Fifth Expedition

[Raven Crowking]

As summer comes on to the area around Helix, the days grow ever longer, the nights ever shorter, and the labours of farm and field less. The time of spring fairs and spring planting is long over. The days are hot. The nights are warm. Remembered horrors in the halls of stone seem like faded dreams under the sun's hot gaze.

Another expedition to the Barrowmaze is forming. Veterans and newcomers alike seek their fortunes in the labyrinthine halls of the dead. The bright jewels brought forth by the last expedition - which, after Cisneros' burning of the largest still fetches the equivalent of 300 gp in arms and armour - have fired the imaginations of villagers who have not been drawn into such daring before.

More! The Lord of Helix has offered to grant armorial bearings to those who return, to arm them from his own stores, and to call them his men. That this is due to some hope or expectation of rich gifts from beneath the earth is understood by all. Still, this means aid from the Keep in need, freedom from labour or servitude for some, and elevation above the common masses. It is a dream that few in this small village have even dared consider, let alone attempt to achieve.

[beermotor]

Grim will bid his cousin and the other party members farewell, and retire to the Keep to trade his skills for coin. He works diligently and hard, long hours, and tries to be friendly to everyone. He'll keep his ears to the ground, too, for possibly rumors etc to pass along to his cousin... but his adventuring days are done.

Suspicious of involvement with the local authorities, Daryll and Willie both avoid accepting anything from the Lord, or signing their names to any register or roll. Gunnar, on the other hand, willingly does so, seeking the heaviest suit of metal armor/shield he can get. He'll stick with Grim's warhammer, though, for a weapon, although if the Lord's in a giving mood, he'll procure a nice dagger for use as a blade.

If Cisneros can procure some mithral armor, he might be inclined to do so... anything like that available? Otherwise, how does he go on the healing of the wounds front?

HP will initially avoid signing the register, but changes his mind quickly and signs up, looking to procure whatever he can.

[Raven Crowking]

You are dealing with the Bailiff, a rather puffed-up individual named Orm Mallus. He informs you that, at this point, studded leather is available to any who wants it, as well as a shield, a spear, and a short sword. Succeed, bring glory to the village of Helix and its Lord, and you might find yourself with more. If sixteen or more sign up in the rolls, he'll also supply two crossbows with a dozen bolts each, and six daggers.

As an Elf, Cisneros is entitled to one mithral weapon, and one mithral suit of armour, without any additional expense. Make them count.

By this time, Cisneros' horrible gaping wounds have healed.

[beermotor]

Okay, so does this mean that the expedition's loot must all be turned over to the Lord now? Or is he expecting a first-cut or a share or something? What exact arrangement is he proposing, in exchange for the studded leather/shield/spear/shortsword?

[Raven Crowking]

Okay, so does this mean that the expedition's loot must all be turned over to the Lord now? Or is he expecting a first-cut or a share or something? What exact arrangement is he proposing, in exchange for the studded leather/shield/spear/shortsword?

Imagine The Godfather in a medieval setting and you would not be far off. You can expect that he will have a good idea of what haul you bring back (unless you are very careful), what you keep, what you give him as gifts, and he will treat you accordingly. This sort of arrangement exists, in part, to prevent you from easily becoming a political rival, in part to ensure that wealth flows into the Lord's coffers (consider it a nicer form of taxation), and in part to ensure that the Lord has agents who are both willing and capable of dealing with larger problems.

You may consider the Lord's offer to be an informal way of assessing whether or not your group is a friend to him, or an enemy.

In some ways, this is the mortal version of patronage. It allows you to become enmeshed in the larger world, and to both become aware of, and possibly deal with, problems outside the Barrowmaze. As cool as the Barrowmaze is, both it and Helix are part of a larger world....and that larger world is interested in your doings, even if you are not interested in it!

[beermotor]

Gunnar will wear the studded leather provided to him by the Lord, and use the shield similarly provided, but will see if there might be a suit of chainmail available for trade. If he can find one, he might want to trade his two suits of studded leather and one shield, plus whatever coins he gets from the 300 split...

[Raven Crowking]

I'll assume that you can get 50% of the value of trade-in armour, etc.

[Dogma]

Both Willem and Jonas will accept the lord's offer of armor and weapons.

Depending on how many others sign up for this next expidition I may roll up two more 0-levels to tag along.

[beermotor]

We need to figure out how many ways we split that 300 coins... Cisneros doesn't get any, and Grim agrees to forfeit his share since he's retiring.

[Dogma]

How many active PC were there at the end? i say we divide the loot by that number, minus Cisneros since he took the gem. Grim should still get a cut since he was active all the way through. He needs a little nest egg to set him up (from a RP point of view).

[beermotor]

I think we had 14 characters...

Grim
Gunnar
Cisneros (not participating in split b/c he took the large jewel)
Daryll
Willie
HP
Willem
Jonas
Podrick
Ellie
Kadatheron
Torvid
Themble
Malagiir

I think Torvid, Themble, and Malagiir all are no longer active, so... do we have to split with them? Heh.

Assuming so, that's 23 gp each, roughly. Grim will donate his share to Gunnar's armor-fund. Still don't think Gunnar's got enough to get some chainmail, ah well.

If Jed (and Murq) is back, that should help.

[beermotor]

Willie changes his mind and signs up for the free gear from the Lord. He also loans 5 gp to Gunnar, who, after selling off two sets of studded leather and a shield and some thieves' tools he inherited, as well as Grim's contribution, has enough to buy a suit of chain mail (!). Now if he can just survive long enough to level and get some more hps...

[Raven Crowking]

Hold hard there, friend. How do you go about selling the thieve's tools? Part of their cost is their illicit nature, and there is not a ready market for such in Helix.

[beermotor]

I figured you'd say that.

Alright then, Gunnar sells them to Willie, who buys them for 17.5 gp, which nets him enough to get the Chain mail. (Assuming there is some available...) I'll adjust Willie's coins and sheet accordingly...

[noahms456]

'Allo -

The Starcrossed Company, a band of unlucky misfits, has assembled at the Lord's call to plunge neckfirst into be-knighted barrows.

We offer our services, humble though they are, to the Lord.

We are:

Hobart Hobnail, formerly a stonemason for his people in the ogre-chased mountains to the East. For some reason it is unwise to ask why he ventures to fair Helix - he becomes unruly and pulls out what remains of his spittle-flecked and tattered beard when pressed.

Silvertongued Karl, a wandering minstrel of .. of... of.. modest abilities. Certainly you have heard his tune ... eh ... eh... Well, you know the one, yes? By Silvertongued Karl! Soon to be on the lips of all the ladies.

Sedge - an elf, good with plants and trees. Sure to be plenty of those in the night-haunted crypts below, yes? He tended the trees in far Fodriloran before his disgrace. Well, not a disgrace, merely, ehh... Well. Ahem.

An' myself, Fast Edoard, ehh.. ehh.. businessman. Import and export. Hands in all the buckets, don't you know? Prone to invest - taker of risks. We figure the Barrowmaze can't be all that hard, considering you lot've cracked it. I mean, no offense, we 'eard you done real good and ehh.. HEROIC things there. You know, we offer our services as, eh, uhm, you know BACKUP. Torchbearers, doorbashers, potion drinkers. You know, a cut of the loot, fingers in the pie, wink wink nudge nudge. Wherever our considerable skills ehh, ahem. Considerable skills may be put to good, strike that eh... best use.

(thanks for having me, all. Will try not to get in the way and such)

Of course, your Lordship, your Grace, we expect nothing but only await your pleasure, yours to command, you know. (all bow, awkwardly)

[Dumnbunny]

If Jed (and Murq) is back, that should help.

Yup, Jed's back, along with Murq.

Just to double-check something, RC, can I assume the Lord's offer is extended to returnees from earlier expeditions as well?

[Raven Crowking]

Just to double-check something, RC, can I assume the Lord's offer is extended to returnees from earlier expeditions as well?

That is correct.

[beermotor]

Does Cisneros learn the patron spell automatically or does he have to level first?

[Dumnbunny]

Jed accepts the Lords offer, but only takes the armor and shield from the Bailiff, the use of a spear being proscribed and preferring his mace to a short-sword.

Murq tries to sell or trade his mithril bar for weapons and armor.

[beermotor]

Don't let it die, RC!