003 - In South Port

[joertexas]

Fourthday, Tenth Month, Year One Hundred and Three (Queen's Reckoning)

South Port lies in a small bay that protects the harbor from the waterway. Further offshore, the low barrier island provides more protection from the sea beyond. The town itself occupies the higher ground that rises up from the docks, with a small citadel to the northeast standing on the highest ground in the area. Perhaps thirty houses and other buildings lie near the docks, with another forty or so comprising the rest of the town, arranged roughly north to south along the main road.

A central square lies west of the road, across from the town's business district and the citadel further east. Another road runs from the citadel's main gate, and south of the square, thence out of the town proper. As you walk north on the road, a blocky stone and wood building with a wooden rail fence around it comes into view. A dozen large wagons are parked inside the fenced area, with people moving around them, some carrying various items. A sign over the gate says "The Yard" in black letters burnt into the wood.

[Eris]

Fourthday, Tenth Month, Year One Hundred and Three (Queen's Reckoning)

South Port lies in a small bay that protects the harbor from the waterway. Further offshore, the low barrier island provides more protection from the sea beyond. The town itself occupies the higher ground that rises up from the docks, with a small citadel to the northeast standing on the highest ground in the area. Perhaps thirty houses and other buildings lie near the docks, with another forty or so comprising the rest of the town, arranged roughly north to south along the main road.

A central square lies west of the road, across from the town's business district and the citadel further east. Another road runs from the citadel's main gate, and south of the square, thence out of the town proper. As you walk north on the road, a blocky stone and wood building with a wooden rail fence around it comes into view. A dozen large wagons are parked inside the fenced area, with people moving around them, some carrying various items. A sign over the gate says "The Yard" in black letters burnt into the wood.

"Hum, not a large town by any means." Aden says as he looks up the main street from the docks, "More a small village, really."

"Maybe 300 souls here, more of less. wouldn't you say? Aden asks the others as they begin to walk up the hill, "This place could easily be overwhelmed by a large Goblin or Orc attack. If pirates could get their ships into this harbor...good thing they can't."

On the walk Aden looks for local businesses that he would expect of a town this size. A tavern, blacksmith shop, and general store should be here. Maybe an apothecary as well. There should also be a temple or shrine around for the more religious folk.

Approaching "The Yard" Adan says, "This must be what the Caravan Master called the bunkhouse."


He walks over and opens the door, then lets the others walk in ahead of him as he looks around for anything that strikes him as suspicious.

[Spearmint]

Amistad

Reports to the proprietor, letting them know that he is part of Ustasi's crew and confirms his bunk room.

He will take his meal when ready and spends the evening studying his notes on herbalism lore.

[Eris]

Amistad

Reports to the proprietor, letting them know that he is part of Ustasi's crew and confirms his bunk room.

He will take his meal when ready and spends the evening studying his notes on herbalism lore.

After having a glace around outside, Aden steps inside and takes a look around in here. What does he see?

OOC: Assuming there is someone at a desk/counter...

"Hello!" Aden says stepping up to the counter after the others, "I'm Aden Quinn and I'm with Caravan Master Ustasi's crew, as well. Do you have a bunk for me and where can I get a meal and an ale or two?"

After that is settled, Aden will turn to Amistad, Merik and Dree saying, "How about joining me for a meal and an ale or two? If we're going to be traveling together perhaps we should get to know each other a bit better?"

He looks around the room and if there are others here he'll add, "We three have signed up as caravan guards. Anyone else care to join us for an ale or two? Get acquainted?"

[joertexas]

The Yard's main building serves as a bunkhouse, eating hall, and the offices for the Caravan Master's company. The group is shown to a common room with two pairs of stack double bunks, two large wardrobes, and a washstand with two basins. "The bathing area is out that door," the elven woman points to another door at the end of the hall. "We do have hot water, but try to not use too much of it at once. There are towels in the bathing area, along with a bin to return the used ones."

As the group sits and eats, some of the drovers and a few other caravan guards join them. The group is a mix of races, including the first dwarf any of them has ever seen. There are elves, humans, a halfling, and two gnomes, also a first for the folk from the Isles. There are even three half-orcs, two male and one female.

The conversation turns to the upcoming caravan, which is leaving in the morning.

[Spearmint]

Amistad

Amistad: perception check [1d20]=10

Gazes around the room, trying to study the assembly as he eats his food quietly. He is looking to take the measure of the group and discern which may be men of faith (clerics) and which may be more kitted for spellcasting. (Mages). Of the group does an obvious leader stand out, do any bicker among them, how do the races interact. He speaks elven but does not use it, instead he listens to the elves in case they speak things they might otherwise keep quiet on.

[joertexas]

Amistad

Amistad: perception check [1d20]=10

Gazes around the room, trying to study the assembly as he eats his food quietly. He is looking to take the measure of the group and discern which may be men of faith (clerics) and which may be more kitted for spellcasting. (Mages). Of the group does an obvious leader stand out, do any bicker among them, how do the races interact. He speaks elven but does not use it, instead he listens to the elves in case they speak things they might otherwise keep quiet on.

While magic isn't rare in the Islands, it's not commonly practiced, so Amistad has little practice in finding mages. Clerics, though, those are easier to spot - but there seem to be none in this group. Most of the men and women here are somewhat unpolished in their speech and manner, but not unpleasantly so. They seem to be unperturbed by the strangers in their midst, indeed, they are obviously glad to have more warriors with them.

Ustasi and Elaith soon arrive, along with the four crewmen from the barge. It only takes moments for the story of the attack to circle the room, and the four of you are regarded with rising awe.

[Eris]

Aden doesn't talk much, but he gives his name and is friendly with the group. When the encounter aboard the raft is brought up, Aden shakes his head.

"Don't give us too much credit for that." he says speaking seriously, "We were lucky to spot them before most of them could close on us and were able to keep those that did close mostly off the raft. We ended up only fighting a few."

"We also had a good breeze and good sailors so we outdistanced their paddlers and left the rest of them behind." Adan adds, "It would have gone much worse if they had been able to slow us down so their entire party could board."

[Eris]

As the talk around the table progresses, Aden will asks the Caravan Master, "What can you tell us about the coming trip? What sort of lands will we be traveling through and what sort of opposition can we expect along the way? Oh, and how many days should the trip take?"

[Spearmint]

Amistad

thought I would put in some roleplay

The ale here might not be agreeing with him, it is much stronger than the hooch cocktails of fermented grain and syrup honey mixed with lime citrus that he drank on the Isles. The affect is severe.

Amistad pulls his greataxe from its shouldered sheath and buries the sharp edge in the wooden table.

"One chop. One cleave. That was all it took it split the pirate from nape to navel. His bones cracked opened like broken twigs and he spilled his trail of intestines and yesterdays dinner at my feet. One half of his cavity fell to my left, the other went starboard as fish food for the sharks. We stuck his head on the bowsprit that he might call out the fathoms to shore.

My comrades are too humble to exalt their true selves. Is there not a bard among you who can sing song and make merry." he points to the dwarves and half-orcs, "Join me in chanting my warrior's anthem. Do you have no drums or shall we beat our flagons of ale upon the tables?"

He breaks out in some epic barbarian haka.

https://youtu.be/MSoVENyD97s

[Eris]

Aden smiles and leans over to Merik and whispers, "Our large friend doesn't seem to hold his ale well.", but then he'll bang his mug along with Amistad for his chant, but won't try to sing.

After the meal, Aden steps over to Merik and Dree and says, "I'm stepping out for a stroll. I'd like to find a tavern where the locals gather. That is clearly not here. I want to ask a few questions about the area. Get a feel for the place and hear the local take on things in general. Anybody care to join me?"

Looking over at Amistad, Aden says, "I'd invite him, too, but the big guy looks 3 sheets to the wind already and he's apt to either look for a fight or start singing again if he gets more ale in him."

"That might lead to a fight.", Aden grins, "and I'm not looking for a fight tonight. I'd like to keep a much lower profile, if you know what I mean."

"You coming?"

OOC: If Amistad follows along are asks where we're going, Aden will accept him, but the big guy is look likely to be more rememberable tonight than Aden desires.

[Spearmint]

Amistad

Will stay in the tavern and bunk room for the evening, bonding with the caravan workers.

[joertexas]

Aden and whomever else wishes to go walks back toward the castle, and there they find a local tavern. The people seem to know who they are, and they greet the newcomers with nods and the occasional smile.

Meanwhile, Amistad, the dwarf, one of the elves, and a pair of humans that could be mistaken for draft animals sit down to do some serious partying. The others give them plenty of room, and the party goes on until Amistad crashes to the floor in a drunken stupor.

"You two got him drunk, so put him to bed. And don't take anything, either," Elaith commands.

The two drovers look hurt, but they scoop up the barbarian and pour him into his bunk to sleep it off.

[Spearmint]

Amistad

The party goes on until Amistad crashes to the floor in a drunken stupor ... into his bunk to sleep it off.

He wakes at breakfast the next day then.

[Darithe]

Dree who has been silent for much of their time there joins Amistad for breakfast, "I'm surprised you have the stomach for such fare considering all you drank last night. I made a point to keep an eye on you last night, lest some untrustworthy sorts decided to take advantage of you. None dared, though I doubt it was me that scared them off." She orders a small breakfast and sits back listening to the conversation.

OOC: Sorry all, I wasn't getting updates of posts here.

[Eris]

Aden and whomever else wishes to go walks back toward the castle, and there they find a local tavern. The people seem to know who they are, and they greet the newcomers with nods and the occasional smile.

Aden will chat with the locals and try to pump them for information about the local area, buying an ale or two to lubricate their tongues, "What monsters have they heard of in the area? What is the trail like up to the lake? Who is the Lord of this area? Are there any healers in South Port, Temples, Churches?"

After a bit, Aden will bid the locals good night and head back to The Yard for his sleep.

[joertexas]

Sorry about the late update, folks...

Aden and his companions learn the following about South Port and the land around it:

The town of Traveler's Rest lies a tenday's journey west along the Wagonner's Road, at the southeast end of the Lake of Arrows. The Road passes through a region of low hills called, appropriately, The Orc Hills. North of South Port lies the Badlands, which effectively cut off any possibility of land travel directly to North Port.

The land between the coast where South Port lies and the Orc Hills is rocky and poorly suited for anything besides open range ranching. Although it rains along the eastern coast and points further north, the land here is poorly watered. However, the land west of the Orc Hills is much more fertile, and Traveler's Rest has sprung up over the last twenty years as people moved there to hunt, farm, and prospect for gold, silver, and good quality iron ore. A river leads south out of Traveler's Rest to the continent's southern coast, but the river passes over several falls on the way to the sea. The southern coast has no natural ports or anchorages, so the only way inland is by road.

The difficulty lies in moving the goods they produce, and that is why the caravans exist. However, the orcish tribes in the area have not universally agreed to allow the caravans to pass unmolested. Some tribes are territorial, while others care only for what treasure they can extort from the caravanners. Traveler's Rest has a militia which is capable of defending the town, but not the road. Of late, fierce fighting has taken a heavy toll on the guards the Caravan Master has employed.

If something is not done soon, the orcs may succeed in closing the road and starving Traveler's Rest of the trade it desperately needs.

The following morning, everyone awakens to a hearty breakfast, and the sounds of horses and men as the caravan prepares to depart. Ustasi and Elaith are mounted on sturdy horses, and they move about the caravan, shuffling everyone into formation in the Yard. Elaith rides up and hands each of you a small pouch with assorted coins (10gp, 10sp, 10cp). "Some of the tribes will take small coins in trade for passage," she explains.

You are all given a tenday's supply of food, a horse and tack (on loan), and any mundane supplies you might want.

[Spearmint]

Amistad

The Caravan Master sits back and studies the three of you for a moment. "I prefer to not discuss details until we are ready to leave. I have a proposal, since you three seem to be a cut above the usual new arrivals. Come with me to South Port. It's a days' sail south of here along the coast. The trip is safe, since the waterway is protected from the ocean by an island. Then, we will negotiate once you see the caravan."

Elaith rides up and hands each of you a small pouch with assorted coins (10gp, 10sp, 10cp). "Some of the tribes will take small coins in trade for passage," she explains.

The barbarian pockets the pouch of coins, looking at it rather dubiously.

"As we know it is a ten day journey and back in North Port, your mistress Ustasi set the minimum wage at two thaylers per day. I would not trouble her myself since you are the caravan accountant, but I perceive this to be sufficient for five days guardianship of the merchandise.

The minor coins are a bribe, a toll for the brigands. As for myself, I cannot be bribed but I will hire myself out. Not to the highest bidder but to the one with a greater honour." he says to the aide, alluding to his expectation that he will be further recompensed half way into the journey.

He mounts his horse, giving it a name. Dandelion.

[Spearmint]

Amistad

"So you guys mounting up and coming or staying in South Port?" he asks his fellow mercenaries, Aden, Mirek & Dree.

[joertexas]

I'll be posting an update tonight...