It is early in the morning in Silverymoon, where you have been freelancing for local criminal networks and patrons for a short time.
Inside the Bright Blade Brandished Tavern, a short, pudgy human named "Lord" Bartle squats behind a dark table playing with a pair of scissors. His already odd appearance is enhanced even more by his shrill, raspy voice and his wart covered chins, which are the only part of his face not covered by his red cloak. The self-titled "Lord" is a sorcerer, wizard, or sage depending on who one asks, but he has a reputation of paying very well for not-so-legal tasks around Silverymoon. Outwardly, he appears to be weak, cowardly, and incompetent, but his underlying power is well respected among the darker areas of Silverymoon. Anybody that looks like Bartle and gains respect from thieves and assassins must have quite a large amount of hidden ability.
Word has spread that Lord Bartle has quite the payday for a willing adventuring group. He notes that you have entered the room, and motions for you to join him.
Several weeks ago, Therien found himself sharing a table and a bottle of wine with an overly chatty merchant who filled the air with multiple meaningless strands of conversation. Therien, thoroughly bored by the fellow's endless narrative, was just preparing to excuse himself when the merchant mentioned a city in the North, a city called Silverymoon. In his description of the place, the merchant uttered the words expansive library and prestigious schools of magic. Therien could not pay the innkeeper fast enough, nor could he wait for the next morning to begin his journey to the city that seemed like it might be the perfect place to satiate his hunger for history, languages, lore, and, above all, the arcane. Therien stepped foot into SIlverymoon a few tendays ago, and on this particular day, he sits across a table from Lord Bartle. The scrawny-looking elf is in the midst of explaining a bit about himself and what has brought him to the Bright Blade Brandished Tavern:
"The various schools of magic in this city are closed to me, Lord Bartle, for I have no one to vouch for my ability or character. Nor do I have sufficient financial means to persuade any of the headmasters to allow me entry. Obtuse! Each one of them! In due time, the scales shall fall from their eyes. Until then, I walk the path of the autodidact. With every free moment I will haunt the city's library, and to meet my financial needs I will continue to hire myself out to whoever might benefit from my particular set of skills. And that is what brings me to you, Lord Bartle. A previous patron has intimated to me that you and I might find one another mutually beneficial. Fortuitous, yes?"
Whatever the job might be, Therien views it as a chance to further his knowledge, experience, and power.
Fargim steps out of a shadowy corner. He's a short gray guy, young but weathered. "Lord Bartle. I'm up for another job. I'd prefer one without donkeys this time."
A large shadow detaches itself from the corner and approaches Lord Bartle. As it stalks closer to the firelight its form resolves into a hulking Bugbear with old pale scars crisscrossed on his face and hands. He slowly seats himself at the end of the table and waits for Lord Bartle to begin.
Gruun had spent a few months in the Silverymoon area and only the last one within the city. He had been brought here with a traveling circus and had finally broken the cage he had spent the previous year in. His rampage had killed his 'handler' that had barely fed him enough to live and spent his time prodding him for the entertainment of passerbys. He had fled into the woods where he felt at home. Eventually he fell in with the underworld by freeing a group of smugglers who where caged awaiting trials. They brought him in the city and had employed him as an enforcer when needed. This line of work led him to seek Lord Bartle for his latest job.
Hox scampers in, dirt and dust clinging to his scales as he brings in his latest haul of trinkets and baubles he managed to pilfer from people on the streets. Most of them being just buttons or little toys. "Good things for Hox, but Lord person has gold. Hox will help for gold." He says as he looks about at the people assembled before Bartle. He gives a nod to Farquim, "Beasts were not bad, just smell too much."
Lord Bartle's heehaw of a laugh sounds not unlike the donkeys to which Fargim and Hox refer.
"No donkeys this time, my short friends. No, this job will be much more lucrative,"he says. His voice is shrill and raspy. He coughs, hacking saliva onto the table, then takes a good look at the four of you.
"Yes, elf, gnome, kobold and bugbear, this is the perfect assortment, this will do nicely. I have been studying the thirteen red stone pyramids at Ascore's ruins, where the Longhunt Annihilation took place. Fargim and Hox, you saw them firsthand, but what you didn't know that therein lies a great treasure. I recently "acquired" a ruby that I believe will unlock the vault of treasure that lies beneath the pyramids. However, it was recently stolen from my courier by a local kobold tribe. I hired bandits to steal it back, but they have not returned in some time. They are most certainly dead, yes, I'm sure they met a most unfortunate fate. This is where you come in. Secure the gem and meet me in Ascore. Take these supplies up front, and you will get 700 gold pieces in additional payment once I get the ruby," he explains.
He dumps the contents of a bag onto the table in front of you. There are 300 gold pieces and six potions. Two are obviously potions of healing, but the other four contain a brownish liquid that you have not seen before. Bartle gestures to those potions and continues.
"These four potions will give each of you the appearance of a kobold for several hours. Use them wisely and it will be no trouble to take back my ruby, yes, no trouble at all. You must make all haste to secure the ruby and meet me as soon as possible. It is imperative that I use the ruby during the correct planetary alignment. In addition to your payment, I will split the contents of the vault with you 60/40. You can each take 10% or divvy it up amongst yourselves as you wish," he says, and then looks wistfully into the distance before saying, oddly, "I miss Gully Dwarves..."
"Scrying has shown that the kobolds' cave is somewhere near the Pork on the Fork tavern in the Silver Marches. But be aware, if the previous bandits I hired have told their friends, there could be competition."
OOC: Each character has received 75 gold pieces and a potion of kobold shapeshifting. The recipients of the potions of healing are up to you.
Therien is intrigued by Bartle's use of the words correct planetary alignment. The elf begins to sift mentally through all that he knows of astronomy but is quickly derailed when the gnome chimes in with the remark about being a giant.
After dropping his share of the gold into his pack, Therien holds the shapeshifting potion aloft and muses aloud,"As the Ignathian proverb states, 'Not every key to victory is shiny brass.'"
Therien then steps back from the table, leaving the potions of healing where they sit.
Hox grabs at the gold and looks at the kobold potion. His thoughts are racing. And as the man finishes his speech, he looks to Farquim, "Ruby? Ruby that clan wanted? Snug found, hmm?" He ponders back to the moment he ditched Snug as he followed the promises of more gold.
Fargim shrugs his shoulders, "I guess it's possible. There was a lot of them. But we may have a diplomatic way in to find out more if it's the same clan."
Fargim is ready to leave, he knows the way and is eager to be out on the road again after being in the city for a while.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
"Are we in agreement then? If so, then to the Silver Marches we'll go...and find the kobolds' cave."
Therien is slightly puzzled that no one has grabbed the healing potions; so, he steps forward, picks up one in each hand and says, "Any objections to my carrying these?"
The elf then becomes lost in thought, bouncing back and forth in his mind about gnomes who claim to be giants, rubies that unlock vaults, and Gully dwarves.
OOC: Two potions of healing have been added to Therien's inventory.
Bartle leaves in the middle of Fargim's question, simply walking away from the party. You see that on the table is a pair of goggles that most certainly were not there a moment ago.
Therien doesn't know what in the world Gully Dwarves might be.
OOC: Would anybody like to shop or collect supplies before leaving to share in the riches of Ascore?
Therien narrows his eyes and watches Bartle's abrupt departure from the room. "It seems he has an aversion to giants," remarks the elf.
Feeling the unfamiliar but pleasant weight of all those gold pieces, Therien begins to wonder if there might be a useful tome, scroll, or map collecting dust in some nearby specialty shop. "Silverymoon has much to offer," he says to no one in particular. "A bit of gold spent here may pay great dividends elsewhere," quips Therien, hoping the others are willing to make a few stops before leaving the city.
Hox will want to take one last run through the city, pickpocketing any big fancy people. He'll take the shiniest thing he can grab. "Hox will meet back at trade place, Hox will go...find...what he needs."
Fargim picks up the goggles and inspects them. He'll cast Message at Bartle, "What's with the goggles?"
"I don't mind looking around the shops. Could use a new tent. If we or you run across any magical items, I would be interested to see what's on the offer."
"I need little but good meat and something to hit. I will go with the little giant, he will see what I would look over." Gruun attempts to give a smile like he has seen other do but with very little practice and the appearance of his race it comes across as more of a questioning grimace.
Hox's run through the city draws a lot of attention as the kobold freely darts through crowded streets. His movement is so quick however, that by the time a certain noble see Hox running past, a tiny mechanical crab is already missing from his pack.
There is no reply to Fargim as Bartle waddles out of the tavern, but Fargim can sense that there is something intriguing about the goggles in his hand.
OOC: A tiny mechanical crab has been added to Hox's inventory.
You can find almost anything on the Equipment tables from the Player's Handbook in Silverymoon. Magic items could possibly be found if you know the right contacts, but the prices would be far beyond what this party has earned yet. Let me know what you would like to purchase, if anything. Prices are as listed on the tables, no haggling or re-selling so we keep the PbP flowing. Any items you want to get out of your inventory, you can "stash" them in the city and pick them up for free if ever needed.
The goggles are a magic item. The properties of magic items can be learned by 1) use of the Identify spell, 2) spending a short rest focusing on the item and learning its properties, or 3) guessing and confirming by using the item in the correct scenario. If attunement is required to use a magic item, that can be done in a short rest.
A few inquiries here and there are sufficient to show Therien he is in no position to purchase the things he wants. Upon rejoining the other members of the party, Therien expresses that he is ready to go when they are. Any downtime that he might have before the journey begins Therien devotes to studying his spell book.
Fargim will buy a tent, 10 daggers, and a potion of healing. He will leave 9 of his torches to the stash, keeping one just in case. He weighs the daggers in hand, thinking of using those with the Catapult magic in case there's no suitable rocks or other objects nearby.
He will then head to the meeting point and spend a short rest focusing on the goggles.
It is early in the morning in Silverymoon, where you have been freelancing for local criminal networks and patrons for a short time.
Inside the Bright Blade Brandished Tavern, a short, pudgy human named "Lord" Bartle squats behind a dark table playing with a pair of scissors. His already odd appearance is enhanced even more by his shrill, raspy voice and his wart covered chins, which are the only part of his face not covered by his red cloak. The self-titled "Lord" is a sorcerer, wizard, or sage depending on who one asks, but he has a reputation of paying very well for not-so-legal tasks around Silverymoon. Outwardly, he appears to be weak, cowardly, and incompetent, but his underlying power is well respected among the darker areas of Silverymoon. Anybody that looks like Bartle and gains respect from thieves and assassins must have quite a large amount of hidden ability.
Word has spread that Lord Bartle has quite the payday for a willing adventuring group. He notes that you have entered the room, and motions for you to join him.
Our Party:
Fargim Lingenhall: Gnome Sorcerer
Gruun Dendweller: Bugbear Barbarian
Hox: Kobold Rogue
Therien Moorshadow: Elf Wizard
OOC: Take some time to introduce your characters to Lord Bartle and detail how you have all arrived here in Silverymoon, and with Lord Bartle.
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
Several weeks ago, Therien found himself sharing a table and a bottle of wine with an overly chatty merchant who filled the air with multiple meaningless strands of conversation. Therien, thoroughly bored by the fellow's endless narrative, was just preparing to excuse himself when the merchant mentioned a city in the North, a city called Silverymoon. In his description of the place, the merchant uttered the words expansive library and prestigious schools of magic. Therien could not pay the innkeeper fast enough, nor could he wait for the next morning to begin his journey to the city that seemed like it might be the perfect place to satiate his hunger for history, languages, lore, and, above all, the arcane. Therien stepped foot into SIlverymoon a few tendays ago, and on this particular day, he sits across a table from Lord Bartle. The scrawny-looking elf is in the midst of explaining a bit about himself and what has brought him to the Bright Blade Brandished Tavern:
"The various schools of magic in this city are closed to me, Lord Bartle, for I have no one to vouch for my ability or character. Nor do I have sufficient financial means to persuade any of the headmasters to allow me entry. Obtuse! Each one of them! In due time, the scales shall fall from their eyes. Until then, I walk the path of the autodidact. With every free moment I will haunt the city's library, and to meet my financial needs I will continue to hire myself out to whoever might benefit from my particular set of skills. And that is what brings me to you, Lord Bartle. A previous patron has intimated to me that you and I might find one another mutually beneficial. Fortuitous, yes?"
Whatever the job might be, Therien views it as a chance to further his knowledge, experience, and power.
Fargim steps out of a shadowy corner. He's a short gray guy, young but weathered. "Lord Bartle. I'm up for another job. I'd prefer one without donkeys this time."
A large shadow detaches itself from the corner and approaches Lord Bartle. As it stalks closer to the firelight its form resolves into a hulking Bugbear with old pale scars crisscrossed on his face and hands. He slowly seats himself at the end of the table and waits for Lord Bartle to begin.
Gruun had spent a few months in the Silverymoon area and only the last one within the city. He had been brought here with a traveling circus and had finally broken the cage he had spent the previous year in. His rampage had killed his 'handler' that had barely fed him enough to live and spent his time prodding him for the entertainment of passerbys. He had fled into the woods where he felt at home. Eventually he fell in with the underworld by freeing a group of smugglers who where caged awaiting trials. They brought him in the city and had employed him as an enforcer when needed. This line of work led him to seek Lord Bartle for his latest job.
Hox scampers in, dirt and dust clinging to his scales as he brings in his latest haul of trinkets and baubles he managed to pilfer from people on the streets. Most of them being just buttons or little toys. "Good things for Hox, but Lord person has gold. Hox will help for gold." He says as he looks about at the people assembled before Bartle. He gives a nod to Farquim, "Beasts were not bad, just smell too much."
Lord Bartle's heehaw of a laugh sounds not unlike the donkeys to which Fargim and Hox refer.
"No donkeys this time, my short friends. No, this job will be much more lucrative," he says. His voice is shrill and raspy. He coughs, hacking saliva onto the table, then takes a good look at the four of you.
"Yes, elf, gnome, kobold and bugbear, this is the perfect assortment, this will do nicely. I have been studying the thirteen red stone pyramids at Ascore's ruins, where the Longhunt Annihilation took place. Fargim and Hox, you saw them firsthand, but what you didn't know that therein lies a great treasure. I recently "acquired" a ruby that I believe will unlock the vault of treasure that lies beneath the pyramids. However, it was recently stolen from my courier by a local kobold tribe. I hired bandits to steal it back, but they have not returned in some time. They are most certainly dead, yes, I'm sure they met a most unfortunate fate. This is where you come in. Secure the gem and meet me in Ascore. Take these supplies up front, and you will get 700 gold pieces in additional payment once I get the ruby," he explains.
He dumps the contents of a bag onto the table in front of you. There are 300 gold pieces and six potions. Two are obviously potions of healing, but the other four contain a brownish liquid that you have not seen before. Bartle gestures to those potions and continues.
"These four potions will give each of you the appearance of a kobold for several hours. Use them wisely and it will be no trouble to take back my ruby, yes, no trouble at all. You must make all haste to secure the ruby and meet me as soon as possible. It is imperative that I use the ruby during the correct planetary alignment. In addition to your payment, I will split the contents of the vault with you 60/40. You can each take 10% or divvy it up amongst yourselves as you wish," he says, and then looks wistfully into the distance before saying, oddly, "I miss Gully Dwarves..."
"Scrying has shown that the kobolds' cave is somewhere near the Pork on the Fork tavern in the Silver Marches. But be aware, if the previous bandits I hired have told their friends, there could be competition."
OOC: Each character has received 75 gold pieces and a potion of kobold shapeshifting. The recipients of the potions of healing are up to you.
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
In middle of the speech Fargim pipes up, "I'm a giant not a ...." but then trails off.
After the speech has ended he asks, "What was the task for the bandits - kill or trade?"
Therien is intrigued by Bartle's use of the words correct planetary alignment. The elf begins to sift mentally through all that he knows of astronomy but is quickly derailed when the gnome chimes in with the remark about being a giant.
After dropping his share of the gold into his pack, Therien holds the shapeshifting potion aloft and muses aloud, "As the Ignathian proverb states, 'Not every key to victory is shiny brass.'"
Therien then steps back from the table, leaving the potions of healing where they sit.
Hox grabs at the gold and looks at the kobold potion. His thoughts are racing. And as the man finishes his speech, he looks to Farquim, "Ruby? Ruby that clan wanted? Snug found, hmm?" He ponders back to the moment he ditched Snug as he followed the promises of more gold.
Fargim shrugs his shoulders, "I guess it's possible. There was a lot of them. But we may have a diplomatic way in to find out more if it's the same clan."
Fargim is ready to leave, he knows the way and is eager to be out on the road again after being in the city for a while.
"Are we in agreement then? If so, then to the Silver Marches we'll go...and find the kobolds' cave."
Therien is slightly puzzled that no one has grabbed the healing potions; so, he steps forward, picks up one in each hand and says, "Any objections to my carrying these?"
The elf then becomes lost in thought, bouncing back and forth in his mind about gnomes who claim to be giants, rubies that unlock vaults, and Gully dwarves.
[History check (regarding Gully dwarves): 23]
OOC: Two potions of healing have been added to Therien's inventory.
Bartle leaves in the middle of Fargim's question, simply walking away from the party. You see that on the table is a pair of goggles that most certainly were not there a moment ago.
Therien doesn't know what in the world Gully Dwarves might be.
OOC: Would anybody like to shop or collect supplies before leaving to share in the riches of Ascore?
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
Therien narrows his eyes and watches Bartle's abrupt departure from the room. "It seems he has an aversion to giants," remarks the elf.
Feeling the unfamiliar but pleasant weight of all those gold pieces, Therien begins to wonder if there might be a useful tome, scroll, or map collecting dust in some nearby specialty shop. "Silverymoon has much to offer," he says to no one in particular. "A bit of gold spent here may pay great dividends elsewhere," quips Therien, hoping the others are willing to make a few stops before leaving the city.
Hox will want to take one last run through the city, pickpocketing any big fancy people. He'll take the shiniest thing he can grab. "Hox will meet back at trade place, Hox will go...find...what he needs."
Stealth: 16
Sleight of Hand: 16
Fargim picks up the goggles and inspects them. He'll cast Message at Bartle, "What's with the goggles?"
"I don't mind looking around the shops. Could use a new tent. If we or you run across any magical items, I would be interested to see what's on the offer."
"I need little but good meat and something to hit. I will go with the little giant, he will see what I would look over." Gruun attempts to give a smile like he has seen other do but with very little practice and the appearance of his race it comes across as more of a questioning grimace.
DM Screen:
60
Hox's run through the city draws a lot of attention as the kobold freely darts through crowded streets. His movement is so quick however, that by the time a certain noble see Hox running past, a tiny mechanical crab is already missing from his pack.
There is no reply to Fargim as Bartle waddles out of the tavern, but Fargim can sense that there is something intriguing about the goggles in his hand.
OOC: A tiny mechanical crab has been added to Hox's inventory.
You can find almost anything on the Equipment tables from the Player's Handbook in Silverymoon. Magic items could possibly be found if you know the right contacts, but the prices would be far beyond what this party has earned yet. Let me know what you would like to purchase, if anything. Prices are as listed on the tables, no haggling or re-selling so we keep the PbP flowing. Any items you want to get out of your inventory, you can "stash" them in the city and pick them up for free if ever needed.
The goggles are a magic item. The properties of magic items can be learned by 1) use of the Identify spell, 2) spending a short rest focusing on the item and learning its properties, or 3) guessing and confirming by using the item in the correct scenario. If attunement is required to use a magic item, that can be done in a short rest.
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
A few inquiries here and there are sufficient to show Therien he is in no position to purchase the things he wants. Upon rejoining the other members of the party, Therien expresses that he is ready to go when they are. Any downtime that he might have before the journey begins Therien devotes to studying his spell book.
Fargim will buy a tent, 10 daggers, and a potion of healing. He will leave 9 of his torches to the stash, keeping one just in case. He weighs the daggers in hand, thinking of using those with the Catapult magic in case there's no suitable rocks or other objects nearby.
He will then head to the meeting point and spend a short rest focusing on the goggles.
Following Fargim around, Gruun eventually picks up 30ft of Chain (10 feet) and 2 Grappling Hook