Part 2: Arrival in Thurmaster

[Balgin Stondraeg]

Squire Marlen reads the note of credit and wheedles and whines. He seems somewhat reluctant to give up the money. Rather than fetching i forthwith, he asks who wishes to be account holder and in which names he should hold the money. When it becomes clear that people actualy want good hard cash he asks for a 20gp transaction fee (and explains that while it's high it is based on a fraction of the total ammount).

[PaulH]

"Escuse me, Sir, but the good Wizard didn't mention anything about 'Transaction' fees. Maybe if you had anything we wanted we could trade......"?

[Custom_Hobby]

Sir Throgrin steps forward "Aye, then charge the wizard the transaction fee as it is his transaction"

Amras leans on his staff "I'd rather have learned something from the mage myself" He talks to his fellow mages about spells for a second while the other resolve the issue.

[Rod the Worm]

Content to let the others handle things up to a point, Hasta steps in.

"Garrick, Sir Thorgrin," she begins. "Don't encourage him.  Squire Marlan, on what basis are you charging a 'transaction fee' on money we are owed?  I've nothing against you making a living, but we'll not be gulled."

(Diplomacy d20+1=13 if relevant)

[Balgin Stondraeg]

"Well, ma'm," wheedles the squire, "the charge is for the closure of the account. You see, now that this money has passed from Theothrastus to a new owner, I therefore hold it for this new master. Since they demand the money now, I must close the account and that will create extra paperwork, you understand."

A few of the guards lean heavily on their halberds, a gentle reminder not to cause any trouble.

[Custom_Hobby]

Thorgrin taking note of the guards actions shifts his stance to let them know his axe will have no problem leaving their heads on the floor! "As far as I am concerned there will be no opening of an account so there will be no need for any of your new paperwork."

Amras takes note of the tensions and begins thinking of offensive spells in case they are needed....

[Woojitsu]

Shen fights through his nausea long enough to interject, "Surely, the wizard has not signed over to us his entire account.  Why then would you need to close an account?"

[PaulH]

While the Squires & his guards' attention is drawn elsewhere Garrick will quitely cast Charm Person on the Squire. DC 15 Will save.

"Now, Sir, we wouldn't bore an important man like yourself with trifling paperwork. After all - the Wizard is a respected defender of this town, and we're sure to bring more trade to this town.." whispering..".. and the taxes that brings.."

[Rod the Worm]

Hasta looks a little nervous at Thorgrin's actions.

"Sir, we don't have an account, therefore there is no account to close and no attendant paperwork."

[Balgin Stondraeg]

The squire spectacularly failing his willpower save tries to explain that, because he still has the money, but the company owns it, it is now in their account but after a few minutes he seems to ease up. Sending a guard off to retrieve the money he kindly explains that he'll be happy to make an exeption in this case since they're new customers but that if they wish to open an account the charge is one tenth part of the money invested, and any further transactions are at a much smaller cost (some one fiftieth of the sum involved, so basicaly 2%).

The guard returns with 2 sacks containing a grand total of 150gp which Squire Marlen kindly counts out to "make sure he's not short changing you" (although it seems more likely that he's ensuring he doesn't accidentaly give away a single coin to many).

The party now has 150gp to split as they please.

[Custom_Hobby]

Amras walks over to Garrick and pats him on the shoulder "ever the voice of reason." He gives him a wink that only garrick and the party could see. "So now shouldn't we be off to find the ranger?"

[Woojitsu]

After counting his share of the coin into his purse, Shen turns.  "Yes, let us be off."  He adds to himself, "A brisk walk in the fresh air might ease my stomach's grumblings."

[PaulH]

Once the party are out of sight & earshot of the Squire & his staff Garrick will give Amras a conspiritorial smile, laughing.. "Who? Me"?   :tip-hat:

[Balgin Stondraeg]

And so the part head out of Thurmaster and set off down the road to Kundar's farm. The  road follows the river Churnett and soon they enter the  Redwood, full of fruit trees and bushes that would bear berries ('though those have been harvested in recent months by housewives and their children from the nearby town of Thurmaster for flans, pies and tarts to see them through the winter months). A light rain begins to fall and as the pitter patter of raindrops dances a light rattle on the canopy of leaves above the steady drip drip drip of raindrops finding their way through to the ground below begins. Despite the rain it's a pleasant morning's walk. Birds can be heard and a few dear appear briefly grazing and then darting away as the party approaches.

Leaving the woods the party stop for lunch and estimate they are nearly halfway to the ranger's farm. As they trudge on through the afternoon people's moods turn once again to the missing girl and there's muttering and general banter to keep their minds off the task ahead.

After an hour or so the rain stops but it is not untill late in the evening when they come upon the farm shortly past a frk in the river where a small brook runs away to the south. The sun is nearly set and the farm seems to be in good order. A tall burly man stands in the yard chopping wood for the evening's fire. This must be Kundar the ranger.

[Custom_Hobby]

Amras gives Garrick a friendly nudge and whispers "Well have at it silver toungue."