Dortlin, Nefi, Finneous and Krebak: You were directed from Restov CHARTERS in hand to Oleg's where you were to make contact with the ongoing expedition to coordinate charting and pacifying the Greenbelt. You currently find yourself overlooking a Fort with a lot of activity going on. Sections of the palisade are being repaired and the four watch towers are in the process of being enclosed. A middle aged man outside the palisade seems to be directing work as three men lever a log into place to fix a gap in the protective wall around the fort.
Pavel and Simon: Upon returning to Oleg's you found your group disintegrating as Sigurd felt he had been tasked with another purpose by Erastil witch was to reform the bandits that where brought to justice. No attempts to sway him were successful though he gave back the composite bow won in your first fight feeling that the powerful weapon would best be used to tame the lands around the trading post. Jonas on the other hand felt he was out of his depth and needed to go back and learn more from the college at Restov his confidence shaken by the phenomenon that had swallowed two of your companions with out a trace. He did promise to return but wasn't specific on when that might be. As a parting gift of friendship he gave Pavel his compass.
Pavel bids a warm farewell to his erstwhile companions, bidding Jonas to return when the Greenbelt is more tamed.
The burly, bandaged ranger takes a seat at one of the wooden tables, updating the map Jonas was working on and idly watching the construction of the outpost's walls while he catches his breath.
Kreback tugs at one of his beard braids as he examines his copy of the charter for about the fiftieth time.
"So we get to roam around, check things out, and kill bandits. What about treasure? I mean, we get to kill bandits, so looting them should be no problem. Do we get to scoop up everything else we find here? This thing is vague on the finer points."
He pauses long enough to look at the fort and its workers.
"Is this the place? We get a fort? Terrific! I've never lived in a fort before."
Finneous spots the outpost and gives a great sigh of relief, they have made it and a whole new world of possibilities lay in this land. Pressing firmly with his heels, Finneous directs Skyrose down in a series of swooping arcs so to give plenty of warning to those on the ground. Just to make sure he gives two short blasts on his signal whistle so as not to startle anyone. We land a few dozen yards away from the gate.
"Well gentlemen, it seems we made it."
Finneous looks at those he left Restov with, though they have not gotten too much time to talk on the way, he has gotten a rather good impression of these people and is pleased at their quality.
As Finneous lands, there's a squeak and a lump of brown, well-matched to the rough robe Krebak wears, moves and scurries down the half-orc's arm and up into his sleeve.
"Just keep that overgrown chicken hawk in check. I don't like the way she looks at Skintail. I don't like the way she looks at me, for that matter."
The landing of the large bird makes the man overseeing the work on the palisade take notice of your group he directs the others back to work as he turns to face you all.
Nefi looks up from her alchemist's kit.
"Oh, well I suppose there will be other treasure, Krebak. There were others who tried to take this land...however they failed...I'm sure there are plenty of places to go." she smiles sweetly as she looks over Pavel and Simon. "Any rare plants you have come across? What has happened so far on your jurneys?" whilst she asks this one of her vials appears to be bubbleing and frothing madly, but she manages to draw out another vail, pouring out a clear liquid into it, stopping it from possibly exploding.
"Oh Krebak, Skyrose just wanted to play with Skintail. Finneous says with a merciless grin. "Besides you needn't worry she won't eat rat unless she is starving...or bored...or if she has chicks...but that won't be for quite sometime I assure you.
He gives a wink and looks up at the middle aged man with his small hand outstretched.
Finneous Higgenbottom, at your service sir.
Nefi looks up from her alchemist's kit.
"Oh, well I suppose there will be other treasure, Krebak. There were others who tried to take this land...however they failed...I'm sure there are plenty of places to go." she smiles sweetly as she looks over Pavel and Simon. "Any rare plants you have come across? What has happened so far on your jurneys?" whilst she asks this one of her vials appears to be bubbleing and frothing madly, but she manages to draw out another vail, pouring out a clear liquid into it, stopping it from possibly exploding.
Pavel looks up from the map. He's a large, broad Rostlander with a crooked nose that hasn't seen the business end of a razor in at least a fortnight. The bandage around his chest indicates he's been all too familiar with a blade of a different sort.
"Um, nuh'no rare pl'plants yet. Mostly wuh'we've been truh'tracking bandits and suh'securing the outpost huh'here. Tuh'two of us disappeared early on, thuh'then Sigurd and Jonas found other muh'matters to attend to. But we bruh'brought in the biggest cuh'concentration of 'em in this area and wuh'one o' this Stuh'Stag Lord's lieutenants."
He clears his throat and rises to meet the newcomers.
"Nuh'name's Pavel. You lot here from Ruh'Restov?"
Nefi looks up from her alchemist's kit.
"Oh, well I suppose there will be other treasure, Krebak. There were others who tried to take this land...however they failed...I'm sure there are plenty of places to go." she smiles sweetly as she looks over Pavel and Simon. "Any rare plants you have come across? What has happened so far on your jurneys?" whilst she asks this one of her vials appears to be bubbleing and frothing madly, but she manages to draw out another vail, pouring out a clear liquid into it, stopping it from possibly exploding.Pavel looks up from the map. He's a large, broad Rostlander with a crooked nose that hasn't seen the business end of a razor in at least a fortnight. The bandage around his chest indicates he's been all too familiar with a blade of a different sort.
"Um, nuh'no rare pl'plants yet. Mostly wuh'we've been truh'tracking bandits and suh'securing the outpost huh'here. Tuh'two of us disappeared early on, thuh'then Sigurd and Jonas found other muh'matters to attend to. But we bruh'brought in the biggest cuh'concentration of 'em in this area and wuh'one o' this Stuh'Stag Lord's lieutenants."
He clears his throat and rises to meet the newcomers.
"Nuh'name's Pavel. You lot here from Ruh'Restov?"
"Nefi, from Lastwall." she smiles confidently. "I arrived in Restov on my travels to find new alchemical mixes." she looks over her collection of vials, trying to remember where and when each one was collected and then looking over a vial with a doubious type of liquid inside it and then adding some strange green colour into it.
"Oh, Oleg. Can you get your hands on a alchemist's portable lab or normal lab for me to buy? I'll be sure to pay you in full when I get the gold I need." her eyes glisten at the prospect of having a more advanced alchemy lab to experiment with and create potions.
"Name's Krebak," the half-orc supplies helpfully, with a thumb to his chest for emphasis. "I'm a wizard."
The man directing the work walks up to the group he is gruff looking gentleman of Ulfen decent He accepts Finneous hand. Good day lad. I am Sigurd what brings you to Olegs this fine morning?
Greetings, Sigurd. Well as I said I am Finneous Higgenbottom, and these gentleman you see before you, and myself, have come to join the group that have preceded us. Are you one of them? He gives a small bow at the end of this and waits for Sigurd's response.
Greetings, Sigurd. Well as I said I am Finneous Higgenbottom, and these gentleman you see before you, and myself, have come to join the group that have preceded us. Are you one of them? He gives a small bow at the end of this and waits for Sigurd's response.
Though she was back to focusing on chemicals the Gnome wrinkles her nose as she hears thisstatement.
"Gentlemen? I'm a lady!" she pouts, going over her chemicals as she looks over at Finneous, finding it difficult to concentrait on what's going on rarther than the chemicals.
"Yep, she's a lady, little gnome booblettes and everything."
Sigurd nods That is good to hear I was a part of the group who took on the responsibility of charting these lands but Erastil called me away from that task. He points to the men working on the wall. Those men where bandits stealing to survive now they are doing a hard days work for their bread. I hope to redeem these men and any others that give themselves up to a merciful justice. He certainly seems committed to this path from the conviction in his voice. The person you really should talk to is Pavel. I must get back to watching the men and make sure they slack. It was good to meet you all. Sigurd goes back to directing the men working the post into the ground.
"Yep, she's a lady, little gnome booblettes and everything."
In her shock she actually drops one of her vials which bubbles and fizzes, but nothing else happens as it just gets absorbed into the floor.
"E-Excuse me?" she raises a eyebrow as she puts her hands on her hips. "Little? These are average for my race." she glares at Krebak, tapping her foot and waiting for an apology.
My sincerest apologies Nefi...truly I did not mean offence. He gives another low bow to her.
In addition, I think you have splendid breasts! At this he reddens a most shocking color as he realized what he just said.
I...I...What I meant to say....ummm.... Finneous stammers for a moment before deciding perhaps he should shut up before he caused himself further embarrassment.
My sincerest apologies Nefi...truly I did not mean offence. He gives another low bow to her.
In addition, I think you have splendid breasts! At this he reddens a most shocking color as he realized what he just said.
I...I...What I meant to say....ummm.... Finneous stammers for a moment before deciding perhaps he should shut up before he caused himself further embarrassment.
Nefi is even more shocked by a second person saying this, her face turning beat red.
"I...ah...let's...just drop the subject." she shakes her head as she looks around, attempting to find another subject to move to. "Are there any pressing concerns you have Oleg? I heard there are some strange beasts seen in the stolen lands and possibly some ruins."
Finneous latches on to the change of subject gratefully "Yes, ruins! I love ruins!"
Oleg hears his name and walks out to where the tables are set up. Did someone want me? He listens to Nefi’s request. I don’t have anything like that and it would be a significant investment for my little shop so I would have to ask for payment in advance to order it. He seems to consider Nefi for a moment. Didn’t you just come from Restov?
Watching and listing at all the hijinks. I put my drink down and go see whats going on.
Hello good people my Dortlin. I see I am going to have good stories to tell.
Krebak shakes his head. "Gnomes..."
He will fall in behind everyone else and simply listens, not having any pressing business at the moment.
Oleg hears his name and walks out to where the tables are set up. Did someone want me? He listens to Nefi’s request. I don’t have anything like that and it would be a significant investment for my little shop so I would have to ask for payment in advance to order it. He seems to consider Nefi for a moment. "Didn’t you just come from Restov?"
"Very well, when I have the coin I'll ask you to put the order in." she smiles lightly, loving the idea of getting a alchemist's lab. She'd even settle for a portable lab if she had the money to get one. "I'll settle for a portable one then when I am able to provide the coin." she pauses for a moment as he asks this and produces the charter to hang to Oleg "Well, the bandits have been reformed, what else is there to do?"
Pavel scratches the back of his neck awkwardly during the exchange.
"Uh. Yuh'yeah. Well, from whu'what I heard, the main fuh'force of the bandits is far to the suh'south someplace. But muh'maybe we should concentrate on exploring a fuh'few miles around the truh'trading post for now?"
He turns to Oleg.
"I got suh'some stuff fuh'from the bandits that you muh'might get a few coins for in Restov Uh'Oleg. Got this juh'jewelry, a music box, three cruh'crates of furs and a cuh'case of liquor. Muh'maybe we could outfit ourselves a buh'bit better off the proceeds? Could yuh'use some more of thuh'them healing potions."
I only have one potion left for sale. For you its 45 gold since your good people and have been working hard to make this place safe. I haven't seen Bokken in a while he actually makes the potions you may want to talk to him if you want more but Ill warn you now he is a little touched. I know he lives south east of here but I am not certain exactly where his cabin is. Oleg looks over the items. Some of the furs look familiar I think some of these are what the bandits stole from me last month. Oleg picks up one pelt it looks to be from a rabbit. Yes I am certain of it. I recognize this pattern near the head. A look crosses his face that is unreadable You didn't come by A ring did you. he passes his hands through the earrings and seems to looks angry. Damn BANDITS! he takes several moments to recovers his cool before speaking again. I had hoped it would be here if you should happen upon my wife's ring I would appreciate it if you returned it.
"I suggest we go see this Bokken. If he supplies Oleg here with potions then perhaps we can help him produce more by doing something to help. Plus I...want to see if he knows of any special herbs for me to look out for as he is a native of the area." she smiles softly as she looks at the map."I would like to clear the east area so that have a more complete map and make our way south slowly."
That sounds like an excellent plan to me. Also perhaps he may know a bit more about what we face in the area.
I only have one potion left for sale. For you its 45 gold since your good people and have been working hard to make this place safe. I haven't seen Bokken in a while he actually makes the potions you may want to talk to him if you want more but Ill warn you now he is a little touched. I know he lives south east of here but I am not certain exactly where his cabin is. Oleg looks over the items. Some of the furs look familiar I think some of these are what the bandits stole from me last month. Oleg picks up one pelt it looks to be from a rabbit. Yes I am certain of it. I recognize this pattern near the head. A look crosses his face that is unreadable You didn't come by A ring did you. he passes his hands through the earrings and seems to looks angry. Damn BANDITS! he takes several moments to recovers his cool before speaking again. I had hoped it would be here if you should happen upon my wife's ring I would appreciate it if you returned it.
Pavel's eyebrows rise on his head and he puts out two hands, palm foreward, in a placating gesture.
"Huh'hey, sure thing Oleg. We can kuh'keep an eye out for it. In the muh'meantime, why don't you tuh'take back the pelts since they were yours in the fuh'first place and huh'here's 45 gold for the puh'potion."
Stretching after his long nap , a young man comes into the main room . Hello all and welcome. I am Simon Bornen. what brings you people here ? You are looking quite eclectic if you don't mind me talking plainly.
Stretching after his long nap , a young man comes into the main room . Hello all and welcome. I am Simon Bornen. what brings you people here ? You are looking quite eclectic if you don't mind me talking plainly.
"Oh, hello, sir. My name is Nefi." she smiles offering a hand out to shake nad using her otherhand to comb back her hair out of her face.
Before Finneous does anything else he will see to Skyrose. He begins by checking her wings for signs of strain, and her feathers to check for parasites. Assuming everything is fine he will send her off to hunt. Speaking Druidic Hunt, my friend. Come back after your meal. This is a daily ritual with the two of us and Finneous always gets a bit choked up seeing the natural beauty of his friend taking flight.
After seeing Skyrose off, Finneous will join the others. After Nefi's introduction Finneous will introduce himself as well.
Simon will shake hands with Nefi and greet Finneous with a visible respect .
So what brings you to Oleg's ?
Simon will shake hands with Nefi and greet Finneous with a visible respect .
So what brings you to Oleg's ?
Nefi points to the charter that was handed to Oleg.
"Thought we could help." she smiles softly, looking down at her feet with her hands behind her back. "We heard you converted these bandits to do a hard day's work. There's a leader and greater force down the south, correct? I would like for us to explore the east."
"The potion-maker is to the east, yes? That makes sense then. It would be good to know where the guy lives, assuming we find enough loot to afford potions any time soon."
Simon goes to have a look at the charter and frowns looking at you : "Weird . let's hope this is just officialdom in action as usual and not something more sinister"
I would prefer to actually begin the main part of the job we were hired for rather than go gallivanting on expeditions. We had to do the last one because there was a direct threat agains the post but the others bandits should let us be for a while. Unless this potion-maker is really near , I would suggest we explore with a plan rather than haphazardly . It seems the royal cartographer likes hexes . so let us speak in term of hexes .
I will assume that we can consider the hex we are in as already explored by Oleg and Svletana in a way . So now , we should secure the 6 hex near the fort . And that means not just passing through them but really getting to know them . Pavel will be invaluable there as a real ootdoorsman compared to me . For the first expedition , Pavel do you thing it better to come back to the fort each night since it will be near or more efficient to camp? One has the advantage of allowing us to sleep without posting a guard , the other will make us waste time moving. Please all others , feel free to talk ? I asked Pavel because I know his capacities but I would like to hear your opinion.Of course we can begin with the east hex if you want to."
"Sounds like a reasonable plan. Let me see that map. Hmm...well, if we don't head back to the fort every night, and don't want to waste time backtracking, we should probably head northeast first, then circle around to the south and west. I've got food and equipment, so we don't need to go soft on my account."
Oleg seems to have completely settled down as he considers the items layed out I can give you 50 gold for the silver earrings, 85 gold for the music box and 15 gold for each bottle of liquor. That will about clean me out for gold anything else I would have to pay you in trade.
We can wait for you to sell them as per our aggreement , Oleg
That sounds like an excellent idea. Skyrose and I can provide cover from the air and alert you to any dangers. When would you all like to depart?
"If possible, I doupt Oleg has one, but if he were to have a wand of cure light wounds that could aid us far better, though I doupt you have been able to get this when the next trader comes by?" she asks not knowing how often traders would come down here if it all "I like the idea of taking the areas near Oleg's due to the safety of it."
At Oleg Nefi seems happy with the newly aquired coin.
"Oleg, now that I have some cash on me can you get me a portable alchemist's lab. Here's 75 gold for it if you don't have one, but are able to get one." she hands over 75 gold coins, really wanting a lab of somekind, even just a portable one for now.
Pavel nods.
"Yeah, wuh'we should stay out wuh'while we explore. Buh'better to stuh'stay on the trail ruh'rather than wasting tuh'time goin' back and fuh'forth. We shuh'should keep this huh'hermit in mind, though. Buh'besides Oleg, huh'he's the only person that can ruh'resupply us."
"Why don't we suh'sell it to you on cruh'credit? Pretty sure wuh'we'll just be spending it on supplies her an'anyways."