Town Business (Vaul) - III

[KingOfCowards]

Bertram is discouraged by Gronn's assessment of the situation, "It may be that he is beyond our help at this point, and our money might be put to better uses. You have been a great help to the people of Vaul, Father. But your resources are limited. I would like to make a contribution to the temple, perhaps you could see that this coin is used wisely and we might come to gain some understanding of the extra-planar creatures and how to combat them."

100 gp deducted

[Keehnelf]

The middle-aged priest nods. "I will learn what I can, but as you say my resources here are limited. It may be that folk who once inhabited this land were won't to traffick with such monsters--in that case, I shall request a book of lore with this money from the caravan when next it arrives."

[Spartakos]

I figured this was more town-in-general than Ghrym's place...

Galen watches Krysta walk off (attentively) with a chuckle, before turning back to Orrin and Bertram's altercation.

After conversing with Bertram, Galen goes to the moneychanger and converts 400 gp into platinum; 4 gp service charge deducted. He also picks up a bottle of wine for 1 gp (deducted).

Later, Galen hires a village lad to pick a bouqet of wildflowers and deliver it to Krysta, with a message that he'd be delighted to have dinner with her.
(wasn't sure what the cost would be for this...I deducted 5 gp, which I figured was extravagant, but that's how Galen's feeling right now.)

He shows up at her room around sunset, looking the image of 'tall, dark, and handsome' in a black shirt and trousers beneath his constellation-embroidered robe, his riding boots polished to a fine sheen.
Assuming Krysta is agreeable, he shares a meal and a bottle of wine with her, discussing their recent travels, music, and theology, and making a jest about how their respective deities must be related. "...as Pelor, or Helios as my people call him, is brother to Phoebe the moon-maid, who is wed to Koios...". The topic of the approaching hobgoblin force comes up as well, and when Krysta tells him of her offering her services to the town, he commends her and says he will do likewise on the morrow.
He will also flirt shamelessly, but at night's end will escort her back to her room and bid her good night with a bow and a kiss on the hand.

[Starbeard]

April 28

Now that he's got the money and the expectation of another adventure, Seadu Erana heads to the smith hoping to find a sturdy shield he can buy.

OOC: I can't find anything in LL or the FAQ thread about 1- vs 2-handed weapons. Are there any benefits for using a two-handed flail instead of a mace?

[Dogma]

Is there a "bank" in town? Somewhere in town that Martin can safely store his gold from the last adventure?

If not he will exchange 500 his gold for 50 platinum or platinum and a mix of gems.

[Keehnelf]

There is not. You can ask to take gems as a portion of your share (as others have done) and convert good to platinum for a 1% conversion fee.

[Dogma]

Ok. if it's not too late to re-work the loot, martin woukld take 1 of the square cut diamonds (100 gp) and 4 of the small gems (25gp each) as part of his share.

After buying the banded mail and converting 200 gp to platinum, he will have 20 PP, 73 gold in addition to gems above.

[Keehnelf]

No problem: I don't think anyone there was enough of a run on the gems for this to be controversial.

[Zhym]

April 28, 1 VC, evening.

Harold returns to the temple of Branwyn to confer with the priest.

"The demon speaks the language of Dagon as if it were its native tongue," he says. "Other than that, I know no more about the demon than I did when I started observing it yesterday."

"Suppose we could expel the demon from Bromric," he continues. "Would the demon automatically manifest a new corporeal form? If not, how would we then destroy it? If so, would be be strong enough to destroy it? Would it be possible to re-bind the demon to the sword?"

"You see, I have an idea." He holds the crystal-tipped scepter up for the priest to see. "This device can return the dead to life, but only a limited number of times. It is a fearful power to have, and though some have died since I obtained the scepter, I have been loathe to use its powers lest they no longer be available when they would be most needed to serve the cause of Light. But perhaps we have that situation now. If the demon could be expelled from Bromric by slaying the dwarf, I could use this to return him to life. But what would become of the demon? Would we inflict greater evil on the world by expelling it than we would by allowing it to pursue its mission? The question weighs heavy on my soul, and I would appreciate your counsel on this, Gronn."

[hedgeknight]

Krysta is thrilled to receive flowers and hums a tune from her childhood as she freshens up and changes into a clean tunic before meeting Galen. She enjoys listening to him talk and she is too nervous to eat much, but when the subject of Pelor comes about, she finds herself extolling the virtues of her faith.
As the evening closes, she holds her breath when Galen kisses her hand. Then, in a bold move for her, she places that hand on the side of Galen's face and stands on her tiptoes and kisses his other cheek, before saying goodnight.

Needless to say, she doesn't hardly sleep at all.

[Keehnelf]

April 28, 1 VC, evening.

Harold returns to the temple of Branwyn to confer with the priest.

"The demon speaks the language of Dagon as if it were its native tongue," he says. "Other than that, I know no more about the demon than I did when I started observing it yesterday."

"Suppose we could expel the demon from Bromric," he continues. "Would the demon automatically manifest a new corporeal form? If not, how would we then destroy it? If so, would be be strong enough to destroy it? Would it be possible to re-bind the demon to the sword?"

"You see, I have an idea." He holds the crystal-tipped scepter up for the priest to see. "This device can return the dead to life, but only a limited number of times. It is a fearful power to have, and though some have died since I obtained the scepter, I have been loathe to use its powers lest they no longer be available when they would be most needed to serve the cause of Light. But perhaps we have that situation now. If the demon could be expelled from Bromric by slaying the dwarf, I could use this to return him to life. But what would become of the demon? Would we inflict greater evil on the world by expelling it than we would by allowing it to pursue its mission? The question weighs heavy on my soul, and I would appreciate your counsel on this, Gronn."

The priest nods but is troubled. "I suspect that the enchantment binding the demon to the sword has been weakened enough that it will no longer serve as a vessel for its spirit, a me the Lessons of Light forbid our faithful from using demon-binding rituals because of the tendency toward corruption that follows this. To treat with demons in any way but through violence is to risk stumbling outside the Circle without realizing it. That said," the priest sighs. "With what information we have, it is impossible to know when the demon manifests whether will the it more than the trouble that comes from sending it expeditiously on its way. Demons are so varied in their form that a lesser one might manifest a body no more dangerous than your friend's stolen body, while others might easily lay waste to this whole town.

"It is dangerous to guess in matters such as these, but if I had to do so I would say we are somewhere between these two extremes, else the demon would be seeking to incite violence against itself so it might most quickly be freed of its fragile and impotent prison."

[Zhym]

Harold frowns. "We know so little," he says. "It is frustrating. A demon walks free in our town, and yet we do not know whether more evil would be done through action than inaction."

He runs his fingers along the iron circles hanging from his neck. "The question is probably moot. The demon sets out for the Finger tomorrow. It has gathered allies, who I have heard are sworn to defend it. And, as you know, physical strength is not my gift." Harold lets go of his holy symbol and sighs. "No, I think the opportunity to destroy the demon has passed. Bromric's companions had that chance, from what I hear, but they lacked the will to do what was necessary."

"We should keep an eye on this Order of the Skull, by the way. One of the mages who spoke with the demon openly claimed affiliation with the Order. I believe the other has spent time at the Tower as well. These two seemed quite taken with the demon. As for Wendall, I adventured with him until he settled in his tower. His pretensions far outstrip his abilities, but he was a little unhinged even before he got stomped on the head. The Order is an irrelevant curiosity for now, but they clearly have greater ambitions. As guardians of the Law, I would suggest that we be vigilant."

[Zorroroaster]

May 3 1 VC

Orrin steps into the forge and looks for the blacksmith.

"Good morning. I know I'm a little on the short side, but I want to try my hand at a long sword. Maybe keep my foes a little farther away than I have been, lately." He points at the side of his head, angling it in the dim light of the forge to present a better view of the disfigurement.

"Also, I found me some better armor, and seeing as how you did a good turn by me repairing this old chain a couple days back, I wondered if you might buy it off me? Keep it for some poor sod who needs something to start off with?"

[Keehnelf]

April 28

Now that he's got the money and the expectation of another adventure, Seadu Erana heads to the smith hoping to find a sturdy shield he can buy.

OOC: I can't find anything in LL or the FAQ thread about 1- vs 2-handed weapons. Are there any benefits for using a two-handed flail instead of a mace?

Missed this somehow earlier--I will check later today by my gut feeling is, no. It's not necessarily a balance weapon system by any means.

[Zhym]

Ulf heads out looking for stone and laborers to build the Dwarfheim. Ulf and Orrin would also contribute to the building to make sure it's up to proper dwarven quality standards.

He'd like the building also to include a memorial to the Firedeep clan—possibly something on the outside of the building, for all to see.

[Marullus]

Ulf heads out looking for stone and laborers to build the Dwarfheim. Ulf and Orrin would also contribute to the building to make sure it's up to proper dwarven quality standards.

He'd like the building also to include a memorial to the Firedeep clan—possibly something on the outside of the building, for all to see.

(Bromric made the same request a week before on April 28th, but no commissions were being taken before the expected siege.)

[Zhym]

Was that a private response? I can't find that in the threads. I see Bromric's posted desire to build something, but not Keehnelf's response.

Also, there is some building going on, as posted in the memorials thread.
viewtopic.php?f=163&t=3750&start=20#p207709

Anyway, there's no expectation that work would begin immediately. Both Ulf and Orrin will be committed to preparing to defend the city. Because it might take some time for the stone to be delivered, it makes sense to order it now if possible instead of waiting until after the siege.

[Keehnelf]

FYI, seadu's construction won't begin until later either.

[Starbeard]

29 April
Seadu finds himself a sturdy shield in town, then heads back to the tavern to make final arrangements with his comrades for the expedition tomorrow. Once they've bought whatever supplies they need, he goes to the moneychangers and has his cash exchanged for platinum pieces, for the usual 1% fee.


Shield (10gp) +20% markup = -12gp. Money will be exchanged after we settle on what supplies to take.

[Zorroroaster]

Orrin waits patiently for an answer from the blacksmith, but the man stands there staring at him stonily. The silence continues long enough that Orrin assumes he's offended the man somehow, and coughs quietly to break the silence.

"Yes, well. I suppose considering I took it off the body of a dead goblin and it being crap and all, perhaps it's not worth haggling over. Here. Why not hang it up in the forge and your apprentices can practice on it. Perhaps some day a needy soul will wander in with little money in his pockets and even less sense in his head, looking for some protection. Give it to him with my blessing."

Orrin sets the old chainmail down on the work bench.

"I'll still take the blade, though. Thanks."

12 gp deducted.