"Oh, I'm from a small farming village that is in the Felderwin Tillage, and I have been to Felderwin a handful of times." Alton pipes up.

Well, that is very helpful, it will be good to have someone who knows the area well.  Your destination on the outskirts of Felderwin itself.  The package is small, and will fit into a backpack.  I can assure you that it's not a weapon, or anything directly involved in the war.  But I won't say more than that.

All this depends on whether you are willing to do me this favour.  I will pay, of course, and very happily.   You might want some time to think about it, perhaps discuss it.  Do you want to ask any questions?

Balassar just looks at him "How much? Mysterious package that has to do indirectly with the war, after we found a spy..." he just thinks back to how much they had just made "80 platinum a night of travel and safe guard, plus no one will touch the package or look in it as soon as you place it in my bag....plus two casks of the flavor changing ale for the journey."

"May we know who the package is for, so we know it is going to the right person." Alton asks.

Wash says, "as long as it is not increasing the likelihood of war occurring, you know I am always willing to help you. I do not need to know what the package is and I trust you, but I agree with my new friend Alton that it would be useful to know who we should be bringing the parcel to. Despite my views on war - which you know very well - I also understand that the empire needs to be ready if war is truly inevitable. Do you know if there is any hope for peace? As a quick aside, if you were not told already, there is also some clockwork armour that we found in the caves which I encourage you to try and get your hands on. I could see it being used for good if in the right hands and great evil if it ends up in the wrong hands."

I will tell you the name and address, the gnome replies, when you've agreed.  Which... I think you have almost done.  Aside from the price - young man, he says sternly to Balassar, 800 gold per night is more that the Starosta receives.  I do not mean to be ungenerous, but perhaps you could think of a more realistic figure?

There is always hope, dear boy.  And if there is war, there is hope for a swift victory that ends before there are too many casualties.  I will pray to the Platinum Dragon that innocent lives are not lost.

Balassar just looks at him and grunts in disappointment "50 platinum, 3 casks of the flavor changing ale."

OOC:

persuasion check: 18

Fifty platinum each, but for the whole job, not a nightly fee.  Good try though, Mr. Balassar, always make a case for your own value.  I approve.  Now, can we agree on this?

Wash replies "As indicated before, I am happy to help you friend, though I obviously won't turn down the pay. Balassar, the offer is more than generous, I encourage you to accept." 

Balassar just smiles and nods “Fine by me.” He says holding out his hand.

"Fifty platinum sounds like a lot of money. I'm happy with that amount." Alton says as he grabs a few more of the snacks.

Then we are agreed.  Goldcannon shakes Balassar's hand firmly, with a smile on his face.  He leans over to the dragonborn and winks as he says in a low voice:  Well done.

The package, he says to the whole group, is for Master Ancis Trey, a former Starosta of Felderwin.  He is an old friend, and someone I trust to keep something hidden from prying eyes.  As it seems Hupperdook is not as safe as we all thought, even before the war begins.  Well, I can give you the package and the precise address when you leave.  But, please do rest tonight, and spend tomorrow in Hupperdook.  You have money to spend after all, and this job is important, but not so urgent that it cannot wait a day, I believe, now that Stahlmast's plan has been foiled.

You chat away for another hour before Goldcannon retires to bed, and eventually you are shown to your rooms - Wash, your room is very familiar, Alton and Balassar you are each shown to a rich-looking, though not gaudy, bedroom for the night.

You all sleep well, completing a long rest.  And you all reach level three.

You reconvene in the morning, in the same room which has now been prepared with breakfast.  A servant gives Goldcannon's apologies, he was called away on business before dawn.  The day is yours - what would you like to do?

Alton eats his breakfast feeling better after a good nights rest. "We should probably use today to get supplies for our trip. Oh, maybe will all of our money we can buy horses to make travel faster. I'd also like to swing by Sleese's place to talk about something that might interest him or Nima."

Balassar just comes down and begins to eat breakfast, looking at Alton as he begins to talk "I need to mail some items I picked up in the cavern. Other than that I have nothing else to really do."

Wash arrives at the breakfast table a little late, the small dragon-like creature perched on his shoulder again. "Did you two enjoy your sleep? I certainly feel refreshed and ready to face the world."

Wash agrees that getting mounts would be useful, and suggests that they go to the market to grab some more healing potions and even possibly healing kits, and suggests that they visit Tinkertop Inventions "as they sometimes have some very interesting items if you have the gold to spend". 

[DM question: are there any shops in Hupperdook that have magic or extremely well crafted items?]

Tinkertop Inventions is the only place you can think of.  I don't think Wash has had much interested - or money - to buy magical items, so it's not something he knows much about.  You could ask around?

[Definitely makes sense, especially as Wash doesn't really use weapons and has been a healer/doctor rather than adventurer for quite a few years. I also understand that there might not be anything available in town, but there is no harm in asking.]

Wash will ask the most senior servant (assuming butler/valet or similar vibe) if there is anywhere that has magical or extremely well crafted items. He has more personal gold than he has had before and knows the road ahead is likely to be dangerous. He is keeping an eye out in particular for magical bolts or something else he thinks Alton would like, to repay him for his generosity earlier. 

Wash will also ask the most senior servant and Alton whether they know if the roads to our destination would support a horse drawn carriage or similar vehicle.

Wash asks the dragon-like creature on his shoulder "do you have any food or other provisions you want me to get you, mysterious one?"

[DM Question: Are you using Xanathar's Guide to Everything (p. 129) rules for brewing healing potions (so a regular healing potion takes 1 work day (8 hours) and 25gp worth of ingredients to make)?]

Wash, the servant replies that he's not heard of anything like that in Hupperdook, and suggests you visit Rexxentrum or Zadash.  The same servant suggests that a horse-drawn carriage could travel the road to Felderwin, but slowly; it would provide comfort rather than speed, and you would travel at the pace of a walk.

Wash, the creature returns an ambivalent thought, suggesting it will not have trouble finding food on the road.

(Yes, I'm happy to use those rules for potion creation.)

Balassar just nods at the recommendation to search the shops "I can get behind that after I mail out this stuff. Could go hunting for a new sword or some armor." with that he looks to the nearest servant "Do you happen to have a crate I could use for sending some ingots to a blacksmith."

The servant says that they can certainly have something brought from one of Mr. Goldcannon's workshops.  He asks what size you need.