"Well I'll be," the barkeep scratches his beard. "We have heard rumors of a Drow Ranger doing good up north, but we have heard so much more about Drow raiding parties coming up from the Underdark to take good folk below for their slaves. And this is the first one we have seen in these parts. So pardon us if we are all being a bit curious."
"Yeah, it's interesting. We even came across a group of Koboldsindecently that were really helpful and friendly too. We also ran into a load of Goblins that were just as you would expect from the stories you hear about Goblins - filthy, evil creatures they were. Anyway if anyone asks you can let people know that she's sound and not to be afraid to chat to her, she has a different perspective of the world and it's always worth getting to know as much as you can. That's how I like to view the world myself"
Ragdor takes in the smells of the food, the look of contentment falling on him like a blanket of snow on a hillside. He reaches for the little bottle, dashing a drop on his stew, mixes it up real good and digs in. by my beard! That'll put whiskers on the dragonborn!
Xanth takes a seat. Wincing as the chair creeks under his weight. He tastes the stew and beer then adds a splash of the sauce. Tasting it again. "That is powerful." He happily begins slurping down the meal and ignoring the rest of the room.
Once done he will look up at the rest of the table seeing if anyone has not finished their food. "So where are we and how much farther to go?"
Ragdor finishes up, Waterdeep I think is where we're headed. Never been there myself. This is as far from the Spine as I've ever ventured. I'm glad for the good company though.
Glynt will ask the barkeep "Are your Private Rooms currently taken? You said they were for your Special Guest but I wasn't sure if you had one here at present or not."
(@Glynt - Our post crossed. Ragdor was able to rent rooms for the party in Longsaddle. That night you were the special guest with GOLD.)
XANTH will ask about Longsaddle and discover that the horses raised here are infamous throughout Faerun. A wizarding family, the Harpells, actually founded Longsaddle. In addition, you will find out that the Blue Sigils mercenary group is located nearby. They assist to keep the general area free of hostiles. Otherwise, it is a sleepy little village.
You will find that the Long Road will take you to Waterdeep. But it is still quite the journey. You should be able to reach the next town south, Triboar, in a day. That is if you don’t dawdle.
DAY FOURTEEN (To Triboar)
The party gets up early and begins the journey south.
Within an hour you pass a wagon heading north along the Long Road. It was a spice merchant name Rudinge and his with Ethisa. He had two others accompanying him as guards on horseback. They were heading to Mirabar as their final destination.
By late afternoon you catch up with a caravan heading south. This caravan has nothing but Dwarves. And they are hauling three wagons full of iron ore. They look to sell the ore in Triboar. Like RAGDOR, they too are from the Spine of the World. Their leader was a muscular old Dwarf with a long braided gray beard named Bordar Ironshoe. The party joins up with them for the rest of the journey to Triboar. RAGDOR would have heard of the Ironshoe clan but not have previously met up with any.
Triboar is a crossroads town. It is larger than Longsaddle with several inns and taverns. If the party wishes to stay in an inn, you can pick from the following:
"Given we spent nearly a fortnight in the ruins surrounded by Goblins and Kobolds and a Mad Druid I an thinking that the Six Windows would be enough for us. Any objections?"
The party is able to rent a common room for the entire party for an electrum piece for a night at the Six Windows. It is a plain room with straw mattresses. It is however clean and otherwise better than sleeping on the ground. ERKYwill note that the place has a lot more than Six Windows but shrugs it off.
Nearby to the Six Windows is the Triboar Arms, a tavern that can provide for two silver pieces each a pint-sized mug of beer, with some bread, cheese and pickled onions. Again, better than trail rations, but far from the fare the party had at the Golden Horseshoe. The beer is far more bitter than the delicious home brew you had the night before; but it is suitable.
(To keep it simple that would be 3sp each for the room and food for the night.)
Aye, Ragdor belches loudly, sorry, that ale isn't setting well with me. Wake me when it's my turn and thanks for taking first shift. Anyone know anything about Portal Pub we're heading to?
ERKY will speak up, "The Yawning Portal in Waterdeep is somewhat infamous along the Sword Coast. I have not been to Waterdeep, but I have heard of this place. It is said to be the only way to get into the Undermountain Dungeon beneath Waterdeep. I am actually looking forward to seeing it in person."
(Erky will take first shift. To keep things consistent, I suggest Erky and Bix first, Xanth in the middle, and Ragdor and Glynt last shift. If this is good, then I will use this going forward as there is a lot of days traveling for this adventure.)
At this time in history, Triboar is a peaceful place. The party will have no issues that night. Your sleep was good, though not quite as good as the comfortable beds at the Golden Horseshoe.
DAY FIFTEEN (On to Amphail)
It is a full two day's trek to get to the next town along the Long Road, Amphail.
The party gets up early and heads out leaving Triboar behind. Just before noon the party passes a caravan heading north with barrels of apples on their wagons. You chat briefly and learn that the Dwarves of the Spine pay handsomely for the popular fruit.
Not long after, you see a place where it looks like caravans camp. But the party still has too much daylight and pushes onward. By late afternoon, the party finds a spot that has been used by travelers to camp in the past. It is an area where the forest to the west meets the hills to the east. A fire pit is ready for kindling. The party makes camp and sets up watches.
ERKY and BIX have a quiet first watch. And though XANTH thought he heard something in the distance, nothing materializes on the second watch. But during GLYNT and RAGDOR's third watch, the Dwarf Cleric hears something, and it sounds like they are having a conversation.
(If you understand Giant you can open the spoiler.)
You hear a voice, "Gnome you smell. I likes Gnome. Tasty, but not a lot of meat." Another voice, "I smells Dwarf too?" The other voice, "Tough meat." Back to the other voice, "There may be a human." And back again, "We can fill our bellies with human. But there is another smell. Elf maybe? " The other voice, "Ahh, the meat is stringy. Enough talk, let's get to eatin'."
ROLL FOR INITIATIVE
RAGDORand GLYNT will have no problem seeing the large hulking creature rambling out of the darkness from the west.
(Everyone roll, but only Glynt and Ragdor will have actions in Round One as the others are asleep or resting.)
(Will have a new encounter map in the OOC thread.)
BIX will become alert on her own and be able to take actions in round two. ERKY and XANTH will need to be awaken from their sleep and it takes an action to do so.
"Well I'll be," the barkeep scratches his beard. "We have heard rumors of a Drow Ranger doing good up north, but we have heard so much more about Drow raiding parties coming up from the Underdark to take good folk below for their slaves. And this is the first one we have seen in these parts. So pardon us if we are all being a bit curious."
"Yeah, it's interesting. We even came across a group of Kobolds indecently that were really helpful and friendly too. We also ran into a load of Goblins that were just as you would expect from the stories you hear about Goblins - filthy, evil creatures they were. Anyway if anyone asks you can let people know that she's sound and not to be afraid to chat to her, she has a different perspective of the world and it's always worth getting to know as much as you can. That's how I like to view the world myself"
The barkeep looks at GLYNT, "What's a Co...bald?"
(DM NOTE: You don't need to answer. It was just to give you an idea how out of touch this little corner of the world is.)
Ragdor takes in the smells of the food, the look of contentment falling on him like a blanket of snow on a hillside. He reaches for the little bottle, dashing a drop on his stew, mixes it up real good and digs in. by my beard! That'll put whiskers on the dragonborn!
Xanth takes a seat. Wincing as the chair creeks under his weight. He tastes the stew and beer then adds a splash of the sauce. Tasting it again. "That is powerful." He happily begins slurping down the meal and ignoring the rest of the room.
Once done he will look up at the rest of the table seeing if anyone has not finished their food. "So where are we and how much farther to go?"
"Do you think anyone would know anything about where we are going or if anything odd has been happening around here?"
Bix finishes her stew, wipes her face. Kind Barkeep, that was an excellent meal! Thank you.
Ragdor finishes up, Waterdeep I think is where we're headed. Never been there myself. This is as far from the Spine as I've ever ventured. I'm glad for the good company though.
Glynt will ask the barkeep "Are your Private Rooms currently taken? You said they were for your Special Guest but I wasn't sure if you had one here at present or not."
(@Glynt - Our post crossed. Ragdor was able to rent rooms for the party in Longsaddle. That night you were the special guest with GOLD.)
XANTH will ask about Longsaddle and discover that the horses raised here are infamous throughout Faerun. A wizarding family, the Harpells, actually founded Longsaddle. In addition, you will find out that the Blue Sigils mercenary group is located nearby. They assist to keep the general area free of hostiles. Otherwise, it is a sleepy little village.
You will find that the Long Road will take you to Waterdeep. But it is still quite the journey. You should be able to reach the next town south, Triboar, in a day. That is if you don’t dawdle.
DAY FOURTEEN (To Triboar)
The party gets up early and begins the journey south.
Within an hour you pass a wagon heading north along the Long Road. It was a spice merchant name Rudinge and his with Ethisa. He had two others accompanying him as guards on horseback. They were heading to Mirabar as their final destination.
By late afternoon you catch up with a caravan heading south. This caravan has nothing but Dwarves. And they are hauling three wagons full of iron ore. They look to sell the ore in Triboar. Like RAGDOR, they too are from the Spine of the World. Their leader was a muscular old Dwarf with a long braided gray beard named Bordar Ironshoe. The party joins up with them for the rest of the journey to Triboar. RAGDOR would have heard of the Ironshoe clan but not have previously met up with any.
Triboar is a crossroads town. It is larger than Longsaddle with several inns and taverns. If the party wishes to stay in an inn, you can pick from the following:
(There is plenty to interact with here. The party has no other encounters on this day. Of course, that could depend on you.)
"Given we spent nearly a fortnight in the ruins surrounded by Goblins and Kobolds and a Mad Druid I an thinking that the Six Windows would be enough for us. Any objections?"
Ragdor scratches his beard and considers, good by me, too much luxury makes dwarves soft. he chuckles.
"No problem here but we may want to take shifts. Just in case."
The party is able to rent a common room for the entire party for an electrum piece for a night at the Six Windows. It is a plain room with straw mattresses. It is however clean and otherwise better than sleeping on the ground. ERKY will note that the place has a lot more than Six Windows but shrugs it off.
Nearby to the Six Windows is the Triboar Arms, a tavern that can provide for two silver pieces each a pint-sized mug of beer, with some bread, cheese and pickled onions. Again, better than trail rations, but far from the fare the party had at the Golden Horseshoe. The beer is far more bitter than the delicious home brew you had the night before; but it is suitable.
(To keep it simple that would be 3sp each for the room and food for the night.)
Done and done. Xanth will take the middle shift sense he has no spell to prep.
Aye, Ragdor belches loudly, sorry, that ale isn't setting well with me. Wake me when it's my turn and thanks for taking first shift. Anyone know anything about Portal Pub we're heading to?
ERKY will speak up, "The Yawning Portal in Waterdeep is somewhat infamous along the Sword Coast. I have not been to Waterdeep, but I have heard of this place. It is said to be the only way to get into the Undermountain Dungeon beneath Waterdeep. I am actually looking forward to seeing it in person."
(Erky will take first shift. To keep things consistent, I suggest Erky and Bix first, Xanth in the middle, and Ragdor and Glynt last shift. If this is good, then I will use this going forward as there is a lot of days traveling for this adventure.)
Sounds good
At this time in history, Triboar is a peaceful place. The party will have no issues that night. Your sleep was good, though not quite as good as the comfortable beds at the Golden Horseshoe.
DAY FIFTEEN (On to Amphail)
It is a full two day's trek to get to the next town along the Long Road, Amphail.
The party gets up early and heads out leaving Triboar behind. Just before noon the party passes a caravan heading north with barrels of apples on their wagons. You chat briefly and learn that the Dwarves of the Spine pay handsomely for the popular fruit.
Not long after, you see a place where it looks like caravans camp. But the party still has too much daylight and pushes onward. By late afternoon, the party finds a spot that has been used by travelers to camp in the past. It is an area where the forest to the west meets the hills to the east. A fire pit is ready for kindling. The party makes camp and sets up watches.
ERKY and BIX have a quiet first watch. And though XANTH thought he heard something in the distance, nothing materializes on the second watch. But during GLYNT and RAGDOR's third watch, the Dwarf Cleric hears something, and it sounds like they are having a conversation.
(If you understand Giant you can open the spoiler.)
You hear a voice, "Gnome you smell. I likes Gnome. Tasty, but not a lot of meat." Another voice, "I smells Dwarf too?" The other voice, "Tough meat." Back to the other voice, "There may be a human." And back again, "We can fill our bellies with human. But there is another smell. Elf maybe? " The other voice, "Ahh, the meat is stringy. Enough talk, let's get to eatin'."
ROLL FOR INITIATIVE
RAGDOR and GLYNT will have no problem seeing the large hulking creature rambling out of the darkness from the west.
(Everyone roll, but only Glynt and Ragdor will have actions in Round One as the others are asleep or resting.)
(Will have a new encounter map in the OOC thread.)
ERKY INITIATIVE 13
BIX will become alert on her own and be able to take actions in round two. ERKY and XANTH will need to be awaken from their sleep and it takes an action to do so.