The Unseen Servant forums

frobozz wrote:
wagon (200gp) + 2 draft horses (80gp) + 10 oil flasks (20gp) = 300gp total group expenses
700gp remaining for the party to split = 77gp per party member
If buying new armor/weapons, I assume PCs could get something back by turning in their old armor/weapons?

So if we go for the cart it will be:

cart (100gp) + 2 mules (60gp) + 10 oil flasks (20 gp) = 180 gp
820 gp remaining = 91,11 gp per person

Assuming we all agree with the above Drudsa will use his share to buy the following items:

Pony, saddle & tack, saddlebags (65 gp)
5 flasks of oil (10 gp)
2 flasks of red powder (10 gp)
1 10' pole (1 gp)
1 Rope (50’) (1 gp)

Good, except that in a previous post I mentioned red powder is not available in Threshold.

Ok guys, so tell me what you think about this basic plan of attack:

Today (Thaumont 3):
1) Purchase and get fitted for plate mail armor (as applicable).
2) Purchase a cart and 2 mules and other basic supplies.
3) Hire a few men-at-arms to accompany the group.
4) Hit the road, stopping by Zoltar's and showing him the magic items for examination/identification.
5) Continue on and arrive at the caves.
6) Station the men-at-arms at the cave mouth with instructions to watch for and intercept Elwyn's emissaries if they come (Note: Recall that the emissaries were due to arrive "within the fortnight (ie. 2 weeks), and that was 1 week ago, so odds are good that they will not actually arrive for another week).
7) Immediately load up the cart with the treasure and head back to Threshold.
8) Stop by Zoltar's again on the way back to pick up/pay for the identified magic items.
9) Arrive back in Threshold, cash in the coins and the jewelry (and get the XP), then retire for the night.

Tomorrow (Thaumont 4):
1) Pick up finished plate mail armor.
2) Return to the caves, either dismissing the men-at-arms or keeping them on at the cave mouth as an "early warning system", in case Elwyn arrives.
3) Proceed into the caves, fully armed and armored, and proceed to kick a certain troll's ass.

I know this involves a LOT of walking in heavy armor, and certainly we would hear all about it from Thordin, but given the amount of treasure and the other different things we need to do, it sounds like it might make the best use of our time. And besides, who's to say that medieval adventurers can't also be multi-taskers?

thirdkingdom wrote:Goof, except that in a previous post I mentioned red powder is not available in Threshold.

My bad, will adjust accordingly.

frobozz wrote:Ok guys, so tell me what you think about this basic plan of attack:

Today (Thaumont 3):
1) Purchase and get fitted for plate mail armor (as applicable).
2) Purchase a cart and 2 mules and other basic supplies.
3) Hire a few men-at-arms to accompany the group.
4) Hit the road, stopping by Zoltar's on the way back and showing him the magic items for examination/identification.
5) Continue on and arrive at the caves.
6) Station the men-at-arms at the cave mouth with instructions to watch for and intercept Elwyn's emissaries if they come (Note: Recall that the emissaries were due to arrive "within the fortnight (ie. 2 weeks), and that was 1 week ago, so odds are good that they will not actually arrive for another week).
7) Immediately load up the cart with the treasure and head back to Threshold.
8) Stop by Zoltar's again to pick up/pay for the identified magic items.
9) Arrive back in Threshold, cash in the coins and the jewelry (and get the XP), then retire for the night.

Tomorrow (Thaumont 4):
1) Pick up finished plate mail armor.
2) Return to the caves, either dismissing the men-at-arms or keeping them on at the cave mouth as an "early warning system", in case Elwyn arrives.
3) Proceed into the caves, fully armed and armored, and proceed to kick a certain troll's ass.

I know this involves a LOT of walking in heavy armor, and certainly we would hear all about it from Thordin, but given the amount of treasure and the other different things we need to do, it sounds like it might make the best use of our time. And besides, who's to say that medieval adventurers can't also be multi-taskers?

Looks perfect to me. We can also leave the trip to Zoltar for later in the day as we have not explored that area yet and we might run into trouble while trying to locate the hermit (that might end up being an adventure on itself).

Sounds good

Bregalad the elf

Using Drudsa's calculation of 91.11 gp for each group memeber, Bregalad will purchase.....

1 Small Hammer (2 gp)
4 Iron Spikes (.4 gp)
1 Lantern (1 gp)
2 Oil Flasks (4 gp)
1 Rope (1 gp)
1 Large Sack (2 gp)
1 Week's Dried Rations (15 gp)

.....and will hold onto 5 gold pieces, leaving 60.71 gold pieces for purchasing armor for others.

I'll update my character sheet with the new equipment and encumbrance calculations.

Tratiln will purchase:

1 Flask of oil (2 gp)
50' rope (1 gp)
1 throwing hammer (4 gp)
1 large sack (2 gp)
1 week's dried rations (15 gp)

Tratiln will then keep 10 gp and 10 ep on himself and deposit the rest at the moneychanging guild, along with the 6 opal bracelets (unless the party has a different idea with those. We can sell them or whatver...unless their $$ has already been added in).

Bregalad likes Lanny's plan (nicely laid out!), but is hesitant to have men-at-arms hired at this time. Thirdkingdom implied that they may be as troublesome as they are beneficial. Although we have developed trust within our group, we'll have no rapport with the men-at-arms. We should also secure the treasure before stopping at Zoltar's, since it is unprotected, and each day increases chances of it being discovered.

Good points made about stopping at Zoltar's. Maybe scratch that trip altogether from Thaumont 3 and perhaps add it as Activity #2 on Thaumont 4.

Regarding the men-at-arms: We could alternately opt to hire just one or two grunts to simply camp out near the caves on Thaumont 3 and keep an eye on the cave entrance from a safe distance while we are gone, and then report to us when we return again on Thaumont 4 if they saw anyone/anything near the caves. Keeping them around as lookouts/runners at the cave entrance while we are in the caves might provide us an added bit of security, but is not necessarily essential.

frobozz wrote:Good points made about stopping at Zoltar's. Maybe scratch that trip altogether from Thaumont 3 and perhaps add it as Activity #2 on Thaumont 4.

Regarding the men-at-arms: We could alternately opt to hire just one or two grunts to simply camp out near the caves on Thaumont 3 and keep an eye on the cave entrance from a safe distance while we are gone, and then report to us when we return again on Thaumont 4 if they saw anyone/anything near the caves. Keeping them around as lookouts/runners at the cave entrance while we are in the caves might provide us an added bit of security, but is not necessarily essential.

To clarify my remarks about the loyalty of retainers, I simply meant leaving a couple of dudes hired off the street to watch a cartful of treasure might not be the best option.

So, the men-at-arms would be retainers priced per the chart on 120. Pretty cheap, actually, although they would most likely require double or triple pay due to the dangerous environs. Also, they would probably require some leadership, most likely a 1st level fighter hireling page 119). In addition, it would take about a day to recruit the dudes. Not saying it is a bad idea, just that it is more involved than paying some blokes to camp out near the caves.

Considering that our main concern for the day is to get the treasure I think we can skip hirelings / retainers.

zebediah wrote:Considering that our main concern for the day is to get the treasure I think we can skip hirelings / retainers.

After thinking about it some more, I agree. Even in the unlikely event that Elwyn's emissaries do show up while we are away from the caves, they will likely see all the carnage and that there is no chest for them to pick up, and they might just turn right back around and go home to their boss... And, well, let's just say that we have some pretty good trackers in our group...

If no one has any more questions for Varis I'm going to go ahead and move the action forward. Was there interest in investigating the dilapidated hut?

Grey Jake will check out the hut

The hut we passed? Tratiln will help Grey Jake do a quick one over on it.

A couple of general game questions:

1) Do we need to report the exact amounts that we are depositing with the Moneychangers Guild, or is that something we should track on our own?
2) Do weekly rations count as part of the 50 gp/month '"basic food and lodging" expense that we pay at the start of each month, and if so, are we already covered for Thaumont?
3) The injured were healed 1 hp after last night's rest, right?

Wow, lots of posts on a Saturday. Thordin will use his share to buy a sturdy Pony, with Saddle/bit & bridle, and also 1 week of dried rations.

Btw, what is Thaumont?

frobozz wrote:A couple of general game questions:

1) Do we need to report the exact amounts that we are depositing with the Moneychangers Guild, or is that something we should track on our own?
2) Do weekly rations count as part of the 50 gp/month '"basic food and lodging" expense that we pay at the start of each month, and if so, are we already covered for Thaumont?
3) The injured were healed 1 hp after last night's rest, right?

1)Go ahead and track it on your own, if you don't mind. It might be a good idea to add a line to the character sheet, just under the encumbrance tracker, listing the cash/goods you have in the bank.
2)I'm going to say that rations do not count as part of the cost of living expense. Essentially, the cost of living is for all the little costs incurred while in a town. So, I'm assuming there is some some fee to enter Threshold, or other town, which is covered, as is lodging costs, food at an inn, and drink. Rations (trail and non) are not covered.
3)Yes. I forgot to mention that. The injured are all healed 1 hp after a night of bed rest.


Thaumont is the name of a month. I don't have the gazateer in front of me right now, but I believe it is our equivalent of April.

Thanks for the clarifications. I added a line called "Moneychanger's Guild:" directly below my kit information on my character sheet.