"If exploring expense caused by exploring are not justified, then what exactly are we allowed to call exploring expenses?"  Not like they can get people to fix this right now, but seriously.

Shelly says, "Depends on the budget. If we have enough funds to fund both our exploration AND the bridge, then sure. But if not, it's not like we can dictate the terms of Restov's funding."

Tread says, "Could always just ask."

"I was under the impression that Restov's stipend was a one-time deal," Joey says, "And it was up to us to make a self-sufficient kingdom without any further funds from them."

Grall stays quiet and does his best to look like he's actually following the conversation.

  "If we have to keep going through this particular area in our travels, then I don't care if I have to drag hammers and boards from home and do it myself.  More than any money concerns, is if a workforce could even get here alive at the moment.  Let alone repair a bridge and return safely."

Tread says, "I'll help. Fixing a bridge shouldn't be TOO much work, especially with so many on our team who can swim and help from the water."

Shelly squeaks, "Just lemme know when and how to, and I'll help!"

"Heh, glad to hear you're all so eager to fix this old thing up," Joey says, "But Scott's right.  We need to be sure the experts can get here and back safely first.

"Well that's it for this leg of exploring.  Let's get back home and visit Eli."

The rest of the travel is uneventful.  Farmers stop work to wave and welcome their kingdom's ruler's back home.

  Scott waves back, because why not really.  "As expected, the place did not burn down while Eli was left in charge."  Are those high standards or low standards?  It's hard to tell these days.

Tread and Shelly also wave, both with bright smiles! The moment Eli gets word his friends are here, he rushes out to greet them with arms wide open! So much for his shyness. At least, when it comes to his closest friends.

Big fluffy fox hugs for little Eli.

"Good to see you again, Eli!  How've you been?"

  Metaphorical, or literal fluffy fox hugs now that they are back home?

  "Less things tried to kill us than usual.  Even then, I hope dealing with stuff here while we were out didn't make you wish that was the least of your problems."

Eli headshakes. "No... I'd rather deal with politics and people complaining than deal with something trying to kill my friends in front of me. I've learned the term 'out of sight, out of mind' is very true... in a good way, in my case. I trust you all to not get killed. But it was just so scary watching you get hurt or near-killed."

Shelly is sure to hug the boy also, smiling. Tread cuddles and pets Eli's hair. "Well you were missed. Even if I was glad you didn't have to deal with the violence when it did happen. But some day, we'll have these lands clear of all that stuff and you can travel with us, worry-free."

Joey being a kitsune, those would be literal in his case.  He chuckles at how much the boy gets smothered.  "We're all eager to repair that rickety old bridge over the Thorn River.  Maybe in your free time you could read up on how that's done and advise us.  But first, let's get something to eat and relax.  We can catch each other up on all that's happened."

  Scott nods, "A meal with a roof over our heads and something to talk about that's helpful sounds like a good idea."  He leaves the kid be, everyone else has the touchy feely stuff handled... That was terrible.

Eli is sure to give Scott a hug anyway. Then takes the group to the dining area, where he is usually joined by Addelworth. Eli tells Addelworth about the fact his friends want to fix the bridge even as Eli is pulling out some parchment to get started on drawing up a new bridge construction concept.

Tread, as usual, eats enough to feed 4 people easily. But then, all these adventurers usually have bigger appetites. What with working it off all the time.

Joey unrolls the map and shows the progress made then recounts the adventures had in each area.  Addleworth advises against building a bridge in an unclaimed area.  OOC: Game mechanics say anything that is outside the kingdom's borders will fall into disrepair in 1 month and any money spent on it is pretty much lost.

  "So what we need to do sometime, is take a look at all those still perfectly intact structures in unclaimed areas like that temple and see what makes them stay standing regardless."  It's because their remaining inconveniences the players more than their falling apart, duh.  Cost upkeep, travel time, and logistics only apply when the players have to deal with them.

Tread says, "Hmm... what about Nettle? Remember Nettle's Crossing? The guy had a legitimate business and it was enough to fund his bridge's upkeep. Maybe we could put a toll on the bridge like he did? He didn't have to be nobility to claim a single bridge as his personal property..."

OOC: Realize about game mechanics, but just roleplaying how my characters react to this. Besides... repairing the bridge is basically just spending money to say "can we please not have a trapped bridge we look for ways to avoid anyway?" Obviously, though, if this is too much against the module, totally cool with moving on with a handwave "well you can't do it because reasons"

"Good point," Joey agrees with Tread, "Let's be sure to encourage any entrepreneur interested in maintaining that bridge."

He thinks Scott has a strange idea of what "perfectly intact" means if he's applying it to the temple of the cursed bear...

OOC: "The thick tangle of brambles gives way into a large clearing
in the woods, its border partially defined by ruined stone
pillars.

Other descriptors include "weathered," "old and are thickly encrusted with layers of moss," and "overgrown."

Not that I expect us to ever have to deal with losing territory, but I agree with the module writers that the kingdom should lose what was invested in any territory lost.  What I don't get is that they were apparently very generous in the case of fixing this bridge.  Seems it was assumed to be included in the cost of building a road in that hex because they wave the normal cost of having to pay double for a road that needs a bridge built.  In other words, falling apart bridge counts for the same money wise as brand-new one.  But that's once you claim the hex and spend money on roads."

Addleworth agrees.  "The cost of that will be trivial and you won't have to worry about fixing the bridge with public funds.  And a private toll bridge tends to charge reasonable enough rates if they want to stay in business, so no worries about that either.  Just be sure to make it clear that once you claim that area, the business owner must abide by your kingdom's laws just like anyone else within your borders."

The month of Sarenith.  Time of the Summer Solstice.
OOC: Festivals:
Ritual of Stardust (Desna): Festival held in the evening and through the night, where Desna's faithful sing songs and throw sand and powdered gems into bonfires.

Sunwrought Festival (Sarenrae): Day commemorating the defeat of Rovagug by Sarenrae, celebrated with the flying of kites, fireworks, and gift giving.
Joey is sure to spend most of his free time working with Jhod in making sure the festivals are enjoyed by everyone.

  Scott hopes that his referring to the Sunwrought Festival as 'Kitesplosion Day' is not taken as disrespectful to Saranrae, but also sorta hopes that name becomes more popular.

  As for intact, he's more thinking along the lines of still standing with no chance of falling apart beyond looking cosmetically old.  Weathered stone temples aren't exactly something strange to his upbringing, after all.

  Through the festival between hanging out with friends and dealing with duties, he hands out gifts to his friends and took a bit of time to set up a cave bear pinata full of wrapped candies out of his own time and pocket for the townsfolk to smash and loot.

Tread watches the pinata and wistfully says, "If only the cave bear we fought dropped any loot at all, much less candy. Instead, we got a really old man who turned to ash and blew away."

Eli says, "At least its not a danger anymore."

Tread gave a bunch of kites as gifts to her friends. Each kite was tailored to them, having pictures on them (Such as a fist for Scott, a spellbook for Eli, a fox for Joey, an orc face for Grall, and a fish for Shelly. Tread's has a sword on it).

Shelly's gift to everyone were some tailored swimsuits. Obvious where she's going with that. Tread's, of course, looks big enough to be a hammock for Shelly.

Eli's gift to everyone is to show that he had the adventures all recorded in a book. There is still plenty more blank pages and he's excited to continue filling it.

Grall and Akiros are surprised by gifts given to them and thank the givers, but they are unprepared to return the gesture.  Auchs is very pleased by even the slightest thing given and will give gifts he considers to be interesting in return.  A shiny rock.  A mouse tail.  A human tooth.  Whatever random thing he happens to have in his pocket.  Joey gives a affordable but elegant jewelry to the girls and to the guys gives practical gifts like a well crafted wallet to Scott, an abacus to Eli, and so on.  He doesn't seem to mind Scott's nickname for the holiday and gets a kick out of the pinata.

"Well there was also that other bear we fought," Joey points out, "I'd say we have every right to want to hit representations of wildlife, but I'm glad it's not an Elk pinata.  People might think we hate all stags and make a logical leap that we oppose Erastil.  Who's holiday is next month, by the way."

  Scott thanks everyone for their gifts, and says it's fine for those without.  He also decides it's probably for the best not to ask where that tooth came from.

  "Really, a festive smashing object of anything will offend somebody somewhere.  This one fits more candy in it than an Elk would have anyways."

If Tread had been Maverick, she would have loved getting the rock. Instead, she only appreciates it and finds it to be kinda pretty. She has it set on her personal desk. Eli seemed a bit more fascinated with the mouse tail than maybe he should have been... and stuck it in a jar with some kind of preservative liquid. Shelly is happy to play catch with Auchs, using the ball he gave her.

Tread says, "Your pinata was a great idea, Scott. And well... frankly, no matter what you do, you will offend someone somewhere."

Shelly squeaks, "Agreed. So are we going to go swimming some time?" :)

Tread says, "For sure. Just a matter of when."

Eli is hugging Tread's side, watching the festival.

Joey will find time for swimming with Shelly.  Especially considering the kingdom just acquired an area with a nice, wide, river flowing through it.

OOC: Archer's Day or Archerfeast (Erastil): Holy day celebrated with archery contests, bartering for livestock, and the courting of women.

Joey isn't much for archery or livestock, but he does ask for a dance with the girls and encourages Eli to dance with them as well at the combo Archerfeast/Capitol City founding festival.  He'll also try and conspire to match make Scott with someone, but is mindful that he's an adventurer and likely not ready to settle down.  Grall... well...  Joey doesn't bother with Grall who's rather scarce during this festival anyway.

  Of course Scott will take up Shelly on her swim time request.   Gotta put those frivolously spent skill points to use somewhere.

  Scott is a bit more hazy on the direct courting of cute girls, but at the very least he spends time dancing with Tread and Shelly.  When they aren't busy dancing with Eli that is.