Adventures in Esyldien - Campaign Thread

"Getting paid would be nice," Nemeia says as she contemplates the costs of maintaining her equipment and creations. 

Moira

"Of course Witt. I'm sure we can find more adventure along the way."

Oh, well, that's just great, says Witt enthusiastically.   I'll need to let Gerald know we have some guests for the trip. 

He dashes off.

Nemeia smiles at Witt's excitement. "Where'd the two of you meet?," she asks Moira. "He's quite an interesting fellow."

Moira

"He was posting guard duty jobs for the caravan in Myethnas City at the same time I happened to be looking at the board for a job. It was a much better job than crawling through the sewers. He does have a refreshingly positive and hopeful way."

"I really like that about him. He's pretty handy to have around with his ability to heal wounds as well." Nemeia looks over the room and says, "Funny how we ended up together. I still have a lot of learning to do and I don't know how that will be done with all of these tasks we're asked to handle.  It leaves little time for practice when I'm fearing for my life every time we leave town."

“Wasn’t there a royal scandal or something recently? By the way, Moira your leather is still at Mary’s”, 9 pits her legs on an empty chair nearby and slowly sips her morning ale. She considers the recent rumors, and her mind races to schemes and possible treachery and betrayer. After a while she just sighs and tries to relax, just blankly staring out of the window.

Sora leans hard against the large bar as she looks over at 9, "Not gonna lie, I'm a little curious about this assassination scandal going on right now. Normally political bullshit isn't in my wheelhouse but I'm wondering if it might have something to do with another little thing I'm looking into."

9 gently tips over the balance of her head, shifting her gaze to Sora. She makes eye contact, as she prepares to utter something but thinks better of it. She’ll tell me if she wants to. After couple of minutes she takes another sip, now feeling the warmth spread across her body. She wouldn’t answer a direct question like that, so why should Sora. Instead 9 places the mug back onto the table, and lifts her self up stretching all the while. “Nemeia and Moira are out here for knowledge I assume, so Sora, why are you bothering yourself with travel? I’m only asking to know what all of us are feeling and thinking about this ordeal. Seems like everyone is enjoying each other’s company, including myself, but are we staying together after we will be payed? Surviving is far easier with others than alone, can tell you that from personal expirience, not always, but most of the time.” 

"Are you asking about traveling north specifically? Or just traveling in general?" Sora replied to 9 with a deliberate gaze and a teasing smile, letting the question linger in the air for a moment before continuing. "Well I suppose in the end the reason's the same. Gold. Traveling around is a great way to pick up jobs and bounties that pay a lot." That much was true, most definitely. That wasn't all there was to it, of course, but it was enough as far as Sora was concerned. No point gushing about the messy details that won't matter right now. She knocked back the mug in her hand, clearing out it's alcoholic contents, before setting the mug down on the bar. "So, when are we heading north? I guess that depends on Witt and his caravan. Where'd the little guy go, anyway?"

Moira

"Thank you for reminding me. I better go get that picked up." Moira runs over to the smithies. looking around for Mary.

"Oy! Witt! Back so soon? What the nice lass want wit' ya then?" Gerald exclaimed, grinning as soon as he saw Witt heading in his direction. It didn't take long for Witt to find the rest of the caravan as they were still back at the Thief's Respite where he last saw them. 

Meanwhile not far from there, Moira makes her way to the Blacksmith's shop. It's hard to miss the large half-orc form of Mary as she is appears to be closing the shop for the day. At the moment she seems focused on cleaning up the shop for the night and so doesn't seem to notice Moira as she approaches.

Oh, the leaders of the town wanted to say thank you, and to give us a reward, except they don't actually have a reward to give so they gave us a letter, well to Sora actually, and we're to take it to Tarrin Castle and the authorities there will gives us something.  

Witt pauses for breath.

And so that means that everyone will be coming with us to Tarrin Castle and so the adventuring group will be staying together, at least for a little while longer, which is absolutely fantastic because it was so much fun and so exciting to travel with them and think about how well protected we'll be on the road travelling with them and we're heading out tomorrow morning, right, at sunrise?

Moira

”Ahem. Hello. Sorry to bother you I was just wondering if I could grab that snake skin for you quick?”

Gerald blinks a few times as he tries to follow along with Witt's stream of words heading towards him. After a moment to process everything he nods slowly as he says, "So, basically, if I'm hearing ya right, ye managed to snag several more fine folk to help guard the caravan up ta' the castle? Sounds great Witt!" He doesn't smile despite the news as he considers the implications. "However, ah, that might be a problem if they're expectin' any sorta payment on our end. We've already been cutting into our profits as it is, what with staying here longer then anticipated, and of course the damn frog attack cutting into our product. We still need whatever's left ta' make it back home for all the folk that rely on the gold we'll be bringing home."

At the same time, over at the Blacksmith's shop, Mary, the owner, suddenly bolted up with a surprisingly meek yelp as she looked up at who had spoken. "Oh Hi! Sorry, you surprised me. But it's great seeing you again. Everyone's been talking about all you and your friends did for our town, so I'm very grateful for all you've done. ... Oh! Right. The snake skin. It's all prepared and ready for you. I left it drying out back so you are more then welcome to head back there and grab it."

Oh, no, no I don't think they're expecting to be paid, apart from Moira of course who we have a deal with, but everyone else is just coming along because we're headed in the same direction.  Don't worry, Gerald, we'll make sure the caravan reaches Tarrin Castle in one piece, and maybe I can earn some money and help make up for what was lost from the caravan as well, oh this is so exciting, I must go back and tell everyone to be ready tomorrow morning.

He dashes out of the inn and returns at full speed to the others, dodging and weaving though the folk on the street.

Everyone, please be ready to leave at sunrise, if you want to come along, the caravan will be headed straight for Tarrin Castle and everyone will be so glad to have you along as company on the road.  Except we can't pay you, except Moira of course, because the caravan has already lost so much with the delay and the bullywug raids, but we'd still love to go together, and who knows maybe we'll find some work there and something adventurous to do.  He pauses.  I'm really thirsty now, can I get a drink?  He looks around to see if any of the staff are nearby, and orders an ale if he can.

Moira

Moira collects the leather. On her way out she stops to speak with Mary again. “Thank you again for letting me use your space. You really do wonderful work. I hope this can help you in some small way.“  She hands over a gold. Leaving quickly before Mary can object or try to give it back. She then heads up to the stables to look for Gerald. Once she locates him she asks if she can stow the leather on one of the carts for the time being. And gives him two gold as well. “I think Witt was headed here earlier to let you know we would all be accompanying you to Tarrin Castle. Any way I wouldn’t feel right keeping what you paid before when you’ve lost so much. I know the people where you’re from will be depending on you and this coin.”

Almost as soon as Sora had asked about Witt's whereabouts, he comes walking into the bar. Sora just looks at him and with an overly serious face says, "By the gods, I have magic halfling summoning powers!" No longer able to keep a straight face she burst out with laughter. At the very least she found the joke amusing. When she inevitably calms down she says, "I was gonna make a joke about being paid but not really much point now. It's sad they can't pay us but we're all headed the same way anyway, so it's be rude of us to refuse, right? Safty in numbers and all that. Especially with the luck we've been having. But enough of that!" She turned towards the tavernkeeper with a wide grin, "Barkeep! How 'bout taking this request and give a fellow halfling a nice big mug of ale to celebrate!"

Witt does find the joke quite funny, and laughs along with Sora.  He looks even happier when there seems to be ale on the way.  Safety in numbers, yes.  I don't remember this place being so dangerous last year.  And, we never really figured out what was going on with that... creature.  Ah well, I'm sure the five of us together can sort it out, whatever 'it' is.

Nemeia nods and says, "I did find that quite... fascinating. I don't really understand the magic that was at play but it's something I would love to understand the capabilities of in the event we are to face it again." She's busy working on a small clockwork tinkering item as she looks  up to the others.