Back to Basics Chapter 1: Where are we ?

[kintire]

Alia bows from the waist, palms together

Your hospitality has been as munificent as your wisdom is great. May peace and contentment be your constant companions!

She retires to a contented sleep.

[Roofdrak]

"What is the deal with the nets Isidar? Do you thing they are worthy a lot since are silver? I can look at them as well if you want and see if I can estimate the price. I have see an lot of precious items and minerals back home and I may appraise them correctly."

"Dalorna and I were going to look at them back at the hut. I am not sure if they are silver. Dalorna is the only one who has gotten a good look at them," Isidar explains to Sara in whispering tones so that only Dalorna and Sara can hear. "We do not want to speak openly about the nets until we have a plan for them. It was odd how when Dalorna spoke of them to me in Halruuan, before I could answer, Ping started to ask about them. Now, maybe he speaks Halruuan and simply couldn't help but overhear Dalorna. But, it is suspicious."

When they arrive at their designated huts Isidar walks into the nearest one with Dalorna and Sara. "Does anyone have a torch that we could light?"

[VAN]

"Is Halruuan a language many people speak at your land Isidar? Because I have never heard it here before. Maybe this proves that Ping comes from your land as well."

Getting in the hut Sara looks around and when finds a torch lights it.

"Much better now. May I look the nets now Isidar?"

[VAN]

When Sara gets the nets she examines them closely with experienced eye by the torch light.

"Well, I say that these nets are worth 320 GP per net because of there being masterwork. I think we can sell them to Ping for that price or elsewhere if he doesn't agree."

Sara hands the nets to Dalorna for durther examination.

[Roofdrak]

"Yes, they look like very fine, stainless steel and will fetch an excellent price. I do not feel obliged to Ping to sell the nets to him without proper forethought. I would be quite surprised if he could afford to purchase them all," Isidar muses.

"As for Halruuan, that is the language spoken in the Halruaa Kingdom, which is where Dalorna and I met. It is a pretty rare language, only spoken in that particular kingdom. Dalorna and I speak it only because we lived there. Ping did say that he had never been anywhere near where we are from and he does not look Halruuan, which makes me more suspicious. This Ping seems to be a calass, but he is aware of our suspicions and only gives simple answers that seem sufficient if one does not think on them deeply. He does not know enough of this cave, which might have a portal through space and is only 5 or 6 hours walk away. It is strange that he has not investigated it. His excuse that he is happy here, ruling this village is not solid. If he is concerned about protecting this village, as he says he is, he should make sure this cave would not allow invaders to pass through it. And he mentioned those priests who hate magic users in the North. Was he telling the truth or trying to discourage us from traveling there? There is much to think about."

[ewancummins]

Finished looking over the net, Dalorna sets it down on the floor of the hut.

''Yes, there is much to think about- Isidar is correct. Now, then, I'm going to get some sleep. I'll stay in here with the nets. Anyone else who likes is welcome to sleep in here, too. "

[Roofdrak]

"I agree, samman. It is time for rest. We can rise soon after the sun rises and discuss this all further." She claps Sara on the shoulder, "It was good that we have met, despite the strange circumstances."

Isidar removes her armor and lays it next to the cot or whatever has been provided for sleep. She lays down with her warhammer in her hand. "Good night."

[VAN]

"Yes I noticed that his answers weren't very good and for sure haven't covered all our questions."

Smiling at Isidar says:

"Well I'm glad I met both of you as well. I cannot even imagine how I would be alone here in this forgotten village."
Sara looks around to see if there is any bed or anything that she can use as matress and pillow.

" I will sleep here as well, seems to be plenty space for all of us. "

Then get her armour off and sleeps.

[ewancummins]

In the morning, Dalorna gets up, cleans up, studies her spells,etc. She asks Arnulf to check on the party's animals, count the nets, etc.

[Lord Skybolt]

Arnulf the ever dutiful brother does as Dalorna says . He informs Dalorna that all 15 Nets are still there . And the animals have all been feed and cared for by himself especially the one that Alia has been using for some reason .

[ewancummins]

Dalorna will eat breakfast with her friends, if they are hungry, but only after she memorizes her spells for the day.

[BigBadQDaddy]

After preparing spells for the day, the Professor meets with the others, performs his morning prayers, eats a modest breakfast and then prepares to depart with the group.
He for one could not get away from this strange assemblage of fishing folk and their strange benefactor, Mr. Ping, soon enough.
His mind raced as to the peculiarity of his condition. He hadn't felt as well as he did on this morning since he had been quite a bit younger. Something had changed when he was brought to this place. Though he wanted to be away from this village and it's uncertainties, he could not help but dread the possibility that whatever effect that had lifted his pain from his body would return when he left.

[kintire]

Alia rises early, seeming quite unaffected by the merrymaking of the night before. She fetches breakfast for anyone who doesn't get to it first, serve any morning drinks anyone needs, and collect the cleaning afterwards. After washing up, she will check to see what the others are doing

[ewancummins]

Dalorna thanks Alia for bringing her breakfast, and thanks Arnulf for counting the nets and tending to the mules.

Once her other freinds have gathered together, she tells them-

''So, I've been thinking about the nets. I say that we hear Ping's offer. If it seems fair, we sell to him If not, we take them with us. I prefer gemstones, trade bars, gold coins, or lightweight trade goods as payment. Hmmm...and he is a wizard, and claims to be a powerful one, at that. Maybe he has some minor magics he can trade us? Scrolls? Potions? If we really do find a way home in that mine- and there's no strong reason to expect that to be honest- we won't be coming back for these nets. I'm not greedy, and returning those kids home was the best reward I think we could have had for our fight against the monkey-men, short of getting home ourselves. Still, we fought hard, and those nets are potentially worth a pretty good load of money. We should sell them, here or someplace else, and split the payment evenly among our whole party. What do you guys think?"

[Roofdrak]

Isidar rises, checks her armor to see that it is not needing any polishing (which it doesn't). She puts it on and finds a quiet spot outside to kneel down. Bending her head, she folds her hands together and whispers some prayers to Gond. Once done, she gets up and returns to the hut to find the breakfast that Alia brought waiting for her. "Thank you, Alia."

''I say that we hear Ping's offer. . . What do you guys think?"

"I agree. We should see what he offers as barter. A couple nets may be useful, but we do not need 15. Their total worth is around 4800 GP. I wonder how Ping will match that. I agree that we can accept some scrolls and potions as part of the payment. But, we should be sure that we know what they can do." Looking at the entire group Isidar says, "Again I want to point out that there seems to be more to this portal in the cave than what Ping is letting on. I imagine that we will come up against some obstacles for sure. Shall we pay this man from the village to take us to the cave today? We can use some of our profit from the nets to pay for his service."