The Wooden Keep

[Marullus]

There are party members fluent in dwarvish who haven't gotten to weigh-in on the disbursement of property yet. I will hold answering this until everyone has gotten to speak.

Clay explains that, as part of the buying price, he would like to know what is written within - to develop a sense of place.

"It is the greatest part of my duties, and my time, to study and interpolate such things, and it will take a significant effort to do so with such a weighty collection of books," he says, stroking his pointy beard. "I cannot pay you handsomely for the materials, then also provide you all my services for free. If you wish me to share the contents of these tomes, it will drastically lower the price I pay for them to account for my labors."

He assesses the books. "I'll offer 800gp for the set, or, if you wish free access to what I learn, I will offer 200gp."

From above:
- Can provide information known to him, charging 25gp per question (and up)

[Dram]

Baxtaw looks over the dwarven books. These are not spell books. These books hold some other magical purpose. This one here is clerical. He puts the leather bound books back in the chest that they came from. He will then wrap the Orbin a cloth. And puts it into the chest. These items should be locked away and secured somewhere. We need to find a wizard with far more skills than I have to determine what we have here. He then closes the chest. He looks at Clay. Clay you may understand dwarvish, but even theses tomes are beyond your understanding.

[Marullus]

sorry, I will help here.

There are two sets of books, which you are judging by their covers.

The first are the dwarven journals, which are non-magical. The sage is offering to buy them.

The second contains the huge, older, non-dwarf books. Baxtaw is talking about THOSE books, which the clerics identified as magical but he is identifying as NOT spellbooks.

[Rusty Tincanne]

Edited to reflect my newly acquired, improved knowledge of the rules and how feudal society works.

Clay Weatherwax
Clay shuffles through the township and eventually finds his way back to the Usurer's Office. I want to have a Meeting House built. For my goddess, Beith. Clay outlines the location, at the newly cleansed cistern from the Old Mill, as well as plans for a three story building sitting atop the existing basement. The bottom floor will be approximately 20'x20', with a fireplace to cook and heat and two sets of stairs: one leading to the basement and the other leading up. The second floor will be a 10'x10' space with two glazed windows and a normal door leading out to a small landing with another set of stairs leading to the third story. The third story will be more of a pavilion for watching migratory birds, stars and planets, And a roost for my friend Maurice. He's an owl. And really smart. He continues to explain the first story will need a locking door and a few glazed windows. I might build another small room off the side at some point, but not yet. What do you think?

I'll add up those costs later. Right now I'm going to hang out with my wife.

[Keehnelf]

Irving arrives at the gate of the keep after his return to town, the ogre's bloodless head dangling from one hand as he awaits entry. When permitted, he presents the head to the authorities, informing them that dangerous, hungry ogres seem to be roaming the wilds. He seems uncomfortable and awkward as he awaits compensation for having killed this one.

[Zhym]

Fingers, his dog Sprinkles at his side, spots Irving on the way into the keep.

"You just bagged the one?" he calls out, pointing to the ogre head. "We defeated a whole family of 'em a while back!" He grins and scratches the back of Sprinkles's head.

[Keehnelf]

Irving frowns, but continues on his way.

[Rusty Tincanne]

Irving arrives at the gate of the keep after his return to town, the ogre's bloodless head dangling from one hand as he awaits entry. When permitted, he presents the head to the authorities, informing them that dangerous, hungry ogres seem to be roaming the wilds. He seems uncomfortable and awkward as he awaits compensation for having killed this one.

WHAT!? First you want the mule and now you are getting a reward without splitting it? You ungrateful...! j/k

[Keehnelf]

If Irving does get a reward, he plans to give it all to the church: what he wants is a start to his heroic saga, which requires people to know about his deeds in an institutional kind of way. He doesn't want to be a braggart, but in his simple way of understanding things, having stories told about your deeds and aiding royalty are important parts of being a hero.

[Marullus]

Clay Weatherwax visits the Usurer's office and requests a property deed, laying out his plans for construction on the "old mill" property. The Usurer nods throughout the explanation of how construction would be done. He consults a large leather map marked with property claims and boundaries and asks Clay to explain the location again. Finally, he shakes his head.

"I'm sorry, but I'm afraid I'll need an accurate map or you to pay the assayer to create one in order to determine the boundaries of your claim. I fear your memory on this is not sufficient."

You got lost both times on your way to the location, realizing it when the trip home took less time than expected. You don't actually know where exactly it is. You can draw an accurate map by travelling at half-speed.

[Marullus]

Irving presents the ogre head to Sir Albecht, Captain of the Guard, telling the tale of their journey and its death by single combat at his hands, trying to impress him enough to gain recognition for the valiant deeds.

CHA check [4d6] = 15

The rather stoic and dubious Knight purses his lips and listens to the tale. At the end, however, he almost seems impressed. "A fanciful tale, if you had not such proof to support it. I have rewards to offer regarding the goblins, but cannot dispute the valor in facing an ogre in such manner." He slides a pouch of 30 gold pieces across the table.

[Keehnelf]

Irving thanks the knight profusely and offers to leave him the head as a trophy for the Duke.

[Rusty Tincanne]

"I'm sorry, but I'm afraid I'll need an accurate map or you to pay the assayer to create one in order to determine the boundaries of your claim. I fear your memory on this is not sufficient."

Clay scowls, clearly disappointed with the difficulty. This is frustrating. It is just open land. No one is there. I am trying to do things your way, but you make it so difficult. All this... what is it called? Bureaucracy.

Taking a deep breath, he continues. Okay. It isn't your fault. It is just foreign to me. Where I am from, if the land was open, you could just stay there.Anyhow, I'll be back in a day or two.

How long would it take at 1/2 speed? (without incident, that is...) 2 days? I'll hire some PCs if we won't miss the festival.

[Marullus]

How long would it take at 1/2 speed? (without incident, that is...) 2 days? I'll hire some PCs if we won't miss the festival.

Coming back to town put you at the north gate a day faster than expected - retracing your way from the north gate could be expected to get you there in a day, camp overnight, and then return in a day, assuming you don't get lost again or waylaid.

Current timestamp is 25 May 2021, so you have six days to the festival. A quick, no-frills mapping trip can be expedited in that time.

[Spearmint]

Idriss Silverfox

Idriss visits the office of Wilhelm the sage.

"My recent exploration brought me into contact with these certain creatures. Undead and ghoulish at first I thought but my studies and travels call to mind an order of demons. There was an ever watchful mask and it looked like other bodies lay prone in worship to sea gods. . Is this more evidence of old cults still active here, should the Duke be informed of their presence, it seems the guard attack on the goblin hole did not drive out all threads."

If asked, Idriss will share his experience with the sniffers and what he saw. Hopefully Wilhelm will be free enough with some thoughts and not try to make him pay a 25gp question fee.

[Marullus]

Wilhelm listens intently, asking questions until you have provided as much detail as you recall. He slides A handful of ten platinum coins across the table to you. "This information is indeed valuable. I will share your concern with the ArchDuke. Further exploration of such a place so close to the town is warranted and I welcome further revelations. Your descriptions do indeed seem infernal - given the imperviousness to fire, I would suggest taking holy water with you and perhaps entreating the Templars for help."

[Rusty Tincanne]

Clay Weatherwax visits the Usurer's office and requests a property deed, laying out his plans for construction on the "old mill" property. The Usurer nods throughout the explanation of how construction would be done. He consults a large leather map marked with property claims and boundaries and asks Clay to explain the location again. Finally, he shakes his head.

"I'm sorry, but I'm afraid I'll need an accurate map or you to pay the assayer to create one in order to determine the boundaries of your claim. I fear your memory on this is not sufficient."

Clay Weatherwax returns to the Userer on the morning of May 28. He hangs the map to the seated man and reiterates his request for a deed to the land. He also makes arrangements for constructing his new meeting house, apparently called "Beith's Watch."

I'm on a phone now so I won't do the costs until I'm on a laptop.

[Marullus]

The man confirms the details of the map, updating his own sprawling piece of vellum. About halfway through Clay's narrative, he writes down "Beith's Watch" on the ArchDuke's map without asking Clay and then interrupts. "Excellent, and the gods speed your efforts as you civilize this untamed expanse. I'll be in touch regarding your assessment, payable by the Greenleaf Festival each year. You can hire the masons and laborers in the marketplace."

Put your building plans in Town Business and hire people there. I'll make a new thread for Deeds and Wills when I get a chance.

[Zhym]

A newcomer rides into town—an attractive man with short dark hair and a neatly trimmed beard. He rides a fine chestnut palfrey, its coat shiny, on a saddle intricately worked with tooled designs in the edges of its leather. He wears a vest, doublet, and trousers, each of the finest quality. A thin sword that seems more ornamental than functional is strapped to his hip.

He pulls over at the keep, ties his horse to a post, and steps inside. He looks for the Arch-Duke's secretary or representative.

"Please forgive my intrusion," he says when he finds one. He pulls a sealed letter from his vest and hands it over. "A letter from my father, Lord Kettleworth, with his warmest regards to the Arch-Duke and best wishes for success in his rule. My name is Pendleton Kettleworth. I shall not impose on the Arch-Duke's valuable time, but please relate my own respects as well, for what little they are worth."

If the Arch-Duke's representative requires nothing further of him, Pentleton, etiquette satisfied, retrieves his horse and heads for the tavern.

[Marullus]

The letter is accepted with a promise to pass it on, accompanied by a dutiful, "Welcome to Gaul." The administrative staff is rather blasé about such things.