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(Adventure) Of eggs and desires [GnomeWorks judging]
You all enter the heart room of the Red Dragon Inn. It is one of the more luxurious private rooms in the inn. A very large fireplace is the main feature of the room and it provides both light and warm to the place. Numerous chairs surround it and they are both beautiful and comfortable. The walls are adorned with various paintings of famous battles, places and people. A plate filled with bread and cheese sits on a small table. Baeron, Bert and the ape, Brutus, are all here. As you enter the place and make yourself confortable, Baeron never ceases to observe each you. Finally, he talks.
“Alright, I’ll try to briefly explain the situation. A few weeks ago, some hippogriffs left a nearby mountain range to establish their nests in the hills of Larkenwold Reach, north of Orussus. When we, the Raddanors, got word that, we sent a couple of your gatherers to collect some eggs, as the beasts are highly prized as flying mounts. The leader of this pair was Marion Oldrey. He’s also part of the family, a distant cousin of mine. Marion did send a missive from one of the northern village saying that he had located a nest and would soon be returning with the eggs. This was a week ago and he hasn't come home yet. We fear that he might have been killed by the hippogriffs. Sadly, our own qualified personnel is pretty stretched at the moment. That's were you adventurers come in. I want you to travel to Apple Glade, the village I mentioned earlier, and discover what happened to our gatherers. If all you find is their corpses, as I fear, bring them back so we can give them a proper burial. You’ll be pay 300 coins of gold for this, to divide amongst yourselves. Oh! and Marion should be wearing a signet ring like this.” He shows you his golden signet ring featuring a carved prancing griffon. “Also, if you feel up to it, you can try and retrieve some of the hippogriff eggs. We’ll pay you 1000 golden crowns for each intact egg, but don’t be careless and get killed. Do you have any questions?”
Last edited by GPEKO; 11th November 2004 at 05:08 PM..
"Boy it's crowded in here! At least compared to the woods." Planus will sit somewhat awkwardly in the cushioned chairs trying (and failing) to pretend like he does this all the time and help himself to some bread and cheese. "I'm not sure that Mongrel would approve of capturing these beasts, but looking for your friend sure sounds exciting. I'm sure it will have a happy ending. I can track a fair lick, but a week old trail will do me as much good as a prediction of yesterday's weather."
Rika walks in, grabs some cheese, and takes a seat. She asks "So, what are we being hired for" and pauses as Baeron explains the offer. This sounds interesting. I'm not good at much but swordplay, but I can keep the others safe. What do you know about the village and its surroundings.
"I'm not sure that Mongrel would approve of capturing these beasts, but looking for your friend sure sounds exciting."
As Planus says this, Baeron frowns. "This is what we do, our business. We capture, breed and train all sort of beasts and animals. The Stray Dog might not approve but he isn't our master. If you also have a problem with our business, I suggest you leave." Baeron says coldly.
Quote:
Originally Posted by fuzzy
This sounds interesting. I'm not good at much but swordplay, but I can keep the others safe. What do you know about the village and its surroundings.
"What do I know about Apple Glade? Not much, but truth be told, there isn't much there in the first place. It's a small hamlet in the hills and, like the name suggests, they grow apples and make cider. To get there, you have to follow the northern road to Rivenblight for about 25 miles and then take one of the paths leading into the hills. There should be some sign indicating the way." He pauses for a moment to retrieve glasses and a bottle of wine sitting on a shelf. "Any of you would like some wine?" he says while pouring some into a glass. "Where was I? Ah yes, Apple Glade and the region. Well, the Larkenwold Reach is a pretty wild region of wooded hills. There are steep ravines here and there but the hills aren't very high. Wild animals and a few small orc tribes is almost all that lives in the region. Nothing you can't handle, I hope."
OOC: You can't use knowledge skills untrained. However, since Rika lived in Orussus all her life, she knows that 1) the Larkenwold Reach is a wild region, with few settlements 2) there are folk tales that says dragons used to live there, 3) a hippogriff is a creature that looks to be a mix between bird and horse.
Yes, some wine would be nice, thank you. What do you know about how hippogriffs fight, incase we need to determine if the bird-beasts killed them or a human did it?
Originally posted by GPEKO
If you also have a problem with our business, I suggest you leave.
"Well, good sir, I'll help you find your friends if you'll have me, but I won't be collecting any eggs. To each his own. What do we do if the .. 'evidence' has been eaten by the hippogriffs?"
I didn't say we shouldn't retreive any eggs. I just think that our first priority is finding the first eg-hunters, dead or alive. After that we should bag some eggs. I don't think we should take all the eggs, though. We're less likely to be chased if we leave some for the hippogriffs to guard. Rika then says something you cant quite understand1.How much do we get paid if we bring them in alive? Also, what do we do if a rival offed them
1If you speak Elven: I hope we dont have to fight any hippogriffs for the eggs.
Elven: "Well, I won't be fighting any hippogriffs for eggs."
"Grab as many eggs as you want. I'll make sure to be well away from you when you do, but I will aid in every way to find these missing persons. Remember the old saying, 'When you and your companion are being chased by a hippogriff, you don't have to outrun the hippogriff, you just have to out run your companion who is weighed down by a bunch of eggs.'"
Addressing Baeron, "Can you provide us with provisions for the journey? Horses, food, extra arrows?"
OOC: It was Planus, not Rika, who expressed a disinterest in gathering eggs.
Yes, some wine would be nice, thank you. What do you know about how hippogriffs fight, incase we need to determine if the bird-beasts killed them or a human did it?
Baeron pours some wine for Rika and hands her the glass. "The hippogriffs? Well, they usually attack by diving and slashing with their beak and claws. This should give you and idea of the kind of wounds they inflict."
Quote:
Originally Posted by SlagMortar
"Well, good sir, I'll help you find your friends if you'll have me, but I won't be collecting any eggs. To each his own. What do we do if the .. 'evidence' has been eaten by the hippogriffs?"
Baeron narrows his eyes at Planus. "Fine, suit yourself. My main concern is that you find what happened to Marion. If the 'evidence' -- like you say -- has been eaten, bring back some proof of your tale. His signet ring perhaps..."
Quote:
Originally Posted by Guilt Puppy
"300 between us?" He shakes his head, then addresses the group. "I hope ye know we're grabbin' e'ery last egg we can find, griffos be doomed."
"300 coins of gold is a fair salary, more than some make in a year of toil. But since you seem to be hesitant and I want such an experienced warrior for this job, I can raise it to 500 but nothing more." OOC: Sorry about the relatively low pay but that's just the way a 'living' game goes. Sturm can always try to find more lucrative work elsewhere.
Quote:
Originally Posted by fussy
How much do we get paid if we bring them in alive? Also, what do we do if a rival offed them.
"I'll be happy to see them alive again but your pay won't change. I'm paying you to find out what happened to them. Marion himself might be willing to reward you if he's still alive but in trouble."
Ironwolf Kinkaid stands in front off the door leading into the heart room of the Red Dragon Inn. The proprietor of the establishment, Joe, told him that a noble named Baeron Raddanor was in there and that he was looking for adventurers. Ironwolf can hear voices through the door. He wonders if he should knock or just enter...
OOC: I'd say your character arrived after they left for the private room but your still welcomed to join the adventure if you wish. I'm not all that familiar with psionics (all I have is the SRD) but it should be fine. Just correct me if you have to .
Ironwolf Kinkaid stands in front off the door leading into the heart room of the Red Dragon Inn. The proprietor of the establishment, Joe, told him that a noble named Baeron Raddanor was in there and that he was looking for adventurers. Ironwolf can hear voices through the door. He wonders if he should knock or just enter...
Knocking politely, Ironwolf pauses for a response. If invited to enter (or at least not asked to go away) he will open the door and step inside.
"Joe said your looking for some adventurers in here. I could use some work, if you can use one more."
After knocking on the door, Ironwolf hears the conversation stops and someone tell him to "Come in.". Inside, he sees a dwarf, a female and a male elf, apparently follow adventurers, a richly clothes man, who must be Baeron, and an hairy man holding a chain linked to a huge ape who must weight at least a thousand pounds!
Baeron is the first to speak after Ironwolf. "Humm ... another warrior. It seems nothing will stand in your way, friends. Well, warrior, come in, sit down and tell us your name." After Ironwolf does so, Baeron continues. "I'm Baeron Raddanor, of the Raddanor family. Let me tell you about the job I'm proposing." Baeron then goes on to explain the mission he wants you to do.
OOC: see the first post, the others will have to fill you in for the rest.
(OOC: The glare should have been directed at Planus, my mistake. It's what happens when I make posts early in the morning...)
Quote:
Originally Posted by GPEKO
"300 coins of gold is a fair salary, more than some make in a year of toil. But since you seem to be hesitant and I want such an experienced warrior for this job, I can raise it to 500 but nothing more."
Sturm seems satisfied with this offer. "A year a toil with no riskin' o' their necks, ye ken? But five hundr'd should div' out well 'nough. Tho' I still say what we grab s'me eggs while we're out."
He then turns to Planus. "'n ye won't have'n worry 'bout outrunnin' me when we do, 'cause I won' be runnin'..."
Ironwolf listens calmly, takes a moment to look over the ape, and then speaks.
"If it was Hippogriffs, it should be easy enough to find out. They won't have bothered to cover up their tracks. However, it could have been a more dangerous predator. Is it possible that your business rivals had your people killed, and if so who might those people be? Also, one or more of your people could have found a higher bidder. It would be... inconvenient to be marked for death by some comercial or criminal organization. Can we expect a bonus of some kind if more dangerous foes turn out to be the culprits?"
Ironwolf will listen carefully to the answer, hoping to read a bit between the lines. Sense Motive (untrained) +2.
Devlin surveys the gathered crowd, trying to judge their perceived strengths and weaknesses. Sturm is obviously the muscle here, but all look capable. He determines that, if they can work together, he has a chance of getting through this alive and with a heavier purse.
"The gold is fine, sir, but I find myself wondering if you might be willing to help us procure supplies. If we're to be confronting aerial beasts on your behalf, we'll be needing some specialized equipment."
Baeron responds to the interrogations of Ironwolf and Rika. “We have a few enemies, that for sure, but I doubt you'll have to confront them here. Druids circles have cause us problems in the past but I haven't heard of any operating in the Larkenwold Reach. You also have nothing to fear from criminal organizations of Orussus. We have certain ... arrangements. Finally, I doubt our competitors would go through the trouble of organizing an assassination of such low members of our family. Besides, they haven't used such aggressive tactics in a long time. Marion doesn't have any enemies that I know off. I suppose it is possible that he had a run in with a competing gatherer but that such a meeting would amount to murder seems preposterous to me. But, anyway, all we’re doing is speculating. To find out what happened, this is why I’m sending you out.”
OOC: You all feel like he's telling the truth and not omitting anything.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dungannon
"The gold is fine, sir, but I find myself wondering if you might be willing to help us procure supplies. If we're to be confronting aerial beasts on your behalf, we'll be needing some specialized equipment."
“I was thinking the Family could lend each of you one of your fine horses for the trip, fully stocked with provisions. A sniffing hound could also be made available to you. If you need anything else, like nets or bows, let me know and I’ll see what I can do. You’ll have to return us such equipment, however.”
Baeron retreives a sheet of paper, writes a few things and gives it to one of you. “If you don’t have anymore questions, I’d like you to all write down your name on this. It’s just to formalize what we discussed here.” Those of you who can read see that the contract basically says that you’re hired for the sum of 500 gp to find proof of what happened to Marion Oldrey and his partner. The gold is to be delivered upon completion of the task. It also notes that the lost of any Raddanors’ property (including horses and other animals) during the course of the mission will be deducted from your salary.
OOC: Dungannon, sorry for not including Devlin in the description made to Ironwolf. For some weird reason (a brain cramp, I guess), I mistook your post in the tavern thread for one of Guilt Puppy's. I was kind of confused when I first saw your post here but I have no problem with having Devlin on the adventure.
Last edited by GPEKO; 11th November 2004 at 06:16 PM..
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