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Your crew has been travelling for about two days now. What little food you had has long been eaten, you were not expecting to be gone this long on your little adventure. All of you are bone tired and starving with just a little water left. You have been taking your time because you have no idea where you are at or where you are going and you’re not sure what lurks along the trail you have been walking. One of your crew got a whiff of salt air on the light wind blowing through the forest you are now travelling through. Everyone figured you’d find some kind of civilization by the sea. The dirt road you have been following is more like a game trail which has now ended into a roadway, by the looks of it, a major highway. The road is quiet except for the rumble of a cart being pulled by a tired looking mule coming from the north. An old man sits atop looking just as tired as his mule. He has not seen you as of yet.
While Artemis is weary after the party's long and strange journey, his spirits are still high and he has been urging the others not to give up on finding any kind of sign that may lead them to civilization.
"See there, I told you all that we would find someone. This looks like a well travelled road and that old man will surely be able to give us some information on what lies in the area".
"See there, I told you all that we would find someone. This looks like a well travelled road and that old man will surely be able to give us some information on what lies in the area".
"And you were right to say so! Civilisation, nearly."
Orelan's shoulders lift and he grins round at Artemis. With this change in fortunes his pace quickens and he hurries forwards to hail the stranger.
"Ho! Ho there old man. We would have words with you."
Starts off to follow Orelan then turns back to beckon the others forward.
"Come on you lot, cheer up. A warm bed and a hot meal await us soon. Let's go and see what the Old Man has to say".
He starts off again towards Orelan and the Old Man.
"Lets just hope there is a town nearby with an inn. I swear if I don't have a bath soon, I'll turn into an ogre!"
Grumbles Magatha as she hefts her pack and follows her companions, checking over her shoulder for Brenon.
"I knew our luck was bound to change soon."
With the hopes of food and fine ale fresh in his mind, Brenon heads towards the old man with his friends.
Jebb looks around nervously to ensure there is no one else in sight before following the group towards the old man. As the old man draws near, Jebb casts a wary eye over driver and cart. The inner battle of hunger versus wariness causes some reluctance, but with a final grumble the stomach wins.
Let us be quick about it. I don't like this place one bit.
His hand strays to the hilt of his dagger, his discomfort with the unknown everpresent.
Smiling brightly Brenon apraoches the man
Hello there good sir, my friends and i were wondering if you might be able to help us as to the nature of the nearest town? we are in need of
rest from our travels
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As the party approaches, the old man stops his cart squinting at your party trying to see who it is calling him out. After the party gets closer he seems a little uneasy noticing all the weapons and all of you just appearing from no where.
Well met, what did you say, my hearing is not as good as it used to be. I have nothing to take, i'm just a simple farmer, already sold all my vegetable at the market today and I am going back for more...I have no money....
The old man starts to shake a little while trying his best to keep an eye on each one of you....
Well met, what did you say, my hearing is not as good as it used to be. I have nothing to take, i'm just a simple farmer, already sold all my vegetable at the market today and I am going back for more...I have no money....The old man starts to shake a little while trying his best to keep an eye on each one of you....
Now that the cart has stopped, Orelan walks round to the side of the mule and looks up at the old man. His posture is relaxed and his expression friendly; but his tone of voice makes it clear that he expects this peasant to listen well and answer quickly.
"Well then. As we have said, we are weary travellers, some of whom require a bath rather urgently. Which way to the nearest inn?"
"Sir we mean you no harm." Looking over to his tired and weather beaten friends telling them as much as the old man himself.
Seeing Orelan talking with the man brenon steps back and surveys the surrounding area.
Unfortunately Brenon fails to hear anything over the conversation between Orelan and the old man.
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"Ah...well if its food and a good bath quickly I'd have to say your best bet is to follow this road north here to the big city. It's about a half an hour march, once you go around that bend up that way you'll be able to see it right away, can't miss it, its the largest city on the coast maybe even the biggest of all but then I have never traveled much you see so thats just what I hears. If you were to go south on this road you'd have a very long march before you found any food or rest.
The old man shifts in his seat ready to leave having answered the weird looking group before him.....
Suddenly wary by what he sees as a discrepency in the Old Man's answer as well as his unease, Artemis' Law Enforcement "training" kicks in.
Sense Motive Check (1d20+4=18)
"Good Sir, where is it you are travelling to then if there is nothing to the South for a long march?"
"Are there farms nearby, is that where you are travelling to?"
He looks around warily before going on.
"Also, you failed to mention the name of this City for which you have such high praise. We would like to know a bit more about it before we decide to travel there."
He marks off a list on his fingers, starting with his index finger.
1 "The name of the City."
2 "Any local customs or laws that we should abide by."
3 "Any taxes or gate levies that may apply to adventurers entering the city."
4 "And also the names of the Ruler of the City and any Local Law Enforcemnet."
As he finishes he holds his Quarterstaff with both hands and leans on it, looking up at the man expectantly.
Jebb circles the wagon, glancing at any contents if he can see them. When he reaches the back of the wagon he gazes along the road in the direction the old man indicated. His sharp eyes scan the horizon for anything indicative of civilization.
Spot: 1d20+2; [10,2] = (12)
"Ah...well if its food and a good bath quickly I'd have to say your best bet is to follow this road north here to the big city.
The old man shifts in his seat ready to leave having answered the weird looking group before him.....
Wierd indeed! Well. Perhaps a little.
Orelan reaches into his belt-pouch, intending to flick the old man a small coin for his help. He stops as Artemis begins talking...
"Good Sir, where is it you are travelling to then if there is nothing to the South for a long march?" ... ... 4 "And also the names of the Ruler of the City and any Local Law Enforcemnet."
Orelan raises an amused eyebrow as the flood of questions continues, feeling some sympathy for the poor fellow. Still, the answers will be useful.
"It is good that you have such a well ordered and logical mind my friend. For myself, I confess I was about to start walking north immediately!"
Assuming the old man can answer these questions, Orelan will flick him a silver piece, and then walk north. Onward - to lunch! And a bath for Magitha!
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The old man sits back at the on slot of questions, takes a deep breath, eyes the questioner and saysYou young boy should learn to respect your eldars better, your tone is way out of line, talking like that to an old man just trying to help you out, making me stop on my way back home, I got better things to do you know, humf The old man shifts in his seat again a bit angerlyMy memory is not what it used to be young fella, the last 10 years or so I've been just calling it the big city because I can't remember its name and I don't need to for that matter. Been going to the big city to sell my vegetables for nearly 60 years or so. The gate guards know me and treat me with respect because I never cause them any trouble and sometime I gives them advise on the ladies ha ha. With that tone of voice boy you'll get no advise from me on the ladies and by the looks of you, you'd be needing that advise badly ha ha! Now leaves me alone! If you be hungry go to the big city and get some food.
With that the old man yells yehaa!! and begins to drive his cart away.
Seeing the man obviously offended Brenon runs aftet him.
"Sir please forgive my friends, weariness has coused them to forget there manners, please accept this as thanks for your kind advice."
Offering the man a gold piece for his troubles brenon continues
My name is Brenon Corto,and what might be yours, so i have a proper name to praise when passing the the town guards?"
if he is totaly ignoring me i shall return to the party... with my gold piece.
With a curt nod to the man, Brenon stops and returns to his friends. Explaining to them what Tolloson said, he suggests its time we made for the city.
"Come on lets get to this town sooner rather than later"
donning his backpack Brenon starts to head north towards the town... stopping briefly to look back at his friends
"Coming...?"
With a curt nod to the man, Brenon stops and returns to his friends. Explaining to them what Tolloson said, he suggests its time we made for the city.
"Come on lets get to this town sooner rather than later"
donning his backpack Brenon starts to head north towards the town... stopping briefly to look back at his friends
"Coming...?"
"By the Lady, I think so. I've been wanting nothing else for an hour."
Artemis continues to watch the old man trundle his cart away down the road for a shoet while, then turns and walks slowly after the others.
Artemis half mumbles to himself, but loud enough so that the others can hear.
"Damn my suspicious nature... there I was berating a harmless old man. This journey has obviously taken more of a toll on me than I thought. The sooner we get to civilization and have a decent meal and a good rest the better."
With that, he shakes his head as if to clear it and catches up to the others, taking his place at the rear near Orelan.
Muttering and griping about the stupidity of over eager men, Magatha marches on down the road, well on her way to another longwinded rant.
Orelan claps Artemis on the shoulder in comfort as he catches up, and smiles as Magatha's half-heard mutters drift over the group.
Obviously the prospect of dinner has cheered her up.
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Your crew travels down the wooded road to the bend the old man talked about earlier. It seems like it took forever but really it was a short walk, your hunger is really beginning to take its toll on you. Once you are at the bend, the woods slowly leave you behind and opens up into grassland terrain. In the short distance ahead you see what the old man was talking about, the big city, most likely the biggest you have ever seen in your life. A castle can be seen at the base of a bald, rough crag rising far above the city. From the southern end you can see a wall that protects the city beginning at the sea and running north into a sheer cliff that naturedly protects it. The city has a sheltered bay protected by tow small fortified islands, each with its own wall, towers and small forts, beyond the islands is open ocean seemingly going on forever. The bay is flooded with ships and boats of all shapes and sizes, coming and going at a fast pace, obviously the city is a major trade center with the advantage of a deep water harbor. At the southern gate you can see a huge caravan just departing the city escorted by heavily armed men. Most of the traffic seems to be heading into the city at this time of day. You cross the grasslands and are just coming upon the first of the armed escorts at the same time you reach the end of the line of people entering the city…….
It is now mid day, an hour or so before dinner would be normally taken!
It is now mid day, an hour or so before dinner would be normally taken!
" Lads, and milady of course, i suggest we make haste i would wager we dont have long to get in our orders for dinner"
Eying the cities defenses further Brenon continues.
Not to mention we don't know if the city locks down at night, if it does i think we best be on the inside of the walls and the inside of an inn
Thinking spirits are dangerously low Brenon has an idea that might cheer up his companions.
Dont look so glum, any one of you who thinks they can keep up with me for the rest of the trip will find me buying them dinner and a pint
Brenon begins to the rest of the way.
The big city, most likely the biggest you have ever seen in your life.
Looking in awe at the City, he turns to Orelan and says...
"Just thinking of the amount of Law Enforcement needed to keep the peace in a city of that size makes my head spin. They would all be top notch too judging from the look of the defences of the city."A little more loudly to make sure the rest of the party hears him he continues.
Everyone should be on their best behaviour when we enter the city. I am sure that a city like this would have an excellent militia and I would hate for any of us to give them an excuse to take an interest in us."
With this last statement he looks pointedly at Jebb, although the Halfling has his back to him. Orelan at least could see the gesture.
Dont look so glum, any one of you who thinks they can keep up with me for the rest of the trip will find me buying them dinner and a pint
Brenon begins to the rest of the way.
Watching Brenon hurry off ahead, Artemis shakes his head and smiles.
"Too much energy that one. We've all been doing nothing but walking for 2 days and although I want a hot meal and a proper bed as much as any of you, I am afraid that I am just too weary to jog. Any of you that feel that you can beat him though can have another pint on me."He smiles again and watches to see if anyone take both Brenon's and his own bait.
Dont look so glum, any one of you who thinks they can keep up with me for the rest of the trip will find me buying them dinner and a pint
Brenon begins to the rest of the way.
"Make it dinner and a bottle of wine, and I'd race you round the city."
With a grin at Artemis, Orelan starts jogging.
Ha! A lady never jogs! Good thing I ain't no lady...
Magatha snorts at her own joke as she breaks into a brisk trot.
After waiting your turn, the guard checking people says...Well Met........
"Well met good sir. My name is Artemis. My friends and I wish entrance to your fair city."
Artemis indicates the party with a wave of his hand and flashes the Guard a big smile.
"I too was in Law Enforcement in my Village. It must be quite a chore in a city as large as this."
"If you could be so kind as to direct us to an Inn with good hot meals and a bath house to ease our road weary selves then we would be most indebted to you"
Moving to stand next to Artemis, Brenon smiles broadly at the guard. Obviously happy that we have reached civilization at last.
Well met good sir, might i just say such a grand city
Jebb eyes the crowd warily for a moment before turning his gaze to the gate guards.
"Move it along, boys. That's a guardsman, not a tourguide."
Stomping past the gate, Magatha approaches the first kid she sees and waves a silver coin under his nose...
"Show me where an inn is and this is yours. Show me one that has a heated bath and I'll double it!"
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The guards see that the armed women means no harm allow her to pass but are keeping a close eye on her. The group of children seeing this big armed women storm up to them scatter to the winds leaving Magatha standing in the middle of the road by her self.... The guards are all dressed in light chain mail and all heavly armed and by the looks of every single one of them, they look like they can take care of themselves very well....The guard directly in front of Artemis responds, We do have are hands full of late, lots of people travelling here for some reason, the city is really full which is not normal for this time of year. As for food I would suggest you go to The Sleeping Snake, its in the Docks Ward, Good food and always a good crowd. Its only a tavern but there you should be able to inquire about a place to stay. Hopefully you will be able to find a place with the city being full and all....Go to the fork in the road and take the left one, this is called The Way of the Dragon, go to Spices street and make a left which will take you to the Docks, make another left and it not far down on the left....
Thank you sir, just one last thing, do you know if there are any libraries for the towns folk? I wish to brush up on my local history... the ladies love a smart man.
Brenon smiles at the guard.
... As for food I would suggest you go to The Sleeping Snake, its in the Docks Ward, Good food and always a good crowd.
"Well. I confess that I tuned out after the mention of good food. Can someone who remembers the directions lead the way?"
Seeing Magatha scattering children like a flock of seagulls, "It nearly seems that Magatha has turned into an ogre indeed! Or maybe the children here are just fearful sorts."
As for food I would suggest you go to The Sleeping Snake, its in the Docks Ward, Good food and always a good crowd. Its only a tavern but there you should be able to inquire about a place to stay. Hopefully you will be able to find a place with the city being full and all....Go to the fork in the road and take the left one, this is called The Way of the Dragon, go to Spices street and make a left which will take you to the Docks, make another left and it not far down on the left....
Artemis pulls out a small notepad and a quill and starts to write down the directions.
Thank you very much good sir. I am sure that your good taste shall lead us to a fine meal and warm bed.""Well. I confess that I tuned out after the mention of good food. Can someone who remembers the directions lead the way?"
Seeing Magatha scattering children like a flock of seagulls, "It nearly seems that Magatha has turned into an ogre indeed! Or maybe the children here are just fearful sorts."
After speaking with the Guard, Artemis turns to Orelan and says...
"Don't worry, I always carry this with me. Always helped to write down things while investigating."He then leans in close and with a whisper and a wink so that everyone but Magatha can hear.
"And sometimes I think that she really may have a bit of Ogre in her."
**grin**
Magatha stands there in the middle of the square slowly stewing, not moving a muscle with the exception of one muscle just next the her eye going 'twitch, twitch...', her plans of demonstrating the ingenuity and resourcefulness of womankind in tatters.
You could almost swear she was starting to get a heat haze.
Magatha stands there in the middle of the square slowly stewing, not moving a muscle with the exception of one muscle just next the her eye going 'twitch, twitch...', her plans of demonstrating the ingenuity and resourcefulness of womankind in tatters.
You could almost swear she was starting to get a heat haze.
Artemis walks over to Magatha and extends his hand to her.
"Come on my dear, let's get you to that bath so we can let your radience shine past the stains of the road."
He then gestures down the left hand fork of the road ahead.
Artemis walks over to Magatha and extends his hand to her."Come on my dear, let's get you to that bath so we can let your radience shine past the stains of the road."
He then gestures down the left hand fork of the road ahead.
Hanging her head in resignation and embarrassment, Magatha turns and quietly follows Artemis.
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You set off towords the thought of food moving through the crowds of people going out about their business. To your right you see what must be a caravan staging area with cursing, whip wielding drovers, bawling beasts of burden and the creaking of carts and wagons...once you take the fork in the road you see all kinds of business such as, Aurora's Realms Shop, Pelauvir's Counter to name a few plus you see many warehouses and stables for the massive trade caravans. Once you turn onto Spices Street you see more small shops like Khostal Hannass Fine Nuts and the Seasweath Guildhall. In front of you the harbour can be seen. You turn onto Dock Street and make your way to the tavern which turns out to be not a far of a walk. The sign you see tells you have arrived, a snake having a good snooze with a big fluffy pillow. The Sleeping Snake is an small old wooden one story building thats seen lots of action. You enter the smoke filled room through double doors into a dimmly lit tavern. The entire back wall is taken up by the bar. The rest of the room is just tables and chairs. The tavern looks to be half full, filled mostly with sailor and mercenary types. Their are two serving wenches moving around quickly trying to take care of everyone and keeping out of reach from the numerious sailors reaching out for a quick squeeze. Behind the bar you see two large men tending bar.......
Brenon pushes past the crowd and finds a table for him and his friends.
Calling out to them "Quick grab a seat!"
Gesturing to one of the Wenches "Five mugs of your finest ale!
Brenon pushes past the crowd and finds a table for him and his friends.
Calling out to them "Quick grab a seat!"
Gesturing to one of the Wenches "Five mugs of your finest ale!
"And enough food to sink a battleship!"
Orelan sits, salivating in hunger at the delicious smells from the kitchen.
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Thank you sir, just one last thing, do you know if there are any libraries for the towns folk? I wish to brush up on my local history... the ladies love a smart man.
Brenon smiles at the guard.
In the recent past...The guard smiles at Brenon...You can find knowledge from a few places here, The Font of Knowledge in the castle ward, its a temple dedicated to knowledge or New Olamn also in the castle ward, it a bardic college....Good luck with the ladies...
In the recent past...The guard smiles at Brenon...You can find knowledge from a few places here, The Font of Knowledge in the castle ward, its a temple dedicated to knowledge or New Olamn also in the castle ward, it a bardic college....Good luck with the ladies...
Sitting down with his friends brenon explains the methed behind his madness.
The way i figure, what better way to learn everything we need to know about this place. I think tomorrow after we have had some food and rest we go to The Font of Knowledge or New Olamn and do some learning?
Sitting down with his friends brenon explains the methed behind his madness.
The way i figure, what better way to learn everything we need to know about this place. I think tomorrow after we have had some food and rest we go to The Font of Knowledge or New Olamn and do some learning?
"That sounds like a good idea. I was thinking about going to visit the local Sheriff Station to see what I can learn about this city. Maybe I should take Magatha and visit the Station House, while Jinx and Orelan go to the Library. Jebb, you caould stay around the Inn and see what you can pick up from the locals. What do you think?"
Artemis looks around the table at the others, keeping one eye on the tavern patrons, ever on the alert in such an environment.
"Of course, splitting up in an unknown city could be a bad thing too, so if you want to do both one after the other than that's fine."