"Pleased to meet you, Master Deyna. You're ad specified animal companions and familiars. Thunder and I are curious if you have a special purpose for them?" The wolf's ears perk up as if eagerly awaiting the response.

Dellas smiles a big smile and hops off the chair "Wonderful, it's nice to meet you but my esteemed colleague and I have business to attend to for the next few days." He gives a courtesy bow before leading Haazheel to a safe practice area where they can exchange spells. Vish just looks bored and hides in Dellas' long robe sleeves.

Finding out where the caravan was going sounded like a good start to Averdante. Aiding one of his companions was all well and good, but there seemed to be no urgency to Volsh's proposed trip. In which case, Dante preferred to be paid to travel over paying to travel. If the caravan job would get them close to the barbarian's destination, they could achieve two tasks with one journey.

And, as it turned out, the caravan was going right through Volsh's destination. Unfortunately, it wasn't possible, now, to ask what Volsh wished to do after finding his soldier in Fort Cross -- or how long it would take to find this warrior there. Would an overnight stop be time enough, or was the soldier perhaps retired and living a distance away?

Dellas, surprisingly, bounced up to abruptly depart; apparently, he felt he'd learned enough already. It wasn't clear if he agreed to the job or not, though.

Wizards were not, Dante thought, the most stable people.

He,  himself, waited for the halfling to answer Narthian's question -- which was of interest to him, now, too. Only after that did Averdante ask, "Do you plan to have any layovers anywhere along the way to trade or deliver goods? Or alter the composition of the caravan?"

That last could be relevant, if enough wagons were added along the way to spread them too thinly, or if the value of goods changed significantly, making the caravan a choicer target than it might be leaving here.

"And we keep what we capture?" Lantamori added.

She'd never guarded a caravan before and wasn't sure if there were some split between caravan and guard when it came to fallen foes and their coin.

Bruenor sits and listens, content to let the other ask about the caravan job.  He knows at some point 'aimless' adventuring may get old, but for now he was content to be living away from his father's lands and experiencing a bit of what this world had to offer.

He mulls over Volsh's request and what it meant.  He thinks about what it must be like to lose one's family, especially in such a horrific way.  He butted heads with his father...often!...and his competitive sister annoyed him more often than not; but they were still his family, and he'd not like to see any ill befall them.

Not sure if Master Deyna had already shared this information or not, (perhaps he was busy daydreaming and not paying attention?), Bruenor asks, "What's the cargo?"

Seems a man should know what he's guarding...and what sort of trouble it might bring.

Master Steelhead can suggest that if Haazheel and Dellas wish to exchange magic in peace, the Mage's Guild within the Brotherhood of Alchemy have a "scholar's room" that can be rented for the low price of 5 silver a day.  It is not a private room, but all within are involved in scholarly pursuits, so it is fairly quiet.  The use of writing materials comes with the cost of the room.

---



Master Deyna nods.  "The ears and noses and eyes of a good, friendly beast have saved me no end of trouble in the past.  As good as a trained scout is, a hound's nose is keener, a wolf's ears are better, and a hawk's eye is sharper.  We'll be headed on some lesser-used roads, not cleared so wide as the trade roads, and having a little extra warning before an ambush at a choke point has been the difference between wealth and ruin, or life and death."



"Ah, yes, yes.  If the bandits have anything on them, or we get attacked by some ravenous monster with a valuable hide, then whatever is fallen is yours," she says with an understanding nod.



"There are a few small villages on the way from Redhaven to Stone Bridge, and I might do a little trading there, but it will usually be when we've stopped for the night already, or for just an hour or two.  Mostly some unique goods, small lots, bit of pottery from a place with unusual clay for some seed from out east, pelts for iron, things like that.  That's more of a side business.  I have a major offload at Fort Cross, supplies for the soldiers, preserved food, uniforms, weapons, supplies, bits like that.  I'll be taking on a different load there."



"I'll have a dozen wagons in the caravan.  One is my personal wagon with my side business goods.  One's the chuck wagon with the food and supplies for you, my drovers and porters and my beasts.  Seven of the wagons are supplies for Fort Cross.  The last three..." she pauses and then lifts a silver chain from around her neck.  Strung on it are several guild medals, the kind given to either Masters or members of a guild, or those licensed in a guild.  Her Trader's medal is gold, unsurprisingly as she's a Caravan Master.  You also see the horse of a Horse Trainer's guild member in silver, a bronze license medals for the Moneychanger's Guild, Gold and Silversmith's Guilds, Brotherhood of Alchemy, Diver's Guild, and the Gravecrawler's Guild.  Likely the licensing is to show she is particularly trusted to carry expensive or sensitive cargo or personnel for those guilds.  She clasps the last one, the skull-and-stone.  "The last three wagons are transporting the dead home to Port Lyalee.  Part of the cargo we're taking on at Fort Cross will also be the dead.  The rest is tribute from Firegold Citadel."

Twelve wagons to safeguard with nine of them, a wolf, and an owl.  She didn't think the little wizard's gopher would be much help.  Still, it didn't sound too bad.  This halfling seemed to have a good head on her shoulders and the trust of so many guilds implied some proof.

The elf leaned back and wondered what she'd do for the next three days.  Probably see if she could find a good horse for the trip.  It sounded as though she might need it for more than just transportation if they got into a fracas.  Something that wouldn't spook at the sight of a charging bandit or boar.  With so many wagons, the added maneuverability might be the difference between success and failure.

She looked down at her outfit and wondered what color horse would best complement her riding apparel.

"Thank you Master Deyna. You'll find that Thunder and I make excellent scouts. If you have a map of the route, I'll be happy to help plan where we need to run ahead and check out those choke points along the road."

Narthian doesn't show it, but he finds it curious that they are transporting dead people. Some funeral customs can be so strange. His own clan allows nature to have the carcass, unless there is disease or unnatural forces at work. Then the preference is for burning of the remains. He watches Farian for a reaction, curious about what the sun-priest might think.

Farian strokes his chin.  "These are noble dead?  Preserved, with alchemy or a spell of gentle repose?  Or are we transporting the bones of the dead for an ossuary?  If there are any rites that must be said during the journey, I can certainly say them, but of course I would make certain my prayers were welcome.  And in the event of some accident, would the families or the spirits be offended if outsiders had to touch the bodies?"

You know that Roscoe's Stables is one of the places in Redhaven that has mounts for sale.  They had a fair selection, you recall, as you rented mounts on your trip to Fen-on-the-Fen.



"If a bargain is set and contract signed, I'll welcome your suggestions," Mastery Deyna says.



"Aye, nobles families for the most part.  Not much else can afford to have their dead transported back to the family crypts.  Preserved by spells, the lot.  Supposedly the families are having priests pray for them in their own towns, so there will no need for rites on the road, but none were those who'd say nay to a little extra expression of piety.  Nor would they be angry if we had to move their dead.  There's a few who are naught but bones in urns; those are not nobles, but their kin want them back regardless.  Again, no problems with moving them about or speaking over them, just as long as they get to Port Lyalee."

"Aye," Lantamori said randomly after Master Deyna had finished with her explanation of the dead.  The elf then looked around expectantly at the others.

She wondered if the horses came with their own names or if you had to figure them out.

"This sounds like a merry hunt to me," Narthian tells the others, expecting to sign the contract soon. "Not to mention the help that it will be to Volsh."

Listening to the caravan master's answers, Averdante reached up to stroke his fingers over the stone cat draped across his shoulders.  The cat wasn't Thunder's size, but neither was it flesh and blood; it was probable it didn't suffer fatigue as a live animal would, and could thus sustain a greater rate of travel than its size would suggest.

Even if Preet rode with him -- and while he wasn't overly enamored of the thought of weeks of riding, Dante was resigned to it -- the cat's senses would still be beneficial. As good as his hearing was, he suspected Preet could hear better, and would be better at catching a scent.

Hearing the rest of what the halfling had to say, he glanced over at Volsh. The trip would take them where the barbarian wished to go, and likely be there several days before continuing on. Although his memory was a little vague, Dante thought it would be easy enough to backtrack to Fort Cross once they'd completed the contract, should it be necessary.

Sir Aberlayne strokes her chin.  "It seems a hearty trip, and if you're doing such a service for the Gravecrawler Guild, not to mention transporting tribute from the fort, this must be a most profitable trip.  My friends and family here are all Blackwardens, and I am an Ironguard."

Master Deyna nods, seeming somewhat impressed.  She reaches into her belt and unfurls a scroll from a scroll case.  "This is everything in writing.  Look it over, and sign if all is well."

She withdraws to another table so you can discuss further.  Sir Aberlayne says, "I'm very certain we can negotiate our fee up somewhat.  Is there anything else anyone wanted to include in our bargaining?"

Those looking over the contract will find it to include all the points Master Deyna was talking about, with no obvious hidden clauses or other underhanded writing.

Lantamori shrugged.  She was happy enough with the caravan master's deal.

"There will be ample opportunity to hunt, that is all that Thunder and I require," Narthian tells his companions.

In the days between now and the the start of the journey, Narthian only plans to replace his bulky hide armor with leather. He will also study any maps available, and discuss the route specifics with the caravan master.

Haazheel is a busy man, but he does take time to walk around briskly.

Assuming everyone is agreed, Sir Aberlayne gets everyone's signature (or mark) upon the contract after having a brief conversation with Master Deyna.  She'll tell you she wrangled the pay up to 400gp.

"There is one more thing we might need for the trip.  She has some tents and canvas for her drovers and drivers, but we will likely need our own tents if it decides to rain.  We're welcome to sleep beneath the wagons though, so you can just get enough canvas for a groundsheet, because she does have skirts for the wagons.  I can get one or the other for people while I'm picking up some grain for Valiant.  Let me know what you want!  I'm going to put together some supplies over the next couple of days, spend some time at the temple, ask some folks about how things are southward... oh, and if anyone is getting horses or mules for the trip and wants riding lessons?  I can definitely help with that."

Farian nods.  "I may take you up on the lessons.  I will be spending some time in the temple, but aside from prayer, I will see if any of the traveling clerics know what shrines, temples, or sacred circles are along the way.  It will be well to know if we have allies that we could retreat to, if necessary."
This message was last edited by the player at 15:27, Sat 08 July 2017.

Narthian, you can spend some time with Master Deyna, and she'll show you the route.  While Low'verok has several major trade roads that ring the country and extend north and south to major cities or settlements, there are also a myriad of other roads.  These are not as well-tended or patrolled.  The major named trade roads are protected by the Royal Road Guard, supplemented by the local lord or lady's own guards.  The secondary roads only have the local guards and local tending, which means they can vary in their quality, sometimes drastically.  Some parts of the road may be smooth and clear, others rutted, narrow, or with little open verge.

It is the second sort Master Deyna points out to Narthian, and anyone else who wants to follow the maps.  "Baron Gulamin here is too busy with some feud or another with Baron Fallowthorn to the east to tend to his roads, Baroness Ilverine prefers to spend her money on her own indulgences, Baron Kulain is eleven years old and his uncle runs his barony badly, and Baroness Velthe had a plague in her house and lost a lot of people.  She's keeping the guards she has tending to her family manse and borders, rather than hacking trees and filling in potholes.  So those are the major trouble areas."
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:37, Sun 09 July 2017.

"I think we each owe you a drink along the road for that," Averdante told the paladin, saluting her with his mug when she informed them she'd managed to get them a raise in pay.

On the matter of tents or sleeping under the wagons, he was more uncertain. A tent lessened the likelihood of waking up to find a snake snuggled in beside you or hitting your head on a wagon's undercarriage sitting up too far, but it also concealed what was going on outside of it. With a wagon, it would be possible to easily peer out from under the skirts without giving oneself away -- as well as exit in any direction. But tents came in differing types, so maybe he needed to explore that.

And supplies... extra arrows, he thought. Maybe some seasonings; meals were included, but that didn't mean the flavor would suit him. Almost certainly the wine wouldn't! And if they had the chance to do some hunting... it wouldn't hurt to pick up some spices. Seasonings were small and would add no significant weight or bulk to his gear.

Get a horse? Of his own?

Familiarity would probably help, though. Lessons most definitely would. He'd like to know ahead of time that he could fire his bow without risking spooking the animal. But mules? "Do you think we should?" he asked Sir Aberlayne. "Buy a mule or two to pack our gear?" It would lighten the load on their mounts, but he understood mules to be more tempermental than horses and barely knew what he was doing with one of them.

"I'll see if Roscoe's has a horse suitable for me to buy," he decided, not without some misgivings, and added, "and I'd appreciate lessons as well."


Later, joining Narthian to study the intended caravan route, Dante listened to the caravan master's evaluations of the challenges they'd face with respect. The halfling woman clearly kept herself well informed.

"Do any of these areas have a history of bandits being regularly encountered?" he asked Master Deyna. "I know bandits can crop up anywhere local patrols have slackened, but some terrain lends itself better toward escape and longterm concealment than others. And some lords are likely more adamant about routing bandits thoroughly, as opposed to simply chasing them out of sight and calling it a victory."
This message was last edited by the player at 23:08, Sat 08 July 2017.

Bruenor listens to Sir Aberlayne's report, and raises his hand slightly, fingers curled at various heights as if to say 'yes, please'.  "I'd like a tent, if you don't mind."  Most nights he was quite content to sleep out under the stars in his bedroll, but if they hit any inclement weather...it'd be nice to have a bit of cover.

"Sir...uh...Abby?" he stammers a bit; realizing he hadn't directly addressed the paladin enough to know what she preferred to be called by her companions.  "Should we all mount up for the trip?  I suppose we must if we're to make good time, hmm?"

The route details provided by Master Deyna were interesting, and good to know.  His thoughts run back momentarily to his father's own minor barony.  Father had such an obsession with all things martial, Bruenor suspected he'd let many things suffer in their own house before he'd let the roads and surrounding land suffer from banditry.  Father couldn't tolerate anyone speaking ill of the way he kept his lands.  Prideful, to a point, he thinks.

"I will decidedly take you up on that," she said with a grin.



"Master Deyna has some room for us to stash our gear in the wagons, and some of us could probably ride on the seats next to the drivers, but for what we're going to be doing, I think having our own mounts would be wisest.  And having our own pack animals would definitely be useful in the future.  For this trip in particular, at least you'll reduce the possible number of eyes and fingers that could be near your things.
 I'd be happy to teach anyone how to keep your seat during a fight.  Everyone here can ride a horse well enough, I saw that on the trip to and from Fen-on-the-Fen, but it's keep your mount steady or yourself steady on a mount during a fight that's the trick.  Or just knowing when to get off your mount, if your beast or yourself isn't trained to fight or handle weird things."




Master Deyna nods.  "I would not say regularly encountered.  If my caravan has to fend off bandits, I must by law send a message to the local baron informing them of trouble on their roads.  That usually triggers a sweep by the guards, though how vigorous that may be varies.  Baroness Ilverine doesn't seem to give a fig that isn't enhancing her enjoyment of life, so I've seen a few more bandits in that general area than other places.  Her land has some caves in it, so they provide shelter for the unscrupulous.  Baron Kulain's land is more heavily wooded, and his uncle Tylul keeps his guards close because he's paranoid.  More chance of wargs or gobins, occasional owlbears there."



The paladin winks at him.  "If we're amongst friends, you can call me Aberlayne, Bruenor.  We'll save the Sir for if we're amongst strangers.  I only suffer Abby from Dellas, and only because I love him.  I'd be happy to get you the tent and as for the mount, I'd say yes.  Particularly because you, me, Volsh, Narthian, and Thunder will be at the forefront of any attack and we need to be speedy!"
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:36, Mon 10 July 2017.

Narthian nods along with Deyna's information. He asks a few questions regarding the specific terrain at certain points, especially in lands where the local lord is less then dutiful. Actual response to these questions isn't necessary until we come to those areas.

Regarding the horses and tents, he has stronger opinions. "Thunder and I will find our shelter on the way," he says. "And we prefer our own feet to the horse. We can both move quite rapidly when we need to, and faster than the caravan will travel. I would not turn away a pack horse, though. It is better to travel light when scouting."

"As you will then, you know your own feet and that of your friend," Master Deyna says.  "I'll meet you here in three days, give you your first part of your pay, and then we'll be off."

--

Everyone can finish up what they need over the next few days.  Sir Aberlayne will gets tents and groundsheets for those who want them, along with picking up a few packmules and pack saddles so people can store their gear on them instead of upon a mount who might be fighting.

She'll help Averdante and whoever else wishes find mounts at Roscoe's stables, and work with anyone who wishes in practicing riding and a little mock-fighting with their new mounts.

--

On the day you're to leave, Master Deyna meets you at the Guildhall, as promised, with pay packets for each you, sealed and labeled.  Inside are precisely 100 gold coins.  "Get yourself some breakfast, and then head to the main gates to get settled in.  I'll introduce you to my crew and get your gear stowed, and then hopefully we'll be underway before lunch!"

OOC: Please move to Caravan Trip post.