Glumr and Holly move to help Glumr's horse escape.  The riding horse tries to get free of the grasping plants, but they are securely wrapped around all four of its legs.

If either Holly or Glumr spends a full round action assisting the horse it will get a +2 to its STR roll to break free.  It's awkward to assist much from the outer edge.  If someone wants to wade in and push from the back they may.  A full round action by this brave but foolhardy individual would give an additional +2, but they'd be in serious risk of being entangled themselves.

The large, twisted creature jumps into the zone of entangling plants and tries to bite Alligog3, but the lizardman fends off the deadly maw.

Cuma moves west and leads one of the horse along with him.

Alligog1 has no more luck escaping the entangling plants than the horse did.  Alligog3 boldly attacks the large creature with it axe, wounding it, but it shows no sign of nearing defeat.

The eye drifts to the west, continuing to play rousing battle music.

I need round 4 actions for everyone.

I shifted the battle map over 20' to fit everything on, so you're all in differently lettered squares now.

http://zachery.path.med.umich....g/alligog_battle.jpg

Farden isn't so crazy as to walk into the vines. Instead, he grabs Glumr around the waist and helps him pull the horse.

Glumr tries to pull his horse out while not stepping into the tangle.. the whole time trying to keep an eye on the new creature.  "One the three count" Glumr says "One, Two, Three...." and he tries to pull the horse free.

OCC - Gives freeing the horse a shot for another round.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:34, Fri 24 Feb 2012.

Success!  With a near comical batch of human and equine assistants Glumr's horse finally manages to tear free of the plants.

Alligog3 puts up enough of a fight with the strange twisted creature to allow the Triplefang, their guide, their horses, and their eye a chance to escape to the west (back the way they came)

"Put out lights.  Silence music.  Follow Cuma," says Cuma about 10 second later as he extinguishes the lantern, leaving only glumr's torch providing light.

The floating eye abruptly halts its magical music.

As the most well-protected party member, Farden will bring up the rear, as the party moves off.

Holly does her best to settle Glumr's horse as they get away, knowing that they were all still in danger. Letting Cuma take the lead, she goes through what he had said when the alligogs had attacked, and hoped she could get to talk to him soon. If someone was creating this weather, then it would need investigating.

Holly has plenty of opportunity to speak to Cuma during the journey.  This would be a great use of the In character side conversations thread.

Also, both Holly and Glumr suffered javelin wounds in that battle.

Cuma leads the party along a twisty route, mostly blind for a while.  After about an hour he relights the lantern and continues onward.  Nothing looks familiar and you're not sure you're even making southern progress.  Just about the time that you begin to suspect that your guide might be lost you emerge from the fog on the shore of Loch Grmikel.  Everyone is able to get their bearings as you leave the stifling bank of dark fog behind.  You are thankful that it cools down as the sun sets.  Cuma leads you to a reasonable campsite on a bluff overlooking the Loch.

As soon as the party sets camp, Farden is going to take off his armor and sets to his work oiling it and knocking off any signs of rust that the humid environment might have started. "How much longer till we get to our destination?"

"Bad travel today," he says.  "Off track and behind.  But Cuma thinks just 4 more days to City.  Cuma will arrive on time."

These words prove prophetic.  You do make up ground the next couple of days.  It's a tiring trek through these awful swamps and hills.  You're worn out, weather-beaten, and smelly (well, smellier than usual).  By the time you reach Utsk you find yourselves questioning whether the ferry might be a better option next time you come to Rankor Heights.  At least the road from Utsk to Rankor is easy travel.  You leave your horses at Jeremy Ferisedan's ranch (3 silvers per horse) and find yourselves at the gates of Rankor Heights.  Next stop, the commonweighter.

"Welcome to Rankor Heights, travelers.  My name is Colbein, and I am the official commonweighter for the city," he says gesturing to a framed official document on the wall.

There are two long, well lit tables that Colbein guides you to.

"Please set your weapons, coins, tools, and other possessions out on the tables.  Empty you pockets, pouches, packs, sacks, bags, and other containers.  I'll try to make this a quick process so that you can go about your business."

There are four guards here that give you each a cursory search after you have set out your equipment.  Then Colbein takes your names and inscribes them on a list.

"Oh yes, I remember you now," he says.  "Sorry.  I do see so many visitors.  It's a little embarrassing that I remember items better than names or faces.  Yes, yes...  this is mostly the same, I see."

Your equipment hasn't change too dramatically since your last appraisal, but there are a couple of new items.

"Hmmmm, what's this?" he says looking closely at the runes on the copper plate.  "Looks magical.  Mind if I call a Harper to come take a look at it?"

He also makes note of the songbook.

"Here's an oddity.  What can you tell me about this?" he asks.

Those two items aside, the taxes shake out as such:
Holly  19 silvers
Farden 45 silvers
Glumr  64 silvers

Whoever has Mord's enlarge potion is also on the hook for 5 more silver.

Farden is busy scraping through the bottom of his coin purse, but he looks up long enough to reply, "That book's not ours. It belongs to the Harpers. We're here to return it."

OOC: Just got enough to cover it. What are they taxing me on?

Holly hands over the gold and silver to cover the tax, and realises that she only has coppers left. Not such a good state of affairs.

"Getting a Harper for the stone, will also bring someone here for the book, which is a good thing. So please Colbein, send for your Harper." Holly says, before returning her items to her pack.

From what you understand the concept is from the Empire where it's normal and well accepted.  They figure out how wealthy you are based on your equipment and charge you proportionally.  The details escape you, but it looks like Glumr is the richest of the 3 of you.  Who knows where all his money came from.

"These coins together with those from merchants, visitors, travelers from the Empire and beyond go into a treasury that Proctor Limon oversees to improve the city," says Colbein.  "There is constant mining, construction, hiring of craftsmen and guards...  The coins don't just pile up in some vault, they get spent as quickly as they are collected and end up back in the pockets of folks like you."

"I assure you, it's a good system and it works."

You're not so sure yourself.  It seems like you're buying nothing with real coins.  What makes it much easier is that you're spending a few silvers, but your collective pockets will soon be lined with a couple thousand gold coins!

Colbein does indeed send for a Harper.

"Ah good.  The Harpers are an invaluable resource when it comes to appraising items of magical value.  My knowledge only extends so far into that field.  You three Triplefang find yourselves some interesting things.  Can you tell me anything about this metal disk while we wait for the Harper?"

"We don't know much about it really. It was left to me and Glumr by someone who passed on, and we seem to just hump it around. Perhaps we should ask one of the Harpers about it when we deliver the book. From what you say, they might be usefull in telling us more. The stories we heard of them as a child certainly paint a lovely picture." Holly says, trying to act as young as she is, before Glumr says anything. Not that she expected him to in most circumstances.

At least Holly had not had to lie about the plate. Snow had kind of 'passed on' into her other life, wherever that might lead her, and she had left the portal in her and Glumr's hands. They didn't really know much about it either, other than it opened a portal to another place. Holly wondered if Snow had known more about it, but had never asked her cousin. For the moment, she didn't feel right in letting the Harpers know of it, for a reason she couldn't put into words. Now that might be taken out of their hands, with only slightly worried Holly.

Farden let's the others talk. He himself repacks all his gear and waits patiently, while making sure the plate and the book doesn't pass out of his sight.

Glumr nods in agreement with Holly. "We might want to see it on the mantle of our lodge or tavern at the end of our travels.  A memento from adventures with our family."  Glumr is happy to help cover the coin if anyone is short.  "The harper we seek is Samuel." Glumr mentions to the guard.

"I am ready for a rest my friends"  Glumr says as they wait.  "The road has been hard.  I'm looking forward to a hot meal and a robust ale."

occ - I think it's Samuel.  It's weird to think there's no cold beer too. haha

Sorry I've been out all week.  Am back and ready to adventure.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:43, Thu 08 Mar 2012.

You pay your taxes, gather up you gear, and sit around waiting for a little while for the harper to arrive.  Not only does Samuel show up, but he is accompanied by Genessa, the master of the Harpers Guild.

"Well, this is an honor," say Coblein, bowing to Genessa slighty.  "This book must be pretty important."

"It is indeed," says Genessa walking over and picking up the songbook.  "This is the only copy of Master Harper Eburacon's Songbook.  All his genius, songs, and notes are stored in these pages.  These young Triplefang adventurers were hired to retrieve it for us.  As you can see they have succeeded."

Genessa smiles, opening and glancing through the book's pages.  She looks up and glances at each of the three of you.

"Aren't you missing a pair?" she says referring to Snow and Mord.  "I hope nothing terrible happened."  Her smile turns to cautious concern.

Glumr chuckles and gives a bow when he addresses her.  "You are correct in your count but not your premise my lady.  Rest assured they grew weary of the road and returned to their families."
This message was last edited by the player at 19:47, Thu 08 Mar 2012.

"I'm glad there isn't a darker reason they aren't with us."

"Everything looks fine," she says closing the book and tucking it into a large satchel.  "I'd like to discuss the details back at the guild if you don't mind, but I'm sure you're all anxious to be paid."

She pulls a small, heavy, unfinished wooden crate from her satchel, examines it momentarily, and sets it on the table.  She does this 3 more times until there are 2 stacks of 2 small rectangular crates each on the table before you.  She adds to this a pouch of coins identical to the one she gave Mord for the letter delivery job.

"That's 2000 gold crowns," she says tapping the first stack of crates.  "2000 silver links," she says tapping the second stack.  "And 50 more crowns."

But she's not done.  She hands 2 more of the crates and a pouch to Samuel.

"10% to Samuel for setting up the deal."

"A pleasure," Samuel says enthusiastically.

Genessa shifts around and rolls her neck.  She actually looks glad not to be lugging around all those coins any more.

"While you are here, Master Harper, would you please take a look at this object?" says Colbien, handing the plate to Genessa.    "I'm wondering if it is magical and if you could estimate its value for me."

"Alright."

Genessa looks over the plate.  She runs her hand over the inscribed patterns and then sets the plate down on the table.

"It looks dwarven, but I don't recognize it."

She takes up a set of pipes slung on the opposite side as the satchel she's carrying and begins playing a lilting tune.  The eye joins in, covering the non-pipes parts of the song.  This startles the Master Harper at first, but she quickly regains her focus.  The eye's accompaniment enriches the song considerably.  You're not really sure what's going on.  After 20 or 30 seconds Genessa stops playing the song and the eye follows suit.

"It is magical.  Some sort of conjuration tool.  That's about all I can tell you."

"And the value?" asks the commonweighter.

Genessa laughs.

"I have no way of knowing.  It could produce an assortment of cheeses on demand or it could summon a sulfuric dragon.  Vast difference in price there.  Actually, I'm inclined to put it more in the middle to low power range.  Crafted by the dwarves, not the gods."

Colbein sighs.

"I don't suppose its worth getting the priests and sages over here.  Lets call it 350 gold then.  That could be a gross underestimate, but I think it's fair considering our lack of information."

Colbein opens the pouch and removes 4 of the 50 gold coins to cover the tax on the plate and Mord's potion.

You are left with 2046 Fgp and 2000 Fsp - about 20 pounds worth of coins.

"Whoff." says Farden with a pleased grin as he weighs the bag. "Come on, fellas, we need to find a jeweller or money changer, or a bank. Can't carry this around with us all the time."

OCC - It's odd that she brought the cash here.  Why wouldnt she just pay us at the guild?  And they arent going to tax us on the new cash are they?  We didnt enter the city with it.

Glumr nods at Farden. "Aye.. But first let's go with Genessa so we may sit and discuss things now that this task has been completed."

With all the things that have been happening, Glumr has some questions.

"Glumr is right. Ganessa, could we cordially invite you for a drink. As the saying goes, we are buying!", Holly says, also having questions to ask, and some more information on the plate to give.

No tax on this reward.  You brought the book into town with you, but it was not yours.  You were merely returning Harper Guild property.  However, if you do keep coming back to town toting all this wealth you'll get taxed on it each time.



There's no bank, but there is a money changer.  Converting Ferisedan money to Ferisedan money is free.  Glumr knows a good gnome jeweler.



"That's a generous offer, but why don't we go to my hall to talk instead.  We won't need to worry about being overheard, and I've a selection of wines," Genessa suggests.

"Works for me. By the way, I don't suppose you can recommend a trustworthy banker?"