height to look at you all without craning her neck up.
"Greetings everyone. I am Dhannie Dalbreth new owner of the Riveroak trading coster. I've just arrived a tenday ago from the capitol, only to find out my new business is having trouble sending its shipments north. The manager here tells me you all come from a respected mercenary group and can insure my next shipment reaches is destination is this correct?"
She began taking a moment to let her eyes wander over the lot of you. Her eyes got a bit wider in clear concern at the sight of you Ravboom, but that was almost normal to you now.
Ravboom looks up from the pitcher of water, finishes it off, and tosses it in the corner of the room. "Rav can do. Is easy, pick up box, remember not kill horse, put box on wagon, remember not kill horse, follow wagon, remember not kill horse, kill anything that try take box, remember not kill horse, follow wagon with box, remember not kill horse, kill anything try to stop wagon, remember not kill horse, take box off wagon, remember not kill horse, give box to longshank in other place, kill horse."
Laughing at Rav, Kelisa nods somewhat lazily and says " While remembering to not kill horse is good, sometimes the big cat need to eat. We shall herd your shipment, for you have lions to poach them. WE shall skin your lions for you."
"Yes, your information is correct Dhannie. What is in the shipment that requires such security measures?"
Trying to put Ravboom out of his mind, to think of the job at hand.
Next he'll say don't kill the dogs, unless the dogs try to kill the horse, then eat the dogs.
"Yes and any details on those disrupting your shipments? Have they all gone the same route previously?"
"Anything that you can tell us now makes it that much more straightforward to defend your goods."
Rav tries not to look interested...
Rav also looks for lies from the woman...
Doran grins slightly at Rav then turns to Dhanne, "As my companions have said. We are the group tasked with protecting your shipment. Any information you can give us as to what we are guarding would be of immense help. It's much easier to make preparations when we know what may be coming after us."
For a moment the halfling woman glanced at everyone of you with an almost skeptical look as if she was wondering whether you were trying to make a joke or not. Well except at Ravboom, she avoided looking at him entirely.
"We are a lumber consortium, We sell expensive and non expensive wood. Both fine cut and non to those who have needs they can't meet.
Your boss is the one who tried to convince the manager whom works for me about the need for additional security, and after Hobgoblin attacks have stolen two shipments ive little desire for there to be a third one taken. The routes have been the same... after all they were on shipping barges heading north. We are moving this one by actualy sailing ship, and although the trip north will be a tad bit slower, it is better protected and armed. But Still I desire backup. A trading coster that cant actually provide the goods that have been paid for wont last long, I didnt buy this business to lose money."
She said icily.She was pretty hard to read for most of you, at least in a subterfuge sort of way. It really just seemed to be a lot of frustration over unreplacible losses. Then of course added expenses of your wages.
Realising his blunt tone, Gudleifr tries to soften it.
"Thank you for your candour, Miss Dalbreath. We will not shy from protecting your shipment."
Rav wrinkles his nose. "What's a 'ship'? That anything like thing you do in outhouse? Seems like bad way transport stuff, in outhouse..."
The pretty halfling woman took a long deep breath at Rav's question.
"A ship, a boat you know, a floating wagon on water with sails? Bah! goblins!"
She growled hopping off the chair.
"Be at the docks ready to go to board The Lights Dawn in an hour."
She said waltzing out the door. The young woman could just be heard murmering "Y...Yes M'am" as the door closed behind the halfling leaving you all for a moment to your thoughts.
Rav continues to sit there for a few minutes, then rubs behind one floppy ear thoughtfully. "Would prefer go docks tonight, see what 'ship' is first."
Having a bit more, but not much experience with a ship as Rav, she tries " Think of wagon that floats? But instead of small space it could have many big spaces and many barrels, or could have animals? It rocks a bunch and can stink. Lest the few I had been on."
"I would like to take a look at this ship first hand as well. Just to see if there is anything I can spot to help out with the defense of the ship."
"Well, there is surely no harm in us taking a late walk by the docks. Catch some sea air, some *sights*..."
Gudleifr finishes with a wink.
"Hobgoblins again? I've got a sinking feeling. I wonder if other ships have been attacked or just these ones. Perhaps they seek the lumber for their construction project we uncovered."
The young woman whom had led you into the room entered then nervously smiling.
"Do you know the way to the docks? Have you anything you need last moments before the ship departs?"
She asked pulling out a heavy sheet of parchment with details of the contract. It was a straightforward escort mission.
You are to guard the cargo and crew of the boat from Macridi to its destination in Ustalav. In the event of an attack on the ship from any source you will be expected to defend the ship, the shipment, and the crew to the best of your ability. In the even of combat, additional funds will be stipened to your payment.
If the combat is against hobgoblins, a reward of 1 gold peice will be awarded per pair of ears, 2 gold if the attackers are bearing any red fisted ornamatation.
You could see the contract already signed by The halfling woman, there was space at the bottom for one of you to sign, if not all of you if you took care to not write overly large.
Doran looks over the contract using his keen sense for leagalese making sure there aren't any loopholes in the fine print that may be less than desirable. Finding nothing out of place he takes a quill, looking around for any disagreement, and signs the parchment. "It looks fine to me." With a nod he heads for the door.
Unable to sign her name in anything non-drow, and knowing how long that was, Kelisa looked relieved as Doran signed. " Let us make haste, for we must catch this ears for gold." And with that the elven woman and panther seemed to quickly walk out the door with Doran
Ravboom glances at the contract, then makes a face. "No steal words from Rav mind." He says with an annoyed voice, and turns on his heal and follows the drow and panther out the door.
"I miss Tindertwig and Dirtbag Zardu simply nodded and headed off with the others.
Gudleifr writes fairly neatly, then says:
"Let us try not to mangle any hobgoblin heads. Go for arms, bellies, throats. Ears are gold, after all!"
"Can't you just take our word on how many we kill? How do we carry them? Do you have a sack or something?"
Zinar puts his name to the paper
The young woman, with proper signatures on paper, proceeds to go ahead and sand down the ink before rolling the scroll up, sealing it with wax and placing it in a desk.
"If it pleases you to follow me I can take you by one of the stores along the dockyards where you will get fair prices, or straight to the boat...ship... uh The Lights Dawn."
She finished unsure of herself for a moment it seemed. Still she lead the way from the trading companies office into the roads heading slightly to the east torwards the river and the dock areas.
Gudleifr follows her to the docks, keeping an eye out for trouble.
Rav follows along, peering at everything around them as if he had never seen it before, and avoids horses at every opportunity, keeping a long shank between him and them, and putting his hand on his sword at the nearest passes to them.
Zardu keeps an eye out for anyone trying to sneak onto the ship... not that this was easy since he didn't know who was supposed to be there.
Nothing appears to be amiss at all. The docks are busy, but reasonably so. No one appears to be loitering about or doing anything skullduggerish. A large crane appears to be loading long planks of wood into a low sitting large trading ship along the docks. It is the only ship currently active. The young woman pauses about 200 yards from it and smiles to you all.
"There she is, the 'Lights Dawn'. Im sure as soon as they are done loading the wood you folk can make your way to it. Have a safe trip."
She finished turning to go if no one had any questions.