Day 28-34 – The third week in Northlake

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Northlake has significantly calmed down now, and apart from an enhanced programme of military training everything appears normal on the streets.
General gossip and news on the streets is that:
* The Giants of Torgan along with	the Ariel of Wingsport and Beriesa are reporting a lot of Orcish	activity on their Northern borders. It is rumoured that Alvera will	be sending a force to quash this;
* One of the ferries over the	Northlake has reported sighting strange lizardlike beings in the	lake that followed the ferry for a while on the surface and then dived and was not seen again; (Note: Identified as Sahaugin in Zoom session)
* The Elven siege engines that were	being constructed near Northlake have been withdrawn, significant	elements of the Elven cavalry have been seen heading East in some	haste;
* The Skyfleet is airborne again,	although is currently remaining in the vicinity of Stormhaven;
PARTY TREASURY: -2 Gold, 16 Silver (PLUS individual spends below)
Dougal
Spends a quiet week, helping on the market stall, assisting as a runner in the College but other than that primarily spending quiet time at the Barosan shrine in Northlake.
TOTAL SPEND: 7 Copper
Joshua
After submitting his application to set up a stall in the East Market, Joshua spends the next couple of days talking to a variety of shop/stall owners and discussing superior weaponry with a couple of the more reputable blacksmiths in the city. Whilst superior weaponry was possible to source, the city having a decent number of skills blacksmiths (see factsheet), finding a good bow for Umar proved more difficult.
In the end the best bow that Joshua could find available was from a West Market weaponry stall, a bit battered but seemingly sound. It cost 10 gold, which was less than the price of a new longbow – and deciding that it would be risky to miss the opportunity Joshua bought the item.
Party Item: Giant Longbow: Requires 18+ Strength to wield, Damage D10
The best offers for the party items Joshua can find are:
Scroll Det Invis: 40 Gold
Wand Magic Missile: 50 Gold + 1 Gold/Charge
Minor Healing Salve: 10 Gold
By the third day, his permit has come through and so the balance of week is spent as a stallholder near the Eastgate. Unfortunately it proves to be a fruitless 4 days, nearly all of the punters in the area a farmers or people looking to buy foodstuffs. Whilst your stall gets the occasional look over, nobody comes forward to offer anything interesting, and certainly nobody seems willing to part with any cash for what you have on sale.
The other item on your to-do list was dealing with the scroll salesman, you inform the lad that the price he is asking is totally ridiculous but offer to make him a fair offer once the scrolls are authenticated by the college. The boy is obviously deflated but on consideration says he will return the next evening, but when the next evening comes – he does not appear. Nor is there any sign of him for the rest of the week.
JOSHUA SPEND: 10 Gold, 5 Silver, 9 Copper (excluding research)
RESEARCH SPEND: 9 Students (45 silver per day) – 15 Gold 15 Silver
		 7 Runners (14 silver per day) – 4 Gold 18 Silver
Bazin
Bazon continues as lead runner for the parties research efforts, and following some discussions within the party spends some of his spare time exploring the catacombs. He doesn’t find anything of particular interest, at least 80% of the catacombs are of Elven origin, only some of the more recent antechambers show more modern construction – and this was obviously carried out by skilled stoneworkers, possibly even Dwarves.
TOTAL SPEND: 1 Copper
Hamish
(See Dougal!)
Wun
Wuns job at the hospital continues to pay well, now that the activity in the city has died down somewhat there are noticeably fewer injuries to tend to, although general first aid skills are always appreciated.
In his spare time, and working with the rest of the party Wun plans out the trip up to Far Haven.
Supplies In Northlake
* 3 Gold		Ox (can carry 150 days	rations)
* 2 Gold		Riding Horse (can carry 30	days rations, or rider + gear + 5 days rations)
* 1 Gold		Saddle & Tack
* 30 Silver	Mule (can carry 40 days	rations)
* 2 Gold		Wagon (can carry 900 days	rations) – requires an Ox or 2 Mules to pull
* 8 Copper	Rations for 1 day for 1	person
* 4 Copper	Forage for 1	horse/ox/mule for 1 day (weight/bulk = 2 days rations)
First Leg
Ferry over to Jevenne – will take 2 days unless wind is perfect.
* 30 Copper per person
* 5 Silver per Horse/Mule
* 8 Silver per Oxen
* 1 Gold per Wagon
Supplies In Jevenne
* 75 Silver	Ox
* 50 Silver	Riding Horse
* 1 Gold		Saddle & Tack
* 35 Silver	Mule
* 3 Gold		Wagon
* 10 Copper	Rations for 1 day for 1	person
* 6 Copper	Forage for 1	horse/ox/mule for 1 day
Main Leg
Road Trip Jevenne to Far Haven (220 miles)
* Will take 17 days (estimated) if	travelling without Ox/Wagon
* Will take 25 days (estimated) if	travelling with Ox/Wagon (probably with a merchant caravan)
(There are occasional villages/inns on the route – but don’t bank on them).
Final Leg
* Ferry over to Far Haven – will	take 2 hours
* 10 Copper per person
* 2 Silver per Horse/Mule/Oxen
* 10 Silver per Wagon
TOTAL EARNINGS: 1 Gold 4 Silver 6 Copper (some expenses paid out)
Twoo
Investigating options for some contract work as a messenger proves fruitless, what work there is in this area is already taken up by well-established organisations. Twoo thinks that he might be able to secure a post, but by the time he has applied for the post, been vetted etc. the party will already have had to depart North. As such he reverts to his role as a runner supporting the parties research efforts.
TOTAL SPEND: 8 Copper
Quercuis
Another week at the shrine, and after another 5 days finally gets to meet Golderod. The initial meeting is simply an exchange of greetings, however Golderod returns later that day and invites Quercius to join the evening meal inside the temple grove.
The meal turns out to be a very casual affair, with Golderod and three other Wyldwood priests, talk at the table is generally light and concerns how the church will support the upcoming planting season, the health of the Defiance gardens etc.
Once the meal is finished, Quercius is invited to remain behind with Golderod.
Golderod: “A couple of your friends arrived yesterday, I though you might like to meet them.”
Quercius: “Sorry, you have me at a disadvantage”
Golderod: “Follow me.”
Golderod leads the way towards the very centre of the shrine, and up to the huge central Oak tree. He then lays his right hand on the tree and a shimmering portal opens up, revealing spiral stairs leading down. He gestures for Quercius to enter.
The stairs descend in a spiral for about 25’, at the bottom is an archway that leads into a medium sized cavern. At the centre of the cavern is a clump of gorse, in full bloom – with bright yellow flowers that seem to glow in the dim light. The floor of the cavern is a verdant wildflower meadow, flowers closed in the evening seeming light. Sitting cross legged before the clump of gorse are two figures that rise to their feet as Quercius and Golderod enter. The two figures are Kinogel and Kvasir…
Kinogel (with a big grin on his face): “Fancy meeting you here.”
Kvasir says something unintelligible.
Two junior priests appear as if from nowhere with a small camping table and four chairs, the table is then laid out with glasses and a decanter of wine. Everyone takes a seat.
Golderod: “Kinogel and Kvasir arrived a couple of days ago, and noticed you working in the gardens. They mentioned you to me, and have filled me in a little on what brings you here.”
Kinogel: “You can probably guess where we are off to next?”
Quercius: “Norport?”
Kinogel: “Gottit in one – have some wine!”
Golderod: “What I fail to understand is why you and your friends in particular. My understanding is that you were picked out by one of the Sky Knights, Sir Cagrun I believe, but I see no logic in his choices.”
Quercius: “The phrase he used, if I remember correctly, was potential.”
Golderod: “Which tells us nothing, would you mind telling us your tale from when you first arrived in Braerk?”
You recount the story of your travels for the past 5 weeks or so, with no interruptions from any of the priests.
Quercius: “…and so now we plan to move up to Far Haven, to see what is left of the Wyldwood library there and investigate further.”
Golderod: “Hmm, I sense that there is something fundamentally hidden from me, not by you but I do not sense any malicious intent here. What I will say is that Alvera is staking a lot on his current strategy and has raised many eyebrows with his agreement to a cease fire with the Empire. He has his supporters, and his opponents, and I suspect that your group being thrown into play is a move by one or the other group – although which one or is it a third group. I simply loathe politics at the best of times. My suggestion would be to stay as invisible as possible, unless or indeed until you surface something that you deem to be extremely important for the future of the kingdom.”
Golderod: “Anyhow, I might be able to provide information that helps you and I have a spare hour – so let us enjoy the wine and I will answer questions.”
(Fact sheet: Far Haven – The Wyldwood Church)
Golderod: “Now Northlake#Shan Swordbearer Shan and I have often discussed what happened at Far Haven, and have never really managed to achieve any insight into the reasons behind the conflict. However Shan did let slip one evening that he understood there to be a Wyldwood Priest, name of Ownen who was at the side of the First Sword and betrayed his fellow Priests. If the name is correct, then by coincidence – or possibly not – one of the head researchers at Far Haven was also known as Ownen.”
You arrive back at the Falling Star late that evening, Golderod has indicated that he will make some time for you next week so you need to get your thoughts and questions in order for that meeting.
TOTAL SPEND: 8 Coppers
Caradoc
Deciding that trying to keep track of everyone is simply a losing proposition, you strike up a conversation with Jurrage one evening on whether he might know some reliable street runners that can at least do some of the basic shepherding and surveillance. Obviously these runners need to stay away from any illegal activities, and it will be a short term assignment. It takes Juarrage a day to get this set up, but then you have 4 teenagers in your employ (6 copper each per day) that will keep an eye on your “flock”.
Finally having a little time to think and plan, you work with Wun to plan out the costings for the trip North, and one evening buy Jurrage a decent bottle of wine to get some gen on Far Haven and the route North.
(Fact sheet: Far Haven – Northlake Trade Route)
(Fact sheet: Far Haven) – TO BE COMPLETED
TOTAL SPEND: 7 Silver
Garaf
It takes a bit of patience, but finally the local Perceval priest turns up at the Falling Star to collect the shrine offerings. You aren’t sure what you expected, but the Priest turns out to be a 6’6” Human male built like a brick outhouse, with hands calloused from many years manual labour. You introduce yourself…..
Priest: “Good to meet you Garaf, always nice to bump into one of the faithful. I am called Olg Stonemaker.”
Garaf: “Do you have time for a chat Olg?”
Olg: “Not a problem, I am free for the morning – I assume you are buying the wine though?”
Garaf: “I would guess so.”
….and so Garaf spends a couple of hours chatting with Olg.
(Fact sheet: Perceval)
Olg as you can guess, is a Stonemason by trade, although apart from “keeping his hand in” – most of his time is now spent on duties relating to the Church of Perceval. He is obviously extremely bright, and – as Garaf realises later on – a very skilled interrogator. His duties apparently, primarily consist of collecting the tithes from the various Shrines around the city and then after taking his own stipend, investing these in trade goods that are sent to other cities – primarily ones with a Temple of Perceval in.
Olg: “So you see Garaf, people can easily consider us as merchants, just ones with a divine calling to the trade. But what most people forget, oh how easily they forget is that trade does not have to be just in fancy jewelry or a rare spice. Everything that has a value can be traded…..”
Olg: “So you are planning to move on to Far Haven…. Hmmm. Now see, that information has value, maybe not much value but to somebody it is worth something.”
Olg: “Now I have information that you need to know, unfortunately I am not at liberty to freely give it to you, against my holy vows you might say. But if you are willing to do me a favour then I think it will be worth your while.”
Garaf: “Whats the favour?”
Olg: “I need two pieces of Jewelry, a necklace and a a brooch, delivered to a woman in Far Haven. You are going there anyway and so it seems like providence to me, obviously I could send it with one of the merchant caravans, but this way just seems to be more appropriate. I will need a decision now unfortunately, since otherwise I will have to start making other arrangements.”
Garaf: “Well, I cant say I am overly comfortable but – yes you have a deal.”
Olg: “Excellent! I will have the Jewelry delivered to you on the evening of your departure, this is an excellent establishment but I don’t think temptation should be put in the Landlords way.”
Olg then lowers his voice somewhat.
Olg: “Right, what you need to know is that you and your companions have what is currently termed clearsight. Up to now, it has only appeared to affect around 1 in 500 people, although the proportion is growing fast.”
Garaf: “Clearsight??”
Olg: “As I said, it is just a term used, I have it as well, and from what you have told me I suspect your friends Garaf (assume Darrell meant Cagrun - Ed) and Gohde have it. Some people with clearsight, like myself for instance, are able to identify others with the same ability or lack thereof.”
Garaf: “Wonderful, but what is it….”
Olg: “I am coming to that, you have heard of the Spell of the Voids, the great casting by the Elves that heralded the Age of Chaos – and the forgetting that they bound into that ritual?”
Garaf: “Yes, kind of.”
Olg: “Well those with clearsight seem to be resistant to the forgetting part of the ritual. Able to ask questions and make connections when most people would just shrug and say ‘just is’. Since the Elves reappeared, more and more people are asking these questions and my current belief is that the Spell of the Voids is fraying. There is a Giant at Torgan, really really old guy, that about 20 years ago began babbling about the coming of Dragons. For his troubles the local tribe imprisoned him in a cave, believing him mad. Personally I believe that he had developed clearsight and was remembering something from his childhood, or was foreseeing the Elves – I never got to meet him and am now tied to Northlake so likely never will – if he is still alive.”
Olg: “Anyhow, I do have to be going, unlikely we will meet again, so good luck – and remember to honour all of your deals but be careful of deals you are offered. Gosh that sounds very profound, I will have to use it again some other time.”
…and Olg leaves the Falling Star.
Garaf spends the rest of the week, learning spells and assisting with the research attempts.
@Paul: Do you want me to roll for your spell learning? I am happy to trust you (less record keeping on my side that way!).
TOTAL SPEND: 2 Silvers, 1 Copper
Umar
Asking around, you soon find that there are not that many Giants in Northlake, and those that are here are certainly not counted as elders.
So you spend the week, hanging out with the mercenaries, drinking, playing cards and gossiping.
(Fact sheet: Alveran Politics)
(Fact sheet: Alveran Military)
(Fact sheet: Northlake Metals - Cerdyd)
TOTAL SPEND: 5 Silvers 1 Copper
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