The Cartophile claps his hands, smiling. "This is excellent! I am sure you will all do wonderfully under Mary's guidance! Now, as soon as you are able, you should set off. Mary has the maps, and..." his eyes focus past you and the smile slips from his face.
You turn and see Mary, looking grimly at the Cartophile, and Mortimer, now on a five foot-high column sitting very close to a large, exquisite vase with a fancy stopper, also staring at the Cartophile.
Mary smiles, "You aren't forgetting their remuneration, are you, Anaxis?"
He snorts, then laughs softly. "Of course not. I was just getting to that. Mary has funds to outfit the expedition, but beyond that, should you return with information that leads to saving Waterdeep, I am sure the Open Lord will be happy to reward you. Every thing you bring back, of course, will be turned over to me, and you will each be handsomely paid for your service. Let us say, five hundred gold apiece?" He spreads his hands wide, magnanimously.
Mary tuts. "That seems low, but you are not bargaining with me, Anaxis." She raises her eyebrows at you all. "The Cartophile has a wealth of resources and connections. If there is something you desire, it is likely he can get it for you. Now would be the time to ask."
The Cartophile frowns. "You forget yourself, Mary. Garret could be on his way right now."
"If you thought Garret stood a chance of getting you what you want, you would never have offered this job to me. He is a dilettante and a fool, we both know it, and you are... highly motivated in this matter."
The Cartophile looks unhappy, but sighs, and looks at all of you again. "Hm. Well. What would you have of me, then?"
(It's wishing time! Not Wish-ing time, alas, just wishing.)
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he). Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. I love it so.
Drusk thinks over the "everything you find is handed to me" condition of the deal. He can think of cautionary fairy tales that warn about that kind of deal.
On the other hand, having someone in power writing a "blank check" is appealing. Drusk scribbles on a piece of parchment about what he might like as a reward, folds it up, and hands it to the Cartophile. (Sent a PM to Mingo with the wish-list.)
Drusk will ask, "Do you vouch for the good intentions of this other interested party? If it turns out to be some Bane-worshiper, then that would be a problem."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Beegred Thornpost - Lvl 8 Halfling Ranger - Out of the Abyss by Kerrec Drusk - Lvl 8 Half-Orc Life Cleric - The Long Road: Dragon Heist by Mingofaust (player & current DM) Hunferho Aelorothi - Lvl 5 Half-Elf Bard/Rogue - Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus (by Pokepaladdy) DM - Frontier City of Nunkreet (ended)
"Your friendship," Hildigrim says after a short period of silence. He smiles. "There is nothing I would like more than to be able to visit you and to discuss ... everything!" he says, almost laughing. "I won't take you for granted," he says quickly. "If you're busy, you can send me away. And if you don't want me to visit you here in your home, we have a wonderful chef at the Road's End. But if you're as informed as you appear to be, you know how much I yearn to learn. Oh!" he says, raising a finger and then opening his pack and pulling out a rolled piece of parchment. "And I'd like to ask if you know what this is a map of." He steps forward and places the map he received from Quillary on the desk before stepping back and waiting pleasantly.
Jorin leans against the wall and thinks on Mary's comment. After the others name their prices, Jorin steps forward and says, "I would like map made, of my, and our, travels. For when I go home, I would have something to remind me of all I've done while on Kharn. A simple map of Faerun would do as the the starting point and then markers and paths added for my journey."
Feldspar listens and watches the requests come in. She holds back, and stays quiet. Seems about to speak a few times, and stops, or perhaps talking to herself again. Then, head down, in a small voice, she says just above a whisper, “you seem like you know where everything is. Maps of everything. Could you find… someone? Someone lost?” The last word is a whisper.
The Cartophile sighs dramatically as the party begins describing their wishes, but he listens.
He unfolds Drusk’s note, and reads it, frowns, and reads it again. “Really?” He looks up at Drusk. “I can look for what you ask, though I do not have that at hand, and… um, yes, I can certainly arrange payment for the… other. Is that satisfactory?”
To Hildigrim’s earnest appeal he actually sighs. “Master Goodbody. Friendship is not a thing one bargains for, is it. Perhaps, if you return with information about Kwalish and his discoveries, we can arrange for a regular audience to discuss them, and other topics. Any friendship will have to take care of itself.” He is not unkind in his demeanor. “Will that do?”
To Jorin he smiles. “A map? Yes, I think that could be arranged. Perhaps even if your expedition fails, I might commission a map of your exploits, a remembrance of sorts. This I can do.”
And when Spar speaks up, then whispers, he narrows his eyes. “A map to a person, as it were? Hm. I cannot promise, for there are corners of existence that defy mapping. That defy divination. But I can promise I will try. I do love a challenge. Will that be enough?”
Finally, he turns to Mary. She says, “You know my price.” He nods, “I do, indeed I do.” Mortimer hops down from where he was, the vase unharmed.
(Let me know how you respond to the Cartophile.)
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he). Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. I love it so.
As Feldspar whispers her request, Hildigrim can't help but turn his eyes upon her. He examines her posture, analyzes her tone of voice, and determines ... Well, he looks back at the Cartophile to see how he will respond.
“Master Goodbody. Friendship is not a thing one bargains for, is it? Perhaps, if you return with information about Kwalish and his discoveries, we can arrange for a regular audience to discuss them, and other topics. Any friendship will have to take care of itself. Will that do?”
Hildigrim smiles broadly and gives a quick nod. "That sounds fantastic. Thank you."
After Feldspar mentions revenge, Hildigrim gives her another quick glance, but then lifts a finger hesitantly. "Ah, and ... about the map?" He asks meekly, his raised finger bending and jabing slightly at the rolled parchment he had placed on the desk.
He unfolds Drusk’s note, and reads it, frowns, and reads it again. “Really?” He looks up at Drusk. “I can look for what you ask, though I do not have that at hand, and… um, yes, I can certainly arrange payment for the… other. Is that satisfactory?”
"Yes, the latter is a higher priority. Besides honoring the Goddess, I'm sure you don't mind a little favorable publicity for yourself.
For the first, it is difficult to get one. It is enough that, if some day down the road you find out a way to acquire one legitimately with a reasonable chance of success, if you pass along that information to me."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Beegred Thornpost - Lvl 8 Halfling Ranger - Out of the Abyss by Kerrec Drusk - Lvl 8 Half-Orc Life Cleric - The Long Road: Dragon Heist by Mingofaust (player & current DM) Hunferho Aelorothi - Lvl 5 Half-Elf Bard/Rogue - Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus (by Pokepaladdy) DM - Frontier City of Nunkreet (ended)
"So we get our boons from you, and 500 gold from the Open Lord, and all the risk, and you get your answers and treasure from Kwalish's expedition, and no risk. Just to set the terms. I do have some questions, if no one else does,"Feldspar says, leaning forward and adopting a much more engaged manner similar to how she was when the party first met her. She's done this sort of thing before. In fact, it's been her life, and it's easy to see the comfort in haggling, logistics, and getting the best deal for the risk-takers as possible. She asks a series of questions, pausing after every two, to allow for some answers, but proceeding headlong to get what she needs.
"How will this expedition be outfitted? Can we obtain whatever we need for cold terrain, at Mary's expense? How are we traveling? Is there a time limit? You said every 'thing' we find from the expedition will be turned over to you, but we find salvage or other boons on the way to or from the expedition, do we keep that? And did I miss you mentioning when Kwalish's expedition happened? There's a record, you said. Is it recent? I'm not a scholar, but perhaps Hildigrim can make more sense with some... primary materials. Who came with, and when, etc. And also, do you think Kwalish is still alive? I know you don't know for sure, but if you were to bet, what would you say?"
She also shows the Cartophile (Anaxis, right?) her drawings of the statues, trying to compare them to the ones in the book he'd shown them earlier. She looks to see how much the statues have moved, if that's possible.
"Oh, no. I have no say in what, if anything, the Open Lord offers you. If only I did," he smiles. "And, the 500 dragons was the opening offer... you have all chosen a different reward, is this not so? Or would you rather the coin?"
(After that miscommunication is handled...)
"Yes, Mary will be in charge of outfitting the expedition, with your input, of course," he nods at Jorin, mostly.
"I expect you to return anything relevant to Kwalish to me. Other, treasure,"he says that with a little bit of a grimace, "Is yours to keep. If you have questions, Mary can sort it out."
"Kwalish was last heard from centuries ago, some of the accounts differ on exactly when. So, I do not expect him to still live, though, he was a genius... Mary has what maps we have, copies of course."
The Cartophile, who may still be annoyed at Mary's antics with Mortimer, says with a sly grin, "A word of advice, don't let Mary play cards with you, she likes to tempt fate."
Mary hisses in annoyance at this, and glares at the Cartophile. He just smiles beatifically. She motions to the door. "If we are all done? Perhaps we can retire to your... establishment... to make plans for provisioning?"
(If you have more questions, ask them, if not, we can go back to the Road's End and y'all can come up with plans and outfitting requirements.)
Give that informatio, Jorin isn't super confident that they will find the ancient expedition, but a trip into the mountains is still a trip into the mountains, and the northern mountains at that, so he nods his head and is excited to head back to Road's End and get ready.
Feldspar shivers. "Great. The cold."
The Cartophile claps his hands, smiling. "This is excellent! I am sure you will all do wonderfully under Mary's guidance! Now, as soon as you are able, you should set off. Mary has the maps, and..." his eyes focus past you and the smile slips from his face.
You turn and see Mary, looking grimly at the Cartophile, and Mortimer, now on a five foot-high column sitting very close to a large, exquisite vase with a fancy stopper, also staring at the Cartophile.
Mary smiles, "You aren't forgetting their remuneration, are you, Anaxis?"
He snorts, then laughs softly. "Of course not. I was just getting to that. Mary has funds to outfit the expedition, but beyond that, should you return with information that leads to saving Waterdeep, I am sure the Open Lord will be happy to reward you. Every thing you bring back, of course, will be turned over to me, and you will each be handsomely paid for your service. Let us say, five hundred gold apiece?" He spreads his hands wide, magnanimously.
Mary tuts. "That seems low, but you are not bargaining with me, Anaxis." She raises her eyebrows at you all. "The Cartophile has a wealth of resources and connections. If there is something you desire, it is likely he can get it for you. Now would be the time to ask."
The Cartophile frowns. "You forget yourself, Mary. Garret could be on his way right now."
"If you thought Garret stood a chance of getting you what you want, you would never have offered this job to me. He is a dilettante and a fool, we both know it, and you are... highly motivated in this matter."
The Cartophile looks unhappy, but sighs, and looks at all of you again. "Hm. Well. What would you have of me, then?"
(It's wishing time! Not Wish-ing time, alas, just wishing.)
ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he).
Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. I love it so.
Drusk thinks over the "everything you find is handed to me" condition of the deal.
He can think of cautionary fairy tales that warn about that kind of deal.
On the other hand, having someone in power writing a "blank check" is appealing.
Drusk scribbles on a piece of parchment about what he might like as a reward, folds it up, and hands it to the Cartophile.
(Sent a PM to Mingo with the wish-list.)
Drusk will ask, "Do you vouch for the good intentions of this other interested party? If it turns out to be some Bane-worshiper, then that would be a problem."
Beegred Thornpost - Lvl 8 Halfling Ranger - Out of the Abyss by Kerrec
Drusk - Lvl 8 Half-Orc Life Cleric - The Long Road: Dragon Heist by Mingofaust (player & current DM)
Hunferho Aelorothi - Lvl 5 Half-Elf Bard/Rogue - Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus (by Pokepaladdy)
DM - Frontier City of Nunkreet (ended)
"Your friendship," Hildigrim says after a short period of silence. He smiles. "There is nothing I would like more than to be able to visit you and to discuss ... everything!" he says, almost laughing. "I won't take you for granted," he says quickly. "If you're busy, you can send me away. And if you don't want me to visit you here in your home, we have a wonderful chef at the Road's End. But if you're as informed as you appear to be, you know how much I yearn to learn. Oh!" he says, raising a finger and then opening his pack and pulling out a rolled piece of parchment. "And I'd like to ask if you know what this is a map of." He steps forward and places the map he received from Quillary on the desk before stepping back and waiting pleasantly.
Jorin leans against the wall and thinks on Mary's comment. After the others name their prices, Jorin steps forward and says, "I would like map made, of my, and our, travels. For when I go home, I would have something to remind me of all I've done while on Kharn. A simple map of Faerun would do as the the starting point and then markers and paths added for my journey."
Feldspar listens and watches the requests come in. She holds back, and stays quiet. Seems about to speak a few times, and stops, or perhaps talking to herself again. Then, head down, in a small voice, she says just above a whisper, “you seem like you know where everything is. Maps of everything. Could you find… someone? Someone lost?” The last word is a whisper.
The Cartophile sighs dramatically as the party begins describing their wishes, but he listens.
He unfolds Drusk’s note, and reads it, frowns, and reads it again. “Really?” He looks up at Drusk. “I can look for what you ask, though I do not have that at hand, and… um, yes, I can certainly arrange payment for the… other. Is that satisfactory?”
To Hildigrim’s earnest appeal he actually sighs. “Master Goodbody. Friendship is not a thing one bargains for, is it. Perhaps, if you return with information about Kwalish and his discoveries, we can arrange for a regular audience to discuss them, and other topics. Any friendship will have to take care of itself.” He is not unkind in his demeanor. “Will that do?”
To Jorin he smiles. “A map? Yes, I think that could be arranged. Perhaps even if your expedition fails, I might commission a map of your exploits, a remembrance of sorts. This I can do.”
And when Spar speaks up, then whispers, he narrows his eyes. “A map to a person, as it were? Hm. I cannot promise, for there are corners of existence that defy mapping. That defy divination. But I can promise I will try. I do love a challenge. Will that be enough?”
Finally, he turns to Mary. She says, “You know my price.” He nods, “I do, indeed I do.” Mortimer hops down from where he was, the vase unharmed.
(Let me know how you respond to the Cartophile.)
ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he).
Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. I love it so.
Feldspar looks up at the Cartographer. "That would be enough. If it fails, you might be able to help me with revenge."
She looks to the rest of the party.
As Feldspar whispers her request, Hildigrim can't help but turn his eyes upon her. He examines her posture, analyzes her tone of voice, and determines ... Well, he looks back at the Cartophile to see how he will respond.
“Master Goodbody. Friendship is not a thing one bargains for, is it? Perhaps, if you return with information about Kwalish and his discoveries, we can arrange for a regular audience to discuss them, and other topics. Any friendship will have to take care of itself. Will that do?”
Hildigrim smiles broadly and gives a quick nod. "That sounds fantastic. Thank you."
After Feldspar mentions revenge, Hildigrim gives her another quick glance, but then lifts a finger hesitantly. "Ah, and ... about the map?" He asks meekly, his raised finger bending and jabing slightly at the rolled parchment he had placed on the desk.
"Yes, the latter is a higher priority. Besides honoring the Goddess, I'm sure you don't mind a little favorable publicity for yourself.
For the first, it is difficult to get one. It is enough that, if some day down the road you find out a way to acquire one legitimately with a reasonable chance of success, if you pass along that information to me."
Beegred Thornpost - Lvl 8 Halfling Ranger - Out of the Abyss by Kerrec
Drusk - Lvl 8 Half-Orc Life Cleric - The Long Road: Dragon Heist by Mingofaust (player & current DM)
Hunferho Aelorothi - Lvl 5 Half-Elf Bard/Rogue - Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus (by Pokepaladdy)
DM - Frontier City of Nunkreet (ended)
Jorin nods, satisfied with the answer (especially since it doesn't seem contingent on success lol).
“Ah yes, the map,” he picks it up and unrolls it.
(pending a private convo with DDP…)
ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he).
Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. I love it so.
The Cartophile spends a moment looking at the map. “Curious… I will need some time to look through some records. Perhaps by the time you return.”
He lets the map curl back up, but keeps hold of it. “Is there anything else?”
ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he).
Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. I love it so.
"So we get our boons from you, and 500 gold from the Open Lord, and all the risk, and you get your answers and treasure from Kwalish's expedition, and no risk. Just to set the terms. I do have some questions, if no one else does," Feldspar says, leaning forward and adopting a much more engaged manner similar to how she was when the party first met her. She's done this sort of thing before. In fact, it's been her life, and it's easy to see the comfort in haggling, logistics, and getting the best deal for the risk-takers as possible. She asks a series of questions, pausing after every two, to allow for some answers, but proceeding headlong to get what she needs.
"How will this expedition be outfitted? Can we obtain whatever we need for cold terrain, at Mary's expense? How are we traveling? Is there a time limit? You said every 'thing' we find from the expedition will be turned over to you, but we find salvage or other boons on the way to or from the expedition, do we keep that? And did I miss you mentioning when Kwalish's expedition happened? There's a record, you said. Is it recent? I'm not a scholar, but perhaps Hildigrim can make more sense with some... primary materials. Who came with, and when, etc. And also, do you think Kwalish is still alive? I know you don't know for sure, but if you were to bet, what would you say?"
She also shows the Cartophile (Anaxis, right?) her drawings of the statues, trying to compare them to the ones in the book he'd shown them earlier. She looks to see how much the statues have moved, if that's possible.
"Oh, no. I have no say in what, if anything, the Open Lord offers you. If only I did," he smiles. "And, the 500 dragons was the opening offer... you have all chosen a different reward, is this not so? Or would you rather the coin?"
(After that miscommunication is handled...)
"Yes, Mary will be in charge of outfitting the expedition, with your input, of course," he nods at Jorin, mostly.
"I expect you to return anything relevant to Kwalish to me. Other, treasure," he says that with a little bit of a grimace, "Is yours to keep. If you have questions, Mary can sort it out."
"Kwalish was last heard from centuries ago, some of the accounts differ on exactly when. So, I do not expect him to still live, though, he was a genius... Mary has what maps we have, copies of course."
ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he).
Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. I love it so.
"The expedition we are to recover happened centuries ago?" Jorin says, a little confused.
"Mhm," the Cartophile says. "That is correct."
ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he).
Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. I love it so.
Hildigrim pulls a book out of his pack and begins scribbling in it.
The Cartophile, who may still be annoyed at Mary's antics with Mortimer, says with a sly grin, "A word of advice, don't let Mary play cards with you, she likes to tempt fate."
Mary hisses in annoyance at this, and glares at the Cartophile. He just smiles beatifically. She motions to the door. "If we are all done? Perhaps we can retire to your... establishment... to make plans for provisioning?"
(If you have more questions, ask them, if not, we can go back to the Road's End and y'all can come up with plans and outfitting requirements.)
ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he).
Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. I love it so.
Give that informatio, Jorin isn't super confident that they will find the ancient expedition, but a trip into the mountains is still a trip into the mountains, and the northern mountains at that, so he nods his head and is excited to head back to Road's End and get ready.