I'll repost what I have already posted, repost anything you all may want in this thread. And continue to use this thread for Journey Preparation.

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First - New Sora and Khaaven (Gryphon) will join you all in the Keep. Khaaven has an entrance Sora still needs one. I am doing this so that it makes sense in character for their participation in the preparation for the expedition. As the preparation is very important and I want everyone to participate. It is good to remember, you will have been in the Keep like a tenday when you all finally leave. Buying things and getting set up takes time, and right now there is no time restraint that would require speed.

Second - I know magic can be used to create water and food, but Roleplay a bit here. The exact wording for creating food and water is "The food is bland but nourishing, and spoils if uneaten after 24 hours." With this in mind, Goodberry is literally a strawberry-sized piece of fruit, the same taste every time. I have been on week-long camping trips and brought dehydrated food for all three meals. By the third day, I HATED the food. I know technically magic can feed you, and in a pinch it's good, but Roleplay and have fun with this.

Third - Overall I feel like you guys are embracing this. See this as a fun game element, and some great RP opportunities.

Fourth - Unless you 100% know your destination, which you don't, and won't, preparation for this trek are all theoretical, doing your best to prepare and think ahead

Fifth - What you do know;

All mounts (including Elephants) and mundane needed supplies can be found in the Keep, if not directly in the Keep they will send for supplies from a local city.

There are rivers that flow through the lands, along these rivers are traveled trade routes that move North. As long you travel along a river, water will not be a problem.

There is regular trade coming from the Grants lands into Sverdkyst. The Trades are not your normal humans with horses and Wagons. The Stone Giants are traders and Merchants. They travel in clans of 20-50 Women, Men, and children. Using Mammoths or other large beasts of burden to carry supplies. They are peaceful people, enjoy tales, songs, and trade. If seen on the road they will extend all curiosities of their people no matter who it is. All Stone Giants are nomadic merchants and Traders moving between different giant kingdoms, and into the "the little people lands."

You should not expect any cities along the trade routes. If you come across one you should consider yourselves lucky or unlucky depending. The wilderness is totally untamed, Hill giants and other beasts and creatures stalk the roads and surrounding hillsides raiding, hunting, and killing.

Hunting in this land varies, some areas will be plentiful to forage, others will be sparse and desolate. The wildlife will also vary. This land is scared by war, magical beasts can be found, dinosaurs, animals that are normal will be found in giant and dire sizes.

Traveling you will stumble upon ruins of the once-mighty and now ancient Lizardfolk empire. These ruins can hold magic items, gold and jewels, and all manner of loot. But, they can also be home to monsters, and lairs of dark powerful creatures.

Sixth - You can find out the direction of the Fire Giant fortresses easily enough. The question really becomes which one do you need to go to.

Seventh - and final note. Unlike other settings, my giants are not alignment-based. Fire giants tend toward cruelty and anger and normally are not Good. But, most are neutral. And want to make money and trade. They would rather trade and make money off you than kill you, bad for business. Frost Giants are also normally neutral and have more laws and codes they follow than their fire giant cousins. Storm and cloud giants will most likely have nothing to do with you, and if by chance you all come in contact with them I will explain them to you.

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Hey everyone.  So this is how I do long journeys and travel usually. I get a lot of positive feedback for it and my table normally loves it, with one exception and that player left the game.

To make the journey more, adventurous and feel more gritty and like traveling matters, I like to include all the little things that I don’t normally count or keep track of in cities. This includes weight, rations, and all other supplies.

I don’t track this in cities or towns because my players have the money and all the necessities are within reach. But, when hitting the road especially in a wild untamed region food and supplies become limited and Weight is an issue.

So start thinking about the logistics of a long journey. What supplies will you need? will you need mounts? Will you need retainers? Will you need a wagon? What other resources will be needed? Can you get a map? Where are you going? Etc.

You are in effect putting together an expedition.

So a couple things I'd like to discuss if that's ok.

1.) Are we actually going to let Alekos get an elephant?  Ha ha

I suppose if he wants to pay for it, I can't necessarily stop him, but seems a bit overkill to me.

2.) What are we buying as the party, and what will we be responsible for individually?

My opinion:

We should at least split the cost of certain items that we would all use, like the wagons, any chests/locks that we buy, firewood(?).  What else?

Individually we would be responsible for items like tents, mounts, food/water, items for our mounts.  Unless we can get discounts for barrels of water or whatever, in that case we could split the cost?

If we're going to pose as merchants, I guess we need to decide if we're going to buy some trade goods to look the part, and if those are split equally or not?

3.) How many wagons do we think we need?  Assuming 1 for merchants type stuff, probably need 1 to carry our essentials, like food, water, tents, etc... Do we need a 3rd one for other items like found treasure, armor (I don't plan on wearing plate all the time if we're travelling, so I may actually pick up a lighter armor for on the road), other extra items.  I don't know know how big they are.

That's all I can come up with for now.  I'm sure I'll come up with others later.

I'm covering full costs for my elephant train. Dont have to worry about any of that.

And I am very happy to jump in and pay for anything else everybody needs to get as well. Alekos is all about sharing his wealth with yall. I don't have a lot of time just now but I can give a more thorough rundown of other things I'd like to contribute.

> 1.) Are we actually going to let Alekos get an elephant?  Ha ha
>
> I suppose if he wants to pay for it, I can't necessarily stop him, but seems a bit
> overkill to me.

My opinion of elephants in this type of setting are used for either construction or war, but if Alekos wants one, i'm not gonna stop him. i think horses are fine

> 2.) What are we buying as the party, and what will we be responsible for individually?
>
> My opinion:
>
> We should at least split the cost of certain items that we would all use, like the wagons, > any chests/locks that we buy, firewood(?).  What else?

I agree on splitting the cost of these items

> Individually we would be responsible for items like tents, mounts, food/water, items for
> our mounts.  Unless we can get discounts for barrels of water or whatever, in that case we
> could split the cost?

Again, agree

> If we're going to pose as merchants, I guess we need to decide if we're going to buy some > trade goods to look the part, and if those are split equally or not?

Given giants are big on weapon and armor, it stands to reason that things like stome, metal and gems would be traded well, as well as other items not redily available (Perhaps certain types of wood, materail, spices, etc)

> 3.) How many wagons do we think we need?  Assuming 1 for merchants type stuff, probably
> need 1 to carry our essentials, like food, water, tents, etc... Do we need a 3rd one for
> other items like found treasure, armor (I don't plan on wearing plate all the time if

Given one will be for merchant items to the north, when it is empty it can hold any treasure we find. I think 2 for the 6-7 of us will be fine.

My two cents

I am fine with 1 elephant since the giants use mammoths, hell why not. I can see Alekos having an elephant or mammoth, I also like the idea of say 3 wagons for our party as we will need to hire people to help drive and tend to everything. So not counting the elephants driver and care I can see that we would want about 4 skilled and about 6 unskilled workers to go with us.

So out of group funds the horses and wagons and basic supplies and trade goods. Plus wages for the helpers.

Individuals can buy own mounts,supplies and tents etc.

Since we are normal size I like horses better as we can dismount easy, giants like mammoths better as they can be used by them in other ways easier.

One mammoth could be helpful to break a trail if it is ever needed or as a  combat platform for our helpers and treasure while the rest engage in combat from the ground etc.

I like the idea of 1 mammoth as even a RP point of interest, lets let Alekos have it and he will also be helping with costs. Not to mention from what I see so far of everyone's character
Alekos, Anders or myself would probably the Face of the group. Fen would be in charge of all things security being military, I could help some there but would be better as the leader of scouts/guide.

Well, since everyone else is ok with the elephants, that's fine.

IC Fenrick is going to be against it as well from a simple logistics and attention detail.

I just feel like if we stuck with horses pulling wagons, we wouldn't need so many helpers, but this is a new thing to me so I don't know, maybe hired help is normal for this.

This little venture is getting rather pricey if we start adding additional expenses for an undetermined amount of time.

I hope this didn't scare yall. I am seeing some great ideas. Is there any further discussion?

Not scared, just unsure.

Anyways, here's my tentative list of items:
1 Riding Horse - 75gp
1 Riding saddle - 10gp
1 tent - 2 gp
1 S. Leather - 45gp (not going to wear plate thee whole time we're travelling)
5 Waterskins - 1gp
10 days of rations - 5gp
1 Hooded Lantern - 5gp
10 flasks of oil - 1gp
1 set of fishing tackle - 1 gp
2 bars of soap - 4cp
3 whetstones - 3cp

Total cost so far: 145gp 7 cp


Items I/we might need to buy?
feed for horse (very heavy) - 5cp/day  and 10 lbs/day
portable ram (split cost) - 4gp
merchant's scale (split cost) - 5gp
chests/locks (split cost)  - 15gp/set
manacles (multiple?) (split cost) - 2gp/set
hunting trap (a couple, split cost?) - 5gp/trap
miner's pick (you never know...?)  - 2gp
shovel(s?) - 2gp
barding for the horse? - probably leather so 40gp

Think I'm missing anything?

That is a good list,  plus any trade stock should be good

Also, I have been dealing with some rl stuff - but I am...still here. I will buy rations and I'm fine with wagons and...elephant(s) or more normal mounts lol.