Following the completion of their first adventure, the party finds accommodations in Drellin's Ferry. It's a small town perched on the Elsir River east bank, composed of a little over 1,000 people, primarily human though all civilized races may be found in some numbers here.

Drellin's Ferry is the westernmost beacon of civilization in Elsir Vale and as such it is either the first or last place one sees when entering or exiting the vale. A stone bridge of dwarven construction used to span the river, though all that now remains are a few stone posts. The Dawn Way passes here, stretching away to distant lands to the north and northwest. A seldom used track, south of the river, heads due west into the Thornwaste and beyond.

Within Drellin's Ferry, visitors may find accommodations at one of two inns: The Green Apple and The Old Bridge Inn. The Green Apple is a cheerful taphouse and inn on the north side of the Green, primarily catering to travelers who have somewhat less coin to spend than those who stay at the Old Bridge Inn. Many locals also prefer to do their drinking here. The Apple, as locals refer to it, is run by a stout dwarf named Tharrma, who possesses a great gift for expressing her opinion, regardless of whether it is asked for.

Conversely, the Old Bridge Inn is somewhat larger and busier that the Green Apple, and favored by merchants traveling the Dawn Way. The Old Bridge is run by a halfling, Kellin Shadowbanks and his quite large staff of brothers, sisters, uncles, cousins, nephews and nieces. Guests and visitors can find a good game of three-dragon ante in the common room almost every night; Kellin himself plays as well and is renowned for being the most skilled and perhaps lucky player to grace the Vale.

Other points of interest include Morlin's Smithy, a Shrine of Pelor, the Old Toll House (the site of the town hall, courtroom, jail and town guard barracks), Jarret's Sundries (a general store), Delora's Livery Stable, Gausler's Brewhouse (a hard-drinking tavern run by a bear of a half-orc of the same name), Sterrel's Provisioning, and The Old Ones (a small clearing in the woods on the west bank of the Elsir and site of a small circle of menhirs...a gathering place for those following the Old Druidic Ways). Additionally, several small warehouses are located in the town, these being used primarily by merchants moving goods along the Dawn Way.

Their pockets heavy with coin, the party spends a considerable span of time in various pursuits, whether that be merely resting, studying, carousing, shopping, researching, etc.

OOC: Please use this thread to declare any actions you wish to take during your downtime.

Map Key
1. Watchposts
2. The Green
3. Town Speaker's House
4. The Green Apple
5. Morlin's Smithy
6. Shrine of Pelor
7. House of Sertiernen the Wise
8. Old Toll House
9. Armory
10. The Old Bridge Inn
11. Jarret's Sundries
12. Delora's Livery Stable
13. Iormel's Warehouse
14. The Ferry
15. The Dwarfbridge
16. Gausler's Brewhouse
17. Jendar's Warehouse
18. Sterrel's Provisioning
19. The Old Ones
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:49, Tue 17 Jan 2017.

 Once they had been payed off, Marklin briefly considered trying to purchase better armor, but then the thought of flowing ale, flowing skirts, and the sound of cards shuffling and dice rolling. All thought of responsible money management faded away, like morning fog before the rays of the sun.

 The Warrior would ask Vulther if he wanted to hoist a few at a place called  Gausler's Brew house. If the Dwarf came, all well and good, but Marklin was going no matter what.


Roll to determine responsible behavior with his money..Roll failed.
22:31, Today: Marklin rolled 10 using 1d20 with rolls of 10.  Wisdom roll.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:44, Tue 17 Jan 2017.

With a fresh set of coins on his person, Valthur first arranges for a room, then makes a stop at the smithy to see about purchasing a battle axe. For a long time, he's wanted one.

Prodded by the care free fighter, Valthur agrees to join Marklin for a round or two at the brew house. A little voice in the back of his head suggests that this may not be a good idea, but Marklin's voice is louder and therefore more believable.

22:26, Today: Valthur Ironhelm rolled 10 using 1d20+2 with rolls of 8.  Wisdom roll (8 or less) +2 for peer pressure.

Will settle for modest living conditions at 1gp per day. Will also purchase a battle axe, even though this is considered a two handed weapon and therefore will have to ditch my shield. If he can get anything for his sword and shield in exchange, he will.

Put Aldara up for Modest accomodations!  [Private to DM Pawn: I want to say that "Aldara" has been out of her family's dwelling for about...a little under a year?  So consider any interactions with her new lot to be sort of like those of a "fish out of water".  Considering her behaviours during her last adventure, there may also be disorders of some sort present in her that, while no laughing matter, may exacerbate things!  Also gotta say wherever she goes that's settled, she'll be keeping an ear to the ground, just to see if her family or their associates have sent goons after her.]

Also, assuming Liamm or no one else has said anything to Ologeon about the spell components...I'd like to split those with Eoni!  And Skunge's spells, of course.

Coinpurse heavier than she originally expected it to be, Aldara considers what to do with her share of the spoils.  She considered gambling at The Old Bridge.  Considered new clothing, perhaps comfortable robes.  Consulting with a more learned wizard, and looking Skunge's spells over.  But survivor's guilt brought her to the Shrine of Pelor.  She was not used to putting others before herself and cared little for dwelling on losses, but this was somehow different.  Yhus' god was one whose servants never wronged the mage in her twenty some-odd years on this world, and who deserved to know what became of their brother.  What was more, Yhus had never wronged her!  He was a good soul.

01:18, Today: Aldara rolled 11 using 2d6+1 ((5,5)).  Offering to the Pelorites.

CONTENT WITH ALDARA DRAWING COINS OUT WAD CUT.  PENDING RESOLUTION OF LOOT DIVVYING.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:41, Wed 18 Jan 2017.

"We are NOT splitting Yhus' share!" Eoni said adamantly.  "We'll see if the House of Pelor here in town knows his family.  If not, his share goes to Pelor.

"He earned that with his life and we're not taking anything more from him."

It was bad enough that the two arms-men left him alone but for the dwarf to propose splitting his earnings was unseemly.  She looked at the others to see how they felt about her proposition.

In response to Eoni's fury, Sarah bites her lip and casts her gaze downward, but says nothing.

OOC: Sarah will splurge on modest accommodations.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:56, Wed 18 Jan 2017.

 Marklin looked to Eoni ,and a frown spread over his face. “ Ye don’t get to make that decision, Eloni. If ye want to put it to a vote, fine and good.  I vote we split his share up.”

"That's an interesting idea," Eoni said coldly to Marklin.  "Are you proposing that we vote on whether returning fewer than we began brings a benefit to those that return?

"Did you let Yhus die so that you could have a larger share of the gold in this plan of yours?"

 Marklin regarded Eoni. " We all knew the risks, we accept the possibility of death when we sign on.  We that remain alive can use that extra money. I say we vote on it."

Before the party disperses to the four winds to attend to their individual downtime pursuits, the adventurers meet at the Green Apple Inn to divvy up the hard-earned spoils of their adventure. Arranging for a private booth with a curtain, the adventurers huddle into a quiet corner of the inn and lay their loot on the table.

OOC: Here we go...

"And don't blame his death on us," Valthur growls. "If you didn't notice, Marklin and I were being attacked by a giant spider when he wandered off. You could've followed him down into that branch yourself if you weren't so busy cowering in the back of the line with the little boy all the time."
This message was last edited by the player at 07:52, Wed 18 Jan 2017.

"I may not be strong with a sword or nimble enough to throw straight," Eoni replied coldly to the dwarf, glaring down at him, "but my strength is keeping people alive with the Grace of Avandra.  It does no one good if I lie beside you matched wound for wound.  Who will help us then?

"But by all means, let us vote," she continued, turning to the remainder of their group, Aldara and Sarah.

"I vote that everyone comes home.  Valthur and Marklin vote to fatten their purses if any of us are left behind."

She stopped herself from saying more and took a breath, gripping the symbol about her neck.

"Everyone's life is precious," she concluded, her vehemence abated.  "I won't put a price on life."

Sarah's hands fidget beneath her cloak.  Her eyes shift from speaker to speaker, and she plainly looks uncomfortable.

When Eoni calls for a vote and looks to Sarah and Aldara, Sarah's eyes widen and she leans back, as if trying to escape through the back of her chair.

She then looks to Aldara, with a mixture of fear and pleading.

"If I am slain, I give my leave for the those remaining to divide up my share,and even sell my armor and weapons. What would I care, I'll be worm food."

As her companions debate (?), Aldara can only watch like a disapproving mother.  Despite her respect for the Dwarf, his remark about Eoni "hiding" with Liamm is met with an icy glare.  To Eoni's response, that her place is bolstering her allies, the mage nods.  Then, her opinion - her vote - is asked, and she looks to Sarah.  A reassuring nod is given.  If her decision was to be different, so be it, but...

"For my part, I vote that, in the absence of any written will, any share that would have gone to the fallen is given to their next of kin to decide what to do with.  Or organisation - guilds, brotherhoods, and so on.  In Yhus' case, his share shold go to his brothers and sisters in his faith.  I'll help whoever decides to break the news to them."

At this point in Aldara's response, tears begin to well in Sarah's eyes.



When Aldara finishes, Sarah is looking down at the table, meeting nobody's gaze.  Her hands have resumed their fidgeting under her cloak, and she says nothing.

The tears have begun to slide down her cheek, and the girl makes no effort to wipe them away.  The crying has subsided, but she does not say anything for several moments.

As the others look at her expectantly, an uncomfortable silence ensues.

Finally, still staring at the table, Sarah says -- very, very softly:

"I'll agree with her."

She says nothing more, and neither by word or action does she indicate which "her" she agrees with -- but under the circumstances, it doesn't really matter.

Through it all, her fidgeting continues.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:26, Thu 19 Jan 2017.

Valthur's blood boils at the accusation that he hoped to gain from Yhus's death. His initial reaction, to shout something spiteful toward the cleric, is fortunately cut short by a pointed glare from the magic user. Still, his mind races angrily around Eoni's words and what he could say to put her in her place. The fact that he can't think of anything just makes him angrier.

Finally, just as he is about to stand up and walk out on everyone, his attention lands on Sarah.


Even the normally oblivious dwarf can't help but notice the tears falling to the table below.

He nods, knowing he has met his match. "So be it," he concedes. "Equal shares for all. Living or dead. Let us hope that we won't have to worry about it next time because that means we're all still alive."

The talk at the table shifts (I presume, based on OOC chat), as coins are counted and plans are made with respect to the non-fungible items that were recovered.

In the meantime, Sarah's cheeks have dried, and she maintains her silence.  And her position has not changed either: head slightly hunched over, staring at the table, and sitting rather still.

Except for her hands.  Though unseen, their fidgeting is still noticeable under cloak.

As the talking and planning continues, a metallic jingle is heard from the center of the table.  Those turning to look will see a coin purse on the pile where none was before.  And out of the corner of the observers' eyes will be seen Sarah's hand, returning quickly to its former position under her cloak.

Sarah continues looking at the table, woodenly, as the others (undoubtedly) look at her.

Sensing the attention is on her, the girl raises her eyes without raising her head, and they dart to each of her compatriots at least twice each.

Still looking at the others, she slowly pulls her hand from under cloak, and gently places an ornate crystal philtre onto the pile.  The vial has a silver stopper and contains a translucent oil with metallic flakes.

Her hand quickly recedes to her cloak, and her eyes dart from person to person, as if searching for something.