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Post by achinca on Jul 13, 2007 23:18:32 GMT 1
The group arrives at Barrow’s Edge and Stern stops the wagon in front of a building. The sign above the door reads “Stern Goodseller’ Emporium”. Little of the original cabin can still be seen, as numerous additions jut off all sides and up one level. What had been a front porch now serves as a glassed-in display area. Equipment of all descriptions fills the many shelves and cases visible through the display windows, including lanterns, torches, bolts of cotton, bags of seed and more.
“Well thank you for the help. I would not be alive if it were not for you, noble heroes. Why don’t you go see Mallie and rest and we will do business as promised tomorrow.”
The halfling woman bows and enters her shop, yelling for her help to carry the injured and dead to the ‘Temple’. She points to a large building with an unpainted exterior, which indicates recent construction. Outside the carved wooden symbols of many gods await their first coat of paint and identify it as a place of worship.
Stern directs the group toward a large building which is sprawling at the center of the settlement. Light spills from its windows. A broad sign above the door reads: “Barrow’s Edge Inn – Welcome to All”.
The interior of the inn feels as warm and hospitable as it seemed from the outside. The warn smells of strew and fresh baked bread waft from the kitchen. A portly woman bustles about pouring drinks and serving food.
“Travelers? Welcome. We’ve food and drink and rooms. All warm and clean. Now can I get for you?”
After Odlin identify themselves as the group hired by Zlak, she picked up the document, read it and a large smile form on her face. “I am glad you have accepted our offer. It was my idea. We have decided to build a wall around the town but I was afraid we could all be dead before we finish it. I am glad Zlak succeeded. Well the situation is kind of dire. We lived peacefully with goblins, trading when needed and there were no violence between our two tribes. A few months ago, they started raiding farms on the outcast of the town. We asked around if people did anything wrong to the goblins that would have angered them but we did not find anything. The problem is that we do not know where the goblin lair. A couple of months ago, my own dear husband went with some companions to make peace but has not returned. This menace needs to be stopped. I don’t care about the source of the goblins’ aggressiveness as I want the raid to stop and the town to be safe again.”
She stops, takes a big breath and adds “If you are interested in staying here, it is 2GP for lodging, 5SP for daily meals and 4CP for a mug of ale.”
She turns around and look at a powerfully build dwarf who wears expensive clothing and appears to be very wealthy but very old. “Arvel, is Stern back? I am worried about her safety.”
The dwarf looks at the group and shakes his head “I think Zlak became desperate. I do not believe these 3 can help us.”
Mallie seems honest to Odlin. Arvel skepticism seems real to Odlin too.
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Post by nodaisho on Jul 14, 2007 4:49:21 GMT 1
(When asked to inspect the wand)
"I'll see what I can do." Augustine examines the wand, to see if there are any hints about the key word.
Search take 20 = 20
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Post by Caledonian Achilles on Jul 14, 2007 9:52:16 GMT 1
Sten... Stern.... Goodseller
Odlin suddenly slaps his forehead with his palm. The person they were looking for was their rescued traveller.
We'll need to go speak to the halfling woman... oh my!
And chargin us for room and board? I wonder if this was just a big ruse to bring custom to the village. Nah! Mailiie seems genuine enough.
"Thank you Maillie. Could word be sent to Stern that we would like to speak to her once she is available after she settles in from her trip? And would you be willing to let us have an account? I'm afraid i'm short of funds hence the reason for our taking this expedition."
Odlin stares at the floor bashfully hoping he won't have to sleep rough.
One day my pockets will overflow with beer and I'll sleep on a bed of gold!
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Post by nodaisho on Jul 15, 2007 7:27:09 GMT 1
Augustine hands over the rent for one night, and the money for one day's meals. As they go to Stern's, Augustine tries to do the mental math for how much gold each of them is likely to get from the loot they took off of the gobbos, and fails completely, deciding to just find out when they sell it.
I am not really trying to find out how much, just an IC thing.
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Post by achinca on Jul 16, 2007 15:28:22 GMT 1
Mallie send the bus boy to check on Stern and he comes back later, saying very clear and loud how much Stern is in owe of the group, saying how they saved her life twice and slay quite a few goblins.
Arvel, the older looking dwarf smiles “I’ll be dammed. You are definitively much more dangerous that you look.”
Mallie quickly catches on the money situation and says “regarding payment, let’s open a tab for your cost here. We will deduct from the 100GP we promised to each one of you for finding out why the goblins turned hostile.” She refuses Augustine money at the moment. She asks “So what are your plans after talking to Stern?”
The group goes back to Stern’s Emporium. The halfling woman is very busy with a couple of hired help, unloading the goods and putting them in the stores. The dead and the injured have been transported to the temple. Stern sees the group and smiles “Well, what I can do for you my friend? I have not have a chance to calculate how much I owe you for the goblins good. And do not forget your credit.”
OOC: Augustine cannot find out the command word. (Need identify spell)
OOC2: Can someone volunteer to compute how much gold you get from Stern. Assume 90% of PHB
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Post by Caledonian Achilles on Jul 16, 2007 20:12:09 GMT 1
" Ma'am Maillie," responds the dwarf, " forgive me but we do not know what we shall do until we speak with Stern. If you will excuse us, we shall go there straightaway." The wizard stops by the temple to check on Kyrian before heading to the Goodseller store with the rest of the party. When they meet Stern he bows timidly, looks at the others to take the lead then with a nervous gulp steps forward, letting Cheese drop to the floor and sniff about his boots. " Stern." The mage stops for a bit. Looks at the floor then looks awkwardly at a nearby item on teh counter. " Zlak hired us and recommended that we talk to you. You travel the land and may have any information that would help us in our quest to pacify the goblin tribe. No-one knows where they live but maybe you have seen signs of their passage? Or maybe have knowledge of who migh know? Perhaps you can even warn us of local dangers? Or wilderness safehouses and lodges?" Odlin shuts up, aware that he had began to talk incessantly, the words almost stumbling on his lips with the rush to get out.
check out the loot thread! |
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Post by nodaisho on Jul 17, 2007 8:32:51 GMT 1
"Anything you could tell us about where the goblins go would be helpful, from there I could likely track them down to their lair."
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Post by achinca on Jul 17, 2007 14:10:22 GMT 1
The group leaves the inn to go see Stern and Mallie says quite loud "Zlak surely has hired a strange group to say the least."
They stop at the temple and see that there are two groups. The injured are being attended but some healer although no one seems to be a cleric. On the other side of the temple, the mourning and funeral preparation have started for the two fallen elves.
Stern listens to the questions and think for a while. "Well, there are no safe house or anything like that. We usually do not adventure east much. I do not have much information about the goblins lair. All I know is that if you travel east for a couple of hours, you will find two large rocks which look like dolmen. This was the meeting place when we were in trading term. I would go there with my goods and after a while (sometimes a long while), the goblins would show up. May be you want to start here. May be it will help you. No one has been there in at least two months. We are too afraid."
OOC: regarding examinin the wand, if one of you spoke goblin, you heard the druid use it on himself. So roll a dice for me to see if you understood properly. You need one of you to speak goblin unless you want to spend 100GP to identify it. Well wait. Am I telling you there is a magic user in Barrow's Edge?
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Post by Caledonian Achilles on Jul 17, 2007 19:52:41 GMT 1
Odlin turns to his laconic archer. " Augustine! Of course! Your amazing tracking skills could lead us to the goblin tribe. If we head out to the dolmen then your abilities will prove most useful. Although I'm sca.. concerned that the three of us might not be a match for a whole tribe. If only we could bolster our numbers.
Stern? Do you know of any adventurers in Barrows Edge we can approach to aid us in our mission? I was dismayed to discover that there is not even a healer at the temple, let alone an acolyte that could be spared to come on the adventure of a lifetime." The elven archers constructive comments seem to have bolstered the dwarf's initial bashfulness towards the halfling.
Odlin doesnt speak Goblin, but he is trained to memorise strange syllables and incantations. maybe he can remember the command word being spoken by the druid?  PS: do the party want to chip in for a healng potion to be used on the first person to drop to negative hit points? that is, if we can find one to buy! PPS: if it is a wand of CLW, then Odlin is unable to use it at all. Augustine could use it if he was coached in the right activation word by Odlin and Stern? |
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Post by achinca on Jul 18, 2007 19:05:05 GMT 1
Stern looks at Odlin with a surprised look. "What are you talking about there is no healer at the temple. Zlak has an apprentice. A human female. Her name is Jukia. She is quite something. Young and pretty. Zlak told me that she is quite talented but is too often distracted by boys. But she would not leave Barrow's Edge unless Zlak is back."
OOC: Odlin does not speak goblin but heard the sound the druid made. Stern speak crude goblin so she can help Odlin trying to figure out the activation word for the wand. How do you to proceed in experimenting and who will do it?
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Post by nodaisho on Jul 19, 2007 12:31:14 GMT 1
"I don't remember. Was Zlak going to come back shortly after we left, or was he going to wait another while? I agree with Odlin, if we are going to risk angering a whole tribe of goblins, I would rather have a bit more of a fighting force."
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Post by Ilya on Jul 19, 2007 19:17:45 GMT 1
"Maybe," Stadvas suggests, with a grin and a shrug, "she was on a date. Or it could have been that she is a healer, but not a cleric."
He procedes to explain. "I did see some healer, but no cleric. Maybe you just got those two confused."
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Post by Caledonian Achilles on Jul 19, 2007 21:25:45 GMT 1
Odlin feels more secure, now that the beefy warrior was less laconic than the tight lipped Augustine.
hey, w/b Ilya, hope you had a good hols and you didnt take too long to read all the posts!
to noda too, what shall we do about our missing 4th? i think we might be okay if we can get augustine to use the wand so no need to panic too much. i think anyone will do for the last space.
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Post by achinca on Jul 20, 2007 15:30:23 GMT 1
Stern has that typical woman smile which is a mix of envy, jealousy, respect and admiration.
"I am sure she is having a date in the hay somewhere. She does have a very active social life, you got to give it to her. She does know how to enjoy the little Barrow's Edge has to offer. She just graduating from Zlak clerical training so she is a full fledge cleric. But Mallie or Zlak at the only one that can order her to join you."
She stops a second and looks at Stadvas and Augustine. "although I doubt she will need much convincing, given your good looks."
Odlin explain to Stern about the wand and although he does not speak goblin, he can sort of replicate the sound. Stern, using her goblin knowledge, comes with various options and Augustine tries them out. After a lot of failed attempts, they finally get it to work. Augustine now knows how to activate it but in the process two charges were wasted. The group does not know how many charges are left.
OOC: I assumed a cleric would be the best complement to the group. If you want another NPC to go with the group, let me know. But Jukia can be fun. She will not be the silent type.
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Post by Caledonian Achilles on Jul 20, 2007 19:38:07 GMT 1
The dwarf seems to not realise or not care about the barely hidden meanings in Stern's reply.
"Well Julia would be welcome to join us. We'd be grateful if she could give us a hand i'm sure. Although we shall need to ask Maillie."
Odlin thanks the halfling but with his shyness returning thereby limiting his interaction to a simple nod.
Grateful that Augustine has a wand of healing, he suggests they go speak to Maillie for permission to approach Julia.
"Let's go about this the right way to prevent any bad feeling."
Odlin waits for the others before heading back to the Inn
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