Meeting
with GaardGaard's Hall - A job offer
The rain has dwindled into a drizzle today, and the sky gives some hope that the sun may even reappear. As the group wind their way through the confusing streets of Neverwinter, it crosses their minds briefly, that they probably never will see another city in Faerûn so beautiful and cosmopolitan as Neverwinter, and if their luck on your new adventure runs ill, they may never see the City of Skilled Hands again either.
They make their way westward, toward the sea and the Whitewater Promenade. The party have no difficulty finding Gaard's Hall, at the end of the promenade. The ground floor and first story of the building are made of stone blockwork. The top two stories have a half timber facade under a red tile roof. The building has no resemblance to the stereotyped wizard's tower, but it is said that Gaard is a mage of might, and some people claim he is an important Harper.
The hall has four sides, each about 50 feet long. The walls stand 40 feet high, the gable of the sloped roof 55 feet above the ground. It may not look like a wizard's tower, but it's also not a beggar's hut!
Most of the stone wall of the building's first two floors is covered with climbing ivy and also with the still bare vines of deciduous Boston ivy, that will not leaf out for another three weeks. The grounds are carefully but not necessarily well gardened. The plants show signs of knowing care, but most of the growth consists of ever-green, leafed bushes with more than a little holly. Before an aged, maintained wooden door stands the statue of a man, an intellectual looking man.
The party gather together on the street nearby, nodding their good mornings to each other
As Lucretia and the rest of the party come within 3 feet of the statue however, a polite house servant's voice - one that doesn't seem to come from any where in particular - speaks:
"Well met in Neverwinter! Please be so kind as to state your business!"
Milo gets bumped. "Huh? Oh, yeah" Since he was already near the door he decides to speak up.
"<clears his throat> Uh, hello. We are 'The Unknowns'. Harthar the runner met us last night with instructions to meet Sir Gaard today at 9. Is he ready to see us yet?" He backs up, hoping he didn't sound as nervous as he felt...
"Ah, yes," answers the voice after a brief delay. "The master is expecting you. Please do come in and find yourself a seat in the library!" Seemingly on their own power, the doors open and show you a reception hall 10 feet wide and 30 feet long. The walls are panelled in fine wood. Although there are no windows in the walls, the hall is well lit by small chandeliers with burning candles. In the right wall, about 15 feet from the main door, is another door. There are no other openings in the walls.
Lucretia begins to walk down the hall. "Humph." With his sword he drags it across the ground. A scraping sound echoes through the hall. "At least it sounds nice through here." Lucretia picks up his sword and puts it away. "Well we might as well head for the main library. I figure it is that door other there." Lucretia points to the door about 10 feet away now. He starts to head towards it.
As the various members of the party walk through the entrance chamber towards the library, their footsteps echo of the stone floor, until they enter the library, where a number of large rugs absorb the sound, making the room quiet and peaceful.
The group enter the library and immediately have the feeling, that this room can hardly be inside the house they saw from outside.
The room is about 35 feet long and 25 feet wide, and it's filled with bookshelves - enough to house a larger library of parchment books than you'd expect to find even in Waterdeep. There's no one there to greet the party, but there is a desk and a group of eight chairs directly in front of it with another more ornate chair behind it.
Ceely follows after Cleo (& Lucretia) into the library, looking in awe at the large number of books. She wanders over to the nearest bookshelf, and reaches out to touch one of the books. "I've never seen so many books in one place" she whispers.
Lucretia enters the room and looks around. There are more books than he has ever seen before in his life. Still this room troubles him. There shouldn't be one this big from the looks on the outside. Lucretia looks at the others as they wait around hoping something will happen.
A polite voice that comes from who knows where says politely, "Please be seated!"
Lucretia looks around quickly again. There was no speaker this time either. Lucretia starts to go for his sword again but looks at the others. They seem more interested in books than this voice. "Bah. Books," he spits. "There is nothing that steel cannot handle that books can." They all decided to sit down without anymore problems. Lucretia laughs at this. He takes his sword out and probes the chair. Nothing funny so far so he jabs a little harder. The chair falls over. Still not convinced he walks over to a wall and puts a hand on it to make sure it is steady and unmoving. He then takes out his lute and looks at the others. "What? I cannot pass up an opportunity like this." With that said Lucretia starts to play.
Suddenly, Volo's voice disrupts the silence.
(VOLO) "Did you see the title of that book over there? 'A Guide To Neverwinter By Men For Men.' What kind of man is this Gaard anyway?"
(DOLO) "Volo you fool! It doesn't say that at all! The book's real title is 'A Guide To Neverwinter By Manfo Men.' That's the name of the author, 'Manfo Men.'" The puppet lets out a sigh as it continues. "Volo, just please by quiet now. Are you <trying> to get us into trouble?"
Yvandel laughs at the puppets endless chatter. "Anybody care to open one of those books while we wait?" A smile playing on his lips, he speaks under his breath, just loud enough for everyone to hear. "I'm sure he wouldn't mind..."
Lucretia looks up from where he is playing. "Books......BAH. Who needs them." He then continues playing while leaning against the wall.
Milo's boisterous laughter is halted by the thought of Yvandel reaching for a book. "Don't!" Milo whispers harshly to his friend. "We are probably being watched right now. Our behavior is very important to the success of landing this job. Besides, the books may be guarded with magic. We can't afford to let our curiosity get the better of us! Lets just sit and wait for our instructions..."
Milo continues to watch Yvandel for his reaction.
"But what if the test is to see if we dare to touch the books?" Yvandel says to Milo. "What if we will not get this assignment unless we prove to Gaard that we are not afraid to take risks? Maybe we're meant to touch those books. Maybe we weren't even supposed to sit down, because we're letting ourselves be led around as if we have a collar around our necks."
(VOLO) "Yes, let's go and touch the books and see what happens."
(DOLO) "No Volo! Master Yvandel will do no such thing. We can't afford to take such risks. Maybe there are other ways of testing what we are or are not supposed to do..."
Yvandel seems to think about this for a moment, then opens his mouth to speak.
"Mysterious voice, our ears detect you all around us in the air, yet our eyes fail to locate you. Can you tell us if these books are not to be touched?"
Milo responds to his friend, "its always better to err on the side of manners when visiting wizards and dignitaries. We should be on our best behaviour. Who would want risk takers that aren't house bred?" Looking to Luc, "Pick up that chair! Lets show some respect now to this man who wants to pay us some money..."
After a wait of about five minutes, an ancient man comes out from behind the bookshelves at the far end of the room, although you were all sure that you had been alone in the room. He has a slightly absent-minded expression in his voice as he addresses you.
"Aha!", he says. "You've come!"
He then walks slowly over to the desk and takes a seat there on the opposite side from your chairs. He looks at first down upon his hands, then up again at the party, and appraises each of you before finally saying, "I hear you're looking for work..." He pauses for a moment, and then continues.
"My name is Gaard", says the old man, "But I suppose you know that already. I'm looking for some young folks like you to transport a few small items to Silverymoon for me. Is that a job you might be interested in, or is that too far or too dangerous for you?"
Lucretia stops playing and looks at Gaard with a raised eye. "Dangerous? Ya right. We aren't a delivery team. Why us?" Lucretia looks at the man intently. "What is with these items anyway? I don’t care either way though." Lucretia waves his hand in the air to signify that he does not care. While he is waiting for an answer he starts to play quietly again.
Herod cheers on Luc, and then chimes in with his own question "And why did you want us to come up with a group name?"
Trying to look brave but shaking a little he says "Well of course we are interested b-but we need to know details first, things liek what we are shipping and how much w- we will be getting paid." with this he sits down.
Lucretia stops from playing and looks at Balnor. "Balnor. Quit worrying man. Can't you see we already asked?" Lucretia sighs. "Oh well. Just have a seat man. And don't be so nervous." Having said that Lucretia goes back to playing quietly enough so he can still here what is being said.
Gaard looks at Lucretia as he speaks his question, frowning slightly as if he has only just become aware of the source of the music for the first time. "Why you?" he repeats. "Because the journey to Silverymoon is not one made lightly, and trade caravans rarely travel that particular route. A small group of adventurers, such as yourselves, are more likely to make the journey successfully in better time." He pauses again.
"My assignment for you is a strange one perhaps. Some rather unimpressive blue stones have turned up farther in the North. These stones have nothing much special about them. They look like gravel, except for the fact that they have a dull blue colour.
"Now, you're wondering no doubt, why such worthless gravel leads me to offer you a contract. The simple truth is, we have no idea, what these stones are. It's a new kind of stone that none of us has ever seen before.
"These stones are no doubt some absolutely normal type of stone that's simply escaped our attention in the past. We simply don't know what they are. I can tell you quite honestly, that I don't know what they are, and I haven't been able to detect the slightest trace of any special properties in the them.
"But there are those who are worried. The high mages in Silverymoon and even Lady Alustriel are worried about these stones. They're afraid the stones may have some magical properties that we here in Neverwinter can't detect, and they want very much to investigate them. The people who found them - they were dwarves - also were quite convinced that these stones have something special about them, although they didn't know what either.
"In any case, I have a contract with Lady Alustriel to deliver specimens of these stones to Silverymoon, so that they can be studied, and they lady has made more than enough money available, to finance their transportation eastwards."
"Group name? Ah yes, what did you call yourselves? The Unknowing?" He smiles a little. "No, that was it; the Unknowns. Well, it is useful to be able to communicate with Lady Alustriel and be consistent in whom we are referring to. Now, I want to be honest with you. I've already hired two other groups to transport specimens of these stones to Silverymoon, and if I hire you. you'll be the third group. Lady Alustriel is quite determined to take a look at these stones.
"The first group to reach Silverymoon will get the biggest reward, of course. But there's pay enough for everyone, even if you're not the first to arrive with the stones. If we agree that you're the right people for this contract, I can finance the equipment and horses you need to head out. I can also pay you an advance of 25 gold dragons apiece and each of you one coin great rarity and value from a long lost dwarven empire. That's a lot of money, of course, but you'll need it to make this long and dangerous trip eastwards!"
"Kind sir, we do appreciate your offer, and the payment in advance is appreciated. How long do you expect the first team to take? We would like to exceed any deadline that you have given to the Lady!" Stormy rubs Milo's leg.
"AAACCCHOOO!"
"Excuse me sir. I seem to be allergic to one of my companions! I think I speak for my friends when I tell you that we would love to carry these stones to Silverymoon. We are packed and ready to go whenever you will have us..."
Under his breath to Luc, "Way to make a good first impression," as he slaps HIM on the head this time...
Yvandel nods in agreement with Milo's words. Yet even before Gaard is able to answer Milo's question, the puppet sticks its head up.
(VOLO) "Hey, master Gaard, you <are> telling us the whole story right? I mean, you <are> sending three teams to get the fastest delivery possible, not just to make sure that at least one of the teams survives the task!?"
(DOLO) "Volo you stupid doll! Of course master Gaard is telling us the truth. He's a man of honour and would never lie to his 'workers'..."
Yvandel turns his attention back to Gaard, with a look that says 'right?'
"But as my friend Milo said, we'll be happy to take this task upon us, danger or no danger," Yvandel adds quickly. "We'll deliver the goods as soon as possible."
Gaard looks in amazement at Yvandel and the two faced puppet. He shakes his head a moment, almost sadly, and then wearily starts to answer Milo's question. "Well, the other two groups left in the last 2 days. They may of course not take exactly the same route you choose, but..." He pauses as Milo whispers to and slaps Lucretia's head, frowns at them both, and then continues, "...but there is every chance that you may catch them up and get there before them. I would guess that the journey to Silverymoon is likely to take you in the region of 3 rides or so." [OOC: 1 ride = 10 days] Looking again at the young man with the puppet, he says. "Yes, there is an element of what you say. There is a better chance that the stones will make it all the way if there is more than one party taking them."
He pauses again, as if re-appraising the group of young men and women in front of him.
"You young folks seem enthusiastic enough, but I suspect you have far too little experience. The way to Silverymoon is one of the most dangerous trails in all of Faerûn. There are hordes of orcs everywhere, occasional dragons and tribes of barbarians that would just love to give you a chance to die in honor, in battle with them. If they don't find you, wandering Zhents or agents of the Dragon Cult will, and their intentions are just as unpleasant."
"Worst of all, though, are the trolls. There's no way to get to Silverymoon without going past the Troll Moors, and when you do that, you can count yourselves lucky, if you meet sizable bands of trolls only once or twice. It could happen much more often. However, if you do make it to Silverymoon, no one will ever call you inexperienced again!"
"I can however make a couple of good suggestions. Your brains will do more to get you to Silverymoon than swords, spells and thieves' tricks. And if you're really smart, ride with trade caravans as often as you can. Caravans sometimes draw trouble, but the best safety for inexperienced adventurers in the Savage North is in numbers!"
He pauses again to allow his words to sink in. "If you, as The Unknowns, are happy to accept this commission, then all well and good. You can go to Ren Dalstar's Corrals, he will provide you with a horse and tackle each, and similarly, if you require other equipment provisions for the journey, I have arranged with Fingle Jonas of Jonas general store to provide you with some of your basic requirements."
"If on the other hand, you feel that this is a bit beyond your skills, or that it's not the sort of 'adventure' you want, then I'm sorry to have wasted your time, and I will go back to my studies..."
He looks at the party expectantly.
"If you could give us a moment to confer amongst ourselves," asks Milo.
Turning to the others, Milo speaks quietly. "What say you, Unknowns? Do we brave the Troll Moors, avoid some dragons and deliver these stones? It sounds like a big job, but I think we can handle it! I vote yes- let's take it! Besides, we get a horse too!"
Milo looks to the others for their thoughts...
"I say we do it” Yvandel comments. “As Gaard says, when we do make it to Silverymoon, we will be no longer inexperienced and we will be no longer the 'Unknowns'. Besides, if we just get ourselves some fast horses, we might be able to outrun any trouble we see." "I vote to accept the offer made by Gaard. Let's see how good we really are."
Lucretia just stares at Gaard as he says inexperienced. Under his breath he says, "Arrogant little hjsueh.....I'll show you inexperienced." Just then Gaard asks the party if they will do it. Lucretia about reaches for his sword. Instead he stands tall and walks forward. He stops a few feet from Gaard. "If you have something to say to us speak your mind OLD MAN! I do not take insults well. They may fear you," he waves his arms to the group, "but I do not. I do not know who you are used to dealing with but you bring us here and insult us. We have our own skills and are very, how should we say, energetic not inexperienced."
A flash of anger crosses Gaard's face for a moment, and he gestures briefly, uttering something under his breath. Lucretia suddenly finds himself held rigid by some unseen force, and the veins on his forehead bulge as he realises that with all his muscles straining, he can't move an inch.
Gaard stands, walks around the desk and leans close to Lucretia, speaking slowly. "Your fire young boy will get you into trouble one day. It may also save your life however. In many respects, your reaction highlights your inexperience in life. A man who has not learnt to control his temper is not a man who will survive long." He pauses to let his words sink in.
He stands straight again after a moment, and speaks again. "My words were not intended to offend; they merely speak the truth. I look at you all, as young men and women, and see before me a group of local youths who are fed up of life in Neverwinter, have some skills, some natural talent, some very strange skills" he says glancing at Yvandel for a moment, "and a burning desire to challenge the world and make names for yourselves. The Savage Frontier is not known by that name so lightly, and to make this journey to Silverymoon will tax you to the limits." A smile flickers across his face for a moment, as he continues.
"You could say that this journey is a test, a test of your skills, to see if you have what it takes to become a seasoned adventurer. I do however need to get these stones to Lady Alustriel and I would rather not have your deaths on my conscience, so if you have decided to go, I would have you think carefully before you leap in."
He pauses again. "I mentioned already that the other groups have already left. If you are positive about taking the commission, then you will be keen to be on you way."
He opens a drawer in his desk and brings out eight money pouches, which he walks around and gives to each member of the group. He puts the eighth bag on the desk, just in front of Lucretia who is still held rigid and returns to behind the desk.
"You may discuss things here for a moment" he says. "If you do not wish to accept the commission, then return the gold to the desk and depart. If you wish to take the commission, then take the gold and leave. However, " and he leans forward on the desk facing the party for a moment, "you must ALL decide to go or not to go. To be successful, you must work as a team, and if you cannot start as a team, you won't start at all and I will search for another group to take the stones to Silverymoon."
He produces another small pouch from his belt and tosses it to Milo. "You seem to have a sensible head on your shoulders. If you all decide to take the commission, then you will need those. They are the stones I need transporting. If you decide not to go, then leave them on the desk as well. I will leave you now to discuss things."
He turns and walk out of the room, turning in the direction away from the front door and disappears from view. You hear another door close in the distance. Lucretia suddenly staggers as he can move again.
"Well, I have the stones. I vote that we go, but it was rash for me to decide for everyone, My apologies to you all. Let us make up our minds now in private and then decide our fate." Milo returns to his seat with a hopeful look on his face...
"I say we go," Yvandel answers Milo. "Gaard has the power to do as he pleases it seems, as Luc will no doubt be able to tell us. If he knew more about the stones, that they are a real danger or not, he would not send us on this quest, but instead go himself. I think we should just accept and be on our way. No time like today."
(DOLO) "I wish my master had some brains in his head, insteaf of 'strange skills'. There are Trolls out there!"
(VOLO) "Ah come on, Dolo. Even we can outrun a troll on our two little legs. They're so clumsy, they'll stumble over their own legs before they catch us."
Yvandel turns to the group. "Whatever we decide, we should decide fast. If we decide not to go, we can still look for other offers, other opportunities to make money here in Neverwinter. But, as we've seen the last few days, there really aren't all that many offers going around. And this one doesn't seem too bad. We're just taking a trip to Silverymoon. Yes, it might prove dangerous, but people travel there all the time. The sooner we leave, the less risks we'll have to take. We might even lead our horses first to Mirabar and then from there to Longsaddle. That is the safe path. But to win time, we can travel straight to Longsaddle, right through the forest to the East of Neverwinter. That path will be more dangerous, but think of the time we'll gain on the other two groups. Since they got a headstart, they might've decided to take the safe way, and might still not have even reached Mirabar."
Ceely says "I'm not so sure that's a good idea..."
Yvandel pauses to draw some air into his lungs. "I'm not sure that we'll be able to travel through the forest in one day. So we will need to set up camp at least once. And night in the forest is no pleasure, or so I've heard. It would be best if we give ourselves the time to find a good place to set up camp. Again, the sooner we leave, the better a place we will be able to find. Otherwise we'll find ourselves stranded in the middle of the forest when the sun sets, and who knows what we might encounter in that dark forest."
Ceely adds, "I have been in the forest, tracking a criminal once, and he had ventured in only hours before me, in broad daylight. Only an hours travel inside the wood, and I found his body." She shivers in recollection. "It was mutilated as if he had been attacked by wild animals, yet I found no tracks but his anywhere near him! Ever since I can remember, people have told horror stories about Neverwinter woods. I for one would rather not go through them. I do know however that it would be a lot quicker than taking the main roads via Mirabar if we took the lesser trails via Conyberry to Triboar, and then on the Everlund way. I think that heads in the right direction if my memory serves me right." As people look at her, she says, "I saw a map once, I haven't been there!"
Lucretria comes over to the group. "That stupid, arogant, pumpus FOOL. Well I auoghta.......Damn." Lucretia looks in the dircetion that Gaard fled through. "Next time OLD MAN." He then turns his attetion to the rest of the group. "Lets hurry and get out of here. I can't stand that old man or this house." Lucretia glares ateverybody there. "So are we going or not." Lucretia reaches down and grabs his bag, opens it and counts what is in there.
Lucretia then looks at the group again. "I've got mine. I say let's go. Grab yours then we should head of to the stables. The faster we get there, the bigger the reward." Lucretia seems to doubt that though. "Still I doubt think anyone else is travelling to this same thing. Sometimes people you neverheard of make great erand runs and are not normally missed." Lucretia then stares at Balnor. "You touch mine and I'll stick your hand on a pike and then go on a parade with it." Lucretia now waits for the other to grab their bags.
"I say Gaard needs our help so lets go. Make up your minds people," Serena says half-jokingly, "First you say you want to leave on some 'grand adventure' then you are cautious about leaving. I've said my goodbyes and am eager to be off. True we are inexperienced, but I am confident we can face whatever we come across. Lets go!! Thank you Gaard for the job and the advance payment. We will do our best."
Cleo picks up her bag and contemplates throwing it at Luc. She couldn't believe what he was saying to Gaard. She turns to him and says in a quiet but angry tone "You know he's right. Your anger shows your inexperience and don't get mad at me for saying this either. No matter how much you dislike his comments you should of let them go...He is our employer, you could of lost the job for us." She turns away from him to keep from exploding at him. She puts her money pouch in her pocket. Stormy nuzzles at her leg, so she picks him up and starts to pet him. "Let's go" she grumbles.
Lucretia just stares at her. "What is your problem little girl? Daddy’s not here to protect you." Lucretia pretends to run around as if he was scared. "Pahh. He was going to hire us anyway. The only way he wasn't is if we attacked him." Lucretia again stares at Cleo. "That shows who is inexperienced." He starts to laugh and then looks like he is in deep thought. "Listen little girl. When some plainly insults me.....yes I am going to get upset. And NO. I will not become more "settled". You will just have to love me for who i am." Lucretia makes sure he has all of his stuff and the bag of pieces is put into his pack. He is laughing the entire time he is doing this. "Well are we ready to go or what?" Lucretia starts toward the door, eager to leave the place of ghosts. He shivers at the thought.
Herod is in a daze from trying to organize all of the information that just came his way. He quickly shakes off the cobwebs and grabs the remaining money pouch on the desk and shouts "and away we go" and Herod runs out the door almost running into Luc and Cleo.
"Wow! Would all of you just calm down.” Exclaims Balnor. “I mean I’m not the biggest fan of teamwork around here but even a dead blind man could see that we are all going to have to work together even if we have some differences we are just going to have to put them aside. I seem to be one of the few sane people here. We are going to be going out into a place that we are all unfamiliar with and will die very quickly if we don’t work as a team even if our team is named the "The Unknown" we still all have to hold a little responsibility and pretend we know something. If go out into the out land for at least 1 month we are all going to have to get along. OK I know what you are all thinking "what is he doing talking to us like this" but someone around has to think around here even if everyone else isn’t. True Gaard would have hired us anyway but we should still pay him some respect because he is the one shelling out the cash and as far as i know we will need more then just our down payment! so if we are all done having temper tantrums we should get this show on the road because the other parties have a few days lead on us and we need to make it up!!"
Ceely picks up her bag of coins, and says "Well, it may be a tough journey, but I'm up for it, and I guess that makes us all decided then." Looking towards Lucretia and Cleo heading out the door, she grabs her pack, and says "Let's go get the horses and provisions... and maybe see if we can find any trade caravans who might be heading in the direction we need to go." She also heads for the door.