"Thank you Vince, I could use a sturdier weapon of you know of one. I love my pickaxe, but she's getting on and I'd rather not end her legacy on this trek."

Lilly takes out her pick and pats it lovingly.

"I've got ten extra gold to spare. Perhaps a battle-axe or maul"

"Pleasure to meet you, Vince," Tragedy bobs into a curtsy playfully. "But as a regular traveller I do believe that I have everything I need for the journey. As you would know the details of the job better than we do at this stage, though, is there anything out of the ordinary that you would suggest we obtain from the market to bring with us?"

Jimena is facing difficulty while attempting to read the markings on the map since she has no idea how to discern the intentions of the cartographer. Besides, she fears that there might be implicit symbols drawn on the surface of the parchment which might suggest the possible position of the 'Toll Stations'. Thus, she decides to tell everyone about the stations while advancing towards the large market area of the Wide:

"These stations might not pose immediate threat to the travelling caravans. From my experience with such kind of activities, these toll collectors can be corrupt agents or smugglers. I had an opportunity to meet one inside the priso...er...hotel."

She quickly hands over the map to one of her teammates who has the related capability, and moves forward to inspect the wagon and decides to keep her mouth shut regarding her previous temporary shelter.

Vince smiles at Lily, "You might be tad small for a Maul but I'm sure I can get one of our lads to pick you up a battleaxe in time if that's what you're after. If no-one else needs anything I'll get him on his way now..." He turns to the loading crew and shouts at one of them to run off to the market.

"As for the specifics for this job, there's one key thing that you'll need to get into Candlekeep..." Vince again turns and shouts over to his crew, "Grab that fella that's getting them in, may as well get him to explain it to them." Turning back to the group he scoffs at the Jimena's mention of the toll stations, "I'd not worry about those. We've had a few encounters with them, and an escort as heavily armed as yourself will likely send them running as soon as they lay eyes on you, let alone when they see you're not travelling alone. Just opportunist brigands trying to cheat honest folk out of their hard earned coin... If you did manage to dissuade them it'd certainly help a good few that do travel the road though."

Out of the building comes a young, male half-elf...

With that I'll let Dart introduce himself to you all.

"Odd group we have here. Though I suppose not as odd as the time I traveled with a man with a strange object for a head.." He looks down for a second. "But I suppose I should introduce myself. The name's Dart." He bows.

"Lillyhammer Disengulp of the Northdark Disengulps. Proud to make your acquaintance"

"Nice to meet you, Lillyhammer. Proud to make your acquaintance as well." He smiles.

After completing the inspection of the Wagon, Jimena attempts to examine the contents provided by their employer. While interpreting the use of various types of supplies, she will help the porters by carrying some of the sacks and crates and place the containers inside the wagon. Finally, she will rub her hands on the silver cloak to get rid of the grease and dirt, when she eagerly takes in the appearance of the new-comer. 

"Hey Dart, nice to have you on board."

She doesn't wait for the reply, but moves near the front end of the wagon where the daft horses must be attached to the vehicle and there should be a place there for the driver. She brushes the side of the horses using her fingers lovingly, then whispers something to them. 

Vince adds in after Dart's introduction, "This fellow has worked with the Iron Coast before and he has kindly offered his assistance in this venture. As you may know, entry into Candlekeep requires the donation of a text or document that doesn't currently exist within their considerable archive. Young Dart here has offered such a piece to our cause and will be accompanying you inside for his own purposes." He spies Jimena inspecting the wagon and horses and takes his leave of the larger group, heading over to the horses, now hitched up in their tresses. "A couple of solid draft horse these two. They'll do you fine for your journey. You seem to have a sense for them, so I'd personally appreciate it if you could look after them and bring them back safely when your travels are done."

"Right, well that appears to be everything then," Tragedy answers Vince, nodding to indicate to the group that she is more than ready to go.

She walks over to the wagon, and looks Dart's way as she walks past. "Tragedy," she introduces herself, smiling. "Pleasure to meet you." 

"I can't ensure the safety of the horses, since my priority is reserved for the adventuring party"- Jimena will confess while being obnoxiously truthful regarding the reality of the situation. She grabs the harness of the horses, and with a hop she will settled down to take the responsibility of the driver.

"If I fail to return them safely, you can deduce the cost of creeparation...er..reparation from the percentage of my share. I won't complain and I believe Mr. Teswan won't mind too."

"So we moving out what?" Lilly taps her foot impatiently

Another half hour passes before the labourer returns with Lily's order, Vince comes over and shows her the battleaxe. It is clearly made with practicality and functionality in mind, the single bladed head shows the waves in the metal from where the steel was tempered. Solidly attached to a wooden haft, with simple leather thongs wrapped around the base providing a solid grip; a single short spike adorns the back of the head. "Not a bad piece there Lily, may it serve you well. With our discount it was just 8 gold pieces." Vince proclaims as he exchanges the weapon for the coins.

"That's your cart loaded with everything we've been instructed to provide, there's feed for the horses in there to. You shouldn't be lacking on the road, now, you'd best be off before the bridge starts getting clogged with traders. Here's the paperwork in case you get some of the more dutiful guards on your way out." With that Vince hands you a writ containing an inventory of the goods and bearing the seal of the Iron Coast; then he bows his head to you, briefly speaks to the porters again before they scurry away to their next task, and then he also disappears into the building.

You all take a moment or two to get yourselves into the wagon before Jimena, sitting in the drivers seat, lightly flicks the reigns and starts the team moving. The wagon creaks slightly as under the load as it start to roll along the cobbled streets and you all soon relax into the steady pace that Jimena sets the horses to. You all feel the rhythmic bump of the large wheel moving over the cobbles, the ambient noises of the town filtering in all around you. Many shops already have their wares out for display, particularly the food stalls hoping to catch the breakfast trade, the scents of freshly baked bread and hot pies hang in the air. The journey through town passes without incident, and you approach the large gates through which all traffic heading south over the Chionthar must pass, heeding your exit from Baldurs Gate.

A brief inspection by the guards takes a few minutes as they check your paperwork is in order and see you on your way across the bridge. Now you are out of the city streets where buildings blocked your view you can see out into the the Sea of Swords, a vista marred by the dark of heavy rain clouds. The sky is starting to look a little overcast and grey, though it is hard to tell if the front will hit you on your travels or not. Regardless, there is but one road to follow for now and slightly happier at the canvas covering you can shelter under should it be required, you continue your journey south along the Coast Way.

The travel time to Candlekeep by cart at a normal pace is about 7.5 days, using the Coast way and the offshoot road to Candlekeep.

Could I get the following from you as a group (feel free to use OoC PM to discuss details):

• The pace you are setting for the horses and an animal handling check from Jimena (with advantage as you're proficient in land vehicles)
• Whether anyone is keeping a dedicated look out (which would require separate people front and rear - not Jimena) with perception from both of you
• A watch rota for night (you can change it for each night if you wish), 8 hours and no more than 2 hours per person to get rest benefits
• Whether you are sleeping in your armor (if any) or not.

Jimena will thank Vince for his benevolence and hospitality, and she asks him if he knows someone who might be proficient in Cartographic Tool by saying:

"Unfortunately, none of us except me has shown any kind of interest in reading the map, and I'm certainly not a scholar. Will we be able to find someone to help us?"

She suggests that the travelling pace of the first day must be faster than normal pace, then it can be reduced to normal during their journey through the places where they can expect danger. She's fine with the idea of sleeping in her Studded Leather armor since she's used to it.

Wisdom: Animal Handling 5 

(@PolarBearSoup, Jimena doesn't have proficiency in the skill 'Animal Handling', will you allow her to perform the task with 'added benefit'? Thanks in advance.)

@InkedBee - I think proficiency in Land Vehicles trumps Animal Handling in this instance. There can't be too many more land vehicles in the setting so got to make it count where we can, hence the advantaged roll which you can certainly take. From your suggestion I'm just looking for a check to see if you get the horses to the fast pace for that first day.

Vince could direct you to independent cartographers within Baldurs Gate, but doing so would eat up time before departure and may come at a cost depending on what services you are looking for. I don't mind hopping back to cover that off, if you feel it is fundamental. With my DM hat on I'd rule that the map you have been given isn't the most detailed so you are all capable of reading a map at a basic level to understand general direction of travel and which road you need to take to get you to Candlekeep. If you decide to start going off-road or via the forests then it might be a factor but I wasn't planning on having you get irrevocably lost travelling between two famous locations on the Sword Coast. 

There will certainly be people at Candlekeep that could support any requests, so if there is something specific we can address it there?

Second Roll: Wisdom: Animal Handling 17

(@PolarBearSoup, Noted, that's a great idea.)

Tragedy is happy to move at the pace Jimena suggests, and is also familiar enough with sleeping in studded leather armour.

She is also perfectly happy being one of the people keeping a lookout, while strumming on her lyre in the dull moments during the journey.

Perception: 18

As for a night watch, that's probably a good idea. Feel free to include Tragedy for a shift but I'll leave it to someone else to sort out the rest of the specifics there. 

OoC: I'll move this forwards tomorrow, just in case anyone else chimes in.

For reference, I'll be using the ruling in XGtE for anyone sleeping in armor

DM Rolls

Your first day of travel passes uneventfully, the day somewhat spoiled by the heavy rain the eventually caught up with you and drenched the roads. The horses seem skittish in the driving rain, and whilst you are all additionally thanksful for the cover that the canvas top provides, Jimena gets more than a little wet sat in the uncovered drivers seat. Jimena slowed the pace of travel and was able to drive the team on through the worst of the weather, but at a slow and tedious pace. The party are able to make camp for the night in the cover of a copse, pitching the tents provided and tending to the horses before settling down for the night and making every effort to dry off in font of a fire.

Your respective watches occur without incident and you all wake fully rested.

Your second day of travel down the Coast Way sees you wake to a dreary and overcast sky, remnants of yesterday's downpour. You can all still feel a chill in your bones from the wet ground last night that your fire had done little to soothe. Once the camp is broken down and the wagon loaded again, Jimena hitches the horses and you are again on your way, travelling towards Candlekeep. Though today sees a few more travellers on the road pass by you northward bound, and a few fast riders on horses pass by in both directions the day is again uneventful and little of interest occurs. You pass near the edge of the cloakwood, and Tragedy's keen eyes spot a band of kobolds venturing out of the woods. With advance warning you are able to avoid a run in with the creatures and continue onwards.

The evening draws your day of travel to a close and you repeat your success of the first night, setting up a drier camp, enjoying a hot meal and settling down to sleep. The eerie quiet of the night on the open road is a stark contrast compared to the bustle and constant ambient sounds of people active at all hours in Baldur's Gate. Again the night passes without incident and you are all able to wake to see the next day from an uninterrupted night's rest.

The morning of the third day breaks brighter, the sun no longer hiding behind it's bedsheets made of clouds. The routine of the previous day is repeated again and you are all packed up and on your way. Brighter and drier you are able to cover ground a little quicker today and though it is hard to tell how far you have travelled on your map, you are hopeful that you've covered a good part of the journey and should be seeing the road off to Candlekeep before tomorrow night. Around mid afternoon you crest a low rise and are able to see a large building in the distance. anyone who has travelled this way before will be more than familiar with the 'Friendly Arm Inn'. Though you will reach it's walls a coupe of hours before you would normally stop for the night, the prospect of a warm bed, a warm ale, and some refreshed news about the roads and the banditry that Jimena had heard stirrings of might be appealing.

Would you like to stop for the night at the Inn, or push on and get a full day's travel in? So far you know you didn't cover as much ground as you had intended on the first or second day,  your pace today has been back to what you had hoped but cutting the day short will again leave you falling behind.

Jimena will halt the Wagon briefly when the perimeter of 'Friendly Arm Inn' can be seen from the route. She leaps out at the rear of the land vehicle after parking the wagon and leans on the canvas covers:

"Da narev thajaralath! How's everyone doing? Do you want to take a long rest here?"