Last installment, we established a connection with a trader in Marshedge who can provide the terra cotta that Vahid needs for improvements to the village’s cistern. We also learned that Padrig’s old bandit chief, Brennan, has been hired as the captain of the guard in Marshedge, where he seems to be building a base of power. Padrig and Ozbeg intend to investigate Brennan’s plans while collecting the materials from the trader.
Before they can do that, however, Vahid needs to come up with quite a lot of money. The terra cotta is Value 3, which is more than Stonetop currently has on hand to trade. He’ll have to get creative in coming up with the funds. Stonetop (the game, not the village) uses a more abstract trade and barter system, rather than tracking every coin and price in detail:
Source: Stonetop // Jeremy Strandberg
Value 3 is equal to 1-4 handfuls of gold coins, hence the ‘45 gold bezant’ prince estimate. So, Vahid is looking for something like exotic trade goods or a precious item to trade for the terra cotta. He’s a clever chap, so he probably has an idea.
Montage: Vahid the Merchant
The next morning, Padrig calls upon Vahid at the Public House to let him know the details. Vahid listens, unflustered when Padrig quotes the figure — 50 gold bezants, a sum of money that few in Stonetop have ever seen, let alone held in their hands.
“Is there anything we might give in trade? Stonetop whiskey? Some of the village’s surplus food, perhaps?”
Padrig shakes his head. “There’s not much surplus in springtime. They would be loath to part with it until the autumn harvest comes in. As for the whiskey, only the older brew would fetch that kind of price, and there’s precious little of it in the stores.
Vahid nods. “I feared as much. There is another way, perhaps. I will need to speak to Anwen, and together we will speak to Blodwen.” He departs the Public House, leaving Padrig wondering at his next move.
Vahid collects Anwen from the fields explaining his plan as they go. Anwen — who is already aware of the endeavor Padrig and Vahid have set out on, thanks to gossip among the villagers — listens with excitement.
“When Blodwen reappeared in the root-woven arch, she was clad in a garment1 the likes of which I have never seen before, not even in the Pearl Market in Lygos. Where did it come from? What if it is the work of the Green Lords? Such a thing could fetch a rich price. In Marshedge, we can find a Lygosi trader, even a representative of the Lycaeum itself, who would pay a high price to bring it back to the Despot’s court. Perhaps Blodwen would allow us to take this treasure and use it to help the village? And if she can tell us more of its origin, that will only aid us in our negotiations,” Vahid explains, barely stopping to breathe.
Anwen agrees to add her voice to his when trying to persuade Blodwen, though she has some misgivings about taking something so beautiful away from her friend.2 The pair of them travel to Blodwen’s home, on the western edge of town.
The village ringwall and the fields beyond. CC2.0 // Image Credit: Lairich Rig
Scene 3: On the outskirts of the village
Blodwen meets them outside in the late afternoon at a spot by the village ringwall, not too far from her cottage. She sits on the stacked stone wall and looks quietly out into the fields while Vahid energetically delivers his pitch.
When Blodwen doesn’t reply right away, Anwen puts a hand on her shoulder. “It was a beautiful thing to have, I know. It must be precious to you. But Vahid’s scheme could help a lot of folk; take some of the burdens off their shoulders. I think the village would remember your sacrifice well.”
Blodwen listens to her silently, her bright green Forest Eyes holding Anwen’s gaze. And silently, she rises and returns to her home. She returns with a rough-hewn wooden box, and hands it to Vahid, with a sad smile. Vahid opens it, and the strange, diaphanous silver-grey garment is within. In the afternoon sun, it glitters like metal, but when Vahid brushes his fingers against it, it is as soft as silk.
“Thank you. Both of you. I’m glad to give it over if it can help the village. It was strange to keep it, but I didn’t know what else to do with it. Nothing seemed right.” she says.
“Can you tell us anything about what happened while you were… elsewhere? Where did the garment come from? Any detail might help us.”
Blodwen looks away, back to the fields, and is quiet again. Stonetop folk in the pastures are beginning to come in from their labors, driving small herds of goats and sheep back towards their pens. “No,” she says finally. “Cerys has forbidden it, and she is wise in Danu’s ways. I do not wish to offend the Goddess who doles out plenty and want to my family. If you wish to know what I saw, she must give her blessing.”
Before Vahid can press her, Anwen steps in. “Thank you for the gift you’ve given us and the village. We won’t squander it, I promise.”
As they return to the Public House, treasure in hand, Anwen chides Vahid. “We trust in the Gods and their priests here in Stonetop, Vahid. You have to remember that!”
Vahid frowns. “Thank you for your counsel, Anwen. But Blodwen had other reasons for not wishing to speak of what happened. I watched her carefully, both now, and when Cerys proclaimed Danu’s will the night we returned from the Wood. She may trust in the Gods, but whatever happened in the ruin causes her great pain to recall. I hope she can bear it alone until we can persuade her to share her burden.”
Let’s break down what’s happening here from a rules standpoint. Vahid is trying to trigger the Persuade move, this time targeting an NPC. Here’s the relevant rules text:
Source: Jeremy Strandberg // Stonetop
Here’s the thing: Blodwen doesn’t want to keep the garment, and therefore doesn’t have a reason to resist. So, in this case, no roll. Anwen would’ve given him advantage with her Aid, but he doesn’t get a chance to use it.
Next, Vahid will attempt to Persuade her to tell them more about what happened. This time, Anwen does not aid him, since she knows that Cerys forbid further consorting with the works of the Green Lords. He scores a 7, so Blodwen tells him a way they can convince her — by convincing Cerys, which she knows will probably not happen anytime soon.
Vahid then uses Seek Insight, studying Blodwen’s behavior and reactions for some clue as to her state of mind. He scores a 9, and asks the question “What here is not what it seems?” He learns that Blodwen is hiding some pain and sadness related to her experience in the ruins, and that is the true reason she parted with the Green Lords’ garment so readily. Vahid wants to help her, of course, but he also very much wants to satisfy his curiosity and learn what magic she was witness to.
Scene 4: The Western Watchtower, 3 weeks later.
It’s dawn. The earthen path that leads the way to the old Maker’s Road from Stonetop is muddy from last night’s rainstorm. Padrig, Vahid, and Ozbeg are here, each one checking their gear and supplies for the road ahead and loading their packs into a wooden cart. Sweetfoot, one of the village horses, waits placidly by the side of the road, grazing on green spring grass3. Aled and Donal, the two Companions who hail from Marshedge, are here as well, seeing the party off.
“Keep your wits about you in the Edgemarket and Dropoff. Pickpockets and cutpurses will be looking for travelers with heavy purses. They’re like to stay away from you and Oz if you’re wearing iron on your belt, but they’ll mark the reader from a mile off,” Aled says, glancing at Vahid. He chuckles when he sees Vahid place the Azure Hand, wrapped in its leather case, into the cart. “Ay, Reader! The town is a tinderbox, so have a care where you wave your wizard’s staff! Marshedge may be a shitpile, but a burning shitpile’s no improvement.”
Vahid deadpans back: “If they do not meddle in my affairs, they have nothing to fear from my flames.” Aled shoots a concerned look at Padrig, who shakes his head reassuringly before taking Aled aside.
“Anything you need seeing to whilst we’re in Marshedge?” he asks Aled, in a quiet voice. For a moment, Aled’s scarred and broken face softens a bit.
“The word when we split up was that young Brogan died during our flight from the Delve. If you can, talk to the crew and see if anyone was there when it happened. I want to know for sure if he’s gone.”
Ozbeg, eavesdropping from the side of the cart, pipes up: “What do you care about Brogan? The boy could barely find his kit with both hands and a lantern.”
Aled bites back, “Maybe he owes me a few shaved coppers, Oz. Or maybe it’s none of your fuckin’ concern. I was talking to the chief.”
Padrig waves Ozbeg off before he can continue the skirmish. “It was a mad few nights, but I’ll ask around and see who knows something, once it’s safe to make contact with the crew. Look after the rest of the crew while we’re gone, eh? Yourself included. Keep your iron at your belt, and not in your hand.”
Aled nods in thanks and agreement and shoots another glare at Ozbeg. “Off with you, ya oily bastard. Don’t stumble into any Hillfolk arrows on your way to Marshedge!”
Before they leave, Donal has a quiet word with Ozbeg — he tells him about his mother who still lives in Marshedge, and presses a pouch of silvers into Ozbeg’s hand to give to her. Then they yoke the wagon to Sweetfoot and coax her forward until she begins to walk sleepily down the path.
They’ve gone only a mile from the village when they hear Shadow’s bark behind them. Padrig looks over his shoulder and sees the hound running ahead of Anwen, who is carrying a laden travel pack. When Padrig pauses briefly, Sweetfoot promptly halts and waits patiently to be released while Anwen catches up to the party.
“Where away, Anwen?” Padrig asks.
She scoffs. “I’m going with you! How could you think I wouldn’t?”
Padrig shakes his head dismissively. “The journey is dangerous, and so is our destination. Marshedge isn’t like Stonetop — there are cutpurses, bandits, and worse. The waters of Ferrier’s Fen are deep, and things lurk in them.”
At the mention of the Fen and its monstrosities, Anwen pales a bit. But she won’t be deterred. “When we came back from the Wood, you said I fought well. You said you might not have made it back without me. So fine, it’s dangerous. That’s why I’m coming!”
Padrig draws himself up and puts some commander’s iron in his voice. “No. There’s Companions’ business to be done in Marshedge as well, that Ozbeg and I need to see to alone.”
“What business?” she asks. Vahid, listening from the other side of the cart, now watches Padrig very closely.
“None of yours,” Padrig says.
Anwen’s face twists up with anger. “Am I one of you or not?”
“It’s not a settled matter yet. We can’t take just anyone on, and folk need you here in Stonetop,” Padrig says.
“Well, if I’m not one of you, then you can’t give me an order, chief. And if I am, then I deserve to know what the rest of you already seem to know.”
This elicits a bark of laughter from Vahid. Padrig shoots a glare at him, and he holds his hands up innocently. “Forgive me. We’ve been reading al-Khatun’s Rhetoric and Debate. She’s a quick study!” he says.
Anwen presses the attack. “My mother’s in Marshedge, Padrig. I haven’t seen her for five years after she left to go looking for my father. I need to see her, to ask her what I should do about Cerys, and Owain, and my initiation. Please.” Padrig sets his jaw and doesn’t reply.
Vahid breaks the silence. “Remember Salonius.”
Padrig grimaces. “Aye. Maybe I’ll drink some poison, like him. Load your things, girl. Best not slow us down.”
Anwen obeys, quickly and silently before Padrig can change his mind, and Sweetfoot resumes her stately pace down the path.
Scene Notes & Housekeeping
This scene went on a bit longer than I initially intended, but it has a few narrative and mechanical purposes:
Aled and Donal each provided an opportunity for Padrig to pay the Companions’ loyalty cost, which is “Risks taken by you, on their behalf.” (more detail about that in Padrig’s Session Zero). Padrig can increase his crew’s loyalty by learning more about Brogan for Aled and giving Donal’s coin to his mother in Marshedge. We also want to avoid the Marshal’s crew just becoming faceless NPCs that give Padrig +6 damage when they attack together, so giving them some needs and wants helps with that.
We established that Anwen is joining the Expedition — obviously we don’t want to split the party for a full journey to Marshedge and back, but it wasn’t necessarily natural that Padrig would just bring her along, so we give the characters a moment to work through it.
We established that the party is leaving in good order, with a horse and cart to carry the materials, and fully supplied. That said, they have to take good care of the horse and cart, because Stonetop doesn’t have replacements.
Session 3 will be the journey to Marshedge along the old Maker’s Roads, which are strange and magical (of course). Prior to kicking off the session, we’ll do one installment where we do end-of-session questions, award XP, and all that jazz. I’m also thinking we’ll do a reader poll to choose what kind of threats might loom on the road to Marshedge. Thanks for reading!
Vahid rolls Persuade on Anwen, and scores a 7. Anwen agrees to go along with Vahid’s plan despite some minor misgivings and is rewarded with an XP, just like Padrig was in Session 2.1. Vahid’s just handing out the XP with the Persuade move!
Padrig activates a move called Requisition to acquire the cart and horse, which are part of Stonetop’s inventory as a village. Because he’s a Marshal, Padrig has Advantage on the Requisition roll, and Stonetop’s Fortunes (a stat representing luck and morale) is at a +2, so he easily gets a 10+.
Here: “Remember Salonius.” and here: "“Risks taken by you, on their behalf.” (more detail about that in Padrig’s Session Zero)" I could have used a hyperlink. I remembered Salonious - I think I even commented on him - but I would have liked to reread that bit.
As always perfect lunchtime reading
Here: “Remember Salonius.” and here: "“Risks taken by you, on their behalf.” (more detail about that in Padrig’s Session Zero)" I could have used a hyperlink. I remembered Salonious - I think I even commented on him - but I would have liked to reread that bit.