"You need not worry, horses are an easy creature once broken. I am well trained in riding and can give you some pointers if you would like." Malgasir replies to Mr. Swinton's comment.
"I carry all I need. I will be waiting here for all of you."
'Indeed, I shall return post haste. I will fetch a horse, and procure a wagon and donkey for our journey overland. Not all of you need purschase horses, as the wagon shall be quite spacious.'
At this Heren bows to the ladies present, and nods at the men and the lad Mel. He then withdraws to ready his equipment and sundries.
=141 gp, 6 sp
How about maybe lanterns and some oil, and fire wood?
And I assume we'll get the rest of the food in Old Sehir.
How's that sound?
"I would like a horse too my friend. Easier for me to get ahead if scouting is necessary." Malgasir asks Herin, before going outside to sit under a tree and wait.
"If it's all the same to you, I think I'll ride in the wagon with Mr Adjunta. I can't think of anything I'll need."
Mel looks doubtful as Heren outlines the plans.."Look like I said I don't know much about animals but would a single donkey be enough for a wagon load of people and supplies...I'd have thought two mules at least would be the better option, at least thats what I see towing most of the light wagons round here..or Oxen even..at least if they die on us we can eat them?"
'Oxen it is lad!'
Current Travel Shopping List:
-3 tents
-ox
-wagon
-rations x6
-waterskins
-bedroll x6
Heren -light horse with saddle
Malgasir -light horse with saddle
-28 gp, 6 sp Heren's contribution
=205 gp
Adjusted bedroll number, we can never have enough waterskins.
So is that okay, I don't think we need to bog the game down too much more in logistics.
If no-one says anything to the contrary, I'll assume Heren buys everything on that list with money that Ianthe Jack gives him, and we meet back in an hour. Okay?
'As much as the chance for chivalry entices me lady, unless someone else you is familiar with the purchase of livestock and horseflesh is willing, I shall have to go and make our purchases. Truly though, my preference would be to swell my chest like some prancing lion cub of court and stride at your side in pride.'
'Alas,' Heren says with a wry smile. 'The pressing duties of practicality call.'
'You gentlemen do keep our lady companion and to a lesser extent our finding safe, now.'
With this he bows with all the formality of one of the bearded to a duchess towards Ianthe, nods in comradery to the menfolk and the lad, and strides off to see about the purchases of provisions.
"I'll go with you Lady..who's with me?"
Mel bows in an extravagent fashion towards Heren as he leaves..then his face breaks into a grin.."Now who will carry the cash"
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"I find people are usually less likely to bother a priest," Adjunta says, "not that we're threatening as much as we're seldom worth the frustration and risk involved. Plus the veil does lend a certain amount of mystic. People often wonder if I have something to hide. I will accompany you. As a priest of Abadar maintaining fair trade is part of duties."
...we can never have enough waterskins.
"True. In fact, I couldn't agree more.
"I'll accompany you to the moneychanger as well."
Hearing the other man volunteer to accompany Ianthé, Malgasir stops Heren as he starts on his way to get supplies. "May I accompany you Heren? I grow bored of sitting around. I can help in carrying or driving any purchases made."
'Of course man, you look like you'd have a good eye, and you did want a mount of your own, let's enquire after a good establishment.'
"Hasim", she began as they were walking, her voice most certainly more of a no-nonsense tone than 'ladylike'. It seemed she was used to speaking like that which indicated her experience to be in the soldiery field, or at least somewhere nearby. "Please pardon if I am prying, but while capabilities are rather easily discerned oftentimes, I admit to having some trouble determining your capabilities in regards to the group makeup. As you have chosen to ride in the cart with Adjunta and I, and you do not carry yourself as one of military bearing, I am honestly at a loss as to the church's reasons for including a merchant."
Indeed, Ianthé wore a slight frown, a shift of her shoulder in a shrug jangling her silver bracelets and resettling the unstrung crossbow hanging from her pack. "Would you enlighten me, please?"
Hasim gets a mischievous smirk on his face. "Well, I COULD answer you by reminding you of your conversation with the people of Iomedae. When you asked them for a list of what we're looking for, the answer was 'We don't have a list per se.'"
Hasim glances sideways at Adjunta Paul, checking that he was out of earshot, and then, in little more than a whisper, too softly for Paul to hear, Hasim adds:
More loudly, Hasim continues: "So you may need someone who would know a valuable artifact when he sees one.
"But I think I know what you really mean. You're asking what good I'll be if we get attacked. I haven't mentioned it, because some people have expressed disbelief, but I am born to a family that fated by kismet for greatness. There is no power greater than fate. Even from far away, I can put attackers to sleep. With a simple touch, I can give others a taste of destiny that cannot be mistaken. And I can fight when the need arises."
...
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"I will respect the groups decision," Adjunta says diplomatically, "there are advantages to either choice, but I think the lions share of the equipment has been bought, but the real expenses are yet to come. I'd cation we be frugal with our remaining funds, it may seem like an abundance, but there's food, tolls, and inns to drain our coffers, and I fear, we should also prepare to pay taxes by legitimate powers or otherwise."
"Hah ..You mean bandits, brigands and the dregs of the mercenary companies that Taldor hires to 'protect' it's people...Aye there's been a deal of trouble lately..some dispute over a vinyard that threatened to blow up the whole county"
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"I suggest we make use of the inns while they're available," Adjunta says, "they will tend and feed our animals and we can get a bath and a warm meal. We can still be frugal though, the gentlemen can share and Ianthé, because you are the only lady in the group, will naturally need her privacy.
"Besides, there are likely vagrancy laws about these parts and we might loose whatever we hoped to save with fines and taxes."
'I openly agree with that Adjunta.'
Mel nods in agreement .."I suggest we use the common room if we really want to be frugal..besides it looks like we might have more than each others company in any bed they would provide us"
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Mel nods in agreement .."I suggest we use the common room if we really want to be frugal..besides it looks like we might have more than each others company in any bed they would provide us"
"The common rooms are far worse if you're talking about lice and bed bugs," Adjunta says, "the common room also has other undesirables, con men, prostitutes, thieves, you name you could run across it in the common room. I prefer a little privacy, besides I find that if people feel you have money they treat you better. You might find a slightly better cut of meat, a more generous bowl of soup, your animals could get better care. Money is a powerful intensive and people that populate the common room don't do so out of choice."
"You speak as if I had no experience of such places Father..I am well aware of the dangers a common room holds..and I am also well able to take care of myself in such a place."
Mel takes another long look at the Inn...
"Well we might as well find out what they are going to overcharge us.."
"The common rooms are far worse if you're talking about lice and bed bugs," Adjunta says, "the common room also has other undesirables, con men, prostitutes, thieves, you name you could run across it in the common room. I prefer a little privacy, besides I find that if people feel you have money they treat you better. You might find a slightly better cut of meat, a more generous bowl of soup, your animals could get better care. Money is a powerful intensive and people that populate the common room don't do so out of choice."
"Of course, spending money more generously can also attract the attention of the aforementioned thieves...
"Nevertheless, I agree. I've found that people who hope to get money are less likely to give me dirty looks. We just need to keep a sharp eye on those who DON'T hope to get money from us... by honest means."
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"Nevertheless, I agree. I've found that people who hope to get money are less likely to give me dirty looks. We just need to keep a sharp eye on those who DON'T hope to get money from us... by honest means."
"If you wish you could pose as a servant to one of us," Adjunta says, "I can't say that I approve of such trickery, but we must do what we must to make life bearable sometimes."
"It is true what you two are saying about drawing attention," Adjunta says, "bandit scouts for example might pose as guilds or helpful travelers. Best keep our business to ourselves. regrettably there is little we can do to keep these predators from chasing us down on the road except appear to be more trouble then we're worth. Thankfully bandits are all but non-existent on Taldor roads."
Adjunta sighs, stands and stretches.
"Of course there are many, many other legitimate powers to worry about, and they might seek to tax anything of value that we discover. But we'll worry about them on the way back."
"Legitimate powers...and by that I take it you mean any petty lordling with a beard who decides he wants what is legally the churches property. But as you say we will deal with that if and when it happens"
Mel heads for the Inn's door
Malgasir rode along with the caravan, never taking his eyes off their surroundings. Never caring much for the authorities of the cities, he kept to himself, only every once in a while glancing back to let them know he was listening. Every so often Malgasir would ride forward a fair distance and check the road and surrounding area for ambushes. As the group contemplates the use of the Inn, Malgasir adds "I am not strong in money matters. I trust your decision will suit me just fine." He says to the group before entering the Inn.
Heren has been on the road, and is large and well able to take care of himself. He volunteers to take the stranger-shared room.