So did they get a good deal?

Devin hands over the dragons and carrying his equipment leads the party back to ‘The Falling Orc’. Harshnag is in the yard chatting up – well at least he is trying to – Arza. He espies the characters and laughs out loud “how much did Macy hit you up for a lot?” After Devin confesses to what they paid both Arza and Harshnag look at each other “and I’ll bet he told you about how his grandchildren will miss out on their inheritance” Harshnag says with a guffaw. “Tell me, did he try and sell you some of that chokolart he claims to import from Calimshan and did you taste it?” Seeing the look flash across Ebonitus’ face, both Harshnag and Arza break into fits of laughter. Eventually they catch their breaths and wiping the tears from her eyes, Arza says between gasps “it’s not imported from Calimshan and in fact Macy sources it locally – let’s just say the local deer population is involved!”

After both Harshnag and Arza recover, D.O.R.K. asks Harshnag "Would the way to our next destination be accessible for Golemogote? The elephant we've been using as transportation up until now." Harshnag says “I did hear about somebody called Hannibal who took some elephants over mountains but then he had an army to support them.” He looks at the party and says “how much fodder can you carry, cos I wouldn’t plan on their being much in the way of elephant food in the mountains!”  

"Yes a bit of a premium. A little different than Waterdeep where you can find another shop if you don't like the prices of the one you are in.  Of course the guilds there have a lot of control also.  Macy has no competition so his poor grandchildren will not starve tonight."  Devin says in response. "Shall we move on?"

Ebonitus did think the chokolart tasted a bit earthy and gritty, but not entirely inedible and note: he did not offer to buy any to take on his journey. As to Golemgote  accompanying them to the mountains, he says, "Yes I remember something about that hannibal, I think he lost quite a few elephants on that journey, they are not used to that level of cold. I think it best if we leave Mr G. stabled here, he will be in good hands." The last said with a smile toward Arza.

Mullo approaches Devin, stands uncomfortably close, and glowers down at him before finally shoving a hand toward his chest, palm up and open. Sitting upon her palm is a single platinum piece. "We do not deal much in gold," she explains, "in the sky pony tribe. We find more use in trading food and working together for what we need, and only those who trade with outsiders need use the little coins. But this was given to me in case I needed it, and my suspicion is that my share of the skins and strange shoes required more than this. I saw how many you gave to the grandfather. Please take this, and when I am able to, I will repay the rest of what I owe you."

"Could the legends be true...?" D.O.R.K muttered under her breath, losing herself in memories of the past for nearly a minute there, before then shuddering and snapping out of her thoughts. She nods first to Ebonitus, acknowledging his suggestion, before looking up to Harshnag. "Understood. This means we will have to journey by foot. But considering the danger of the terrain, some lost time is better than the lost of Mr. G for this leg of the trip. Even using what miracles are at our disposal to help facilitate reduce food concerns, it would be an unnecessary risk."

Her dimly glowing yellow eyes than turn on Azra. "How much would be sufficient for Mr. G to remain stabled here at a greater length? If a great sum, then would it be possible to come to other arrangements?"

As D.O.R.K. and Arza discuss the cost of stabling Golemogote the elephant once again opportunistically explores the half-ogre's pockets with its trunk looking for a corn ear. Laughing Arza reaches into a pocket and procures a corn ear which the elephant gratefully takes "the best I can do is five dragons a day" she says.

"Five dragons a day?"  Devin says with incredulity.  "You meant to say five nibs per day to feed him right?  Do you have grandchildren begging in the streets also or do you buy your feed from Macy?

As Devin looked on incredulously at Azra, D.O.R.K just calmly looked up at the half Ogre, trying in perhaps vain to get a read on her and whether she spoke true.

Insight: 14.

Though regardless of any insight in the moment, which would still require some percolating in mind, she would say, "It is not wholly an unreasonable price, since proper care would require more time and specifics compared to other beasts that are normally used as transportation this far north." She then roots around in her own purse, pulling out her last few silvers. "Hm.... Can I offer something else as collateral instead in exchange for his extended stay?"

(OOC she is actually doing you a favour - Standard stabling rates for a horse are 5 SP (shard) per day. Add on 50% for the fact that this is a remote area and its now early Autumn and supplies are scarce = 7 shards and 5 nibs per day for a horse and then the fact that an elephant eats between and 10 and 15 time the amount of food a horse eats and you're at 7.5 - 10 GP (Dragons) per day.)

Arza looks at Devin incredulously  "if this beautiful creature was a horse and we were in Waterdeep I could do it at a push for five shards. But he is not a horse and we are not in Waterdeep. We're also heading into Marpenoth and there wont be much in feed available. I really can't do it for less than 5 dragons per day."

"Stuck between a rock and a hard place I guess.   Maybe  I don't know much about stabling anything.  But I'll straight up give you the horse I rode in on for whatever stabling Gol needs.  Can't get much better than that and I really don't need a horse. How about it?"

((I assume Devin still has the horse he got at Nesme and rode away from the Zhent guards on.))

Meanwhile, Ebonitus goes to check up on Mambo and the forge - to make sure it is still intact and Mambo hasn't gotten too excited.

Ilezenya gives all of his money to the group to split for either stabling the elephant or in repayment for the winter clothes. (25gp)

"But I'll straight up give you the horse I rode in on for whatever stabling Gol needs.  Can't get much better than that and I really don't need a horse. How about it?" Devin says. The half-ogre spits in a large paw and shakes Devin's hand "Done" she says.

Mullo raises her stern chin as Devin and Arza shake hands to solidify the deal. Now, this, she understands. Suddenly reminded of her own four-legged companion, she lifts her eyes to scan the skies in case Haetone is visible at the moment soaring above. She spends a short time looking about, and when she doesn't see the pegasus, she returns her gaze to her new companions without worry.

When Ilnezya stepped up ready to offer his coin, D.O.R.K at least considers it a moment. But with Devin and Azra seeming to broker a deal, she glanced back to him, shaking her head. "It would matters have sorted themselves. But thank you, Warden. Keep your coin for now, in the event it is yet need later. As all coin being on person at this current conjecture regardless would not be a good idea, in the event one or many of us perish." She explained, and quite nonchalantly at that. Afterwards, it looks almost as if she might have more to add. But, seeing Ebonitus had wandered off to probably fetch Mumbo(Mundo? ... Mambo?), mechanical hands are simply folded behind the construct back as they stood by patiently for the pairs return.

Meanwhile, Ebonitus goes to check up on Mambo and the forge - to make sure it is still intact and Mambo hasn't gotten too excited.

As Ebonitus approaches the forge he can see Mambo sitting in the middle of the furnaces, an old dwarf covered in burn scars who seems to be in some sort of a supervisory role yells out a word which sounds like "yukari' and Mambo's heat and light output increase.

"Hello," says Ebonitus to the old dwarf, "It seems all is going well here. I hope Mambo has been of some assistance." He uses the Helm of Telepathy to cast detect thoughts  (save DC 13) on Mambo, communicating telepathically with him "You look happy."

"Hello," says Ebonitus to the old dwarf, "It seems all is going well here. I hope Mambo has been of some assistance. "

"Aye laddie he haes bin o' uise. They're nae th' sharpest claymore in th' drawer bit thay kin follow simple instructions; ye juist hae tae noo howfur tae blether tae thaim!" the old dwarf says.

Ebonitus then uses the Helm of Telepathy to cast detect thoughts  (save DC 13) on Mambo, communicating telepathically with him "You look happy." In response Ebonitus gets back images of happiness!

Quote from GrantFromCanberra >>

"But I'll straight up give you the horse I rode in on for whatever stabling Gol needs.  Can't get much better than that and I really don't need a horse. How about it?" Devin says. The half-ogre spits in a large paw and shakes Devin's hand "Done" she says.

Devin grins, spits in his own hand and reaches out and shakes the large paw offered to him.  "Better deal than Macy's for sure."  

He waves off the offer of payment from Mullo and Ilnezya .  "Wasn't really my coin anyways.  We picked it up along the way so no worries.  It just happened to be in my pouch at the time."

"So," Ebonitus says to the smithy, "you seem to have taught them to understand how to turn up and down the heat, what are the words that you have taught him to do this and have you taught him anything else?"