After Vafrandir

Embla Strand no worries. I've errands to run for the next few hours anyways.

Vafrandir: In. I'll buy a longsword and studded leather armor: slow but sure upgrades. We need to discuss what supplies we need to buy: we've come very close to running out of food several times while up in Treborg. What are our next steps and how can be best prepare?

Pandred: In. As much food by weight that we can manage. I think I will get a pocket telescope as well. Given we're in Norway, we should be prepared for trolls in the mountains, although what that looks like I'm not sure.

Pandred: How do we think we can turn a profit here? The giant was a good friend, but not lucrative. Could we find Dilhak again, see what his people know about ghoulies in the valleys?

Vafrandir: A chest full of 150 lb of food would last for less than a month. If we can find him again it'd be good to find what he knows, but I think he's from further north and may return soon.

The DM: In.

The DM: Catching up. We need to manage the cost to freight your goods into Stavanger. As said before, freight is 9 g.p. per ton of goods to be moved, or 2,000 lbs, per 24 hr period or part thereof. Each living being counts as 2 tons. Only 1 day occurred, as the journey took 5 hours. I'll need this paid. Since it will cost 18 g.p. to ship Oddsdrakken to Treborg, do you want to continue to leave him in Treborg or bring him along?

Vafrandir: 2204.5 lb of freight + 3 living persons. Does my body count as freight?

The DM: "Each living being" ... so, yes. As 2 tons. So that is 8 tons, or 72 g.p.

Vafrandir: + 2 more tons of freight (assuming we round the weight up to the nearest ton) = 90 gp even for the trip. I say we split it 4 ways (and I'll take the slack).

Pandred: I'll handle the whole thing in cost. I've purchased a lot of things on previous trips, I don't mind going light this time.

Pandred: I'll also pick up a pocket telescope. That leaves me with about 50gp to contribute to whatever we decide to do about food. If any of us had some kind of food scrounging ability that would be ideal. I could always have Odds go fishing, but as an amateur he'd be lucky to support himself with it, never mind the rest of us.

OOC-DM: as an aside, I've returned to the monumental task of reworking my pricing table; this is a nitpicky process which will result in corrected prices and more in-depth descriptions, more available goods and, in this case, I'll be building things like freight costs into the system.

The DM: Have you considered the possibility of buying a rowboat? You don't have much need for navigation, as you can nearly get across the fjord without leaving sight of land. A long boat is much more seaworthy than a tiny rowboat and you don't need sailing for it. Costs 206 g.p.

Pandred: That sounds pretty good, and it pays for itself in one round trip. I can contribute up to 50gp.

Vafrandir: What is the requirement for docking in Stavanger and Treborg? Would we need special permission to do so?

The DM: These are things I need to bake into the system. Since it is just a long-boat and any mooring post will do, we'll call it the equivalent of a low-rent inn room, or 12 c.p. per day.

Pandred 1sp per day, so just shy of 2gp per month. That seems doable.

The DM: That will be the price in Stavanger; I'm not just correcting the old price tables, I'm rebuilding them in parts, so "mooring post" should, unless I forget, be showing up on the new table. Just now I am buried in textiles, distinguishing "wool plush" from "wool velvet."

Pandred Out.

Vafrandir: Very good. I'll see how much I have left over after buying food. I suggest we use Marcule's credit for the longboat but I'll let him weigh in on that. That'll save us a good bit on coin on the back and forth. But we need a more reliable source of food around Treborg, otherwise we're stuck sending Odds back and forth every so often to Stavanger.

The DM: As regards Embla's ability to translate the barrels into wealth, I'll retcon it if she doesn't return before you leave Stavanger. Have you considered haggling for the cost of the boat?

Vafrandir: I would like to but I can't do it personally.

The DM: Ah, I see. I thought I wrote this with an "unskilled" option. Oops. Memory isn't what it used to be. Okay. Let's call it here, until tomorrow. Any last items before we go?

Vafrandir: I think that's all for now. Hopefully we can get these logistical issues ironed out soon!

Vafrandir: Out.

The DM: Out.

The DM: In/Out. Sorry all. Stealth visit from my daughter and grandson. I'm afraid you just can't compete. Be well until tomorrow.

Pandred: I am personally affronted, and the damage to my self-esteem is immeasurable. Have fun!

What's Next

The DM: In.

The DM: I'm beginning to wonder if Embla is going to turn up any time soon to barter away the goods you have to sell. If you wish, you can take 40% of the coin-value I named for the items and let done be done. Marcule can also tell me if he wishes to take out a loan. Loans are 2% interest per month with a minimum of six months before they can be paid back (Renaissance practice).

Marcule: In

Marcule: (sorry for this late reply) I do not drink my potion.

Marcule: “I like the idea of the rowboat happy to put it on my credit if we would like to get it" just waiting to see how big of a loan to take.

Marcule: I approach the party with little bundles in my hands giving one to everyone this includes Oddstraken and Willa when we reach her. Each bundle contains bell (small), brass -- 3 in. by 3 in. diameter 0.37lbs. mirror (hand) -- 4 in. by 3 in., without frame 0.19lbs. fishhook, iron 1 in. long with ⅛ in. diameter 0.01lbs – 3 each. boatswain's pipe, tin whistle, 5 in. long, with 39 in. chain lanyard 0.04 “some items just to help everyone out”.

The DM: Willa has left the party; you can get a refund if you wish.

Vafrandir: In.

Present: DM, Marcule, Vafrandir

Vafrandir: Let's get the longboat (208 gp) - the rowboat is much smaller. I would like to sell the goods today. If Embla doesn't barter them by the time we're played out this afternoon, we'll take the 40%. Is that amenable?

Vafrandir: "Thank you, Marcule! These will be quite useful."

Marcule: The longboat sounds fine. I'm fine to wait and see about 40%.

The DM: I wanted to give a speed for the longboat. A familiar-looking rowboat sculls about 4-5 knots per hour; this is much bigger, but also has three sets of oars, so I'm going to judge the speed at 2½ knots up to a weight of 1 ton carried; 2 knots up to two tons carried; and 1½ knots up to one ton carried. I can't find numbers so far, but I will make changes if need be. The distance between Stavanger is 30 miles. A knot is 1.7 miles/hour. From what I can see, the current flowing against you is ½ mile per hour, so that your fastest speed will be 1.2*2.5, or 3 mph; the distance is 30 miles between Stavanger and Treborg.

The DM: I could get finer than that. Suppose we argue that these are the speeds for three men with 12 strength rowing, and that the speed can be adjusted 1% for every pt. of strength different. Vafrandir, Pandred (counts as 18) and Marcule have a combined strength of 50. This would make the longboat's speed 3.42 mph.

Vafrandir: How many hours of daylight do we have, roughly, at this time of year? An 8-10 hour trip is a full day, essentially.

Marcule: "Definitely a day."

The DM: You spend the 14th & 15th buying and arranging purchase of the boat. Sunrise is 4:24 am. Sunset is 10:52 pm.

Marcule: out

Embla Strand In. I barter our tradegoods. Give me a minute to recall which we have and work out what we'll take for them.

The DM: This is tougher to do online than it would be at a game table; go ahead and trade the wine/ale/lutefisk for anything on the trading table; remember, at 90% of cost.

Embla Strand That gives us about 900gp for supplies. I'll get to shopping.

The DM: Too, remember, the heavier you buy, the slower the boat goes.

The DM: Out (for about an hour).

Embla Strand Could I use some of the barter funds to purchase the longboat? How do hunting dogs aid in hunting? How many chickens might I feed from a pony's feed ration? How much do chickens and hunting dogs weigh? Vafrandir, would you like chainmail or something heavier than the studded leather?

Vafrandir: I'll look at the numbers. I can (or should be able to) buy better armor but I don't have a super high carry so my AP would suffer greatly. Maybe one of you more experienced players can comment on the viability of fighting with 2-3 AP? Doesn't seem worth the extra protection.

Embla Strand Ringmail is only 5 more lbs than studded leather. We have a lot of money that we have to spend now and a significant weight limitation, so I'm trying to think of upgrades for everyone's stuff.

Vafrandir: Pushes me into 3 AP minimum. I'll think about it. For now I'll upgrade my helmet at least to iron, I've got the coin. I think the party funds might be well spent on intangibles. Our party size is significantly depleted: can we get get some more hirelings? Or otherwise put some coin towards our house upgrades? We need a steady source of food supplies at least. Not sure how to go about that.

Vafrandir: I've got a new chest (large) with 40 lb of food. Embla, if you'd like to fill it up with 110 lb more (110 gp, daily ration [travel]) we'll have a nice emergency stash.

Embla Strand I've tentatively purchased 500lbs of food and if I can get info on chicken feeding, we'll have two dozen chickens at the house, providing 2lbs-ish of eggs a day. We'd need to pay for a coop, but that shouldn't be too expensive. Hopefully between a hunting dog and my ability to hunt, we can bag some larger animals at home.

The DM: In.

The DM: Yes, you can use the barter funds to help purchase the longboat. I haven't written rules for hunting dogs; in any case, they'll require an amateur skill in dog training (10pts). Chickens don't require feed, except when raised in town. In a rural setting, they just scour the land itself, though on the trail they get eaten by foxes and such. Chickens weigh 5 lbs. A hunting dog weighs 60 lbs.