(hahaha! Here's Ess's roll, but I won't be able to finish this next post until later on.)

In the meantime...

Ess history: 7

Oh, I think I want to keep Ess as a commoner - you see, he was just a regular schmuk in Neverwinter and he got bit. The wererat infection boosted his stats and made him very strong, and now that is gone, so he is back to his regular self. If you guys feel strongly against this let me know.

Ben, with your previous history roll of this village, you would know that Marshswamp's main exports are:

- Fish and the like

- Food from local farms

- Silver and potentially gold from the mines that the dwarves have recently begun to expand. (the locals/traditionalists are against this)

I will also be updating the Neverwinter trade house market stats and whatnot as we are due for an update. I'm going to bring that entire tab over to our Marshswamp sheet actually later on. 

Stay tuned for next post.

((I'd rather you keep him a commoner purely for RP then make him a scout purely for mechanics! Unless he's coming out every fight having really needed 12 more hit points and one more attack at + 2 to hit and plus two damage to each attack. 😉))

((Just bringing this over here to this page.))

28. Winston’s Store - potential buyer, it is a general store of sorts
26. Temple of Procan - no apothecary which the guards found very funny, but there is a temple in town.
15. Weekly Market - there are sometimes alchemists who set up booths at the weekly market in town. 
3. The Wicker Goat - Inn/Tavern
13. The Snapping Line - Inn/Tavern

((Ok excellent - besides it might be fun to have a weaker member of the group, and also there may be opportunities to bring another sidekick on board... a stronger one. At least Ess will get some cool and interesting sidekick features as you guys level up.))

Ok, so none of you know anything about Procan.

Ben, the temple worker responds "Ahem... oh... oh my. Ok, well depending on what is wrong, I can help you. Ahem... here, please follow me. I will need to examine you."

She would bring you to a spot which isn't occupied, likely up in the top left corner on that map where those beds are, and she'd inspect you. 

"OH! Ahem. Oh. Yes. Right. I see. Ok. Pull your drawers up, sir."

She would go on to explain that this is a common STD and she's been seeing it a lot more recently. The symptoms have an extremely fast onset time and, well, you can see what types of symptoms they are. 

She does have an ointment, and it's 2gp. It is fast acting and the itch will almost be instantaneously alleviated. The 'other' symptoms might last another day or two. 

"You can... ahem... apply it yourself, sir."

Korrik, from here, you can't see any type of building that might look like the house in the drawing. No roll even available here. 

Assuming Ben buys the cream and puts it on, are you guys going to the general store now?

I think as long as he didn't come running out with a priest flinging holy water at him, Korrik would have turned the wagon and headed to the general store.

Ben gladly shows off his poor, diseased unit and pays the 2 gold (in silver) without even trying to haggle as he thoroughly and generously applies the ointment in the corner. He will ask her before she can retreat,

"This, this is great. Thank you." He closes his eyes and shivers with relief then continues, "Same symptoms and onset for ladies? How do you cure this condition for them?  I will probably need to pick that, not today but soonish."

He then leaves the temple a new man with a new outlook on life. He steps out and gives the view his first real appraisal, breathing deeply through his nose,

"Beautiful view!"

He will walk over to the store with a new lightness to his step.

((He is going to be a few minutes behind whatever is going on there so I will keep Ben quiet for the first interactions.))

"For the ladies it's a whole other ball game. With this infection, the ladies have little to no symptoms. No itching, no sores, no nothing. My colleagues are actually looking into this more these past few months. We haven't been able to find a cure for the ladies. Listen, whoever this madam is, she'd best be knowing as soon as possible so she... ahem, doesn't spread it to another fella. Or worse, to a lady. You know, one of my colleagues was saying perhaps a female hag concocted this disease because they were mad at a former male lover since the symptoms only appear in males?!" she tries to make light of the situation and then eventually bids you farewell.  

"All fixed up, man?!" Ess says with hope in his eyes as you all ride over to the store. It's right beside the temple as you know so it takes mere moments. 

Assuming you both go in, Ess would say "Dudes. I will stay out here and watch our carriage. Not like anyone's gonna get near this stinky ass thing though. But yeah, you guys go in, I can't get enough of this view anyhow."

You enter the store. From the village map, you can see that this store is quite large. I do not have a visual of the inside, but it is set up very similar to a pawn shop. It is clean, but not spotless. Upon entry, you notice a number of different items from the adventuring gear and tools lists, as well as other various things. There are papers, small furniture, some small foodstuffs, just general things a pawn shop might have. Everything looks slightly used. Some things more used than others.

A male halfling greets you. He does not seem to be put off by Busren whatsoever. Maybe it's because he's with a fellow halfling. Who knows. 

"Afternoon and welcome to Winstons! I'm Winston. We got solid goods at honest prices!" he winks. He'd go on to say that he's never seen you guys around before and ask casually why you're in town, just the regular stuff a store person would ask to a new customer. 

I have added Winston to the NPC tab. I will only add NPC's of interest to that tab (for instance, the temple worker who helped Ben will not be added, however there is a key NPC in the temple that has not been met yet. That is meta, of course. Maybe you will meet that NPC later.)

"Ess my friend, I feel much better. Thank you for asking! It is amazing how much an itch and some unexpected bodily fluid leakage can distract you. If you don't mind staying out here that'd be fine, it is an amazing view. I guess we are just seeing if this Winston's place is interested in buying a quarter rotted basilisk."

He adjusts his pants and checks to make sure the ointment isn't leaving a mark that can be noticed from the outside (of his pants) before heading in with Korrik.

"Hello Winston, a pleasure to meet you! We are looking to sell a nearly whole basilisk corpse, or pieces there of. Fair warning, we killed the thing a couple days back and its freshness is...well it is not fresh. Shouldn't impact the value of its bones, claws and horns though. It also has some poison, but I can't speak to how potent that still is. Would that something you'd be interested in? If not could you direct us to who might be in town?"

Persuasion: 9

((What exactly does Winston sell? Everything, just a little bit used or?

I will hazard a guess that the temple NPC is the one legged guy leading things as you didn't describe anyone other than him and Busren's fair savior :P!))

((Winston sells most of the items on this list: https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/phb/equipment#AdventuringGear as well as some of the items on the 'Other Adventuring Gear' list below that one. He also sells some of these: https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/phb/equipment#ArtisansTools. Both of you notice that none of his wares look new.))

Winston seems slightly shocked when you mention the basilisk. "Holy hell! And you say you guys killed it yourselves?" he rubs his little beard. "I'm surprised you're not a statue right not. Sorry, I have no need for something like that, pals. I've seen a number of them in my day, and yer darn right its got some poison in it. I just don't have the means to extract it, nor would I know where to even begin. Not to mention lads that it's mighty disgusting from what you tell me and I can't have that stinking up the shop. I have no idea who'd want something like that, maybe you guys should just bury the sucker. Hey, we got lots of shovels if you need a few!" the halfling laughs. 

He would also ask "what brings you gents to Marshswamp, anyway? You hunting basilisks?!"

((hahaha. yep that is correct!))

"Unfortunate! I guess we will have to dispose of it."

On the next question he looks to Korrik with a raised brow for him to answer before saying,

"Ah! You've got rations. I need some of those."

((Just going to by a few days worth to replace the used ones.))

"Good evening Winston! I'm Korrik. Yeah, we killed it, but didn't go hunting for it... kind of got jumped and luckily came out the other side still alive and still fleshy. Don't suppose you recognize the wagon out there? Might have stopped in to buy supplies a few days back?"

"Oh, just wanting to do a bit of traveling. Three friends in between jobs, thought we'd see a bit of the world... almost a very short trip with the last stop in a basilisk's belly! Trying to see if it's worth anything to anyone before we go celebrate being alive. Not sure what we'll do after that, I think we're just happy to still have that decision in front of us."

Korrik, Winston is very cheerful with you. "Got jumped?! Where the heck did ye get jumped by a basilisk, my friend?! Last time I saw one of those was out in the Hool Marshes. You boys been out that way before? Honestly though, I don't know anyone who's going to give you anything more than a kick in the pants for a dead basilisk."

He would take a look at the wagon "Hmmmm... nope can't say that I recognize it, friend. Glad to see you decided to stop in at Marshswamp though. I think you'll enjoy yer stay. Lots of things always going on!"

He says to Ben: "Yep! I've got rations galore. You boys need a map of the area? If you're travelling and sightseeing you might best be getting one. It's 1gold."

"Well, you ever get a squirrel in the pantry, but you don't know, so you open the door and it's sitting in there nibbling away at your store of nuts? It was like that, except the pantry was an overturned wagon, and the squirrel was a basilisk and the nuts were... well... you get the idea. Whoever was transporting it had it caged, so someone must have wanted it! Presumably alive though, for whatever you might need that for."

"Lots going on you say? Like what?"

Korrik shrugs at Ben, "It can come out of the party funds. Map may be handy."

Ben pays for his rations (x2) and bags them.

"Yes get the map. Winston, would you mind marking some of the areas of interest on it for us?"

Persuasion if needed: 19

((Petty cash to 3.4 gold.))

"That's quite the story, fellas. Did you end up finding who was transporting it?"

"What isn't going on here these days! Just look at the docks any day of the week... it's complete madness. Controlled madness, but madess nonetheless. Place is really picking up with the dwarves kicking their mining into high gear. And the fishing, hell there's never an off season! Place's got a few great taverns, and the scenery is, well you must've seen it on this fine day."

"Here. Not sure how long you guys are in town for, but let me show you a few places here in the region and tell you about the places I know. Seems you guys have run into enough bad luck with that basilisk you could use some good."

He would proceed to tell you all of the locations listed on the map on our new 'Marshswamp Region' tab, which is essentially the black circle on the Sword Coast map, but with zoomed in detail. I think the scales match pretty well so this will work out just fine as we insert this region into Faerun.

Please excuse the little inlets on the region map - just pretend that they exist on the sword coast map and that it's all set up the same way as per the region map in that black circle on the sword coast.

All of the info he would tell you about each location has been added to that tab based on your current conversation with him and how much you know him and how much he is willing to tell strangers. I will update that tab as you guys find out more stuff about each location. You can also ask him more questions about each location, if you'd like.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1_VITglI4O3GnqFoCvR_pbZh-ZW11Vh1e8NAK1o9jvXA/edit#gid=689313157

((this is going to be awesome, guys.))

"Not lacking in dangerous forests, is it? Abbey Isle, named after a lady, is there an abbey out there? I'm guessing the latter, you know to any particular god or order?"

While Korrik gets his question answered Ben examines the map. He will then ask sliding his finger from north to south,

"You're on good terms with the lizard folk? They are quite nearby."

His finger pauses on the abandoned house,

"What more can you tell me about this abandoned house? Everything else looks like a place of interest. Well except for,"

He slides a finger back to the rocky outcropping,

"This. Why would it be marked?"

(Here is a roll on lizardfolk to see what Busren knows about them, not sure the modifier but at least a +1: 10, so 15)

Korrik, Winston would respond: "You would be correct with the latter, sir. There is a small abbey there that was long ago abandoned by some monks who built it. I haven't a clue about their religions beliefs or order, but since they've left, some pretty big time gangs and outlaws and even monsters have claimed the place. Shite's crazy out that way."

Ben, Winston would respond in conversation: "The lizard people... I mean, they seem to mind their business there all nestled up near the water. I don't know much about them, but from what I've heard, they only attack if folks go poking around in their lands. They don't come near this village or any other civilized place for that matter. I haven't seen one since... well that is a story for another day."

"That abandoned house is damn haunted. Had numerous people in town tell me stories of ghosts, vampires and worse when visiting that cursed place. People near that part of the coast there have been reporting hauntings, screams throughout the night, and weird lights all the time coming from the place. Not even the bravest of guards here in Marshswamp dare to venture to that place these days. Might be more folk around town who know more about it than me, though."

"The rocky bit? Ah, if ye don't have a boat I suppose you might not need to worry. It's just, some ships have went down in that rocky section over the past little while."

"Who runs Marshswamp? Don't be calling it Swampmarsh, it pisses the locals off! That'd be the town council. They report things up to Lord Neverember up in Neverwinter and then after that, well that is beyond me my good man! 

He would tell you more about the town council and who is on it from each of the 'parties' in the town. I have added this information to the 'Marshswamp Overview' tab.

"Taverns? Inns? Hell yeah, this is a fishing village, what do you expect! You can hit up The Wicker Goat (more geared towards the town guard and the dwarves mining contingent) (#3) or the The Snapping Line (fishing crews, sailors, dock labourers, etc.) (#13) and either one will satisfy all of your needs, guys. Bards and the like are in big demand round here guys."

Ben, you know a good amount of basic information about lizardfolk. They have societies, but are primitive. They live in villages around water and/or marshes. They are extremely protective of their territory and seldom stray from it. There are ranks/levels of these creatures. They really only bother folks if folks try and enter into their domains. You'd know just by what they look like that they have a few nasty attacks with their bites as well as with various weapons.

Ben will check to see if Winston actually believes the bit about a haunted house.

Insight: 3

"Marshswamp is a fine name! Who in their right mind would call a place Saltmarsh? Just silly."

Then to Korrik,

"So, which inn should we try? I've no preference, both seem to offer their own kind of excitement."

"Not that I haven't enjoyed squeezing into a tent with you boys, but I might see about single accommodations tonight... a hot meal, a hot bath and a quiet evening sounds pretty good. But if you're playing, I'll be certain to be in the audience!"