Merchant Guard 2-Avalon

–Adventure 2–
Heyday 9
-Immersion-Touch-Something Wooden
-No Daily Encounter-
-Cool but comfortable, windy, no rain-
-Constitution, with advantage from Infirmary Fail-2 max hit points-Medicine check fails
E: Positive for Timmus the Wine Merchant: the Communication of a World (Merchant Guard 2)
Scene #11:
Sylvia and I shared a room at the Yellow Toad Inn while Edwin and Ronan stayed in the Temple Infirmary. Rising in the morning, I take a nice long stretch before gathering my equipment. Sylvia soon joins me downstairs for breakfast at the long wooden table where I trace my fingers along the grain.

Two bowls of porridge and a loaf of bread between us, we are eating in near silence when Tummus, the Wine Merchant enters with a letter in his hand. “Hello my friend!” He smiles excitedly. “I have more work for you!”

I look up at the man, “My captain is dying and our champion lies ill, I’ve coin enough not to leave their sides this day.”

Q: Is Tummus deterred by my statement? Unsure-NO
“Friend,” he replies more soberly, “There is always time to make money. How else can one hire a physician or lodging in which to rest. This task will only take eleven days. Less than a fortnight! For unless one can work miracles, your friend’s fate is in Freia’s hands now.”

Q: Does this anger Sylvia? Likely-YES
“Listen, friend!” Sylvia replies sharply, “We aren’t leaving without Edwin. He’s our captain! And as soon as we are done with breakfast, we are going to see him!”

Q: Does this anger Tummus? Unlikely-NO
The merchant nods, “I understand. It is the passion of youth to wear one’s heart on one’s sleeve. Perhaps your friend will recover in time to join you on this mission, or perhaps someone else will undertake it with me. Please, by all means, attend to your friend.”

Sylvia rolls here eyes, and mutters “Passion of youth,” I simply raise an eyebrow and say nothing, sipping from my tankard.

After breakfast, we visit the temple and learn that Edwin’s condition has not improved, though Ronan seems to be feeling much better. That evening, he comes back to the inn with me while Sylvia remains with Edwin.

Heyday 10
-Immersion-Smell of Food/cooking-
-No town encounter-
-Comfortable, gentle breeze, no rain-
-Constitution, with advantage from Infirmary Pass-still 2 max hit points-Medicine check fails

Scene #12:
Another day of patiently wating. Ronan and I enjoy a hearty breakfast before going to check no Edwin and Sylvia at the temple. We carry two loaves of fresh baked bread with us, the aroma filling the air.

Edwin seems to be in about the same condition as the day before in spite of the temple’s ministrations. They are forcing him to eat some herbal mixture that is supposed to help cure internal bruising and other injuries. But his pallor remains.

I decide to spend the night at the temple and have Ronan and Sylia stay at the inn.

Heyday 11
-Immersion-Social, NPC Threatens Sidekick-
-No town encounter-
-Comfortable, gentle wind, torrential rains all day-
-Constitution, with advantage from Infirmary Pass-still 2 max hit points-, 20 on medicine roll!

Scene #13:
I wake to the sound of rain pounding the temple’s roof. Then looking over, I see Edwin already sitting up. The color seems to have returned to his cheeks somewhat as he talks to the Novice Jessia, who was the girl who greeted us when we first arrived at the temple.

When Ronan and Sylvia arrive, they are engaged in a headed argument over whether or not to hunt down Tierny the gambler. “If Edwin dies, it is his fault! He set me up and basically started the fight! The blood is on his hands and he needs to pay!” Sylvia exclaims.

Ronan retorts, “And it wouldn’t have made a lick of difference what he was doing had you not jumped into some stupid game of chance with strangers. Your impulsive risk taking is what put us all in danger!”

Looking up from his book, Edwin commands, “Silence. Or I’ll have to silence you. This is a place of rest and healing.”

The two stop in their tracks and stare at him. “By the goddess! Are you…well?” stammers Sylvia.

Ronan smiles broadly, “Tougher than you look, scarecrow.”

He nods, “So it would seem. I may need a few more days, but all should be well, thanks to this one.” I smiles at Jessia.

The novice blushes as she bows her head, “By Freia’s light and the healing knowledge she shares, you have been blessed.”

I rise to my feet, and placing ten gold crowns in the offerings box say, “The goddess has been kind to us. We will not take her mercy for granted.” The novice bows her head in thanks.

Heyday 12 to 15
Healed of his injuries, Edwin rests for days (3d6) regaining his health.
-No Encounters-
-Party spends 28 gp for the weekly expenses (plus the 10 gp donation), leaving 24 gp.
Q: Has Tummus found another team? Very Likely-EXCEPTIONAL NO
-The party hangs around the inn, swapping stories and teaching Sylvia a thing or two about archery and she trying to teach us a bit more about remaining unnoticed.

Heyday 16
-Immersion-Social, I facepalm towards a sidekick-
-No town encounter-
-Comfortable, gentle wind, torrential rains all day-

Scene #14:
Edwin spends a few more days resting, joining us at the Yellow Toad Inn now that he is able to walk on his own more easily. We enjoy the comeraderie. Taking note of our dwindling finances, Edwin asks why we haven’t sought work. I reply sarcastically that, “It never really dawned on us that we might need to earn more money,” then shake my head, “we wanted to be around to see you recover.”

“And he has, hasn’t he?” grins Tummus approaching out table at breakfast, shaking the rain from his cloak as another storm batters the town. “Foul weather we’ve had, but it is better luck for you than for me with these incessant storms. The job is still yours if you will take it!”

“What job?” asks Edwin, looking between the wine merchant and I.

I shrug nonchalantly, “I didn’t get the details, just that it was an eleven day round trip.”

“A five day voyage to iron gate, a day to load the ship with the finest wine this region will ever see, and five days to return. The dwarves rarely sell their vintage to outsiders, but I have been granted this opportunity! I’ll be going myself to meet the vintners personally, but I need reliable men to help guard my coffer. It is worth 200 crowns on our safe return with the ship full of wine!”

“You’ve not found anyone else to sail through pirate infested waters on a stormy sea? Four hundred crowns,” I offer.

-DC 16 Persuasion to double the rate, advantage due to the circumstances-fail-
Tummus grins, “I knew who I wanted and you know the job is only worth 200 crowns. The storms should keep the pirates at bay and the crew of the Merry Mermaid is well skilled to sail through a bit of weather like this.”

I shrug and look to Edwin. “Yes, we will make the journey with you.”

The merchant claps his hands gleefully, “Very good! Meet me at the docks in front of the Merry Mermaid, first thing in the morning, two days hence.”

Heyday 17:
-No town encounter-
-Comfortable, gentle wind-
Gather supplies, relax at the inn, teach Sylvia a thing or two about archery.

Heyday 18:
-Immersion-Sound of rattling-
-No town encounter-
-Comfortable, mild wind-

Scene #15:
We arrive at docks, where Tummus and a young lad about age fourteen are talking to the captain of the Merry Mermaid. Sailors and dock hands are loading the ship with sacks of grain and crates of other goods.

“Friends! This is my son, Alfred. He will be joining us on this venture. Eager to learn the family trade and to see the dwarven port city. And this is Captain Harris, of the Merry Mermaid.” We greet the captain and the boy and then make our way aboard ship. One of the hands shows us which hammocks we can use and where to stow our gear. Daniel and Tummus unload an iron lockbox into a private room at the fore of the ship that Tummus will use, and we are instructed to guard the box with our lives. Sylvia, Ronan and I draw lots to see who has each shift, while Marlowe busies himself talking to Tummus about the City of Iron Gate and the dwarves who live there.

Q: Does the boy approach Sylvia? NO
I notice Alfred frequently glancing at Sylvia. They don’t seem far apart in age, but while fascinated by the older girl, he seems to shy to approach her.

Once the final provisions are aboard the ship, the great chain rattles as the anchor is pulled aboard and the ship is unlashed, and rowed out into the bay. Soon, the sail was unfurled and cog’s prow is slicing through the waves.

-Day 1 at Sea-No Encounter-
-Conversation Topic-History-
Q: Does Tummus know much of the history of irongate EXCEPTIONAL YES

Over dinner, while Sylvia is guarding the room, Marlowe tells Ronan and I some of the things he had learned about the history of Iron Gate from his conversations with Tummus. How the Caer of Iron Gate is a young dwarven hold founded by an exiled prince. It is one of a very few dwarven settlements that supplements their under ground fungiculture with surface farming, cultivating vineyards that produce a very rich wine. While dwarves are widely known for mead and ale, dwarven wine is an exotic rarity.

Heyday 19:
-Day 2 at Sea-
-No Encounter-
-Immersion, Sidekick to Sidekick-Threat-

On the second day at sea, when Sylvia goes to relieve Ronan from his overnight watch, she shows up late and he chastises her for being a laggard. “I don’t know why Edwin and Garrick even keep you around. You’ve gotten us into trouble twice already, and now you aren’t even showing up for simple guard duty! We should just leave you in port when we reach the Iron Gate.”

Sylvia protests, “I was helping scrub pots in the galley! Trying to earn a few coins to pay you lot back!”

“Nobody is leaving anyone behind. It is nothing. Only a few minutes. She isn’t a soldier, and she can learn,” I admonish my companion.

“And if she doesn’t?” Ronan retorts. I have no reply, leaving his words hanging.

After Ronan walks away, I quietly remind Sylvia, “In our line, failing to pull your weight can get us all killed. Be where you say you will be when you say you will be there. Follow orders. Especially in battle. By all rights, if you were a soldier, you’d be taking lashes right now.”

She blanches a bit and assumes her post.

Heyday 20:
-Day 3 at Sea-
-Pirates-Two pirate vessels-(No details in the Encounters book)-
-Immersion-Sidekick touches something sticky-
Scene #16 (Positive Alteration):
Late in the third watch, I am up on deck because I couldn’t sleep when the crow’s nest spots lights on the horizon. “Two ships closing towards us. No flags. Pirates!” The mate yells for the crew working on deck to douse their lanterns and shifts our course.

I look up at the big white sail and then out towards the lights on the horizon. “I’m getting my teammates.”

Suddenly, the look out cries out, “A third ship! Avarian flag!”

I race down to deck where Ronan is already armed and armored as he is on watch. As the rest of the crew is roused from slumber, and gathering weapons, I wake Sylvia and Edwin to tell them what is happening. Back up a the rear castle, I ready my bow.

-Dice for some evasion rolls, our mate steers away from one of the pirates, but the other is closing in fast, overtaking us…as is the Avarian Ship

-Arrows and bolts fly between the two vessels. One of the sailors at my side crumples to the ground, and most are struck. A second volley sends several pirates collapsing on their deck, and two more of our men. Sylvia is struck, but a flash of blue magic blocks a bolt from striking Edwin. He replies to their salvo with a jet of flame. A final volley between our two ships drops another of our men and prompts Edwin to summon his shield once more, but our reply deters the lead ship just as the Avarian war galley opens up on the second vessel.

Soon both pirate ships are veering away, seeking easier prey While the dead and dying our own deck lie in pools of blood. Three men dead, three badly injured. Most of the other crewmen have suffered minor wounds. With the lanterns relit, I tend to Sylvia’s injury then to the others.

Timmus comes out from hiding, followed by his son, who stares wide eyed at the blood on his hand after climbing the ladder to the forecastle. “Nasty business, these pirates,” Timmus spits. “Glad you lot were around to help out.” I nod, knowing each shot I fired struck true.

Heyday 21:
-Day 4 at Sea-
-No Encounter-
-Immersion-I swear at a sidekick-
Scene #17 (Negative Alteration):
The day after the sea battle, we are helping throw the dead overboard lest disease take hold of the crew. I notice Sylvia pocket something as she helps wrap the corpses.

Q: Did anyone else see it? YES Q: Crew? YES
“What was that!” demands a sailor. “What did you take from Milo?”

Sylvia looks up in shock, not realizing we had seen her take the pendant from around the man’s neck. “Nothing! I wasn’t doing anything!” she protests.

I quickly grab her wrist and make her open her hand. “I keep putting my neck out for you. Protecting you. And now, you steal from our allies?”

Ronan walks over from his guard post, “Now do you see?”

I take a deep sigh, “I’m done with you, girl.”

Q: Does Edwin intervene? YES
Edwin chimes in, “The girl remains. Turn out her possessions.” He takes the pendant she had stolen, “She was wrong to take it, but the sea has no use for it. It belongs to Milo’s kin.” he throws it to the captain. “The girl will be scrubbing pots, swabbing the deck, and handling any scutt work the crew demands for the rest of the voyage.”

Q: Does the captain accept this? EXCEPTIONAL YES
Captain Harris agrees to this, and the sailor currently cleaning the deck hands his mop to Sylvia to continue cleaning up blood from the day before.

Heyday 22:
Day 5 at Sea-
-No Encounter-
-Immersion-Sidekick swearing at NPC-(Sylvia vs Alfred)

Scene #18 (Positive Alteration):
I spot Sylvia on her hands and knees scrubbing the deck. Suddenly, she looks over her shoulder at Alfred Timmuson and starts yelling, “Stop staring at me you little pervert!” The boy turns beet red and runs away to the other end of the ship while Sylvia returns to her work. Timmus approaches me apologetically.

Q: Does he offer compensation? YES
“I am sorry about my son’s behavior. He is a shy lad and it seems he has little knowledge of how to behave around women,” the wine merchant says. “Please accept this as a token of his apologies.”

I look at him, “I am not the one who needs an apology and you aren’t the one who needs to apologize. Have your boy straighten this out with Sylvia.”

He nods and walks away to find his son staring off into he ocean. They exchange a few words and Alfred walks over to Sylvia. Still red faced, but he asks to talk. I don’t quite hear what they say, but he gives her a card of some sort. She looks at it confused, then her jaw drops open in shock. Then she smiles and laughs. Soon the two are talking and he joins her on hands and knees cleaning the deck as their conversation continues.

“What was that about?” I ask Tummus.

“Sylvia looks like the Page of Cups on his playing cards, part of his fascination with her,” Tummus replies. I nod. We chat a bit more and discuss his plans for Iron Gate, where we will be staying while he conducts his business and what we might be able to do in town.

Heyday 23-26th: Quiet time in Iron Gate
-Immersion-Sticky-
E: Remote Event: the Imprisonment of the Spiritual
Scene #19:
The dwarven city of Iron Gate is…mostly closed off to us. We stay in the lower dock town where dwarves bring down trade goods and men load them onto ships. We spend a little time at a local tavern, but mostly trade off on guard duty at the ship, overseeing the loading of cargo, Tummus having already emptied his strong box. His son tags along with him.

Heyday 27th: Mishap in Iron Gate
-Sylvia gets sick for a day-

Scene #20:
On our last day in Iron Gate, Sylvia comes down with a stomach bug and spends the day vomitting. The thought of sailing home in the morning makes her feel even worse!

Heyday 28th-
-Immersion-See something broken, then it is gone!-

Scene #21:
With a fully loaded ship, and Sylvia seeming to feel better, we start the return voyage home. While on lookout duty, our troupe no longer being needed for strongbox security as it is nearly empty, I spot something large in the water alongside our ship, but it quickly sinks below the waves, to my relief.

Heyday 29th-31st- Quiet sailing
E: New NPC: an Attachment to Advice
Scene #22:
The return voyage is largely uneventful. The Ronan, Edwin, Tummus and I play cards in the evening. Sylvia works in the galley and on deck, often with Alfred keeping her company. Generally though, we stay out of trouble. We are joined by Fenwick Ironthorn, a dwarven passenger on his way to Firth. The dwarf is a crossbow maker by trade, and he and I frequently find ourselves talking about weapon manufacture and the difference in fletching for arrows versus crossbow bolts, and the best designs for arrow or bolt heads.

Q: Is Fenwick establishing a shop in Firth? YES
The dwarf tells me that he is eager to start an armament’s shop in Firth and that he would welcome my help any time I am in town and willing to do a bit of fletching or bow crafting on the side. I agree to take him up on that offer.

Heyday 32nd-Mishap
-Ronan, 5 (3) days sick-

Scene #23:
On the last day at sea, Fenwick prepares a special dinner for the ship and its crew to celebrate the start of his new life. But the heavily salted meats, drenched in dwarven stout doesn’t sit well with Ronan, and he ends up leaning over the side of the ship all night.

Heyday 33rd
-(Ronan, 2 sick days left)
-Immersion-Smell, Excrement-
-No Encounter-

Scene #24:
We finally arrive back “home” and while I leave Sylvia at the docks with her new friend, Alfred,” Edwin and I escort Ronan back to the Yellow Toad Inn.

Q: Is lodging available for us? YES
I decide Ronan and I will bunk together, leaving Edwin and Sylvia to the other paired room. I spend most of the day nursing the warrior from his stomach bug, keeping him fed and hydrated even as he continues to have trouble keeping things down. The room smells foul as his body empties itself repeatedly out of both ends.

–End of Merchant Guard 2. No expenses for those 17 days, so the 200 gp wage is pure profit. Split four ways, Sylvia’s debt is technically paid. 600xp for the mission 100 xp for the pirates, +1 Glory-