“Dan…sing?” Shrek’s pale demeanor quickly becomes bright red as the morning sunrise. After a long moment of inward reflection (in which you swear you can see the gears turning inside his head, and steam boiling out his ears), a huge Cheshire grin appears on his face. Like a child, Shrek begins to jump up and down on one foot. And a quick earth shattering laugh starts to escape his mouth.

”Friend mean dan sing like this?!” he manages to spit out between laughs and his energetic jumping up and down. “Shrek don’t know where Shrek’s people from. But Shrek once saw boss lady dan sing like this. Shrek real good, huh?”

Harburk listens with rapt attention, a look of amazement crossing his face as the story progresses. "A necromancer?! Talos be merciful.  Randall, you are crazy. Brave as can be but crazy as a fool. My most sincere thanks. You've done us a bigger service than I expected. Please take this as recompense, and tell Kaylessa your rooms are covered for tonight. Also, tell her I said you can be trusted with the other issue she and I have been discussing. I'll take this cursed fool off your hands". 

He hands you 100gp and claps the bandit across the back of the head as he takes him from you

Fr'reona stops to watch closely as the big man jumps up and down on one foot. As she smiles as she starts to copy shrek also taking one foot to hop up and down.

"This reminds me of when I was I watched a traveler from a long distance away in a very elegant beautiful dress made of silk. She too hoped on one leg as she gracefully danced like a swan gliding gracefully around the pond." as she looks up to shrek

"I like big man, I like it alot."  she giggles as she moves with grace around in a circle before looking up at shrek nodding her approval.

"Well, with that out of the way, what say we all head back to the Swinging Sword?  I know I need a drink after this ordeal.  We can square up on coin and decide what comes next."

Without waiting for a reply, Randall departs... though not directly for the tavern.  He first stops in the small room adjacent to his outdoor forge.  A few minutes later, he emerges sans armor and the heads to the Swinging Sword.

Shrek manages to drop off his now-half-empty mail bag at the post office, and then quickly scoots over to the Swinging Sword to catch up with his new friends.

He has to stoop down low to make it through the front door of the saloon, but is used to a giant living in a world built for short people. He stops once inside, and searches around for Randall. Once spotting him, he’ll sit his enormous hulk down next to him.

”Boss man looking for friend to join his crew?  Shrek good employee. Help really good. Strong.” he adds, eagerly. 

Olaerys swings on over to the Swinging Sword, a jaunt in his step, the kind you only get from having a near death experience.  Happy to be alive, he sits down at the table with Shrek and Randall, orders beer around the table, with two for Shrek.  "Yes Shrek, we really could use your help.  You are really strong, that could come in handy.  Would you join us?  With you at our side, we would be unstoppable!  Cheers!"  An evening of merriment is about to begin..

Gathered around a table at the Swinging Sword, Randall looks to Olaerys, Fr'reona and Melchor.  Time passes but Panga does not join them, though they continue to save a seat.

Not often in position to throw a little coin around, Randall insists on paying for the first round of whatever anyone is drinking (sounds like 4 ales between Randall, Olaerys and Shrek and then whatever Melchor and Fr'reona are drinking).  "Just to be clear, Olaerys, someone told me that if I pursued the necromancer I would lead him back around to where the rest of you were waiting.  I don't, as a matter of habit, attempt to take on hordes of undead single handedly."  He laughs.  "I am more than happy to take credit for surviving the ordeal, but I don't plan on repeating the performance."

Going over the group's finances he makes some proposals to Olaerys, Fr'reona and Melchor.  "I'm not sure what has become of Panga.  We can address their share of the reward should they return.  For now, 100gp split four ways would come to 25gp for each of us.   Looking at what we took from the necromancer's lair, we will have to make change but it comes out to 19gp, 46sp and 2cp... plus we can each take home one of these polished black gems which are probably worth something.  Does that sound fair to everyone?"

"Sorry to talk shop in front of you, big guy," Randall says to Shrek.  "I'm sure we will run into more opportunity to put coin in our pockets if you decide to work with us."

He takes a long swig from his ale and then an distressed look crosses his face.  "What about Frail?  Did they have kin?  In our rush to get out of there we just left... I wonder if we should go back to collect the remains...".

Fr'reona after having a seat orders a tall glass of ice water and a small glass of milk as she sniffs the air then looks down at her body. Making a disgusted face she looks around the table as she says

"I look horrible and probably smell. Blah! I need a bath." as she looks over towards Randall

"I'm fine with my share of the cut with the polished black gem. The money will come in handy to getting me looking and smelling better at least."  

OOC DM: let us know please when we can add the share of money etc. to our inventory.

Melchor, now sat down and with his prosthetic leg removed to ease the pressure on his leg, nods in agreement with Randall’s apportioning of the treasure.

‘I might need to borrow one of those gems from someone if we’re able to find someone selling pearls. I need a pearl to act as a focus for a spell to divine more information about the wand I recovered from the Necromancer. I will keep it safe in the meantime...’

He sips at a glass of red wine, then recalls additional treasure taken earlier, digging into his pouch

'You should each take your share of this too..' he pushes 3gp, 21sp and 25cp to each of you. (no, not you Shrek)

Quote from JorvikDave >>

Melchor, now sat down and with his prosthetic leg removed to ease the pressure on his leg, nods in agreement with Randall’s apportioning of the treasure.

‘I might need to borrow one of those gems from someone if we’re able to find someone selling pearls. I need a pearl to act as a focus for a spell to divine more information about the wand I recovered from the Necromancer. I will keep it safe in the meantime...’

He sips at a glass of red wine, then recalls additional treasure taken earlier, digging into his pouch

'You should each take your share of this too..' he pushes 3gp, 21sp and 25cp to each of you. (no, not you Shrek)

You are surprised when a female voice pips up behind you, which you recognize as Kaylessa.  "Pearls? We don't get much call for luxury like that here in Red Larch but we occasionally get some fancy merchants from Waterdeep through here.  You might check Vallivoe's Sundries, out at the southern end of the Long Road (#22 on the map). Listen, I ran into Harburk and wanted me to mention something to you. I told you about some odd folks over by Mellikho's earlier, and Harburk thinks there's more going on there, and I do too. The quarry workers were in here drinking earlier, and they are afraid to go back to work for the night shift, claiming they are being watched by people with strange masks. Mellikho himself was in here earlier and was given short shrift to anyone trying to ask him about it. I know you may need some rest, but maybe you could get some information from him or check out the quarry after dark? (#18 on the map) I've got some rooms for you upstairs, on the house, though i'm not sure I have a bed large enough for the big fella." 

(Map: https://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/d-d-beyond-general/play-by-post/120207-princes-of-the-apocalypse-game-thread#c2)

Olaerys gladly accepts the coin.  "Oh yeah, I guess that was me that told you to run in there.  My bad.  That was crazy!  I hear you Randall, we will be more careful next time.  But still, it was rather ballsy for you to run in there like that, I like it!"

"Why don't we go check out Vallivoe's Sundries, like Kaylessa says.  But after that I'm not sure I'm up to tackling another host of necromancers again, I need a good night's sleep tonight!  I don't know about you, but I'm worn out."

Shrek looks longingly (almost lustily) at the coin exchanging hands around the table.  That's more money than he'd see in a year of hard back-breaking labor hauling stupid mail between the lonely backwoods towns.  He'd be sure to thank the gods extra tonight in his prayers, for having run into this group of fine adventurers.  His empty pocketbook should be thanking them as well.

He spends most of the afternoon confused, barely grasping the conversation.  When mention of Vallivoe's Sundries comes up, his ears perk up.  "Shrek know of shop!  Val voos sun dies is stop on Shrek's mail route!  Take you there?" he excited offers, hoping to ingratiate himself into the group on good terms.

“Maybe we can hit the shop, come back, catch an 8 hour nap and still go visit the quarry while it is still dark.”  (Would that work based on the time of day?)

Quote from Bartjeebus >>

“Maybe we can hit the shop, come back, catch an 8 hour nap and still go visit the quarry while it is still dark.”  (Would that work based on the time of day?)

OOC: It's late afternoon atm. Shop is still open, an 8 hour nap would take you to like 2 AM so ya that'd work

After you finish your drinks, Shrek happily leads his new friends to Vallivoes Sundries, at the edge of the village. Some of the villagers, mostly the children, wave at him, happy to see the large parcel deliverer.

You walk inside a small shop and are amazed at the inside; it looks like a tornado ripped through the village and placed a giant pile of random objects here. A weak looking old human stands behind his desk studying a thick book with golden foreign script embossed on the cover.

He looks up at you from behind his glasses, excited to have a customer. "Welcome! Welcome! If you need it I probably have it! What can I do for you? Oh, gooday Randall! How are you today?"

Olaerys walks around the shop, getting a feel for the items on display, the type of goods that are sold there.

Fr'reona with her hands behind her back walks in and looks around. Seeing how the room to her looks like a big hop scotch board she pretends she see's it and skips merrily around checking items as she goes.

"One, two, three, four-five. Six, seven, eight-nine-ten!" 

as she stops for a moment coming back to the beginning then starts again

"Good afternoon, Endrith.  Say, I'm happy to report I've got that 9sp to cover my tab."  Randall reaches around in his pouch and fishes out the silver for the shopkeep.

You get the sense that Vallivoe sells anything and everything. In one corner lies a fancy looking ornate rug, sitting beside a polearm and a stack of books.in another, some kitchenware sits, made up on a table like Vallivoe was expecting guests; the only hint that it's for sale being the price tags hanging off the mugs.

Vallivoe eyes Fr'reona nervously 'Pplease be careful miss. I'll ask you to pay for any broken merchandise!". Looking at Randall, and his silver, his eyes light up. "Thank you my boy! Thank you! Always appreciate a customer I don't have to go chasing for payment.". He pockets the coin deftly, closes the expensive looking back carefully and opens up a tattered journal and starts writing; his ledger, clearly.

Putting his leg back on, Melchor joins the procession to the store, keen to check for a pearl to carry out his ritual, and see if there are other items of interest. 'Perhaps you could keep watch outside, Shrek? We don't want to be disturbed by bandits and the like...' he suggests, on seeing the inside of the store with a shiver of dread at the chaos that might ensue...

'Good aftenoon, Master Vallivoe.' says Melchor, inclining his head. 'You look to have quite a collection, which I should like to browse through if you'll permit? I do have a specific item that I'm looking for though. A small pearl, perfectly spherical. Do you have such an item in your possession?'