"We won't take up any more of your valuable time..." Nasaar says, giving a bow of respect to their patron. He ushers the others out, wanting to take care of the travel business where it won't involve bothering their patron on the ways of it.
Heading out into the busy streets of Upper Menthis, it’s a real shock compared to the stuffy air in The Cartographer’s study. There’s a strong breeze this high up, and a trio of acrobats advertising a show are making dramatic use of it, their long glamerweave ribbons flicking in illusions of dragonfire and magic. Some kind of avant-garde interpretation of the latest Draconic Prophecy discourse, no doubt.
Heading toward your offices, you pass through Little Xen’drik. Cloud Antiquities have a new piece in the window - a circular shield that’s easily 8ft across, while Talenta Traditions has animated a stuffed glidewing, and Ossy Tankos, a goblin merchant adventurer is hawking his latest finds from a mobile cart, yelling out “Real artifacts of ancient Dhakaan for sale! Recovered from the ruins below!"
Crossing the Cassan Bridge, you hear a male voice call out “Stop! Thief!” In a panicked tone, and see four halflings come dashing out of the crowd. They clock your group, the angry merchants behind them, and jump from the bridge, cackling with laughter as they glide easily to a bridge several stories down.
Once you’ve come to a decision on your mode of travel, it’s no challenge to organise it. House Orien have many depots, and you’ve worked with Lissy d’Orien many times before.
As those in the group who were sitting are getting to their feet and everyone begins to file out of The Cartographer's office, Zilpip blinks at the warforged. "One fine thing," he says evenly. "As you know, I am to report to the Citadel once a month. As this venture will very likely keep me out of Sharn past my next appointment, it would be in my best interest if you would be so kind as to write a letter of explanation asking to postpone my next appointment until our return." Another blink of his large, dark eyes. "My mistake, my consequence. If this is not within your power or choosing, I will do my best to avoid the Watch from here on while continuing to do my best to be an asset to you."
Calrych will gather the gold from everyone, and go (with Nassar?) to purchase the horses and coach while the others pack. (Unless there's an issue, just mark off what DragonDenn suggested in OOC). It won't take him long to gather his few things and load up ready to go, waiting on the others, "Finally time to leave this crowded place again."
(I'm assuming the carriage will be brought outside our HQ)
Koda walks back to the base and enters his room. Immediately he sits down in the middle of the room and begins to meditate. After a few minutes of complete silence, he ends his meditation and starts packing. He dons his dark, flexible armor and grabs his Glaive. His armor has carefully engraved marks on the shoulder plates, to denote the number of people he has killed in service to his former nation. Lastly, he grabs two new bandages and replaces the old ones over his eyes. After that he grabs his bug-out bag Koda waits outside the base for the rest of his companions to prepare.
As he walks out he hears Calrych mutter. He walks over and drops his bag. "Agreed. Too many people live in this hive. It's times like these that I Yearn for my former homeland..." Koda trails off as he looks towards the distance.
Once he has helped to get the coach and horses purchased, Nasaar would return to the HQ and get the few things he needs packed together. He would throw in a couple books, to read while in transit, as well as some parchments and ink. He would grab his spellbook and make sure his weapons are all accounted for. When ready he would come back out and help to secure whatever gear needs to be secured atop the coach.
"Are we ready then?" He would ask in his calm voice as he looks around. "Anyone know how to drive one of these?" He would ask as he prepares to climb into the coach. If no one does he would get in the driver's bench instead of inside, to try a hand at it, but he would let anyone who has prof in it to take the driver's seat, and go into the coach interior instead.
Griff nods knowingly and smiles at his companions who would prefer to leave the crowds of Sharn as the group makes its way back to the Badger's Den. He hands his share of the needed gold for the carriage to Nasaar. "I trust you will handle this transaction without issue, I must visit the temple to Belidor so that I may ask for his blessing on our journey. I should return before we are ready to depart."
When he returns from the temple, he will collect his gear, and spend 10 minutes summoning Andor, who appears as a large, pure black warhorse. The deepness of the color black is almost unnerving to look at, making the features of the beast difficult to observe. "I will ride ahead, leading the carriage out of the city. This should make it a bit easier to drive the carriage."
Griff will cast Find Steed to summon Andor, and as the group is leaving the city he we cast Speak with Animals to direct the horses to follow him and Andor out of the city.
The Cartographer responds to Zilpip “Do not concern yourself - I have already filed the requisite paperwork. While you are on this errand for me, I am responsible for your good behaviour in the city.”
Before Ambre leaves the room, she waits for the rest to leave. "I trust that you understand my hesitation to help you here. If House Cannith finds out that I recover this artifact and don't return it to them... I have my issues with the Baron's, but it's still my home." Without waiting for an answer she leaves, hands Nassar 25 gold for the carriage and returns to her own rooms at House Cannith's enclave.
Gathering up her tools and shoving them haphazardly into her bag, knowing she'll have time on the road to fix it. Finished with her packing, she takes a few minutes to write a letter to Kethoth about what she was doing and where she was going. After that she double checks the half rebuilt clockwork badger in the chest she kept it in when she wasn't working on it, before locking it up again and leaving. Locking the door securely behind her as she leaves, she returns to their HQ to wait for the coach, pulling out her alchemist supplies as she does to mess around with different formulas before they leave.
Note - we’ll be moving out of the city shortly. Any last things to do in town? Also, if I move things on before you’re ready, feel free to flashback.
Who will be driving the carriage? You’ll probably want a couple of drivers, rather than just one person over all 1200 miles. People with land vehicle proficiencies will be most effective if trouble springs up, but it’s not obligatory if you think you’ve other skills that would help.
Jon, having hardly unpacked in his stay at HQ, spends most of his free time watching the busyness of the city go by with wonder etched clearly on his youthful face. As the others leave, he happily follows, content to enjoy the sights and sounds of the journey.
Koda tosses his bag and equipment into the carriage. "I can drive the first stretch of the trip, I have some experience in this." Koda then grabs the reigns. He keeps his Katana handy for if they run into entanglements on the road. Once settled, he grabs his map and studies it for a few moments. "Shouldn't be too bad until we hit the mournland..." He mutters to no one in particular. "Anyone want to ride shotgun?" He yells toward the others. "I'm going to get mighty lonely by myself up here."
Nasaar will sit up with the driver, unless someone else is also able to drive these things. He will also switch off with the driver, again unless someone else has the prof.
He will send Striker, his Tressym familiar to fly ahead, and overhead, to keep an eye out on things.
[early afternoon - your meeting with The Cartographer finished at about 11, and Lissy d’Orien does business efficiently. You’ll be able to make 12-15 miles before dark and the road is busy and well-protected]
Calrych will not offer to drive, but will if asked, and probably spend the time driving either riding shotgun to give the others a break from time to time or on the top enjoying the wind and keeping an eye on the surroundings.
The first stage of your journey goes smoothly. The weather is fine - not too hot, not too cold, with a good breeze and only occasional rain. The three hundred miles of road between Sharn and the capital, Wroat, is well travelled, well-guarded and well-repaired, lined with towns and villages, ranches and farms as it skirts between the edge of the King’s Forest and the Dagger River. There’s cheap, good quality accommodation at easy travel distances - there’s a Gold Dragon Inns at every town, and House Ghallanda has options available at all budgets every four miles or so - from campsites with simple amenities to generous gilded luxury. Every few days, you catch sight of the Lightning Rail as it streaks through the countryside under the power of harnessed elementals. House Orien couriers are frequent sights, changing horses at Valadis stables twice a day.
Your two horses - both strong animals bred for endurance and stamina rather than nervy racers or battle-trained warhorses - keep going without complaint, and over time you make yourself comfortable in the coach, each claiming a space. It’s close quarters - Lissy had a fair few carriages available, but most were better suited to moving through the city than the long distance journey you were undertaking - but you’ve enough room to sleep comfortably, read or play cards, and the pace isn’t so fast that someone feeling itchy and contained couldn’t jog alongside for a while.
After eight days, you see Wroat on the horizon. The city couldn’t be more different to Sharn. Whereas Sharn is a city of immense towering spires that breach the clouds that teems with life of all kinds, Wroat is a city of wide boulevards and tree-lined avenues, and few buildings taller than five stories, and a much more refined air to the populace. The Howling River runs through the city, and perched on an island in the middle of the river is the ancestral seat of the rulers of Breland, Brokenblade Castle. Everything is clean and neat, there are no beggars, and the city guard all wear finely polished gold and red armour that bears the crest of the King.
From the flags flying at the city gates, you can tell that King Boranel ir’Wynarn is not in residence. The guards check you over, noting the quality of your weapons and armour and the Letters of Warrant that the university has furnished you with before waving you through.
You have arrived in Wroat, the first major town on your journey. Can I get a land vehicles check to navigate the carriage through the city streets (using wis or dex, driver’s choice) at advantage if there’s anyone riding shotgun. Is there anything you want to do in town?
Nasaar would let the more experienced driver take over to navigate through the town. He would be wanting to push on, since he sees no need to tarry in this city at all, and they just need to get through it to keep on their path. No need to let anyone else get a wiff of what they are about, which he would be worried about if they stayed too long in town. the wrong comment in the wrong place could cause them trouble they do not need.
"Let's get through the city and find a place to stay the other side of it..." Nasaar suggests.
(Guess the bench seat up front is very very full... Do we have three shotgun people, plus the person with actual land vehicle prof? If so then Nasaar would sit inside the coach instead, so just ignore the parts above about him helping with the driving, and whatnot...)
Nasaar, reading a book he brought for the purpose, glances up when Striker lets him know they are nearing the city. He would then call out the window with the information from my last post, wanting to have them through the city and out the other side.
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"We won't take up any more of your valuable time..." Nasaar says, giving a bow of respect to their patron. He ushers the others out, wanting to take care of the travel business where it won't involve bothering their patron on the ways of it.
Heading out into the busy streets of Upper Menthis, it’s a real shock compared to the stuffy air in The Cartographer’s study. There’s a strong breeze this high up, and a trio of acrobats advertising a show are making dramatic use of it, their long glamerweave ribbons flicking in illusions of dragonfire and magic. Some kind of avant-garde interpretation of the latest Draconic Prophecy discourse, no doubt.
Heading toward your offices, you pass through Little Xen’drik. Cloud Antiquities have a new piece in the window - a circular shield that’s easily 8ft across, while Talenta Traditions has animated a stuffed glidewing, and Ossy Tankos, a goblin merchant adventurer is hawking his latest finds from a mobile cart, yelling out “Real artifacts of ancient Dhakaan for sale! Recovered from the ruins below!"
Crossing the Cassan Bridge, you hear a male voice call out “Stop! Thief!” In a panicked tone, and see four halflings come dashing out of the crowd. They clock your group, the angry merchants behind them, and jump from the bridge, cackling with laughter as they glide easily to a bridge several stories down.
Once you’ve come to a decision on your mode of travel, it’s no challenge to organise it. House Orien have many depots, and you’ve worked with Lissy d’Orien many times before.
As those in the group who were sitting are getting to their feet and everyone begins to file out of The Cartographer's office, Zilpip blinks at the warforged. "One fine thing," he says evenly. "As you know, I am to report to the Citadel once a month. As this venture will very likely keep me out of Sharn past my next appointment, it would be in my best interest if you would be so kind as to write a letter of explanation asking to postpone my next appointment until our return." Another blink of his large, dark eyes. "My mistake, my consequence. If this is not within your power or choosing, I will do my best to avoid the Watch from here on while continuing to do my best to be an asset to you."
Calrych will gather the gold from everyone, and go (with Nassar?) to purchase the horses and coach while the others pack. (Unless there's an issue, just mark off what DragonDenn suggested in OOC). It won't take him long to gather his few things and load up ready to go, waiting on the others, "Finally time to leave this crowded place again."
(I'm assuming the carriage will be brought outside our HQ)
Koda walks back to the base and enters his room. Immediately he sits down in the middle of the room and begins to meditate. After a few minutes of complete silence, he ends his meditation and starts packing. He dons his dark, flexible armor and grabs his Glaive. His armor has carefully engraved marks on the shoulder plates, to denote the number of people he has killed in service to his former nation. Lastly, he grabs two new bandages and replaces the old ones over his eyes. After that he grabs his bug-out bag Koda waits outside the base for the rest of his companions to prepare.
As he walks out he hears Calrych mutter. He walks over and drops his bag. "Agreed. Too many people live in this hive. It's times like these that I Yearn for my former homeland..." Koda trails off as he looks towards the distance.
Koda Kalashtar Samurai Eberron - The lost Laboratories
Once he has helped to get the coach and horses purchased, Nasaar would return to the HQ and get the few things he needs packed together. He would throw in a couple books, to read while in transit, as well as some parchments and ink. He would grab his spellbook and make sure his weapons are all accounted for. When ready he would come back out and help to secure whatever gear needs to be secured atop the coach.
"Are we ready then?" He would ask in his calm voice as he looks around. "Anyone know how to drive one of these?" He would ask as he prepares to climb into the coach. If no one does he would get in the driver's bench instead of inside, to try a hand at it, but he would let anyone who has prof in it to take the driver's seat, and go into the coach interior instead.
Griff nods knowingly and smiles at his companions who would prefer to leave the crowds of Sharn as the group makes its way back to the Badger's Den. He hands his share of the needed gold for the carriage to Nasaar. "I trust you will handle this transaction without issue, I must visit the temple to Belidor so that I may ask for his blessing on our journey. I should return before we are ready to depart."
When he returns from the temple, he will collect his gear, and spend 10 minutes summoning Andor, who appears as a large, pure black warhorse. The deepness of the color black is almost unnerving to look at, making the features of the beast difficult to observe. "I will ride ahead, leading the carriage out of the city. This should make it a bit easier to drive the carriage."
Griff will cast Find Steed to summon Andor, and as the group is leaving the city he we cast Speak with Animals to direct the horses to follow him and Andor out of the city.
Ryndar Shadowsbane - Lvl 3 Eldarin Fighter | Kassar - Lvl 2 Lizardfolk Druid (Circle of Stars) | Finnegan (Finn) Taggert - Lvl 1 Human Cleric (Peace Domain) |
Verdan Schmidt - Lvl 2 Half-Elf Bard | Grithik - Lvl 5 Deep Gnome Warlock (Celestial)
The Cartographer responds to Zilpip “Do not concern yourself - I have already filed the requisite paperwork. While you are on this errand for me, I am responsible for your good behaviour in the city.”
Before Ambre leaves the room, she waits for the rest to leave. "I trust that you understand my hesitation to help you here. If House Cannith finds out that I recover this artifact and don't return it to them... I have my issues with the Baron's, but it's still my home." Without waiting for an answer she leaves, hands Nassar 25 gold for the carriage and returns to her own rooms at House Cannith's enclave.
Gathering up her tools and shoving them haphazardly into her bag, knowing she'll have time on the road to fix it. Finished with her packing, she takes a few minutes to write a letter to Kethoth about what she was doing and where she was going. After that she double checks the half rebuilt clockwork badger in the chest she kept it in when she wasn't working on it, before locking it up again and leaving. Locking the door securely behind her as she leaves, she returns to their HQ to wait for the coach, pulling out her alchemist supplies as she does to mess around with different formulas before they leave.
Elra Skylash - Human Cleric | Vanzaren Tanidoni - Half Elf Wizard
Mindartis Liadon - Eladrin Barbarian | Naivara Siannodel - Half Elf Ranger
Arrila Evenwood - Half Elf Paladin | Callaphe of Setessa - Human Rogue
Katernin Nemetsk - Aasimar Cleric | Melody - Tiefling Bard
DM Screen
13, 5, 5, 12, 5, 18, 10
Note - we’ll be moving out of the city shortly. Any last things to do in town? Also, if I move things on before you’re ready, feel free to flashback.
Who will be driving the carriage? You’ll probably want a couple of drivers, rather than just one person over all 1200 miles. People with land vehicle proficiencies will be most effective if trouble springs up, but it’s not obligatory if you think you’ve other skills that would help.
Jon, having hardly unpacked in his stay at HQ, spends most of his free time watching the busyness of the city go by with wonder etched clearly on his youthful face. As the others leave, he happily follows, content to enjoy the sights and sounds of the journey.
Koda tosses his bag and equipment into the carriage. "I can drive the first stretch of the trip, I have some experience in this." Koda then grabs the reigns. He keeps his Katana handy for if they run into entanglements on the road. Once settled, he grabs his map and studies it for a few moments. "Shouldn't be too bad until we hit the mournland..." He mutters to no one in particular. "Anyone want to ride shotgun?" He yells toward the others. "I'm going to get mighty lonely by myself up here."
Koda Kalashtar Samurai Eberron - The lost Laboratories
Nasaar will sit up with the driver, unless someone else is also able to drive these things. He will also switch off with the driver, again unless someone else has the prof.
He will send Striker, his Tressym familiar to fly ahead, and overhead, to keep an eye out on things.
DM, what time of day is it when we set out?
[early afternoon - your meeting with The Cartographer finished at about 11, and Lissy d’Orien does business efficiently. You’ll be able to make 12-15 miles before dark and the road is busy and well-protected]
Calrych will not offer to drive, but will if asked, and probably spend the time driving either riding shotgun to give the others a break from time to time or on the top enjoying the wind and keeping an eye on the surroundings.
The first stage of your journey goes smoothly. The weather is fine - not too hot, not too cold, with a good breeze and only occasional rain. The three hundred miles of road between Sharn and the capital, Wroat, is well travelled, well-guarded and well-repaired, lined with towns and villages, ranches and farms as it skirts between the edge of the King’s Forest and the Dagger River. There’s cheap, good quality accommodation at easy travel distances - there’s a Gold Dragon Inns at every town, and House Ghallanda has options available at all budgets every four miles or so - from campsites with simple amenities to generous gilded luxury. Every few days, you catch sight of the Lightning Rail as it streaks through the countryside under the power of harnessed elementals. House Orien couriers are frequent sights, changing horses at Valadis stables twice a day.
Your two horses - both strong animals bred for endurance and stamina rather than nervy racers or battle-trained warhorses - keep going without complaint, and over time you make yourself comfortable in the coach, each claiming a space. It’s close quarters - Lissy had a fair few carriages available, but most were better suited to moving through the city than the long distance journey you were undertaking - but you’ve enough room to sleep comfortably, read or play cards, and the pace isn’t so fast that someone feeling itchy and contained couldn’t jog alongside for a while.
After eight days, you see Wroat on the horizon. The city couldn’t be more different to Sharn. Whereas Sharn is a city of immense towering spires that breach the clouds that teems with life of all kinds, Wroat is a city of wide boulevards and tree-lined avenues, and few buildings taller than five stories, and a much more refined air to the populace. The Howling River runs through the city, and perched on an island in the middle of the river is the ancestral seat of the rulers of Breland, Brokenblade Castle. Everything is clean and neat, there are no beggars, and the city guard all wear finely polished gold and red armour that bears the crest of the King.
From the flags flying at the city gates, you can tell that King Boranel ir’Wynarn is not in residence. The guards check you over, noting the quality of your weapons and armour and the Letters of Warrant that the university has furnished you with before waving you through.
You have arrived in Wroat, the first major town on your journey. Can I get a land vehicles check to navigate the carriage through the city streets (using wis or dex, driver’s choice) at advantage if there’s anyone riding shotgun. Is there anything you want to do in town?
Nasaar would let the more experienced driver take over to navigate through the town. He would be wanting to push on, since he sees no need to tarry in this city at all, and they just need to get through it to keep on their path. No need to let anyone else get a wiff of what they are about, which he would be worried about if they stayed too long in town. the wrong comment in the wrong place could cause them trouble they do not need.
"Let's get through the city and find a place to stay the other side of it..." Nasaar suggests.
Ambre sits up front shotgun for most of the journey, keeping an eye out for anything interesting and assisting with the journey when she could.
Elra Skylash - Human Cleric | Vanzaren Tanidoni - Half Elf Wizard
Mindartis Liadon - Eladrin Barbarian | Naivara Siannodel - Half Elf Ranger
Arrila Evenwood - Half Elf Paladin | Callaphe of Setessa - Human Rogue
Katernin Nemetsk - Aasimar Cleric | Melody - Tiefling Bard
(Guess the bench seat up front is very very full... Do we have three shotgun people, plus the person with actual land vehicle prof? If so then Nasaar would sit inside the coach instead, so just ignore the parts above about him helping with the driving, and whatnot...)
Nasaar, reading a book he brought for the purpose, glances up when Striker lets him know they are nearing the city. He would then call out the window with the information from my last post, wanting to have them through the city and out the other side.