Spheres of Influence:Rhiannon in Jepardy? GAME

[Gwaihir]

Relsyn

Relsyn sits quietly, lost deep in thought, as the rest of the team quickly debates the pros and cons of travel methods.

"Oh wise Macedone, Servant of Eli Most Mighty, bless this small group. May the light of the Eternal Flame be our guide." His prayers devolve into more mundane thoughts of hardships to come.

He is jolted from this by the sound of the party standing and storing food away in thier bags.

"How are we getting to Malta?" He asks.

 

[Tilmamir]

To the merchant district. Coldeven 26, KY232

Everyone stands up.

Relsyn asks "How are we getting to Malta?"
Wrinkle looks at Relsyn and whistles- "haave oou been paying assenson? fee are oing to assash oorselves oo aa arafan aas aan escort or someting." It takes Relsyn a moment, and a whisper in the ear from Inwe, to understand what Wrinkle said.

There is a natural pause as each looks around, lost in their own thoughts of how a new beginning is being made for each.

For Relsyn, it is leaving the quiet cloister and security of library for the unknown.
For Airith, this is perhaps a job that can release him from day-to-day worry about the next job.
For Inwe, it is a journey to discover a balance in herself.
and for Wrinkle, perhaps a way to move on afer losing his voice.

The moment passes, then all move toward the door and into the street with packs in hand, weapons stowed [there is a law against wielding weapons in the holy city]. They head North to the center of town, through the park, past the museum, and finally into the eastern side of Antioch. All is quiet around the city. Your party, talking quietly to each other about how you are going to join a caravan, is the only sound other than church bells tolling the quarter hours.

The sky is very clear this morning, and your breath hangs in the air with the end-of-winter chill. Here you find a large square, surrounded by warehouses and shops. At various places around the square, horses shiver a little while eating their grain or drink from the ice skimmed troughs. Three or four people are passing by on the Eastern street, and a few workmen are going about their business.

On the South side, there are two different stables. The first, with a sign identifying it as "Bernies Beasts of Burden" has the barn doors open and the sound of an anvil and hammer working somewhere back in the darkness. The second is the "Royal Trading Company-livery." Its doors are still closed and there is a painted sign hung on the door, just out of reading sistance.

To the West, there is a series of shops where you can buy tack, traveling gear, weapons and armor, post mail (a courier service), as well as a general trading post.

On the North and East sides are warehouses, identified as The Royal Trading Company, Middlebrooks Trading, Caldwells, and Youngblood Supplies.

The center of the square is open, with low stone walls to identify a central path surrounded by three staging areas for caravans and four aread for individual wagons and horses. There is a vendor, dressed in the local farmers garb, standing in the middle of the circular path with bags of grain on a hand-pulled cart. Apparently he just sold a bag to a large man who is carrying it back to an individual wagon parked just off the street.

One staging area has four wagons. A guard posted there is watching you, as well as the other activity in the sqaure. The workmen you have noticed are unloading these wagons and bringing the supplies into Middlebrooks.

Another staging area has five carts in it, all empty. There is no one around these that you notice.

After walking into the south-west corner of the central plaza, Wrinkle stops and stretches his legs and arms while scanning the area.

 

[Zachian]

Airith

Airith lets out a small yawn. "I hope we don't have to get up this early every morning." He stretches his arms and back. "Might I suggest we split up into two groups. One can talk to the gaurd over there and see what he knows, the other can try to locate the caravan leaders and see if there is any leaving for Malta. I think the best bet would be the Royal Trading Company over there but beggars can't be choosers."

 

[Gwaihir]

Relsyn

Relsyn surveys the square, trying to remember if he has ever been here before. He does remember an errand to the Royal trading Company on behalf of one of the more important Priests in the Order, but that was to their administrative office closer to the center of town. After thinking about it, Relsyn is sure he has not been here before.

After hearing Airiths suggestion, Relsyn glances toward the gaurd. This man is not the elite-well equipped sentinel used by the Church, nor is he a member of the well trained City gaurd who man the gates and not much else--this is the Church's city. Instead he looks a bit rough, like hired muscle watching over a trading company's interests.

"A ruffian." thinks Relsyn.

"I'll go speak with the trading company. Anyone else want to come?" He starts to walk toward the Royal Trading Company's Livery.

 

[Zachian]

Airith

"The guard looks more my type." Airith makes his way towards the guard as Relsyn heads to the Trading Company. The guard eyes Airith and the group behind him as Airith approaches. He is rather rough looking with a couple scars on his muscular arms and wearing old studded leather.
"Hello there." Airith greets him as he walks towards the guard. "Fine morning."
The guards replies with a rather gruff and unfeeling "Hello."
"Well, I was wondering if you knew of any caravans heading to Malta from here?"
"I only work for Middlebrook and since they just got in yesterday, I doubt they are heading anywhere soon."
Airith scratches his face, "Do you know anything about the other caravans?"
"I told you I only work for Middlebrook. I don't know anything about the other traders. Now get out of here." He points with his hand the way Airith walked up.
Smoke growls at the man's tone but Airith sets his hand over his muzzle. "Fine, we'll be on our way. Have a good morning." Airith turns and walks where the others were heading.

 

[Tilmamir]

The Scene

Relsyn, Wrinkle, and Inwe approach the door to the Royal Trading Company. It is a solid, large, barn-style door with a man door in the middle of it. There is a sign on it, hung from a hook on each corner, that reads...

Help wanted
Wagon leaves Coldeven 29
Inquire within.

Airith joins the three others a minute after the others and reads the sign as the others begi to talk about what they are going to do.

...

 

[Gwaihir]

Relsyn - Trader for Hire

Relsyn Saffire reads the handlettered sign on the door of The Royal Trading Company's Livery.

"Three days from now. I guess we better determine if it is even going our way." He says to those standing around him.

Relsyn rubs his hand over the scraggly growth of beard on his face. He knocks on the people-door and opens it. He sees Airith approaching, the look on his face betraying that he got nothing from the ruffian looking gaurd.

"Shall we..." He enters the building.
The building is a large combination of warehouse and stable. It smells strongly of horses and livestock. Various cargos sit in various states of loading and unloading, looking very haphazzard to Relsyn. Empty wagons and tack occupy this front part of the building. Off to the left a wagon missing two wheels is propped up, awaiting repair. Relsyn looks around for someone to talk to.

 

[Zachian]

Airith

"The stooge by the wagons wasn't much of a talker. I think we can be fairly sure that Middlebrook isn't going anywhere soon. Apparently they just got in yesterday." Airith looks around inside. "See anyone around here to talk to?"

 

[Tilmamir]

As you enter, man in rough leather riding clothes comes out of the tack room from the right.
"heard ya come in" he says with a drawn-out accent.
"ya must be inquiring 'bout the wagon run to Malta."
As Relsyn nods and Airith says "yes", the man continues.

"we'll be leaving in ... three days, and need a bit of an escort. Not that we'll be carrying much of value, but a larger party makes it less appealing to raid."

He eyes each of you briefly...

"The dwarf is the only one'a ya who'll scare anything. The bookish one looks, well, 'bookish.' The elf, not so common round here, may be useful, but seems lost. The boy, oh halfling?, wont scare much. So, the rest o' the lot o' ya would only be eating the grub. I'll pay 20 Crowns for the dwarf to accompany us. The rest o' ya, can't use ya for the trip."

Wrinkle looks at the others, then back to the man. Takes out a paper and writes

All of us.
Need passage. no gold but will help where we can.

the man considers a second. "Come back on the 29th, first light. If'n I don't have a crew, ya can come along. If ya miss the leaving, I won't wait."

As everyone huddles by the door, the man heads back to the tack room.

Wrinkle plays "what can we dooo? goo by ourselfss?"

 

[Gwaihir]

Relsyn

"I'd be surprised if that guy ever even opened a book." Notes Relsyn somewhat miffed. "I say we go by ourselves or book passage on a ship."