Life around town, the team splits up
Subject Turn
sorry I did not get anything out last night. It is that time of the year for school concerts and performances.
I will try and get some stuff out today. I just have two projects to work on.
From: Mark
Subject Life around town
I was going back and doing the archive, which is a great way for me to review what everyone wants to do before I write a new turn, and realized I might not have been clear.
In the woods there was almost no life, plant or animal. The wasps were the only things besides Silverbranch and some of the trees that were alive. Silverbranch and the trees were in the process of dying.
As the party got closer to town more signs of life show up, grass, animals etc. Around Bodentown looks nothing like the woods the party showed up in. Whatever is killing the woods is not effecting Bodentown.
From: Kevin
Subject Life around town
Did anyone pick up in the conversations they had or heard any comment about the outlying areas being in such bad shape? You know, complaining about having so far to go to get wood, no game close by and having to buy it, etc. Anything???
From: Josh
Subject Life around town
Kal heard people complaining about this ugly half-orc that just came into town, but that's about it. ;-)
From: Kevin
Subject Life around town
Har, Har, Har.
Your'e funny, for an elf
From: Mark
Subject Life around town
No one has heard anything from the locals about the food supply yet. However the party has only been in town for less than 24 hours.
From: Mark
Subject The team splits up
As Salix finishes explaining what he want the party to do, he looks around at his companions. Most of them seem agreeable, but Kal's face shows doubt. The druid reads the elf's face fairly easily. "Kal, I know you are not comfortable with us splitting up again, and I am not a big fan of it either. However, we have a lot of things we need to find out and a group our size will attract attention." He turns to the others his face growing stern. "Kal is right to be concerned though. I want all of us back by dark. If you can not make it back by dark, get a room at the nearest inn and spend the night inside. We don't need any one disappearing on us. High tail it back here first thing in the morning. NO DRINKING. If a person does not show up with in an hour of sunrise, we are coming looking for you and that would set things in motion we may not be ready for yet."
His eyes look at each member in turn. Kal nods his acceptance of this and even Mund nods his agreement. "Ok, it is a couple of hours after noon. We only have a few hours until dark. Harp, you take your three and check out the Mercenaries Guild. I will go with the others and check out the Mayor's house and see if Surin can contact the local thieves' guild, assuming there is one. Let's go."
OODM: I am going to write up both groups seperately.
Hopefully I will get one done before I go home. The other may be tomorrow.
From: Mark
Subject The Mayor's house
Salix watches Harp and those with him leave the inn. He waits for a few minutes before motioning to Kal, Ally and Surin that they should make their way out the door. As agreed, they each leave the inn by a different route, meeting in front of a store down the street. Once back together, Surin takes the lead. "The guy I was talking to last night told me the general area that that Mayor's house was in. Now he was half way drunk, but the way he described it, we should be able to find it easily enough. I don't think it would do to ask someone about it. Also, don't be looking about like you're lost. Act like you know where you are going, less likely to get stopped." The others nod and follow the halfling's lead.
With in half an hour Surin has been able to lead them to a fairly nice part of town. It seems to be portioned off by a high metal fence. There are gates every so often, where major streets pass through. It is obvious that the fence came after the streets. There are guard houses where the gates are, but they seem to be unmanned at the moment. The four keep walking until Surin whispers to them "That's go to be it." Off to their left, across the road, is a massive house. It sits back almost half a mile from the road with a stone wall running around the perimeter. The wall is about 10 feet high and there are guard positions every couple of hundred feet on the top of the wall. It is easily the largest parcel of land they have seen in town and one of the largest buildings.
The house is self is made of stone and wood. The bottom floor seems to be made of massive rocks with a frame building for the top two stories. The whole thing looks like a small castle and it might very well have been that in the early days of Bodentown. The party can not see much of the ground, but as the walk by one of the guarded gates they see 5 guards in chain shirts standing watch. Salix whispers to Surin "Ok I think we've seen enough. We know where the place is and we know we are not just going to walk in. Let's head back and see if you can find the local guild." Surin nods and the others follow.
OODM: You can ask questions that you have about the house. Remember the party was trying to not draw attention to itself and so did not spend a whole lot of time looking around. However they would notice a few things.
From: Derek
Subject The Mayor's house
Did we see any place where the wall is close to the house? Or is there a wide courtyard between the wall and the house everywhere? What other possible entrances are there? Back doors, 2nd floor balconies, etc.?
The Mayor's House
Subject The Mayor's house
No one has been close enough to the house to see any obvious entrances other than the main one. There is a large open area, almost like a park, around all of the house. There are trees and stuff, so it is not completely bare. The house was three stories, with the first story being made from stone while the other two are made from wood. There small windows built into the first floor, and larger ones on the upper floors.
From: Ashley
Subject The Mayor's house
Is it solid stone? Are there any culverts or weak spots that might not be guarded? Do any of the trees hang over the stone wall?
From: Mark
Subject The Mayor's house
All of the stone is made up of large rocks. Easily climbable for one of Surin's skills, if he had any.
When you ask about weak spots do you mean in the house or in the wall around the grounds?
Around the ground you are not sure off since you did not make a search around the grounds. That might have attracted notice.
The house you have no idea of.
From: Derek
Subject The Mayor's house
Were there any beggars in the area? They might know more than anyone else about the security at the mayor's house. Of course, asking them could be very dangerous.
Between a few invisibility and fly spells, I'm pretty sure we could get a few people into the house undetected. Getting everyone in undetected would be hard though. And we still have no idea what's in there, or even if the mayor would be there or not.
Mark, has anyone that we've spoken to actually seen the mayor? Does anyone know what he looks like? Does he make public appearances at all?
From: Mark
Subject The Mayors house
There were no beggars in the area, very well patrolled section of town.
No one the party has spoken to has been asked directly about the mayor, but the impression is that he has made public appearances in the not too recent past. No one that you know of has ever met the Mayor face to face.
From: Josh
Subject The Mayors house
Kal has a mass invisibilty spell. I'm not sure if we could get enough fly spells off though.
From: Mark
Subject The Mayor's house
Just to be clear, Kal has Invisibility sphere, not Mass Invis. The first is a 3rd level spell, the second is a 7th level spell.
From: Mark
Subject Turn
I am over half done with the main project today, so baring any really new hot rush projects this afternoon, I am planning on working on the Merc guild stuff this afternoon.
From: Karl
Subject The Mayor's house
Not to mention that we'd arrive in the house spent of spells
From: Derek
Subject The Mayor's house
That's what you meat shields are for! ;)
From: Josh
Subject The Mayor's house
With Levitation, could Harp or Mund carry someone like Surin or Kal?
From: Mark
Subject The Mayor's house
Probably. Here is the SRD
Levitate
Transmutation
Level: Sor/Wiz 2
Components: V, S, F
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Personal or close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Target: You or one willing creature or one object (total weight up to 100 lb./level)
Duration: 1 min./level (D)
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: No
Levitate allows you to move yourself, another creature, or an object up and down as you wish. A creature must be willing to be levitated, and an object must be unattended or possessed by a willing creature. You can mentally direct the recipient to move up or down as much as 20 feet each round; doing so is a move action. You cannot move the recipient horizontally, but the recipient could clamber along the face of a cliff, for example, or push against a ceiling to move laterally (generally at half its base land speed).
A levitating creature that attacks with a melee or ranged weapon finds itself increasingly unstable; the first attack has a --1 penalty on attack rolls, the second --2, and so on, to a maximum penalty of --5. A full round spent stabilizing allows the creature to begin again at --1.
Focus: Either a small leather loop or a piece of golden wire bent into a cup shape with a long shank on one end.
From: Mark
Subject On the way to the Mercenary guild
Ran and Mund head out of the Leaky Mug by the front door, while Harp and Ragnar exit out the back. They meet a two blocks away and Harp turns to Mund "OK so which way to the guildhall?" Mund looks at him "I thought you knew?" Harp chuckles and turns to the other two "Do either of you two happen to have picked up where the guildhall is?" They shake their heads no and Harp turns back to Mund. "Well, I guess we're going to have to ask someone for directions. Beggar or soldier?" Mund thinks for a minute "Beggar, less likely to get us into trouble." The four nod and start looking for a beggar. Ragnar sees one in an alley a block down and points him out to the others. "Ran" Harp says, you deal with others pretty well, can you see if he knows how to find the Merc guild?" Ran nods hesitantly and heads off to where the beggar is. A few minutes of hushed conversation, a coin exchange, and the 1/2 elf heads back to the party.
"He did not know the exact location" Ranthir reports "but he said it was in the Merchants' quarter, up by the Potter Gate. That is in the north side of town. I gave him a copper. I would think we could head over that way and ask again when we get closer." The four head out, moving west and north, following the streets as they can. They only get lost once, but it is hard to get lost when you don't know exactly where you are going. They finally get to the Merchant quarter. The streets are bustling with activity, people going here and there, wagons full of goods and raw materials rumbling down the street. An old man does not get out of the way of one of the wagons and is run over, his weak screams drowned out by the clomp of the draft horses.
"Let's ask an armorer or weaponsmith if they know where guild is." Ragnar suggests. "If any one who is not a mercenary would know where the guild is they might." Mund, Ran and Harp agree to this simple plan and the four listen. The clang of hammer on steel can be clearly heard and the four follow the sound three streets over. On the edge of the block is a sign with two crossed swords, and the pounding sound of metal being beaten into shape comes from the back of the building. The companions wander up to the front of the shop and see a burly man dressed in a leather apron working on a breast plate.
OODM: You guys can role play this if you want.
The blacksmith
Subject Turn
Ok I was going to get a turn out tonight but the wife has lost the diamond in the wedding ring, so I will be otherwise occupied.
No one from Harp's group wants to role play with the blacksmith?
From: Porter
Subject The blacksmith
Mund takes his favorite knife out of its sheath and his backup out of his boot and hands them to the blacksmith.
"Morning. Could you sharpen these for me?"
While he's sharpening Mund's knives, he asks him where the merchant guid is.
The Merchant's Guild
Subject The Merchants Guild
The man whistles and a young apprentice comes out of the back. "Sharpening while you wait is a copper per knife." The man takes another look at the daggers as he hands them over and stops. "Hey, this one is cold iron. That's gonna cost a silver." Mund nods and hands over the coins. The man hands the knives to the young man saying "Will, go and sharpen these for the gent. Be careful with this one, you will need the stone on the left of the table." The smith turns back to the party and they see the apprentice make a face at the smith and then head through the door to the back of the shop.
While waiting Mund asks "We are new in town and were wondering where the merchant guild is?" A strange look enters the eye of the smith. "Who wants to know about the merchant's guild? You came to the right man, for Bilby knows all about the Merchant guild. Those foul, money grubbing elves that rule the world by controlling markets and prices. For over a thousand years those no good, copper pinching.." . For the next twenty minutes the smith continues to ramble about some eon's long, continent spanning conspiracy between the elves and dwarves to control commerce in the world. According to him every major historical incedent was caused by this guild, including many that the party has heard of and are sure that no guild had any part in.
The man is still talking when Will comes out from the back. He throws the party members a disgusted look when he hears what Bilby is talking about.
Which Guild?, arms and armor, jewel of his eye
Subject Which Guild?
I thought they were looking for the "Mercenary" guild. When did this become "Merchant" guild?
From: Kevin
Subject Which Guild?
Agreed.
IC: Harp edges over to Mund and says as quietly as he can "We wanted to find the Mercenary Guild, not the merchants. Look around the street, merchants we can find. Fighters and guards, those we need to find."
From: Porter
Subject Which Guild
Mund pays the man and examines the new edge on his knifes, cutting his thumb and drawing a single drop of blood. While sucking his wound, Mund says in appreciation "That's a fine edge there. Thanks. Oh, and also, can either of you tell me how to get to the Mercenary guild?"
From: Mark
Subject Which Guild?
The blacksmith stops his rant and looks at Mund with a funny look. "The Mercenary Guild? Well, why didn't you say so? It is over on Sword Street. That's three blocks up and 5 blocks to the east. Say hi to Horatio at the front desk for me." The man takes Mund's coins and waits for them to leave.
From: Porter
Subject Which guild
"Thank you kindly sir. We'll be on our way then."
From: Kevin
Subject Weapons and armor
OOC: Mark, while the rest of the group were waiting on Mund, what did the basic qaulity of weapons look like? Pretty good work, pretty shoddy, etc.? Not looking for an appraise check, but these guys are fighter types and they would have an opinion on what they saw.
From: Mark
Subject Weapons and armor
The overall quality looked fine. There were a few really nice pieces. Nothing looked like crap.
From: Kevin
Subject Weapons and armor
Cool. Just wanted to make sure it wasn't like what we ahve seen in our Evil real life game.
So, someone (somewhere) has some talent, but we don't know how much that talent is going to cost us.
From: Mark
Subject Weapons and armor
Well you have only looked at one guy. He might be the best in town.
From: Kevin
Subject Weapons and armor
Yeah, but at least we know that one guy has some smidgen of talent.
There might be others, but we don't NEED to know that now.
From: Mark
Subject Jewel of his eye
Salix and those with him start to head back to the Leaky Mug. "Hey let see if we can find some type of jewelry shop. I need to get some pearls for my identify spell. Maybe some type of jewelry would be a way to carry extra's around." Surin asks a local person the way to where some jewelry stores are and gets directions. They head through town as the sun starts to fall in the west. They come to a street where there seems to be several shops with signs out front with pictures of gems and jewelry on them.
OODM: Is there any particular shop you guys want to look in or do I just determine by random chance.
It is about 3:30PM and it gets dark around 7PM. It is about 1/2 hour to the Inn from here.
From: Karl
Subject Jewel of his eye
What happened with Surin looking for the thieves guild, if there is such a thing?
Salix isn't too concerned about the pearls, but won't stop the group from shopping if Allistair really wants them. If no one else takes the lead, (doubtful) he'll just head for the first one he sees. (But it seems likely that Surin or Ally would speak up and pick one.)
In short, I'm just checking in and don't have a lot to add at this time. However, Salix is constantly keeping an eye/ear out looking for some clue as to where they should go next.
From: Mark
Subject Jewel of his eye
I have sent something to Ashley. Let see what she has to say.
From: Josh
Subject Jewel of his eye
OOC: Is kal with this group?
Finding a gem
Subject Finding a gem
Yes. The two groups are Salix,Ally, Surin and Kal with the other being Harp, Ragnar, Mund and Ran.
From: Josh
Subject Finding a gem
Alright. Kal is interested in finding pearls as well.
From: Mark
Subjet: Turn
I knew the slow period could not last.
I will get a turn out tonight, probably between 7:30 and 9.
From: Ashley
Subject Finding a gem
Surin looks carefully down the street, taking stock of the different storefronts, giving the occasional guard or storekeeper a friendly wave. He looks for a larger store with a guard posted in front. If he sees one down the street, he'll turn to the rest. "This place'll definetely have the pearls we're looking for, though I'd suggest you keep your eyes open. If they've posted a guard, it means they haven't paid protection money to the Thieves' guild, so any of the wares, or anything the patrons are carrying, are considered fair game." If they find such a place Surin will browse the shop, keeping his eye out for anyone who could be a guild member.
From: Derek
Subject Finding a gem
"I'll go in with you, Surin, and I think I'll stay close to you."
At the Merc Guild
Subject Turn
Sorry I did not get anything out last night, half the family is sick and since I am not one of them, I get to take care of them. I am not sure if I will get anything done during the day today, but I should be able to get something done tonight after I finish the Christmas shopping.
From: Josh
Subject Turn
If you got sick we would have had a turn?
You know what your job is Kevin.
From: Mark
Subject At the Merc Guild
Mund thanks the man and the four head up the street following the instructions they were given. With in ten minutes they are standing across the street of a fairly large building. It is made of wood and has a large front door. The door has iron bars across the window in the middle and iron straps every couple of feet. It is a fairly imposing door but it is open at the moment. There is a steady stream of men, and the occasional woman, going in and out of the building. Most of them are human, but there is a large percentage of 1/2 orcs with the occasional dwarf. Every now and then a larger group of 4-6 will enter or leave the guild, obviously a party going off or getting back from a job.
After about 10 minutes of watching Mund turns to the others "Well this looks like the place. If you fella's don't mind, let me do the talk'n. I've been in places like this before. Try and play along if I start something and don't be surprised at anything I do." The others nod agreement with a bit of bafflement in their eyes. "Ok, lets go" the barbarian says. He leads them up the stairs and through the front door. When they enter the building they find themselves in a large room. Well armed men and women stand around in pairs and small groups. Mund nudges one of the men by the door "Hey, who do we see about work?" The man looks at him with flash of anger but seeing the barbarian and his three friends behind him quickly brings out his civil side. "Horatio over there is in charge today. He's the guy to see." Mund looks in the direction that the man is pointing and behind a group of mean looking mercenaries sits a small man.
OODM: Ok how do you four want to approach Horatio?
From: Kevin
Subject At the Merc Guild
Let Mund take the lead??
Looking for work
Subject Today
My office has their Christmas party today from 12-4, so do not expect anything this afternoon. I will probably get something out for Salix et al this evening.
From: Porter
Subject At the Merc Guild
OOC: You say Mund's been in this kind of place before. How do they work? When he talks to Horatio will they get a chance to choose jobs, haggle over payment, etc., once they step in are they comitted?
From: Mark
Subject At the Merc Guild
Well he has been in Merc halls before. Usually you have to get your name on the list, sign that you agree to the terms of the guild, let them know of any specialties you have or are capable of, and then wait until your name is called. For example, some one might only be willing to work in town. Someone else might be willing to travel. One guy might be great with a bow and a lousy tracker. The customer is always allowed to say no to who ever the guild sends over but that is not a black mark against you.
From: Porter
Subject Looking for work
Mund walks over to Horatio and says "I was told to talk to you about a job. What kinds of work do you have?"
From: Mark
Subject Looking for work
"What are you looking for? In town, out of town, high risk, low risk? You by yourself or got some buddies? You're obviously new here so probably don't have no references. Give me your name and where you can be reached and we will see what we can match. Let you know, you have half an hour from the time you get posted until it goes to the next qualifier. Name?" the little man holds a quill pen in his hand and is prepared to write something in a large book.
From: Kevin
Subject Looking for work
OOC: Porter, Harp would have Mund (and the others) that he is trying to go by the name "Hack" while in town. It just sounds meaner and fits being a 1/2 orc.
Randy out of contact
Subject Out of contact
OOC: I'm going on a course next week and will most likely not get much opportunity to check in. I'll be gone from Sunday afternoon until Thursday night. I also am taking vacation time for the week of Christmas and will probably not be online very much for that week. Ran will go along with whatever the plan is and stay mostly quiet, deferring to Mund and Harp.
From: Mark
Subject Out of contact
Ok thanks for the notice. We might be taking a break between Christmas and New Years, if people want.
At the jewelers
Subject At the jewelers
Surin spends a few minutes surveying the street where it seems many of the jewelers in Bodentown are located. Some of the shops seem very large and others are not so big. Surprisingly enough, the smaller shops seem to be unguarded while the larger shops have at least two or three well armed and armored guards standing out side heavily barred and locked doors. After the halfling has had the party walk up and down the street once, he makes them backtrack to one of the larger stores with three guards out front. He leads the other three right up the to guards. Looking up at the large man in the middle he starts talking "Hi, there. We're here to buy some jewelery. Do we need an appointment?" The man seems a bit stunned by this question but gives an answer "No no appointment needed but only two in the store at a time." Surin looks a bit disconcerted at this reply and Salix steps forward.
"My good man, we are but four humble men looking to buy some trinkets for our women. I understand a limit on armed men in a store such as this but we pose no threat." Salix continues on in his most reassuring voice (Diplomacy,12+9=21, success) and the man starts nodding. A few seconds later the man nods "Ok the four of you can go on in, but if you cause any problem I'm going to run you through." "There will be no problems"Salix assures him, and they enter as the man unlocks the door and holds it open for them. Surin notices that there are actually several very large and very complicated locks on the door.
As they step into the shop they are amazed at the quality of the workmanship on the inside. Everything is wooden panels, marble floors, crystal lamps. The only jarring things are the thick iron bars on all the windows and the door. As they enter a large, heavy set man hustles forward greeting them "Welcome, welcome, how my I, Archen, be of service to you this fine day?"
OODM: You guys can role play this if you want.