AOP:The Agreement

## Planning the Tour

This is essentially the Ready Room and main instruction session for Lieutenant Azirejann to convey the plan to the party. There's nothing exceptionally secret about this operation, and the back corner of the room is sufficient for the confidentiality of signing contracts and counting cash. There are little things here, though, that should signal Stonehearth is sophisticated *High Magic* while the rest of the lands are signature Forgotten Realms (essentially late middle-ages development with arcane bits sprinkled in).

Once the contract have been signed, Lieutenant Azirejann collects the papers out from under the gold, leaving the players to fondle their sacks (of coin). Filing the contracts safely away in that thick book on the table, the covers appear to seal it shut.

She reaches for a different stack of papers, all of which are maps. She lays out one across the table and addresses the party. The names of the cities disappear and tinted overlays appear. She explains that the purple territory is either occupied or annexed by Cormyr. The blue territory is held by Sembia.

Skirmishes have happened all along the line, but there have been two repeated flash points: **Redsbridge** (closer, a little over two day's ride) and **Giant's Run** (further away, about four day's ride). The Redsbridge skirmishes have sometimes spilled over to the north, resulting in some collateral damage to Reddansyr about 10 miles to the north – and one of the cities the Western Team needs to visit.

Despite neither kingdom officially acknowledging a state of war, these two sites have turned into fairly regular battlefields. Redsbridge, just south of Reddansyr, has been hot enough that we *know* the people in possession of the crate wouldn't go anywhere near there. Everywhere else, including Giant's Run, is likely fair game.

 Either way, you'll each be issued a Stonehearth livery badge for the duration of this assignment. I wouldn't necessarily wear it in town but once you're outside the gates, it'll get you through their lines with minimal questions asked. We'll collect those badges when you return to claim the completion fee.

### OA has several operational instructions at this point...

* At each location, one bill in the town's official center, and one at whichever pub or pubs look to have travelers passing through.
* Each bill has several mild enchantments to it. When you're ready to post it, pinch the corners. That will activate an adhesive charm. It'll stick to anything short of running water.
* When the operation is over, those bills will desiccate and blow away.
* If somebody moves the bill before the operation is over, it signals me.
* Overall, the routes are about the same length, with the Southern just a bit shorter. Which area would you like to tour?

### Once they've acknowledged and accepted...

Lieutenant Azirejann will distribute livery badges to the team, and provide them with a map, appropriate itinerary, and a small, leather-bound ledger to journal their stops, posting areas and expenses.

#### The Western Run

Lieutenant Azirejann has four bullets below that can be read as script if the DM so chooses.

* There are several smaller hamlets, and you'll have enough *Bills of Reward* to post in those locations as well, but we're looking for maximum visibility in the highest-traffic areas. Your four required stops: **Hillsbrier**, **Reddansyr**, **Teziir**, and **Giant's Run**.

* Hillsbrier is the usual mid-point for travelers on the road between Reddansyr and Westgate. If you arrive late, post in the pub on arrival, post at the Town Hall in the morning, then head out.
* Reddansyr is just about 10 miles north of Redsbridge, and fighting has spilled over. You are flying the banner of neither Cormyr nor Sembia, so you should be able to get through, but tensions can be high and it's essentially a battlefield. Mistakes are often made. Don't be a statistic.
* Teziir is a fairly solid city and fairly solidly in the grasp of Cormyr, but that's a prize Sembia wants. It should be stable, but keep your eyes open.
* The ride from Teziir to Giant's Run can be a challenge to fit in a day. If you can't make it, in one ride, that's understandable. We'd rather the bills get there late than not get there at all. Spend a night, then make your way back. We will pay for maritime passage on the return if you want to pick up one of the charter boats from Teziir back to Westgate.

She's just about to slide the posters across the table when there's a flash: some arcane trinket glows orange and sparkles in a pattern...

 She points at the maître d', points back at the two parties, and simply states "On my tab..." as she strides out the door. The maître d' bows deep as she disappears.

## What's Next

* **Time to Kill**
* **Overview review**
* **Westgate primer**