Draven Skywatcher's page

Sorry some family topics and vacations have kept me away for some weeks.
I'm reading everything that I've missed.

Right now, I'm just keeping myself hidden and in the back.

Higher ground can be useful during the night... and can let us look around to see if we can spot anything of interest.
I say we go there.

I'm in agreement, this terrain is awful, and getting lost here does not seem like a good plan, lizardmen are close by for sure.
Let's try to find the trail.
I wonder if the attack on the caravan could have been made by lizardmen, I believe they are more used to this terrain ...

I look around the spot the bear stopped to see if he dropped anything, and then follow the group.

Let's go then.

Clearly surprised.

I must say, that didn't seem very smart.
But then again you must clearly know more about bears than I do ...

I store the parchment as carefully as I can to protect it from further damage.

It would be most fortuitous if we were to discover something else in this vicinity.
I say this while I search around the area where the parchment was found.

Alas, there is but so much we can achieve in a single place.
Let us thus follow the trails.

I'm guessing the reason I cannot read it fully has to do with the mess the parchment is and not because it's magically concealed, right?

So the note has blood, and mud and is torned, any change I can clean it somehow?
I would do it slowly and carefully so as not to make it any worse, e.g.:
- Hold the parchment vertically and gently tap it to dislodge any remaining loose particles.
- use a clean cloth, which can be from my jacket/shirt, and gently remove loose mud. I do this carefully to avoid rubbing the mud into the parchment and worsening it.
I would see if I'm able to read any more after trying the above, if not:
- Moisten a soft cloth, with water, ensuring it is damp, not soaking wet, and blot the muddy areas gently avoid scrubbing to prevent abrasion.

The parchment appeareth to be in disarray; I shall see what may be done.
'Tis torn, so let all be vigilant for any fragments that might be concealed.

I read out loud whatever I can make out of it.

Human, not beast, not lizard folk ... interesting ...
And in which direction were they making their way?

How near do the trees stand to the caravans? Could this perchance be an ambush?

In such a scenario, a lesser contingent, harnessing the element of surprise, might have prevailed. Yet, their prowess would have to be considerably greater if they emerged from distant woods or brambles.

I just want to buy a rope and let's explore the area.

Do we know how far the marked points are? are we talking about a 4 hours walk until the farthest cross or a few days?

Examining the locale of the caravan ambush may reveal to us traces of the offenders. Should we succeed in locating them, coin from the bailiff shall be ours,and should they evade us, conveying insights to the guild could grant us access to forthcoming opportunities.

As a party, any equipment we should get before embarking in the journey? or what do you think about hiring someone to help us, for example, someone who knows the area and could be an additional sword in case of need?

A swamp... it pleases me not, yet if it furthers our aims, let us embark upon it.

Draven knows he must take risks, and a swamp with lizardmen seems ... risky at best, yet is either that or search for a daily pay that will cover living expenses, and that cannot be ...

Hello, I'm Draven Skywatcher, a magic user, I aspire to deepen my knowledge of the arcane arts while accruing coin, for the pursuit of magic is a costly endeavor.
Let us confer upon our possible courses of action before we bind ourselves to one.

Assuming he doesn't add anything I turn to the group:
Do you wish to render thy judgment here, or shall we engage in further parley over a beer?"

If the map is open, Draven quickly looks at the map to see if the spots are close together, close to any relevant map feature, or seem to follow any other pattern.

Were these the most valuable caravans? Did they all come from the same origin or any other pertinent lore you could bestow?

I am grateful for thy information; this cannot be our foremost concern at the moment, yet we shall ponder it should the occasion present itself

Talking with the group:
I'm in agreement, let's make haste to the bailiff, but let us take the map, for who can foretell? Perchance we may journey near some of its marked locations.

Recently, a caravan has been attacked; additionally, as I recall it, some lizardmen have attacked people. Both may present themselves as fortuitous chances to amass gilded coins.

By the hand of fate do our paths entwine at this very hour, and in this land, we shall encounter ordeals that will assay each of us.

Let us bind our journeys together until the hour our sagas must part ways once more.

A middle-aged man, reserved at first, but eventually moves forward and presents himself:
Hail and well met, I am Draven.
Indeed, I agree with thee; the toll of existence is truly burdensome, and we are in need of means to procure some coin.

Wellcome everyone.

Indeed we are searching for ways to make some coin.
But since I'm not from around here I also wanted to understand the type of challenges we can expect.

And the guild house where is it? Not sure if we should go to the bailiff or the guild house first, who should we talk to in the Guild House?

I'm trying to be polite and get to know him (local people) a bit.
Who knows maybe he shares something interesting about merchants, guild house or any bit of local knowledge.

I take the opportunity as we pass by the merchant houses and talk to them to try to understand better what happened.

Good morning sir. Sorry to bother you, I've heard that a merchant caravan was attacked and arrived at the gates with no one driving it.
If the caravan is yours I would like to express my deepest sympathy.

I give some time to see if the person comments.

I'm new here and was wondering if the roads are that dangerous or if it's the first time something like this has happened.

Also, I was wondering, is there anyone doing anything about it?

I also need coin, but above all, I would like to further my knowledge about the magical arts.

On the other hand, being able to properly bind the magical energies to cast a spell is very exciting, so I aim to learn how to cast ever more powerful spells.

I tell the group what I learned last night.

Guys the bailiff seems to be a good place to start, maybe he will pay us to handle the lizardman or to at least capture some, or maybe to check out where the caravan was attacked ...

And I agree that the keep seems to be small, and we probably will be more efficient going together.

Taking the opportunity I ask if anyone knows where Mandrake root or Star Sapphire can be found in the wilderness.

I try to understand what merchant owned yesterday's specific caravan.

apart from that, I guess I'm ok to go back to bed.

Assuming people are in a talking mood I may ask:
What is the bailiff like, is he keen on accepting foreign help?

With all these attacks, the merchants are probably pulling their hair out, what's the merchant that has been attacked the most?

During the conversations I try to get some more info

I haven't been here long, anyone paying to get rid of those lizardmen?

Never dismiss how loose some tongues get after a few beers ...
Postings will be there in the morning, I guess ... I'll hang around a bit more

After I eat, or during dinner if the opportunity arises I'll try to listen in the tavern and drink a couple of beers with people that may be talking about jobs or adventures, if nothing else I just drink a few beers before bedtime.

I don't know this area so anything that may help us get to know well-connected people would be great.
Of course, gold is always great.

I already had this on my player details:

Knowledge and wealth are intertwined, and those who seek to master the esoteric arts often find themselves entangled in a web of intrigue and ambition.

As a fledgling magic user, my potential yet untapped, I possess but a rudimentary understanding of the arcane forces that bind the world together. My spells flicker like candle flames in the wind, unpredictable yet brimming with potential.

Born of humble origins, I always possessed a thirst for knowledge and a keen eye for opportunity, always a weakling I soon realized that I would not be able to gain my living based on strength...
I was lucky and by fate for a while I worked as a servant to a powerful magic user, and it was during this period that I ended up giving the first steps into the magical arts ...

Arcane knowledge enthralls me, but I soon discover that the path to enlightenment is paved with gold. From rare spell components to ancient tomes of forbidden lore, the tools of the trade come with a hefty price tag.

Armed with nothing but my wits, my magical abilities, and an insatiable hunger for knowledge and power, I know the path will be long and treacherous, but with determination and cunning, I will stop at nothing and my power will grow !...

Being a Human means that my lifespan is very limited, so I aim to gain money faster than I would as an apprentice...

about currency 1gp = 10 ep = 100 sp = 1000 cp, is this correct?

talking to the boy: What's your name? Is the inn usually so active? or is there something special going on today?

One Ale for me too, and I don't mind sharing the roast but I'll also have some cheese and bread, please.

Nice to meet you sir. And talking to the scribe I'm Draven Skywatcher.

It's a door to riches and knowledge.
Let me also take the opportunity to introduce myself, Draven Skywatcher new to this region and starting on the magical arts path.

Draven here, an aspiring magic user.