*Placeholder*

Korrik ponders what else they ought to do before they leave.

"It'll mean camping, right? We need a tent?"

"Morning guys! Yup, two steps ahead of you! I grabbed us a tent! Dude said it sleeps 2, so not sure if you guys think we need another one? I'm good to cozy up, and I think if we are going to be keeping watches at night, there will only be 2 of us in there at once anyhow. But if you guys want your own tents I'm totally down with that as well."

(Ess grabbed 1 tent, 2 person. He also bought a saddle because he forgot. A riding saddle. He's almost out of funds now)

So it will be roughly 100 miles. I think by horse, that will be 3 days and you will arrive on the 3rd day into Marshswamp likely late afternoon. This is assuming you are travelling 8ish hours a day, taking breaks here and there. 

Will you be stopping in Helm's Hold? It seems that place would line up perfectly with the end of day 1 travel. You might be able to sleep there at an inn instead of camping. I have some nice source info about that town so please feel free if you guys want. Camping is always fun though, too!

Ok, whenever you guys want to go, let's get the following checks:

Animal handling from Busren (advantage due to saddle. It's ok if it's a riding saddle).

Korrik please roll a d100.

And anything else I might've forgotten!

Ess animal handling: 13

Ess has a hard time with his horse Betty, but he eventually gets the hang of her. And vise versa. 

Betty is added to Ess's tab.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1_VITglI4O3GnqFoCvR_pbZh-ZW11Vh1e8NAK1o9jvXA/edit#gid=167607424

Busren would like to stay in Helm's Hold, both to check on the local magic shop situation and to avoid unnecessary camping.

"We can see if anyone is interested in the giant strength potion and I can continue my quest to find the hat. I'm fine switching out spots in the tent for now I guess."

Animal handling: 22

Busren and his as of yet unnamed horse have reached an understanding.

((Disagreement on names and pictures to use. To be decided tomorrow!))

"I'm used to sleeping curled up in out of the way places, so if you two don't mind it being tight, I'm fine. Suppose one of us ought to be on watch anyway. If we make it to Helm's Hold, we can find a room there, and camp the night after?"

92

"Sounds like a plan. Let's move so we have a chance of getting there before everything closes, or I guess we can try tomorrow morning."

"Alrighy, to Helm's Hold then boys! Heeyyaaahh! Heeyyaaahh!" Ess gets Betty going as the three of you head out. He has excitement in his eyes and is so happy to be leaving Neverwinter and the DRG behind him to start a new life.

I removed a horse feed for Betty, and Ess also would've given Ben enough for the day for his horse as well. "Should keep them happy for the day at least."

The breeze from the sea to the west is keeping you all cool as you press through the morning ride, travelling south at first but then east for most of today to get to Helm's Hold. After that it will be a long ride south until you reach Marshswamp. 

The high road isn't overly busy today, but there are some small caravans out and about, along with some small groups on foot as well as some folks walking alone. Regular high road traffic between Helm's Hold and Neverwinter. There are also times when you are alone on the road. 

A few hours into the ride, a small caravan of what look like peasants and traders approach you and slows to a stop. Initial data you take in is that there are 3 carts being pulled by oxen. 2 traders are on each of the carts/wagons controlling the oxen. The oxen of the groups last cart is being obnoxious, delaying their travel and somewhat blocking the road. A woman on the second cart will ask if you want to buy some stuff. "We have some really nice wine, it's in season this time of year." 

Will you interact here? Or continue your ride? 

Busren looks them over then around to see if there is anyone else around besides them and this caravan before answering,

"Wine is always in season! Unfortunately I'm not in the market for any at the moment." He looks to his companions if they are interested.

He watches the woman her companions for anything untoward, but is mostly relaxed this close to two major cities (which are probably patrolled?).

Insight:21

If they aren't, he wishes the woman luck in her ventures and is ready to be on his way.

Ess responds "Wine? No thanks, bags are pretty full and well to be honest I don't want the urge to drink as we've got a long ride ahead of us!"

Busren, at this particular moment in the day, there is no one around except the caravan and all of you.

Yes, the high road especially in this area is patrolled quite frequently. Which makes your insights all the more mysterious. 

Something is up with these people. They are acting fidgety. Nervous. And you think they might be starting to slowly surround the party with their carts as the oxen are slightly nudged forward and sideways. You don't know what they are doing, but you get the sense that they might not be the typical merchants you've seen driving their caravans the part few hours.

I will graphically visualize this scenario if need be, so don't worry. At this point however, there is no need.

Feel free to ask any other questions or make any other skill checks you see fit.

Pulling from his culinary background, something about her statement seems a bit off...

Insight: 6

"In season? I didn't know wine had a season, what with the crushing and juicing and fermenting and aging, usually it's months or years before it's ready... Oh! Is it that new Bougee Lay style I'd heard about that's meant to be drank young?"

((Part time job is in a wine/beer/homebrewing shop, and the only seasonal wine (other than very limited releases that come in a certain time of year and get snapped up) are the Beaujolais nouveau wines that get released mid November from that years grapes, so is in the bottle less than two months from the vine.))

Busren sighs heavily as he watches what is seemingly going down while Ess and Korrik decline and inquire.

He says,

"Young wine? Sounds unpleasant! Well, we best be on our way, your companions seem impatient to get around your wagon, on both sides no less, and we wouldn't want to waste their time. Come along Ess."

He clear his throat loudly and starts guiding unnamed horse towards an opening.

((Is there a way still clear if we bolt? So six people total visible? Are the carts covered or open?))

((very cool! so you are the pretty much worst person to try a fake out wine play with then eh?! Totally makes sense with Korrik's character background though, so this is perfect!))

Korrik, the woman hesitates and responds to you "Ugghhhh.... ummmmmm.... yeah. Yes. Boujee Lai. That's it. That's the one we've got. You want some? Come take a look. Got it right here in the back." so, with your insight roll, you think the woman is absolutely nuts as you have experience with wine making, although you don't think this could be anything more than some inexperienced wine makers perhaps trying to rip you off with shitty wine.

Korrik and Ben please roll a perception check in this moment.

Ben, there is still a clear way for sure if you all bolt right now. Yes, 6 people visible total. The carts are partially covered.

Ess doesn't say anything but starts to move towards Ben and will follow him in this moment. He will not make any insight check, or perception check, as he actually doesn't care about this situation as much as you two might. he is not paying too much attention. He wants to leave and is just waiting for the interaction to be over with, and heading towards Ben as he senses that Ben is politely trying to leave the situation and continue with the ride.

((I barely drink the stuff, I'm more on the beer and homebrewing side, but I worked there through most of grad school, and have been there since 2009, so I've learned a few things about wine... enough to sell it at least!))

"I think I'll pass, but good luck selling it! The Trade House was doing brisk business on wine, I'm sure you'll find lots of demand!"

Deception: 17 ((Wine trends wasn't anything either of Korrik or I took note of when shopping for other stuff.))

Perception: 14

Ben gives the woman a final nod and moves at a brisk, pace. He looks back to Ess to make sure he is following.

"Keep up now on your old nag, Ess."

Perception: 17

((It is a fine skill to have I imagine. People love wine. My wife sure does love it! I prefer beer and... herbs.))

Korrik, as of right now, since you initially believe that she just might be a shitty wine salesperson, she also definitely perks up when you tell her about the trade house. "Tarmalune Trade House... yes... ok... that is good to know."

Ben, you and Ess are able to exit this situation without anything happening since you are leaving now, at a brisk pace. 

Korrik, I assume you would follow them and leave, but as you do so, you hear one of the men say to the woman and the others under his breath.

 So yeah, if you guys leave right now in this window of time before it gets awkward with the carts blocking the way, nothing else will happen and you will reach Helm's Hold in a few hours likely with no other encounters. 

Korrik keeps a cheery face until they are past. 

"I think those might have been bandits... I heard a guy say 'we have enough spoon', and he seemed worried about patrols. I thought they were just trying to pressure us to buy bad wine!"

"Are you serious man? I think you're just paranoid, bruh." Says Ess. 

"A little paranoia keeps the blood pumping. Still inside the veins, preferably." , Korrik says with a shrug, twisting around to look back over Swiftwing's rump at the wagons as they move away.

I assume Rodgeir is sleeping :)

Will wait for Busren's reaction/response to what Korrik has heard/said, and then depending on that reaction, I may or may not post the arrival to H.H. tomorrow morning. 

"Those were definitely bandits and they are definitely not our problem. Ess, for having been a criminal you don't have a much of an eye for crimes in the act. They were trying to encircle us with their wagons while Korrik chatted that woman up about sour wine."

He looks over his shoulder at the wagons and rubs his free hand on his beard while asking,

"But we could always turn the ambush around on them and get all that spoon for ourselves?"

He begins slowing Swiftwing down and turns his gaze to Ess, eyebrows raised speculatively.

"What do you say? We don't even need to kill them. Just knock them out and grab the best items."