Town Business

[Keehnelf]

Quick note to those of this expedition: for the same of time. We have lost sulldawga so he can focus more on other games, which means someone else needs to take the lead on this audience in terms of finalizing decisions

[AleBelly]

Bummer! So the thief can backstab him and take his treasure now?

I can step in, but others should chime in during discussions with the duke.

Varas steps forward. "We've returned from a foray to the northwest. It seems goblins and wolves are at war, and the wolves are having the better of it. I thought this meant the wolves were perhaps our allies, but we were attacked by three small ones, which were no match for us!" boasts the tall leather-clad man.

"What do you make of this coin, sir?" asks Varas, producing one of the silvery dwarf-coins. "We found it on a group of dead goblins" he says as he produces the leather cord with three left goblin ears on it.

"We also came upon a watchtower in the northwest, long abandoned. Do you, sir, have any idea what function it served...and more importantly, who it served?"

[OGRE MAGE]

Wendall

Looking somewhat frightened, the boy pulls his dagger and places it on the Dukes desk also. We........we found this as well..........sir.

[Keehnelf]

The duke frowns. "I've had no news of what manner of man or other race might inhabit this land, or might have inhabited it in the past. The hunters had taken note of the tower to the northwest and a similar one further to the northwest. They appear to be signal towers, by accounts, but for what purpose and whose I do not know.

"I am not surprised by this news of the wolves. Another group of explorers returned with a similar tale, and also a ridiculous claim by the goblins that they would be willing to ally with us. Frankly, those treacherous vermin couldn't be trusted to not knife their own mothers for the joy of it, so the more that end up dead the better, if the end result is getting them off this land.

"That coin and the weapons are interesting finds, though. Clearly dwarves once inhabited this area and either left or were killed or driven off by these goblins. Do you have a sense of where their base of operations is?"

[OGRE MAGE]

Oh oh!
I don't think it would be a good idea to tell him about Grakkar, the one we let escape then? Or what we learned from him?

[AleBelly]

I don't think it would be bad to tell him that we questioned one, agreeing to let it go for some information. If you object, let me know.

[OGRE MAGE]

Frankly, those treacherous vermin couldn't be trusted to not knife their own mothers for the joy of it, so the more that end up dead the better, if the end result is getting them off this land.

I just don't think he would like that. I also don't think he will believe anything he told us anyway. He clearly doesn't like goblins.

I trust your judgement completely however so, you can tell him anything you want. It can't really hurt that much I guess.

[AleBelly]

OK, I'll soften things up a bit, mentioning we think they're lies too. I just think he might favor us if we tell him the source of the goblins...

[AleBelly]

"We spared a goblin, trading information for his miserable life. He claimed that their base is at the foot of that huge mountain about 40 miles from here, and that a few thousand of them inhabit it. He also claims they have crafted some quality short swords, which we've since sold off. These seem to be above the ability of the goblins, though. Probably a few goblin lies therein, but a lair at the foot of the mountain does seem reasonable to me."

Varas finishes, then reflects on something the duke said.

"Another signal tower northwest of the one we found. Interesting. Do you know if these towers continue northwest after the second one, or are the lands beyond that unknown to us?"

[OGRE MAGE]

Wendall sees his chance and awkwardly butts in before the Duke can respond.
Yes, it's called Barad Ithgar I believe. You are familiar with it I presume? Here......I've kept track of everywhere we went.

Wendall clumsily pulls out his map and proceeds to show the Duke the locations of each said landmark.

[Scott308]

The goblin was definitely lying. There is no way goblins have the skill to make those blades. That was dwarven work! They had dwarven runes on them. A child could make better blades than a goblin and it makes no sense for a non-dwarf to scribe dwarven runes on their craft! Dorvar glowers at the thought of goblin smithing being comparable to that of dwarves.

I cannot speak to the rest of his statement with any knowledge. For all we know, there may well be a thousand goblins living under the mountain, although I doubt those vermin can count that high! They must have moved in after the dwarves left, although I know not why they would have left. No dwarven hold is going to be overrun by a few goblins!

[Keehnelf]

"The map you've seen is the extent of the territory folk here in town have seen, more or less. We don't know if there are more towers further along, though. Could be.

"If the goblins are holed up under the mountain, it shouldn't take long to go and send them a message that they're not welcome, right? Then if there's an abandoned dwarf hold they've overtaken, that would be a fine place to move my capital to..."

He lapses into quiet musing.

[AleBelly]

"If the goblins are holed up under the mountain, it shouldn't take long to go and send them a message that they're not welcome, right?

"Perhaps, but being three strong I doubt a message delivered from us will have much impact at this time" answers Varas.

"Thank you for your time, my lord."He bows and exits, returning to the tavern to prepare for tomorrow's foray.

[OGRE MAGE]

Before the Varas party departs, Wendall has a bit of shopping to do......now that he has some coin to do so.

Can items that are not in the book also be purchased? There is a smith in town correct?

[Keehnelf]

You can make a request, but all but the most basic items will require time to make.

[OGRE MAGE]

Wendalls Shopping list

Wendall has never had more than a couple of copper pieces to rub together so he isn't very good at money management yet.

This is what he buys to take along now.
Lock and Key 20gp 1lb
20 days Trail Rations (14 days worth on his person) 10gp 20lb
1 Bedroll 1sp 5lb
1 Map case 1gp

He will give all of his 39gp for these items now and any leftover coin can be put towards future procurement of the following items.

He would like to line these things up for the next trip.

10 Water skins 10gp 40lbs

4 Extra Bedrolls 4sp 12lb
4 Winter Blankets 20gp 12lb
Writing Materials 10gp 1lb
Mirror 10gp 1lb

Flint and Steel 2gp
10 Candlesticks 1sp 1lb
Lantern 9gp 3lb
10 Oil Flasks 10sp 10lb
10 Large Sacks 20sp 5lb

Crowbar 2gp 5lb
Hammer 5sp 2lb
Minors Pick 3gp 10lb
Shovel 2gp 8lb
Block and Tackle 5gp 5lb
12 Iron Spikes 1gp 8lb
10' Pole 2sp 8lb
50' Hemp Rope 1gp 10lb
Grappling Hook 1gp 4lb

Donkey 8gp

Total cost with 20% markup
141gp and 5sp

He will leave behind his 100gp dagger as collateral to appease the shopkeepers if he must.


He will also inquire around town about obtaining a writing desk and chair.

He then speaks to the blacksmith about making him some sturdy, hard to pick, heavy locks.

[Keehnelf]

That's a high volume of some items for a place like this. The earliest you can be guaranteed delivery of everything is March 22.

The items for this expedition are fine, however, though it does exhaust the store of locks. The smith, upon hearing the request for a sturdier one, asks if such requests will be more common in the future. He needs to know whether to establish separate facilities for his apprentice do begin independent work sooner rather than later.

[OGRE MAGE]

No problem with the future delivery date. We are in no rush.

Wendall tells the smithy that he would like at least 2 heavy duty locks made and possibly a few more in the future. He would also like them to have 4 keys for each lock if that's not a problem.

[Keehnelf]

Oh, and a carpenter will be more than happy to make a desk and chair--but with no local wood supply the cost with imported wood and labor will be 45gp and it will take 10 days to make. He'll require a 35gp deposit to begin work.

[Keehnelf]

The heavy duty locks will require a higher grade of steel than he currently has, so it will take 12 weeks for delivery of these items as he has to send to the south for materials.