Andalon sighed as anger and bitterness took control and the situation deteriorated. He watched as the half-orc was led away but stayed to hear Henry's verdict on the others.

Valoria looked up at Cyrus's gaze with a weak smile and bewildered eyes. She spoke to him in an almost defeated tone of voice. Her voice was almost a whisper.  Valoria then stayed quite and waited for Henry's verdict.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:43, Fri 07 Oct 2016.

Pipre picks up a still-burning roll of herbally infused tobacco she had been smoking and had dropped when the whole thing started. With the cigarette back in hand she stands up and only then looks up to notice Cyrus's hand. She shakes it and then tugs close, her voice once more smoky and fraying in interesting intonations, "Careful with that shield, Cyrus," she says before moving over to sit at a table, crossing one leg over the other and shaking her head lightly at the way things played out.

"I always take great care with my arms and armor. But thank you for the reminder. I am still not sure what lead to all that tumult."

He nodded to Valoria and was clearly whispering to her while they waited for Henry to continue.

Before long everything has calmed down with the half-orc dragged away for a certain death and everyone else (except the prisoners) picked up, dusted down and checked over.  Then Henry starts his interrogation of the prisoners.
He starts by describing the possibilities – renounce banditry and accept the brand and all three of them will be given a second chance. However, each will be expected to co-operate and answer his questions truthfully, or else Henry will consider that to be breach of trier vow to give up banditry – and that will mean death, alongside their deposed leader.  Unsurprisingly, all three agree to take the brand.

Henry’s questions quickly establish that the woman in the red dress is called Lavinia, she came from the Ring Fort, is a fearsome spell caster and is mother to the half-orcs.  Kressle went to her for assistance once the camp was overrun.  The newly reformed bandits don’t know what the leaders plans are now – however they guess they will retire to either the Ring Fort or the Staglord’s Keep.

Then the newly paroled ex-bandits are lead to the stables to spend the first night of their new lives.
Then Henry turns his attention to you.

”That settles it then.  Bai? I would like you to lead a small expedition to speak with the Fae you found.    We need to know that area is secure and we need to let your new friends know we can be friends and allies, rather than just another bunch of bandits.  Cyrus, I want to you take and hold that ring fort for me.

This time I will let you choose your own assignments.” he says looking around the group.  ”You know your strengths and weaknesses.  Both are important, both help us move our influence to the south and closer to this Stag Lord.   Once we are secure in that, we will go pay this Stag Lord a visit!  But rest this evening, take tomorrow to prepare and you will set off the day afterwards.”

With that he withdraws from the central area towards the fire.  Sir Ferdinand nods his approval and comments that he is going to check on his horse in the corral.

---

OOC:  Over to you guys.  Henry will be in the Fire thread.  Ferdinand will be in the Corral thread, the newest (ex-bandit) recruits are in the Stable thread.  You have a number of other threads for private conversations.
However, I would suggest that you use one of the threads to compare, swap and distribute treasure:]

Andalon spoke up as soon as Henry and Ferdinand had left.

"Cyrus, I'll come back to the ring fort with you, if that is alright with you. I would like to find out more about that place, as well as Lavinia the wizardess and her half-orc sons that live there. Three down, how many more to go, I wonder? There were only five beds in that cave and the one that was curtained off was probably hers, so she may only have one other half-orc son there with her. Plus whatever other bandits she may have with her there now."

He looks quite thoughtful after that and as soon as the parties are agreed he will head over to the stables to ask the ex-bandits a few more questions.

"And I as well!"

Vik coughed into her hand, eager to get to a fire or at least out of her traveling clothes but even more eager to settle business

"You'll need swords and those who wield them well in this."

Vik returned after excusing herself, hauling what she could of the treasure her group had brought

"We made a good haul in the orcy ring, I'm eager to see what other treasures and baubles might be left where we had to turn back. No doubt some long lost crown or mighty weapon, now plundered by common bandits in our absence."


This message was last edited by the player at 16:05, Sat 08 Oct 2016.

"Of course," Percy grins broadly at Cyrus, sharing a secret jest as he indicates his willingness to return with the young warrior as well.  "I promised to guide you faithfully and that vow is not yet fulfilled."

'Take and hold that ring fort for me' So Henry intends that a presence should be established there.  No week long foray this time - undoubtedly their patron means to journey there himself once the task is accomplished.

Vik's return rouses him from his musings.

"Oh." Percy goes back to the fire to fetch the borrowed leather armour he'd been wearing, adding it to the rest of the haul.

"As I said, we had a disagreement with a fellow at the Orcy ring.  It didn't seem that he'd be needing his arms and armour anymore so we brought them with us, though to be fair I left my own in return, should his shade have need to defend itself."

"I believe it is magical," he nods to Valoria who declared it so. "If but a minor enchantment." Leather armour, +1 (1010GP?)

"His blade," Percy pats his hand on the scabbard at his hip.  "Fine quality, but, alas, not enchanted.  I'd claim that for myself and forego the value in coin, if there are no objections ... assuming I can afford it !"  Masterwork Rapier (320GP)

"And we also hauled a silver mirror back with us," the young gentleman muses. "Worth perhaps sixty gold coins ?" he shrugs.  Silver Mirror (60GP)

On half-orc killed in cave at the Ring Fort (Day 5 – Hex T, msg #172)

• leather armour +1 (worn by Percy but not claimed?)
• master-work Rapier (claimed by Percy)
• belt with pockets
• sling, 20 sling bullets,
• six small matching gems (aquamarine, value 80gp each)
• set of thief's tools
• trap mechanism (including needle) partially complete

In chest in cave at the Ring Fort (Day 5 – Hex T, msg #290)

• a cloak, a robe and a brocade gown (value 50gp) (claimed by Valoria)
• A small clay pot with a wooden stopper (potion of Cure Moderate Wounds),
• a box containing a wig and a vial of perfume (value 40gp),
• a fine dagger in a scabbard on a silk belt (value 80gp),
• three full bags containing  two containing 100sp, one with100gp and one half full with 60pp.
• A box containing a bracelet and matching necklace (silver and amber value 80gp) (claimed by Valoria?)
• Spell Book (claimed by Valoria): L0 detect magic, All Cantrips except Evocation and Transmutation, L1 Silent Image, Obscuring Mist, Disguise Self, Colour Spray, Detect Secret Doors, L2 hypnotic pattern, magic mouth
  
• A halfhelm and a glaive (msg #295)
  
• silver mirror (msg #430)

In Quern's cave (Day 6 – Hex, msg #549)

• Glow stick (purple glow - magical) (carried by Percy but not claimed?)
• Four books (msg #563 for descriptions):  'Zuddiger's Picnic', 'Treatise on Forgotten Heroes', 'Betty's Home Recipes' and 'The Taldan Expansion'.
  
• quill and ink (claimed by Valoria) (msg #573)

This message was last edited by the player at 16:03, Sat 08 Oct 2016.

"Nothing here strikes my fancy, but I'd say I'm still looking to get my fair share of the treasure."

Vik touched her fingers together, peering at the assembled haul

"So a few schools of thought on the matter, we can divide treasure in a totally 'fair' method, taking all value into account and strictly portioning it all. I for one have always thought fair was not fair, though. I would say we divide the weapons, armour and magic items as best befit each person, and the valuables, coins and goods can be then divided equally, a lesser portion for some, yes, but our groups survival should not hinge on haggling over a magic knife."

She drew her own knife, admiring it's glimmer in the light before sheathing it

"My thanks, and my group's as well I'd say, for the knife. It proved necessary to our survival out in the wilds. Now some might say that weapons and armours and magic items should be counted against a share, and that those who get an item which exceeds the value of a share should forfeit that share, while getting the item in question. It would be fairer than my idea, but I submit to you all these three options. How do we proceed?"

"I'm curious to see what Rook's group have brought back with them before we start dividing things up," Andalon replied. "Our half-orc had some valuable equipment so perhaps their two did too."

"As for how to divide it all up, I suggest we value everything at the price we could sell it for, add it all up and divide the total evenly by the number of people involved. Ten of us went exploring, plus Lolli, but who else gets a share as well? Henry? I'm not sure.

"Anyway, say Lolli is paid wages (we'll need to decide that later) so it's just the ten of us. Divide everything by ten. Say for example we could sell the whole lot for 5,000gp which would mean a theoretical share of 500gp for each of us. But let's suppose there was a magic sword we could sell for 1,150gp included in that haul. We want it to be used, not sold, so someone should have it as their share of the treasure. As their share, not in addition to their share. After all, it is still a valuable item that they might decide to sell later for 1,150gp if circumstances change. If that theoretical sword was that person's full share it would still mean the remaining treasure is reduced to 3,850gp and the other 9 people can only receive 427gp, 7sp and 8cp each instead of a full 500gp share, because perfectly equal shares are just a dream and that's not the way life works in the real world.

"Well, that's the way I think we should divide things up, anyway. Not handing out magic items for free (because that's not fair to everyone else) but not expecting someone to pay back the extra value from future treasure shares either (because then nobody would choose to use magic items unless they are exactly what they wanted to buy anyway).

"I suppose the exception would be party items. Say there was something there that we all agreed the party should keep for future use, but nobody wants it as their personal share of the treasure. That item is left out of the calculation altogether. Sure, somebody will have to carry it but it doesn't belong to them and they can't decide to sell it in future for their own profit."

At the end of that lengthy explanation Andalon grinned a bit sheepishly.

"There endeth the sermon," he added after a moment's pause.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:28, Sat 08 Oct 2016.

Valoria smiled as all of her group decided to stay together, at least for the now. "I too will join the quest to take the fort." She then listened to the debate over the treasure. She somewhat disliked such talk and hated haggling over money. For the most part she found herself siding with Vik over this issue. "As of yet, I am almost broke due to these adventures. I personally need liquid currency to make good on the captured spellbook and to continue my studies. The right spell, just like Vik's dagger could give us a much needed victory. I am in agreement with Vik."

"Like I said, differing opinions."

Vik smiles at Andalon's thorough explanation of his position.

"I disagree mostly on the stance that a tool should be put in the hands of the man or woman who can use it. Gold and goods and gems are spoils, weapons and magic items and armour are tools. But I mostly just want an agreed upon method, no matter what it is."

She looks to Lolli

"Some equipment would be nice for Lolli, but for the most part I'm going to try to keep her provisioned myself, as I'm employing her. If anyone finds any weapons or armour she could use, I'll buy it, if coin is available, at three-quarters value, not the half value the shops and merchants will provide. Fair?"

"If my lords and ladies would be so kind . . . "

Lolli moves forward, knuckling her forehead to the assembled group

"A rapier, a longbow, light armour better than leather, or some tools for artificing and crafting, those would be what I need. I intend to make good on pulling my weight, and those would see me as ready as my training allows, in fighting and in putting my training to work. And I echo Lady Viktoria's offer, should something be of use to me I'll contribute to its purchase over some merchant in the big cities"

By the end of Andalon's speech Pipre had already put on the half helm and tasted the perfume. Tasting it might have been seen as an odd use but her thoughtful gaze seems to suggest that she is analyzing the ingredients. "Orange peel, sandalwood, ambergris.. quite nice.." she says quietly to herself. Then, looking up from her investigation, she declares, "I think, as expected, Andalon has the right of it." She looks over to the others she had ridden with, "We should include the few things we found. It seems the orcy ring was the true prize of the two expeditions but it's difficult to put a price on the good relations we started with the fey. They are a bit terrifying to behold in action, right Aris'ta?"

By this time she had opened to satchel of thieves tools and was inspecting them in a manner that suggests she knows how to use them.

"Oh, and I should like to look over the spellbook as well. When learning my craft I relied heavily on wizardly notes to convert the Art into formulae for my concoctions."

Raising an eyebrow, Vik watched Pipre taste the perfume

"Are you wanting to keep that, now that you've drank from it?"

Valoria paused as if remembering something important. "I just remembered that I should still have credit with Oleg. As I have said my thoughts on the matter, please let me know what you decide to do. Also, dear Andalon I will need to set up a tab with you for the wedding costs. Just let me and Cyrus know what the expenses will be and we can work on the contract."

She then looked over to Pipre with an expression of respect and surprise. "I had no idea you where able to read spellbooks. Would you care to join me at the table? You can take a look at the captured spellbook and my own. I could show you some of my spells while we make copies."

OOC: I just remembered the store credit.

DM:

OOC:  If you take Oleg's deal that will be 50gp each (half shares for Borric, Adoven, Tib and Rikka)

Valoria still has 45gp of it. I believe Andalon has 55gp. Valoria transferred 5gp for healing before leaving this last time. ;).
This message was last edited by the player at 18:46, Sat 08 Oct 2016.

Rook had been strangely absent during the whole ordeal with the prisoners, but when he returned he looked reinvigorated thanks to a good scrubbing. The skin around his healing wounds was now pink with inflammation. However, his mood appeared to be lightened. Now that the assignments had been doled out, he helped bring in the pack animal loaded with what they'd brought back from their week out in the wilds. Most of it had come from their very last encounter with the bandits, but the other bits were from the discovery of a trapper that had been killed by the fey.

• Bear Traps x10
• Small Bear Traps x10
• Tent
• Animal Skins x6
• Backpack (spare clothes, twine, rope, flint and steel, and trail rations)
• Mw Handaxe (Rook)
• Mw Skinner's Knife (Zorah/Lex)
• Darkwood Longbow  (DM: Darkwood is automatically MW)
• Mw Studded Leather Armour
• Explorer's Outfit
• Mw Shortsword x2
• Cloak w/ Platinum Clasp
• Shoulder Bag (Mw Thief's Tools, a flask of oil, two small torches, a tinder box)
• Magic Ring (Bai)
• Mw Light Crossbow
• Mw Leather Armor
• Leather Armor
• Belt Pouch x4 (85gp)
• Utility Belt (Thief's Tools, Small Aquamarine x6, 8gp)
• Daggers x7
• Sickle
• Light Mace
• Heavy Mace
• Shortsword
• Handaxe x2
• Battleaxe
• Scimitar

This message was last edited by the GM at 20:40, Sat 08 Oct 2016.

As Valoria waited for Pipre's answer, she gave the items the other group had a look over. "Revelabit!"

OOC: Casting detect magic. Let me know if you need any spellcraft checks. :)
This message was last edited by the player at 20:42, Sat 08 Oct 2016.

Cyrus had been deeply honored by Henry's request to take and hold the fort which was more than apparent by the reddening of his already ruddy complexion. He was eager and hearing all of his traveling companions agree to return with him already, he'd been about to beseech the others to consider coming as well as he knew taking the ring most likley now inhabited by a powerful magic user would take many hands when Andalon began his sermon.

Cyrus could feel the blood rush to his face, did this man's greed know no bounds? Were they not all a team and had they not all agreed to share the spoils? Now to demand that his share be greater because there were no implements that he desired... He breathed deeply and felt a modicum of calm return. He took another deep breath and then spoke up saying, "Enough. I will say this and will then be silent once more. I strongly disagree with the "share" system Andalon just declared. The items we've found, all of them, were found by all of us together and we should find the best use for those items. Should any item then be deemed expendable, we can sell it and share the proceeds, but I want us all to be protected by the best armor and using the best instruments of our particular craft. Were Aris'ta here, I would hand her the Darkwood Bow as she is our best archer. Were there a symbol of Abadar, I would give it to you Andalon. But we should be grateful for the items we have found, distribute them to those who can use them best for our future safety and well being and then split the proceeds from the rest. Anything else is pure greed and utter selfishness and I will not stand for it."

As the best armed and armored amongst you it is clear that Cyrus has no intention of claiming any of the weapons or armor, so his declaration is clearly motivated by doing what is best for the group of ten sworn servants of Henry.

He paused, took another deep breath and said, "If anyone has a problem with that, they should not accompany me back to the fort. I would ask you all to consider joining me in that venture, though I'm quite sure Bai's task is of equal import and difficulty, we suspect that strong allies of the Stag Lord are returning to the fort now and found strong and strange magic already at work there. We expended all of Valoria and Andalon's magic just in clearing the open area. I fear we will need more manpower than we took with us last time."

Andalon looks hurt but not angry at Cyrus's response.

"Greed and selfishness? Oh, Cyrus, you do me great injustice," he replies sadly. "The only one who could be accused of greed and selfishness would be a person who asks to be given the most powerful magic item we might find, and a full share of the remaining treasure as well!

"Perhaps we need to look at this from a different angle. There are two issues here; who uses an item and who owns it. I totally agree that the best thing for the group as a whole is for each item to be used by the person who can make the best use of it. But should that person automatically be given ownership of it, and still receive a full share of the remaining treasure as well? That's hardly fair to everyone else, is it? If you want to distribute items to the best users and split the remainder equally then those items should remain the property of the whole party, all ten of us equally. Otherwise, what happens if someone's father dies and they have to leave us to return home, or someone's temple summons them away from us? [OOC: Or if a player leaves the game for whatever reason.] If they own those items outright then naturally they will take the item away with them, won't they?

"We can do it that way if that is the party's preference. Give custodianship of valuable items to whoever is the best to use them, in terms of what's best for the whole party, but they remain as party items owned by all of us together. Then sell the rest at the price that merchants will pay for them and split the resulting cash equally between all ten of us.

"If anyone wants ownership of an item they would have to pay for it at the same price that a merchant would pay us for that item." He glances at Vik and Lolli then adds, "Not more than a merchant would pay.

"But on another note, if someone like Lolli is going to do more than just hold our horses' reins during a fight and cook for us afterwards, if she is going to bear arms and risk her life with the rest of us, then she deserves to share the rewards as well. She wouldn't be in the thick of the battle and wouldn't face the same risks as the rest of us, so perhaps a rule like a one-tenth share for a camp assistant, a quarter share for an armed guard and a half share for a squire might be an appropriate system?"

"Oh.  You do your group a disservice," Percy smiles at Pipre, pleased to be the bearer of good tidings.  "Those items Rook just brought in - many of them were of fine quality, and that always means a higher price."

"It is hard to balance fairness against what is best for us as a group, but perhaps there is a middle ground ?" the former merchant suggests.  "Though Andalon mentioned it earlier only to reject it, the harsh world of commerce does occasionally allow for items to be purchased on credit."

"I suggest we value all items at the price a merchant would pay, determine base shares and then distribute wanted items as we will, counting that against both current and future shares, half shares, tenth shares and so on.  For example, this blade I now bear ..." he pauses for a moment as he appraises the value, "... would sell for about one hundred and sixty gold coins, by my reckoning, so if my share were only one hundred gold coins, then when we next divide our treasure I would forego another sixty."

"Should I decide to leave ... I would have to decide whether to make good on the outstanding balance, else return the item for what I'd thus far paid."

"Another example - while I would indeed like to claim that leather armour," Percy indicates the item he'd earlier shed, "in time I might seek something even better.  Having paid what any merchant might pay for it, should I later sell then I would get back what I paid - no loss to me or to the group."

"And as we split into our separate groups, perhaps we should also agree that those who bring the item to the table have first chance to claim it ?"

"I really think that's the best we can do - it may not make everyone happy, but it would be an effective compromise."

"I'd be glad to keep a ledger, and have Andalon," he automatically names the priest of Abador as such is well within their precepts, "or indeed anyone else who wishes to look over the ledger at any time to ensure both honesty on my part and that no mistakes had been made," the young gentleman offers, hopeful that this compromise will prove acceptable to all.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:24, Mon 10 Oct 2016.

"The only problem with allowing someone to 'buy' an item on credit is that the only possible source we have for that credit is from everyone else's share of the treasure. Effectively everyone else has to lend that person that money until that person can pay them back," Andalon points out.

"That's a wonderfully Abadaran concept but, as I am all too sadly aware, not everyone here sees things the Abadaran way."