Upgrade your account to a Community Supporter account and remove most of the site ads.
Rocket your D&D 5E and Level Up: Advanced 5E games into space! Alpha Star Magazine Is Launching... Right Now!

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Cerebral Paladin" data-source="post: 2324476" data-attributes="member: 3448">Session 3:Mahler travelled into the village to take stock of the business opportunities.  He quickly identified the forest's value in the lumber trade as the primary underdeveloped asset and went to meet the owner of the largest mill in the town.  A quick conversation confirmed that the mill mostly dealt with local builders and sold some shipments to merchants bound for Ecsilias.  Much larger profits could be had by shipping directly to Enclaves, with its insatiable hunger for raw supplies of all sorts to support its immense population, but the merchants there would only deal with suppliers who could ship large quantities on a regular basis.  Mahler quickly suggested that with the right influx of capital, the mill owner could gain access to that market and to the substantial wealth it offers.  After a quick negotiation, they agreed that the mill owner would greatly increase the size of his operation and enter the Enclaves market directly; Mahler paid him 58 gold for a 50 % share of the increase in profits beyond its current level.  The mill owner happily agreed to sign the contract, after asking Mahler to read it to him once the drafting was finished.Meanwhile, Alistair and Dame Brionna arranged for the knighthoods for Delbon and Kit.  Mahler declined Alistair's renewed offer for a title or other reward for the risks he had run by standing in Alistair's stead.  But Kit, while still unable to believe in the reality of, let alone accept, the offer of a barony, perked up at Delbon's suggestion that they could both be knighted.  A rather confused conversation about what land Kit wanted as a fee, and whether she would pay scutage or serve personally in the military ensued, but all eventually was resolved.  Delbon and Kit each received their knighthoods, with Dame Kit receiving a parcel of forested land, including Goodwife Amelie's home, while Sir Delbon requested a length of the road beyond the village as his fee-- largely valueless at present, but with tremendous potential for inns and other businesses that cater to the desires of travellers, such as temples of Manumist.With the local matters dealt with, the group prepared for their journey south.  Travelling through the City of the Pass still seemed to be the only sensible options, since either a pass filled with monsters or one populated mostly by undead could easily lead to death. "We must be careful.  From what I understand, thieves and brigands run the City of the Pass," Alistair explained.Kit snorted.  "I'm sure that's what people like your lordliness think.  The City of the Pass is a guild-run city.  The thieves' guild is one of the powerful guilds that dominates the City, but only one.  We should probably worry more about the Black Guild, though... the City of the Pass is one of the few places where they operate openly, and that could mean trouble based on our experiences in Ecsilias."Alistair looked confused.  "The Black Guild?""Assassins, your lordliness, assassins."The whole group paused to mull that over.  While they thought, the castle's sentinel, who Alistair had left on duty for lack of a better use for him, sounded several notes on his trumpet from the highest parapet.Stithis rushed to the watch tower and reported back to the group telepathically.  "There's a group of riders approaching.  Nine horsemen, with a large banner that I don't recognize, and they have some giant dogs with them."Mahler raised an eyebrow.  "Doesn't sound like someone planning on attacking the keep, but not a group that I'd care to antagonize."Alistair nodded.  "I guess we'll have to receive them as the Baron of Lyneham and his knights, then.  As long as they don't know who we really are, it shouldn't create any problems.  Stithis, could you have the sentinel run up the old count's banner, with a Glordiadelian banner showing the gold sun on a white field below it?  Then go to the gatehouse and invite our guests to dismount, surrender their weapons, and receive the hospitality of the Baron of Lyneham."The riders reined their horses in as they approached the drawbridge.  "Greetings.  We ask hospitality from the master of this castle.  We have recently seen battle and are in need of a safe place to rest."Stithis shouted back, "If you will dismount and surrender your weapons, you are welcome in the castle of the Baron of Lyneham."The riders looked about in startlement.  One of them pointed up at the banners flying above the castle, and the conversation grew more heated.  The leader, an older man but still vigorous, wearing fine black robes and a wide purple belt over his armor, held up a hand to quiet his companions and spoke quietly to the rider who had hailed Stithis, who nodded.The riders dismounted and began disarming.  The young rider at the lead shouted up again.  "Thank you for your generosity.  Please inform the Baron that His Excellence, Inquisitor General Francis de Borje of Lord Paranswarm's Inquisition, requests an audience at the earliest convenience."</blockquote>

Verification