Morning, Saturday, May 7, 1650. Weather, cool, suggestive of summer coming at last. Moderate breeze, virtually cloudless and blue skies. The moon is a waxing crescent, one day from the first quarter.
Come the morning, the party awakes in a third floor lodging room overlooking the harbor, that is part of the Stavanger Loans Office, overseen by Zacharias Malberg. The beds are made of feather, the furniture is well stuffed and there are boiled goose-eggs, fish oatmeal porridge and boiled rhurbarb stems that are brought in for you to dine upon, as soon as the staff learns of your being awake.
Now, as you dine, please discuss your plans.
73 comments:
I am enjoying the hero treatment. I suggest we do more things that will earn us this sort of reception in the future.
Finding our comrades is important, and I'd like to return to the barrow to make sure we didn't miss anything.
Beyond that, Engelhart's flag seems like it has quite the backstory. I'd be interested in learning more about it - the Prince mentioned he was in the process of returning it when frogs broke out?
If you're curious about the previous owner of your battle axe, Embla, you can check out this site:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gabriel_Gustafsson_Oxenstierna
Basically, regarding the flag, you know more or less what the Prince said. Many wars have been fought between Sweden and Denmark, so flags have been often taken. Chances are the town of Kristianstad would be pleased to have it returned; but that doesn't mean they are actively looking for the flag. Most likely, no one in Kristianstad has had any serious thought about the flag in decades.
Awesome! Thank you, Alexis.
Oh, also, I definitely want a tabard with the Stavanger coat of arms on it. Absolutely. Something highly visible and also removable.
I would like to experiment a bit with my hound token. I am concerned, though not immediately worried about our absent hirelings. Their plan was to try to make it to the coast and then hire a boat from a fishing village to bring them around to Stavenger. It may be that our hound won't track them if they are on water or not accessible by land, so it might give a false report. I'd like to try it at least after breakfast, even if we don't set out right away. The second order of business is to rest and resupply. I think bandages, healing salves, and waterskins are my top priority. Depending on what Engelhart's spells do for us (and Pandred's recurring healing salve) I might want to set off this afternoon to find them if the hound gives us an indication that it might be possible to get to them.
In terms of supplies, we have 20 pounds of fish, 32 pounds of oats and potatoes (according to the food calculator on the Drive). So we should get plenty more food before heading off.
Oh yeah, I also want to look into getting a nice blue cloak made up with the arms emblazoned on them, as well as have my shield painted.
Well, you can go ahead and retcon buying stuff in Stavanger at will. Or we can wait until that is done (which it won't be, if yer kep jawin' abit it).
For the cost of shield painting, see artworks, and at the level of expertise and area that you want covered. Then add 10% for commission; you can have it in a week.
For a tabard, figure out the number of square inches you want covered with your blazoning, then work out the cost in embroidery per square inch (should be there, though I haven't looked today).
I don't think there's a price for a tabard, but consider it equal in cost to a robe. It'll hang down to the knees.
I will have slept in the family home, getting some quality time. I'll show up for the meal, though, as it's sounding mighty nice.
Upon awakening, I cast Aid on myself, getting me to full Hp. I'm good to go anywhere you guys care to.
Let us sell our 100 pounds of frogling kitchen ware.
If I recall correctly: 5 cp on the ounce nets us 8000 Coppers which is... 41 gold pieces and some scraps (128 coppers or so). Dismaying tally, but enough to get us up a leg on the supply front.
Can we presume to find a buyer, Alexis?
I also have Cure Light Wounds at the ready, for whoever cares to get it.
I'll get to purchasing. Do I get any new sage abilities for my levelup, Alexis? And my HD is a d8, correct?
The plan (recuperate, find our friends) sounds excellent to me.
I would care for some curing. I've got 12 HP out of a possible 34.
Cure Light Wounds cast on Lothar. 7 Hitpoints restored.
Can we find a Mage willing to identify our Ring?
Engelhart is right on the value of the kitchen ware. And yes, no problems finding a buyer. Rather surprised, but then stuff like this is starting to come in from the decimated lair.
Embla, I'll sort out your sage numbers and get that on the drive in a few minutes. You're correct, please roll a d8.
Everyone, please consider this last 24 hours as a rest. You should all restore hit points according to your NEW level: 3rd for everyone.
Engelhart, please remind me the origin of the ring.
Yes, you can get it identified. It will cost 25 g.p.
Embla, the sage abilities are posted. You gained amateur in empowerment and trap setting; and you're an authority in sure-footedness.
[I hope all can appreciate the lag time there will be with detailing these skills. I'll try to stay ahead of anything that will keep you alive ... but there are bound to be things that take time to get to, as my main mission at the moment is getting the wiki moved, not adding to it]
Ahm, we got the ring from a Frogling patrol leader, back when we ambushed the 6-strong group, if I recall correctly.
25 g.p., consider them paid.
Thank you, Alexis. No worries on the lag time - I know that you have a lot to do. Thank you for rolling them!
That is 9 shiny new hitpoints!
Also, the cost of embroidery per square inch is not on the market page.
Would anyone like to keep one of the adamantite-tipped spears?
Would we have the ability to have a smith reforge the spearheads into another weapon?
Lastly, would the Stavanger guard be interested in the battleaxe I used during our endeavors? Because of my new one, I no longer need it, and I would happily gift it to them.
Call it 1 c.p. per square inch, or 144 c.p. per square foot.
You can have a smith reforge it for you; it will take about three weeks.
Certainly, some soldier would probably be pleased to accept your gift. Say, a fellow named Tilbert Alfredsson.
I happily gift my axe to Tilbert.
I am very happy with my new axe, but if anyone else would be interested in a new adamantite weapon?
How much would each sell for?
To have the adamantite spear made, it will cost you more than you could sell it for.
As far as Oxenstierna's axe, you could probably sell it for twice the cost of a normal axe, as it has some history and is quite ornate ... but there's no value in it being a +1 axe. How would you prove it? You don't even know for sure yourself that it is.
People aren't dumb. There's always someone who gets duped buying a "magic axe" only to find out it isn't one. It's along the lines of being sold magic beans.
Sorry - let me clarify. The spears the froglings were carrying had adamantite heads. I have 4 of them, and I think someone else might have the others. How much would one of those sell for, and could we use the metal to make an adamantite weapon at reduced cost?
And I am keeping my new axe. It is not leaving my side.
Yes, you can have a smith reforge the spears for you, as I said; I would reduce the value of the forged spear by the cost of the metal.
Normally, an adamantite spear would cost you 46 g.p. Reforging your spears will cost 22 g.p., 5 s.p. each ... as you are providing the metal.
Neat!
I don't know how much metal that amounts to, but maybe you could reforge yourself an adamantine dagger with the metal? If you're really lucky it could have a hilt in the shape of a frog, and the blade could be the tongue.
Listen, you should get a dagger like that anyway.
I don't have many wants in the world at this point, but to join Lothar in experimenting with the bloodhound and find Oddsdrakken.
For now I'll apply my salve for the day and relax.
d4: 3
Brings me to 18 of 26. Another day or so should do it.
Just for clarification's sake, Alexis, the banner I was given is good for a single use only, correct?
Also, about identifying that ring...
No, I never said anything about it being single use.
Again. Regarding the ring. Remind me where it is from.
Ah, found it.
"The ring seems to be the same stony metal as the spear-heads, embracing a watery blue gem.
"Sometimes, it is plain that something is magic, just because of how it looks. Upon close examination, there seems to be something made of aqua-green light, trapped inside the ring's gem, jumping back and forth."
Speaking of reforging metal goods, is there enough of decent quality in the cookware to make a longsword? If not, I'd at least be interested in having one of the spearheads remade into a dagger for myself (frog motif optional).
Okay, I'm getting confused.
FIRST, Did you properly divide up who got what booty? Because you all seem to be treating all the booty as community property, and rushing forward to each tell me what you're doing with it.
Engelhart sold the kitchen ware 33 hours ago in blog time. No one has said anything about the kitchen ware since that time; someone should have said, "Hey, wait, what about my quarter of that booty?" Or Engelhart should have asked, "Can I sell all the kitchen ware." He didn't, he talked to me, it's sold.
Engelhart currently has 41 g.p., 10 s.p. and 8 c.p., none of which he has shared around.
Now, how many spearheads do you have, each of you, and could you please just speak of your own spearheads?
I'm seeing right now that my spearheads have the wrong weight attached to them. The weight shown on my table is the whole spear, 6 lbs., not the head, which should be about one lb. That's going to seriously change the numbers.
First, it means the spearheads are not as heavy as they were, and therefore not as valuable (sorry; my error; you can keep the xp from them).
The price for reforging is therefore 3 g.p, 8 s.p. The cost will the same for changing the spear head into a dagger head, as they weigh the same.
That is delightfully cheap.
As for funds, my kegs came from the 200gp given to each of us by the Prince.
As for cash, 10gp, 2sp, and 10cp per share of that loot leaves 1gp.
I suggest that the remaining piece be used to make that commemorative dagger, in adamantite or plain iron, I don't care at this point I just want us to have it and I'll pay for the rest of it.
Before I tally any of that cash on my sheet, is the party good with that math? Is Alexis?
Sorry, gang, if I rushed things forward too much, though it was my definite intent to sell off the plunder, I wasn't expecting in the slightest that someone should object.
The profit was tacitally understood to be shared, couldn't be any other way.
I'll go ahead with some shopping:
Three kegs of ale for festivities: 18 gp
Ring identification: 25 gp
A mule: 18 gp
Large saddlebag for said mule: 3 gp
Five individual units of travel rations: 15 gp
Small Keg of Beer: 3 gp
Seven carobwood mugs: 35 cp
Ten torches: 1 gp
Five Healing Salves: 190 gp
100 feet of rope: 34 cp
Three iron spikes: 9 gp
Two 20-lb. capacity Hemp Sack: 58 sp
Total of 279 gp, 58 sp, 69 cp
Lastly, I'll make a gift of 20 gold pieces to my grandfather and sister (not really knowing if this is a significant enough amount for a gift or not).
I end up with some 30 gp still, if something pressing comes up that the party wishes to acquire.
Your father was a buccaneer; he ended his career with a tidy sum and a stipend from Stavanger. He's very proud of his son, but he will suggest you make your 20 g.p. donation to either the arsenal or towards the cost of maintaining the outrigger ship that guards Stavanger harbor. Your father gives a fair sum of money to that himself.
He will ask about your experiences, and listen to your stories with great interest, praising you and laughing over errors you might relay.
[Wait, is that father or granddad? Only mention of family ties so far had been to grandfather]
Well, as an alternative, these 20 can go instead toward starting work on fixing my sloop, which apparently requires a conspicuous (and strangely familiar) number of Gp to count as repaired.
Don't think I'll call it in for dry docking just yet, as I've next to nothing to make a downpayment with.
(1143 - 20 = 1123, a priest can dream, huh?)
Oh, a thing that crossed my mind: while perusing the apothecary for healing salves, what ever did come about with the book we sold and left in his possession "just for a week, I beg of you"?
Does the man have anything to show for his time with the volume?
Yes, my mistake. Your grandfather.
Given that you've already spent several hours today on shopping, I don't mind you dropping by the apothecary.
He asks for another week. A mass of information is coming in regarding what soldiers have to say about the interior of the frogling's lair. He couldn't possibly make a proper evaluation of the book without first talking to some of these people.
I have 4 spears. I pay to have one of the heads reforged into a dagger. The other three are available for sale or reforging, as the rest of the group would like.
I buy:
4 healing salves
10 bandages
Pocket telescope
a tabard with the Stavanger coat of arms embroidered on the front and back
2 pints lamp oil
Boat hook
1 month's feed for our donkeys
10 lbs. pork sausage
I'll spend the day in the market as well.
170gp, 46cp nets
A mule
A two-wheeled cart
A Linen Tarp, Waterproofed
A month of Mule Feed
A Keg of Beer
2 Rest Rations
12 Travel Rations
4 Combat Rations
1 Sack of Oatmeal (Emergency Rations)
2 Each of Cup/Bowl/Spoon
While I'm on the town, I'd like to swing by the Fishmongers district and find out from anyone coming in from local villages if they've heard of Oddsdrakken and company.
Not hide nor hair.
I'll wait for some response from Lothar, but at the moment, the momentum remains in the party's hands. While sorting yourselves, I'm available to answer questions; when you're ready to search for your friends or take other actions, I'll get another post together.
As you go around town, people will recognize you, shake your hands, ask annoying questions, etcetera. Several persons ask if Father Engelhart has a church, and learning that he doesn't, will tithe some money with him to help him get started. Through the day, Engelhart collects 2 g.p, 7 s.p. and 34 c.p. from various strangers.
Great, now I'm a panhandler.
I shall use this money dilligently to buy righteous mule feed for a month (I'd forgotten, and looking at Pandred's list reminded me).
So our baggage train now stands at one donkey, two mules and a cart, is that it?
I still didn't get the ring identified, though I've already deducted the amount. Could I get that done now, Alexis?
I'd like for us to spend one more day in Stavanger, in my case just resting.
We've got 3-4 animals at this point. I know I'm a teamster, but just to clarify, will I have any difficulties leading this many pack animals?
Would we like to see about getting a dedicated driver/someone to watch the carts while we plunder Mimmarudla?
We are so getting stopped at an army perimeter cordon off Mimmarudla...
Okay, let me play catch-up.
I'm not keeping track of your animals or equipment; I'm trusting you. Pandred, you should be able to manage your animals, unless something happens that spooks them. Without serious knowledge in working animals, you will be hard pressed if more than one fails a morale check (resulting from being frightened). So long as you're on an easy, safe trail, no problems.
Bergthora would like to approach Lothar. She has reached a degree of experience where she would like to train with someone to enhance her fighting abilities. And now she has the money to do so. She's looked into it and she has learned that it will take about six months.
She would like to leave Lothar's employ for that amount of time.
Regarding the ring.
The librarian who looks at it, Sigurd Sigurdsson, is much concerned about the ring.
"It seems to have only one magical purpose ~ at a point when an individual is on their last legs [slipping into negative hit points], the ring can be called upon to give a burst of energy [heals 7 hit points].
"However, it seems to do this because inside the ring, there is a trapped soul. I cannot say what the soul is; indications are that it is human ... but because of the construction of the ring, I can't be sure. See, the ring is not made to capture the soul. Rather, the ring and the soul seem to have been forged together at the time of the ring's making - so the ring and this soul are bound. This was a very dark magic; my investigation says the soul is probably suffering ~ and though it is probably unaware of the passage of time, it must be like living through a sort of hell. No doubt, at the moment the power is called on, the soul must be put through torment. See, on my own volition, at no cost, I searched the ring for malevolence, and there is quite a bit. Anyone who cast detect malevolence would probably mistake you for the ring.
"I am not sure about how to free the soul, if that was your interest. I think the ring could be broken with a diligent effort; it is made of adamantium, but it is not excessively well-crafted, though it is probably about 1200 years old. Only ... I am not sure what would be released if the ring were broken. The soul, certainly, which would probably return to the cosmos. But what other magic might be contained in the ring, I don't know. Malevolence? A pestilence? Some other wild magic that was used to bind the ring? Perhaps. I would be careful before deciding to simply destroy the object.
"If you ask me, take it out into the deep ocean and drop it, where no one will ever find it. Eventually the ring will rust and the soul will be released, while any ill effects will be far removed from anything living."
I've had an idea.
Since I actually think we'll find Mimmarudla quite off-limits, is it possible that the apothecary may have unshrouded some secondary or tertiary site or places of dwelling linked to the main complex? Some other ways of ingress, a map or directions?
As for the ring, I want no dealings with it... I've got my own clean energy sources, thank you very much.
It might be possible that Mimmarudla is "under quarantine", but I at least don't think it likely. They killed the huge army, and thought fondly enough of us to try and find us, and didn't really press us for information about what we found.
Even then, we know there are multiple entrances. We've got a magical, malevolent ring. There may very well be more of them, and in that case it's our sworn duty as Stavanger's Saviors (trademark pending) to get in there and root them out.
[For the record, I have cautioned the party about making assumptions in the past]
We have two donkeys, Imha and Dima. Dima is hitched to a cart (1 ton weight capacity).
We need to dispose of the ring. Anyone detecting malevolence will read it instead of us, and that has the potential to get is in a whole heap of trouble. It seems likely that this ring was made somewhere in Mimmarudla, so by further investigating we might find a way to free the soul inside it without something super terrible happening.
[Hey, all. I'm back - it was a long weekend for me, but things should be returning to something approximating normal for me this week. Sorry I haven't been as responsive as I might have been.]
I will spend the day shopping as well. I don't want to set this hound off to finding someone and then having to chase after it before getting prepared.
I request one of the spear heads to be reforged into a frog-dagger. And, since the pots and pans are sold, I'll just put my share into buying a ready-made adamantium longsword. That's the big purchase for me, I'll figure the rest out today. This 90 pound elf really likes the idea of having a wagon around to carry things.
I happily give Bergthora leave to be trained. She was very helpful, and we'll miss her I'm sure while she's gone, but it is a good opportunity for her.
So shall we attempt to locate our fellows first thing in the morning then? I'm hoping they turn up in port soon, but I wouldn't mind being able to use my new prize right away...
Recall that the reforged spear and dagger will require 3 weeks to be ready.
Yep, that's fine. I'll have my iron dagger on me in the meantime.
Does a lock come with a key, or do I have to buy one separately?
Comes with the key.
I would like one additional day to prepare Lothar. I don't have anything to do on the town, but a full day of rest HP plus my little salve dispensary will top me off completely.
You've given Bergthora leave, so perhaps we should consider collecting another soul to hold her place in line, so to speak. And a caravan guard might be ideal as well.
I leave that up to the group however. I'm tapped out, and I don't want to be seen as frivolous with everyone else's money.
Alexis I do have two questions. The first: does the salve applied by my vial continue to exist independantly of it? Could I, say, put it into another container to be applied later?
The second: is there any way to increase rest HP beyond 1 per level plus the Aid Rest action? Could I get a bath or massage or eat better or something to potentially increase that amount?
Technically, Pandred, you'd have to experiment with the bottle, but I will save you that trouble. Like most magic items, it's designed to respond to a stimulus: hovering the neck over an injury or wound, to heal hit points directly, or being drunk from.
Presently, I have no improvements to resting other than what's noted. You can gain levels. There's a druid sage ability (expert) that produces a healing wine. I may come up with something else connected to medicine, but it would be high level as well.
About the rations on the market list: They are listed at 1, 2 and 3 pounds of food. The current food rules state that daily requirements for resting, traveling and fighting are 2, 4 and 6 pounds, respectively. Should we be purchasing two "rations" per day, as a meal unit, or did you intend that line item to be a full day's support?
Yes, failed to update. Please read at 2, 4 and 6 lb., at the same price.
A bit of bookkeeping for everyone: Figuring the ration weights as 2, 4 and 6 lbs for rations, we have 208.47 lbs of food at the moment, which assuming a fight each day is 34 man-days of food. Not counting Valda, Petar and Oddsdrakken, that brings our current party to 8, so we have enough food for 4.3 days of fighting. Or 6.5 days of traveling. Or 13 days of resting. If my math is correct (also assuming Pandred and Engelhart are willing to share their rations if necessary). Does that seem like enough? I can get more food for us if necessary.
Also, I got a large chest with a lock to put in the cart, and a spare key for the lock. I've got about 130 lbs of stuff to put on the cart, including beans, flour, and potatoes.
And I recommend everyone getting some wineskins, just so we don't find ourselves dehydrating again.
Pandred, I am alright with waiting another day. More time to rest before setting out would do me good as well (both resting and Engelhart's spells are looked forward to), and give me a chance to get a bath and have laundry done.
Regarding hiring a replacement for Bergthora - I would rather wait and see how our new abilities will stead us, if we're out in the wilderness we shouldn't need an extra mouth to feed just to watch the cart, especially after we find the missing 3. And if we aren't out in the wilderness, we'll be nearby our cart most of the time anyway.
Absolutely. I also have 3 extra travelling rations on the donkey that never were used since last trip.
I do wonder how much progress we can make with a cart gone off-road, anyone thought of that?
I think about 5 miles per day is what we'd be able to expect once we get the cart off the road.
That's probably a good guess. The Norwegian forest isn't dense, but it is filled with rocky places. I'd call it 2-3 miles per day ... except that with the Forester skill that Lothar picked up, there's probably an adjustment for route-choosing.
I will try and do some designing with the forester rules later today. I am just steadily moving the blog over (6 days = 143 pages!), so I'll be up for a break.
I'd be willing to share rations, but I purchased mine specifically as a kind of "schedule" so to speak, with the idea being I'd have 6 days of travel rations, 2+ of combat rations (since Oddsdrakken won't need them) and a day or so of rest rations.
I figure planning for just over a week seems like the most productive gambit right now, at least unless Mimmarudla indicates it goes much deeper than we think. Gotta leave space in the cart for treasure!
So said, once we get the all-clear from Alexis/the rest of the party. I'm ready to take our rest day and ride out.
All clear from me.
If you stay over the 8th, Engelhart can attend church (it's Sunday) and we can start the morning of the 9th, Monday. I'm waiting for a consensus for:
a) when you're ready to take an action in concert.
b) where you're going, if anywhere.
a) I was born ready.
b) Closest fishing village due west and then follow down the coast from there.
One more question regarding food: how long does butchered meat last? My gut instinct is only a couple of days at the most, necessitating the purchase of salted or otherwise preserved protein. I don't want to assume fresh will only last two days if it will actually be safe to eat for a week.
In the meantime, I decided to get more food, and I looked at my calculations again. We've currently only 6 strong - so our (now) 293.37 pounds of food will last for 12 days of travel, or 8 days of fighting. (plus when the sacks are empty, we've got loot bags!)
So come Monday morning I am ready to pull out my Bloodhound Token and set it to finding Valda.
This sounds good to me - I am happy to set out on Monday morning.
[Good. I think we can take the next step, then. Though Engelhart says the closest fishing village is the destination and Lothar has stated he wants to try the dog, so there is a discordance there.
[I broke my tooth open yesterday, lost a filling and I have a dentist's appointment in the morning tomorrow. I have an interview tomorrow afternoon. If we could, I'd like to pick this up on Thursday morning, and take tomorrow off. We sort of took today off, too, but I suspect we needed a rest. Good with everyone?]
[I'm sorry to hear about your tooth! We can absolutely resume on Thursday]
(Sounds good to me.)
The 'discordance' comes only from me forgetting all about the hound's existence!
[Good to resume at your leisure, Alexis.]
I'm good with resuming Thursday. In the meantime, Engelhart, would you be able to drop some healing spells on me and Fjall on Sunday? I need 9 more HP till I'm full, and Fjall is at 5 out of 8.
The next post is up.
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