LATHAN'S GOLD

Introduction

"I have a proposition for you, my friend," the young master of House Torenescu said to Ralnor Moondance, leaning forward over the dining table.

Ralnor set down his table ware and put his elbows on the same table.  He had hoped the evening would take a turn toward business opportunities.

"The southern seas are opening up, and I am looking for ambitious sea captains willing to seek whatever riches are to be had."

"What has made this possible?" the elven adventurer asked.

Sander Torenescu laughed in reply.

"Longships!" he exclaimed.  "The rough lads in the far north seem to have come up with a sailing vessel that can withstand the vagaries of deep sea travel.  The northmen, of all people!"

He leaned back after taking a deep draught of wine.

"Unfortunately, the northmen have used this great invention to conduct raids on more civilized lands...  in recent years they've hit the coasts of the Heldann Freeholds.  But they've also sailed all the way down the River Streel into the southern ocean.  They've actually been trading in our lands, not raiding.  I assume you've seen these boats."

"Aye, I have," Ralnor answered. "In fact, it was on a longship that my uncle and I made our way from Darokin to Specularum.  I did not realize these ships were so versatile.  But back to your original point, though, I am no sailor. "

"Indeed they are versatile, Ralnor," he said suddenly grinning.  "And so are you.  With your talents you could serve over a friendly ship captain and learn the trade faster than you think.  I have every confidence that we can make a lot of money together!"

"And as it turns out, I have recently taken one of the northmen's shipbuilders into my employ!"

Sander called out to his attendant.

"Vlado, ask our guest to join us here for supper."

Within moments, the summoned shipbuilder appeared.

"Ralnor Moondance, allow me to introduce my newest associate, Katanya Molliver."

A lithe, dark-haired woman passed through the door and joined them at the table.

"We three have much to discuss this evening, so I suggest we refresh our flagons and get down to brass tacks."

            *          *          *          *          *          *          *          *          *          *

A new kind of longship built for very long voyages.  That's what Katanya Molliver had delivered to him.

And the very first ship he had christened "Lathan's Gold," in honor of __________.

Molliver hereself was effectively banished (although she won't admit it) from the north due to politics.  As a former slave captured as a child outside Blauendorf in the Freeholds, she was not considered worthy to be a builder by the northmen, despite her obvious talent for it.  She had disobeyed and fled before she could be executed.

Luck had brought her to Aleksander Torenescu as he sailed east.  He'd caught her trying to steal from his ships in a port in Ylaruam.  She had expected to be killed.  Instead, he'd offered her a job.

Aleksander Torenescu had long had ambitions of sending an expedition in search of the Isle of Dread.  If he could find the rumored island, he believes it could have significant natural resources and could also serve as a forward base for his trading intterests.  Few have shared his dream.

And now luck had brought a skilled and ambitious elf into his orbit who did not owe some level of fealty to Duke Steffan.  Ralnor was not yet a sailor, but that could easily come with time.

Now Molliver could build his ships, and Ralnor could help him see it through.

 

 

Adventure Log

 

so instead of this, I am going to use this instead:

To help you on your quest, the old man who serves as Torenescu's Chief Quartermaster has given you his talking parrot and a leather-bound book. He assures you that Paco and the ship’s log will help guide you on your journey.

You start your adventure in one of 11 possible locations inside the city of Specularum.  Roll 2d6 to determine which “S” entry you read first.

(For dice rolling, I am just using a game table on roll 20 so I don't have to pull out my dice) I am not going to record the roll results- the results are self explanatory...

go to S11

 

This wasn't necessary given the setup I am actually using.  Really the whole financing thing is irrelevant, but I wanted to understand how this works and wanted to follow the flow of entries and not screw things up right away.  The deal is, find the isle of dread, and Aleksander Torenescu gets 1/3 of all treasure recovered.

go to S18

 

 

go to C1

 

 

go to T6   (sail toward Ierendi) (2 days)

 

Medusa(3)

Ralnor goes it alone on shore exploration, this is a decision where I want to maximize xp and gold, because I do not know what to expect. Plus, given my none pregenerated NPC stats, well crew members will just get in the way! Its been 35 years or so...

these can't seem to hurt him, so he will eventually win.

5700gp, no bonus rations

good grief, how did medusas get so close to this civilized village?!?

 

(south) (1 day)

(south) (1 day)

(south) (1 day)

(south) (1 day)

(south) (1 day)

(south) (1 day)

(south) (1 day)

(south) (1 day)

(south) (1 day)

(south) (1 day)

(south) (1 day)

13 days to get to thanegioth archipelago

5 flame salamanders

Ralnor fights alone

the flame salamanders can't damage him, he eventually wins

4750 gp

+5xmembers rations

 

(west) (1 day)

flying hydra

a long and brutal fight, but it can't damage ralnor

+400 rations, 2000gp

+5xmembers rations

 

(west) (1 day)

Giant Draco Lizards (6) They can't damage him, he defeats them eventually

1800gp, +300 rations

nothing left to do around here, so sail home, maybe explore 1 or more of the islands on the way back?; go back north

 

(north) (1 day)

(north) (1 day) day 17

(north) (1 day) day 18

Pit Vipers (4)

Same situation, Ralnor wins

+25 rations

+ 2xmembers rations

 

(north) (1 day)

(north) (1 day)

(north) (1 day)

(north) (1 day) day 22

(east) (1 day)

lol no encounter

 

(north) (1 day)

(north) (1 day) day 25

(north) (1 day)

(north) (1 day)

(east) (1 day)

sail east toward Specularum (2 days)  day 31

enter Specularum (2 days) 33 days total

well that was closer than it should have been!

 

 

Summary

 

Monsters XP

 

3 medusas (4* HD)                            375xp

5 flame salamanders (8 HD)        3,250xp

flying hydra (7* HD)                         850xp

6 giant draco lizards (4 HD)            450xp

4 pit vipers (2 HD)                               80xp

                                                            5,005xp

 

Treasure XP

 

14,250gp x .67                                 9,547xp

 

Subtotal                                            14,552xp

Bonus XP                                            1,445xp

 

TOTAL XP                                          16,007 XP

 

So that just pips 5th level, so paying a financing commission almost cost him a level gain.  There is no way Ralnor could have defeated the tought monsters 1v3 or 1v5, but that is the weird combat matrix.  A lot of gold was gained, but no magic items.  I wonder if I could spend some gold to make items? you could do it in the old boxed set, could you do it in the new one?  You would have to be able to.

 

However, its all good.

 

Time to decide which module should come next.  I get the sense levelling won't go very fast any more...

 

Conclusion

 

This was pretty fun.  It went quicker than I thought it would.