[Game] 1.01 - Hunt's Brook

[dither]

You find yourself on the outskirts of Hunt's Brook, a trading post on the edge of the Shockrise Fens.

A few permanent structures can be found here -- an outfitter that doubles as a general store, a re-purposed stockade built of timber from the nearby Goldburn Mountains, and a tavern offering poor to common accommodations.

Radiating from Hunt's Brook is a veritable city of tents that rises and vanishes with the passing of days. The population of Hunt's Brook fluctuates and currently sits at just about 100 humanoids of various races. Most are hunters, trappers, settlers, prospectors, and explorers.

The sun is starting to set, and the daylight beginning to fade.

The brook, for which Hunt's Brook is named, runs a few hundred feet from the stockade.

What will you do?

Campaign progress:

(click to show/hide)

[phaedrusxy]

Furzban helps his limping companions into the encampment, and looks for a place to set up camp. He's not very big on Inns or Taverns himself, so he'd just as soon camp out here with the other tents.

[dither]

Tents seem to be grouped roughly by trade.
- Prospectors are mostly halfling or human.
- There's a separate group of dwarf prospectors.
- Settlers are mostly half-elf or human.
- Trappers are mostly half-orcs.
- The explorers seem to be a separate group entirely, and are all gnomes.
- The hunters don't seem to associate with one another, and are represented by humans, elves, and half-elves.

[McPoyo]

Charles looks to his hired clubs, and tells them to meet him back at the tavern tomorrow at sunrise, before heading in to secure lodgings for himself.

(click to show/hide)

I'll track down the rest of the party after securing lodging and food for the night. Need to make a stop by the general store for more provisions, and figure out where we're going next.

[dither]

Battleaxe and Overbite head to the Bleak Prospects tavern to spend their hard-won gold.

Owing to the maxim that "you can't spend your money when you're dead" and following their recent brush with death, the pair decides to spend a chunk of their week's wages ((21 sp apiece)) on common meals and lodgings, and go halfsies on a gallon of ale ((11 sp each is half their total money)). It's better fare than they're used to, honestly.

They eagerly share their story about slaughtering bluebeard lizardfolk and getting shocked by shocker lizards with anyone who will listen.

[Rikimaru]

Sitting a few tables away, Gareth, listens as he enjoys a simple meal with a cup of mead.

That's quite the tale you two have. You've been through a lot lately.

[dither]

That's quite the tale you two have. You've been through a lot lately.

If you listen to the half-orcs and chat with them, they'll offer to share their ale with you -- to a point. ((It's standard PHB ale, nothing special. If you turn out to be a hard drinker, we may need to roll some dice. ))

They'll mention that they're shipping out again in the morning, and from what they've seen so far -- they expect it to be pretty exciting. They don't know where they're headed next, but they'll mention their employer.

They can't speak for him, but they'll certainly talk about him. He's a mysterious guy, that Charles fellow.

[Rikimaru]

author=dither link=topic=14462.msg254719#msg254719 date=1409335608]

That's quite the tale you two have. You've been through a lot lately.

If you listen to the half-orcs and chat with them, they'll offer to share their ale with you -- to a point. ((It's standard PHB ale, nothing special. If you turn out to be a hard drinker, we may need to roll some dice. ))

They'll mention that they're shipping out again in the morning, and from what they've seen so far -- they expect it to be pretty exciting. They don't know where they're headed next, but they'll mention their employer.

They can't speak for him, but they'll certainly talk about him. He's a mysterious guy, that Charles fellow.

Well Gareth is not a hard drinker, being a psion he doesn't like to muddle his mind up.

As Gareth joins them at their table.

well i thank you for the ale. Might be I'll have to meet this, Charles, fellow for myself tomorrow. Perhaps your group could use a few more able bodies.

[dither]

At the stockade...

Human commander Claremont says, "There are Wolf Tribe goblins in the Goldburn foothills, harassing colonists and prospectors. We'll give you 50 gold a head. If you can put an end to the threat, it's worth 2,000 gold to us."

"Any questions?"

[McPoyo]

"How about ears, instead of heads? Much easier to transport in bulk."

[dither]

"How about ears, instead of heads? Much easier to transport in bulk."

"I didn't mean actual heads, but yeah. Ears will do," says Claremont.

She mutters under her breath, "what am I supposed to do with a bunch of goblin heads anyway? Mount them on spikes? Can you imagine the flies?"

She shudders violently at the thought.

[McPoyo]

"Soup."

[dither]

"Soup."

Claremont mimes vomiting. "You're funny. That was a joke, right? Who are you?"

[McPoyo]

"Charles. I'll be back with the ears."

[dither]

"Charles. I'll be back with the ears."

"Good hunting... Charles. Try not to come back dead."

Claremont gives you a little half-salute.

[Super Steve]

Azire observes the two half-orcs and the human talking. After a while, he approaches, saying:
Well, look at what we have here, three adventurers. May I join you?
If they agree:
You see, I'm also an adventurer, looking for gold and glory. And pretty girls, but they are a consequence. Do you think this master of yours is willing to accept another member? I'm quite good at my stuff, I guarantee.

[dither]

Azire observes the two half-orcs and the human talking. After a while, he approaches, saying:
Well, look at what we have here, three adventurers. May I join you?

Battleaxe and Overbite look at each other and slowly shake their heads.

Overbite says, "Nah, we aren't adventurers. We're just in it for a steady paycheck."

Battleaxe jerks a thumb in the direction of Gareth. "You can wait with him and talk to Charles when we meet up."

[Super Steve]

Alright, then. Now would you guys tell me more of those stories?

Azire sits down and grabs a mug of ale.

[dither]

((And the GM spake, saying "an arbitrary limit has been passed, and any player who was 'waiting until morning under the assumption that the GM was controlling the passage of time' may now do whatever it was they were waiting to do under the assumption that the GM is controlling the passage of time."))

[McPoyo]

Charles taps his foot, waiting. Yes, he had been there since an hour before sunrise, but that was no excuse for his hired minions not being here at five after sunrise. Reliable help was so difficult to find, there must be a better way than paying mercenaries.