Necromancer's Delusion-Homebrew

(Correct on the amount of the reward)

Yera- The shop keep welcomes you and accepts your proposal for the +1 shield.  It feels lighter than a normal steel shield and as you test it you see that it bends and gives slightly against pressure where a normal steel shield would either remain rigid or chip.  You return to the Riverboat Queen and find grunting eating nuts and berries.  A slight twitch is visible in her tiny frame every minute or so perhaps still shaken by what transpired in the cave.

Quentin- You see Yera leave the shop as you make your way towards it.  She seems to be carrying a new shiny shield.  As you describe the ring to the shop keep he nods almost sure of what it is but takes the time to cast Identify on it.  Holding it in his hand between his thumb and forefinger he says, "What you have here is a Ring of Warmth.  It will not only keep you warm but protect you from cold damage, once you've connected with it."  He extends his other empty hand still holding the ring out of your reach and says, "Ten gold pieces"

Mucor would take his share of the reward and follow along behind the others to the magic shop. As the large lumbering minotaur makes his way into the building, he would arrive in time to see the shopkeeper asking 10 gold pieces for identifying the ring. Scratching his chin, Mucor would think back to the cave and pull out the dagger he used to extract the tongues and symbols... Holding the black blade in his huge hand he would walk to the counter and place it on the table along with 20 gold coins. "Hello, can you provide me with any additional information on this blade here?... and these boots" Mucor will say with a smile placing the boots from the bag on the table as well.. 

Gabriel walks, head bowed, and pays the screaming crowd no heed. He silently follows his companions but elects to leave the talking and explaining to them. When their business has been accomplished he heads for the smithy to retrieve his axe.

After ordering a cask of ale, Yera flops down next to Grunting with a loud groan and a deep sigh. "You all right?" Her eyes trace their way along the streak of white feathers, the Kenku now sported, "That was pretty... pretty crazy, huh?" 

(We also have a pair of magical boots in the bag of holding btw)

Quentin raises an eyebrow at the man's body language, watching as he holds the ring out of reach until paid for his service. A small smirk begins to tug at the corner of the rogue's mouth, but at that moment Mucor walks in and Quentin smiles at his companion. "Howdy Mucor, ole' pal." Turning back to the shop keep, the young rogue waits and allows Mucor to place his dagger and coins on the counter before smiling broadly at the proprietor.

"I reckon business is pretty hoppin' today, right? That lovely lil' lady n' here a bit ago, one that bought a shield from ya? Yeah, small town, easy t' notice thangs like that partner." Quentin continues to smile charmingly, "Now ya done got two more fellas right here, givin' ya gold for a couple moments of your valuable time. Good day's work, sure nuff. Since the sun's shinin' on your backside so warm like today, maybe you could swing a discount for some valued customers? You take 7 gold for my identification, 7 for my partner here's, and t' sweeten the pot for ya, I'll take a gander at any other magical implements ya got back there that ya think'd help out in a scrap." The rogue extends his hand for a shake. "What'cha say, partner?"

Persuasion Check: 18

Quentin, Mucor & Gabriel:  The shop keep looks over to Quentin with a thin smile and says, "I suppose we can reach some sort of arrangement though it will require a bit more of your time."  he hands over the ring and begins to examine the boots and dagger.  After 10 minutes he raises the boots and says "These Boots of Elvenkind gives those that seek to hide an advantage from being seen." and returns to examining the dagger repeating the same spell.    After another ten minutes he places the dagger on the counter. "This appears to be a makeshift weapon formed from another.  This dagger was once the spear tip for the Blood Spear a weapon that took the life energy from those it killed."    The shop keep walks to the back and comes back with the familiar piece of leather armor  (Glamoured Studded Leather) that was shown to Mucor and Grunting.  "600 gold for the armor.  Once you connect with it you can change its appearance to normal clothes full battle plate or anything your mind can think of."

Yera & Grunting:   Grunting looks up at Yera, her eyes glazed over.  A small "Kaaaw" escapes from her beak. (Crazy? It felt like everything went cold and even now I still feel a sharp cold pain every now and then.)  She looks down for a moment as another shutter runs through her body and glances over to the door. "Kaaaw" (I don't think I can keep this up...  I want to go home.)

Gabriel:  After the business is concluded you make your way over to the blacksmith who is walking behind the counter rather than in his workshop.  The stout dwarf looks up at you and says, "Well it seems you did survive.  I guess you be want'n your axe?  Shame, I did such a good job I became fond of it m'self"  The dwarf lifts the axe from behind the counter, it appears as it was until you grasp it in your hand and examine it closer.  The once dull grey of the steel now has a folding banded pattern to the metal that gleams slightly when the light hits it just right.  "Thank ye", the dwarf says softly "Those Drekthar bastards killed my brother a few months back.  I hope you killed every last one of em. If ya need any other work done feel free to stop by." the dwarf adds as he disappears through the entrance to the forge.

Mucor will pick up the boots and toss them to Quinten.. " Here ya go, I think you will get more use out of them than I will.. and beside, I dont like the feel of boots on my hooves anyway.." The minotaur will say with a smile before turning to the barkeep. "If I attach a new shaft to this spear head... you think it will keep working properly?" He will ask before taking the spear head and using it to scratch an itchy spot along his back under his new shiny armor. 

"It should function the same.  The enchantment is bound to the blade any non-magical attachments shouldn't negate that."  the shop keep responds.

Quentin's ears perk up at the description of the boots, and the rogue flashes a bright smile as Mucor tosses them his way. "Well I'll be a twice-flipped jack rabbit Mucor, thank ya' kindly for that. These'll come in right handy in the future, sure nuff."

Turning back to the shop keep, the rogue looks at the enchanted studded leather longingly but sighs with regret. "Poligies' my friend, but that fine bit o' armor ya'll got there is jus' a bit outta my price range. If'n ya happen to hold on t' it for a while I'll gladly pick er' up when my purse is a lil' chunkier. Till then, preciate' the time and business. Ya stay safe now, hear?" Quentin then pulls fifteen gold pieces out of his pouch and places them on the counter, paying for the identification on both the ring and the boots as well as a tip for the shop keep's willingness to be flexible. Turning back toward his Minotaur companion, the rogue holds up the recently identified ring.

"One good turn d'serves another, ole' pal. Seems like this here ring will keep ya' protected against some pretty severe cold an' the like. It's yours if'n ya want it, or if ya think any o' the others might want a crack at it, I'll pass er' around once we all meet back up again an' see who takes a fancy to er'. I suppose we'll all be meetin' back up at that nice Riverboat Queen spot t' plan out our next job, so I'll see ya there."

His business concluded for the moment, and as long as there are no charges outstanding with the shop's proprietor, Quentin will then make his way toward the Riverboat Queen to meet up with the others.

As Quentin hands the minotaur the ring, Mucor will smile and try his best to cram it on to his thick fuzzy finger. "Thank you friend...." As Quentin turns to head out the door, Mucor will grab the rogue by the arm. "Here... buy yourself something nice.." The minotaur will say with a smile as he places a pouch with (up to 525 gold in it) in his friends hand. "I would hate for someone else to buy that armor before you can come up with the funds" And with that Mucor will nod and make his way to the Riverboat Queen as well... sitting at whichever table his companions were resting at and buying a round for the group. 

"Are the two of you OK?" Mucor will say to Yera and Grunting... The minotaur will say looking them up and down. "I have healing for your bodies... but I also have ears if you need to get some pain off your chest..." The minotaur will say with a large smile, rocking his head back and forth to nudge them both with his large set of horns.

Yera looks up at the minotaur and smiles, "It's just... a lot" She glances over to Grunting and back to Mucor, "I suppose this kind of life isn't for everyone"

The meaty hand of the Minotaur stops the rogue in his tracks before he can exit the shop, and as Mucor deposits the pouch of gold in Quentin's hands, the young human's jaw nearly drops in surprise. "I... I..." He stammers for a moment, miraculously at a loss for words. The majority of Quentin's life had been lived hand to mouth, and even those means had often required some underhanded or downright illegal activities. It was only in the recent years that he'd been able to find himself able to utilize his talents to both actually help those in need and support himself, and this show of generosity from a friend and a companion rocked him deeply. His twitching fingers slowly folded around the pouch of gold and he looked up into the large kind eyes of the Minotaur and he smiled warmly. "Thank you, Mucor. I won't forget this."

After watching the druid exit the building, Quentin quickly wiped at his eyes and cleared the lump in his throat, then turned back toward the shop keep. "Wouldn't ya know it? Seems like today the sun's been shinin' on both our backsides." The rogue flashed his crooked grin. "I guess I'll be takin' that fine piece o' armor ya got there afterall, partner." Quentin then untied his own coin purse and removed as much gold as he could spare, reticent to take any more from Mucor's purse than was absolutely necessary to purchase the armor. It took a moment, but soon the rogue had counted out six-hundred gold and placed them back in his pouch, then slid the whole pouch over to the shop keep. "Thank ya again for your time and business, partner." He said with another quick wink, before exiting the building.

Stepping around a discreet corner, the rogue quickly began to change into his new armor. It took him a moment, what with his fingers almost shaking from his excitement and all, but he was soon garbed in the new leathers and he marveled at the feel of them. He ran his hands down the studded and riveted chest piece and fancied he could almost feel the eldritch power flowing through the material. So excited that he wore a grin that stretched from ear to ear, Quentin then hurried toward the Riverboat Queen to meet his friends.

----

Quick summary of trade:

1. -315gp from Quentin's gold supply.
2. -300 from Mucor's, leaving 225gp in Mucor's pouch.
3. Mucor gave Quentin the Boots of Elvenkind, and Quentin gave Mucor the Ring of Warmth.

Quentin has also chosen the command word to change the armor's appearance to be the Dwarven word 'Arausamman', which means 'Great Friend.'

Character sheet is updated with new equipment and finance changes.

Grunting perks up a bit with the arrival of Mucor and huddles up closer to his large frame.  "Kaaw"  (I don't think I can keep going.  I have more than enough to go home and live an easy life with my family.) Quentin arrives and sits with his companions at the Riverboat Queen in his new armor followed closely by Gabriel and Onyx who join the group. 

Despite the noise from the crowded tavern you are able to focus on Grunting as she looks over the group and "Kaaws" (I'm heading back home.  I can't do this.  I... I died or at least a part of me did and I don't want to lose the rest of me.) "Kaaw" (Thank you for saving me and for being awesome friends.  I hope that we will see each other again.) She looks over to each of you and gives you all tiny bird hugs saving Mucor for last.  She hugs him intently and walks off to the open entrance giving a small wave with her wing.  Through the entry way you see her mount Gump and hop off.  

The air seems to pop as your focus on Grunting is lost and the full noise of the bustling tavern hits your ears.  Looking around you see many soldiers talking excitedly about the battles to come and glory to be had.  The normal sounds of the busy town enter through the dockyard entrance and front door.  Some soldiers pause to look over your group and nod respectfully as you make eye contact before resuming their conversations.  A swamped Daisy makes her way over to your table with your normal beverages and says "I'm glad y'all made it back safe. Can I get y'all anything to eat?" as she gently rubs her finger across Quentin's shoulder then pats Mucor on the head between the horns as she places down the drinks.  "Don't think I forgot you like to be petted too darlin."

As Mucor holds Grunting in his arms, he would whisper a few words, granting her bear's endurance to help her get home before she disappeared out the door. The minotaur sit silent for a bit just taking in his surroundings and losing himself in his thoughts while eavesdropping on other conversations and reading the lips of those around him to see if anyone seemed upset by their return... 

The pat on the head would startle Mucor a moment "Oh hey! I do like a nice pet on the head, scratches are even better!" The minotaur would say pulling out the tip of the [magic item]blood spear[/magic item] and using it to scratch a few hard to reach places on his back around his armor before placing it on the table. Then tugging hard on his finger he would remove the warm ring as well, placing it near the weapon. "so this is a magic ring that protects you from cold and this is a spear that helps you feel better every time you kill something with it... I will take them if you all are not interested but figured I would see if you all wanted them first" The minotaur would say with a snort.

All of the conversations regarding your group seem to be positive.

Yera casts a suspicious glance at the spear tip and shakes her head, "I'm good, thank you" Her gaze turns back to her companions, "I feel like... we should figure out what are next, uh, job is. I know our most recent... endeavor... was... pretty intense. But I'd hate to be idle while some mind-controlling evil wizard type of guy is trying to bring about a new world order. I remember there was some business with a mine somewhere in these parts that needed some problem taken care of, and there was a town a ways to the northwest that was having a lot of mysterious disappearances, that could be something. What do you guys think?".

Riverwood bounties: 

Emvale- villagers gone missing

Asheborne- young dragon 

Thorpe- goblin raiders

Dwarven mine in need of assistance

Gabriel smiles grimly at the dwarf smith's comment. "There is work to be done ere I leave this world for the next." He says, accepting his axe and burying the replacement in the dirt. " Do what you wish with this weapon, I have no further use for it. " With that, the aasimar rejoins his companions and with a heavy sigh takes a seat. "I assume you have been discussing our next move" He says, signalling for a mug of coffee, his primary dietary supplement. "What have you come up with so far?"

Mucor would nod to Gabriel as he arrives at their table. "Hello friend, we were just discussing out next move... I think I would rather hunt a dragon or explore a mine but whatever everyone wants to do" The minotaur will say leaning back in his chair... his huge furry frame straining the chair below him

"I am content with any course of action which leads us to Vaeril's minions. " Gabriel growls, taking a swig of his coffee.