Working for the Baron - The Adventure

[AmorFati]

First, look at this:

[sblock]First a few posting rules.
Dialogue in "quotes and bold"
Thoughts in intalics.
Actions in *asterisks*.
OOC in the end of the post, marked with OOC: Or such before.
Colors are ok, but use colors that are readable. Also, red and blue I'll be using for combat information, so please do not use those colors.

I'll do the die rolling. If you don't specify that your character does something, like searching for traps, I'll assume it doesn't do it. Also, when in combat situations, I'd appreciate all relevant info in your first combat post, marked as OOC. Info such as AC, saves, attack bonuses etc are relevant.
And lastly, more important than all the above, have fun![/sblock]

Congratulations with a job well done. The vile creature plagueing Setti is no more, and the villagers may yet again sleep sound in their beds.
I regret that I am not able to welcome you back, and personally give you your reward. An urgent mission has taken me farther than I anticipated, and I will be away for some time.

However, I need your services once more. The village of Goodland is in peril. A tribe of orcs led by an orog is harassing the countryside, raiding minor settlements in the area, stealing their Icons of Faith. Goodland is now the last village to remain untouched by the evil orcs, but not for long.
I need you to travel to the village of Goodland, 3 days east of Mirlstone, and help them with the orcish vermin. I will happily double your reward if you do this for me, and I assure you that I will be there when you return.

Good Luck.


More'ne Di'zetroe Comere, Baron of Mirlstone

You finish reading the letter given to you by the Baron's gatekeeper. You look at the other four of your group, noding somberly at the not so surprising news from the Baron.

Only a couple of weeks ago he brought some of you together. None of you knew eachother, untill then. The Baron needed help, the nearby village of Setti had recently re-discovered an old Maoseleum. When they opened it, they released a host of undead to plauge the area. You were all "persuaded" to help the Barron with the problem, in exchange for a rather nice sum of gold. The problem was easily dealt with, but upon your return the Baron was no longer in Mirlstone. His gatekeeper handed you a scroll, and you all read the message left by the Baron.

So, there you are. Outside the Barons Keep in Mirlstone, with only his letter as a guide.

 

[wgreen]

Hargrim looks up from the scroll, a worried look on his face. He sighs. By Muamman, Comere’s gold had better be good. The weary dwarf absently rubs his earring and says, “Well...no time to waste, then, eh, lads?”

 

[Crimson Tide]

Balin the Elder, Abjur (4)

Balin looked over to Zyrial and shook his head. While he personally gave two twists about the prospect of a doubled reward, it was just bad form on the Baron's part to leave them with nothing more than a sandstone promise.

"You know it used to be customary for those in a position of power to actually shake the hands of those who came to their call in a time of crisis. Now these younglings just think a letter and a perceived pat on the back is perfectly fine. It just goes to show how the times have changed."

Turning around to face the others, Balin's reedy voice betrayed his barely controlled frustration.

"Well, I guess if we are to be off we'd best be getting a move on. If those black blooded sons of the Dark Coin are raiding like Comere says they are we don't have any time to waste."

 

[Darik]

Alton the theif"I say, don't we need to get our gold from doing this deed that we just did for the Baron?"
"I mean we did kill the undead and came back alive. Maybe someone else is in charge of the great hall while the Baron is out, we could get our money from them couldn't we?""Alton pauses for a moment than says."I knew I should've gotten the Gold pieces first before i went there." to himself outloud a little.

 

[Argent Silvermage]

Zyrial

The Holyman stops playing his harp for a moment and looks his friend in the eyes. "Balin, I think we should just be a bit more lenient on the people of today. tey never had to endure the trials and tribulations we had to endure. Perhaps we could make a difference in the lives of our comrades with our patience and wisdom?" He returns to his playing knowing just the right chords to play to keep Balin calm.

 

[wgreen]

Hargrim snaps his gaze down to Alton's, his eyes bright. "Aye," he says. "Aye, maybe -- guard!" The dwarf hurries over to the gatekeeper. "Did my lord Comere leave any instructions regarding the payment he promised us for our services?" he asks with intensity in his voice.

 

[Crimson Tide]

Balin the Elder, Abjur (4)

Balin knew his friend was right, but he would be damned if he let Zyrial win so easily. It was the reason why they had stopped playing sava nearly a decade ago, as Balin would grow frustrated at the elf's apparent lack of strategy, grow flustered himself, and then lose by his own carelessness.

"Maybe so Zyr, but if Comere thinks that we will always be a puppet dancing to his whim, he is sorely mistaken."

Leaning heavily on his staff as he turned back to see the antics of the young man and his dwarven convert, Balin's eyes studied the scene even though his thoughts were in a much different place.

It will be nice to get out of the valley again to be honest. Shal had a niece in Goodland if I recall, and it is just orcs that are feeling a touch wild. Once we would have asked why the militia did not just do there job and handle it, but perhaps Zyr is right and these younglings simply don't see the bigger picture.

"Hargrim, before you rock the boat and tip us all into the water, I think it best if you both accept the fact that your payment will be postponed. However, I am sure that Comere will not mind if you and Alton help yourself to the less obvious things the orcs have managed to acquire once we have dealt with them."

Alright Zyr, there is your wisdom. Lets see if their brains go beyond their purses.

 

[Argent Silvermage]

Bravo. Zyr thought to himself, Balin shows his mind again.

"Now my friends Let us prepare for this new outing. I believe I still have enough food and water in my magical pack to cover us all for a few days as well as the new wands I picked up in Overbrook Towne. I say we go and take care of what needs to be taken care of and then deal with our benefactor. Is there any need for supplies that we have not all covered?"

He places his harp back into his pack and still is amazed that the bag can hold more inside than it ever should if it were a normal bag.

 

[wgreen]

"Rock the--" Hargrim sputters, his eyes darting toward the mage. He takes a deep breath, closes his eyes, and then returns his attention to the gatekeeper. "Sir, I certainly mean no disrespect, but my lord Comere says in this missive" -- the dwarf stabs a stubby finger at the parchment in his hand -- "that he cannot personally give us our reward. Surely, then, we are to receive it from another, yes?" Hargrim asks, his voice calm and deferential.

 

[Crimson Tide]

Balin the Elder, Abjur (4)

All purse, no brains.

As the dwarf began poking the letter with his finger, Balin wondered if the others had ever done that when he wasn't around. Arguing their wages had always been Percy's job and while the half-elf had been good at it, Balin never understood why he had always made it seem as if he was doing them a favor by taking the last spare coin they could scrounge up.

Perhaps Hargrim learned from Percy...

Walking slowly away from the slow building cloud of chaos that was threatening to explode in his presence, Balin patted Zyrial once on the arm as he began walking down the path away from the Baron's home.

"Your move Zyrial. I'm going to get some more green-root for my tea, otherwise these old bones of mine will be too sore to do anything once we get there.

Straightening up his shoulders as he walked away from his friend, Balin's thin lips formed a crooked smile that vanished as quickly as it had come.

Lets see you hill block your way out of this one old friend.