Shivering slightly despite the layers of clothing as he entered the settlement the elf  made his way to what appeared to be the town hall. He begins asking around, or trying to over the music and avoiding the skipping bard. Muttering under his breath "Bards... always making noise and getting in the way, an elf can't hear himself think."

"Where would one go to find employment? And did I not see an inn over yonder?"

Smith greets the new elf, "Howdy, I'm Erret Smith. Welcome to Smith's Gambit. Job board is just over there, and the inn is across the street. If you find a job on the board that interests you, just talk to whoever posted it."

Mission accomplished. Elisar’s performance had at least got the locals whispering, and hopefully that might get a few of them into the inn for this evening’s performance. More coin for the inn meant more secure lodgings for him.

Once his sideshow was concluded he headed back to the Frosthide Inn, hoping for a hot meal before this evening’s show.

——> to Frosthide Inn

The tall thin man advanced along the path with a resolute stride. He sported short dark hair and a thick moustache. A stubble of three days on his cheeks and chin. When the settlement started to appear, over the hill, he couldn't help but to breathe a sigh of relief: "Not too far now", he muttered, forming little condensation clouds with each breath.

He looked up. A raven, circling above him, croaked in what sounded almost like approval. "Yes, yes, I know...", admitted begrudgingly. "But it is not like there was any other choice. Now, come down, Edgár." The raven, which somehow managed to emphatically fly in such a way to imply a bad mood, started to hover at a lower altitude, but did not approach. Józek just shook his head, unapprovingly.

Once reached the settlement, Józek started to look around. The pouch at his side, containing the few coins he managed to take with him before leaving his country did not seem particularly full, so he approached the locals, asking them if they knew of some job opportunity.

"A tall tanned human, you say? Looking for help?", he asked, nodding. "Izayah... at the inn... I see, many thanks." He followed his indications and proceeded to walk towards the inn.

---> To Frothside Inn
This message was last edited by the player at 18:00, Sun 19 Apr 2020.

In reply to Erret Smith (msg # 297):

"Job board, right."

He heads over and looks at the board. "Perimeter watch or anonymous note? Obvious choice. Patrol with a bunch of unwashed barbarians or a mystery."
 
Having made a decision he heads to the inn.

——> To Frosthide Inn

A road-weary man walks purposefully along the road, seeking the settlement he was dispatched to. After days of travel, his steps can no longer be described as energetic, but they are certainly still determined. His traveling cloak has apparently seen its share of dirt and abuse, but the wear is superficial as it had been diligently cleaned and repaired throughout its history. Slowly but surely, the buildings of the border town come into view.

Under his breath, he murmurs a prayer of thanks to Helm for the safe journey and makes his way to the large building that appears to have some import. Out in front stands a rather fancy looking gentleman, and Malkus approaches him without deliberation.

"Greetings, sir. I have been sent to this settlement to lend my strength where it may be most needed. Would you be so kind as to point me in the direction of your mayor or chief citizen?"

The man had been standing outside taking it the fresh morning air and the view of his ever-growing town. "That would be me, Erret Smith," he said. "How can I help you, this fine morning?"

Malkus quickly looks over Erret, before nodding his head in acknowledgement.

"I am Malkus. My Order seeks to destroy Evil, to maintain the rule of Law, and to defend those without the means to defend themselves. I have been instructed to travel to Smith's Gambit and to see Helm's Will carried out."

The formalities apparently out of the way, Malkus' features soften and his face betrays the beginnings of a smile. He looks around the growing town, taking in the atmosphere, before returning his attention to Erret Smith.

"I am here to serve as I am able, and to help protect those within your town, Mr. Smith. How may I be of assistance?"

"Well, we can always use folks to patrol the perimeter. I wouldn't recommend trying it alone, though," Erret says.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:15, Tue 05 May 2020.

Malkus nods in agreement at Erret's suggestion.

"Yeah, I'll certainly be happy to join whatever detail you have patrolling the surrounding areas. I'll meet up with the next one. When should I plan to be here for the next one?"

"I wouldn't go far. Night patrol is just coming back," says Smith.

OOC: Time is stretchy. Even if you decided to spend all your gold staying at the inn for a few days, as long as you're in town, you can make it in time for this morning's patrol.

After a long rest, Xannan peruses the Job Board.
He then finds and speaks to Erret Smith.

"It appears many of the tasks on the board are either already underway or have a full group assigned to them.
I'm happy to start forming another Perimeter Patrol group, if needed."

"Wonderful!" said Smith. "You can join Malkus." he gestured toward the hooded man.

"Room for one more." says Enialis as he appears in Smith's Gambit and overhearing the conversation about another patrol,"I could use the extra gold today, if you have me."

"Yes, I am happy to join with the new Perimeter Patrol group. Thank you"

Smith smiles and says, "Of course, my friends! Xannan, Enialis, Malkus... that makes three... you should probably wait for at least one more, but its up to you."

Odilon walks in just as Erret makes his recommendation. "Setting up another patrol group Erret?" Odilon smiles as he see's Enialis and Xannan once more, "I'll join if you'll have me"

Enialis gives Odilon a thumbs up,"Good to have you again, I guess that makes four. Now we better head off with this Malkus fellow."

The sound of rumbling wheels and the clip-clop of hooves was announcing a new visitor. From within the woods appeared a wooden wagon drawn by a brown horse. Two coated figures were walking beside it on the path. As they came closer, one of the travelers removed their hood.

"Well, this is not so bad." The girl turned to her companion. "I expected, like, a freezing tundra where you have to kill a bear every morning to even get out of the house!"

"Yeah, but it's still really cold ..." The boy tried to cuddle up but his clothes were too thin for the job. "How in the world are you NOT FREEZING?"

"My heart warms me." The girl made a dash for it and landed promptly on the doorstep of the structure closest resembling an official building, roughly in the middle of Smith's Gambit. She cleared her throat, hauled off and quickly remembered that knocking doesn't mean punching the door.

Knock-knock!

As she encountered Erret Smith, a winning smile slided on her face. "Good morning, sir. My name is Chloe Nellington. This" - she pointed in the general direction of her companion who didn't even manage to show up yet - "is my partner Julius Swift. I'm a merchant trading wine. I hope you have some space for me left in your gorgeous little settlement."

Chloe will pay for the construction of a cabin for two people with one room including the fireplace + one additional room + stove.

Smith greets the young woman with a friendly smile, "Pleased to meet ya, Miss Nellington. I'm Erret Smith, and I'm happy to welcome you to our growing settlement! We'll get the paperwork out of the way, and construction on your house will begin immediately!"

"We have a deal then." Chloe signs the necessary contracts with her eloquent signature and whips out the payment. She presses a hundred shimmering gold pieces into the governor's palm.

Room with fireplace (-50gp) + extra room (-25gp) + extra stove (-25gp) = -100gp

"I'd like to use the front room as my future wine shop", explains the merchant. "For now there should be no complications in storing my wares in the rooms without having to inconvenience me or my companion. However, in the future I might be in need of a storehouse."

The sounds of an angry horse can be heard outside, followed by a boy screaming.

"As you can tell, Sir, my companion can handle things on his own. No doubt the construction will take its time." Chloe folds her arms behind her back. "In the meantime, I'd like to be of use. I am perfectly willing to put myself into danger if necessary. As long as HE isn't around to throw me off." She points, without even looking, over her shoulder at a nearby window where for some reason Julius just so happens to fly by. And it didn't look like he did it willingly. "He is a good boy, Sir, believe me. A heart of gold. But he has the luck of a headless goose and I don't want anything to happen to him. He best stays here where it's safe. With the wagon."

"We always need folks to help patrol the perimeter! Your partner is free to stay within the safety of our walls, long as he stays out of trouble. Just sign up here, and wait until there's enough for a full party."

Just then, a commotion comes from the direction of the Frosthide Inn. Three goblins dash out of front door, followed by Darla, who's reloading a heavy crossbow. They dash between the guards at the entrance to town, and disappear into the darkness beyond, as the guard fire their own crossbows at them.

Back in the settlement, Chloe is sitting next to Julius on the back of their wagon. She had to drag him out of the inn where he decided to take a rest from the cold but at least this gave her an opportunity to give Darla some updates. After hearing what happened and what might still come to pass, Julius raises some interesting points.

"At least not in the way you were planning to use it", he concludes. "I guess you could try to build a snare trap but those require elastic trees or somesuch to apply potential to the trap. I'm not sure if you can find such a thing around these parts."

"But if a rope is too thick what else could they stumble over?", Chloe wonders.

"I heard they use horse hair. Hair is extremely thin and wouldn't be easily spotted, not even in daylight. And it's extremely durable. Unless you cut it you won't be able to snap it in two. Those goblins might even lose a limb or a head if they are fast enough."

"Gotcha, so we need a horse!" Her head turns around to her animal companion.

The horse - his name is Frederick - squints at her warily.

"Frederiiiiiick, my friend!" Chloe grins like a little shit.

She draws her daggers. Not particularly good weapons for cutting so this might get awkward. Frederick doesn't deserve to be overwhelmed or tricked. Chloe slowly makes her way towards the horse and starts speaking softly.

"Look, buddy, I only need a bit of hair from your tail. It won't hurt but I might have to pull a little. Who's a good horse? Yes, you are. Don't worry, you don't need to fend of any annoying insects out here. You don't need it. Shhhhhh ... yes, fine boy. Your hair makes for an efficient trap. You might save lives, Freddy. Lives. You're a hero. Good boy."

Chloe will try to receive some horse hair from Frederick's tail at the risk of scaring the animal due to her unfit cutting tool. She tries to make the horse go along with it.

19:56, Today: Chloe Nellington rolled 10 using 1d20+3.  Animal Handling: Frederick.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:57, Wed 03 June 2020.

While all of that is going on, Julius searches Smith's Gambit for a capable fighter with nothing else to do for reinforcements.

Frederick turns to face Chloe, unsure what she plans on doing with those knives, but wanting to keep them where he could see them.