Return to Keep on the Borderlands: IC

[mfrench]

The call went out in Loftwick for hardy men, willing to head out to the borderlands for dangerous but lucrative work. Several adventurers answered the call, and appeared before the honorable Nikolai Ferronti, a wealthy man visiting the city.

As those hoping to be hired met him individually in his quarters, Ferronti, a sharply dressed man with a trimmed goatee, looked and acted in every manner like a foreignor. He carried himself as one accustomed to weath and privalege, and his offer to them went like so:
"A small Keep on the borders of this nation has recently come under my sway. Unfortunately, it is beset at this time with bandits, goblins, and the like. I am in need of stout men with an adventurous spirit to clear the lands of danger. The work will be tough, but I believe you will be up to it.

"I will be willing to give you a stipend of 50 pieces of gold today, as a good faith offering, and to prepare you for the journey west. In two days time, you will escort my representative, Danello, west to Kendall Keep, and begin the work of clearing my lands of danger. You will receive another 50 gp upon arrival there, and there will be bounties paid out to you for the slaying of monsters and brigands. Is this offer acceptable?"

OOC: Each of you can negotiate your own terms with him concurrently with the adventure's start. Just put 'Negotiations' in the Title section. You can also question him, investigate in town, etc. i just don't want that to take away from the first adventure installment below.

 

[mfrench]

It is the morning of the third and final day of the trek to Kendall Keep. Danello has ridden so far in the second carraige of the caravan. Typically, the lead carriage stays ahead of them along with a handful of ragged-looking outriders. Two wagons follow, one with a merchant and his goods, the other used as transport for commoners.

On this morning, the caravan master is in a heated argument with a man in white robes, who could only have been riding in the lead carraige. Danello is with them, but seems to be mostly an observer, although he appears to be trying to calm them down.

 

[OnlytheStrong]

[sblock=Veir Treehugger]

He simply nods and holds out his hand. With the 50 gold in hand, he turns and walks out the door.

-----------------------------------------


Veir walks up and sees the man he is supposed to escort. Danello seemed to be in the middle of an fight. The dwarf couldn't tell if the man was involved in it or simply trying to break it up. He shook his head and put a hand on his beard. He had an elf braid it for him, split in two and breaded behind his head.

ooc: I was thinking of trying to figure out how to play my dwarf with such crappy charisma. I think what I will do........ is have him be the extreme quiet type. He can talk, and when he does will probably be rude (though he doesn't mean to be). It could be really hard to do lol.

[/sblock]

 

[Arkhandus]

Rautham Cranston, Human Enchanter

Rautham, the young Oeridian wizard, agrees easily with Ferronti's terms and prepares to leave with the other hired freelancers.

'I need to get out and see the countryside, breath some fresh air, and get used to dealing with people outside Master Grisham's library,' Rautham thinks as he leaves. 'Plus, I've got to steel my nerves and get used to calling forth battle-magic in a pinch, or else I'll get soft and botch it later, when my life depends on it and nobody's around to save me. Of course, research costs money, too, and I've got nary a silver to my name. Grisham's already evicted me....' he added mentally.

Rautham almost bumped into some burly orcblooded fellow as he left Ferronti's place, lost in thought as he was, but thankfully avoided getting a beating from the brute.

Moving on hurriedly, Rautham uses some of the stipend from Ferronti to buy a few supplies in Loftwick. He uses a bit more of it to pay for an inn room to last him the two days before leaving.

*****************

Finally, after the group has set out from town, Rautham moves up curiously near Danello, wondering what the fuss is.

 

[mfrench]

Danello approaches Veir and Rautham, and tells them, "Gentlemen, your work may begin a little prematurely. I fear that a situation has arisen which calls for your services. Would you be so kind as to gather the other gentlemen by the carraige? I shall return there with the Curate shortly."

As they've come closer, they notice the other two conversants, one the gruff bearded caravan master, the other a man in white robes and long, flowing blonde hair held back by a circlet of silver with a blue gem inset. The two men are no longer facing each other, but the anger of their disagreement is still worn on their faces.

 

[OnlytheStrong]

Veir looks at Rautham with furrowed eyebrows. He carefully and slowly looks the man from head to toe. Veir looks at his companion, Slash, and shrugs. The badger strolls right up to Rautham and roots around near his feet. For a moment, Veir thought he might bite the man. He actually smiled when Slash bit at the man's shoes.

 

[Arkhandus]

Rautham Cranston, human enchanter

Rautham steps back from the badger, saying "Shoo!" and shaking his foot as though to kick it. Then he goes to fetch the other freelancers traveling with the caravan. To the other freelancers, he says "Danello wants us, seems there's a problem up front."

 

[mfrench]

Danello approaches the small gathered group, saying, "Good moning, good people." He eyes the badger somewhat suspiciously, but nevertheless goes on addressing the hirelings. "It seems that there was a robbery last night, and the caravan master wants nothing to do with it. The victim is a Curate, traveling with a relic out to the Keep. His cargo is missing, but the master is ready to press on -- too much danger from bandits, he says.

"I have volunteered your services, as you seem resourceful enough to track these scallawags down and do the church a service. This is all done in the name of Nikolai, of course. There will be an extra reward if you can bring this relic back, and earn the good will of the church for your master.

"The thieves, well . . . no need to return their bodies if they put up much of a fight. If they submit, bring them back to have justice administered to them. Any questions?"

 

[OnlytheStrong]

Slash digs a quick hole, finding a fat grub. He toys with it for a bit, batting it back and forth then decides to taste it. Veir bends slightly and thumbs the badger on the tail, and looks deep into its eyes. The badger looks at the other men, then sits as if it were paying attention. Veir shakes his head, his thick grey hair actually making a thud noise as it hits his body with each swing. He looks up when he realises that he just said no to the man and simply shrugs. He looks at Danello crosses his arms across his chest and points in both directions.


ooc: He's asking which way to go. I'm getting a kick outta this guy so far. Let me know if he's annoying anyone and I'll flip the script some on how he acts

 

[Arkhandus]

Rautham Cranston, human enchanter

Rautham nods in the affirmative. "Alright, we'll go after these brigands and retrieve the relic. If everyone else is in agreement, of course...." he says after a few moments.

To himself, he thinks 'More money will definitely help my research, but I'll have to make sure these folks are the ones who get the thieves' attention......no way am I risking myself over this!'