[5e_One Shot] Baptism by Fire

[Helmsman01]

River Alamber

The past two days on the river have been uneventful, you spend time watching the sailors work the oars and lines and spend your evenings moored near the shore. Captain Scrinner is as stand-offish as he is rude. So long as his men look like they are working he only yells at them once and moves on. Should he find them slacking off, well the tirade goes on for an hour or more, with a bit of grumbling at the end.

It is almost full dark on the second day and the boat continues on its trip the oars slapping in the water. Although the sun is fully down the sky ahead is alight with a deep orange and red glow. The light is so good that as you stand on deck you can see everyone and everything as if the sun were behind a dark cloud. The muted light casting everything in dark greys and blacks.

______________________________________________________________________

Aridrish's camp

Following the wagon train a mile or so the dragonborn turns off north to the hills, towards home. His gaze always drawn to the mountains which loom beyond. The rumors and bits and pieces of information he overheard at Fort Silan nagging at his mind. What could destroy a seven-man patrol? Why didn't the grey gnomes bring back others or proof they had found others, dead or otherwise? Is what ambushed the patrol still out there? Was it just a skirmish between Tymanther and the Untheric? The knights back was burnt and the barbarian knew first-hand that could mean another dragonborn. To many questions, he would just need to be more watchful during his hunting.

 

[TaranTheWanderer]

Spoiler: Fern (Mini-Sheet)

HP: 18/18 AC: 14 (Leather)	Bardic Inspiration: 3/3 (1d6)	Skills	Spell Slots: 1st: [ ] [ ] [ ]
Pass Perc: 13 Pass Inv: 12 Pass Ins: 11	SPELL SAVE DC: 13	Arcana: 4 Deception(race); 7 Disguise Kit: 5*	Cantrips Minor Illusion; Vicious Mockery
STATS: STR: 8-1 DEX: 16 + 3 CON: 12 + 1 INT: 14+2 WIS: 12 +1 CHA:16 +3	SAVES: STR: -1 DEX:+5 CON: +1 INT: +2 WIS: +1 CHA:+5	Performance: 5 Persuasion: 5 Perception (feat): 3 Slight of Hand: 5* Stealth: 5* Thief Tools: 5*	Known Spells 1st Animal Friendship Comprehend Languages, Detect Magic, Heroism, Sleep,

---

The first day of the trip was exciting and the river landscape was a wonder to Fern but, by day two, Fern was bored. Everything looked the same and, ironically, Fern wished he'd brought his History book along - at least he'd have something to do.

He'd read his birthday poetry book cover to cover four times. He'd even taken his penny whistle out and played some songs, which was a hit to the crew at first. The problem was Fern hadn't played since he'd lived on the streets five years ago and he only knew six songs. After the first hour of playing, Captain Scrimmer, not-so-politely told Fern to stuff the whistle someplace that Fern had never heard of. Fern had to ask Amil the definition. Fern was pretty sure the whistle wouldn't fit there.

What he really wanted to do was spar with his new rapier but there was no room on the boat. Instead, he was sitting in the dim light, watching some sailors playing cards.

I could take these guys for all their money, he thought.

But he resisted the temptation to try any of his old confidence games: he had nowhere to run away.

Instead, he went to the back of the boat and started rummaging through the chest. Summoning an illusion of a candle to light the contents of the chest, Fern grabbed the first companion to happen by,

"Hey, maybe we should split this stuff out before we get to the fort. Like, split up the money and hand out the potions and stuff. This candle is really neat. It lights up and can't go out, even under water! I'm a wizard so I could use those scrolls...and there's this neat amulet. I mean, what if we have to leave the boat in an emergency? We'll lose all this stuff."

---

Spoiler: OOC

Throwing this in here in case.
perception: 1D20+3 = [7]+3 = 10

List of stuff:

• 220gp
• two potions of healing (2d4+2)
• scrolls invisibility, knock, and detect magic
• candle of the deep
• clockwork amulet

 

[FitzTheRuke]

"Aye, would be best for us to stow the best of it on our persons." agreed Mardoc.

OOC: He'll happily take one of the two potions. What's the amulet again? The son's thing? Mardoc will take that too if no one objects.

 

[VLAD the Destroyer]

Aridrish's steps slow as he walks back into the mountains. His mind turns, going over the information he discovered in Fort Silan. Could it be his kind, back to raiding and killing on the border. Using the turmoil to enrich themselves and dishonor his people. He realizes that he has stopped and turned back listening to the clop of the horses hooves as the soldiers continue on the path to Fort Wheelan. He curses knowing he could not live with himself if he did not follow them.

Aridrish turns and cuts accross the path he was on to meet up with the column of soldiers.

 

[FitzTheRuke]

After taking the clockwork amulet and a potion from the wizard's stash, Mardoc watched in horror as Fern began to publicly divide a large sum of gold into four parts. The greedy eyes of sailors were on them, and there was a good chance that someone would try to murder them and throw their bodies overboard.

"Let's move someplace quiet, lad." and shuffled the boy out of sight of the sailors, who he hoped hoped had been too busy to notice. He didn't want his share of the coins, but he took them anyway.

"Gold does terrible things t'folks." he instructed the youngster while shaking his head, "Murder, slavery, an' war might nae be such trooble in the world were it nae for greed."

 

[TaranTheWanderer]

Spoiler: Fern (Mini-Sheet)

HP: 18/18 AC: 14 (Leather)	Bardic Inspiration: 3/3 (1d6)	Skills	Spell Slots: 1st: [ ] [ ] [ ]
Pass Perc: 13 Pass Inv: 12 Pass Ins: 11	SPELL SAVE DC: 13	Arcana: 4 Deception(race); 7 Disguise Kit: 5*	Cantrips Minor Illusion; Vicious Mockery
STATS: STR: 8-1 DEX: 16 + 3 CON: 12 + 1 INT: 14+2 WIS: 12 +1 CHA:16 +3	SAVES: STR: -1 DEX:+5 CON: +1 INT: +2 WIS: +1 CHA:+5	Performance: 5 Persuasion: 5 Perception (feat): 3 Slight of Hand: 5* Stealth: 5* Thief Tools: 5*	Known Spells 1st Animal Friendship Comprehend Languages, Detect Magic, Heroism, Sleep,

---

"Gold does terrible things t'folks." he instructed the youngster while shaking his head, "Murder, slavery, an' war might nae be such trooble in the world were it nae for greed."

Fern had been so focused on the magical items that he hadn’t even considered the money and, truly, it was more money than he’d ever seen in one place. Inwardly, he scolded himself for his stupidity.

Mardok’s words struck straight to the truth: Fern had lost Blind Bart because of thugs who beat the old man to death for his money. He also remembered a time when he had pulled a knife on an older boy who had tried to take money from one of the kids Fern had worked with. It was the first time Fern had to use violence to protect someone.

His eyes welled with tears at the memories,

“I…I’m sorry, I wasn’t thinking.”

He recovered and, wiping his eyes quickly so, hopefully, the dwarf wouldn’t notice, "I don’t think anyone saw. I’ll leave it to you to make sure everyone gets their share.

---

Spoiler: OOC

@FitzTheRuke you can choose if Mardoc notices Fern’s reaction or if he understands the meaning of it. His insight is certainly high enough

 

[Helmsman01]

Catching up to the slow moving convoy is easy for the dragonborn. As he approaches, two knights turn off to intersecpt him before he gets within a quarter mile of the first cart. The stop and stay astride thier warhorses, weapons undrawn.

The older of the two raises an empty hand and shouts out, "Peace! Peace of the mountains be with you."

The other armored knight looks angry and growls to his companion. "Its the same Tymantite that followed us most of the day."

 

[Helmsman01]

Aboard the boat Mardoc and Fern separate the coins from the chest into four small sacks. As they do any eyes that follow them or wonder away from their tasks gets a quick cuff to the back of the head. "You slackers! You want to spend another night in a hammock? Or do you want to get yer jobs done so we can dock at Firetrees! And sleep in a warm taproom. You good fer nuthin' Troll-d*cks! Can't believe an hour from our destination and now you decide to slack and risk swamping us! No I do believe it! Get to work! All of youse!"

While the duo finishes their division of the gold, they notice no more eyes on them, and the sailors giving them a wide berth.

Turning a bend in the river the village of Firetrees comes into view. The silhouette of the buildings outlined in a bright red glow that reflects off the water.

 

[FitzTheRuke]

Mardoc could not miss Fern's sudden sadness at his words and mistook it for his having been too harsh in his scolding. Mardoc had never been good with children (or people in general if he were honest). Unfortunately, his anger at himself for hurting the boy's feelings only served to make him more standoffish. He took the gold with a grunt and moved off to find a place to hide and split it into shares, which he doled out privately to the others. All the while he inwardly seethed at himself and at the metal objects which so many of his people stereotypically loved so much, to their misery.

He regretted scolding the lad even more when he discovered that the captain ran a tightly disciplined ship, and the sailors turned to their duties.

 

[Kobold Stew]

Darrock is happy for the magical items to be distributed among those who want to carry them. He is surprised, however, to see Mardoc and Fern sorting through the chest that he had been carrying for the group, without them asking first.

"It's a bad sign, when everyone starts thinking only as individuals," he says. "It's something you learn quickly when you have as many siblings as I do," the Harengon explains. "This is a sign of mistrust, and you will end up costing everyone more."

He looks at the child, and knows he is simply acting as a child will. The dwarf should know better. "If this is the way you want it, fine. Give me my portion, and it will be done. Unless you are wiling to work together, we shall not recover this boy successfully."

Darrock doesn't know what to say, but he will start carrying his bag with him at all times. "Everyone should take the items they wish to claim now." He takes the bag of gold, and goes off on his own for a while. Darrock is angry at the mistrust he feels that has been shown.

OOC: There are four of us on the boat? According to this post, that means 220/4=55 gp each (do we know of the fifth person at the camp? If so, should it be 44?). The Sending stone listed there is not group treasure; it is something the harengon has made himself (and is listed on his sheet). I presume that the other was given to the Arch Mage in person, as requested. That leaves: two potions of healing (2d4+2) -- one with Mardoc? scrolls invisibility, knock, and detect magic -- all with Fern? candle of the deep -- with Fern? clockwork amulet -- with Mardoc? If that's right there is only one healing potion left, which Darrock will carry of no one else takes it. As an artificer, he is interested in the amulet, simply because of its mechanism, but (now) Darrock won't admit that, and will not carry anything else.