Essilar takes what seems like days to consider your offer, looking at you warily. "A brand new dragonborn city in the middle of the desert sounds fantastical, and a convenient way to get rid of me. I suppose it doesn't need to be said that you'd earn some chest ink if I find nothing out there, or your word in introduction is worthless... If you're playing me straight, it sounds a plum opportunity, and I'd rather get there before someone else plucks it. Aye, I'll take your trade... my cache as a tax, and a letter of introduction to your burgeoning city in need of a savvy liaison to the outside world. I can give you some leads for how things lie in Torfelna, it'll be up to you to make your case with the guild there though. That sound square to you?
It's slow going getting the other three down the rocky slope, bound as they are.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM:Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
Randy gives a sharp nod and takes off the elf's bonds.
In elvish:
"Fair enough. Just bear in mind that it works both ways: you cross the Dragon borne in this and it just won't be them after you. I like those folks and I'll take it personally. Now come with me. I've got to explain the situation to my colleagues and the beast hunter. You're under new employment, but not at liberty to discuss the details."
"Fair enough. I imagine even with your referral, it'll take a while to earn their trust, so I'll be on good behavior. And I'd not be so cruel as to endanger folks attempting a desert crossing, but if more deals end up in the dragonborn's favor, I'll be sure they know who they can thank for that."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM:Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
Randy gestures for him to follow. When he catches up to the others, he announces to them, "I've had a good talk with our smuggler friend here. He's decided to take advantage of an opportunity I told him about and go work for some friends of ours." He taps his fire gem at this point. "He is sorry about the misunderstanding and has agreed to pay us a 'nuisance fee' as a way to make up for it before he goes."
Essilar sketches a slight bow. "Glad to be a member of the team. Sorry lads, looks like our business arrangement is at an end, but I wish you well in your future endeavors. You can keep whatever supplies they permit as a severance bonus."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM:Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
Randy gives a nod. and looks at the 3 helpers. "Show some incentive and do a good job, and I'll see you have a little something for the trouble. If you show enough effort, I may even have a proposal for you to consider. Consider it an audition. One rule: don't do anything stupid or dangerous."
He walks over to wagons and starts drawing a rough map to the Dragonborn city along with an introductory letter for Essilar to show to the tribal elders, explaining who he is and what he can do for them.
Hank and the boy pitch in with a bit more enthusiasm than Garvey, though while he does so sullenly, he still contributes to shifting rocks and helping to clear the way. The wagons have come forward a bit, the members of the hunting party content to sit and have a bit of an impromptu picnic, the tielfling daughter in conversation with her parents, presumably about her meeting with the old wizard.
Essilar follows Randy at a bit of a distance, careful to keep his hands clear of any weapons or otherwise give folks the impression he's not well behaved. "Can I see what you're writing?"
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM:Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
While the elves chat Dornikal, with the help of the freaky gnomes, will shepherd the other would be bandits down to the wagons.
Randy:
Essilar takes what seems like days to consider your offer, looking at you warily. "A brand new dragonborn city in the middle of the desert sounds fantastical, and a convenient way to get rid of me. I suppose it doesn't need to be said that you'd earn some chest ink if I find nothing out there, or your word in introduction is worthless... If you're playing me straight, it sounds a plum opportunity, and I'd rather get there before someone else plucks it. Aye, I'll take your trade... my cache as a tax, and a letter of introduction to your burgeoning city in need of a savvy liaison to the outside world. I can give you some leads for how things lie in Torfelna, it'll be up to you to make your case with the guild there though. That sound square to you?
It's slow going getting the other three down the rocky slope, bound as they are.
DM: Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
Active Characters:
Breldo, Halfling Ranger | Kathryn, Wood Elf Rogue/Ranger | Kroshav, Dragonborn Paladin | T'laren Farsiel, Wood Elf Fighter | Trill, Kenku Bard | Val "Janellae", Mark of Shadow Elf Warlock
Randy gives a sharp nod and takes off the elf's bonds.
In elvish:
"Fair enough. Just bear in mind that it works both ways: you cross the Dragon borne in this and it just won't be them after you. I like those folks and I'll take it personally. Now come with me. I've got to explain the situation to my colleagues and the beast hunter. You're under new employment, but not at liberty to discuss the details."
Dornikal isn't in a hurry and will try to make sure none of them fall during the process.
Randy:
"Fair enough. I imagine even with your referral, it'll take a while to earn their trust, so I'll be on good behavior. And I'd not be so cruel as to endanger folks attempting a desert crossing, but if more deals end up in the dragonborn's favor, I'll be sure they know who they can thank for that."
DM: Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
Active Characters:
Breldo, Halfling Ranger | Kathryn, Wood Elf Rogue/Ranger | Kroshav, Dragonborn Paladin | T'laren Farsiel, Wood Elf Fighter | Trill, Kenku Bard | Val "Janellae", Mark of Shadow Elf Warlock
Randy gestures for him to follow. When he catches up to the others, he announces to them, "I've had a good talk with our smuggler friend here. He's decided to take advantage of an opportunity I told him about and go work for some friends of ours." He taps his fire gem at this point. "He is sorry about the misunderstanding and has agreed to pay us a 'nuisance fee' as a way to make up for it before he goes."
Garvey growls and half lunges at the elf, stopping with the realization that bound as he is it won't end well.
Essilar gives him a smile that turns into a wince as it pulls at the inflamed, tender tissue on his neck.
DM: Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
Active Characters:
Breldo, Halfling Ranger | Kathryn, Wood Elf Rogue/Ranger | Kroshav, Dragonborn Paladin | T'laren Farsiel, Wood Elf Fighter | Trill, Kenku Bard | Val "Janellae", Mark of Shadow Elf Warlock
"Aye, uh... Okay?"
Dornikal looks between Colin and Ulwmin to see if they understand.
Randy smiles slightly. "He's changed employers. He works for us and our friends now. I made him an offer he couldn't refuse."
Essilar sketches a slight bow. "Glad to be a member of the team. Sorry lads, looks like our business arrangement is at an end, but I wish you well in your future endeavors. You can keep whatever supplies they permit as a severance bonus."
DM: Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
Active Characters:
Breldo, Halfling Ranger | Kathryn, Wood Elf Rogue/Ranger | Kroshav, Dragonborn Paladin | T'laren Farsiel, Wood Elf Fighter | Trill, Kenku Bard | Val "Janellae", Mark of Shadow Elf Warlock
Dornikal's eyebrows, or where the eyebrows would be if they hadn't been acid exfoliated off, rise.
"Okay... Good to have you onboard?"
He asks uncertainly, before another fight can start he'll keep moving the others down. He once again tries to reassure them (and himself),
"No worries, see? Everything is fine."
Ulmwin shrugs. He figures Randy got things figured out..?
Colin also just trusts Randy and nods toward the new ally. He gets out his waterskin and takes a drink then returns to the wagon.
"Got a job for them too.", Evar interjects tersely, nodding a head toward the rockslide that is blocking the wagons from progressing further.
DM: Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
Active Characters:
Breldo, Halfling Ranger | Kathryn, Wood Elf Rogue/Ranger | Kroshav, Dragonborn Paladin | T'laren Farsiel, Wood Elf Fighter | Trill, Kenku Bard | Val "Janellae", Mark of Shadow Elf Warlock
"Giving nothing really seems to have happened, I figure helping with some hard labor may be enough of a punishment?"
Dornikal shrugs and looks to Randy.
"Good, clean work."
Randy gives a nod. and looks at the 3 helpers. "Show some incentive and do a good job, and I'll see you have a little something for the trouble. If you show enough effort, I may even have a proposal for you to consider. Consider it an audition. One rule: don't do anything stupid or dangerous."
He walks over to wagons and starts drawing a rough map to the Dragonborn city along with an introductory letter for Essilar to show to the tribal elders, explaining who he is and what he can do for them.
Hank and the boy pitch in with a bit more enthusiasm than Garvey, though while he does so sullenly, he still contributes to shifting rocks and helping to clear the way. The wagons have come forward a bit, the members of the hunting party content to sit and have a bit of an impromptu picnic, the tielfling daughter in conversation with her parents, presumably about her meeting with the old wizard.
Essilar follows Randy at a bit of a distance, careful to keep his hands clear of any weapons or otherwise give folks the impression he's not well behaved. "Can I see what you're writing?"
DM: Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
Active Characters:
Breldo, Halfling Ranger | Kathryn, Wood Elf Rogue/Ranger | Kroshav, Dragonborn Paladin | T'laren Farsiel, Wood Elf Fighter | Trill, Kenku Bard | Val "Janellae", Mark of Shadow Elf Warlock
Randy nods. "This is for you anyway." He shows him the map and explains it in more detail and gives him the letter when he's done.
Dornikal will help manage the rock moving, giving good natured advice,
"Garvey, ye need to lift with ye legs. Yer gonna ruin yer back before yer 70 lifting like that."
And,
"Nice Hank, but if ye stack them like that they'll just end up back in the road in a decade or so. Here, more like..."
He'll help out and show both good lifting and stacking techniques.