"And how many days are we talking about here?"
"And is that 20gp per day plus expenses?" Sabriel flashes him a charming smile. "A girl has needs you know".
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Kelim smiles and answers, the Aspis consortium like many nations and trading companies has a strong presence in Bloodcove in order to tap the resources of the nearby jungles for great profit. It is one of the most important players in the river trade and controls two important trading stations that serve as hubs and supply depots not only for its own boats and caravans but for those other trade groups as well. These two depots are Whitebridge Station, where the Vanji Rover is bridged about 200 miles upriver, and Nightfall Station, which lies much deeper in the jungle and is closer to the consortium's trading interests with the more reclusive jungle tribes.
Nightfall Station lies about 400 miles up river, a two week trip by wheelboat, so I expect the job to take about a month total, you do have the option at the end to stay on longer if you'd like. You get a free trip back if you don't and will get payed when you return to Bloodcove. I will give each of you so extra gold to begin to get whatever you think you'll need for the trip!
Triska lays a hand on Larkspring's arm. "Some of us need to replenish supplies lost during the battle with the dragon-lizard. And a month-long journey into the jungle is not something to be done without preparation."
She drains the rest of her drink and looks at the rest of the group. "I, for one, am in. Are we in agreement?"
She drains the rest of her drink and looks at the rest of the group. "I, for one, am in. Are we in agreement?"
"Certainly. It will no doubt be incredibly dirty work, but if it gets us out of this hellhole then by all means. I for one am going to use part of our eqipment money for a bath. It may be the last one I get for a while, so I'm going to make it count. Orelan, be a dear for me and buy some bread and cheese, along with some wine as my supplies for the trip while I am gone."
She turns and looks at Orelan with a playful grin on her face. "That is of course unless you would care to join me in the bath, then I'm sure Triska would get them for me, wouldn't you sweetie."
"Certainly. It will no doubt be incredibly dirty work, but if it gets us out of this hellhole then by all means. I for one am going to use part of our eqipment money for a bath. It may be the last one I get for a while, so I'm going to make it count. Orelan, be a dear for me and buy some bread and cheese, along with some wine as my supplies for the trip while I am gone."
She turns and looks at Orelan with a playful grin on her face. "That is of course unless you would care to join me in the bath, then I'm sure Triska would get them for me, wouldn't you sweetie."
Orelan smiles at this, an old joke between the traveling companions. "Indeed, enjoy your bath, dear Sabriel. I need a new shirt and some supplies."
Looking round at Larkspring and Triska, "Of course I'm coming with you, surely you didn't think I'd abandon you? This sounds like a fine chance to explore up river, and on this fine gentleman's coin. All to the good!"
To Kelim, "Sir, it seems we are agreed; and are at your service. Now, what can you tell us of these cannibals? Are their powers mundane or mystical; are they living or undead ghouls? Anything you can tell may help us defend your interests..."
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Kelim smiles at the group and says, Excellent, here is some gold to get what you need for the trip (280 gp each) and we will meet at noon in two days. Meet at the Bloodcove piers where the River Queen is docked. See you then! With the contract made he gets up and heads out the door with his two men in tow. A serving girl bring another round of drinks for you as you sit there and chat about what you need for the trip.
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With a hiccup, Larkspring knocks his mug over, spilling the liquid over the table and onto the floor.
"Oops, think that's enough of this stuff for me" he says with a glimmer in his eyes. "I'm going to see if there's a water barrel outside."
With that, he excuses himself from the table and goes outside to look for a rain barrel or horse trough to wash up in.
With a hiccup, Larkspring knocks his mug over, spilling the liquid over the table and onto the floor.
"Oops, think that's enough of this stuff for me" he says with a glimmer in his eyes. "I'm going to see if there's a water barrel outside."
With that, he excuses himself from the table and goes outside to look for a rain barrel or horse trough to wash up in.
"Stout fellow. Never can hold his drink," says Orelan with an affectionate shake of his head.
"Well, shopping can wait till tomorrow then. Tonight I'm going to make the most of this bar. Who knows when we'll next get a chance to enjoy such fine wine..." Orelan looks down at his mug... "Enjoy such acceptable wine..." Orelan fishes a lump out of the thin vinegary wine... "Enjoy such fine company!"
"Which is why I drink ale. Wine is a demon drink. It does things to your head and to your guts. Ale is healthy, and grows good muscles."
Triska tips back her mug of ale, then raises the empty mug in the air to signal another refill.
After belching contentedly, she asks, "So what sort of supplies do we need? Food and water, obviously. And I'll need some new arrows. Has anyine traveled in these sticky jungles before?"
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The night passes without much incident, you all have a good time talking and drinking late into the evening. You find a nearby inn to stay at for the night, its cheap but it was close by as you all sway back and forth looking for a place to rest your pounding heads.
The next day seems like its going to be another hot one, the smell is already making your eyes water as you are not used to it yet unlike the locals. Each of you are in different states of undress, some with nothing on and other with one boot still on and the other who knows where it is, or do you care over the roaring in your heads. Your stomachs grummble from lack of attention. Its about mid day. You each had your own rooms and woke up alone but you are having trouble with the details of how you got where you are................
Sabriel wakes up and pats the bed next to her, sighing and grabbing her throbbing head. "I hope they have some decent wine somewhere in this Gods forsaken town", she says to herself and then winces at how loud her voice sounds.
Standing up naked, she notices that her window is open and faces another open window across the street. Giving a cheeky smile to the startled old man across the way, she walks over and picks up her dress, gives it a sniff and then decides to pull another one out of her travel bag. Doning it quickly, she heads downstairs to the main bar and asks the bartender where would be the best place in town to get a good bath.
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Larkspring slowly wakens from the smell in the air.
"Ugggh!"
He goes to the window and looks out to see where his poor friend Fir is. Luckily enough, he is slumped next to the entrance of the inn, sleeping contentedly as flies buzz around his nostrils.
With a grunt, Larkspring pulls on his shirt and pants. He looks around for his cap, then sights it on the bedside table. After grabbing this and his shoes and cloak, he heads out the room to meet his companions downtairs. He puts on his cap as he walks into the common area, then sits down at a small table. There he laces up his shoes and looks around for breakfast (not realizing it's already midday).
Triska wakes groggily, head pounding, and curses the gods of drink as she looks for her other boot. Finally giving up, she throws on a wrinkled leather tunic and heads downstairs barefoot. Not even giving her companions in the common room a second look, Triska strides outside and dunks her head in the horse trough, then goes behind the stables. A few moments later, she returns and goes inside, sitting down heavily beside her friends, wet hair dripping.
"Gods, I had to piss like a Sklar-Quah horse on its first Burn Run. What did we drink last night? Still, only one cure: hair of the wolf that bit you." Triska signals the serving maid for a mug of ale.
He puts on his cap as he walks into the common area, then sits down at a small table. There he laces up his shoes and looks around for breakfast (not realizing it's already midday).
Orelan emerges from his room, well-dressed as usual, and only a slight hesitation in his step betraying the night's excesses. Seeing Larkspring already up, he sits down and waves to the inn staff.
"Morning."
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The bartender points Sabriel in the right direction to the baths so she can clean up from last nights fun. The rest of the group is sitting in the bar area waiting for a nice breakfast er brunch. One of the serving girls brings over a mug of ale for Triska. After a short wait two of the servers brings the food to you, river trout with potatoes, fresh eggs, warm bread with honey and a cool pitcher of milk. The sun is at its hottest right now and the inn is quite muggy. You don't have much of the day left for shopping......
Taking the fish tail and pulling it between his teeth to remove the meat, Larkspring says, "Perhaps city living isn't so bad after all. I could do with more of this food."
He washes down the trout with a glass of milk.
"Enjoy it then Larkspring - we're back to the wilds soon enough."
Orelan sits for a while, contemplating his breakfast, then says, "We need a list - what should we take on a jungle trek? Perhaps there is someone in this city who could advise us?"
Triska wolfs down her share of the food as well, liberally supplied with more ale.
"I've never been jungle trekking before," she says between mouthfuls. "Other than the obvious things like food, water, and arrows, I have no cue what we might need. Maybe the bartender can tell us the way to an outfitter's, and we can ask more questions there."
She eyes the sun through the windows. "And it might be best to get a move on, before the day is done."
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After inquiring about an outfitters store to the bartender he tells you where one is close by on the waterfront. There is one down in the Free Trade Square called Vaughan's Outfitters, ask for Gregor he'll help you get everything you need and point you in the direction if he does not have what you need!
"Well then, that sounds like our next stop. Once everyone is done with breakfast, of course."
Sabriel spends a relaxing couple of hours at the bath house and then gets directions to somewhere she can purchase supplies. She is directed to Vaughan's Outfitters in Free Trade Square. She arrives there as the others are purchasing their equipment.
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This outfitters store has the usual provisions for persons heading into the jungles interior. Weapons of all sorts, climbers kits, various clothes to help protect from small pests, dry rations, waterskins, rope, an assortment of lighting devices and a small selection of potions. Gregor sees you all enter, he gets up from his desk where he was writing down things, most likely doing inventory, and approaches with a big smile on his face...How may I help you this fine day?
This outfitters store has the usual provisions for persons heading into the jungles interior. Weapons of all sorts, climbers kits, various clothes to help protect from small pests, dry rations, waterskins, rope, an assortment of lighting devices and a small selection of potions. Gregor sees you all enter, he gets up from his desk where he was writing down things, most likely doing inventory, and approaches with a big smile on his face...How may I help you this fine day?
"Good day! We need equipment," Orelan begins, then helpfully explains, "For a journey in the jungle."
Orelan looks around at the wealth of packs, bundles, poles, ropes, lanterns and crates that line the walls and floor and hang from the ceiling.
"I'm sure you have a standard list somewhere... aha!" Orelan's eye's are distracted by the carefully ordered and labeled potions, "what potions do you have?"
Triska inspects the workmanship of the arrows on offer, looks for extra bowstrings, and perhaps some sort of case to protect her bow from the heat and humidity of the jungles.
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Ah yes I can see we have some adventurers who know what they are looking for, as for potions I have a very small offering I am afraid but they are all on the up and up, no fakes sold here mind you. I have available some to help mend your wounds, some are for protection, a few to help you hide from things and one to make you bigger and stronger. He looks over from talking to Orelan and sees the gnome looking at an impressive looking shield, that is a beauty, I just got it in the other day, they said it carries some special help to the wielder, they didn't say what but you can few the hum as you wear it on your arm. Triska can see all of the items she is looking at are of high quality, and towards the end of the row she spots a couple of nice looking cases to house her bow. Spotting Sabriel enter he says to her, I will be right with you my dear, help yourself in looking around and ask if you have any questions!!
Ah yes I can see we have some adventurers who know what they are looking for, as for potions I have a very small offering I am afraid but they are all on the up and up, no fakes sold here mind you. I have available some to help mend your wounds, some are for protection, a few to help you hide from things and one to make you bigger and stronger.
"Hmm. That last potion you mentioned sounds interesting." Orelan entertains a brief dream of striding through the jungle, huge as a tree, crushing enemies under foot. "How much for that potion, and a water-proof cloak, 2 weeks rations, and some stout rope?"
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Ah yes I can see we have some adventurers who know what they are looking for, as for potions I have a very small offering I am afraid but they are all on the up and up, no fakes sold here mind you. I have available some to help mend your wounds, some are for protection, a few to help you hide from things and one to make you bigger and stronger."Hmm. That last potion you mentioned sounds interesting." Orelan entertains a brief dream of striding through the jungle, huge as a tree, crushing enemies under foot. "How much for that potion, and a water-proof cloak, 2 weeks rations, and some stout rope?"
A very good choice, the potion is 200 gold pieces, the cloak will be 5 gold, the food is 8 silver pieces and the rope depends on if you want silk or hemp my good sir?
Sabriel walks in and acknowledges the man with a nod of her head. She has a quick look around, then walks over to the man as she hears Orelan recite his list. Standing snuggly close to Orelan, she leans over his shoulder and says to the man, "I don't suppose you have one of those Waterproof Cloaks that is mildly stylish do you? I don't just want one that looks like it's made out of a tent."
"Do you have another of those potions that make you big and strong?" Triska asks. "And how much for one of these bow cases?"
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Gregor smiles at the gnome, The potion is 250 gold and I'm sorry but we don't carry wheel barrows here at this time, he says with a wink. Turning to Sabriel, As you can see this is all the cloaks we have to offer at this time, the one on the end there might me your needs as it is a better quality or "stylish" you might say than the others.
The bow case will run you 3 gold and yes I have another potion available if you'd like one also, he says to Triska.
So my good people what is your pleasure?, he say with a merchant's smile on his face
Triska brings her purchases to the counter: 40 arrows, extra bowstrings, the bow case, 4 weeks of rations, a couple of waterskins.
"I'll also take the potion, and another of the cloaks," she finishes, fishing around in her pouch for the gold Kelim gave her.
Orelan waits for the others to make their purchases, then collects his potion, cloak, and food.
"Silk rope, I think."
He casualy tosses the bulging pouch of coins from Kelim onto the counter top... "Take the cost from there - there should be enough."
"Very well, that will have to do. How much for one of the curing potions? I think I will take one of those as well if I have enough left."
Gregor hands over all the items purchased and says to Sabriel, the healing potion will be 40 gp madam.
" Excellent, do you have any more, or perhaps a stronger draught perchance?"
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" Excellent, do you have any more, or perhaps a stronger draught perchance?"Gregor hands over all the items purchased and says to Sabriel, the healing potion will be 40 gp madam.
I do have one more my dear, it is the same strengh though as the one you purchased. Gregor looks at the group and says to you all, Is their anything else I can help you with today?
"Just the two potions and this Cloak thank you my good man."
She pulls a coin bag out of her Satchel and hands the man 85gp from it.