Waysoftheearth's Hinterlands PBP
Moderators: ehiker133, waysoftheearth
Olaf comes wandering into the inn and spies Ulric and Flewellen over in the corner. He walks over and joins them at their table.danhem wrote:Ulric finds a quiet spot in the Plow to study the map. He looks for another promising ruin close by Ket.
"Perhaps we should hold off on our return to the keep until things settle a little," he says to Flewellen. "With the rumors of Simon the Humble and the army of raiders already here it would appear that our 'friends' have already fallen back in with the hobgoblin rank and file. There appear to be many places to explore on this map. Any one of them could contain more hidden secrets."
Olaf chuckles at that and shrugs his shoulder, "Nah, no war, but I'm looking to hire on with a caravan as a guard and I've heard tell there's some brigands and bandits about, you know. Better a coat of mail than a thin leather jacket if there be brigands about."waysoftheearth wrote:While the more scholarly types are lost in their study, Olaf manages to pawn his leather armour for 5sp (charisma 8), and then restocks his quiver and gets himself fitted out with some chainmail and a helm. The thick-armed, stout smith along Flea street raises a sooty eye-brow, "That's tha thrid coat o'chain I've sold in two days! Tha last ov 'em too. Anyone'd think we was at war!"
Olaf will pass all of this along to the rest of the party, quietly.So equipped, and with the power of the scepter in his pack, Olaf's new AC is 3 -- he feels quite imprevious!
So protected, Olaf saunters the streets listening to the chat and gossip for a day or so (1d6).
It is a pity his ears are not so sharp as his eyes, for Olaf takes a couple of days to piece together the following information; Lord Ingo Gottfried is off with his Knights in distant parts doing knightly deeds, and has been for more than a year. Nobody knows when he is expected to return.
In his absence the Traders' Council has assumed greater control for the continued protection of everyone, and, by the influence of Trader Grumolg -- a particularly wealthy Snork Trader -- has elected to hire a Snork militia to maintian order. The Snork mercenaries may well be cheap, but some feel they have taken too keenly to their role as enforcers of the Council's will, and many of the Traders are now maintaining private militias in addition to the protection provided by Ket -- or (some will say), because of it.
So... Ingo Gottfried is the (absentee) rightful Lord of these parts. The Traders' Council is maintaining order on his behalf. The Snork militia is in the employ of the Traders' Council.
"I agree. We may wish to purchase some mules or even a wagon to conceal our weapons and armor as we pass through the gate. The departure of a heavily armed band of humans, elves, and a dwarf would certainly be noticed and likely followed."eris wrote:Olaf says very quietly as he peers over at the parchment, "I don't think we should go back to the keep. I think we might want to go another direction entirely." Speaking quietly, Olaf adds, "From what I've been able to piece together, the Traders' Council has hired a bunch of goblins...snorks...into the town guard and as tax collectors out on the roads leading from Ket back to the empire, and...I suspect you know what I think, eh?"
"My thoughts are that we should leave here sooner than later and do it quietly."
Olaf nods, "Good idea, but I have no idea what mules or a wagon would cost and I'm about out of coin myself."danhem wrote:"I agree. We may wish to purchase some mules or even a wagon to conceal our weapons and armor as we pass through the gate. The departure of a heavily armed band of humans, elves, and a dwarf would certainly be noticed and likely followed."eris wrote:Olaf says very quietly as he peers over at the parchment, "I don't think we should go back to the keep. I think we might want to go another direction entirely." Speaking quietly, Olaf adds, "From what I've been able to piece together, the Traders' Council has hired a bunch of goblins...snorks...into the town guard and as tax collectors out on the roads leading from Ket back to the empire, and...I suspect you know what I think, eh?"
"My thoughts are that we should leave here sooner than later and do it quietly."