An Arl's Ransom

[spyguy1503]

Wallace stick out his hand "Wallace" he says with a wink

[JadedDM]

Alenka nods politely to Simone and shakes Wallace's hand. "Welcome to Stenhold," she says. "Shall we get out of the rain then? Come, I will introduce you to the arl."

She leads them to the main door to the fortress' hall, where a giant banner overhead with the Stenhold sigil flaps lightly in the rain.

Stenhold Sigil.jpg (15.24 KiB) Viewed 7948 times

It resembles a tree of some kind or perhaps a three-leafed plant within a circle.

Alenka struggles a bit with the door as she tries to open it. "Sorry, it always does this in rainy weather," she says. She manages to pull it open. As she does so, a single gold coin slips from her robes and rolls into a puddle. Alenka does not seem to notice it at all. She gestures for the three to follow her, then steps inside, removing her hood to let out her red hair. Wallace does not notice the coin, but both Davne and Simone do.

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Simone makes a Perception (Seeing) test with no focus [TN 9] (3d6+2): 12, pass.
Davne makes a Perception (Seeing) test with no focus [TN 9] (3d6+1): 13, pass.
Wallace makes a Perception (Seeing) test with no focus [TN 9] (3d6+1): 6, fail.

Codex: Currency - In the Dragon Age universe, gold, silver and copper denominations are used for currency. In Ferelden, the gold coins are called "sovereigns", the silver coins "silvers", and the copper coins "bits", or "coppers". In Orlais, the gold coins are called "royals", the silver coins "crowns", and the copper coins "bits", or "pennies". Bits and silvers, with their lower worth, are the more common coins, where as the highly valuable sovereigns are rarer. One gold piece equals 100 silver pieces and one silver piece equals 100 copper pieces. This means that a single gold piece is worth 10,000 coppers--a ridiculous amount of money.

[mgbevan]

"Oh my, does the arl always pay well?" Davne exclaims as she stops to look at something on the ground.

[HorizonsDream]

"Um, I believe you might have dropped something, Steward Alenka " Simone said as she watched the gold coin roll into the mud. She watches Davne for a moment, then shakes her head.

[JadedDM]

"Oh my, does the arl always pay well?"

Alenka stops and turns to the others. "The Arl? Well, he makes a decent amount of coin from the ryott crops, but this is a small arling and not nearly as wealthy as some of the larger ones. Why do you ask?"

"Um, I believe you might have dropped something, Steward Alenka."

Alenka looks around, puzzled. "Whatever do you mean?"

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Codex: Ryott - Ryott is a protein-rich grain highly valued throughout Ferelden. It is notoriously difficult to grow and the Stenhold arling includes some of the few areas in southern Ferelden where it thrives. The grain is not so much farmed as gathered, and attempts to domesticate it have proven largely unsuccessful. Fereldan farmers often simply build fences around existing patches.

[mgbevan]

"We mean that the arl's steward has spewed a sovereign from her robes, look!" Davne says with excitement. She bends down and picks up the coin. "Wow I've never held one before. Here you are" She offers the sovereign in her open palm.

[HorizonsDream]

"Have you always been on the poor side, Davne?" Simone asks curiously.

[spyguy1503]

Wallace gives a low whistle. "Who carries a sovereign with them and doesn't notice when they drop it?" he mutters to himself.

[mgbevan]

"Mmm not particularly well off with coin, I've always dreamed of having land or even an estate of my own." Davne replies still looking at the coin in her palm. "But then you can be wealthy in other aspects right? Like I've had training and the mail on my back." She says looking up with a smile.

[JadedDM]

"Oh, how clumsy of me," Alenka notes, taking the coin. "Had you said nothing, I never would have known. And you would be a sovereign richer. Surely I have chosen well to pick such honorable and noble mercenaries for this task," she adds wryly. "Come, this way."

Pocketing the coin, she turns and continues to lead them toward the great hall. What little sunlight is able to escape the dark clouds outside pours into the hall through the large windows near the ceiling. There's a long wooden table with numerous chairs in the center of the hall. Ordinary this is where banquets are held during parties and when special guests are present. But at the moment, there is nothing on the table and nobody sitting at the chairs.

At the far end of the hall a man stands being fitted into a suit of gleaming plate armor by elves with downcast eyes. As they approach him, he looks over at them in irritation, then grunts in pain and spins back to cuff one of the elves in the head, pinched by the greave the servant was fitting. The elf sprawls to the ground. He then turns back to the party. "Well?" he demands.

Arl Voychek Neruda.jpg (105.05 KiB) Viewed 7930 times

Alenka bows. "My lord, these are the mercenaries." To the party she adds, "May I present to you, Lord Voychek Neruda, Arl of Stenhold."

[spyguy1503]

Wallace stick out his hand "Wallace" he says. "Nice to meet you, Lord"

[HorizonsDream]

Simone glances at the elf on the ground for a moment, then looks to the Arl. She smiles sweetly at the man, and bows a little to him in respect. "A pleasure, Arl."

[mgbevan]

Davne bows her head, "Lord Neruda, how may we be of service?"

[spyguy1503]

Wallace extends a hand to the elf on the ground.

[JadedDM]

The arl looks the three over, ignoring Wallace's extended hand. Instead, he snorts and says, "You'll do." The elf he hit gets to his feet and quickly starts working again in helping the arl into his armor, this time being more careful.

The arl continues, "My children are returning from Denerim, and Alenka is due to meet them. My land is being encroached by darkspawn and I need every warrior I have to combat the threat. So, you will accompany Alenka to the waypoint and return here with her and the children. I'll pay you 50 silver pieces each for the services of two days or less. Well?" he asks.

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Codex: Denerim - The capital city of Fereldan.