“These guys are paying protection money to the Redbrands, you think, Xianon? Not for much longer,” Serwa says, on the way to deliver the goods and claim their reward.
The wood elf nods. Once the group is out on the road, he explains, "Seven silver seems like a bit much for a small-town inn like this. I expect they have to charge a bit extra to make up for what the Redbrands take. From the atmosphere last night, Stonehill pays up front. The patrons looked too comfortable for them to have seen a shakedown in progress there. They feel safe there, and Stonehill makes sure that it stays that way." He frowns thoughtfully, but says nothing further on the way to Barthen's.
On the northern end of town, you find a large timber building with the words BARTHEN'S PROVISIONS painted in giant letters across the facade. Inside, you see the makings of a general store - barrels of dried meats and apples, stacks of tanned hides and furs. You don't see any weapons or armor, but you do see other types of adventuring supplies like backpacks and bedrolls. An elderly man, lean and balding, waves to you from behind a long wooden counter. "Good morning! I'm Elmar Barthen, owner of Barthen's Provisions. How can I help you?"
Barton's eyes widen. "You're the ones that the carters were talking about! " He says excitedly leaning forward on the counter. "Did you find Gundren and Sildar? I've been worried sick. Are they okay?"
“Sildar, yes, he’s here in town. Gundred is still to be determined,” Serwa answers. “After we claim the reward here we were going to try to find out more about Cragclaw castle, that’s where we think Gundred’s been taken.”
"The were ambushed on the road by a bugbear and a group of goblins but they sent off Gundren to someone called the 'Black Spider'...have you heard anything around town about a Black Spider?" Tomora adds
As Tomora tells Barthen about the Black Spider, a little black spider starts crawling across the counter. Barthen looks at it wide-eyed for a moment, then bring his fist down on it. Wiping his hand on his apron he replies, "Never heard of that Black Spider. But he sounds like bad news." He sighs. "Looks like the thing about Wave Echo Cave isn't as much of a secret as we thought, though, if they wanted Gundren so bad." His eyes brighten as a memory flashes to mind. "Hey, Gundar's brothers, Nundro and Tharden, are in town. Well, not 'in town'...they're camping somewhere secret just outside of town. I'll let them know the news when I see them." Then he comes back to the present, and remembers what you had just said. "Oh! You rescued Sildar. Nice! Done the Lords' Alliance a big favor, you have." Then the other matter comes to mind. "Oh, right. And...hold on a moment." He shuffles to a back room. After a bit of creaking and clinking, he comes back with coins. "Four stacks...of ten...coins...each," he says, putting the gold in neat stacks on the counter in front of you. "And a job well done. Thank you. Lots of shipments haven't made it through. The Lionshields have a delivery two weeks overdue, and you know what that means."
“We’re staying at an inn nearby, the nice one,” Serwa says. “You can have his brothers meet us there. If you don’t know about where they’ve taken Gundren, you wouldn’t happen to know where the local gang, the Redbrands, have their base of operation, would you?”
The merchant frowns. "The Redbrands. I wish I could tell you anything. They're always hanging around the Sleeping Giant down at the east end of town; you could try there. Assuming they're not shaking down some merchant or other. As if the goblins weren't enough." He sighs.
“I think that’s where we ran into them the first time,” Serwa says. “What do you all think? Go back and finish what we started? Or ask around town more about the Black Spider and the castle? It sounds like Gundrun’s brothers would prefer to come to us.”
Barthen's eyes go wide when he sees the statuette. "Well, isn't this a pretty thing," he says. He takes it and examines it. "Not much call for baubles around here, to be honest. But I'll tell you what. I'll give you thirty-five for it." It's less than you'd get in a city, but for a small-town trading post, it's a good offer.
Serwa is agreeable to go to the militia next. She gives Tomora one of the hand signals they’ve been practicing to confirm this after her business is done.
"Thirty five sounds fair... You've got a deal." Tomora a agrees. After making the exchange she gives each of her companions nine gold and keeps eight for herself.
(OOC: lol, I normally don't like rolling vs. another player, but we'll keep that one. Success!)
Barthen eyes the statuette thoughtfully before stowing it on a shelf somewhere on his side of the counter. "By the way...I'm not quite sure what you mean about a militia, but if you're heading to see Daran Edermath, send him my greetings," he adds casually. "Thank you for your business. Come back soon!"
“These guys are paying protection money to the Redbrands, you think, Xianon? Not for much longer,” Serwa says, on the way to deliver the goods and claim their reward.
Xianon Lathalas
The wood elf nods. Once the group is out on the road, he explains, "Seven silver seems like a bit much for a small-town inn like this. I expect they have to charge a bit extra to make up for what the Redbrands take. From the atmosphere last night, Stonehill pays up front. The patrons looked too comfortable for them to have seen a shakedown in progress there. They feel safe there, and Stonehill makes sure that it stays that way." He frowns thoughtfully, but says nothing further on the way to Barthen's.
Serwa hums the chorus of the song about taking money to the grave along the way.
On the northern end of town, you find a large timber building with the words BARTHEN'S PROVISIONS painted in giant letters across the facade. Inside, you see the makings of a general store - barrels of dried meats and apples, stacks of tanned hides and furs. You don't see any weapons or armor, but you do see other types of adventuring supplies like backpacks and bedrolls. An elderly man, lean and balding, waves to you from behind a long wooden counter. "Good morning! I'm Elmar Barthen, owner of Barthen's Provisions. How can I help you?"
“I think we’ve got a delivery for you,” Serwa says. “Supplies they you had been waiting on.”
Barton's eyes widen. "You're the ones that the carters were talking about! " He says excitedly leaning forward on the counter. "Did you find Gundren and Sildar? I've been worried sick. Are they okay?"
“Sildar, yes, he’s here in town. Gundred is still to be determined,” Serwa answers. “After we claim the reward here we were going to try to find out more about Cragclaw castle, that’s where we think Gundred’s been taken.”
"The were ambushed on the road by a bugbear and a group of goblins but they sent off Gundren to someone called the 'Black Spider'...have you heard anything around town about a Black Spider?" Tomora adds
As Tomora tells Barthen about the Black Spider, a little black spider starts crawling across the counter. Barthen looks at it wide-eyed for a moment, then bring his fist down on it. Wiping his hand on his apron he replies, "Never heard of that Black Spider. But he sounds like bad news." He sighs. "Looks like the thing about Wave Echo Cave isn't as much of a secret as we thought, though, if they wanted Gundren so bad." His eyes brighten as a memory flashes to mind. "Hey, Gundar's brothers, Nundro and Tharden, are in town. Well, not 'in town'...they're camping somewhere secret just outside of town. I'll let them know the news when I see them." Then he comes back to the present, and remembers what you had just said. "Oh! You rescued Sildar. Nice! Done the Lords' Alliance a big favor, you have." Then the other matter comes to mind. "Oh, right. And...hold on a moment." He shuffles to a back room. After a bit of creaking and clinking, he comes back with coins. "Four stacks...of ten...coins...each," he says, putting the gold in neat stacks on the counter in front of you. "And a job well done. Thank you. Lots of shipments haven't made it through. The Lionshields have a delivery two weeks overdue, and you know what that means."
OOC: Adding 10 GP to Serwa’s sheet for her cut.
“We’re staying at an inn nearby, the nice one,” Serwa says. “You can have his brothers meet us there. If you don’t know about where they’ve taken Gundren, you wouldn’t happen to know where the local gang, the Redbrands, have their base of operation, would you?”
The merchant frowns. "The Redbrands. I wish I could tell you anything. They're always hanging around the Sleeping Giant down at the east end of town; you could try there. Assuming they're not shaking down some merchant or other. As if the goblins weren't enough." He sighs.
“I think that’s where we ran into them the first time,” Serwa says. “What do you all think? Go back and finish what we started? Or ask around town more about the Black Spider and the castle? It sounds like Gundrun’s brothers would prefer to come to us.”
"I think we should at least talk to Daran and the militia first... I'd rather be on the good side of the Lord's Alliance." Tomora says.
"Oh, also..." Tomora pulls out the jade frog statue and shows it to Elmar "... would this be something you would be interested in buying?"
Barthen's eyes go wide when he sees the statuette. "Well, isn't this a pretty thing," he says. He takes it and examines it. "Not much call for baubles around here, to be honest. But I'll tell you what. I'll give you thirty-five for it." It's less than you'd get in a city, but for a small-town trading post, it's a good offer.
Serwa is agreeable to go to the militia next. She gives Tomora one of the hand signals they’ve been practicing to confirm this after her business is done.
"Thirty five sounds fair... You've got a deal." Tomora a agrees. After making the exchange she gives each of her companions nine gold and keeps eight for herself.
"Alright, let's go find this Daran."
Aster tries to slip one of the gold pieces into Tomoras pocket.
Slight of hand (against passive perception?): 4
Olloray Dim - Limbo's Pit
Gunther Korroden - Nightmares in the Mist
OOC: I have updated Serwa’s sheet, back up to 26 gold and some change after the 19 from the reward and sale split.
(OOC: lol, I normally don't like rolling vs. another player, but we'll keep that one. Success!)
Barthen eyes the statuette thoughtfully before stowing it on a shelf somewhere on his side of the counter. "By the way...I'm not quite sure what you mean about a militia, but if you're heading to see Daran Edermath, send him my greetings," he adds casually. "Thank you for your business. Come back soon!"
"Off see to Daran next, right?" Serwa says.