Case thinks for a moment before pulling a bag. He opens it up and looks inside, "Actually, I think I've got more than fifty gold pieces. But should we try and get a better deal anyway?"
Whistler shrugged, still paying attention to his dagger (which he was now discretely sharpening) rather than the negotiations.
"Can't hurt ta try, right?" he replied to Case, in a lower tone so that their possible guide wouldn't hear. "If it takes too long, we can jus' jump in and end the hagglin' with a full sack 'a coin."
“Yes. To start we have some preliminary areas we wish to explore, specifically in the direction of Mbala, and we are looking for someone who is traveling in the same general direction.”
insight for azaka’s trustworthiness: 7
“my personal name is Gear. And I am a worshipper of Tyr and Primus, gods of order, seeking to right those wrongs that have swayed this region out of balance.”
“We do not seek aid from those who have gold as their priority. might you help us in our journey, as perhaps we might help you in yours?”
you sense from Azaka someone focused on a task, she locks her eyes to anyone she talks -
“well, I can say that our values seemed to be aligned. I only seek gold to pay Jobal - doesn’t care to explain who’s that as she continues- but I won’t need much of him once we help each other. That means we don’t return to this port without taking out the pterafolk in firefinger. Mbala is no way close from there so I just want to be very honest with you, we can go there first and take care of whatever your business is but then we deal with mine, the jungle is my home and it wouldn’t be very smart to play me for a fool I hope that’s clear enough for you.” It doesn’t seem like she is trying to intimidate Gear as she says this, her tone of voice and body language suggests that this is not the first time people try to take her offer without actually committing to her end of the bargain.
He tried to still seem uninterested in the conversation, but truth be told, Whistler was surprised that Azaka was willing to go off on her personal mission after theirs. Putting the first back, he took out a second dagger to begin sharpening while waiting for Gear to close the deal... hopefully at the discount he had intended to get.
“I am are here for adventure as well among other things, and if you mean to say that after Mbala we must go to firefinger before return, that is an agreement I can accept. How much do you owe this jobal, and does paying it mean our bond may become deeper than your bond to him? “
”I am a machina of order, bound like time to wait for no man. Perhaps we are more alike than you think. Action over thought: I will not betray you unless you betray me, if your debt to jobal is not too large…”
gear also [messages] her privately: “if there is treasure at firefinger besides your artifact, or another place along the journey back, it my entice the others more easily…”
“Don’t worry about Jobal, I accepted to work for him as a mean to find adventurers like you willing to help me with my request. Jobal will take his cut if I leave the port with a group to the jungle, but if we get this done I won’t return…like I said Chult is my home.I’m ready to leave whenever you are we still have some daylight and if we travel through the shores into the river Soshenstar we‘ll arrive sooner to Mbala.”
Gear pulls out 1 platinum coin (10 gold), showing it to azaka, “this is but to represent my personal bond, but I can only honor it if our group abides. I am bound to our group mission currently over what I would promise you.”
gear awaits a reply while messaging Aranea privately, “I hope this azaka is trustworthy, and if so this may be a chance for usto prove our honor”
"I'm in," said Whistler without lifting his gaze, as he put away his blade. "We help ya' in Faahfinga' when we done, an' pay up at the end o' it all." He finally looked at the others. "That good wit' y'all?"
OoC: I guess we went back and forth with many things but I considered that you only went once to the grand Souk to purchase items and provisions, most of the times you decided to purchase anything else was because I mentioned something as a DM so your characters would've noticed said items on the first visit.
Though we've been playing for more than a week "in game" time has been brief.
Timeline goes a bit like this:
1st group (Aranae, Gear and Case) reached Port Nyanzaru through a portal with Syndra. 2nd group ( whistler and Key) was already waiting there at the Thundering Lizard (inn)
Once you all met a pair of guides tried to be employeed but were ignored. You then went to purchase stuff to the Grand Souk/bazaar during that time some of you gathered more information with locals through rumors and a small encounter.
Decided to meet a guide after reading several postings. That's were you met Azaka who's ready to take you to the shore to the River Soshenstar.
I hope that coming forward things will make more sense since we are no longer playing through such major holidays
“Azaka a final word before we go…” Gear said aloud before turning to private communication:
“I must be honest, or interest is not in Mbala but something called the “Guardian of Orolunga”, East of Mbala. But after that I will go with you to Firefinger.”
Turning back to the group Gear smiles his uneven hackjob ‘teeth’ toward them and asks, “to the river, shall we? And then to Mbala and beyond !” :)
…
(Ooc: is everyone ok with essentially adding a Quest between what we is near Mbala and returning to our patron? I personally have a sense her sickness isn’t something we will cure immediately… just my personal vibe… and it seems it would cost 50 go MORE to buy a canoe, or DM do we still need to buy one?)
(( OOC: If we spent time in an involved group discussion, Whistler would want to prioritize getting to the guardian ASAP since that seems the fastest way to cure our patron; he'd want to go to Camp Righteous afterwards, and then Firefinger.
That said, I also get the impression that curing our patron isn't going to be completed after one trip to the jungle, but if so it probably means that after finding the guardian we'll just be given another location to head to. How about heading toward Mbala first, but then heading back to the side quests before going wherever the guardian directs? ))
(Just to be clear, I'm trying to play Case as someone who is a bit lost and confused when interacting with others. However, then becomes more focused and determined when taking action.)
Now presented with clear instructions from Gear, Case nods his head, "To the river."
Case then begins to march away from you in the direction of the river.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
“The secret we should never let the gamemasters know is that they don't need any rules.” ― Gary Gygax
(Ooc: is everyone ok with essentially adding a Quest between what we is near Mbala and returning to our patron? I personally have a sense her sickness isn’t something we will cure immediately… just my personal vibe… and it seems it would cost 50 go MORE to buy a canoe, or DM do we still need to buy one?)
Canoes hold up to six. I’m not sure if all of the original posters are still playing, so far we have : Whistler, Gear, Case, Aranea and Key if we add Azaka to this party you are good with just 1 canoe. Maybe we could add 1 additional player considering that key is small. But you’ll get a small penalty whenever you navigate under special conditions (such as: trying to escape fast, evading hazards, etc.)
Seeing that negotiations had apparently been finished, Whistler waved a hand ahead of Azaka, both to allow her to lead and to see if she had a boat of her own. "After you," he said with a polite smile.
"Now I agreed to travel with you bunch, but I ain't paying for your canoe-or one of those guides. Use your own money."
The fighter raised an eyebrow. "Well, that's your right, 'course... but it might be a mite unpleasant havin' to doggy-paddle behind the boat the rest o' us did pay fo'. And considerin's we're s'pose ta work as a group, I'll be fully 'spectin' yo' fair share of Madam Azaka's fee to be taken outta yo' cut of any loot we find, if need be."
With a nonchalant shrug, he turned to follow the others.
Gear noted the small creature’s indifference to teamwork, and suspected he had had a tough childhood… perhaps he was still having a tough childhood, albeit turned adulthood. he patted his bag to note the weight and general form of objects within, then stick his hand into it to stir about with his fingers, getting to know the shapes and sizes of things.
“best watch your belongings… I will trust first, but if this creature has had a hard life, perhaps it won’t be outside their habits to steal from teammates,” Gear messages Whistler privately, continuing the thought to himself, ‘I would hate to have to dole out rebalancing justice on a teammate. Let us hope he is but never known love or friendship, and his friction might thaw with time.”
"Now I agreed to travel with you bunch, but I ain't paying for your canoe-or one of those guides. Use your own money."
"I don't have a boat but still consider the River as a great place to introduce people to the jungle, it's easier to follow the path for those who tend to stay behind, having a canoe does help with the pace a big deal, we are talking twice the speed if you don't have one right now we can stop at the bazar or the grand Souk for one. I can help you haggle for good rate - the Azaka turns to to key, keeping her distance - " I hope you reconsider this way of behaving, the jungle won't wait for you to behave as a team, which is almost the only way you survive out there".
“Azaka a final word before we go…” Gear said aloud before turning to private communication:
“I must be honest, or interest is not in Mbala but something called the “Guardian of Orolunga”, East of Mbala. But after that I will go with you to Firefinger.”
Turning back to the group Gear smiles his uneven hackjob ‘teeth’ toward them and asks, “to the river, shall we? And then to Mbala and beyond !” :)
…
(Ooc: is everyone ok with essentially adding a Quest between what we is near Mbala and returning to our patron? I personally have a sense her sickness isn’t something we will cure immediately… just my personal vibe… and it seems it would cost 50 go MORE to buy a canoe, or DM do we still need to buy one?)
"That makes more sense than going to Mbala, Orolunga is a great place to make our first stop and you are in luck...I know "the guardian".
“Useful already Azaka! This serendipity brings us good tidings. How many days walk to Orolunga? And if so perhaps half the time but double the cost taking a canoe…” Gear wracks his mind for efficiencies to be explored, as the term Humility pops to the forefront.
“if we are not to return to the port anytime soon, perhaps the canoe will be lost to us when we leave the river anyway. I have means to create drinkable water by magic, if we are not beset too harshly by attackers, and have also procured a fishing set for anyone who wishes a go, but I suspect walking will also teach us the land before we enter the depths of the jungle. Yes, I do suspect Humility will be a guiding force in this jungle.”
(ooc: seems to be a question of food ration cost vs. canoe cost, I prefer the walk/fish/hunt route, but fine with either if we split the gold cost… also, the whole robot-who-doesn’t-need-food-or-sleep might be clouding Gear’s judgement but that is for others to decide)
Whistler shrugged, still paying attention to his dagger (which he was now discretely sharpening) rather than the negotiations.
"Can't hurt ta try, right?" he replied to Case, in a lower tone so that their possible guide wouldn't hear. "If it takes too long, we can jus' jump in and end the hagglin' with a full sack 'a coin."
Sterling - V. Human Bard 3 (College of Art) - [Pic] - [Traits] - in Bards: Dragon Heist (w/ Mansion) - Jasper's [Pic] - Sterling's [Sigil]
Tooltips Post (2024 PHB updates) - incl. General Rules
>> New FOW threat & treasure tables: fow-advanced-threat-tables.pdf fow-advanced-treasure-table.pdf
you sense from Azaka someone focused on a task, she locks her eyes to anyone she talks -
“well, I can say that our values seemed to be aligned. I only seek gold to pay Jobal - doesn’t care to explain who’s that as she continues - but I won’t need much of him once we help each other. That means we don’t return to this port without taking out the pterafolk in firefinger. Mbala is no way close from there so I just want to be very honest with you, we can go there first and take care of whatever your business is but then we deal with mine, the jungle is my home and it wouldn’t be very smart to play me for a fool I hope that’s clear enough for you.” It doesn’t seem like she is trying to intimidate Gear as she says this, her tone of voice and body language suggests that this is not the first time people try to take her offer without actually committing to her end of the bargain.
He tried to still seem uninterested in the conversation, but truth be told, Whistler was surprised that Azaka was willing to go off on her personal mission after theirs. Putting the first back, he took out a second dagger to begin sharpening while waiting for Gear to close the deal... hopefully at the discount he had intended to get.
Sterling - V. Human Bard 3 (College of Art) - [Pic] - [Traits] - in Bards: Dragon Heist (w/ Mansion) - Jasper's [Pic] - Sterling's [Sigil]
Tooltips Post (2024 PHB updates) - incl. General Rules
>> New FOW threat & treasure tables: fow-advanced-threat-tables.pdf fow-advanced-treasure-table.pdf
“I am are here for adventure as well among other things, and if you mean to say that after Mbala we must go to firefinger before return, that is an agreement I can accept. How much do you owe this jobal, and does paying it mean our bond may become deeper than your bond to him? “
”I am a machina of order, bound like time to wait for no man. Perhaps we are more alike than you think. Action over thought: I will not betray you unless you betray me, if your debt to jobal is not too large…”
gear also [messages] her privately: “if there is treasure at firefinger besides your artifact, or another place along the journey back, it my entice the others more easily…”
“Don’t worry about Jobal, I accepted to work for him as a mean to find adventurers like you willing to help me with my request. Jobal will take his cut if I leave the port with a group to the jungle, but if we get this done I won’t return…like I said Chult is my home. I’m ready to leave whenever you are we still have some daylight and if we travel through the shores into the river Soshenstar we‘ll arrive sooner to Mbala.”
Gear pulls out 1 platinum coin (10 gold), showing it to azaka, “this is but to represent my personal bond, but I can only honor it if our group abides. I am bound to our group mission currently over what I would promise you.”
gear awaits a reply while messaging Aranea privately, “I hope this azaka is trustworthy, and if so this may be a chance for usto prove our honor”
"I'm in," said Whistler without lifting his gaze, as he put away his blade. "We help ya' in Faahfinga' when we done, an' pay up at the end o' it all." He finally looked at the others. "That good wit' y'all?"
Sterling - V. Human Bard 3 (College of Art) - [Pic] - [Traits] - in Bards: Dragon Heist (w/ Mansion) - Jasper's [Pic] - Sterling's [Sigil]
Tooltips Post (2024 PHB updates) - incl. General Rules
>> New FOW threat & treasure tables: fow-advanced-threat-tables.pdf fow-advanced-treasure-table.pdf
Faahfinga’
Faahfinga’
… Gear tries to imitate whistler’s accent. Believing his second attempt was decently accurate, he turns to smile stupidly in Whistler’s direction.
Case then turns to Azaka, "Are you the one we are buying a canoe from?"
“The secret we should never let the gamemasters know is that they don't need any rules.” ― Gary Gygax
OoC: I guess we went back and forth with many things but I considered that you only went once to the grand Souk to purchase items and provisions, most of the times you decided to purchase anything else was because I mentioned something as a DM so your characters would've noticed said items on the first visit.
Though we've been playing for more than a week "in game" time has been brief.
Timeline goes a bit like this:
1st group (Aranae, Gear and Case) reached Port Nyanzaru through a portal with Syndra. 2nd group ( whistler and Key) was already waiting there at the Thundering Lizard (inn)
Once you all met a pair of guides tried to be employeed but were ignored. You then went to purchase stuff to the Grand Souk/bazaar during that time some of you gathered more information with locals through rumors and a small encounter.
Decided to meet a guide after reading several postings. That's were you met Azaka who's ready to take you to the shore to the River Soshenstar.
I hope that coming forward things will make more sense since we are no longer playing through such major holidays
“Azaka a final word before we go…” Gear said aloud before turning to private communication:
“I must be honest, or interest is not in Mbala but something called the “Guardian of Orolunga”, East of Mbala. But after that I will go with you to Firefinger.”
Turning back to the group Gear smiles his uneven hackjob ‘teeth’ toward them and asks, “to the river, shall we? And then to Mbala and beyond !” :)
…
(Ooc: is everyone ok with essentially adding a Quest between what we is near Mbala and returning to our patron? I personally have a sense her sickness isn’t something we will cure immediately… just my personal vibe… and it seems it would cost 50 go MORE to buy a canoe, or DM do we still need to buy one?)
(( OOC: If we spent time in an involved group discussion, Whistler would want to prioritize getting to the guardian ASAP since that seems the fastest way to cure our patron; he'd want to go to Camp Righteous afterwards, and then Firefinger.
That said, I also get the impression that curing our patron isn't going to be completed after one trip to the jungle, but if so it probably means that after finding the guardian we'll just be given another location to head to. How about heading toward Mbala first, but then heading back to the side quests before going wherever the guardian directs? ))
Sterling - V. Human Bard 3 (College of Art) - [Pic] - [Traits] - in Bards: Dragon Heist (w/ Mansion) - Jasper's [Pic] - Sterling's [Sigil]
Tooltips Post (2024 PHB updates) - incl. General Rules
>> New FOW threat & treasure tables: fow-advanced-threat-tables.pdf fow-advanced-treasure-table.pdf
(Just to be clear, I'm trying to play Case as someone who is a bit lost and confused when interacting with others. However, then becomes more focused and determined when taking action.)
Now presented with clear instructions from Gear, Case nods his head, "To the river."
Case then begins to march away from you in the direction of the river.
“The secret we should never let the gamemasters know is that they don't need any rules.” ― Gary Gygax
Canoes hold up to six. I’m not sure if all of the original posters are still playing, so far we have : Whistler, Gear, Case, Aranea and Key if we add Azaka to this party you are good with just 1 canoe. Maybe we could add 1 additional player considering that key is small. But you’ll get a small penalty whenever you navigate under special conditions (such as: trying to escape fast, evading hazards, etc.)
"Now I agreed to travel with you bunch, but I ain't paying for your canoe-or one of those guides."
Seeing that negotiations had apparently been finished, Whistler waved a hand ahead of Azaka, both to allow her to lead and to see if she had a boat of her own. "After you," he said with a polite smile.
The fighter raised an eyebrow. "Well, that's your right, 'course... but it might be a mite unpleasant havin' to doggy-paddle behind the boat the rest o' us did pay fo'. And considerin's we're s'pose ta work as a group, I'll be fully 'spectin' yo' fair share of Madam Azaka's fee to be taken outta yo' cut of any loot we find, if need be."
With a nonchalant shrug, he turned to follow the others.
Sterling - V. Human Bard 3 (College of Art) - [Pic] - [Traits] - in Bards: Dragon Heist (w/ Mansion) - Jasper's [Pic] - Sterling's [Sigil]
Tooltips Post (2024 PHB updates) - incl. General Rules
>> New FOW threat & treasure tables: fow-advanced-threat-tables.pdf fow-advanced-treasure-table.pdf
Gear noted the small creature’s indifference to teamwork, and suspected he had had a tough childhood… perhaps he was still having a tough childhood, albeit turned adulthood. he patted his bag to note the weight and general form of objects within, then stick his hand into it to stir about with his fingers, getting to know the shapes and sizes of things.
“best watch your belongings… I will trust first, but if this creature has had a hard life, perhaps it won’t be outside their habits to steal from teammates,” Gear messages Whistler privately, continuing the thought to himself, ‘I would hate to have to dole out rebalancing justice on a teammate. Let us hope he is but never known love or friendship, and his friction might thaw with time.”
"I don't have a boat but still consider the River as a great place to introduce people to the jungle, it's easier to follow the path for those who tend to stay behind, having a canoe does help with the pace a big deal, we are talking twice the speed if you don't have one right now we can stop at the bazar or the grand Souk for one. I can help you haggle for good rate - the Azaka turns to to key, keeping her distance - " I hope you reconsider this way of behaving, the jungle won't wait for you to behave as a team, which is almost the only way you survive out there".
"That makes more sense than going to Mbala, Orolunga is a great place to make our first stop and you are in luck...I know "the guardian".
“Useful already Azaka! This serendipity brings us good tidings. How many days walk to Orolunga? And if so perhaps half the time but double the cost taking a canoe…” Gear wracks his mind for efficiencies to be explored, as the term Humility pops to the forefront.
“if we are not to return to the port anytime soon, perhaps the canoe will be lost to us when we leave the river anyway. I have means to create drinkable water by magic, if we are not beset too harshly by attackers, and have also procured a fishing set for anyone who wishes a go, but I suspect walking will also teach us the land before we enter the depths of the jungle. Yes, I do suspect Humility will be a guiding force in this jungle.”
(ooc: seems to be a question of food ration cost vs. canoe cost, I prefer the walk/fish/hunt route, but fine with either if we split the gold cost… also, the whole robot-who-doesn’t-need-food-or-sleep might be clouding Gear’s judgement but that is for others to decide)