((Ok guys - let's get this next adventure rolling!))

Venovar, your mother is absolutely willing to give the ring to you. Please add to his inventory and attune to it. Ring of Protection. You also are able to get 20gp for the gem. The merchant wouldn't go any higher as these gems had a few scuffs.

After you leave the temple, Thorvin says to you all: "Gents, it'd been an honor adventuring with you all. I've seen enough death and destruction that I can handle for a while, so I'm afraid this is the end of the line for me, at least for the time being lads. I'm gunna go and rest my old bones in a spa here in Neverwinter for a few weeks, perhaps study for awhile at the temples in the city, and then reassess things. All the best to ye all!" he would hug all that would accept one, and then say goodbye and walks away. Exit Thorvin.

Alton, you also get 20gp for the gem, and, if you want, the full 600gp for the poison vials. Those vials are really nice, no cracks, and corked securely. The merchant is very interested, and has the cash on hand, too. As far as magic items go, what in general are you interested in? Weapons? Armor? Trinkets perhaps? Or, are you just looking to generally browse the magic shops to see if anything interesting catches your eye?

You say your goodbyes and head to the inn for some food, drink and rest. The Spring Shoot Inn is a modest inn, so please adjust your coins accordingly for the meal and lodging costs as well as any extra booze depending on what you get here:

(https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/basic-rules/equipment#FoodDrinkandLodging).

The inn is small, clean and is populated mostly by gnomes and halflings, both the patrons and the workers. There is a bard entertaining the patrons, but no one is out of control and everyone is having a great time. Feel free to converse at the inn if you want, with someone at the inn, or with each other, or if not, once you all finish up your meal and drinks, you all head up to your rooms for a good nights rest. 

Please level up to 3!

I will make the next post later today to start the new adventure as you all come down for breakfast the next morning... 

Alton will cash in all 6 vials of poison, and after returning to the inn will give 300 gp of it to Gotur. 

Other than that, Holden will drop off a pouch of 100 gp  off at his parents household, making sure they get it, but not interacting with them at all. 

(Don’t worry about the magic items. I had really just wanted to browse, and don’t want to hold up the game. I can wait until a later time.)

((you're not holding up the game at all!))

Alton, please roll a perception check to see if you are able to find anything generally interesting in any of the surrounding magic shops before you head to the inn.

Perception: 12

Alton, nothing really catches your eye. You see numerous magical items that would likely be more suited towards wizards and the like including numerous scrolls, robes, hats, wands and staves of various décor, but nothing really catches your attention...

...except one thing, which you notice in a small corner of a rather large magic shop: 33 a beautiful set of throwing knives. (essentially it is a set of 3 Dagger, +1). They have a very faint glow to them, and they are clearly meant for throwing, but could still be used for melee combat) the set is listed at 350 gp.

You also see several Potion of Healing as well if you have an interest in them. (50 gp each)

For now, Alton will just buy a singular potion of healing. However, he is keeping his eye on those daggers for a later time. 

1 potion of healing - done!

Guys I am sorry I won't be able to post the next morning start of the game until, well, tomorrow morning lol

Feel free to do more shopping in the meantime.

No worries! I guess Venovar in his downtime would also go shopping for magic items. I will make a Perception check since Alton made one to see what there is, but I doubt I could buy anything other than a healing potion as he only has 84 gold.

19

Alton might also invest in a set of studded leather armor. 

Window shopping Perception check:  15

Based on your rolls, here is what you have found in your shopping adventure before heading to the Spring Shoot Inn. Keep in mind the merchants are not willing to budge on the listed prices as this is a very busy city and have lots of customers every day. (We will engage in merchant role playing sometimes, but not in this case since there would be too many shops and NPC's to role play via PbP.)

For everyone: most of the items in the Weapons, Armor and Adventuring Gear are available at the listed prices here: (https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/basic-rules/equipment). Let me know if you buy anything.

For Venovar, you are aware that you don't have much gold to spend on magical trinkets and the like, but you go window shopping nonetheless. It's probably hard because you see a lot of things that likely catch your eye, including: 98, 38   |   51

2 Potion of Hill Giant Strength, on sale, 150gp for the pair, or 100gp each, and and insanely beautiful Javelin, +2. It stands tall and glows. It has a hefty price tag of 500gp.

For Alton, you are definitely able to find a good set of Studded Leather armor. It is listed at 45gp.

For Gotur, you are in a shopping wonderland! You find, along with the Studded Leather half orc-sized armor: 40, 47   |   14, 29

1 Potion of Poison for 100gp, 1 Potion of Fire Breath for 100gp, a very interesting looking Bag of Beans with a price of 2500gp, and a Scroll of Protection, priced at 200gp.

Any of these items can be bought at anytime throughout the game now that your characters have noticed them. Please keep track of the ones you might want to get for later and they will be available. I will also keep track of this list for reference later if need be. Also, you will have opportunities to shop for new items as we progress in the game, of course. This will require new perception rolls. Anyhow, let me know what you want to buy from the above lists, and then I will get the next adventure going. 

Gotur will sell his used leather armor and purchase the studded leather. He's a bit amazed by the sudden influx of cash, far beyond anything he's ever had all at once before.

He's certainly found some interesting things, but he's used to just getting by, dropping a hundred gold on a potion that will only last for a short while seems extravagant to him still.

((What is the Scroll of Protection against, and is that something that is class/level restricted? ))

((Gotur - sounds good about the armor. You'd get half for the leather armor since it's used. As for the potions and items, I have noted all of the items and prices, especially the bag of beans in case you might want to buy it later on!! That would be awesome to see. As for the scroll of protection, take a look at the item itself; its cool in that it doesn't require any specialties/magic knowledge to use. It's just a generic scroll that anyone can read, as I understand it.))

((Essentially it is not a 'spell scroll', and so anyone who can read the language can read this type of scroll. It is written in common.))

"Huh, a Scroll of Protection from Undead. That could have come in handy! If we ever find out there was something more going on with that nutter in the sewers, it would be useful to have that around."

Gotur makes a mental note to come back and maybe buy the scroll if he reaches a point where 200 gold doesn't seem like a few month's salary for five minutes benefit. The Bag of Beans sounds amazing... but way out of his price range for such a gamble. He daydreams a bit about one day being able to afford things like that on a whim.

Alton will sell his leather armor as well for half, bringing the total for the studded leather to 40 gp I believe. 

Venovar is definitely keeping his eye on the Potions of Hill Giant Strength, +2 Javelin, and the Fire Breath potion. However, Venovar stops for a moment at one of the weapon shops as he sees a new weapon. One that could crush the skulls of the undead that he has now sworn to destroy. He looks at his old weapon, the Glaive, which was once a symbol of protection and defense; but Venovar has changed, now seeing that offense might be the best defense against the undead. He spends 10 gp on a Maul made of hard black steel. It has red cracks scattered throughout the metallic head of the weapon, and now that he holds it, he sees a different aura glow faintly around it. Whereas his Glaive had a strong light blue, this Maul has a faint red with strands of blue here and there. Satisfied with his purchase, he walks back home. 

Note: The description of the maul is purely cosmetic. I just wanted to add some symbolism to show some character development.

You all make your desired purchases and mental notes (I've noted all items and prices for reference in our next downtime session), and Venovar bids his farewell as described previously. 

You make your way to the Spring Shoot Inn. Please use the 'modest' prices for any food/drink lodging costs. (https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/basic-rules/equipment#FoodDrinkandLodging).

If you haven't leveled up to 3, please do so now. Alton and Gotur rise the next morning very well rested, and proceed to make your way downstairs back to the common area for breakfast. There is a complementary dish with some various breads and fruits, or if you're really hungry you can buy something else. 

**Starting new adventure - The Horror at Havel's Cross**

If you recall from the first adventure, you helped Glowkindle with his brewery cellar. Well, he has been speaking a lot about what you did for him and word has gotten around. One of his colleagues, Professor Winsome Landy, a halfling scholar, is looking for help from a band of reliable adventurers. She heard word of what you have done for Glowkindle, and was told that he will be sending all of you to the Spring Shoot Inn to meet her to discuss the matters at hand. The professor is not aware of your run-in with the zombies in the sewers. 

As you all finish your breakfast, you see a cheerful halfling enter the inn. She kind of stumbles in and looks slightly a mess. She has chestnut brown hair, wearing purple robes. 

"Ahh hah! There ye are! I've been lookin' for ya since the day after yesterday! Thought it'd be easy findin' a orc and a halfling together, but sheesh wuz I wrong! Hey, wasn't there also a dwarf and an elf to be with ya's too?? Ahh well, can't be greedy now can I! Shoot, where are my manners. Please forgive me. The name's Landy... Professor Winsome Landy. I've heard from my friend Glowkindle that you folk are quite the band of adventurers... well let me tell you do I have a dandy one for ya!"

She continues...

"You see, I'm an archaeologist, and my team and I are investigating some antient ruins that was apparently home to an evil Elven death cult! Oh golly, I hope that doesn't scare ya's off... anywho, I decided to stay here in town finishing my research on the dig site while my colleagues headed directly there to begin the dig. Let me tell ye, I have just received word via a Scroll of Sending that they have found something rather interesting and they need an armed escort to bring it back to the city! Can ye believe that! Maybe they found the motherload find!" she giggles. "Aaaaanyhow, the escort is supposed to meet the group at Havel's Cross, a fortified coaching inn way up in the hills close to the dig site. Now, I've got authority to spend 500 gold coins on some hired muscle to help with the escort, and heck that's where y'all come in!"

And continues...

"Now listen... I'll even give you the gold up front. But we need to leave this morning. We need to leave now, in fact. It's about 3 days travel by foot to get to Havel's Cross, so we really need to get our butts movin! Whaddya say guys?! Oh, I will be joinin' you guys as well for the trip to Havel's Cross... I know exactly where it is so it's probably best I come with ya's. Besides, I want to see what the heck they found!!"

She looks at you with big hopeful eyes. 

At this moment, a tortle enters the inn and sees you all talking. (queue Ralfaen's entrance!)

Ralfaen, you can make your entrance, and Alton and Gotur can also respond to Professor Landy, ask her any questions you might have etc.etc. 

Have at it!

"Oh, ah... well, we just wrapped up some adventures, but I guess one night's rest is enough for me, how about you Alton?"

Gotur tries to play it cool, but mouths 'FIVE HUNDRED GOLD' at him over the Professor's back.

Ho oh ho! Brave adventurers I see! A task for me, complete you must! But, forgotten what to say, I have. A moment, you must give me... the old Tortle says as he reaches into his shell, straining as he pulls out a small bottle filled with tiny white capsules. His back makes a cracking sound. "Agh! Great scott!" he shouts as he straightens his back. He opens the bottle and puts one in his mouth, gagging for a moment before speaking. "Keh! Keh! Uncomfortable, without water, those pills were to swallow. Ralfaen, my name is, and digger of graves, I am. Ho ho oh! Task I have for you." 

He then pauses awkwardly for too long of a moment, standing absolutely still as if trying to process the information in front of him. You get a good look at him while he does this. His skin is a dull gray, and his shell has many dents and scratches across it which look about a week old or so. He carries a large black tome under one arm and a wooden staff with the top carved to look like a raven's head. He wears vestments that are black with streaks of blue and purple that look very, very stretched due to his size and shape, and it has the worn symbol of a raven on it. A flash of recognition appears in his eyes, and he speaks again.

"Noticed I have, your current task. Forget my quarrels, you should. Oh ho ho! Join this party, I shall, as protect and heal you, I can. Say, what do you?"

"Greetings, Ralfaen. Gotur, I am-- err, I mean... my name's Gotur. You said you were looking for us?"