Chapter 3: The truth lies in the mountain...

[onlyme]

Whitsell counts quietly to himself, pulls out 600 gp and counters,

Sounds like a fair rate, I s'pose, but I have 600 here. That would be 150 each, and we both win. You can single handily restart the economy here in town with that earnings.

[Rukellian]

Whitsell counts quietly to himself, pulls out 600 gp and counters,

Sounds like a fair rate, I s'pose, but I have 600 here. That would be 150 each, and we both win. You can single handily restart the economy here in town with that earnings.

The merchant lets slip a giddy laugh as he says to Whitsell while accepting the gold. "If only there were more people like you here. You have a good head on your shoulders, you know that? It helps that you have the gold too, I won't deny that, hehe."

The arrangement is complete and Whitsell has effectively lightened his load of coin. With all other business done, I assume he will return to the inn to rejoin the others. Any objections?

------

The man closes the door and you can hear him moving around inside. There is a knocking on the wall, the one adjacent to the room connected to his. He then unlocks the door and steps outside. "I could go for a drink. Let's take a table downstairs and we can discuss this proposal of yours further," he says towards Flynn with a cautious look on his face.

[onlyme]

Whitsell thanks the man, and leaves to head back toward the inn.

How does one record gem stones like this in inventory? ie normally just take the DMs appraisal for XP purposes. But when a PC negotiates, would I say a $150, 160, 200? or just a X, Y, and Z of unknown worth?

[Rukellian]

Whitsell thanks the man, and leaves to head back toward the inn.

How does one record gem stones like this in inventory? ie normally just take the DMs appraisal for XP purposes. But when a PC negotiates, would I say a $150, 160, 200? or just a X, Y, and Z of unknown worth?

Because you were merely exchanging coin for gems as one would do so with gold and dollar bills in the real world, we will not have to worry about experience conversions right now. The actual worth of the gems is currently unknown to your character, so realistically, you would mark each of them as $150 until new information on this comes in-game. As the DM, I can safely say that you've not been ripped off. The gemstone value table goes into specifics in determining coin to gem conversions and the dice rolls associated with it. You got a good deal considering the type of stones that were purchased.

[onlyme]

Thanks. I didn't mean to sound like asking about xp. Just not sure how or when the player would learn value to remember when selling.

[Rukellian]

I will be moving things forward here, to a common setting. Gustov and Whitsell, having finished their business in procurring some items with their coin, return to the inn with feelings of success in their venture. Gustov wears his new studded armor and elven dagger proudly where as Whitsell seems to carry only a new pick for mining, one would wonder where the rest of the coin could have went towards...

As the two enter the main inn room, they spot Flynn and Deceidon sharing a drink with someone else, a young man from the looks of it. They seem to be discussing something important.

[tooleychris]

Flynn waves his companions over as they enter and signals the barkeeper to come take orders.

[onlyme]

Whitsell goes over, and orders an ale.

I recruited a young soldier for our fight. And I suppose you met the young healer. Both are out of my pocket, as I feel the need for them is great. How did you folks come about in your day?

[Grognardsw]

Flynn rises to leave. "The payment should be sufficient for those that were going to hunt bandit scum in any case. Let's start with the brother and sister. They should be simple marks and the larger our numbers grow, the easier to recruit others. Strength in numbers."

Deceidon and Flynn knock on the door the barkeep indicated could be the brother or sister's room.

Is the young man we're with in the tavern now the one whose door we last knocked on?

[Rukellian]

Flynn rises to leave. "The payment should be sufficient for those that were going to hunt bandit scum in any case. Let's start with the brother and sister. They should be simple marks and the larger our numbers grow, the easier to recruit others. Strength in numbers."

Deceidon and Flynn knock on the door the barkeep indicated could be the brother or sister's room.

Is the young man we're with in the tavern now the one whose door we last knocked on?

Yes

[Grognardsw]

...the barkeep ...There was another, a real tall fellow. He doesn't say much, but I can tell he wasn't a bandit. We usually find him chopping trees down, supplying the settlement with firewood...

"Ask the boy about his sister," says Deceidon to Flynn."I'm going to check on that other man the barkeep recommended."

Deceidon will try to seek out the tall man by knocking on a few doors upstairs.

[Rukellian]

Deceidon's search is fruitless as he knocks on the doors and does not recieve any responses. On the way up though, he noticed a woman heading around the corner to the stairs, she too shared the same physical features as the man they spoke to earlier.

[tooleychris]

"As you can see," Flynn continues, "We are adamant in our goal. We seek every able bodied person to rid this town of the bandit menace that plagues it. We have located a rather filthy tunnel which runs under the town and leads to hells only knows where, but believe the scum are using it to store their ill gotten loot."
He pats his bag of coins. "And these thieves hurt not for coin. Our offer is this. Help us clear this tunnel, either kkilling any fool who calls it home or send them running with tails firmly between legs, and earn some coin in the process."
Flynn takes a drink of wine and studies tthe mans face.
"Heroes...and better still. Paid heroes."

[Rukellian]

"As you can see," Flynn continues, "We are adamant in our goal. We seek every able bodied person to rid this town of the bandit menace that plagues it. We have located a rather filthy tunnel which runs under the town and leads to hells only knows where, but believe the scum are using it to store their ill gotten loot."
He pats his bag of coins. "And these thieves hurt not for coin. Our offer is this. Help us clear this tunnel, either kkilling any fool who calls it home or send them running with tails firmly between legs, and earn some coin in the process."
Flynn takes a drink of wine and studies tthe mans face.
"Heroes...and better still. Paid heroes."

The man smiles, knowing that nothing more needed to be said or asked. He holds out his hand and shakes Flynn's. An agreement has been made. Shortly after Flynn finishes and the man approves, a woman stands over Flynn, placing her hand over two's shake and chimes in, "brother! Surely you weren't going to hog this oppurtunity all for yourself? Count me in as well." She says with an aggressive smile.

[tooleychris]

Flynn accepts their handshakes.
"Apologies. I will allow my comrades their own introduction but what names may you be known by?
"I am Flynn. he stands and bows to the lady as she engages.

Conan and Sonja?

[onlyme]

Whitsell drinks his ale, wondering why he is apparently talking to himself... he looks around the inn for friends.

[tooleychris]

Whitsell goes over, and orders an ale.

I recruited a young soldier for our fight. And I suppose you met the young healer. Both are out of my pocket, as I feel the need for them is great. How did you folks come about in your day?

Flynn nods to Whitsell "Our numbers grow. This young man and his...sister will join our cleansing as well!"

[Grognardsw]

"As you can see," Flynn continues, "We are adamant in our goal. We seek every able bodied person to rid this town of the bandit menace that plagues it. We have located a rather filthy tunnel which runs under the town and leads to hells only knows where, but believe the scum are using it to store their ill gotten loot."
He pats his bag of coins. "And these thieves hurt not for coin. Our offer is this. Help us clear this tunnel, either kkilling any fool who calls it home or send them running with tails firmly between legs, and earn some coin in the process."
Flynn takes a drink of wine and studies tthe mans face.
"Heroes...and better still. Paid heroes."

So I take it our story then is the straight up tunnels and bandits? We had talked about a ruse about wild animals and a last minute change, just in case those we hire tipped off the bandits ahead of time. As long as they're trustworthy I suppose. We can bring the brother/sister into the fake plan and use it on others in the future if the group feels it worth doing.

[tooleychris]

"As you can see," Flynn continues, "We are adamant in our goal. We seek every able bodied person to rid this town of the bandit menace that plagues it. We have located a rather filthy tunnel which runs under the town and leads to hells only knows where, but believe the scum are using it to store their ill gotten loot."
He pats his bag of coins. "And these thieves hurt not for coin. Our offer is this. Help us clear this tunnel, either kkilling any fool who calls it home or send them running with tails firmly between legs, and earn some coin in the process."
Flynn takes a drink of wine and studies tthe mans face.
"Heroes...and better still. Paid heroes."

So I take it our story then is the straight up tunnels and bandits? We had talked about a ruse about wild animals and a last minute change, just in case those we hire tipped off the bandits ahead of time. As long as they're trustworthy I suppose. We can bring the brother/sister into the fake plan and use it on others in the future if the group feels it worth doing.

ah crap! No, you're 100% right. I forgot but Flynn wouldn't have. Can we recant the thief and bandit references and change them to rats in the tunnel or something, Ruke? If not I guess it's not biggie since brother and sis were hunting thieves anyway....

[Rukellian]

What has been said has been said. Though I am the DM, I will not turn back time for you guys, short of the power of a wish spell or powerful artifact. What you can still do though is tell the town guard what you originally wanted them to know, as well as any other future additions, and then keep the true plan to a select few. Of course, the group is free to do what they want in the end, I will just need a clear statement of the group's intentions before we begin your guys' mission on the morrow.