- Location
- Leeds
Sometimes I think you shouldn't be allowed to edit quotes.
This is not the worst thing I've done with this power, but I've misused it enough that I probably shouldn't have it.
Blades without a Banner
- Thread starter Shine
- Start date
This is not the worst thing I've done with this power, but I've misused it enough that I probably shouldn't have it.
I feel like Geln becoming more of a guile hero is him growing as a person and learning fighting while extremely useful doesn't always get you what you want.
Next level we get more armor
I swear, promise
for real though, Geln is growing, and being a bit xenophobic now will honestly be interesting.
I swear, promise
for real though, Geln is growing, and being a bit xenophobic now will honestly be interesting.
Crossroads
[x] 'I don't know. I don't think I'll ever know. The priests will understand, though… I wonder how they'll stop us from learning from them as well.'
[x] Dilettante
If the sentries see anything abnormal about you coming through the town's entrance a small while before midday, they don't see fit to mention. Up close, the distant familiarity dies completely. In broad strokes, perhaps, you can see it- but having the same shape doesn't make it similar. It is nearly everything and everyone- the air is too cold and too thin, the sun too existent, the mists so absent. As you walk through a familiar grid pattern, you can't stop yourself from expecting to hear your native tongue at every corner, to feel the heavy stamp of boots and mail and metalwork. You expect broad frame and mutant forms, gleaming steel and brawling children, and when you instead find yourself amongst a small crowd of much slimmer hobgoblin- many of whom visibly shy away from you, wary at your size, at your armament, others of whom stare, fascinated, from behind their masks- you can't help but be absurdly disappointed.
You stop in the middle of a quiet lane, axe balanced on your shoulders like a water bearing stave. Five minutes, you've just been wandering the outskirts, finding businesses both familiar and strange, and you have nowhere to be and nothing to do in a land you do not know.
Stopping is little comfort, with the pallid sun still glaring down on you.
Something smacks into your leg, and on instinct you beat it away, half turning to see who just struck you. A small ball soars away, bouncing erratically, before sweeping into the legs of one of several children too busy gawking to scatter. The boy lets out a bird-like squawk before promptly eating dirt and snow, and even as most of the rest panic and scatter- only one other staying to pick him up- you feel the weight of attention rot from wary to hostile.
You almost make to go help him, but think better of it. Muttering an apology, you flee the scene.
—————————
You suppose that you should buy supplies.
It would be a much easier task if you knew where anything was. Despite a familiar layout, the Hoklin must have had their own ideas on where to colour within the lines- all you've managed to find so far was a tailor. You would have brought boots and a water proof cloak, to keep away the winds and snow, but even the largest size was far too small for you; you ended up agreeing to slice and stitch a tent covering. It's not an unpleasant weight on your shoulders, and much more tangible, but you can't help but feel slightly cheated. Unfortunately, anything else is beyond you, unless you gained a sudden appetite for street food, charms and iron blades. Although you likely probably passed through far more than that, given you've been walking for a quarter hour, the simple sign-sigils the locals used to navigate were nearly useless to you.
-1 Silver Ring
There's not much to be done for it, though. You still need supplies, and you still need work. Your new goals feel almost ephemeral, compared to the certainty- and sense- of home, but it's better than nothing.
You try to stick to the shade, but there's not much for someone nearly two metres tall.
'Tall stranger!'
At the edge of your vision, one of their hearthguard- you assume- rapidly approaches, clearly trying to get your attention. He's much better equipped than the sentries, with iron mail and a steel-tipped spear, and he alone is the first to approach you in this place. You hope that's a good thing, given his career; you'd rather not have to explain you have nothing against small children.
'My speech is bad.', you apologise as he chatters something rapidly in front of you. He pauses in his rapid explanation of… where you're meant to be, you think, before starting again.
'The corpse-smiths are at the water. Are you lost?'
'Yes. No… Don't know. No place to be.'
'…the giant ship?'
'No. Travelling, in land. Not with them.'
He pauses, bewildered. Apparently, that wasn't the script.
'You need to stop frightening people.'
'The axe stays here.'
'Yes! Yes, of course. Just have to know what you want?'
'Supplies. Work. I can pay, just.. need a way forwards.'
'Well.. you can come with me, see my master. We have work; pays well.'
He sounds distinctly hopeful at that. You'd guess he's maybe a similar age to you, or somewhat older; in all, you find him oddly familiar, despite his clothes and speech. Why would Hassan want mercenaries so eagerly, though? He doesn't seem lacking for warriors.
'Maybe. Anywhere else, though? Would like to buy things first, and look for other work first. Compare options.'
'He's very generous! But… alright. The corpse smiths are at-'
'Not with them.', you insist. 'Somewhere else.'
'…travellers leave from all entrances, from the rest-places; those are… from entrance, facing into town, turn right and follow the smell of dogs. Maybe one needs an axe.'
'Not hungry.'
'Near the entrance is'- he says something you don't understand, but doesn't notice your confusion- 'for travellers tired of travelling. Real business is a bit away and to the side; out of the way, but not too far out.'
'I see.'
'Merchants for supplies should be there too, since people who buy from them are.'
'Thank you.'
'We could help you more if you helped us?'
'I'll consider. If I agree, I'll go to the tall building, with a banner?'
There should be a temple in the central ring, so everyone can have as equal access to her benevolence as reasonably possible, and as so to give her the most secure of places to rest. Temples don't have banners, though, so you suppose the hobgoblins disagree with you there as well.
'Yes! See you soon?'
'Thank you again.'
———————————-
Although in aggregate, this place is more exotic than even Kalastur, no one you see in particular strikes you as strange. You see butchers and smiths, tailors and apprentices, even a beastmaster driving along a flock of plump, grounded birds and a small clump of pale and extremely hairy hoofed beasts. As he, his apprentices and their dogs coax past you, you wonder what kind of task or experiment he could possibly need them all for.
With directions, it only takes you another quarter hour before you find your likely destination. The sound of dogs and horses- quite a few of both, to your surprise- soon becomes more prominent than the low drone of urban chatter, and it's a more diverse and stranger dressed collection of foreigners that stare at you instead. You ask one for directions, and she points out to you the places to be with a surprising helpfulness.
First step, somewhere to stay the night without freezing solid. Everything else, by your estimation, can afford to wait a moment.
Inside the rest house, you politely wait behind another traveller, paying attention to his order. The place isn't large, but there's a big enough common room, a smouldering hearth, palatable food and water the keeper, you suspect, put in slightly too much alcohol than to just preserve it.
You step up to him from across the counter, and flash him the silver ring in hand.
'Three meals and a room for a night, please.'
'Two rings.'
'…excuse me?'
'You need two.'
'He just paid one.'
'You're a lot bigger.'
You lean forwards, and up close, the hobgoblin barely comes up to your shoulders. He doesn't appreciate that difference for overlong, though- his eyes are involuntarily drawn to a low and bitter grind. You've placed the edge of the ring against the soft wood of his table, and, bracing your wrist, slowly press it against and through.
'I have ears, too.', you intone softly. 'Cheat me, and I'll shoot something myself, and you'll not be paid a bit.'
He glares you up in the eyes, but whatever he sees doesn't have him hold your gaze long.
'..I pay my tithes', he hurriedly retorts. 'Think you're beyond the guard?'
'I think they'd like to check your water. Out here, we'll have plenty of time to think of what we'll tell them.'
'….are you threatening me?'
'Warning.', you implicitly admit.
He attempts to bluster a couple more times, but can't seem to find the words against direct confrontation- at least, not as you press the gleaming edge even deeper through his table.
You leave the silver ring stuck into his counter, plodding back to a circle of tables with a key in hand. Three others sit there, but only one of them- the one who just ordered- meets your gaze. Better to eat with company than without, you decide.
'You're one of the corpse smiths?', he guesses as you sit. His accent is.. strange. Not quite like Darkwater, you decide. More melodic, thoughtful, as if his words (and there's quite a few of them) are carefully placed to match together.
'It seems so. Yourself?'
'My name's Darius, from the fair city of Periphyra- that's much farther south than here, though. That was quite a display.'
'Geln, son of Kory. Good to meet you, and.. not really. It's just been a long day.'
'Not really? You almost put that coin through his desk! Good to see someone piss him off for once… maybe I should have flashed some iron too.'
'You're not staying long, then?'
'Only long enough to buy and sell, but tomorrow I'm on the road again. I make the circuit from the Lodges to Tulane, you see- all four of the dominant cultures up here want something from someone, and I turn their wants into my gain.'
'Four?'
'I stop by the Antares Confederates on the way back. If you don't mind my curiosity though.. where are you going? The locals here told me your sort normally stay close to the harbour.'
'I don't understand the last word.'
'..ah, the place where ships stop to rest?'
'Thank you. And no.. I'm not with them. Just travelling, alone. Looking for direction, right now.', you admit.
'Well, you could come with me! I could use a bodyguard; it'll save me some time recruiting today.'
'How long?'
'Two months to Tulane, if things go well. It would be quicker if we were just going to see the sky Tulani, but the earth Tulani are better for trade- and closer to the coast.'
'….That's very far.'
An understatement, if anything. Presumably, it's not two months in lonely wilderness, but even so it seems Darius must a wanderer by nature. You don't doubt he'll pay, but it's quite a commitment to make just after landfall..
'Do you know of any other work I could take up?'
'Well…', he considers, with no ill will. 'If you mean in the near future, then tomorrow a convoy leaves for Nociva- that's the closest Thalassic League. Someone paid them quite a sum to take up almost their original number in prisoners, so they must be looking for guards. Beyond that.. there's probably work as a mercenary, what with the battles and all. Even the victors always need more men.'
'So I've been told.'
Your lunch arrives then, served by someone who fortunately doesn't seem to hold any grudge against you for their boss (or, perhaps you just can't see it through their mask). You eat in silence, entertaining the occasional question about where you come from and what you do- which you politely deflect- as you mull over what your future may hold.
—————————-
First, you need a job. Not literally, for now, but it would be nice to have something to do.
[] Take up Hassan's offer.
Apparently, he's gathering strength to make a coup de grace attack, with his enemy devastated by a catastrophic battle at sea against the ever-more infamous corpse smiths.
~6 Silver Rings a week, plus first pick to loot what you kill, and possibly extra for heroism. This is a fair amount for a veteran soldier, which still seems absurd to you.
Will take an unknown amount of time, but hopefully only a couple weeks!
Blessed Kolo advised you to go south, though… so you probably shouldn't do this.
[] Help escort Darius' convoy to distant Tulane, East and slightly south
The next leg of his journey will take two months (!) of travel via sled, horse and foot, passing through land largely inhabited by various sorts of nomads. It'll certainly be adventurous, if nothing else. A very long job, though.
~5 Silver Rings a week, plus food. Two extra if there's a skimish.
[] Help escort a convoy to Nociva, south and slightly East.
You suspect Halna just paid someone a significant sum, instead of organising an official escort. They'll probably need extra manpower. The job should take a week, Ceariva be willing.
~4 Silver Rings, plus food. Two extra if there's a skirmish.
Definitely the best job to take to see more of the world.
You'll probably notice you're getting paid pretty well. You are a highly qualified professional working in a pretty dangerous job. Even after paying for repairs and medical treatment, you are expected to make a few times as much as, say, a fisherman or a cobbler.
—————————
Additionally… Geln will often have spare time, spare coin, and no one to really spend it with. What would he do, to kill boredom and loneliness?
[] Gambling
Games of chance! At home, there were severe restrictions about how much you could bet, which… upon further thought, was probably wise. Try to keep that in mind.
[] Substance Abuse
Drinks and smoke… it's pretty rare for the Islefolk to see the long term consequences of these, as long as they don't overindulge. Natural resilience means something else tends to kill them first.
[] Curiosity
Not all knowledge is useful, but all of it is worthwhile to you. Even if you'll admit that most of the things you've learnt this way, and at no small price, you'll probably never use again, you'd rather a lighter purse than a heavier mind, wondering what could have been.
—————————-
Finally…. Geln spends 4 silver rings on 9 more Good Rations and a set of fourty greatbow arrow components, which he'll put together on his own time. He also gets a small tent, for two silver rings. Does he buy anything else?
This part is a plan vote!
For context, a decent spear or axe would be up to five silver rings; a one handed sabre, 15, a long axe or glaive, 20 to 25. A compass can cost up to 10, a rowboat anywhere from 25 to 70.
[] A charm that can allegedly absorb hostile magic. It does look very pretty. ~10 Silver Rings.
[] A small but enthusiastic dog. Apparently, the runt of the litter, too stunted to hunt well. ~10 Silver Rings.
[] A sled dog, almost half your size. The rest of her pack is dead, and by tradition, it's considered bad luck to pair her with another team. ~15 Silver Rings.
[] A map of the northern continent. Probably. ~15 Silver Rings.
[] A 'casual' dictionary of Deep Speech, Common and Lodge-Cant. ~30 (!!!) Silver Rings! Really?
[] A healing potion, or so they claim. You're not sure such a thing should be publicly sold, but no one seems surprised.. ~20 Silver Rings.
[] A simple mask. Even wearing it, you don't fit in very well. Combined with your helmet, it does obscure most of your face, even with the visor up. ~3 Silver Rings.
[] You decide to try and find an enthusiastic buyer for… [what?].
—————————
Geln is going to spend the rest of the day settling affairs, before setting out tomorrow morning, no matter what you choose.
Most Islefolk… don't really understand currency? A lot of them don't even understand supply and demand. Silver is their currency not because they like it (although some do), but because their deities like it and insists they use it to decorate things, which gives it intrinsic worth.
As far as they're concerned, foreigners are just bizarrely obsessed with nearly useless precious metals, and are willing to hand over perfectly useful items at absurd ratios for items like gold. It's probably all the sunlight, cooking their brains.
Geln does understand supply and demand, fortunately, and can guess that his silver rings have varying value depending on where he is. He can also guess people will try to cheat him, what with not being a native language speaker, to which he will remind them he's nearly two metres tall and has a really good axe.
People don't use silver rings everywhere, or basically anywhere but Haven. Geln is just translating values in his head, because currency trading is too much for me.
The vice won't be anything really serious; it'll be more like, say, someone who's fond of recreational marijuana or social drinking. It's mostly for characterisation/ plot hooks.
I've added the 7 silver rings from the prize ship to your sheet. Don't question how it manifested at this point.
Questions welcome. You've at least two days to vote.
[x] Dilettante
If the sentries see anything abnormal about you coming through the town's entrance a small while before midday, they don't see fit to mention. Up close, the distant familiarity dies completely. In broad strokes, perhaps, you can see it- but having the same shape doesn't make it similar. It is nearly everything and everyone- the air is too cold and too thin, the sun too existent, the mists so absent. As you walk through a familiar grid pattern, you can't stop yourself from expecting to hear your native tongue at every corner, to feel the heavy stamp of boots and mail and metalwork. You expect broad frame and mutant forms, gleaming steel and brawling children, and when you instead find yourself amongst a small crowd of much slimmer hobgoblin- many of whom visibly shy away from you, wary at your size, at your armament, others of whom stare, fascinated, from behind their masks- you can't help but be absurdly disappointed.
You stop in the middle of a quiet lane, axe balanced on your shoulders like a water bearing stave. Five minutes, you've just been wandering the outskirts, finding businesses both familiar and strange, and you have nowhere to be and nothing to do in a land you do not know.
Stopping is little comfort, with the pallid sun still glaring down on you.
DC 4
+2 (Charismatic)
-1 (Lost)
DC 4
3, 6, 6, 9
+2 (Charismatic)
-1 (Lost)
DC 4
3, 6, 6, 9
Something smacks into your leg, and on instinct you beat it away, half turning to see who just struck you. A small ball soars away, bouncing erratically, before sweeping into the legs of one of several children too busy gawking to scatter. The boy lets out a bird-like squawk before promptly eating dirt and snow, and even as most of the rest panic and scatter- only one other staying to pick him up- you feel the weight of attention rot from wary to hostile.
You almost make to go help him, but think better of it. Muttering an apology, you flee the scene.
—————————
You suppose that you should buy supplies.
It would be a much easier task if you knew where anything was. Despite a familiar layout, the Hoklin must have had their own ideas on where to colour within the lines- all you've managed to find so far was a tailor. You would have brought boots and a water proof cloak, to keep away the winds and snow, but even the largest size was far too small for you; you ended up agreeing to slice and stitch a tent covering. It's not an unpleasant weight on your shoulders, and much more tangible, but you can't help but feel slightly cheated. Unfortunately, anything else is beyond you, unless you gained a sudden appetite for street food, charms and iron blades. Although you likely probably passed through far more than that, given you've been walking for a quarter hour, the simple sign-sigils the locals used to navigate were nearly useless to you.
-1 Silver Ring
There's not much to be done for it, though. You still need supplies, and you still need work. Your new goals feel almost ephemeral, compared to the certainty- and sense- of home, but it's better than nothing.
You try to stick to the shade, but there's not much for someone nearly two metres tall.
'Tall stranger!'
At the edge of your vision, one of their hearthguard- you assume- rapidly approaches, clearly trying to get your attention. He's much better equipped than the sentries, with iron mail and a steel-tipped spear, and he alone is the first to approach you in this place. You hope that's a good thing, given his career; you'd rather not have to explain you have nothing against small children.
'My speech is bad.', you apologise as he chatters something rapidly in front of you. He pauses in his rapid explanation of… where you're meant to be, you think, before starting again.
'The corpse-smiths are at the water. Are you lost?'
'Yes. No… Don't know. No place to be.'
'…the giant ship?'
'No. Travelling, in land. Not with them.'
He pauses, bewildered. Apparently, that wasn't the script.
'You need to stop frightening people.'
'The axe stays here.'
'Yes! Yes, of course. Just have to know what you want?'
'Supplies. Work. I can pay, just.. need a way forwards.'
'Well.. you can come with me, see my master. We have work; pays well.'
He sounds distinctly hopeful at that. You'd guess he's maybe a similar age to you, or somewhat older; in all, you find him oddly familiar, despite his clothes and speech. Why would Hassan want mercenaries so eagerly, though? He doesn't seem lacking for warriors.
'Maybe. Anywhere else, though? Would like to buy things first, and look for other work first. Compare options.'
'He's very generous! But… alright. The corpse smiths are at-'
'Not with them.', you insist. 'Somewhere else.'
'…travellers leave from all entrances, from the rest-places; those are… from entrance, facing into town, turn right and follow the smell of dogs. Maybe one needs an axe.'
'Not hungry.'
'Near the entrance is'- he says something you don't understand, but doesn't notice your confusion- 'for travellers tired of travelling. Real business is a bit away and to the side; out of the way, but not too far out.'
'I see.'
'Merchants for supplies should be there too, since people who buy from them are.'
'Thank you.'
'We could help you more if you helped us?'
'I'll consider. If I agree, I'll go to the tall building, with a banner?'
There should be a temple in the central ring, so everyone can have as equal access to her benevolence as reasonably possible, and as so to give her the most secure of places to rest. Temples don't have banners, though, so you suppose the hobgoblins disagree with you there as well.
'Yes! See you soon?'
'Thank you again.'
———————————-
Although in aggregate, this place is more exotic than even Kalastur, no one you see in particular strikes you as strange. You see butchers and smiths, tailors and apprentices, even a beastmaster driving along a flock of plump, grounded birds and a small clump of pale and extremely hairy hoofed beasts. As he, his apprentices and their dogs coax past you, you wonder what kind of task or experiment he could possibly need them all for.
With directions, it only takes you another quarter hour before you find your likely destination. The sound of dogs and horses- quite a few of both, to your surprise- soon becomes more prominent than the low drone of urban chatter, and it's a more diverse and stranger dressed collection of foreigners that stare at you instead. You ask one for directions, and she points out to you the places to be with a surprising helpfulness.
First step, somewhere to stay the night without freezing solid. Everything else, by your estimation, can afford to wait a moment.
Inside the rest house, you politely wait behind another traveller, paying attention to his order. The place isn't large, but there's a big enough common room, a smouldering hearth, palatable food and water the keeper, you suspect, put in slightly too much alcohol than to just preserve it.
You step up to him from across the counter, and flash him the silver ring in hand.
'Three meals and a room for a night, please.'
'Two rings.'
'…excuse me?'
'You need two.'
'He just paid one.'
'You're a lot bigger.'
DC 4
+2 (Charismatic)
+2 (Powerful)
+1 (War Is)
+1 (Veteran)
DC 10
…..too easy.
+2 (Charismatic)
+2 (Powerful)
+1 (War Is)
+1 (Veteran)
DC 10
…..too easy.
You lean forwards, and up close, the hobgoblin barely comes up to your shoulders. He doesn't appreciate that difference for overlong, though- his eyes are involuntarily drawn to a low and bitter grind. You've placed the edge of the ring against the soft wood of his table, and, bracing your wrist, slowly press it against and through.
'I have ears, too.', you intone softly. 'Cheat me, and I'll shoot something myself, and you'll not be paid a bit.'
He glares you up in the eyes, but whatever he sees doesn't have him hold your gaze long.
'..I pay my tithes', he hurriedly retorts. 'Think you're beyond the guard?'
'I think they'd like to check your water. Out here, we'll have plenty of time to think of what we'll tell them.'
'….are you threatening me?'
'Warning.', you implicitly admit.
He attempts to bluster a couple more times, but can't seem to find the words against direct confrontation- at least, not as you press the gleaming edge even deeper through his table.
You leave the silver ring stuck into his counter, plodding back to a circle of tables with a key in hand. Three others sit there, but only one of them- the one who just ordered- meets your gaze. Better to eat with company than without, you decide.
'You're one of the corpse smiths?', he guesses as you sit. His accent is.. strange. Not quite like Darkwater, you decide. More melodic, thoughtful, as if his words (and there's quite a few of them) are carefully placed to match together.
'It seems so. Yourself?'
'My name's Darius, from the fair city of Periphyra- that's much farther south than here, though. That was quite a display.'
'Geln, son of Kory. Good to meet you, and.. not really. It's just been a long day.'
'Not really? You almost put that coin through his desk! Good to see someone piss him off for once… maybe I should have flashed some iron too.'
'You're not staying long, then?'
'Only long enough to buy and sell, but tomorrow I'm on the road again. I make the circuit from the Lodges to Tulane, you see- all four of the dominant cultures up here want something from someone, and I turn their wants into my gain.'
'Four?'
'I stop by the Antares Confederates on the way back. If you don't mind my curiosity though.. where are you going? The locals here told me your sort normally stay close to the harbour.'
'I don't understand the last word.'
'..ah, the place where ships stop to rest?'
'Thank you. And no.. I'm not with them. Just travelling, alone. Looking for direction, right now.', you admit.
'Well, you could come with me! I could use a bodyguard; it'll save me some time recruiting today.'
'How long?'
'Two months to Tulane, if things go well. It would be quicker if we were just going to see the sky Tulani, but the earth Tulani are better for trade- and closer to the coast.'
'….That's very far.'
An understatement, if anything. Presumably, it's not two months in lonely wilderness, but even so it seems Darius must a wanderer by nature. You don't doubt he'll pay, but it's quite a commitment to make just after landfall..
'Do you know of any other work I could take up?'
'Well…', he considers, with no ill will. 'If you mean in the near future, then tomorrow a convoy leaves for Nociva- that's the closest Thalassic League. Someone paid them quite a sum to take up almost their original number in prisoners, so they must be looking for guards. Beyond that.. there's probably work as a mercenary, what with the battles and all. Even the victors always need more men.'
'So I've been told.'
Your lunch arrives then, served by someone who fortunately doesn't seem to hold any grudge against you for their boss (or, perhaps you just can't see it through their mask). You eat in silence, entertaining the occasional question about where you come from and what you do- which you politely deflect- as you mull over what your future may hold.
—————————-
First, you need a job. Not literally, for now, but it would be nice to have something to do.
[] Take up Hassan's offer.
Apparently, he's gathering strength to make a coup de grace attack, with his enemy devastated by a catastrophic battle at sea against the ever-more infamous corpse smiths.
~6 Silver Rings a week, plus first pick to loot what you kill, and possibly extra for heroism. This is a fair amount for a veteran soldier, which still seems absurd to you.
Will take an unknown amount of time, but hopefully only a couple weeks!
Blessed Kolo advised you to go south, though… so you probably shouldn't do this.
[] Help escort Darius' convoy to distant Tulane, East and slightly south
The next leg of his journey will take two months (!) of travel via sled, horse and foot, passing through land largely inhabited by various sorts of nomads. It'll certainly be adventurous, if nothing else. A very long job, though.
~5 Silver Rings a week, plus food. Two extra if there's a skimish.
[] Help escort a convoy to Nociva, south and slightly East.
You suspect Halna just paid someone a significant sum, instead of organising an official escort. They'll probably need extra manpower. The job should take a week, Ceariva be willing.
~4 Silver Rings, plus food. Two extra if there's a skirmish.
Definitely the best job to take to see more of the world.
You'll probably notice you're getting paid pretty well. You are a highly qualified professional working in a pretty dangerous job. Even after paying for repairs and medical treatment, you are expected to make a few times as much as, say, a fisherman or a cobbler.
—————————
Additionally… Geln will often have spare time, spare coin, and no one to really spend it with. What would he do, to kill boredom and loneliness?
[] Gambling
Games of chance! At home, there were severe restrictions about how much you could bet, which… upon further thought, was probably wise. Try to keep that in mind.
[] Substance Abuse
Drinks and smoke… it's pretty rare for the Islefolk to see the long term consequences of these, as long as they don't overindulge. Natural resilience means something else tends to kill them first.
[] Curiosity
Not all knowledge is useful, but all of it is worthwhile to you. Even if you'll admit that most of the things you've learnt this way, and at no small price, you'll probably never use again, you'd rather a lighter purse than a heavier mind, wondering what could have been.
—————————-
Finally…. Geln spends 4 silver rings on 9 more Good Rations and a set of fourty greatbow arrow components, which he'll put together on his own time. He also gets a small tent, for two silver rings. Does he buy anything else?
This part is a plan vote!
For context, a decent spear or axe would be up to five silver rings; a one handed sabre, 15, a long axe or glaive, 20 to 25. A compass can cost up to 10, a rowboat anywhere from 25 to 70.
[] A charm that can allegedly absorb hostile magic. It does look very pretty. ~10 Silver Rings.
[] A small but enthusiastic dog. Apparently, the runt of the litter, too stunted to hunt well. ~10 Silver Rings.
[] A sled dog, almost half your size. The rest of her pack is dead, and by tradition, it's considered bad luck to pair her with another team. ~15 Silver Rings.
[] A map of the northern continent. Probably. ~15 Silver Rings.
[] A 'casual' dictionary of Deep Speech, Common and Lodge-Cant. ~30 (!!!) Silver Rings! Really?
[] A healing potion, or so they claim. You're not sure such a thing should be publicly sold, but no one seems surprised.. ~20 Silver Rings.
[] A simple mask. Even wearing it, you don't fit in very well. Combined with your helmet, it does obscure most of your face, even with the visor up. ~3 Silver Rings.
[] You decide to try and find an enthusiastic buyer for… [what?].
—————————
Geln is going to spend the rest of the day settling affairs, before setting out tomorrow morning, no matter what you choose.
Most Islefolk… don't really understand currency? A lot of them don't even understand supply and demand. Silver is their currency not because they like it (although some do), but because their deities like it and insists they use it to decorate things, which gives it intrinsic worth.
As far as they're concerned, foreigners are just bizarrely obsessed with nearly useless precious metals, and are willing to hand over perfectly useful items at absurd ratios for items like gold. It's probably all the sunlight, cooking their brains.
Geln does understand supply and demand, fortunately, and can guess that his silver rings have varying value depending on where he is. He can also guess people will try to cheat him, what with not being a native language speaker, to which he will remind them he's nearly two metres tall and has a really good axe.
People don't use silver rings everywhere, or basically anywhere but Haven. Geln is just translating values in his head, because currency trading is too much for me.
The vice won't be anything really serious; it'll be more like, say, someone who's fond of recreational marijuana or social drinking. It's mostly for characterisation/ plot hooks.
I've added the 7 silver rings from the prize ship to your sheet. Don't question how it manifested at this point.
Questions welcome. You've at least two days to vote.
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- Pronouns
- He/Him
[X] Curiosity
For the Dilettante thematic synergy.
[X] Help escort Darius' convoy to distant Tulane, west and slightly south
I like Darius so far, let's see if we can make a friend.
I'm less sure what to buy...probably the book? Maybe the large dog and the protective charm? Something like that anyway. I'll think about it.
For the Dilettante thematic synergy.
[X] Help escort Darius' convoy to distant Tulane, west and slightly south
I like Darius so far, let's see if we can make a friend.
I'm less sure what to buy...probably the book? Maybe the large dog and the protective charm? Something like that anyway. I'll think about it.
How much rings do we have on hand are we allowed to spend? It's 70 right?
Best to put it on the post so we dont have to keep backtracking to the character sheet.
And Geln keeps complaining on the weather- so environmental gear: extra furs/cloaks as necessary.
A big sack and sled for hauling (see bellow):
[X] Curiosity
Knowledge is always good!
Always good to have more barriers against hostile magic
PACK DOGGOS!
Now if we can get a stud and start breeding travel doggos to help bolster our carrying capacity…
The runt is still a pup yes?
The dictionary's good for recognising what to look out for in bargains… Real good if we plan on interacting with merchants and buying and selling. And this'll pay off real quick when we synergise this with good pack dogs for hauling huge loot!
You probably don't need extra carrying capacity right now, although it might make your future more convenient.
Plus, if you leave Lodge territory, the weather will presumably improve.
The small dog is male, almost an adult, meant for hunting but too small.
Geln does not really know how to animal husbandry, though.
And yes, it is 70.
It's the most important aspect of early game loot business practice: more capacity = more loot to sell= more money to spend on!
Plus, the less Geln has on his body to carry, the better his performance in battle. Although, the extra capacity does help alleviate getting more rations on hand to feed him especially how warm it gets on the way down.
Hmm, a good sniffer dog is always welcome, but we need a big dog to help us assist in the melee or distract or foes while we shoot em with the bow.
So no snows to sled on the way down? Dang, can we add wheels on the sled to make it into a cart tho?
Find a big healthy looking doggo to breed our doggo, it aint rocket science. Though, we can always hire someone else to serve as our beastmaster later on if we really need to.
Geln has time to social right? Find someone to be help him on with stuff like that before committing to sell. What's the guests on the resthouse that Geln's looking like? Aside from the predominant hobogobbos?
Men? Elves? Dwarfs?
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No to snow, probably not to building a cart.
And trying to figure out a good price would be part of selling.
It would be really weird for Elves and Dwarves to be here, for differing reasons. The other two guests st the tables are native Hoklin.
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[X] Curiosity
Fits with the trait and the theme of Geln trying to learn more.
[X] A 'casual' dictionary of Deep Speech, Trade and Lodge-Cant. ~30 (!!!) Silver Rings! Really?
Learning option.
Fits with the trait and the theme of Geln trying to learn more.
[X] A 'casual' dictionary of Deep Speech, Trade and Lodge-Cant. ~30 (!!!) Silver Rings! Really?
Learning option.
- Pronouns
- God
[X] Curiosity
For the Dilettante thematic synergy.
[X] Help escort Darius' convoy to distant Tulane, west and slightly south
I like Darius so far, let's see if we can make a friend.
For the Dilettante thematic synergy.
[X] Help escort Darius' convoy to distant Tulane, west and slightly south
I like Darius so far, let's see if we can make a friend.
[X] Curiosity
[X] Help escort Darius' convoy to distant Tulane, west and slightly south
[X] A 'casual' dictionary of Deep Speech, Trade and Lodge-Cant. ~30 (!!!) Silver Rings! Really?
I like Darius, and his route pays well plus takes us in a southerly direction. 2 months traveling should help us learn and acclimate. And as a New Orleanian, I want to see fantasy Tulane and how it compares to IRL Tulane bwhahaha
[X] Help escort Darius' convoy to distant Tulane, west and slightly south
[X] A 'casual' dictionary of Deep Speech, Trade and Lodge-Cant. ~30 (!!!) Silver Rings! Really?
I like Darius, and his route pays well plus takes us in a southerly direction. 2 months traveling should help us learn and acclimate. And as a New Orleanian, I want to see fantasy Tulane and how it compares to IRL Tulane bwhahaha
Guys, we got 70 silver rings to spend! plan out your shopping spree!
[X] PLAN: ADVENTURE DOGGO!
-[X] A sled dog, almost half your size. The rest of her pack is dead, and by tradition, it's considered bad luck to pair her with another team. ~15 Silver Rings.
-[X] A charm that can allegedly absorb hostile magic. It does look very pretty. ~10 Silver Rings.
-[X] A 'casual' dictionary of Deep Speech, Trade and Lodge-Cant. ~30 (!!!) Silver Rings! Really?
-[X] A simple mask. Even wearing it, you don't fit in very well. Combined with your helmet, it does obscure most of your face, even with the visor up. ~3 Silver Rings.
Spends- 58 silver rings
Rationale:
Dog: Companion and extra capacity for LOOT
Charm: extra anti magic ward. Does the magic absorb dissipate tho? Is it a one shot magic block?
Dictionary: for barter and language
Mask: when you want go hide your face for cheap.
[X] PLAN: ADVENTURE DOGGO!
-[X] A sled dog, almost half your size. The rest of her pack is dead, and by tradition, it's considered bad luck to pair her with another team. ~15 Silver Rings.
-[X] A charm that can allegedly absorb hostile magic. It does look very pretty. ~10 Silver Rings.
-[X] A 'casual' dictionary of Deep Speech, Trade and Lodge-Cant. ~30 (!!!) Silver Rings! Really?
-[X] A simple mask. Even wearing it, you don't fit in very well. Combined with your helmet, it does obscure most of your face, even with the visor up. ~3 Silver Rings.
Spends- 58 silver rings
Rationale:
Dog: Companion and extra capacity for LOOT
Charm: extra anti magic ward. Does the magic absorb dissipate tho? Is it a one shot magic block?
Dictionary: for barter and language
Mask: when you want go hide your face for cheap.
- Pronouns
- He/Him
I am skeptical of the efficacy of the mask at concealing us...basically ever. We're too distinctive, making it not useful and a waste of money.
I'm thinking this:
[X] Plan We Like Books And Dogs
-[X] A sled dog, almost half your size. The rest of her pack is dead, and by tradition, it's considered bad luck to pair her with another team. ~15 Silver Rings.
-[X] A charm that can allegedly absorb hostile magic. It does look very pretty. ~10 Silver Rings.
-[X] A 'casual' dictionary of Deep Speech, Trade and Lodge-Cant. ~30 (!!!) Silver Rings! Really?
-[X] A small but enthusiastic dog. Apparently, the runt of the litter, too stunted to hunt well. ~10 Silver Rings.
We wind up nearly broke (this plan costs 65 silver rings), but it gets us everything we want and we'll earn 40 more going with Darius by the time we hit his destination. Should be fine. Also, adorable dogs and reading material.
[X] Curiosity
[X] Help escort Darius' convoy to distant Tulane, west and slightly south
I'm thinking this:
[X] Plan We Like Books And Dogs
-[X] A sled dog, almost half your size. The rest of her pack is dead, and by tradition, it's considered bad luck to pair her with another team. ~15 Silver Rings.
-[X] A charm that can allegedly absorb hostile magic. It does look very pretty. ~10 Silver Rings.
-[X] A 'casual' dictionary of Deep Speech, Trade and Lodge-Cant. ~30 (!!!) Silver Rings! Really?
-[X] A small but enthusiastic dog. Apparently, the runt of the litter, too stunted to hunt well. ~10 Silver Rings.
We wind up nearly broke (this plan costs 65 silver rings), but it gets us everything we want and we'll earn 40 more going with Darius by the time we hit his destination. Should be fine. Also, adorable dogs and reading material.
[X] Curiosity
[X] Help escort Darius' convoy to distant Tulane, west and slightly south
You'll certainly try. After the purchase plan is locked in, I'll be making CHA checks which might raise, but will hopefully reduce the price.
… I guess I can throw in a small (+1) bonus to the dog haggling check if you adopt both.
[X] Curiosity
[X] Help escort Darius' convoy to distant Tulane, west and slightly south
[X] A sled dog, almost half your size. The rest of her pack is dead, and by tradition, it's considered bad luck to pair her with another team. ~15 Silver Rings.
[X] A 'casual' dictionary of Deep Speech, Trade and Lodge-Cant. ~30 (!!!) Silver Rings! Really?
[X] Help escort Darius' convoy to distant Tulane, west and slightly south
[X] A sled dog, almost half your size. The rest of her pack is dead, and by tradition, it's considered bad luck to pair her with another team. ~15 Silver Rings.
[X] A 'casual' dictionary of Deep Speech, Trade and Lodge-Cant. ~30 (!!!) Silver Rings! Really?
- Location
- Leeds
We don't have to spend every coin you know guys?
Also healing potion sounds useful. And I'd rather have a map than a dictionary.
[X] Curiosity
Geln, I'm afraid of outsider influence, also Geln, I can't stop learning about it.
[X] Plan Bare Necessities
-[X] A map of the northern continent. Probably. ~15 Silver Rings.
-[X] A healing potion, or so they claim. You're not sure such a thing should be publicly sold, but no one seems surprised.. ~20 Silver Rings.
And just because I can recognise a losing vote
[X] Plan Dog is a neccessity
-[X] A small but enthusiastic dog. Apparently, the runt of the litter, too stunted to hunt well. ~10 Silver Rings.
-[X] A map of the northern continent. Probably. ~15 Silver Rings.
-[X] A healing potion, or so they claim. You're not sure such a thing should be publicly sold, but no one seems surprised.. ~20 Silver Rings.
Also healing potion sounds useful. And I'd rather have a map than a dictionary.
[X] Curiosity
Geln, I'm afraid of outsider influence, also Geln, I can't stop learning about it.
[X] Plan Bare Necessities
-[X] A map of the northern continent. Probably. ~15 Silver Rings.
-[X] A healing potion, or so they claim. You're not sure such a thing should be publicly sold, but no one seems surprised.. ~20 Silver Rings.
And just because I can recognise a losing vote
[X] Plan Dog is a neccessity
-[X] A small but enthusiastic dog. Apparently, the runt of the litter, too stunted to hunt well. ~10 Silver Rings.
-[X] A map of the northern continent. Probably. ~15 Silver Rings.
-[X] A healing potion, or so they claim. You're not sure such a thing should be publicly sold, but no one seems surprised.. ~20 Silver Rings.
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- Pronouns
- He/Him
I'm really dubious about the authenticity of the potion. I'm actually similarly dubious about the charm, but that's not a consumable and we can resell it and get at least part of our money back if it turns out to be fake (it's pretty so it's worth something as jewelry even if its fake). The potion, meanwhile, is just money wasted if it doesn't work, and a lot more wasted money to boot.
As for the book, learning additional languages seems straight-up necessary for us to function in these lands, so it seems very good for that. A map would be useful...but only once we're not with a caravan who knows the area, so it can wait until we've completed our first job.
And I don't really want to spend everything...I'd just feel bad leaving either of the dogs and think the book and charm are worth it.
- Location
- Leeds
If you think we might be getting ripped off, then heres a new plan
[ ] Plan Wait until we know they're not snake oil
-[ ] Buy Nothing
[ ] Plan just dogs
-[] A sled dog, almost half your size. The rest of her pack is dead, and by tradition, it's considered bad luck to pair her with another team. ~15 Silver Rings.
-[] A small but enthusiastic dog. Apparently, the runt of the litter, too stunted to hunt well. ~10 Silver Rings.
We aren't at the stage where we need to compromise vote yet.
Are those specific languages stuff that we're expecting to use?
Deep Speech and Lodge Cant. We already are getting along fine with Trade, and we're likely signing on with a merchant who is the one who really needs to know how to speak it. I'm not sure we're likely to get into a situation where we need to interact with a hobgoblin who speaks lodge but not trade, especially as long as if we're with groups.
We already know Deep Speech. I assume this is the one we're using to search the dictionary with
As for feeling sorry for the dogs. Just help me out with this hypothetical, if we have the option to buy one more dog at every shopping vote going forward, how many dogs do we buy before you stop?
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Wait, shit
It should be a dictionary if common, Deep Speech and Lodge
Shit
Trade is from another continent; I'm just confused.
You're presumably not buying it to learn Lodge.
There are two 'trade' tongues- Trade, from Darkwater, and Common, from here.
I shouldn't have called one Trade.
You are almost basically fluent with Common.
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- Location
- Leeds
Its not too late to retcon that that.
Anyway, if we're already literate in Common and Deep Speech this dictionary is only useful if we want to learn Lodge then?
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Its not too late to retcon that that.
I will make you learn writing again.