Quill lets out a whispered craw that could be interpreted as a laugh.
Most splendrous is the Underdark indeed With beauty elsewhere unknown Though to tell the truth, I'd rather dwell In the lightless depths of Annwn Where the sun is dead, and skies are red And the faceless things do call Indeed, I doubt the Underdark Is really that pleasant at all
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"Ignorance is bliss, and you look absolutely miserable."
After a moment of waiting, the door opens once more and you see Vertheg letting in a human man. He thanks Vertheg and has him wait outside,
"Greetings, welcome to my humble abode. I do apologize for the state of it but that is why I've asked for a group of...adventurers to assist me. And again, I apologize for the secrecy of it, if my rivals were to find out of my most recent failure with my venture, then my other businesses may be in danger of being bought out. But I am getting ahead of myself, allow me to introduce myself, I am lord Aubreck. I am a former merchant turned noble, I've managed to acquire the title with my success in the past, yet the present is currently...suffering in a mishap at sea."
The man is well clothed, but the fashion is not up to date. He kept his hair well groomed into a small pony tail and has a well tended mustache. His physique lacks any muscle but does hold the composure of merchant. He takes a seat upon a couch and waits a moment to see if any of you have a question.
Nivi catches the apple she had been tossing into the air with her Mage Hand and returns it unobtrusively to the bowl. She beams at Aubreck and gives him a modest ladylike curtsy that looks less in character for her than a tiger dancing the tango.
"Happy to help, Lord Aubreck. At least speaking for myself. So what I am hearing you say is that our help is the difference between your fortune and your ruination." She pauses to let the statement hang in the air for a few seconds. "What is transpiring out at sea that we can help set right?"
"Ruination would be an exaggeration but I would like to see my investment returned to me rather than another. A ship called the Emperor of the Waves, financed and owned by me, was on the way back here with the recent acquisitions from trade routes I've set for it. Yet it has never arrived at the designated date, I suspect it has been waylaid by some sort. And recent rumors confirm my suspicions as the ship has been spotted by fishermen of the village."
He explains, taking a moment to set a map onto the table. It is a rough map of sea near the coastal village. He points to a spot marked on the map.
"And this is what I've asked you all for. I would like you all to retrieve a certain cargo from the ship, a magic box. It is made from a blue iron like material and should be in a cargo box labelled with a large A. There may be some other treasures aboard, but this magic box takes priority. You may take them if you wish. Now then, I understand just some word of treasure aboard is not enough to persuade you all, so I shall state the pay of such an operation. The box holds 100,000 gold in deeds and promissory notes. I'll be willing to offer your group 10,000 from it along with ownership of any magical items found aboard."
He pauses for a moment to set a bag onto the table.
"And as a show of good faith, I'll give you an advance payment of 200 gold. I've already chartered a ship to help sail near there. They've been stocked with some supplies and equipment should you need them. I shall answer any questions if you have them, seeing as I have went on quite bit. But do all you find this proposition acceptable?"
Nivi stares hard at Aubreck for a moment, as does her owl, Thumbtack. She remains standing. We're sailing into treacherous waters here in more ways than one, with a shiny lure dangling in front of us, waiting for us to bite...
"Lord Aubreck. I suspect you've found the right adventurers for the job. If you are hiring us, clearly, you expect the potential for significant danger, and if we die trying, you get nothing. One hundred thousand gold is a king's ransom. So I have to ask..." (she taps her finger on her lips).
"You say the Emperor of the Waves may have been waylaid. If so, is it under the control of pirates or a rival merchant or power? What makes you think your box is still on the ship? Or that the hundred thousand gold worth of deeds and notes are still inside? Pirates enjoy opening chests, I've heard. Or the box could be at the bottom of the sea. Did the fishermen who observed the ship discern who or what waylaid it and whether they are still aboard?"
Upon the thump Brand looked at his shoulder, staring in wonderment why he was struck so. Is this some custom? Is it friendly or insulting? As he contemplated he felt another bump, now to his chest and realised an apple had been thrown at him. What... What is with this creature? Is it attacking him? Is this how it starts a fight? These things do not hurt, and an apple is food, so is this a friendly gesture? He didn't understand. He picked up the apple and put it back into the bowl - his mind a-flutter with curiosity and confusion. He did not know how to interpret these things, at all, and that just made him feel... Lonely.
The mysterious Aubreck had entered. He listened quietly. An advance payment of 200 gold, about 33 gold each, - already more gold than Brand has ever held since coming to this world - and a promise of more if they're successful? Could they do it? A ship taken by enemies, a small locked box somewhere in it, and surrounded by the sea? When it came to warfare upon the water his speciality, fire, was a bit of a mixed bag. Wonderfully effective against the wooden enemy ships - especially ones with gunpower - but almost useless actually in the water. Thankfully, magic fire still worked, unlike the non-magical kind, but it was considerably weaker, however. How good were these people he was to work with? The little bird-folk with tentacles and mindspeak showed promise. The one who summoned a water tentacle - what is with all the tentacles?! - would also be interesting. But the rest he knew nothing about.
"I a-accept." He said simply and then waited for the answers to Nivi's questions.
If he was honest, he did not fully trust this Aubreck. If his ship was taken by enemies, why not alert authorities? If there were magic items why did he not care if the group took them when he could easily buy the loyalty with this gold and make their retrieval just part of the request?
This home... If he was as wealthy as this then few would have the home in this state. Perhaps his story was true or he just liked this aesthetic - it seemed more likely this wasn't his real home.
Despite his mind racing - he did not voice any concerns. It didn't not matter what the truth was. He didn't care. 'Go kill bad guys and get my stuff back' and 'go kill these innocents to steal something I want' were basically the same to him. As long as he got paid, why care? The gold, even if not all that was promised, will further his goal of getting home either way. That's all he cared about - the rest can burn.
"You all may leave when you are ready, the ship is currently docked and awaiting the arrival of the group with my permission. Said permission being inside this bag. And for who is responsible for this incident, I have no idea. While pirates and my rivals are plausible, none of my contacts have reached out to me about any battles at sea nor my rivals making large gains either. More confusing so is how the fishermen describe the ship. I found out its the emperor through how they described the figurehead, yet what bothered me more was that all three masts were gone. This mainly made the fishermen view the ship as some sort of ghost ship, helpful to dissuade others to trying to salvage it, not so as inform us as to who attacked the ship."
Aubreck takes a moment to stare at the map's marked spot.
"Besides this ghost talk, about the chest. Only I can open it, along with the added security of only me being able to redeem these bills. And if it is lost in the sea, well then, I suppose we both lose. I won't be able to acquire the funds to pay you for completing this operation, yet that is why I also put a forward payment. If you do not return with chest then the 200 gold is your pay."
Nivi smiles sweetly and pretends that she hadn't just been planning to open the box herself and divvy up the hundred thousand worth of notes and deeds for the party. What would Aubreck have been able to do about it anyway without his fortune, she had thought. So much for that daydream. Of course he has security on the box. Also makes sense why he has some hope that who or whatever may have interfered with the ship did not already open the box.
She considers asking for fifteen thousand gold to split among the group since any man who would pay ten thousand to gain ninety thousand would surely also pay fifteen thousand to gain eighty-five thousand. But Nivi guesses that the manifest eagerness of her companions (and frankly her own poorly-hidden eagerness) would make this a futile negotiating gambit. She uses her Mage Hand to pick up an apple again from the bowl and takes a bite.
"Fine. I'm in. Let's gear up and leave today. One final question. Where on the ship would the box be if no one has moved it?."
" Living or dead do not matter. Najax fears no ghost! The undeads shall dread my sword!"
The Dragonborn lowers his weapon. He reaches the bag and grabs a handful of coins 200 GP from it.
" I knew what I should know. Farewell Aubrick. Farewell warriors. See you on the ship."
Najax leaves the bag, money and ship permission to the others. He doesn't bother with the documents. That's another person's job. And before he leaves the mansion, Najax snatches three apples from the bowl.
Having already accepted the terms, Quill remains silent. They do, however, speak a syllable in a language previously unheard to man, which induces a slight ringing sound in the ears of those who hear it for a few seconds after it is uttered. They twist a feathered hand, joints undulating bonelessly in an impossible formation, and from their body an eldritch claw emerges. It is hard to directly focus on, and seems to have three fingers one minute, ten-thousand the next. The next moment it's an undulating tentacle, and the next a snapping crab-like claw. It oozes its way into the air and wraps around a pair of apples. One disappears up Quill's hat, and the other is speedily devoured, core and all, by their little beak.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"Ignorance is bliss, and you look absolutely miserable."
"Why is the boisterous one taking all of our money?" Brand looks at the now coinless bag and then to the door Najax left through and then back to the bag, all with a bewildered look.
Najax's hand is really huge. And it may look as if he took all the coins but if others see closer they can find the rest of money in the corner of the bag.
OOC: Sorry. It was my mistake! I was very sleepy when I was writing the last post.
Quill lets out a whispered craw that could be interpreted as a laugh.
Most splendrous is the Underdark indeed
With beauty elsewhere unknown
Though to tell the truth, I'd rather dwell
In the lightless depths of Annwn
Where the sun is dead, and skies are red
And the faceless things do call
Indeed, I doubt the Underdark
Is really that pleasant at all
"Ignorance is bliss, and you look absolutely miserable."
@Brand
Najax takes one apple from the bowl and faces Brand.
" I don't give a damn about this house. And I don't have mine either. The thing bothers us is that… "
The Dragonborn throws the apple whole into his mouth and clashes it with his teeth.
" If this Aubrick can't even hire a cleaner, then does he have enough money to hire us? "
Najax grabs two more apples. He throws one of them to Brand and eats another one by himself.
After a moment of waiting, the door opens once more and you see Vertheg letting in a human man. He thanks Vertheg and has him wait outside,
"Greetings, welcome to my humble abode. I do apologize for the state of it but that is why I've asked for a group of...adventurers to assist me. And again, I apologize for the secrecy of it, if my rivals were to find out of my most recent failure with my venture, then my other businesses may be in danger of being bought out. But I am getting ahead of myself, allow me to introduce myself, I am lord Aubreck. I am a former merchant turned noble, I've managed to acquire the title with my success in the past, yet the present is currently...suffering in a mishap at sea."
The man is well clothed, but the fashion is not up to date. He kept his hair well groomed into a small pony tail and has a well tended mustache. His physique lacks any muscle but does hold the composure of merchant. He takes a seat upon a couch and waits a moment to see if any of you have a question.
Nivi catches the apple she had been tossing into the air with her Mage Hand and returns it unobtrusively to the bowl. She beams at Aubreck and gives him a modest ladylike curtsy that looks less in character for her than a tiger dancing the tango.
"Happy to help, Lord Aubreck. At least speaking for myself. So what I am hearing you say is that our help is the difference between your fortune and your ruination." She pauses to let the statement hang in the air for a few seconds. "What is transpiring out at sea that we can help set right?"
Mud(Paladin2):Frandal's Scourge/Inge(Barbarian1):Krayveneer's After the Fall/Seri(Cleric1/Sorcerer1):Uhtred's Windward Isles/Shin(Wizard2):Dimir_MTG's Surviving
Dyson/Eleo(Cleric3):Vos' Beyond the Veil/Soren(Druid4):Bartjeebus' Ravenloft/Nivi(Rogue3):Raiketsu's CoS/Lyra(Warlock2/Bard2):BlameItOnWinter's Will of the Ancients
Joren(Fighter5):NotDrizzt's Simple Request/Quyen(Adept1):Constance's Nentir Vale/Rel(Warlock2):Uhtred's Phandelver/Xarian(Fighter1/Wizard1):ShieldHero's Drakkenheim
"Ruination would be an exaggeration but I would like to see my investment returned to me rather than another. A ship called the Emperor of the Waves, financed and owned by me, was on the way back here with the recent acquisitions from trade routes I've set for it. Yet it has never arrived at the designated date, I suspect it has been waylaid by some sort. And recent rumors confirm my suspicions as the ship has been spotted by fishermen of the village."
He explains, taking a moment to set a map onto the table. It is a rough map of sea near the coastal village. He points to a spot marked on the map.
"And this is what I've asked you all for. I would like you all to retrieve a certain cargo from the ship, a magic box. It is made from a blue iron like material and should be in a cargo box labelled with a large A. There may be some other treasures aboard, but this magic box takes priority. You may take them if you wish. Now then, I understand just some word of treasure aboard is not enough to persuade you all, so I shall state the pay of such an operation. The box holds 100,000 gold in deeds and promissory notes. I'll be willing to offer your group 10,000 from it along with ownership of any magical items found aboard."
He pauses for a moment to set a bag onto the table.
"And as a show of good faith, I'll give you an advance payment of 200 gold. I've already chartered a ship to help sail near there. They've been stocked with some supplies and equipment should you need them. I shall answer any questions if you have them, seeing as I have went on quite bit. But do all you find this proposition acceptable?"
Dobin says “I accept the terms. When would we leave?”
D&D since 1984
Nivi stares hard at Aubreck for a moment, as does her owl, Thumbtack. She remains standing. We're sailing into treacherous waters here in more ways than one, with a shiny lure dangling in front of us, waiting for us to bite...
"Lord Aubreck. I suspect you've found the right adventurers for the job. If you are hiring us, clearly, you expect the potential for significant danger, and if we die trying, you get nothing. One hundred thousand gold is a king's ransom. So I have to ask..." (she taps her finger on her lips).
"You say the Emperor of the Waves may have been waylaid. If so, is it under the control of pirates or a rival merchant or power? What makes you think your box is still on the ship? Or that the hundred thousand gold worth of deeds and notes are still inside? Pirates enjoy opening chests, I've heard. Or the box could be at the bottom of the sea. Did the fishermen who observed the ship discern who or what waylaid it and whether they are still aboard?"
Mud(Paladin2):Frandal's Scourge/Inge(Barbarian1):Krayveneer's After the Fall/Seri(Cleric1/Sorcerer1):Uhtred's Windward Isles/Shin(Wizard2):Dimir_MTG's Surviving
Dyson/Eleo(Cleric3):Vos' Beyond the Veil/Soren(Druid4):Bartjeebus' Ravenloft/Nivi(Rogue3):Raiketsu's CoS/Lyra(Warlock2/Bard2):BlameItOnWinter's Will of the Ancients
Joren(Fighter5):NotDrizzt's Simple Request/Quyen(Adept1):Constance's Nentir Vale/Rel(Warlock2):Uhtred's Phandelver/Xarian(Fighter1/Wizard1):ShieldHero's Drakkenheim
Thou art- shit, ten thousand?
Yeah, no, that... that sounds good.
Quill fidgets uncomfortably for second, then clears their throat, despite not having actually spoken.
Thy... terms are acceptable,
Thy payment doubly so.
Thy package shall be retrieved,
And in return we get mad dough.
"Ignorance is bliss, and you look absolutely miserable."
Najax waited a few moments to sink the words of the merchant into his brain. When they all settled, he roars in excitement and draws his great sword.
" Pirates! Treasures! And the sea! This is the mission, the Dragon God gave me! I am on your ship, Aubrick!! Tell me where to go!"
Upon the thump Brand looked at his shoulder, staring in wonderment why he was struck so. Is this some custom? Is it friendly or insulting? As he contemplated he felt another bump, now to his chest and realised an apple had been thrown at him. What... What is with this creature? Is it attacking him? Is this how it starts a fight? These things do not hurt, and an apple is food, so is this a friendly gesture? He didn't understand. He picked up the apple and put it back into the bowl - his mind a-flutter with curiosity and confusion. He did not know how to interpret these things, at all, and that just made him feel... Lonely.
The mysterious Aubreck had entered. He listened quietly. An advance payment of 200 gold, about 33 gold each, - already more gold than Brand has ever held since coming to this world - and a promise of more if they're successful? Could they do it? A ship taken by enemies, a small locked box somewhere in it, and surrounded by the sea? When it came to warfare upon the water his speciality, fire, was a bit of a mixed bag. Wonderfully effective against the wooden enemy ships - especially ones with gunpower - but almost useless actually in the water. Thankfully, magic fire still worked, unlike the non-magical kind, but it was considerably weaker, however. How good were these people he was to work with? The little bird-folk with tentacles and mindspeak showed promise. The one who summoned a water tentacle - what is with all the tentacles?! - would also be interesting. But the rest he knew nothing about.
"I a-accept." He said simply and then waited for the answers to Nivi's questions.
If he was honest, he did not fully trust this Aubreck. If his ship was taken by enemies, why not alert authorities? If there were magic items why did he not care if the group took them when he could easily buy the loyalty with this gold and make their retrieval just part of the request?
This home... If he was as wealthy as this then few would have the home in this state. Perhaps his story was true or he just liked this aesthetic - it seemed more likely this wasn't his real home.
Despite his mind racing - he did not voice any concerns. It didn't not matter what the truth was. He didn't care. 'Go kill bad guys and get my stuff back' and 'go kill these innocents to steal something I want' were basically the same to him. As long as he got paid, why care? The gold, even if not all that was promised, will further his goal of getting home either way. That's all he cared about - the rest can burn.
My Homebrew: Races | Subclasses | Backgrounds | Spells | Magic Items | Feats
Need help with Homebrew? Check out this FAQ/Guide thread by IamSposta
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"You all may leave when you are ready, the ship is currently docked and awaiting the arrival of the group with my permission. Said permission being inside this bag. And for who is responsible for this incident, I have no idea. While pirates and my rivals are plausible, none of my contacts have reached out to me about any battles at sea nor my rivals making large gains either. More confusing so is how the fishermen describe the ship. I found out its the emperor through how they described the figurehead, yet what bothered me more was that all three masts were gone. This mainly made the fishermen view the ship as some sort of ghost ship, helpful to dissuade others to trying to salvage it, not so as inform us as to who attacked the ship."
Aubreck takes a moment to stare at the map's marked spot.
"Besides this ghost talk, about the chest. Only I can open it, along with the added security of only me being able to redeem these bills. And if it is lost in the sea, well then, I suppose we both lose. I won't be able to acquire the funds to pay you for completing this operation, yet that is why I also put a forward payment. If you do not return with chest then the 200 gold is your pay."
Nivi smiles sweetly and pretends that she hadn't just been planning to open the box herself and divvy up the hundred thousand worth of notes and deeds for the party. What would Aubreck have been able to do about it anyway without his fortune, she had thought. So much for that daydream. Of course he has security on the box. Also makes sense why he has some hope that who or whatever may have interfered with the ship did not already open the box.
She considers asking for fifteen thousand gold to split among the group since any man who would pay ten thousand to gain ninety thousand would surely also pay fifteen thousand to gain eighty-five thousand. But Nivi guesses that the manifest eagerness of her companions (and frankly her own poorly-hidden eagerness) would make this a futile negotiating gambit. She uses her Mage Hand to pick up an apple again from the bowl and takes a bite.
"Fine. I'm in. Let's gear up and leave today. One final question. Where on the ship would the box be if no one has moved it?."
Mud(Paladin2):Frandal's Scourge/Inge(Barbarian1):Krayveneer's After the Fall/Seri(Cleric1/Sorcerer1):Uhtred's Windward Isles/Shin(Wizard2):Dimir_MTG's Surviving
Dyson/Eleo(Cleric3):Vos' Beyond the Veil/Soren(Druid4):Bartjeebus' Ravenloft/Nivi(Rogue3):Raiketsu's CoS/Lyra(Warlock2/Bard2):BlameItOnWinter's Will of the Ancients
Joren(Fighter5):NotDrizzt's Simple Request/Quyen(Adept1):Constance's Nentir Vale/Rel(Warlock2):Uhtred's Phandelver/Xarian(Fighter1/Wizard1):ShieldHero's Drakkenheim
"This all sounds pretty straightforward," says Davak. "I'm in."
"Cargo hold, at the bottom of the ship."
" Living or dead do not matter. Najax fears no ghost! The undeads shall dread my sword!"
The Dragonborn lowers his weapon. He reaches the bag and grabs a handful of coins
200 GPfrom it." I knew what I should know. Farewell Aubrick. Farewell warriors. See you on the ship."
Najax leaves the bag, money and ship permission to the others. He doesn't bother with the documents. That's another person's job. And before he leaves the mansion, Najax snatches three apples from the bowl.
Having already accepted the terms, Quill remains silent. They do, however, speak a syllable in a language previously unheard to man, which induces a slight ringing sound in the ears of those who hear it for a few seconds after it is uttered. They twist a feathered hand, joints undulating bonelessly in an impossible formation, and from their body an eldritch claw emerges. It is hard to directly focus on, and seems to have three fingers one minute, ten-thousand the next. The next moment it's an undulating tentacle, and the next a snapping crab-like claw. It oozes its way into the air and wraps around a pair of apples. One disappears up Quill's hat, and the other is speedily devoured, core and all, by their little beak.
"Ignorance is bliss, and you look absolutely miserable."
"Why is the boisterous one taking all of our money?" Brand looks at the now coinless bag and then to the door Najax left through and then back to the bag, all with a bewildered look.
My Homebrew: Races | Subclasses | Backgrounds | Spells | Magic Items | Feats
Need help with Homebrew? Check out this FAQ/Guide thread by IamSposta
See My Youtube Videos for Tips & Tricks using D&D Beyond
Najax's hand is really huge. And it may look as if he took all the coins but if others see closer they can find the rest of money in the corner of the bag.
OOC: Sorry. It was my mistake! I was very sleepy when I was writing the last post.
(If you all want to stop by the smithy or general store, go ahead and post that your going for them. Otherwise, the ship is at the docks and has studded leather armor for any character who wants it, two light crossbows with twenty bolts each, five 50-foot coils of rope, two grappling hooks, twelve torches, two healer’s kits, six vials of antitoxin, two potions of healing, and two sacks for carrying treasure out of the ship.)
Dobin will get a grappling hook, two potions of healing, two vials of antitoxin and two sacks.
D&D since 1984