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

<Bern>

He stood an approached Gundren. "Is this the task you had mentioned to me earlier". he asked. The possibility of 20 gp was not anything he could afford to ignore, but it would apparently mean working with this lot.

Gundren

He nods to Balthazar. "Travel rations will be provided."

Glancing in turn to Bern he nods again. "Yes. All of you were asked here for the same purpose. To work together and deliver the caravan. I thought you could use the money. It's an easy job, but I wanted someone I knew and could trust, not some random hired guards."

Looking back to the larger group he continues. "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. He places a bag on the table that clinks with coins.

"Your up front money." He says.

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.

<Bern>

Not what he had been hoping for, but it was the best offer that he had at the moment and the lightness of his purse convinced him to accept the offer. He finished off his ale in one longish gulp and headed out to see what sort of group they would be escorting.

Luminmorn

He thought about the roads between here and there and the general concerns. He spent most of his time in the wilderness but he knew how to travel on or off road.

The cleric had the right question. Money was all good and well especially if the job was easy, but if it took too long, well that was something different.

Depending upon the answer to the question, if it matches his expectations he agrees to the job.

(OOC - Pande - Answer to that question is in the DM post right above)

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.)

<Bern>

This was getting curiouser and curiouser. All of them for one wagon and no driver ... and then Rockseeker was on his way.

"Does this seem ... 'normal' to any of you", he asked.

Balthazar

He had picked up the bag for the walk outside, now standing there looking after the retreating dwarf.

"No, not particularly but we have accepted his gold so we are committed, at least those who agree to come. If you do, come over and I will count out your gold."

Ryssa


She did not like to eat fast and she did not like to be rushed into a decision. Something just didn't strike her as normal about this.

Nevertheless, only moments later it seemed, she was standing outside and the dwarf was about to rush off.

"Nothing about this seems normal to me," she replied to Bern, frowning and slowly shaking her head.

"He wants people he knows and trusts rather than some strangers. But what are we to him but strangers? And all this rush... and what are we to be protecting this from that he would need all five of us?"

Ryssa touched the holy icon which hung on a chain between her breasts and murmured something.

"This is just... odd."

<Bern>

He accepted his 'advance' from Balthazar, adds it to his mostly empty pouch and slips that into his pack, That he sets in the wagon, keeping his bow, quiver and rapier. Walking was more his style than riding in a bumpy cart.

"We are not exactly friends, but I have done work for him in the past, so there is some trust between us ... now a bit more strained than it has been", he said with a rueful smile.

He considered the contents of the cart, the lack of a driver and the five of them.

"If I had to guess, I would say we are his 'stalking horse'."

Ryssa


The cleric moved to the back of the wagon and performed a cursory inspection of its contents.

"I think I will walk... at least for now," she said after a moments reflection.

She turned to Bern, thinking about what he'd said.

"Stalking horse? So we are to be his screen of sorts?"

<Bern>

"Right, while we are traveling their route, I suspect that Rockseeker and his group ... or perhaps others in his employ ... will be watching to see who 'takes the bait'."

DM

Looking in the wagon you see it is packed full of mining supplies and food. This includes a dozen sacks of flour, several casks of salted pork, two kegs of strong ale, shovels, picks, and crowbars (about a dozen of each), and 5 Lanterns with a small barrel of oil (about 50 flasks of volume).

Luminmorn

He accepted his advance and added it to his almost empty pouch. Securing it on his person he adjusted his weapons and prepared to walk along in front of the wagon once they got going.

(OOC: it wasn't answered till after I posted. Thanks for the reference though.)

DM

So:

Lumimorn - walking ahead of the wagon
Ryssa - Walking alongside the wagon
Balthazar - ?
Bern - ?
Lingo - ?

Note again: Anyone can drive. It takes no special skill whatsoever. Room on the front seat for a driver and one passenger.

[[ sorry I wasn't clear that Bern is planning to walk. Maybe we should just lead the horses <weg> ]]

Balthazar

He had no problem climbing up into the seat and taking the reins. Someone had to drive the wagon after all. He snorted and made sure that everyone who wanted to ride was on or stored their backpacks on board before he clicked at the animals and shook the reins a bit, indicating to them to start moving.

<Bern>

He moved along as the wagon started moving. Once they were out of town, he would probably move off the road and check ahead or behind as seemed most appropriate.

Ryssa


Ryssa put her rucksack into the back of the wagon and took up position on the left hand side of the wagon.

(OOC - Just waiting for the DM....... where will Lingo be traveling?)

Lingo

The halfling will sit in the wagon, riding shotgun. He climbs up easily and slid into the seat, slapping Balthazar on his thigh. "So, you ever drive one of this thingies before?"

Please move to new thread - "Z - 1.1 Goblin Ambush"

Balthazar

He looked over at the Halfling slapping his thigh and sighed internally. This was going to be a long ride.

"Never but the mechanics of it are simple enough. As long as we have roadway to travel, I do not foresee any difficulties. However, if there is trouble you might want to be ready to take the reigns so that I can cast long range spells to soften up any incoming enemies before they get too close."