DM Kathy Wednesday October 12th, 2022 11:13:20 PM Zazu, with help from Ash and Naithi, attempts to appraise the bogeyman's hat. It seems like an ordinary hat, now rather the worse for wear. The coat is similar--an ordinary garment, now worn. And bloodstained.
Nightingale looks out for seedlings, but as Sahabiel reminds her, the local flora may need a magical environment in which to grow. In any case, the seedlings you see are fairly ordinary trees you could find within a short walk of Freedom's Landing.
Beech teasingly asks if anybody else wants to contemplate anything, or dive into the pool again. Panzer is all for getting back right away, as is Brancha.
Lothlo wonders how much time will have elapsed when you return.
Sahabiel takes the lead this time, and soon you find yourselves back in the dryad grove. Quercia hurries to greet Brancha, followed shortly by several more dryads. For her part, Brancha is overjoyed, crying a little as she reunites with her family.
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP 24/40 Character Thursday October 13th, 2022 2:59:42 PM
Beech, watches the reunion, hoping they brought the Dryad back that was expected.... They were dealing with Fey and the Culverwood after all...
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet Thursday October 13th, 2022 4:15:28 PM
Once he is sure that they have returned to the regular Culverwood where only about 75% of the woods wants to kill him Panzer is very grateful to be home and have at least a little control over what happens to him.
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 Thursday October 13th, 2022 5:47:08 PM
Sahabiel smiles and greets Quercia when the initial excitement of Brancha's return passes. "I wish I could say that went entirely without complications, but we did run into one or two. Actually, if a few of us could speak with you and Grandmother Yew later, we have a tale to tell of what lies in the Deeper from here.."
She still wants to ask about the possibility of that pool being related to an enchantment on this side of the veil, and if some form of misdirection enchantment could have been responsible for the entire group slipping even deeper without meaning to -- after all, going 'deeper' and winding up in the First World was also sort of how Brancha found herself straying from her family to begin with... if there is something like a current exerting a pull towards the Deeper, it might catch any of the other dryads in the future?
Nightingale (JonS) HP 36/43 AC 21 CMD: 21 Thursday October 13th, 2022 6:26:56 PM
What Sahabiel had told her made sense. Before leaving the grove, Nightingale will ask any special seedlings or plants that she could take back and grow at or on her house ...
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 Thursday October 13th, 2022 7:19:27 PM
Posting for Naithi
Naithi breaths a sigh of relief to see that they are once again safe in the dryad grove. Se takes a moment to check on Fizzgig and Camalayaas to make sure they are both holding up after their little adventure into the Deeper Darker Culverwood.
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) d20+15=16 ; Thursday October 13th, 2022 7:20:05 PM
Zazu looks at the BogeyHat and smiles. "It's not so bad! A little prestidigitation, a little mending, and it will be fine. I gotta take it to the Catacombs to see if they will upgrade it for me."
Zazu agrees with Sahabiel. "There are tricks a-plenty the deeper you go into the Culverwood, for sure!" the elf says. "That's why I love it! Did you know I was a trickster?"
Zazu does some slight of hand and tricks, making little things appear and disappear with his ranged legerdemain and sleight of hand (check is a 16).
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 Thursday October 13th, 2022 9:19:34 PM
Lothlo looks around and is relieved to see that they are back in the grove. Out of curiosity, how long were we gone? Brancha mentioned that she was only aware of being gone a small fraction of the time she was actually away. I don't think we ran into the same issue, but I would rather find out sooner rather than later if we have actually been away several days longer than we thought.
DM Kathy Thursday October 13th, 2022 10:49:48 PM Beech and Panzer are both relieved to get back. Naithi, too, is happy to be back in the grove.
Sahabiel mentions complications and plans for a private chat with Quercia and Grandmother Yew.
Nightingale looks around for anything she could take back to Freedom's Landing--but it doesn't look like the group is leaving just yet.
Zazu has decided to keep the bogeyman's hat, fix it up, and take it to the Catacombs.
Lothlo, curious, asks how long you were away. Quercia tells you it was a few hours, which is how it felt to you in the deeper Culverwood. There does not seem to have been any kind of time distortion--this time.
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 Friday October 14th, 2022 12:50:02 AM
Ash smiles as Brancha is reunited with her people. The party are getting pretty good at finding and saving people. This time went much more smoothly than when they had to rescue Ena!
"I'm glad we were able to bring Brancha home, safe and sound" Ash smiles to Quercia "I hope we can take this opportunity to become friends with your people. We are living rather close to each other, and it's always nice to have good neighbours".
Ash will also ask if the group can keep the lodestone. "Should we ever need to return. Or perhaps, if you ever invite us again?" she asks hopefully.
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) Friday October 14th, 2022 7:54:20 AM
Zazu rides Boyo up next to Ash and bows in the saddle. "Wow, that would be swell," the elf says, agreeing with Ash. "My friend here has it right, we would be honored to call you good folk friends, and maybe to visit again, if it is no intrusion?"
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 Friday October 14th, 2022 4:09:53 PM
Naithi rides Camalayas over to the others. Oh Yes! My druid grove is always open to you, should you need a place to stay. In fact, I have been working on a new cultivation method to help make druid grove more friendly and accessable to friendly fey who wish to visit.
ooc: In my extremely limited free time I'm working on a project for the black genie center for an official Woldian Druid Grove and Druid Tree feat, spells, and magical item.
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet Friday October 14th, 2022 6:52:48 PM
Panzer just remains happy to be back in the Culverwood he knows
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 Friday October 14th, 2022 8:02:00 PM
Knowing that there will be a few other things before Quercia and Grandmother Yew might have time for her, Sahabiel will quickly stop by where her brave Kohlrabi was given to graze, to let her horse know that she is back. Although a few hours left in the care of the dryads is not a long time, the circumstances here were likely strange to the horse.. and for that matter, having a horse around to look after was probably fairly unfamiliar to the dryads too, so Sahabiel feels she should make sure it is just eating grass and not being spoiled with treats.
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 Friday October 14th, 2022 8:36:37 PM Only a few hours, that's good to know. Looks like it was just the effects of the pool that caused one not to notice the passage of time. Lothlo takes a moment to tend his mule and make sure it's got food and water.
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP 24/40 Character Friday October 14th, 2022 9:50:57 PM
Things seem normal enough.... He wonders if they've been gone a day like it seems, or how long it'll be once they leave the Wood.....
DM Kathy Friday October 14th, 2022 10:31:52 PM Ash expresses a wish to be friends with the dryads, and asks if you could keep the lodestone. Zazu asks if you could perhaps visit again.
"We would be honored to host you," Quercia says. "Keep the lodestone, and please consider this grove to be a safe haven for you in the Culverwood."
Naithi reciprocates, offering use of her druid grove to any of the dryads who want it. "Thank you," says Quercia. "it is a lovely grove, and I'm sure some of us will visit it."
Lothlo is relieved that the timeline still adds up.
Panzer is just glad to be back out of deeper.
Beech wonders when you're going home.
Later, Sahabiel has time to sit down with Quercia. Grandmother Yew went into her tree shortly after you went deeper, and she hasn't emerged since. Quercia does not think the ancient dryad will emerge anytime soon, so you probably won't get a chance to speak with her.
"The pools seem to occur naturally," Quercia says. "They spring up in various spots in the Culverwood, and so far nobody has admitted to creating them.
She listens to the rest of your explanation with growing concern. "I've seen no sign of any kind of magical pull," she says, "but of course I haven't exactly been looking for one. We will be vigilant."
The dryads invite you to camp there another night, though of course, you're free to head back right away.
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) Sunday October 16th, 2022 9:04:16 AM
"Ash, can we stay another night? This place is so beautiful."
Something about it speaks to Zazu's elvish soul.
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP 24/40 Character Sunday October 16th, 2022 2:07:04 PM
Beech, without saying anything, is noticeably ready to go..... He seems to have serious reservations about staying inside the Culverwood any longer than absolutely necessary.
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 Sunday October 16th, 2022 8:34:08 PM
Ash is in agreement with Zazu. The party took a couple of hits in that last fight and could use a safe place to heal up before venturing through the Culverwood again.
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 Monday October 17th, 2022 1:47:31 PM
Naithi also wishes to stay, knowing that travel is always riskier at night. That is especially the l true when only a few have dark vision or accent abilities.
Nightingale (JonS) HP 36/43 AC 21 CMD: 21 Monday October 17th, 2022 5:29:07 PM
Nightingale would love to spend the night with the dryads, maybe learn and teach them some dance moves, or songs, or gossip about boys ... whatever works
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 d20+15=18 ; d6=3 ; d6=3 ; d6=6 ; d6=2 ; Monday October 17th, 2022 6:29:35 PM
After her chat with Quercia, Sahabiel will as a token towards the new friendship between their groups offer the gift she had prepared before leaving Freedom Landing (ooc: remember her gathering a pouch of good soil from the base of her tree? I guess that was lucky since we did not even know that far back that the fey we were going to meet would be dryads.)“Please accept this, Quercia - it is soil from the base of my own treehome, soil through which in order to nurture that tree I did channel the ancient power of the Culverwood day after day, over the course of weeks.”
She also offers to bless the soil in the grove area with the long term Enrichment version of the plant growth prayer, as that is a magic dryads do not themselves normally possess, and she has it prepared right now.
Beyond that.. Sahabiel would stay the night for both reasons given by the others - the dryad’s grove is a wonderful natural temple for her to commune with the wood in, and she also agrees on the precautious argument against needlessly trying to navigate this already confusing part of the wood with only a few hours left before dark.
Lastly, while magical healing helps to patch up the body quickly, Sahabiel is also a firm believer in proper care to make sure there are no other detrimental effects after hurriedly closing up a wound, and she will spend the remainder of the day tending to Beech, who took a lot of pain and damage from the bogeyman’s magic in that last fight.
Heal check d20+15 = 18, so she can provide care at the level of proper Long Term Care for a recovering patient. Since they can not remain there long enough to be actually Long Term though, she will over the course of that still also use a channeling of the wood’s regenerative positive energy to make up for that big hole in the liontaur’s health. 4d6 (reroll 1s) = 14. That plus natural healing from resting the night should top Beech up to his maximum. Also, since Channel Energy is still an area effect, this same channeling should also bring Lothlo up to full even without a night's rest.
“How are ya feeling now? Better?”, she asks Beech with a gentle smile.
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet Monday October 17th, 2022 7:27:37 PM
Panzer is not foolish enough to try and navigate the Culverwood in the dark. Besides that there are plenty of pretty and friendly dryads here for him to get to know better. He met and worked with several of them last night to narrow the search area and will try to get to know more about them tonight. Maybe it will make the Culverwood a less daunting place to him.
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 Monday October 17th, 2022 9:01:40 PM A good rest would do us some good before we head out, and I assume the Culverwood is safer to travel in the daylight. Thank you for your hospitality.
I know the Culverwood is also hard to navigate, do you have any suggestions so that we can safely find our way back home?
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) Monday October 17th, 2022 11:07:17 PM
"Sahabiel, you are so generous! I'm glad you are in our group!"
From another, maybe more jaded, person that might sound like sarcasm. But Sahabiel can tell from Zazu's smile and affect that the elf is truly speaking in earnest admiration.
DM Esther Tuesday October 18th, 2022 3:42:52 AM
A majority of the party decides they would rather not travel the Culverwood at night, and Quercia, pleased by gifts from Sahabiel and the respect and appreciation other party members show for their grove, graciously welcomes their extended stay.
This time, it is Brancha that shows up with her arms full of dry deadfall and bracken before the party goes about any firewood gathering of its own. “I was too confused and scared before to do it properly, so I wanted to thank all of you for rescuing me,” she says.
Nightingale and Panzer are eager to engage more with the dryads socially, and now that they are not quite strangers anymore, they find two more in addition to Brancha curious enough to approach, although they keep themselves at a fair distance from the cooking fire. These attending dryads mostly make smalltalk about the things they know, which is largely down to trees, other plants, and natural cycles of the seasons - until one proposes the common fey passtime of a game of riddles, promising one of her ‘treasures’ for the winner. [You have unlocked an opportunity, see bottom of post]
Lothlo asks for suggestions to ease navigation of the woods on their way back home, but as the party has neither the ability to tree stride nor an intuitive knowledge of the distance and direction to a home tree as dryads do, the dryads do not have much usable advice to share.
A few very fresh tubers, small fruit and nuts, and cooking herbs turn up in the wake of dryad coming and going, no questions asked. The party does not need to rely on adventuring rations tonight.
Sahabiel declares her intention to take care of her companions’ injuries, and is praised for generosity by Zazu.
Everyone will be restored to full hp by the end of the current act. As there will be no further combat until then, you may update your hp now lest I forget.
Beech is less enthusiastic about spending another night here than most, but at least will be well looked after the rest of the evening.
*** The party has been given the opportunity to riddle with the fey - will you accept? There will be a prize for the one that does best in such a challenge ***
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 Tuesday October 18th, 2022 4:03:04 AM
Ash rubs her hands together. She's feeling lucky this time. The last time she had a riddle competition with a fey he bested her. Of course he didn't exactly play fair, but hey, when do they?
"There's no need to put one of your treasures at risk though. I mean, you can if you want, but you don't need to feel obliged to. I think we're all just happy to be here among good friends" Ash picks at the fruit and nuts. "So. How do we play this game of yours?"
She thinks about the items in her kit and what she could offer in return as a prize. If the dryads are putting in a prize then it's only fair the party should too.
Nightingale (JonS) HP 36/43 AC 21 CMD: 21 Tuesday October 18th, 2022 5:40:22 AM
Nightingale is excited to play the riddle game, "I'm not very good at riddles, but I'd like to try..."
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) Tuesday October 18th, 2022 7:36:48 AM
"Oh, Riddles! Those are fun! Sometimes I get them right away! Other times I get stumped."
The elf pauses, remembering ...
"Honestly, I'm usually stumped."
Then Zazu gasps, and hopes really hard that saying "stumped" to a dryad is not a huge breach of etiquette or offensive or something.
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 d20+10=12 ; Tuesday October 18th, 2022 3:24:28 PM Oh, I Love Riddles! I would like to play!
Knowledge Nature to determine if any of the tubes, fruits, herbs, etc are ones she was unaware were edible.
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP 24/40 Character Tuesday October 18th, 2022 4:40:28 PM
Not overly enthusiastic, Beech is willing to give it a go....
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet Tuesday October 18th, 2022 8:25:52 PM
Panzer is OK with a game of riddles. Way better than dancing himself to exhaustion like the last fey party the were invited to.
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 Tuesday October 18th, 2022 8:55:57 PM
Sahabiel thinks it sounds like fun, but she has her hands full with the various things she took upon herself to tend to tonight already, so she is going to have to let this one go by -- but she is certainly listening in from the sidelines.
(ooc: a bit of a flimsy way to excuse my own character, but riddling against myself would hardly be fair, right?)
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 Tuesday October 18th, 2022 9:08:12 PM A game of riddles, that sounds like a lot of fun, count me in! It feels like ages since the sharp shooter has had a chance to just joke around the fire with his friends, he wonders if he remembers any good riddles to tell
DM Esther Wednesday October 19th, 2022 6:42:11 AM
Everyone seems in for the game, while a concerned Ash assures the dryad Betula that they’d still play without the dryad having to risk one of her ‘treasures’. But the latter smiles back and says, “It is alright. I would not have suggested the game if I saw it as a risk. You see.. this grove is home, where I belong, and we have everything we need here, but.. I also know there is still so much world out there beyond where I can go. If I sometimes let something that has been mine go out there, and other times receive something from far away, I get to feel wonder. Where might that have ended up? Where has this been before? Has it been helpful to anyone? There is a lot of time for idle thoughts when we rest in our tree, so it can be more fun to have things to wonder about than it is to never let things go.”
She looks around the circle. “Let’s do a simple game. I start, and if you guess, you make the next riddle. If nobody can guess, you go again. The person that came up with most good riddles wins? To stop anyone from just making up a series of impossible ones, if the other players all agree a riddle could not be guessed, it does not count, okay?”
The dryad beams.
“Will I begin then? Mmm.. how about; ‘I am at once strong and fragile, I can start my day precious as a pearl necklace yet end it a beggar’s rag. I can appear almost anywhere, but never come about on my own. What am I?’”
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 Wednesday October 19th, 2022 7:58:19 AM
Naithi ponders the riddle a moment. Her first thought is a baby... Fragile, precious, starting it's day... But she cannot get the beggars rag to fit. Her next thought Is a wedding dress, but she can't see how it would be fragile. Then comes snowv flakes, yet that doesn't seem quite right .
Are you perhaps a spider's web? Strong enough to catch prey many times your size, yet fragile to the passing animals of the first. A beautiful work is art when new, but turn and in disarray after catching and clothing the unwary. And which come about through a spider's weaving.
Nightingale (JonS) HP 36/43 AC 21 CMD: 21 Wednesday October 19th, 2022 8:05:25 AM
Nightingale claps her hands, "That's both beautiful, and hopefully correct as it makes sense to me."
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 Wednesday October 19th, 2022 9:04:44 AM Yes, a spiderweb was going to be my guess too. Good job Naithi. Hmm, I suppose I'll try to think of an alternative since the one was already guessed.
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet Wednesday October 19th, 2022 3:53:13 PM
Panzer has been thinking the answer was something more like 'hope'. Hope didn't work for all of the clues though. He didn't see it turning 'dirty as beggar's rags' and that was his main stumbling block. When Naithi mentioned spiderwebs as a solution he turned it over in his head it followed all of the clues and fit the theme. Panzer nods in approval." Spiderwebs is a better answer than what I was thinking. It fits much better."
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) Wednesday October 19th, 2022 4:32:14 PM
"I think it is DEW on a spider web," Zazu opines. That's the pearl necklace part!"
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP 24/40 Character Wednesday October 19th, 2022 4:42:52 PM
Beech is not answering... he'll let them, for now....
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 Wednesday October 19th, 2022 6:46:44 PM
Ash struggles to swallow all the fruits and nuts in her mouth in time to answer the riddle. Sure sure isn't going to speak with her mouth full. Her mother taught her better than that.
By the time she's swallowed the food the answers are out there.
"Yes. A spiderweb sounds about right"
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 Wednesday October 19th, 2022 8:32:52 PM
Sahabiel cheers Naithi on. She also notices Beech growing more taciturn, and worried about her friend she whispers to him, “Are ya not enjoying the game? I have some wine in my flask if ya need something to soothe until yer body fully recovers from that magical attack..”
DM Esther Wednesday October 19th, 2022 8:36:01 PM “You have it, well done!”; Betula enthusiastically applauds as Naithi is the first to arrive at the right answer. As the others fill in with their support and thoughts, she also praises Zazu for catching the hint of dew pearls in the morning as a clue.
Nightingale, Lothlo, Panzer, and Ash all agree with Naithi’s answer, some of them wishing they had thought of it themselves sooner, while Beech seems to be.. a bit brooding? Sahabiel goes to check if he is alright.
With that, it is Naithi’s turn to present a riddle to the group.
Additionally, from Naithi testing her knowledge (nature) on the food - she does come across something unfamiliar that looks like a lumpy chestnut, dark on the outside and solid white within, but when asked about turns out to be a sturdy corm dug up from below a hardy white-flowering plant. It is delicious, of both taste and texture, but the dryads tell her that while the plant is not at all uncommon in the forest, it takes one plant several years to grow a single such nut...
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 Wednesday October 19th, 2022 9:06:06 PM
Naithi thanks the dryad's for both the information and the food. As she thinks about how to apply this knowledge in Freedom's Landing she recites a riddle she heard back at the bar in the Emerald Kingdom.
Journeying far from Jericho And leaving god's right hand People speaking of ascension Know I was once in this land My story's long, as is such But here's the story's end Left for dead by a brother's touch God brought me home to tend
What's is my name?
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 Wednesday October 19th, 2022 10:45:47 PM "Oh that's a good one Naithi" Ash nods enthusiastically. "I have about 5 different ideas on who it could be, but I'm going to go with Domi"
"He and Alemi were best friends growing up, so could be thought of as Alemi's right hand. Oh! And followers of Domi are also called hands! Maybe that's a clue! He was mortal before the Year of Ascension, so was once in this land. He was left for dead by Marteus - well, I think killed by him technically - who was a brother of Kevintar. Domi was then brought back to care for and protect others"
The other ideas that Ash has include Gargul, Kevintar and Marteus. Gargul she's pretty sure was never left for dead. Kevintar wasn't able to be touched by his brother Marteus in his fight with the Iron Dragons, and when Marteus was practically dead by Kevintar's touch no-one brought him home - he escaped. Then there's Alemi...
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 Thursday October 20th, 2022 8:58:45 AM Yikes, I didn't know I'd need a history text book! Hopefully it's a misdirect, because I'm not guessing this one otherwise. I'm going to guess tree seeds from the Culverwood, from a felled tree (left for dead by a brother's touch), that were brought back to the Culverwood to be grown in the forest.
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 Thursday October 20th, 2022 10:01:56 AM
Naithi's fey nature is enjoying watching as everyone guesses, using both history and word play
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP 24/40 Character Thursday October 20th, 2022 7:40:45 PM
Beech has a riddle.... But waits until the next round....
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) Thursday October 20th, 2022 8:14:31 PM
Zazu smiles. "I think I heard that story once. Wasn't Kevintar left for dead by his brother, Marteaus?"
"Kevintar!"
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet Thursday October 20th, 2022 9:09:43 PM
Panzer has no idea about this riddle. Like Lothlo he wasn't expecting to need either a theology or history degree. So he sits quietly and munches on the fare provided by the dryads
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 Thursday October 20th, 2022 10:13:54 PM
Listening in, Sahabiel would count herself as not uneducated on matters of the divine or mythical, but this feels kind of outside her area of focus. Too far outside it to make necessary inferences even from the familiar names, anyway. At a little distance from the rest of the group, for the safety and comfort of the dryads, she patiently brings a pot of water to a boil over the smallest possible flame and puts her herbalism skills to use to prepare a fortifying herbal tea infusion.
(No particular effect, just a pleasant, mood lifting cup of hot tea for the evening)
DM Esther Friday October 21st, 2022 6:54:09 AM Note: this post includes material sent privately for the part of Naithi’s exposition
A few people take guesses, a few others feel out of their depth. Ash thinks the answer should be Domi, and can make most of the hints fit. Zazu on the other hand believes it might be Kevintar instead. Lothlo meanwhile approaches the riddle as metaphor and after stripping through a few layers of symbolism arrives at a tree seed as an answer.
Naithi is enjoying to hear everyone try, but does come to acknowledge that perhaps her riddle was not for everyone. (It rested on previous campaign material that some of you were in, some of you were not) She relents, and with a smile explains that the name the riddle was looking for was not of a person. “The answer would be, ‘I am the Ring of Fire’.” She recounts the lore of how the ring was made by the Jericho, makers of the Wold, and was one of the four Rings of Ascension worn by Domi in the end of the First Age. It was later ‘in this land’ because it was kept by the dragon Parnoth, until Marteaus took it. For the last part of the hints, it was with a touch that Kevintar paralyzed his brother Marteaus in the battle between them, after which another god (Jancassis) stole away the ring home.
(ooc: Some of you were either there with The Iron Dragons of Hook City, or CDM’ed the module, but let’s try to make further riddles not require encyclopedic knowledge of the wiki, hm?)
Although nobody quite got it right, the dryads are thrilled with the depth of storytelling Naithi went to, and by the time she finishes the tale that comes with the explanation, Sahabiel has made tea and starts handing cups of the warm beverage to any that would like some.
To speed things up, rather than argue whether this riddle was too obscure, I’ll let it count but Naithi doesn’t get to go again, she has to choose someone she thinks gave a well reasoned enough answer to go next.
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 Friday October 21st, 2022 9:32:17 AM
Naithi was very impressed by Ash's answer and historical knowledge, but feels that Zazu was closer to the actual answer and selects him for the next riddle.
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet Friday October 21st, 2022 6:38:48 PM
Panzer waits for Zazu's riddle
Nightingale (JonS) HP 36/43 AC 21 CMD: 21 Friday October 21st, 2022 6:49:50 PM
Nightingale is wracking her brain for a riddle, but so far nothing has emerged to share
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 Friday October 21st, 2022 8:30:46 PM
Lothlo tries to think of some good riddles but for some reason can only think of limericks.
DM Esther Saturday October 22nd, 2022 8:27:39 AM
As it takes Zazu a while to come up with a riddle, several of the others including Nightingale and Lothlo start trying to think up their own. Brancha starts reflecting on her day again. "I really almost can't believe I was so lost in thought.. if you hadn't come along, I don't know when I would have snapped out of that. But everything after that was much scarier! You were armed and ready though, have you fought darker ones like that more often?"
(A small reminder that this intermezzo is a rare couple of turns where you can be certain you are not about to be pulled away towards some other action, so if you want to have a character establishing moment or just exchange some dialogue with their companions, this would be a good time for it)
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 Saturday October 22nd, 2022 9:01:20 AM
Sahabiel nods at Brancha, and drinks a warming sip of tea from her cup. "That kind of creature was a first for me.. but I suppose we do tend to get into a scuffle now and then? Freedom Landing is built on land once cleared under the rule of Parnoth, and for lack of traditional territories or wards it is not protected by anything really but what we put up ourselves. The seed of the settlement has taken, but in the bigger picture I believe our new home is still more seedling than sapling, and from wandering creatures to ambitious new petty tyrants, it will have to weather much before it stands tall and resilient, rooted deep. As I am sworn to serve the Culverwood as a protector, I will nurture that which seeks harmony with it, and uproot that which would threaten it.. so there is much to do every day."
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) Saturday October 22nd, 2022 10:01:01 AM
Boyo bucks a bit, bringing Zazu out of woolgathering.
"Sorry everybody, what was that? Wow, Naithi! That one was really really good."
"My turn for a riddle? Okay, I'll try to come up with one that nobody every heard before. Won't be as good as Naithi's!"
The elf pauses in thought, then puts hands behind back and declaims:
Softer than stone. Shaped like a cone. Shatters when thrown. Not made of bone. Cries with no moan. Weeps acetone. Alchemist's own.
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 Saturday October 22nd, 2022 10:15:27 AM
Lothlo considers the riddle. Would it be a flask of Alchemist's fire?
Nightingale (JonS) HP 36/43 AC 21 CMD: 21 Saturday October 22nd, 2022 3:40:32 PM
Nightingale is looking up at the trees around her, then she starts smiling, " I have one too ... once we're finished with Zazu's"
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 Saturday October 22nd, 2022 5:40:40 PM
Naithi nods along with Lothlo's answer. That would have been my guess as well... I'll go with a flask of acid.
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet Sunday October 23rd, 2022 7:07:50 PM " Dynamite?" Panzer asks/answers. " I heard it was something alchemists can make that explodes like alchemists fire but doesn't make, um fire, just outward force."
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP 24/40 Character Sunday October 23rd, 2022 8:03:48 PM "A Nitro-Glycerin shaped explosive" [b] Beech pitches in, [b]" When processed, it's outside 'crusts' like stale bread, but inside it stays soft. Can be shaped into any form, and it breaks open, then scatters because it explodes. If it's left sitting too long it begins to weep and looks like it's crying. It makes no sound but the tears are acetone, and of course only Alchemists know how to safely create it."
Highlight to display spoiler: { I have a somewhat simple riddle ready}
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 Monday October 24th, 2022 2:42:28 AM
Ash is fairly certain that it's a flask of acid
Nightingale (JonS) HP 36/43 AC 21 CMD: 21 Monday October 24th, 2022 6:31:57 PM OOC: I'm gonna go ahead and post mine, that way I don't forget to make a post for today
Nightingale's Riddle: "All year long I am green as can be, watch out, i might prick you if you don’t hold me carefully...
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 Monday October 24th, 2022 7:52:25 PM
Naithi has a couple ideas. Are you a cactus?
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) Monday October 24th, 2022 8:43:56 PM
"Well, actually, I had in mind a glass funnel, but a flask is a pretty good answer. Good one, Lothlo!"
"I like Naithi's! Very druidic!"
DM Esther Tuesday October 25th, 2022 9:15:44 AM
Another round of guessing passes, and Zazu finds that Lothlo came closest to the intended answer. The dryads did not even come close to guessing, as such implements of alchemy are rather outside their everyday experience. Beech displays a deep knowledge of alchemy that makes Sahabiel take notice.. and she wonders if she should try working with him for synergies with some of her own knack for herbalism.
Nightingale can no longer contain herself, and offers a riddle of her own, to which Naithi immediately takes what sounds like a reasonable guess.
(I apologize for the delay, I have been handling a few things in the background and am rethinking the rules for the riddle contest since clearly more people want to pose each other riddles without first having to have correctly guessed the previous riddle - I will make an additional post later today)
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 Tuesday October 25th, 2022 4:00:13 PM
With the weather turning cool and the leaves starting to change, I think I have created a good one for this time of year.
As the sun rises from the shadows, the smell of a witches brew fills the air a liquid dark as tar bubbles in the cauldron. An ancient potion handed down for countless generations attracting zombies, it breaks their curse and makes them into men once more.
What am I?
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 Tuesday October 25th, 2022 4:06:44 PM
Naithi drools a little. You almost had me. I was going through all the spells I have heard of and writing if some guy called Shakespeare. Then it came to me... Coffee!
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet Tuesday October 25th, 2022 4:30:08 PM
Panzer smiles as Lothlo makes his riddle out of his favorite beverage. The answer is already given so the Badger kin stays silent.
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) Tuesday October 25th, 2022 8:14:38 PM
Zazu grins at the back and forth.
"You'll have to excuse my friends, please, Miss Dryad," Zazu says, well aware that the party has kind of taken the "contest" off the rails. "Once we get going on something fun or interesting or adventurous, we just keep going!"
DM Esther Tuesday October 25th, 2022 10:17:25 PM "...it is nothing we are not accustomed to," Betula graciously accepts Zazu's apology for the derailment of the contest, "the last time we played this with the faun, they were carousing by now." She and the dryad whose name you have not yet heard share a brief moment of mirth at a memory the two must share of the occasion.
Lothlo has a riddle ready for the group now, and the game and fun continues.
ooc: The original scoring format was to encourage people to present riddles that were solvable (or they would not count) but not quite so easy that the turn would go to whoever had the chance to post first, since there was incentive to keep the turn since you score points by being the one that makes the riddles. However, I have come to see that this is not so easy, some people are not trying to guess so would never get the turn, and others are eager to present a riddle but may not be able to get the turn, and it all might end up taking a little too long. So.... I have decided to loosen the format and just let everyone have fun with riddles for a few more rounds, and instead of declaring one winner I will change the prize from a personal item to something that will offer a small benefit to the development of Freedom Landing.
---
In the course of the riddling and storytelling, Quercia comes by to bring another bowl of edibles foraged from around the grove, and whispers something to Betula. "Oh, I think that would be wonderful idea!", the other dryad says aloud and brightens up. Then she looks to the party - and Ash in particular because of their previous exchange, "I did say that I like to send things out into the world because it was as close to traveling as I can experience myself.. and now I know what to give you."
As a reward for riddling with the dryads, the party will receive an enchanted seed pod twinned to Betula's home in the grove. If planted in coming spring in the new grove you are growing back home by Freedom Landing, it will rapidly grow into a white birch tree over the course of one year. The normal distance limit of the Tree Stride spell will not apply for the purpose of traveling between this birch and its twin - however, Betula will automatically sense who has entered the tree and can block such passage at her discretion. In other words - as long as you maintain friendly relations, you will have something like a shortcut to their sanctuary. It will also make it possible for Betula to visit over by the same means, but only the new grove itself counts as within an allowed distance from her home tree.
In addition, as a separate reward for that properly in-game lore dive (and accompanying explanation he sent me) that James D. came up with for Naithi's riddle; the fey were delighted. James, you may add the following to Naithi's character sheet:
Dryad's Favor: You have a lingering effect on your aura from your interaction with a group of dryads. You can expend this to gain a one-time +2 luck bonus on one diplomacy check involving fey. Not transferable. Awarded for excellent use of lore continuity, October 26, 2022. Expires October 26, 2023.
DM Esther Tuesday October 25th, 2022 10:24:09 PM ooc: Oh, to be clear, the special tree will just waive the distance limitation. You still need to actually provide a Tree Stride spell yourself from some other source.
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP 24/40 Character Tuesday October 25th, 2022 10:35:41 PM
Beech has a riddle, it's not very hard, but is pointedly regional.... "Name the place an Avian loans it's name, where a Tree is born to a Flower in a city of Acid in a castle of Shadows."
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 Tuesday October 25th, 2022 10:51:56 PM
ooc: That gift is awesome! I have been trying to figure out the best way to allow the dryad's to visit our grove more easily considering their travel restrictions.
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 Wednesday October 26th, 2022 1:13:54 PM
Naithi's searches her brain for the answer, but comes up short.
Nightingale (JonS) HP 36/43 AC 21 CMD: 21 Wednesday October 26th, 2022 5:53:04 PM
Nightingale gives Naithi a hug, "That is a blessed gift!"
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet Wednesday October 26th, 2022 6:14:50 PM
Panzer is happy that at least one dryad can now visit the town. This will allow them to get help again if they need it without the sending of an intermediary.
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 Wednesday October 26th, 2022 7:36:35 PM "Oh that's very special. Thankyou" Ash is a little in awe of the gift, and clutches her hands together being super careful not to drop the seed. "You know you'll be welcome in our town"
Ash doesn't have anything that could be considered a gift she could give the dryads in exchange, so makes a note to find something in the future.
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 Wednesday October 26th, 2022 8:22:00 PM (ooc: Since John did not send me the answer to Beech' riddle, I will take my own guess too ;)
"..in a city of acid, in a castle of shadows..", Sahabiel repeats Beech' riddle, thinking it over. "Wait, didn't a few of the less isolationist clans trade with somewhere with a name like that..? Down the river from the Culverwood and across the lake.. something-something Acid.. where lies a castle rumored out of shadow born? The outsiders call that lake.. Blackbird Lake? Is that the place an avian lends its name that ya are looking for, Beech?"
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 Wednesday October 26th, 2022 8:30:21 PM That's a tough one, no idea. A crows nest? The tree is the mast of the ship, rising up from the flower of the ships sails.
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP 24/40 Character Wednesday October 26th, 2022 9:01:21 PM
Beech nods to Sahabiel.... "Maybe one too many clues, but it was made to be solved. The answer is indeed Blackbird Lake..... It refers to me, Beech, the tree, Aztyr, my mother, the Flower, Acid City and the Castle from the Shadow Lands where I grew up."
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) Wednesday October 26th, 2022 11:22:15 PM
"Good one Beech! I'd like to see other magical forests some day."
Zazu is amazed at the gift. "This is a gift of friendship to bind us together in comity and amity," he tells the dryad. "We are greatly honored!"
DM Esther Thursday October 27th, 2022 6:38:31 AM
The evening progresses and it is getting darker. The background sounds of the Culverwood go through something of a crescendo in the twilight as day noises give way to night noises and various unseen creatures in the distance raise songs and calls, bring their family groups together for the night or mark territory. In the peace of the grove meanwhile, Beech's riddle is solved, and (asuming that coffee is the right answer to Lothlo's? Please confirm) only Nightingale's remains as she has to disappoint Naithi that what she was looking for is not a cactus, although that certainly fits the description too!
As the riddle contest starts to wrap up, Ash, Nightingale, Panzer, Sahabiel and Zazu each show their appreciation for their hosts and confirm the friendship forged between Freedom Landing and the dryads of this forest sanctuary.
The party is reminded that they had not settled on the division of items recovered from the bogeyman's lair. There were..
a Ring of Sustenance a Ring of Counterspells (empty) Naithi indicated she liked 'the ring' but did not say which one? a Wand of Endure Elements (20 charges remaining) an Immovable Rod Zazu seems to have ideas in mind with that rod a Scroll of Freedom of Movement Boots of the Winterlands Sahabiel has indicated this item would be useful for her patrols as she will be spending much time outside also in winter a Lens of Detection Lothlo was praising how useful this item could be
For non-magical treasure you recovered a platinum and garnet cloak pin, an emerald pendant on a gold chain, and a jade ring.
Please finalize what goes into whoms character sheet before we go to next morning and the return trip to Freedom Landing?
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 Thursday October 27th, 2022 9:14:52 AM
ooc: On the 11th I had stayed it was the ring of counter spells. Naithi likes eating too much for the other one. She also showed interest in the cloak pin.
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet Thursday October 27th, 2022 11:22:47 AM " A pine tree Nightengale?" Panzer asks in solution to her riddle. Panzer has no need for any of the gear, just some gold after the unwanted items are sold.
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) Thursday October 27th, 2022 4:52:14 PM
"Oh, you mean this Immovable Rod?" asks Zazu. "I can't seem to be able to move it out of my pocket. Sorry. I guess it is mine now!"
The trickster grins.
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP 24/40 Character Thursday October 27th, 2022 6:06:41 PM
Beech has no preference for the items, he has other needs....
He's tired, and decides to turn in....
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 Thursday October 27th, 2022 7:41:25 PM
Ash is quiet and just enjoys the company. She keeps an eye on Brancha though. The dryad had it rough on her first trip from home, so might need some time to deal with it all. Ash tries to make sure that Brancha is included in everything.
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 Thursday October 27th, 2022 8:55:53 PM
Lothlo takes a sip of coffee from his cup. Yes, that was the correct answer to my riddle, good guess.
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 Friday October 28th, 2022 2:30:33 AM
Ash starts going through the items the party recovered from the bogeyman, works out how much each is worth, and then puts them into piles based on who wants what.
------------ FYI... Link to Loot tracker. Just place your name next to anything that you want to claim
DM Esther Friday October 28th, 2022 8:22:51 AM Beech turns in for rest. Lothlo enjoys his hot brew. Ash socializes with the dryads, making sure Brancha is alright now. Panzer tries to solve the last riddle from Nightingale. Zazu is in a good mood and jokes about the item he picked up from the Deeper. In all cases, the evening is slowly winding to its conclusion.
Later on, Ash helps out sort and identify the items recovered from the bogeyman, and makes certain nothing is forgotten.
The night sounds of the Culverwood are like those of any great wood.. however, the occasional animal screeches, whoops and stranger sounds never seem to come close to the dryad grove, which suggests that either the ward is working very well, or that nothing that lives nearby has a taste for intruding on a long established home of the fey. You are fairly confident that you will be able to spend the night in peace.
The signs are that the weather tomorrow morning will be good for travel, should you want to set out early for the return trip to Freedom Landing.
(ooc: Rob, thank you for handling the loot tracker)
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet Friday October 28th, 2022 12:13:56 PM
Panzer wakes up early and makes ready to depart. He will walk near the front, but his Culvewood tracking skills are not the skills that will get the group home. Someone with actual tracking skills will need to take the lead.
Nightingale (JonS) HP 36/43 AC 21 CMD: 21 Friday October 28th, 2022 1:56:29 PM
Nightingale giggles as Panzer guesses, "Close, it's a pine cone." Nightingale didn't want any of the MI's.
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 Friday October 28th, 2022 2:31:27 PM
Naithi climbs on Camalayas back and goes over to thank the dryads venue they depart. She is genuinely glad they could help them and thankful for the birth the gift and the blessing. I will plant this as soon as we return and will plan a proper reception for you all when you come to visit through the portal.
Naithi ponders what the best spell to put in a ring is counterspells might be as the group travels back.
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 Friday October 28th, 2022 8:10:51 PM
Ash is ready to bid farewell to the dryads. "Even though it may take a year for the seed to grow to a tree, don't feel like you need to wait that long to visit us. I hope you see us as friends and might let us extend to you the same hospitality that you've shown us. That goes for you as well Bancha. Should you want to venture from home you're welcome to come visit us as a first step".
If Ash were to rely on her tracking skills, the party may as well make the Culver their new home as they'll be here for a while.
Instead, if someone in the party knows the general direction the group should go, she'll hold the jar with the lodestone and make sure it's always pointing behind the group. A bit like going in reverse.
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 Friday October 28th, 2022 8:59:30 PM Yes, we would be honored to have you if you would like to visit us some time. Lothlo checks on his mule and make sure his gear is ready for the dangerous journey back to town.
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) d20+9=16 ; Saturday October 29th, 2022 3:36:25 PM
Zazu makes sure that the dryads do not want their lodestone back. After all, we'll have the tree to go back and forth; do they want an item out there that leads just about anybody to them? Although of course, we would be super careful with it.
As for finding the way home, this Culverwood native is happy to offer advice.
Survival 16
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 d20+25=34 ; d20+2=18 ; d20+11=20 ; Saturday October 29th, 2022 7:53:39 PM
After a good night sleep, Sahabiel wakes up early for prayer, and then proceeds to help make breakfast. Even with the Culverwood mitigating the worst cold of winter down to merely a cool day, she thinks something warm and filling would be in order. Unfortunately, unlike Beech, she has no talent for meal preparation at all, so the best she can manage is just a decent porridge.. but her knowledge of herbs lets her try to spice it up a little at least.
After breakfast she saddles Kohlrabi for the journey back to Freedom Landing, and says her goodbyes to the dryads.
Survival (navigate magical forest) d20+25 = 34 Craft (meal) d20+2 = 18, result capped at 10 because she is untrained Profession(herbalism) 1d20+11 = 20
DM Esther Saturday October 29th, 2022 8:40:44 PM
Night passes uneventfully and everyone gets at least 8 hours of rest. It is now a chilly but clear morning.
Ash, Lothlo, Naithi, Sahabiel and others(?) make sure to take some time to say goodbye to the dryads, and actually the ones to be found outside their trees this morning seem to be so with the same purpose in mind of seeing the adventurers off as well.
"Some of us will surely visit, in the future, to see how your grove grows.", Quercia, with the younger dryads in a huddle behind her, responds to the party's farewells, "It should be interesting. For one thing that you told me last night, I had never heard of leshy tending trees so close to a mortal settlement..."
Panzer again offers to take point for the group, and asks for guidance to find his way. Zazu does his best to offer direction, but is struggling a bit himself, though still good enough to point out more immediate obstacles. Between Sahabiel being able to tell when the Culverwood is misdirecting them, and Nightingale remembering to use the compass to re-establish their orientation using the dryad grove as a point of reference, the party manages to move through the ancient forest at a cautious speed.
The Viper Vine the party encountered on the way in does not show itself again, and even if it did would still be bound several more days by Sahabiel's command to leave them in peace.
Only a little into the afternoon, the party clears the edge of this part of the Culverwood, and with that there are no further problems keeping their direction. It is definitely colder outside! You make your way to the river, and follow it down until you see your bridge in the distance, and soon after return to the familiar outskirts of Freedom's Landing.
This concludes the module "Deeper". For figuring out how to return from the bogeyman's lair to the normal world (which ended up being rather straightforward because the party had asked the right questions of Grandmother Yew ahead of time) and making your way back out of the warded area of the forest, you were due a final award of 1,200 experience points. That brings the total experience count for this module to 12,000; and according to Kathy's module notes, that brings the party up to level 8 a little ahead of the curve.
We are getting a new DM and a new module is also being written, which will start again with your activities for the development of Freedom Landing, now that winter has properly arrived. Are there any particular npcs your characters want to seek out on your return?
------- Update from ACDM Rob: Hi All. Please know that the Wold removed the use of XP since Kathy wrote this module. We'll all level in Jan :)
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP 24/40 Character Sunday October 30th, 2022 3:05:04 PM
Back home again, Beech pitches his tent between the four trees he plans on using for his future home. He will need money before he can go any further with his plans...
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 Sunday October 30th, 2022 9:14:15 PM
Ash rubs her hands together to get them warm. "We should probably check our stores. It could be a harsh winter and we need to make sure there's enough to last it through. We'll also probably need to head to Karri to stock up on things as well"
She'll also check to see how construction is progressing with the Lyre of Building. In her mind, there should be a renewed focus on getting buildings built so as to get everyone out of tents before winter comes.
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet Monday October 31st, 2022 12:37:34 PM
Panzer hangs around town making sure there are no urgent dangers that need sorting. If there are none he will return to helping dig foundation for houses.
Nightingale (JonS) HP 36/43 AC 21 CMD: 21 Monday October 31st, 2022 1:29:42 PM
Nightingale will make sure her home is snug, then go out and see if anyone else needs help to prepare for winter ... she doubts anyone does, but you never know. Also, if there are any pregnant women at the moment, she'll swing by and check in on them as she's a trained midwife
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) Monday October 31st, 2022 7:25:12 PM
Zazu practices with his new Immovable Rod. He practices casting Spider Climb on Boyo and having Boyo balance on it while Zazu is riding.
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 Monday October 31st, 2022 9:02:35 PM
Lothlo puts his mule in the stable, then with the sudden cold weather checks to see that the town is on schedule getting ready for the winter weather ahead.
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP 24/40 Character Monday October 31st, 2022 9:12:11 PM
Beech needs more gold, and a trip to the catacombs, then he'll have his living quarters.... the tent is a bit nippy, but he can survive....
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 Monday October 31st, 2022 9:37:53 PM
Sahabiel goes to check on her home and her kitten Nibin first. Even though she had someone look after it for her, a young animal might already start to miss her after just a few days. Next, she'll take good care of Kohlrabi for carrying her on the long ride home.
DM Esther Tuesday November 1st, 2022 9:21:06 AM Beech sets up his tent again on his building site. With the greater body mass and natural coat, it is unsurprising he is not as affected by the weather as the average citizen. Beech is also wondering about how he might acquire the extra funds he is going to need to finish his home.
Ash wants to check on the stores and the progress of construction work. The village looks like it is going to scrape by on food as long as nothing too serious happens, and there is easily enough dried fuel for winter. What you could use quite some more of is clothing, especially warm clothing, or at least the materials to make some.
Construction of permanent homes for the population has clearly progressed from last time you saw it, but even with the Lyre of Building only so much can be done in three days - the item is wondrous, not miraculous.
Panzer joins one of the patrols and as they walk, is quickly filled in on anything new that happened in the few days the party was away, but none of it seems noteworthy. The hunters are hunting, the foragers are finishing up bringing in the last wild vegetables and roots before snow will start to hide everything, the fishermen say the water is getting colder, and quietly in the background all the surplus food is being preserved for the months to come.
Nightingale goes around to check on all mothers-to-be, and they are in good condition. The most heard complaint is that in the present state of the settlement there is just so much work still to be done, and not enough hands.
Lothlo arrives at the same conclusions as Ash.
Zazu is trying out this new magical item. Even though neither Zazu nor Boyo can be accused of being big, a single immovable rod is still a rather small thing to balance on. The Spider Climb spell however is made for letting its subjects cling on and remain balanced in places that common sense says they should not be able to, and it makes the whole thing rather unchallenging.
Sahabiel checks on her kitten, which welcomes her return with purring affection before it returns to its nap.
(there is already nobody living in tents anymore that does not choose to - the three remaining shared longhouses are a little cramped when everyone is in, but still have room to shelter everyone that has not already moved out into one of the newly built homes when needed)
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet Tuesday November 1st, 2022 6:25:31 PM
given a choice of helping to make housing when everyone is housed somewhere already, even if it isn't their permanent home or heading out to help pad out the larder so that "asd long as nothing goes wrong" doesn't happen, Panzer chooses to head out hunting. He is not a great hunter, but he knows which end os an arrow is the dangerous one and he has tracked game before. Survival
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet d20+6=8 ; Tuesday November 1st, 2022 6:26:15 PM
duh, forgot to roll.... Survival 8 not so good
Nightingale (JonS) HP 36/43 AC 21 CMD: 21 Tuesday November 1st, 2022 7:09:14 PM
Until we run off again, and since her home is prepared, Nightingale will help out whomever she is able to.
OOC: I'm gonna work up two spell lists at this point, one for when we're in town and not adventuring, and one for when we leave to have fun =)
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 Tuesday November 1st, 2022 9:08:30 PM
Lothlo sees Panzer getting ready for a hunt. Panzer, I'm up for a hunting trip if you would like company. A little extra food and furs for the winter is always a good thing.
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 d20+17=35 ; Tuesday November 1st, 2022 9:28:24 PM
Sahabiel agrees that it is one thing they can provide right now.. and just back in from an expedition to the Deep Culverwood, she too is already wearing her full arms and armament anyway and after tending Kohlrabi can join the hunt and foraging on short notice.
Survival d20+17 = 35
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 Tuesday November 1st, 2022 9:33:14 PM
If there is time before returning Naithi makes sure to stop by the WLA for training.
The young morphling continues working on her druid grove, ensuring hey plants will survive the winter and she's what she can to make sure everyone will have enough food. She continuously salts and dries meat and vegetables as well as fermenting and pickling what she can.
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP 24/40 Character Tuesday November 1st, 2022 9:51:22 PM
Beech pulls out his notebook and sketches his current design, he still needs that wands though.... it'll take at least 2/3 of the charges to finish off what he plans... A living tree house..... Live stairs.... should be nice.... He'll talk one of the others into using the wand, but he can probably trick it into working...
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) Tuesday November 1st, 2022 10:09:16 PM
Zazu checks in with the fishers taught to fish using traps. The trap-crafter repairs anything that needs fixing. Mending spells are useful around town, so Zazu makes sure that anyone who needs one gets one.
Boyo gives rides to the little kids.
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet Wednesday November 2nd, 2022 1:51:37 PM
Panzer is glad for the company. All of these folks are better in the woods than he is so he keeps quiet and helps as much as he can.
DM Esther Wednesday November 2nd, 2022 4:43:39 PM Naithi wishes to train with the WLA, but the nearest WLA branch is in Karri, a one or two day journey in the opposite direction of your foray into the Culverwood. She joins the many hands doing food preservation. Salt remains in limited supply and drying things is starting to get hard because little is left of the sun's summer intensity this late in the year, but fermenting and pickling are reliable.
Nightingale starts planning out her spells for the near future.
Zazu makes a round along the riverbank to see how the fishers are doing, and takes care of today's need for small repairs. After three days of most of the people capable of Mending being out of time, it is widely appreciated and from a torn net to a broken plate, things end up as good as new again.
Beech engages with home design. (ooc: John, could you let me know what you are planning? The CDMs have set a few restrictions on treehouses that may be relevant)
Panzer, Sahabiel and Lothlo go on a hunting and foraging trip, and between the three of them return with thirteen person-days worth of food. A drop in a bucket compared with the needs of the entire community for a few months, but that is why you have so many of the villagers involved in their own ways of stockpiling food.
Sort of on that issue, if nobody has claimed it, would you consider keeping the Ring of Sustenance instead of selling it off? I might be of use by the healers, as they sometimes have a patient who can not eat (unconscious, or unable to keep it in), and the ring would be able to keep one from weakening before they recover enough to eat normally again.
Between Naithi wanting to seek out the WLA, and the settlement's overall shortage of clothing for the winter, would you like to take the boat for a trip down river to Karri?
Nightingale (JonS) HP 36/43 AC 21 CMD: 21 Wednesday November 2nd, 2022 8:39:58 PM
OOC: That's actually a great idea for the ring ... Nightingale would support keeping it for that purpose
Current Spell Lists: Unless someone thinks she should change them/any:
In Town:
Orisons: Detect Magic, Detect Poison, Purify Food & Drink, Stabilize
1st Level: can cast 3 a day + 1 Domain: Bless Water, Comprehend Languages, Remove Fear, - Entangle (D)
2nd Level: Can cast 2 a day + 1 Domain: Calm Emotions, Make Whole – Barkskin (D)
Spon. Cast: 1st CLW, 2nd CMW
Adventuring:
Orisons: Detect Magic, Guidance, Resistance, Stabilize
1st Level: can cast 3 a day + 1 Domain: Bane, Command, Shield of Faith, Sanctuary – Entangle (D)
2nd Level: Can cast 2 a day + 1 Domain: Sound Burst, Spiritual Weapon – Barkskin (D)
Spon. Cast: 1st CLW, 2nd CMW
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 Wednesday November 2nd, 2022 8:56:36 PM Well, we managed to bring back some meat and some furs but looks like we are still quite a bit short. I'm up for a trip down to Karri,
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 d6=4 ; d6=2 ; d6=4 ; d6=6 ; Wednesday November 2nd, 2022 9:37:22 PM
Finding that everyone is quite busy with winter preparations, Sahabiel will join the next supply purchasing expedition to Karri. For this evening, she will hold a gathering in the main square again to spread the blessing of the Culverwood. "Everyone has been working so hard... please, gather round and let me pray for ya, and wash ya in the blessed vitality of the Wood, that ya may the better endure and hopefully all stay healthy another day."
Prayer: +1 to saves for all allies and followers in a 40' radius around her, mostly in case anyone needs a saving throw against common early winter ailments or even just fortitude checks against muscle aches. Furthermore, Sahabiel still has all her uses of Channel Positive Energy remaining today, and with a 30' radius around her, she can gather the people that most need or wish to receive of it around herself to cover as many as possible, healing small scrapes and doing her part to keep the populace healthy and strong. (up to 4d6 = 16 hp of healing for everyone)
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 Wednesday November 2nd, 2022 9:50:07 PM
Ash has confidence that Brianna has the town healing under control, and Mike is there is back her up. Between them, Brother Matthew, and any other herbalists and healers, Ash is convinced that the town has things well covered. She'd be happy to see the ring of sustenance sold off, and to get a few coins in her pocket.
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP 24/40 Character Thursday November 3rd, 2022 9:58:31 AM
Beech, will help out with preserving food and mentions something about a root cellar.... There's no need to go to the city, until there is money to shared out.
DM Esther Thursday November 3rd, 2022 2:05:31 PM Nightingale shares with the group which magics she will be ready to perform depending on whether the day is to be spent around town, or away.
Lothlo is pleased enough with the spoils of the hunt,
Sahabiel accomplishes a little preventative healthcare, and then gets a good night rest herself.
Ash is confident that the other healers in town can deal with any patients coming to them. Brianna reassures her that they can.
Beech argues that there is no need to go to the city until there is money to be shared out, and focuses on needed work on root cellars. Panzer had brought up something similar about cellars not long ago, and the badgerkin might be the best person to talk to about it.
Hilia Nighttongue has caught scent that the leadership is at least considering purchasing clothes from Karri, and being the mother she is, she strongly presses the issue; "...it is going to be a problem soon. The daily Mending sessions help keep what we have, but a lot of us still own only what we had on our backs when we fled the slave life and first came here, and that was not in winter. We have no sheep for wool to spin, nor crops for fiber to weave. Nobody here has made a coin since that time we could trade some woodcrafts for a few bolts of cloth, and last time any of us saw any new clothes was what you shared out from the old resistance cache - and that was only enough to go around a score and half people, and shoes for less than a dozen. But there are eight score of us living here! Please at least try to get something for the younger children and elderly - I hate to ask for charity for the people, but without more to trade we do not have coin floating around to import our own alongside the other essential supplies. Master Beech is right about that much. But if we are all going to have to wait until things get better sometime after winter, we'll be wearing hides and reed before long!"
(ooc: the party will have to make the trip to Karri in any case to convert the jewelry from the Deeper into shareable coin)
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 Thursday November 3rd, 2022 2:30:41 PM
ooc: Sorry, the posting time keeps moving earlier causing me to miss posts. I'll try to make all my posts yet this week.
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 Thursday November 3rd, 2022 9:19:14 PM
Lothlo tried to reassure Hilia. I didn't realize that we were looking at a shortage in this area. We had been carefully monitoring to make sure we were in good shape for supplies this winter, but this must have been miscalculated at some point. Don't worry, we will do whatever it takes to get our stores back in shape before the weather get's bad, and we'll be back before you know it..
ooc:I lost track, were the land and river trade routes we had built up removed when the town was downgraded? It doesn't make a difference for the current scenario, just trying to figure out where we are at this point..
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet Thursday November 3rd, 2022 9:44:56 PM
Panzer is up for a boat ride. If the crafters have any wares to sell he will help load them up. He is fine with the ring staying in town to help out sick townsfolk too.
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) Thursday November 3rd, 2022 10:41:29 PM
Zazu has no problem with a quick trip to the Emerald City, for them what wants WLA training, and to cash in loot, and to stock up on supplies.
"We can take the boat there, right? And if we need to stop moving, I can use the Rod!"
OOC: Did we ever figure out the loot split? Does Zazu have to kick in for claiming the Rod, or does is there a little cash coming to the trickster?
Nightingale (JonS) HP 36/43 AC 21 CMD: 21 Thursday November 3rd, 2022 11:07:25 PM
Nightingasle is game to go shopping. She'll use what money she can to buy raw wool, thread, and bolts of cloth suitable for making into clothing ... plus scoop up whatever cloaks and blankets she can find while at the Emerald City
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 Friday November 4th, 2022 12:07:44 AM
The town still has 18,000gp worth of art, objects and goods. That's in addition to 2,000 gold pieces. Now sounds like a good time to dip into those assets.
It seems like selling just 1 piece of art would be more than enough to buy simple items. Ash will assess them for something portable and that they could get a good price for.
------ Appraise check to find a good item to sell: 21 (Take10)
FYI: Loot split... Ash - 950gp Beech - 950gp Lothlo - 950gp Naithi - Ring of Counter Spells, Cloak pin (4,600gp) Nightingale - 950gp Panzer - 950gp Sahabiel - Boots of the Winterlands (2,500gp) Zazu - Immovable Rod (5,000gp)
We ran into the hurdle of keeping loot for ourselves, selling it, or donating to the town early on in the campaign. The DMs at the time directed us that we could keep what we found and didn't need to worry about the town. Otherwise being the good heroes we are, we'd be donating everything! (ie: we can safely sell the ring of sustenance).
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 Friday November 4th, 2022 8:31:46 AM
Sahabiel feels the truth of Hilia's address, aware in the back of her mind that the enchanted boots alone that she took from the bogeyman are a treasure that if it were measured in gold, would be enough to clothe every soul in Freedom Landing with something decent. And after that altercation with the Thieves' Guild, what she had set aside as her personal travel funds had actually grown beyond what she had originally begun her journey with..
"...let's do it.", she just says.
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP 24/40 Character Friday November 4th, 2022 8:54:40 AM
Beech joins the rest, his mother always said, stick with your friends... (sorry, convention weekend)
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 Friday November 4th, 2022 9:33:34 AM
Naithi makes a mental note to purchase hemp seeds for the spring. She made she there were plenty of edible plants, but clothing had slipped her mind
DM Esther -- understanding the state of Freedom Landing Friday November 4th, 2022 10:07:59 AM To help everyone be on the same page, let me provide the short-short version of the current state of Freedom Landing, as approved by the Powers That Be.
"Freedom Landing is a fledgling small village/hamlet. It is not rich, still nearly at the barely-enough-to-survive level, but has enough food and fuel for the winter." It is also "Not self-sufficent on metal tools, glass, luxuries, or anything other than basic foodstuffs."
The players do not need to worry about it in the sense that it is not so bad that player inaction would result in everyone dying, but the settlement is also not going to grow towards prosperity on its own either, because with the players being nominal leaders of the settlement (they even appoint the council) that would equate to an unearned wealth of resources.
Speaking as your Acting DM, I'd tell you that some of the settlement's dilemma’s include…
It has emerged from a refugee tent city into something resembling outwardly a small village in terms of quality of shelter, but thus far retained the character of ‘just trying to survive and get along’ without much beyond that. It is only now that most immediate threats have been quelled and they are not at risk of starving or freezing that people have had real time to think beyond where their next meal was going to come from, and now the question of the day is starting to move from how they are going to survive, to how they are going to live. People starting to care about having winter clothes instead of accepting they can only make do is but one early sign that your people are starting to think more about quality of life.
Until only a generation ago the now dead Parnoth militantly kept the wild forest at bay and made the tamed lands a pastoral landscape, meant to be tended and have food grown through effort - but (echoing that the orcs they were enslaved to were not much of an agricultural society) the demographics of Freedom Landing are a melting pot of people mostly not used to cultivating larger scale than a private garden, nor does it have meaningful numbers of livestock to graze, and many people are almost too in awe of the Culverwood next door to dare do anything with the land around them but harvest what nature provides by itself.
The main sources of food are still hunting and foraging rather than production, and 150-160 people are rather a large group for that. There is backyard subsistence gardening, and that druidic cultivation of wild edible plants you started the hamlet on sure yields a lot of berries to pick, but there are no larger fields of annual staple crops *yet* - this year's adventures saw you acquire quite a lot of seeds to plant after winter, so that may be on the verge of changing. Plans for orchards are long term and not yet yielding anything helpful for the present situation.
It has no road connection to anywhere, so all trade must happen over the river or really rough it over land, and only the party has a boat capable of making trips with a larger volume of supplies.
It has a good number of skilled craftspeople and artisans, but they have no market to sell into nor easy access to much variety of materials.
This all gives it most of the characteristics of an isolated, poor, low supply, low infrastructure small village, while sitting on top of a hoard of treasure based adventuring wealth that has nowhere to move in the local economy. If you gave the average villager here a handful of gold, where would they even take it, to buy anything to improve their lives with?
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) Friday November 4th, 2022 12:50:19 PM
Zazu feels super guilty about hogging the loot. "You guys! I got more than anybody, and like 4,000 gp more than most! I'll make it up to you all next time, I promise!"
As for the village, Zazu is proud of what we've accomplished, but knows that it is only a good start. "We need to give our people better lives," the elf says, when the topic arises. "It's not enough to just survive."
Nightingale (JonS) HP 36/43 AC 21 CMD: 21 Friday November 4th, 2022 5:16:58 PM
Using the information Nightingale has, what would be some good items to bring back for the community to use ... basic medical would be good, as to raw materials and even livestock, how would we get those items from point A to point B, as we know there are few roads ... is the Emerald City close to any waterways, or is Karri (that's the city close to us right?) ... to her friends she'll mull over a question "Is there a way to make a portal that we could use to get supplies from the Emerald City to us, or vice versa ... I know there are spells that let people move short distances, maybe this is something we could explore while we're on our trip...
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 Friday November 4th, 2022 7:08:25 PM "Since we can reach Karri by river, and that is both the closest to us and the largest city in the Emerald Kingdom, perhaps we should set aside thought of expensive magical portals, and see if we can not get ourselves a plain ol' sturdy barge to ply regular trade between here and there?", Sahabiel offers her thoughts; "It might be slower than our other boat, but if it can make up downstream to Karri in one or two days, and back upstream to Freedom Landing in no more than four, the people of Freedom Landing could take our artisans' goods to the weekly market, right? And carry back the things that we need over here on the return trip? It could be a start to get things moving.. literally."
(ooc: Sahabiel proposes that the party bankroll a river barge, and hire someone to teach some of our people to sail it)
DM Esther Friday November 4th, 2022 8:00:57 PM Lothlo agrees to look into the clothing supply issue the town is facing.
Panzer is up for a boat ride, and helps load up anything that is already waiting to be sold.
Ash gets to work right away, taking inventory of the stock of valuables from previous adventures that could be easily converted into coin.
Beech says nothing of his thoughts, but that he will go where the group goes.
Naithi adds hemp seeds to her list of seeds to wants ready for planting next spring.
Zazu gets a reminder that all things magical are prized treasures by any standard, and promises to make up for getting a larger share of value out of the last batch than anyone else.
Nightingale starts to wonder what kind of means could be used to connect Freedom Landing to Karri, and wonders if some kind of mystic portal like fey are wont to use might be possible.
Sahabiel proposes instead to use the river as a transport connection.
- - -
By almost unanimous decision, the party decides to travel to Karri and convert some gold into goods. It takes you a day by river to get there, and your usual inn has room for you for the night. Karri really is much as it was last time you were here, only this time nobody is trying to have you adopt kittens.
Assume you arrive late in the day as you usually do here, and freeform post what you spend the evening on. Naithi and anyone else that has business there can of course visit the WLA, but to train there you should go on the second day.
The next day you find that in Karri, six to eight gold coins will buy a complete set of cold weather clothes, including such parts as a warm outdoor coats, hats and cloaks to go over proper linen indoor clothes. It is kind of the wrong time of year to hope to find discounted winter clothes, as Karri is itself preparing for winter too. A greater issue than price is that the average store only has maybe a dozen ready-made in stock, and you suspect you can only buy out a shop's entire stock of winter clothes so often before word starts getting around.
(ooc: it is book listing price, 8gp, but 6gp for children sizes. If you try to buy for all your people in one day, you are going to see scarcity drive price up to 8gp-10gp after the first 30)
Bolts of linen and balls of wool yarn are a lot easier to find in bulk, at the right merchants.
Do you want to play out negotiations? If nobody is interested in that, you may instead assume that a total of 1,000 gold will buy some combination of all the ready made clothes and materials you need for the village for this winter, and that will last many winters after.
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 Friday November 4th, 2022 8:56:29 PM
The night they arrive Lothlo discusses the with the others what the plan is for the morning while sipping a glass of wine, a rare treat that he doesn't often get in their small village.
Contrary to the advice I've given so many times in the past, we may want to split and see if we can get clothes from a few stores at once just in case they try to raise prices on us. But we still need to watch every copper of the town's money. Sewing is one skill our town has a lot of. We should probably try to get enough material to make the bulk of the clothes we are still short. Then we can visit the WLA once our shopping is done.
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 Friday November 4th, 2022 9:32:51 PM "Agreed. What if we split up, scope out the clothing stores and when the sun is at it's highest we all buy as much as we can? Ooh, we could coordinate even more. What if someone was to cast an illusion of something high in the air, and when we see that we take it as a signal to buy? If we coordinate we can buy things before the prices go up"
Ash considers other places where the party might be able to source materials. Some merchants might have blankets for animals (that could be repurposed for people), a sailing yard might have some canvas or torn sails the party could buy cheap, and some tailors might have scrap bins where the group could get materials for free. They have plenty of craftspeople back in Freedom's Landing, and some mending cantrips can do wonders for torn material.
------------- Knowl Local: 23 (Take10) - To know where the wholesale merchants are Diplomacy: 17 (Take10) - To gather information about where the best merchants might be. This could be upped to 27 (Take20) if need be. Appraise: 21 (Take10) - To make sure the party get good value for their gold and don't get ripped off
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) Friday November 4th, 2022 10:08:06 PM
Zazu is happy to help with shopping. "Ash and Lothlo, you guys have the right idea. But we should still travel around in pairs, at least. The Wold is always waiting for the chance to surprise us adventurers!"
[OOC: Spending 1,000 gp to equip the party seems fine. Also, we have a boat already, so why do we need another one? I'm hoping that merchants will begin to ply the river to visit us every so often, anyway.]
"What we may need, though, as a future purchase, is a few bags of holding."
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 Saturday November 5th, 2022 12:52:17 AM I may not have a bag of holding, but I store four 3 cubic ft sacks easy enough.
ooc: Naithi can turn four objects per day into a fruit or flower, more if I increase her charisma. She also has Camalayas and Cuddly Mule to help transport items.
Nightingale (JonS) HP 36/43 AC 21 CMD: 21 Saturday November 5th, 2022 12:53:40 PM
OOC: Round two of posting ... my computer doesn't like me this morning
Nightingale will clear her throat after taking a healthy slug of mulled hard cider, "I have one of those bags. It isn't the largest, but it can help take some materials home. I'm also wondering if we should bring materials home for knitting, and our leatherworkers."
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) Saturday November 5th, 2022 1:26:30 PM
Zazu watches Naithi turn things into flowers and back. "Whoa! That is too nifty! I want to learn to do that too!"
"Naithi, you could turn an anvil into a flower, then I stick it in someone's pack, and then you turn it back! Do you have to touch it to turn it back? Would dispel magic do it?"
"What happens if someone eats an anvil-apple? Like say bites it up into pieces and then swallows it? What happens then?"
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 Saturday November 5th, 2022 10:17:54 PM
Naithi scratches her head as she thinks. I know we talked about having me collect boulders and having you transport them with mage hand, but I never considered what happens if people eat them. It is a dismissable spell like ability with a range of 40 ft. Eventual I'll be able to transform an item 5ft at it's longest length from 50ft, but I don't plan to train after getting my fairy wings. Since it is permanent until I dismiss it, I would assume eating a flower or fruit would destroy the transformed item. However, since it is fairy magic it is fluid. I would expect it to work as placed when playing tricks on someone, but it may be a little more unpredictable if you try to nail down it's effects.
oo: I'm only taking morphling until Naithi becomes feykin for rp reasons.
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 Saturday November 5th, 2022 10:20:53 PM If you are up for an experiment, after we get back, we can transform some watermelon without the rind and see what happens to you and it after eating some.
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 Sunday November 6th, 2022 6:24:26 PM
Ash has a terrible image in her mind of Zazu bursting like a balloon. She hopes the experiments start with something very, very small.
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 Monday November 7th, 2022 12:08:54 AM
Sahabiel nods, and responds to Zazu’s question of why they might want to buy a new boat rather than hand the one they have over for such weekly runs. “Well.. for one thing the Folding Boat that ya already have is a bit of a magical artifact and we’ve still been using it to go exploring since we can take it out of the water and carry it with us. But in a more practical way, the fishers that know boats say it just isn’t the right kind of boat for moving goods - fine for comfortable traveling with a group of people, but a bit of a pain to load and unload with those high sides, and it is not a flatbottom, so ya could put far less weight in it before this one wouldn’t be able to get through shallows in the riverbed anymore...”
DM Esther Monday November 7th, 2022 3:19:19 AM Lothlo suggests splitting up and buying goods in a few locations at once, to not give the local merchants much time to realize how much you are buying out of the market.
Ash builds further on this idea by suggesting some signal. Karri however already has a rather more convenient usable signal in place than looking up for lights in the sky, as bells chime on the hour across most of the city, and certainly in the trade districts.
Furthermore, Ash's information gathering is fruitful. Mostly. Identifying wholesale merchants is the easy part. Finding the best merchant is less unambiguous, as different people have their own views and allegiances - in the course of which, Ash identifies that there are roughly three factions in the wholesale textile trade in Karri - one centered on the local guild of weavers and dyers, one centered on the largest trade house for imported textiles, and one centered on a loose alliance of independent smaller merchants.
Zazu, Naithi and Nightingale discuss ways of carrying around large amounts of goods more easily, and their discussion leads to talk of.. potentially interesting experiments.
Sahabiel elaborates on why she suggested getting the settlement its own boat to trade down the river with.
(ooc: If you want to purchase bags of holding through the Catacombs, please do so with the incoming DM team)
Nightingale (JonS) HP 36/43 AC 21 CMD: 21 Monday November 7th, 2022 1:22:38 PM
Nightingale listens to what Sahabiel says then smiles, "Shouldn't there be someone here in town who sells boats, or could build us a couple. Asking for boats to move cargo and stuff around would make sense as we are still working on our community."
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 Monday November 7th, 2022 7:19:00 PM "Perhaps it would be worth checking out the local guild of weavers and dyers? If we start a relationship with them now, then we'd have contacts for when we're able to produce materials of our own and want to sell them. A guild would also likely have contacts in other cities, which would open up a larger market for us to trade across".
If no-one has any better ideas, she'll make the guild headquarters her first stop.
Ash has a handy haversack with her that can be used to carry bulky items.
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet Monday November 7th, 2022 7:55:10 PM
Panzer suggests talking to the contacts they already have in Karri about getting some clothing and the equipment they will need for planting in the spring, like plows and the beasts to pull them , he assumes oxen.
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 Monday November 7th, 2022 8:44:46 PM That's a good idea Panzer. And it would be a good idea to get some sheep as well so that we avoid similar issues with clothes shortages next year.
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 Monday November 7th, 2022 9:26:31 PM
Naithi agrees with all the suggestions. We have grown and collected a to lot of root vegetables and wild fruits and vegetables, but we didn't preserve as much meat. There are fish, shellfish, and mushrooms, but they leaves a lot to be desired. Is there any type of spell that can help provide meat? If not, wet may need to organize a hunting party as well as buying some meat.
ooc: Does anyone remember if the EK is up or down river? I believe I recall that we started play with it one way and were later informed that it actually flowed the opposite direction.
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 Monday November 7th, 2022 10:14:24 PM
Sahabiel spends the rest of the evening on the day or arrival enjoying herself in the way the inn is starting to know her for - a big meal despite already having had some honey glazed skewers of meat and nuts from a street food vendor on the way in, a good serving of ale, and having some friendly armwrestling matches with the locals for sport.
DM Esther Monday November 7th, 2022 10:32:58 PM Nightingale is getting on board with Sahabiel’s pitch to get a regular boat service going to connect Freedom Landing to the market in Karri.
Ash visits the guild of weavers and dyers, hoping not only to buy goods but also lay a basis for future trade. She learns that Karri has little need of another supplier of common types of wool, so they could only offer low prices for that. The reason for this is its proximity and good road connections to Kovri and Waypoint in the south, both of which occupy hilly terrain less suitable to farming but rather good for grazing herds, and the settlements in the open plains of the Emerald Kingdom on the other side. However, they’d always be interested in more exotic materials. The guild is at least.. curious.. about how Freedom Landing has gained a bit of a reputation, certainly following the public record of your testimonies before the council, for being closer with the Culverwood and its natives than any of the other settlements. Naithi looking more fey every time the group visits, and Sahabiel combining elven features with a forest green skin and being a Deep Culverwood native, contribute to that perception. One representative in hushed tones mentions some aristocrats would pay a small fortune for a pillowcase woven with nymph hair, and you are not sure if the man was joking or not. (Unless of course Ash makes a DC20 on a Detect Motive check, in which case Highlight to display spoiler: {she recognizes he was only using it as a farfetched example of how far the possibilities could go})
Panzer wants to try the party’s existing contacts, and wisely brings up the matter of any additional tools you may need to work the fields you intend to plant in spring. Freedom Landing already has most of the common hand tools for gardening and farming, but no plows. They can easily be ordered from pretty much any blacksmith around Karri for later delivery, since you are not going to need it until spring. Also, any blacksmith will advise Panzer that the common plow animal for the region is mules, so all the plow harnesses are made for that.
Lothlo agrees with Panzer, and additionally suggests buying sheep so that the settlement will have its own local source of wool in the future. Most sheep being sold right now however are older animals for slaughter, because mating season has just been and lambing season will not be for another few months. Farmholders around Karri are not keen on selling off any ewes at this time of year when it is hard to be sure if one is pregnant or not.
Nathi agrees with the suggestions and wonders if there is a spell to provide more meat for the diet of the people at Freedom Landing. (With so many spellcasters in the group, I am not even going to ask you to roll spellcraft for that) She quickly works out that while possible, the proper replication of meat is the province of higher level magic than she is capable of. Heroes’ Feast would do it, but all known food magics below that tier share the regrettable philosophy that also gave rise to pemmican – being more concerned with nutrition than texture of flavor.
(ooc: I have not seen where there was this confusion over the flow direction of the river, but from the map it reads to me as the river flowing west to east there. As a citizen of a country where awareness of flood risk is deeply ingrained in all of us, I know that cities built on a T-junction of rivers are normally on the land wedge between the tributaries, not along the direction of drainage? And Karri is drawn clearly occupying the southwest side of the river junction, so it is intuitive to me that must be the upstream relative to the joining of rivers?)
Sahabiel spends a relaxing evening eating, drinking, and having fun after the long hours spent on the boat. Her unnatural strength wins her about seven out of every eight wrestling matches. She only pays for her meal as her ale ends up being paid for by the spectators.
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP 24/40 Character Monday November 7th, 2022 10:48:53 PM
Beech is about to mention the idea of building the shipyard to repair and build boats at the town again... but then just lets it go... They will eventually get around to hearing his ideas, a few years too late....
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) Monday November 7th, 2022 11:05:14 PM
Zazu thinks that since we know some dryads, maybe dryad hair would be an option. But what do dryads even want that they would be willing to trade hair for? Plus, is hair really any good for weaving? Zazu thinks maybe the guy is pulling the party's collective leg or something. (Got no ranks in Sense Motive!)
But the trickster does not say anything either way.
[OOC: Freedom's landing is upriver from the Enerald City. Remember, we traced the source of the river up to the shellfish beds?]
Nightingale (JonS) HP 36/43 AC 21 CMD: 21 Tuesday November 8th, 2022 2:11:14 AM
As Nightingale is tagging along with whoever is doing exciting things, are sheep the only livestock for sale at this time, or are cows or goats for sale, for their milk and meat? Do we have chickens and turkeys in FL, or do they roam wild in the area?
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 d20+7=22 ; Tuesday November 8th, 2022 3:05:25 AM
Ash raises an eyebrow at the suggestion of a pillowcase woven with nymph hair. She knows it was only thrown out as an example, but she can't help responding. "Hmm. Can't help you with that I'm afraid. If you want one stuffed with mindslaver mold we might have been able to arrange something. Might have. We're shying away from that mold now". She tries to deliver it as straight-faced as possible knowing how insane it must sound. "I don't suppose you've any use for mother of pearl? I believe it's somewhat hard to come by in the middle of the Emerald Kingdog, and We do have a supply of it that we might open for trade. Perhaps for use as embellishments?"
-------------- Sense Motive vs DC20: 22=Pass!
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet d20+5=10 ; d20+4=16 ; d20=9 ; Tuesday November 8th, 2022 5:57:22 PM
( Freedom's Landing has capable smiths, right?) Panzer heads to the arcives in Karri where he hopes to look over some regional maps for stone, ore and mineral deposits. He has tried previously as have others to find a metal source in the area and has come up with nothing. He hopes to rely on his mining knowledge and the maps to find some ore that the local smiths will be able to use to make their own plows Profession miner 10 He then heads to the town market where for lack of a better name, Trash is dealt with. He looks for lots for sale of metal. Maybe a workshop retooled and had to get rid of metal machinery or and armory is selling off old gear at a rock bottom price. He looks for bargains . Perception 16 Diplomacy 9
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 Tuesday November 8th, 2022 8:21:11 PM
Lotho can see in Beeches eyes that he's most likely thinking about a shipyard again. As much as I like the idea of a ship yard, I think we need to focus on farmland right now. Somehow every year our math has failed, and we are always struggling not to starve or freeze.
ooc: I'd rather not put in any more work on the town until we get some guidelines on what we can accomplish over the next year before winter sets in again.
DM Esther Tuesday November 8th, 2022 11:41:33 PM Beech thinks about bringing up the ideas floated before about having a shipyard in Freedom Landing itself, but decides against it for now. There always seem to be reasons that other things still need to happen first.
Zazu is accompanying Ash and the trickster’s mind goes to other things that might be turned into product.
Nightingale tries to remember what livestock Freedom Landing already has. Last time the party was here, Sahabiel bought five goats and ten chickens - they are hard to forget because the hens were noisy in their cages the whole way back. Other than that there is of course Buggo the giant locust and the party’s own riding animals, and some other few animals owned by this settler or that, but nothing substantial that could be called a herd or flock of something. The kittens probably do not count.
(You can look around for cattle to buy, but I must warn that unless you are going to walk back to Freedom Landing, there is not much capacity left on your Folding Boat for more than the party and the boxes, bales and bolts of clothes, fabrics and essentials you already intended to bring back - not to fit livestock animals in, anyway.)
Ash tests the waters if the weavers and dyers guild would be interested in the purchase of mother of pearl, if Freedom Landing were offering. The representative seems uncertain but helpful; “Not personally, but I could arrange a meeting with someone that might be..”
Ash only: Highlight to display spoiler: {You have a pretty good hunch that he is helpful because he gets a broker commission for this sort of thing, but it does get strings pulled to get you introduced to the right person quickly.}
After about an hour, you get to meet with a well-dressed elven gentleman from an upper class clothier that is a client of the weavers’ guild, and a gnomish woman who from the jeweler’s tools in her belt looks like she knows her minerals. After some negotiation, there is an offer on the table - if the artisans of Freedom Landing take care of the cutting and polishing, you can get one pound of copper and two pounds of iron for one pound of mother-of-pearl. At those rates you probably would not want to sell off too much of your stock, since it is less than the mark-up you can get using the same material to let your artisans make your own finished products, but as a straight resource-for-resource swap it is slightly better value than you’d get if going through a middle man. If you are willing to go a step further; then if the artisans of Freedom Landing can fill orders for mother-of-pearl inlaid wooden, bone, or shell buttons, brooches, buckles, cufflinks, hair ornaments and such, they will be paid per order at the rate for middle class jewelry.
[Possible benefit: instead of having to try to sell your woodworkers’ products at market, you can always assume there are orders to fill for which you have a guaranteed buyer]
- - -
Others meanwhile think about the tools that will be needed to prepare the fields for next year’s planting. Panzer thinks that it would be more practical to somehow acquire iron, since Freedom Landing has capable people that know their way around a forge and plenty of time over winter to craft such tools as plows for the work in the coming spring. The western edges of the Emerald Kingdom, where Freedom Landing sits, have not been explored for ore veins, due to the geology being almost universally covered up by at least ten feet of humus-rich topsoil and vegetation - a little reminder that it used to be a forest floor for ages before Parnoth’s campaign.
While iron is a much cheaper metal than copper, it is still a bit too valuable a commodity that the people of Karri would treat anything made of metal as rubbish when it breaks - especially with many smiths able to do bespoke repairs on such things, or else smelt them to recover materials. Even so, Panzer finds easily enough iron for sale for several plows and then some.
(a standard big bar of pig iron weighs 80 pounds and costs eight gold, while the smallest ingots cost six silvers each at the same cost/weight ratio. Coal can also be bought for the smiths to work on, at the normal core book listed prices.)
Lothlo sees the expression on Beech, and reassures him.
Regardless of your other decisions above, when the party reconvenes, Sahabiel declares that after thinking about it, she would lay out funds to get a regular weekly boat service going between Freedom Landing and Karri, out of her own share in the previous few adventures.
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) d20+1=13 Tuesday November 8th, 2022 11:50:41 PM
Zazu offers to help with Sahabiel's financing, but then remembers that the trickster still owes the party a few thousand gold for the Immovable Rod.
"Um, well, thanks anyway for doing that, Miss Sahabiel. I think you are wonderfully generous!"
Zazu spends some time in Kari sniffing sround for rumors or news in general. Anything interesting.
Gather Info, untrained, 13. Maybe nobody has the time of a day for a half-size elf riding a dire bunny?
Nightingale (JonS) HP 36/43 AC 21 CMD: 21 Wednesday November 9th, 2022 12:51:36 PM
Nightingale has some funds, she will help "sweeten the pot" for whoever agrees to Sahabiels boating idea
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP 24/40 Character Wednesday November 9th, 2022 1:16:24 PM
Beech, is going to keep his money, he really needs to buy that wand to build his home... He then plans on using the remaining charges to build some other things....
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 Wednesday November 9th, 2022 1:56:25 PM
Naithi discusses the groups plans before training at the WLA.
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet Wednesday November 9th, 2022 4:38:53 PM
Panzer purchases one plow and the metal he found to get the smiths going. He then moves all of this to the wharf to get it loaded for the return trip. He will meet the group later, or as they bring stuff to be loaded and see where the town stands.
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 Wednesday November 9th, 2022 6:11:32 PM
Ash shakes hands with the guild representatives. It's been a productive afternoon. She doesn't want to make a commitment just yet. In this regards she too is just the middle man. It's the crafters of Freedom's Landing that would need to agree to the prices for their wares. She promises to put the proposal to them and provide a response as soon as she's able.
She returns to speak with the weavers guild representative and let's him know about the deal that has been discussed. If he gets some commission from the agreement then this might put him in a good mood, or at least start building a little rapport with him. Ash then brings up the topic of cloth and how much the guild might have available for trade at the moment. As he advised there is no further need for a wool trader, she asks about that commodity as well as it sounds like there might be a surplus available.
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 Wednesday November 9th, 2022 9:13:58 PM Naithi, I'll join at the WLA. I want to make sure my training and dues are up to date
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 Wednesday November 9th, 2022 9:42:26 PM
Sahabiel appreciates the support, and commits the sum of three thousand (3,000) gold to having a simple but robust river barge constructed, of the flat bottom, single cabin, single square sail variety backed up by a dozen oars. She thinks that in the future towed barges might be even more helpful, as they'd require fewer people to operate, but that would require a towpath to be constructed along the entire length of the river between a much more developed Freedom Landing and Karri at some time in the future. Everything must have a beginning somewhere.
She applauds Ash on hearing about the promising trade possibilities!
DM Esther d20=8 ; d20=8 ; d20=2 ; Wednesday November 9th, 2022 11:42:27 PM Zazu goes about gathering information, but ends up mostly gathering people’s impressions of Boyo and Zazu. Of course there are bits of interesting things floating around, but with not much detail - and one tidbit that Zazu learns is that after the exposure of his secret dealings with the now defunct thieves’ guild, suspended councilor Haldir Pagolor’s standing has collapsed and council officers are still investigating.
Nightingale offers her support for the boating idea, both in words and hints of some coin.
Beech has a certain wand on his mind, and is saving his gold for that. Is he going with anyone in particular or just doing his own looking around?
Naithi offers her opinions, and then spends much of the day in intense training at the WLA. (Were you training anything in particular?)
Panzer acquires a plow and a very heavy crate of pig iron. As a service, the seller loans him the use of a wagon and driver to transport it to the docks.
Ash promises a response from the Freedom Landing crafters by next visit, which seems satisfactory to master clothier Jehoel Guldenor. She then asks about the availability of cloth, and wool, as she suspects a surplus. She learns that buying enough material from them to make clothing for the people of Freedom Landing is not going to be a problem - one set of warm clothing each for the seven to eight score settlers isn’t all that big of a bump on the normal winter trade in textiles in the bustling city of thousands that is the capital of the Emerald Kingdom. As for wool… due to the abundance of pastoral land and the relative safety within the Emerald Kingdom, the price of wool will have a circumstance adjustment to a little below book listing.
Multiply three d20s against a logarithmic graph for a realistic price level adjustment: 1d20=8, 1d20=8, 1d20=2. Wool as a trade good in the Emerald Kingdom will trade 1 + ln( 8 * 8 * 2 ) = 5.8% under the book value. This applies to what you can buy it for, but also what you can sell it for, so it cuts both ways.
Lothlo goes with Naithi to the WLA, to make sure also that they are paid up for their membership dues.
Sahabiel puts up a sum of gold and does find a builder of boats who will be able to deliver a barge as desired to Freedom Landing in around 90 days, so it will be in use long before next spring comes around.
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP 24/40 Character Thursday November 10th, 2022 1:25:50 PM
Beech, just wanders around, he'll pick up any spices he needs. And he'll end up at the docks, looking at the flat bottom barges, filing away design ideas....
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 Thursday November 10th, 2022 2:21:53 PM
Naithi spends her time learning how to keep to the shadows and move silently as she learns about stealth at the WLA. As she trains her mind moves to matters of money... She actually has some for a change. She plans on what to buy at the Catacombs after her training and offers to chip in on the barge once she knows how much money she has saved up.
ooc: I'll work at getting my character sheet updated. My dues are paid up. Next advancement is level 9. I need to update my CS, but assuming there is nothing I need to train for a great prerequisite for a feat, Naithi will be training her stealth again
I'll try to get my wealth update and place a Catacombs purchase the weekend.
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet Thursday November 10th, 2022 3:39:54 PM
Panzer thanks the ironmonger for the help and gets the crate into the ship and ready to go.
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 Thursday November 10th, 2022 6:26:11 PM
Ash knows that cotton alone isn't going to make for warm, winter clothes. They'll need some insulation and the price of wool sounds very reasonable. If prices are low then stock levels must be high which also means there could be many different wholesale sellers. That might give her a little more room in negotiations.
She doesn't feel comfortable making solitary decisions, but the party are here to arrange for clothing and materials for the camp. With that in mind she tries to come to an agreement with the guild that the party would hopefully also be comfortable with. 1000gp for the combination of all the ready made clothes and materials the settlement needs plus a full bale of wool. The party will take care of transport. "I'm assuming you'll get some commission from this sale, and if the crafters of Freedom's Landing agree to the deal with the mother-of-pearl, I'll make sure you get that commission too. What do you think? Shake my hand and we'll have a deal right here" Ash taps her coin purse with one hand and extends the other to the guild representative.
If the rep agrees she'll make the necessary arrangements with him and then go and find the party to let them know what she's done. She hopes they think it was a fair deal and she hasn't made a mistake.
DM Esther Thursday November 10th, 2022 8:13:17 PM Beech does shopping on the spice market, and then sets to thinking about boats while studying those at the docks. He will see Panzer return with a wagon of iron and metalware soon after.
Naithi trains her stealth with a league instructor, and gets pointers on footwork, on how to creatively make use of the terrain, the usual barrage of pro tips coming from someone who has been doing this for a longer time of their life than you have.
(remember that we start using the 8th level character sheets as of January, as per PTB decision to sync up when we level up across all campaigns)
Panzer returns to the boat first, with a field plow and materials for the smithy back home. Beech is very nearby though. They both can wait for the rest of their comrades to return while, on the deck of a nearby moored vessel, a trio of crewmen sing boat songs for the amusement of the dockside workers and passers-by.
Ash (and presumably Lothlo who I understood in an earlier post went with her before joining Naithi at the WLA?) has spent an interesting afternoon at the guild of weavers and dyers, and has made a good impression. The guild representative listens to her proposal, then asks for a moment to speak with someone outside the room over inventory, and on his return agrees to the offered deal. Although quite some work will be needed to turn the materials into wearable winter clothes, you know that Freedom Landing has people with the skills and, now that winter has slowed down many other things, the time. The guild very much emphasizes looking forward to your future trade, which clearly means that they more or less expect you to convince at least a few people back in Freedom Landing to fill those requests for mother of pearl buttons and cuff links.
"I believe we have a deal, milady. I will make the arrangements for all the goods to be delivered to your ship then?"
(The ready made clothes will be coming from various seamstress shops and stores, while the fabrics and wool are coming directly from a storehouse. All goods will be delivered to your boat at the docks before the end of the day.)
Sahabiel has one more errand to run after completing her business with the boat builder, and she heads over to Meadow Glade to see the elven priestess Hríw-calen Gildin, and tell her about recent events near the Culverwood and how she intends to continue to pay received favors forward. In the process of talking, she finds herself roped into some garden work for the head priestess as well. She returns to the boat docks later a little more tired and with traces of garden dirt on her that she sets to scrubbing clean.
By evening, everyone meets up back at the boat. Now that it is loaded with goods, you are going to have to spend the night keeping a watch over it, but by now Sahabiel and Zazu have picked up enough local (food) knowledge of the area that you can all celebrate the success of your supply search with a small feast of tasty foods secured from some of the best street vendors that are out in the evening, and drink brought out from a pretty decent tavern on the docks!
(Is everyone ready to sail back to Freedom Landing? On your arrival there, I will review the full extent of what has been accomplished and the results this brings to the settlement, before giving the DM reins over to BatMark and Jon Paul. New module starts Monday!)
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 Thursday November 10th, 2022 8:37:56 PM
Sahabiel is entirely in favor of the deals done by Ash and Panzer, and shares the details about her own order placed with the shipbuilder as well.
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 Thursday November 10th, 2022 9:18:38 PM Looks like the town will be in good shape for the winter now, and we'll have a good head start come spring. Looks like we had a very productive trip
Nightingale (JonS) HP 36/43 AC 21 CMD: 21 Thursday November 10th, 2022 9:55:48 PM
Before heading out, Nightingale wants to buy whatever sweets she can find, plus any spices that we might not have at home, especially with winter coming on ...
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) Thursday November 10th, 2022 10:55:36 PM
Zazu looks at the heavy iron loaded into the boat. "Do you think maybe it will be too much, with all of us?"
"I got two Endure Elements for me and Boyo. So we won't mind the cold." The trickster makes sure that all the papers and scrolls and spellbook are well stored in waterproof skins, well sealed in the saddlebags attached to the magical saddle in which the elf sits.
Then Boyo leaps into the river!
Zazu laughs as the dire bunny paddles adroitly in the water. [Boyo has a Swim speed of 20.]
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 Friday November 11th, 2022 1:46:54 AM
Ash smiles broadly on hearing Sahabiel in agreement with the trader's deal. She listens to what happened while she was on her little shopping spree.
"A barge sounds like a great idea for moving trade goods up and down the river. Much better than horse and cart. You shouldn't be paying for it all yourself though, Sahabiel. It's for the town after all."
Ash proposes that the cost of the barge come out of the substantial pile of art and gold that Freedom's Landing has but isn't making use of. Failing that, she'll match Sabahiel copper-for-copper on the cost.
"I've got a Rose's Temperature Control spell to keep myself nice and toasty during winter. I've also got a couple of Endure Element spells I could cast on others, but not nearly enough to provide to the entire town."
Nightingale (JonS) HP 36/43 AC 21 CMD: 21 Friday November 11th, 2022 1:10:04 PM
Hearing Ash's comment, Nightingale adds her two coppers, "I think most if not all the houses are winter-proofed, and with the clothes and cloth we are bringing back, warm clothing will help. That spell might be useful for the healer's or for any births that might happen..."
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet Friday November 11th, 2022 1:27:24 PM
OOC (Wait, are we supposed to be leveling now? It will take me about 45 seconds to do but if we need to be lining up WLA training and dues now then I will need a little time to arrange that.) IC Panzer is fine with a vigil on the boat. With the thieves guild decimated he doubts there will be any issues, especially since they know it was this group that ravaged them in their own home base. Attacking on the party's home turf should amount to suicide for them and he doesn't think many of the remaining low level grunts have that kind of death in mind. He will sleep on the boat. His fur, his cloak and his bedroll should keep him toasty but he will not turn down an endure elements.
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 Friday November 11th, 2022 2:00:37 PM
ooc: I missed that we are delaying leveling up to level 8 for the time being. Hopefully this will still count for Naithi's level 8. Even so, the next set of WLA dues are at level 9, not level 8, so Panzer is good.
Naithi helps everyone gather up and protect the goods. She also notes they a creative use of Rose's Temperature Control could heat a large building. We already designed a large communal cooking area they can be powered with they spell to help prevent deforestation and wild fires.
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) Friday November 11th, 2022 3:27:08 PM
Zazu listens in and adds two more cents from the water.
"I'm happy to teach people how to cast first level spells! Anyone of average smarts can learn. No reason we can't have lots of people who are first level wizards!"
"Even just two or three of Rose's spells will be super useful for someone to cast."
"Who was this Rose, anyway? Super useful spell they invented."
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 Friday November 11th, 2022 8:38:41 PM
Sahabiel looks at the large, heavy bars of iron Panzer has brought on board, then looks to Naithi, back at the bars, and finally shakes her head, chuckling at the irony with a you-couldn't-make-this-up look in her eyes. "That is a pity. The first time since we've learned ya can do that trick that it would be really helpful to turn something into a flower for transport, and it just has to be cold iron.. well, I guess we'll have to carry that as it is then?" She laughs, and then adds; "Well, I am confident we will be alright with this load, but let me know if we do hit ground in the shallows and I need to get off and walk for a bit."
(ooc: the muscular Sahabiel is not slight, certainly not for a half-elf, and she is an armored knight-cleric to boot.. at a total geared up mass of 234 lbs, Sahabiel is probably the second heaviest person on board - albeit a distant second, after the large tauric Beech of course)
Sahabiel agrees that such a magic as room wide temperature control sounds like a useful thing in winter. As for whether she thinks Zazu could find many suitable adepts among the settlers to start teaching magic to, she does not say.
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 Friday November 11th, 2022 9:04:10 PM Temperature control would be awesome when the weather gets bad, and would help stretch our firewood, though wood is the one thing we have plenty of where we live. I can't wait to tell everyone we were able to obtain everything we were looking for.
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP 24/40 Character Friday November 11th, 2022 9:57:35 PM
Beech, expects to travel by foot, especially since they are going up river.... He's used to it by now...
DM Esther Friday November 11th, 2022 10:25:07 PM
With a little fooling around over how nobody checked if the boat with this weight in cargo in it would not be too deep in the water, the party sets sail back up the river towards Freedom Landing. Along the way, people share yet more ideas, magical and otherwise, that might be of use for the people of Freedom Landing.
(Not to be a killjoy, but don’t count on random npcs being able to learn a level of Wizard - PC classes are for PCs and named major characters only, and even if some NPCs could become NPC Adepts, Temperature Control is not on that spell list)
To the relief of everyone, including Boyo who does actually tire after a while of swimming in the cold river, the sound of the keel digging itself into sand stays away and by halfway through the second day after leaving Karri, you dock at Freedom Landing to be met with a hopeful welcome home by your people.
When your precious cargo is unloaded, the mood turns to joy. Elf fingers test the thickness of the cotton cloth. Orc fingers pick quite skillfully at the bale of wool, and with no more than a pair of smooth sticks spin a small sample off that immediately becomes the subject of discussion between a group of the women of all races of Freedom Landing over how that is going to make many good linings.
You have accomplished several things in your latest visit to Karri, starting with that the winter clothing shortage is now effectively resolved. What is more, you have laid the groundwork for creating a reliable flow of needed goods between Freedom Landing and Karri, and found a buyer for some of your highest value export crafts, with a deal that will secure a steady trickle of income to pay for those goods.
The artisans calmly listen as Ash shares with them the offer that was made to her, and nod. A human craftsman, one you remember making mother-of-pearl inlaid wooden cutlery before, finally speaks up; ”It is not bad business, buckles and attire ornaments.. and the price is fair. Better than us making things we can only hope will be in demand when a traveling peddler next deigns to visit out here we s’pose. We’ve all got some more tools and materials we’d like to get our hands on to make our jobs easier, so certain pay now is better than uncertain sales having to take our things to market ourselves.”
Furthermore, you have revisited old contacts and made some new ones, and collectively spent thousands of gold in Karri in a single day. While that sum is nothing special to bring to the Catacombs, you have spent it in places where common folk notice, on common folk goods – even through the guild middle man, over a dozen shops have felt your spending power, and since they all had to deliver to your boat they are nominally aware of where those purchases are going. The same can be said of a number of Karri shipwrights and workers that will know who they are outfitting a new boat for. In doing all this, you have planted a few seeds of a better reputation for Freedom Landing, bringing it up from “Never heard of”, “Isn’t that where they sent those resettled refugees?”, or at best “That was the adventuring company that took on the thieves’ guild, right?”, and nudged it ever so slightly towards becoming better known as a real place.
- - - [Consequence of your actions: from here on, the settlement of Freedom Landing will no longer be under the ‘dead broke, no money in circulation’ limitation. The rules for making a living as described under the Profession skill will be applicable across the settlement, unskilled labour earning 1 silver per day, and skilled labor earning their profession check times 5 silver per week. People will be using this income to buy tools and household items they need when they can afford them, and living standards will begin to move gradually towards that of a basic but functional village.] - - -
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) d20=17 ; Saturday November 12th, 2022 7:42:48 AM
Zazu is not in favor of burning wood this winter, if it can be avoided. The wizard wanders around the camp, showing off the Rose's Temperature Control spell, and trying to get a feel for anybody who just might have an aptitude for learning magic. Maybe that's nobody ... but maybe there's SOMEbody!
Gather Info (untrained charisma check) 17! Go me!
"It's really nifty and useful," Zazu explains to any prospect found. "Plus you can cast other spells too! And cantrips, like Mending and Light, as often as you want!"
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet Saturday November 12th, 2022 3:26:08 PM
Panzer prefers." Isn't that the group that Decimated the thieves guild" but he will take what notice he can get.
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 Saturday November 12th, 2022 8:36:59 PM
Mike and Brianna are capable casters, and Brother Matthew definitely knows some healing and protective spells. Murzush and even Codru can cast spells too. Between them she thinks they have enough spells to protect the most vulnerable members of Freedom's Landing. She wonders about the value of a spell that controls the weather in case things get a little too hairy. It's a little outside her casting capabilities, however a scroll or two could be nice in case of emergencies.
Ash has no problems burning dead wood. In her mind, there's no way a settlement this big could get away without it. No matter how many layers of clothing they might have, every house needs heating. In fact, she's happy to get timber from anywhere that isn't the Culverwood.
She then has an idea. "You know, I've heard tell of a Hallow spell that lets everyone near it benefit from an Endure Elements spell for an entire year. That would help protect people in the winter and the summer. It would cost about 2,000gp but that might be a bargain for the benefit it provides to everyone. We can either buy it as a scroll and cast it ourselves, or hire someone from Karri to come and cast it. We could center it on one of the long houses and then everyone inside, or even close by, would be covered by it. I mean, we could even buy a few and cover the whole town if we needed to, but that might take more than we can afford right now."
There are a so many other benefits that the spell provides - protection from evil mind control, protection from evil summoned creatures (they can't even enter the area), protection from undead (and becoming one!) - that Ash is pretty convinced this spell is a clear cut 'yes'. She's got some gold put aside that she can spend to provide it, but wants everyone's input first.
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 Saturday November 12th, 2022 10:31:47 PM
Sahabiel considers Ash the group’s resident authority on magical theory, so if Ash thinks having a hallowed zone within the town would be a good idea, there is probably a good reason for it. She is less convinced about additionally weaving Endure Elements into one at such cost though?
“If ya say so..? But I should tell ya I’ve not known individual hallowed areas to be particularly large, and there is them providing their protective added effects to people only while they stay within them? Don’t ya think that if ya made all the people stay put together in a small enough area to cover with the prayer of hallowing, they’d already stay warm enough in there just ‘cause of the whole being packed together thing? Besides, for the whole last season we’ve been charcoal piling all the reeds we couldn’t use for construction..” Sahabiel pauses and looks at her hands… memories still fresh of treating the frequent little cuts caused by carrying so many sheaves of reeds. “Our stores held enough fuel to feed everyone’s fires through to the other end of the cold months, even before they came to hold enough food to feed the people themselves. And now that there’s warm clothes as well, don’t we have everything that any other village would get through winter on?”
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) Sunday November 13th, 2022 12:25:56 PM
"I think a Hallow would be a great idea, Ash," says Zazu. "Does it have to be Hallowed to a particular diety? We could make the town Hallowed to the Culverwood, I guess?"
"I suppose we have provided enough for our village," Zazu adds, "but more does not hurt!"
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 Sunday November 13th, 2022 5:04:33 PM "It wouldn't cost much more to Widen it to an 80ft radius too"
Ash puts the total cost for a Widened Hallow to be 3,200gp if cast by a local Druid, perhaps from Karri. Maybe even Nelly could do it? It would only be 2,450 for the non-widened version.
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP 24/40 Character Sunday November 13th, 2022 7:57:44 PM
Beech, still keeps his mouth shut....until it gets towards the last part...
"We, and I me our group in particular, can not continually bail out the town. It may be hard, it may be rough, but the town has to learn to survive without us tossing gold at the problem.We've given it a good head start, I plan on a bit more of in kind trading with people here, but unless I hire someone to look after my home once I get it built, no more gold. Without it being earned, it's staying in my money pouch.' He knows it sounds final, because it is, at least for him....
Zazu (AC20, HP46) and Boyo the bunny (AC18, HP23) (Cayzle) Monday November 14th, 2022 8:52:23 AM
"The town still has like, what is it, Ash? 15 grand in gold in the treasury? So that should be fine, Beech -- we don't have to kick in more. That said, if someone wants to spend their own personal gold to support their preferred public works, I think that's fine, too! That's what I did to support trade."
OOC to new DMs: Zazu gave 1,000 gp, no strings attached, to an NPC merchant, Master Featherbrook, to promote trade. And 50 gp, back when we were poor, on community fish and crawdad traps. These expenses are tracked as part of my wealth on my sheet, so they continue to ding my WBL. Prolly I'll kick in more to the traps later on, being a trap crafter, and maybe I'll pay for spellbooks if any likely wizard prospects pop up. Zazu's personal public works interest also includes the brickworks and kiln, so I may kick in some gold on that, maybe to subsidize a potter and brickmaker for a year, now that we have a kiln.
"But before I get more loot to spend on myself or Boyo or the village, I owe everybody some cash for the Immovable Rod I grabbed last adventure." [OOC to DM: Zazu is a bit over WBL because he took a valuable item from loot instead of selling it and paying off equal shares.]
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 22/11/21 -- HP: 56/56 Monday November 14th, 2022 12:45:50 PM
Sahabiel sides with Beech on this point. “While it was a natural moral duty to help those that followed ya here to get the basic necessities set up, so they can get by without needing to depend on yer charity forever, it is right that we shouldn’t go too far beyond enabling the people to solve the village’s problems by themselves from here on. Especially as.. ah.. not all of ya think about those problems the same way the common folk do, and I worry it is not helping them stand on their own. Magic items and enchantments can be quick and convenient solutions to some problems, but they’ll soak up the whole settlement’s treasury faster than ya can blink. I’ve been volunteering to perform the prayer of mending and the prayer for purity of food and drink a lot, but that’s only because we’ve been in such a pinch that the people just didn’t have the material resources to do repairs the normal way, nor could we or anyone here afford to let any food go to waste. I’d also be perfectly capable of the prayer of light, but when I need a light in the evening at home, I will light a rushlight just like everyone else.. me giving two coppers for a bundle of them that lasts me a week probably helps more for the woman that’s trying to make a living from making those things than if I went around trying to teach everybody that looks even half-smart how to make light with magic, or spent a large sum in gold to put up some everburning magical streetlights for the people to gather under. We really need to pick our projects, step in as unobtrusively as possible when there are.. clear obstacles, and let the people take care of the rest in ways that they will be able to sustain on the back of their own skills, with or without us here. I volunteered to invest in that barge because without a regular river connection the people couldn’t very well get goods to market, and without being able to get goods to market, they would not be able to afford getting a regular river connection running. That circular trap had to be escaped, to enable the people to get on their feet. That is different from wanting to buy them miracles as shortcuts for the realities of normal life. And I believe the same goes for works of too great ambition that this hamlet is not ready for, simply because of how many people actually live here, and with what skills. When ya bring a hermit a cup of water, they may thank ya. If ya build an aqueduct to their place so they can get water whenever, they’ll ask who ya think is going to have to maintain the bloody thing.”
(ooc: Sahabiel uses 'ya' and 'yer' when speaking in Common, as a reminder she has a very noticeable wood-elven accent)
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 26 HP 81/81 ) Character Sheet Monday November 14th, 2022 5:49:06 PM
Panzer walks in halfway through this discussion and while he is confused for awhile he gets the gist of it, but stays quiet. When all the thinkers in town seem to have run out of steam he asks if anyone is interested in helping move 'all that iron' that is still in the boat. Un burdened by his armor he can move a fair bit of it but then it comes down to dropping some and multiple trips and so on. Many hands make light work and all that. He then heads back out to where the smiths and he have been unloading the iron and moving it to the smithy and grabs another armload.
Ash (RobC) -- AC 17/12/15 -- CMD 14 -- HP 60/60 Monday November 14th, 2022 5:49:21 PM "I was thinking the same as Zazu. The town has had plenty of artworks lying around. Any one of those could be sold and the money used for magical protection. We needn't dip into our own funds unless we want to." Ash explains "It's not our money though, so we should put it to the council to decide what they want to do"
Nightingale (JonS) HP 36/43 AC 21 CMD: 21 Monday November 14th, 2022 7:59:00 PM
Nightingale will help Panzer move stuff where it needs to go ... it'll keep her busy
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 40/53, CMD: 23 Monday November 14th, 2022 8:20:10 PM That hallowed spell sounds pretty amazing, but I agree that we probably shouldn't be doing that. It's a lot of money, and the town needs to learn to become sufficient. We are already in far better shape than previous winters, and that much money would be much better spent on expanding farm land, raising farm animals, and other projects that will help the town grown over the next year.
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 42/42 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 Monday November 14th, 2022 8:51:48 PM
Naithi agrees that the group needs to find a balance between being leaders and babysitters for the town. The town is used to living in this climate and has the skins to survive. This would be a good time to remind everyone of The Choosing Ceremony we talked about where the various masters of their craft and fields talk to the orphans about the various professions and take one of those coming of age under their wing to train. This will be especially helpful if there are some interest in becoming a druid or cleric.
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