DreamLyrics™ Play-by-Post Forums Hall of Fame - Latest Top 10 completed games LMP: Lost Mines of Phandelver N-Intro-Driftwood Inn

Kallista

She too listens to Chandan's reply to Kriv with interest. At the end, she glances at the newcommer in time to hear the man ask after Gundren.

She turns back to Chandan and tips her wine to him and offers him a wry grin. "So. It is true what they say. Do not judge a book by it's cover."

Jaliera

She looks sharply at Kallista as she finishes speaking. That is one of her mentor's sayings. Does Kallista know her mentor? No, that is most unlikely she concludes. It is a common enough saying after all.

Kriv

the noble scion gave Chandan an appraising look, but nodded acceptance of his words, almost seeming pleased at the answer.

"Well said and well reasoned: The evidence does point to him coming in here for the first time and to meet with someone. Let us cap speculation with truth, and see if you are right. Oh, and that? Looks like some kind of fish. Probably edible."

With that, the Dragonborn drew himself back up to his full height, rising from his chair, and striding towards the Northman at the bar. When he was in easy earshot,

"Your pardon, warrior. But seek you Gundren Rockseeker?"

Chandan

Trusting Kriv's advice, the old dirtbag gobbled the pickled herring. Happy surprise was written across his face as he chewed.

He showed admiration for Kallista's adage, nodding enthusiastically.

"Ah yes yes! Better to judge a book by its ending. No good book ever had bad ending!"

Chandan gestures to the tiefling and Karok.

"How so you know Gundren Rockseeker?"

Jaliera

Now she is torn between listening to see if Kallista answers and watching Kriv approach the newcomer. Her head movements increase.

DM

Finally Gundren Rockseeker enters the tavern. Several heads turn at his arrival, which is to be understood since they've been waiting for him to show up.

The dwarf spies the table where the majority of his hirelings are waiting and makes his way there. As he moves there, with a wave of his arm he signals to all the others waiting to meet him to join him at that table.

Kallista

She glances at Chandan when he asks his question, hesitating. She begins to open her mouth to say something when the subject of the question enters the inn. Her expression turns to a grin and she turns in her chair to wave back, settling back quietly.

Kriv

"...Because that's him now."

And about-face, back to the table. If the Northman was truly seeking Gundren, that would shortly become apparent. He bowed low in respectful obeisance, then resumed his seat, watching the dwarf intently.

Davroar

His eyes widen when the large dragonborn approaches him, almost taking a step back to the door until he mentions Gundren.

"Yes, yes, I am..." He stops in mid-sentence as Gundren Rockseeker suddenly walks in and directs everyone over to the table.

Following the tall dragonborn, he finds a chair to pull up to the table. Resting his staff between his legs and the tables edge, he gives a small wave to everyone, and quickly says, "Hello, I'm Davroar."

Looking over the diverse group of people, he wonders what this is all about. His eyes finally settle on Gundren, after perhaps looking a bit too long at the pretty brunette. Silently he wonders if all of them are looking for the same job or if these people are just the dwarf's friends.

Jaliera

And their numbers grow yet again. Jaliera is particularly interested in both newcomers though. Davroar because he is a human male of a similar age.. easy on the eyes but interesting looking.. and Gundren because he is the main feature.

She catches Davroar's glance, a little extra colour to her cheeks, and responds to him.

"I'm Jaliera."

And manages a shy smile.

Chandan

He nodded and smiled to the new arrivals, but sat quietly, closed his eyes and said nothing as it was Gundren's time now.

Gundren

Once everyone was huddled up at the table, the dwarf began to speak. "Thank you all for coming. I've got a job for you. The pay is not great but I can't afford much more at this time."

The dwarf seems very rushed and excited when he places a pouch filled with coin on the table. "It comes out to about 10 gold per person, which is a fair rate for the work I'm offering. It's a simple task, to escort a supply wagon to the town of Phandalin."

Work in Neverwinter is difficult to come by and the cost of living is soon to drain you of your gold. This, to you, sounds like a fair offer for easy work. You've also heard that jobs like this, if they turn out to be difficult, often result in greater reward in the form of loot and treasures found.

"You'll be taking this stuff to Barthen's Provisions in Phandalin. He'll give you an additional 10 gold per person when you deliver the wagon. Are we agreed?"

Karok

Dwarves were not big on subtleties or inuendo so he listened then leaned forward in his seat an eyebrow raised.

"Aye, I be agreed and I suspect from what I've heard all will be. But ye keep something from us or I'm an elf maiden in disguise. It seems as if favors have been called in and regular caravan guards could be brought in for far less than this."

"So, I'll not change my mind about going, but what else have ye not said?"

Kriv

The Dragonborn inclined his head in solemn acceptance.

"For the honour of Norixius Keep, I am in agreement."

He watched Karok's reaction with interest, and listened for a response if one was forthcoming. Whilst the nature of the debt meant refusal was anathema for the nobleman no matter what caveats or additional dangers there might be, the same was not necessarily true of the others, be they doing this for coin, friendship or self-interest.

Kallista

She shrugs. "Doesn't matter to me why we're being offered the job. I trust Gundren enough to not suspect anything untoward. Plus, I know I can use the gold. Besides, living is cheaper in small towns and on the road. If it gets me out of paying these prices" she waves a hand around the inn, "I'm in."

Davroar

He returns a quick smile to Jaliera then turns his attention to Gundren as he tells them about the job. Twenty gold for escorting supplies is more than generous to him, having less than five in pocket right now.

"I'll go too." Not knowing the other dwarf's name yet, he continues with, "Provided this fine dwarf's question is answered." Davroar does not want to be a part of any criminal activities and would like to know just what exactly is being transported.

Gundren
"It is just provisions that you will be transporting and the trip will likely take you 3 days traveling southeast with the wagon. I have to ride ahead with some pace to take care of some business."

Noting the plates of food and goblets filled with drink he continued. "The wagon is outside right now. You are to take it to Barthen's Provisions, a trading post in Phandalin."

Anyone with any insight can tell that he's very excited and can't wait to get going. He hasn't even bothered to order food and drink, something that few dwarves can resist when the opportunity presents itself.

"I am in a bit of a rush," he says, hoping that the hirelings gobble down their food and wash it down with hearty gulps.

ooc: travel is 70-75 miles. Using the new rules, you'll be traveling at normal pace with the wagon. You could move fast or slow too.

Travel table:

Code

Pace     Ft/Min    Miles/Hr      Miles/Day      Effect
Fast       400        4            30           -5 to passive wisdom
Normal     300        3            24           none
Slow       200        2            18           Able to use stealth

Kriv

He rose, bowed once more to the dwarf, and spake,

"So be it. I shall be with the wagon."

He reached for the pouch, counted out ten gold in neat piles onto the table, then carefully and deliberately transferred the piles to his own purse.

"By this do I pledge my oath in the sight of all present to see this wagon safely to Barthen's Provisions of Phanadlin by any means necessary."

Pausing only to ensure all his costs with the tavern were settled, he headed outside to commence custodianship of the cart.

[Neptune, was that a typo above about receiving 10 extra gold when we deliver the gold?]
[ooc: Yes. Fixed]

Jaliera

Well it seems that everyone else has agreed and certainly the money is sorely needed. Besides she has no choice. She has been sent to do this and her whole future depends on it.

And it doesn't sound too difficult, or too dangerous. The only downside might suggest it is going to be boring but she has her diary and these companions should prove interesting company. Her eyes stray for just a moment to Davroar.

"I accept also."

It seems to be accepted to make a verbal agreement and she should maybe take her share of the gold whilst it is there for the taking, so she reaches forward and also counts out 10 pieces, tucking it into her pouch. Good job she packed ready for the journey.

She stands, ready to move out with the others.

Despair



She too reaches into the pouch and extracts her 10 gold. She then stands up and moves towards the doorway.

Karok Battlehammer

He was still leery but he trusted Grundren. He supposed it couldn't be all that bad or he would have hired the dragon killers in the other room.

He took his share and put them away.

"I'll take care of this group. We'll get yer goods delivered." he said confidently.

Chandan

He opened his eyes.

10 gold could buy a lot of drink...

So he took the remaining gold, with a polite nod to Gundren, and ambled to the bar to purloin a flagon of wine for the journey.

Make that two.

Gundren

As everyone agrees and begins to rise, Gundren leads you outside. There you can see a wagon packed with barrels of provisions and with two oxen in a double-yoke in front. There are also two horses there. One is empty and the other holds a late middle-aged warrior who holds the reins of the empty mount.

"Take this wagon along the High Road out of Neverwinter, south. Then turn on the Triboar Trail east towards Phandalin. When you get to Phandalin, take the wagon to Barthen's Provisions & Trading Post in Phandalin and he'll pay you the rest. It should take you about 3 days normal travel to get there. I am going on ahead with Sildar Hallwinter", he nods towards the mounted human warrior. "Me brothers and I have found something big, and I need to get back to them."

With little further ado, he mounts his horse and he and the human ride off out of the city.

(OOC - At this point I need to know how you are traveling. Anyone can sit on the wagon seat and drive. It takes no special skill. The front bench seat can hold 2 pcs. The rest of you can either ride in the back with the barrels and boxes or you can walk. Just tell me your "marching order" and who is in the wagon. Once you have set your traveling order I'll get a new thread up.)

Davroar

In turn, he takes his share of ten gold, pocketing them into a deep pocket within his hide armour. A three day journey is nothing compared to the year or so walking from his homeland of Narfell to here.

He does find it a bit odd to hear Gundren is in a hurry, but given ten gold up front he is not one to ask now. With the conversation around the table wrapping up this quickly, it seems he did not even get served the ale he had ordered from the bartender. Probably just as well that he did not have a drink, as more times than not he can't hold his liquor.

Standing up, he will say, "South east, hmm I must have walked right by the place and didn't even know it. Anyone else been there?"