Monstrous Compendium Vol. 1: Spelljammer Creatures
Frozen Sick
D&D Beyond Basic Rules
Basic Rules (2014)
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Monstrous Compendium Vol. 1: Spelljammer CreaturesFrozen SickD&D Beyond Basic RulesBasic Rules (2014)Sign in to view your library & saved favorites.
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Rufus tucks into the hearty breakfast and enjoys a cup of tea. He says to the group, "Perhaps we could use the spider as the bait. We could spread a rumor about a new mining tool that is going to be sold for top money and being demonstrated at the mine. Perhaps our bandits would take the bait and the spider could help us gain the element of surprise on them to boot."
"Or we could just go the simplest route, ask the miners to guard something liable to get attacked by the bandits. We already know that the mines and miners are having problems with them. Makes sense to stick near the places and people under attack," Hatch said before digging into breakfast.
“Hmm...” Rock says. “The spider mining tool idea has some good aspects to it.” Brocc agrees. “Would have a high-quality target the bandits would want to get their hands on.” He shrugs. “I’d be up for it if the rest of you want to give it a try.”
"Bandits were taking shipments until now. Do you think they are interested in equipment? To be honest, never thought bandits could be interested in ore - may be they are not bandits at all, but some mercenaries hired by competing miners? Though, in this case they sure will be interested... Looks like we found the bait."
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
"I'll stay with my spider." Brocc says. "It won't seem odd to have a guard or engineer nearby after all."
The companions finished breakfast and walked outside to examine their options.
There were a large number of miners and labourers present in the town, the largest concentration at the smelters dropping off loads of ore.
As they scanned the groups they noted some individuals who seemed to be in charge or at least senior within some of the groups:
- A short stocky human man in a dusty smock and helmet with a huge handlebar moustache and rheumy blue eyes.
- A flamboyant dwarf male in a polished leather apron and a shining silver helm.
- A young female gnome wearing overalls with daisy patterns stiched into the sleeves and a wide smile.
- A severe looking human woman dressed in grey jodphurs and a khaki overcoat, her hair in a tight bun.
Rufus smiles at Brocc and gently nudges him and nods his head towards the female gnome. He says, "Let us start with the gnome lass shall we? That smile is a welcomed sign admist as this hussle and chaos."
"Fine with me." Brocc says with a shrug. he doesn't move towards her though, looking to the others and waiting for one of those who are better at such things to do the talking. When it becomes obvious they are expecting him to do so he sighs and steps forward.
"Hey there, can my friends and I speak to you about a sensitive matter?" he asks the other gnome as he gets her attention. He does not wish to speak of this out in the open here, in case any bandits are mixed in with the miners.
Eek! Lindale was not that verse in establishing contacts, but somehow expected to learn first if that particular representative of the mines even knows about bandits. Oh, well. Now she was just curiously waiting for the answer.
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
(So are we going to ask to guard a shipment, or try to do that spider thing? I really think we should just guard shipments to get to the bandits. We don't know that they'll want the spider no matter what we say about it. Seems like the simplest plan)
Hatch stayed silent and attempted to smile and look harmless.
The young gnome woman smiled even wider and hustled the group off towards a less crowded area.
" Leewinnette Fray, at your service."
" I like to meet new people. They’ve all got stories."
" Sorry...bandits? Oh! Them fellas which been raiding the shipments? Sure an I can do that!"
" So....whatcha need?"
" Hmmm, well they seem to hit between the mines and the smelter..so raw. Too many folks in town for.....I dunno...couple of dozen folks."
" The Heroes of Chalice, well...thats might shiny, ain't it?"
"Less shiny and more more ichor and blood and acid stained in my experience," Hatch grumbled. "Be nice to fight something that won't give me nightmares for the next decade, just for a change a pace."
He looked at his comrades. "What? I'm not wrong."
Rufus snickers at Hatch's statement. He says, "Right you are, Hatch. It would be nice to face something less ominous than a demon for a change." Rufus flashes a grin at the gnomish lass.
The gnome suddenly looked worried, " Demon? We'll be having none of that malarkey about here."
She let out a loud sigh, " Well, thats.............terrible.....but ok then."
"Moving back to the bandits, we'd like info. Their numbers, they're make up like are they mostly human or dwarves or elves or so on, and what are they doing with all the raw ore they steal?" Hatch asked. "Maybe if they have a known hang out or an area that they frequent. We haven't really fought anything that doesn't have a lair yet, so I'm a bit new on how one goes about tracking and fighting foes who may not be hunkered in one spot."
" Near as I know....as I said theres about 20 odd of them, they all wear masks but they look human....could be some others in there. No idea what they're doing with it."
" They usually hit one of the northern passes...but they've been all over."
"Do all 20-something hit at once, or do they break up into smaller groups? And is there anything or anyone of note around the northern passes? And thanks so much for talking with us by the way." Hatch did know his manners.
" Well...they've only hit my outfit once...and the miners don't really have any reason to put their lives on the line so they tend to just back off when armed folks turn up and demand their stuff."
" Time I saw there was about a dozen....with a few more up high."
" Its pretty hill around here lots of valleys, passes, old mines..."