Act 3, Scene 1: Assembly and Supplication

[Jenara]

If in her natural surroundings Katten would enter with grace and ease, her body moving like the trained hunter she was..

Only this isn't her natural surroundings, she stays small, keeping her cloak around her body as she enters with Dran behind her, she watches the Corners, looking for a safe place to hide.. She keeps the Gnome near as well, knowing he is feeling the as her.

[TristenC]

The accommodations are easy enough to arrange, and reasonable prices are available (see below). The inn has plenty of room for the group.


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Rooms are 7sp for a single, 5sp each person for a double room (two small folk together could count as 1 occupant). The common area (wide open, pallets on floor) is available for 5cp.

Dinner and drinks are standard cost in the phb as well

[Nocturno]

He looks at the group. "Let's double up, no need to get too comfortable." He then will order the group a good dinner.(Assuming the group has the coin with them)

[TristenC]

The group makes their arrangements and settles in for the night...

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I'll work up xp tonight/ tomorrow and try to get this rolling again

EDIT
7th-9th of Flourish, YS 192

Bit of travel, bit of talk, bit of wilderness, bit of taking people to safety. Not much fighting but some decent xp for role-play and story goals. I went ahead and applied the bonus I usually give for seeing captives home to the 10 that went North since the Party saw them safely across the canyon bridge (the North side is a much safer area).


Group XP:

Story XP:
Obtaining Quel Salas ‘support’ (letter) = 150xp ea
Escorting Captives to safety (20*19) => 380xp ea

Total Group Award: 530xp ea

I’ll drop the individual xp in everyone’s private threads, which will include a line item for Group Award as usual

[TristenC]

Light filters in through the shutters around mid morning, the warmth outside already promising to become a swelter before midday fully arrives. The scents of a fine and hearty breakfast waft up the hall to the rooms above as the group finds themselves once again in Bordertown.

Downstairs they find Aldgild drinking coffee and in conversation with one of the employees.

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As before, Bordertown has quite a wide variety of supplies and services. Access to the Keep is fairly restricted, but due to the group's service to the community they are allowed to purchase items from the smithy, fletcher/bowyer and alchemical/magical shop.

There will be plenty of places to sell the gems, or those can be kept as more portable loot. If they decide to keep the 2 pearls (which I believe was the last consensus noted) the party 6-way split of 1600gp comes to 266gp 6sp 6cp each, with a copper left over.
This would bring the party's stash of usable Identification Pearls to 8 total.

Some of the party is carrying around over 1000gp in cash or gems. It can be easily converted to more portable loot (high value gems) in increments of 50, 100, 250, 500 or 1,000gp worth. Or the money can be stored at a bank here in Bordertown (though I'm not sure how much most of the party would trust such things )

[Styrius]

Findalsip will spring for 3 healing potions (450gp)

[Nocturno]

Nocturno will suggest to Aldgild that the group should stop and get the preparations made, then visit with the Lord for their business.

[TristenC]

Aldgild leads the group to the keep and message of their arrival is sent via a runner to the lord. The adventurers pursue their shopping endeavors, giving time for the news to follow the necessary channels. Goods are acquired and just as their business is concluded, a response finds them at Calan's shop; the Lord is ready to receive them.

Without hesitation they are led along the winding halls, up a grand central stair only lightly decorated with boldly colored banners of quartered blue and gold but with an otherwise spartan lack of decor. The crafted stone bears few elaborations, but designed with military practicality for those who recognize such things. A second winding staircase of unevenly spaced steps rises even higher along a flanking tower to a long and narrow hall with alcoves and side-passages that would make the span a terror for a direct assault. Eventually the page leads them to an unassuming pair of double doors made of seasoned and twisted walnut banded with iron. A pair of shield-shaped knockers are mounted outside, though one door is already cracked open to permit entrants.

Moving into the room, light from hanging lanterns illuminates a squarish hall some twenty paces across. A half dozen guards line the gold-trimmed bright blue rug, though it has clearly seen much wear over the years. Each guard stands with a comfortable but trained air, postures moving from steady to ready in a heartbeat as the party enters. Adorned with chain, helm and tabards of blue and gold they are arrayed with matching quartered shields at their backs, a longsword at the hip and stand at attention with wicked looking halberds of fine make. The quality in the lord's guard equipment is clear, a fact mirrored by steady eyes and weathered faces.

At the far end of the blue running rug is a small raised dais, only two steps high and of unadorned stone. Atop it a carved wooden seat, not quite a throne, sits. Though it is wide and well made with wolf-paw details on the arms and a quartered shield upon the back painted with blue and yellow, it clearly is meant for the lord's seat. While practical detail of House Ulfbert is readily apparent, it wastes no gold nor embellishment beyond the pragmatic symbolism of the house itself.

A human man in his late 40s in good health and fitness with golden hair and wings of grey at his temples sits the raised chair, pouring over a report. He is adorned in a worn blue tunic trimmed with gold-colored thread, though Nocturno can see wear marks along the shoulders, sides and cuffs that suggest the regular presence of armor straps and gauntlets. Here, at least, is no soft-handed noble. A small table of simple but sturdy make beside him boasts many more such papers in several stacks of assortment. As the group enter, the page whispers to another man just inside the door.

Hail, Lord Tershan Ulfbert! 2nd cousin to the late Lord Gregory the Third of house Ulfbert, King of the Kingdom of the Sun! the man on the dais glances away from his papers at the announcement towards the herald, though his eyes quickly scan over the rather diverse newcomers before him. Lord Ulfbert I present to you the Elven Protector Nocturno of Misan and priest of Corellon Larethian, Ranger Katten - a Guardian of the Fenris Forest, A mister Jordek of... Local claim, Linar Nalia a... fellow Priest of Corellon, Bullock Whitemane of the Khaleb's Fist mountain range, and Findalsip Smooth-hands of... the Underdark... erm... a Priest of Calarduran... He pronounces the final name awkwardly, but soon recovers. My lord, their deeds include...

A strong but weathered hand rises to forestall the announcement. In a clear baritone Lord Ulbert breaks in with some amusement. Thank you, herald. If you relay all of their deeds for them, they will have naught left to speak for themselves. I appreciate your dedication to detail. He says, not unkindly. Stark blue eyes peer at the motley crew before him and a small smile tugs at one corner of his mouth. I have reliable word from reports and those you have recovered that many citizens of Bordertown and the surrounding area owe their freedom and likely their lives to your efforts. What is more, I have a report from a former Sergent of mine that you have personally seen to the end of the goblin troubles plaguing the road north to the heartland. For these things you have the gratitude of myself and the entirety of Bordertown. You shall be rewarded, not merely with access to the keep's facilities. But before we get into that, I hear that some among your number believe there is yet a greater threat that lies upon the horizon. He prompts, clearly pausing for their response.

[Styrius]

Findalsip looks at the others watching what they do in terms of protocol. This being a what he takes to be a large hall for humans, and reclusive by nature, lets the elves take the lead on this. That the mention of the UnderDark, he believes it best to keep quiet as much as possible. He hopes these people know of Callarduran and respond favorably to his name.

[Nocturno]

"Well met. The threats have certainly been reduced, but unless we finish our quest they may return." He clears his throat and looks at his group.

"We are attempting to reconstruct an artifact that the goblins were after. We have most of the pieces, and we have a journal with instructions. The goblins hoped to summon their god Ossunin, but we intend to use the device to drive him off." Stopping for a breath.
"If you have any sway in Lesoger a word, or letter may help us convince the Lords there to allow us to use the Amber Sphere, which is part of the artifact we are assembling." He will then pause for a response.

[Jenara]

Katten makes herself very small and very quiet for a long time during the meeting.. she listens and considers before raising her head at the suggestion of the artifact.

"Goblins had pieces, me think they not know what it is." She explains.. "We need help." She asks quietly.

[TristenC]

Lord Ulfbert's brows draw down at the news the threat may return, and of the news of a goblin 'god'. Troubling indeed... he muses, nodding at Katten's interjection. We have had reports of increasing orc and bugbear activity along the road, but nothing more than a few isolated incidents. There was a troll issue as well, but I believe that has been dealt with, including your party responsible for the last one at the bridge. He muses silently for a moment. Unfortunately, Lesoger does not often concern themselves with those of us here in Bordertown. They are, at best, generally uninterested in our opinions on threats or trade... Still, I presume this trouble is known to them to some extent?

[Nocturno]

"One would assume they know of the troubles, we have a note from [the last town], in hopes that the support of other local towns will help strengthen our case when asking for their item."
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My memory is awful and I can't find the maps again.

[Styrius]

Findalsip will listen intently as the group explains what the mission is and the threat it entails. He mentally runs through local history and can’t recall a god named “Ossunin” and believes it must be some powerful creature that has stirred up the goblins and other ilk. Just because his clan is located in the Underdark it doesn’t mean they would be ‘safe’ from this threat. They might even be in greater danger if caught between upper and lower threats. He makes note he will need to alert his clan of this danger. Somehow. Someway. His face contorts as he muses on the conversation but waits to hear what this king will do and what to expect ahead.

[TristenC]

[The last town was Quel Salas. The maps should still be available in the first post of the 'General Knowledge' thread.]

Lord Ulfbert nods, Very well, I will compose something to let them know of our support in this matter; hopefully your requests will not fall on deaf ears. Is there other aid that you might make use of in this endeavor, that we here could provide?