Cons include the very nature of magical deals and the Fey,Kenton says flatly. There could be another party involved, one manipulating both the shopkeepers and ourselves for its own interests. Also such a deal would keep us searching shipwrecks - well, what if the trail leads elsewhere? To a little-travelled part of the ocean, or inland for some reason? That does seem unlikely, but my point is that the deal could serve to prevent our success as much as to enable it.
I would also agree to a purely verbal contract, with the understanding that the deal can be put on hold if our greater mission requires it. Or perhaps other means to investigate underwater can be found, in Port Damali or elsewhere?
"I mean, we still have the potions of water breathing, Oden can breathe underwater and I've been feeling a kinda strange affinity for the water ever since we saved those jellyfish full of people, so the amount of people to account for when going underwater may be reduced - do we even need to go into an agreement with these people in the first place?"
"No, we don't need to, there are other ways to get everyone to breathe underwater, but they will cost us and they get consumed. We've gathered some funds, so I think we'll be ok with that, if that's the way we go.
I just have to say that I think we can trust Bryn. She's done well by us so far, she even helped my siblings. Faendal seems to know a lot about magic and wasn't concerned about the contract. As a plus, I would mention the easy way to turn what we find into profit by using that magical chest to send stuff to Bryn, and the good rates she is offering. I think we would afford better equipment in the end of we took the job."
I cannot say I know this person well enough to trust them, says Kenton reluctantly, but I do trust all of you. If you agree - unanimously - that this... magical contract... is the right choice, then I will go along with it.
[Let me know what you all do next, as I won't be doing anything that advances the story while you are in the room having this discussion.
I'll DM rule that the other characters (anyone who hasn't posted recently) are silent and seem to go with the majority. Hopefully everyone is OK. I also had to take a break yesterday and might need one later in the week - too busy and too much happening in real life despite being in stage 4 lockdown.]
I cannot say I know this person well enough to trust them, says Kenton reluctantly, but I do trust all of you. If you agree - unanimously - that this... magical contract... is the right choice, then I will go along with it.
"That is fair. And thank you! I say we do it, same as The Champion. If Aliez and Reguh are going with the majority, that leaves you, Beatrice, to make or break the unanimity? What do you say?"
"If it goes wrong I'm going to blame you, Oden," Beatrice jokes. "Sure, let's do it. I'm arguing myself in circles about the pros and cons in my head anyway, might as well just make a decision."
"We have a decision, then?" Oden asks, looking at Kenton.
"Someone could still try to persuade Bryn to accept a non-magical contract, given everything we learned today. I don't think I have what it takes, though, she gives me the vibes of a shrewd negotiator.
Well, I'm going to the Drunken Sailor to see if there's anything I can do to help, and maybe have a drink. Is anyone going that way?"
Oden's siblings greet the party and offer you a complimentary round of drinks and nibbles and show you to one of the newly constructed (and not entirely finished) booths.
Oden excuses himself and leaves the booth to see if he can help his siblings with anything (decorating, washing up, etc.) and just spend some time with them. When the place is quiet and Mira doesn't look too busy, he'll try to speak with her away from his brothers.
Ale,says Kenton. I need ale after all this... talking and thinking. He settles down in the unfinished booth as though he means to stay there for a while, and will happily chat with anyone who wants to join him about anything other than sahuagin, shipwrecks and fey magic contracts.
The Champion will sit with everyone. “You know... I feel like I don’t know much about anyone besides they kill sahuagin, and Oden’s got family here. Who are you people when you aren’t... doing all this?” He gestures vaguely.
Oden, your siblings seem very happy to see you and welcome your help. Mira puts you to work with her, scraping decades of built up grease from a wall in the (fortunately closed off) kitchen. She tells you "don’t worry, we are cooking from a grill at the back" when she sees the disgust on your face. You are out of the way and can have private conversations.
Oden is quiet for a while, then says smiling: "I will be able to contact Ervalin tomorrow, and tell him to come here. He'll be very impressed by what you've done here. It will be good to know you are all together. I will most likely leave tomorrow, questing with the Heroes of the Isle." His smile turns sour. "But I don't feel like a hero right now, and I will probably make you mad, or worse... sad."
I am what I have always wanted to be, an adventurer,says Kenton. I read stories as a child, and dreamed of questing and protecting the innocent from harm. He smiles. My parents tried to turn me into a scholar, but... he shrugs his heavy armour to indicate that this had not been successful. I have two brothers and two sisters back in Nicodranas. I have a sweet tooth that I cannot deny. And, well, I have spent a good amount of the last few years hunting... a particular person, a killer whose identify I do not know. I have mistaken their identity more than once. But this is not a tale for tonight. Perhaps a good story for when we are at sea. Tell me, friend, what of you?
The Champion sips his drink. “Not much to say about me. I’ve been a follower of the Raven Queen all my life. Never been to the Menagerie Coast before all this. Been pretty eventful, I’ve gotta say.”
Mira's brow furrows as she stops working and waits for Oden to continue.
"There's something I haven't told any of you about that day. Before we went in, I jokingly asked Yrashiae for my usual fee, and ...", he pulls a string out of his pocket, a small stone with a hole in the centre attached to it, "... she gave me her lucky stone. I meant to give it back to her." Oden's voice breaks a little. He's looking at the stone, avoiding eye contact with Mira.
"When I returned without her, I hid it in a pocket, too much of a coward to wear it... too selfish to give it to any of you. I am sorry. I am the one who least deserves this." He takes a faint step towards Mira, hand extended. "It should stay with you, with the family. I'm probably going to get into some dangerous situations in the future and... I don't want to lose it."
Cons include the very nature of magical deals and the Fey, Kenton says flatly. There could be another party involved, one manipulating both the shopkeepers and ourselves for its own interests. Also such a deal would keep us searching shipwrecks - well, what if the trail leads elsewhere? To a little-travelled part of the ocean, or inland for some reason? That does seem unlikely, but my point is that the deal could serve to prevent our success as much as to enable it.
I would also agree to a purely verbal contract, with the understanding that the deal can be put on hold if our greater mission requires it. Or perhaps other means to investigate underwater can be found, in Port Damali or elsewhere?
"I mean, we still have the potions of water breathing, Oden can breathe underwater and I've been feeling a kinda strange affinity for the water ever since we saved those jellyfish full of people, so the amount of people to account for when going underwater may be reduced - do we even need to go into an agreement with these people in the first place?"
"No, we don't need to, there are other ways to get everyone to breathe underwater, but they will cost us and they get consumed. We've gathered some funds, so I think we'll be ok with that, if that's the way we go.
I just have to say that I think we can trust Bryn. She's done well by us so far, she even helped my siblings. Faendal seems to know a lot about magic and wasn't concerned about the contract. As a plus, I would mention the easy way to turn what we find into profit by using that magical chest to send stuff to Bryn, and the good rates she is offering. I think we would afford better equipment in the end of we took the job."
“I don’t think a run would cheat us, she’s been nothing but generous. Let’s do it.”
Paladin - warforged - orange
I cannot say I know this person well enough to trust them, says Kenton reluctantly, but I do trust all of you. If you agree - unanimously - that this... magical contract... is the right choice, then I will go along with it.
[Let me know what you all do next, as I won't be doing anything that advances the story while you are in the room having this discussion.
I'll DM rule that the other characters (anyone who hasn't posted recently) are silent and seem to go with the majority. Hopefully everyone is OK. I also had to take a break yesterday and might need one later in the week - too busy and too much happening in real life despite being in stage 4 lockdown.]
"That is fair. And thank you! I say we do it, same as The Champion. If Aliez and Reguh are going with the majority, that leaves you, Beatrice, to make or break the unanimity? What do you say?"
"If it goes wrong I'm going to blame you, Oden," Beatrice jokes. "Sure, let's do it. I'm arguing myself in circles about the pros and cons in my head anyway, might as well just make a decision."
"We have a decision, then?" Oden asks, looking at Kenton.
"Someone could still try to persuade Bryn to accept a non-magical contract, given everything we learned today. I don't think I have what it takes, though, she gives me the vibes of a shrewd negotiator.
Well, I'm going to the Drunken Sailor to see if there's anything I can do to help, and maybe have a drink. Is anyone going that way?"
We do, replies Kenton, and he follows Oden to the Drunken Sailor.
Oden's siblings greet the party and offer you a complimentary round of drinks and nibbles and show you to one of the newly constructed (and not entirely finished) booths.
Oden excuses himself and leaves the booth to see if he can help his siblings with anything (decorating, washing up, etc.) and just spend some time with them. When the place is quiet and Mira doesn't look too busy, he'll try to speak with her away from his brothers.
Ale, says Kenton. I need ale after all this... talking and thinking. He settles down in the unfinished booth as though he means to stay there for a while, and will happily chat with anyone who wants to join him about anything other than sahuagin, shipwrecks and fey magic contracts.
The Champion will sit with everyone. “You know... I feel like I don’t know much about anyone besides they kill sahuagin, and Oden’s got family here. Who are you people when you aren’t... doing all this?” He gestures vaguely.
Paladin - warforged - orange
Oden, your siblings seem very happy to see you and welcome your help. Mira puts you to work with her, scraping decades of built up grease from a wall in the (fortunately closed off) kitchen. She tells you "don’t worry, we are cooking from a grill at the back" when she sees the disgust on your face. You are out of the way and can have private conversations.
Oden is quiet for a while, then says smiling: "I will be able to contact Ervalin tomorrow, and tell him to come here. He'll be very impressed by what you've done here. It will be good to know you are all together. I will most likely leave tomorrow, questing with the Heroes of the Isle." His smile turns sour. "But I don't feel like a hero right now, and I will probably make you mad, or worse... sad."
He hesitates, considering his next words.
I am what I have always wanted to be, an adventurer, says Kenton. I read stories as a child, and dreamed of questing and protecting the innocent from harm. He smiles. My parents tried to turn me into a scholar, but... he shrugs his heavy armour to indicate that this had not been successful. I have two brothers and two sisters back in Nicodranas. I have a sweet tooth that I cannot deny. And, well, I have spent a good amount of the last few years hunting... a particular person, a killer whose identify I do not know. I have mistaken their identity more than once. But this is not a tale for tonight. Perhaps a good story for when we are at sea. Tell me, friend, what of you?
Mira's brow furrows as she stops working and waits for Oden to continue.
The Champion sips his drink. “Not much to say about me. I’ve been a follower of the Raven Queen all my life. Never been to the Menagerie Coast before all this. Been pretty eventful, I’ve gotta say.”
Paladin - warforged - orange
"There's something I haven't told any of you about that day. Before we went in, I jokingly asked Yrashiae for my usual fee, and ...", he pulls a string out of his pocket, a small stone with a hole in the centre attached to it, "... she gave me her lucky stone. I meant to give it back to her." Oden's voice breaks a little. He's looking at the stone, avoiding eye contact with Mira.
"When I returned without her, I hid it in a pocket, too much of a coward to wear it... too selfish to give it to any of you. I am sorry. I am the one who least deserves this." He takes a faint step towards Mira, hand extended. "It should stay with you, with the family. I'm probably going to get into some dangerous situations in the future and... I don't want to lose it."