/tulpa/ - Tulpa

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 >>/6763/
> Trade me a bite of your snake for a leek then!
Being ignored, Alice tries to snatch a bit of snake from Cat's plate with her fork

 >>/6772/
> Ashley rolls her eyes at Alice, "It's not like you're going to be able to copy that Brandy by using alchemy
Me?
Nope, not in that puny form I am now, that is correct. But once I outgrow this ridiculous alchemy skill, my Trees eventually will. A trivial and mundane task for this pinnacle of technology. They can perfectly copy, assemble or repair any material object. Be it brandy or an entire human. They will then provide the only way to heal and repair my body when neither medicine nor healing magic or potions will have an effect on me. That's the pice of supremacy.

You on the other hand...
Alice gesticulates toward Ashley with her fork
...are another matter. I wonder what would happen if I'd have to heal you with my Assembly skill in an emergency. Would we get a Panthshley? Or an Ashther? Magical shapeshifters are such a pain. I tried repairing magical entities before and it went terribly, terribly wrong...

But none of that matters anytime soon so don't worry and enjoy your snake!

> The taste is said to be incomparable to any other liquor.
Alice sips on her brandy again
I can't say I am an expert on this matter but it tastes good and has a rich chemical composition. I'd have to sample this brandy again once I reach an advanced form.

Alice turns her attention to her dish and shakes her head while skewering a leek with her fork
I reeealy need to work on reaching an advanced form as soon as possible. I feel like an retard like this...
I said I wanted fish and mixed up leeks with lampreys. Ahh whatever, not that it matters. I'll go look for scraps under the tables afterwards as usual...

> meals come together with checks written on wood framed chalk boards
I can eat up first can I?

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 >>/6772/
I'm glad you are having fun but I am beat after that march. I will go to sleep soon.

Yulya addresses the waitress
We would like a room for the night as well. What about you Ashley?

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 >>/6782/
> We would like a room for the night as well. What about you Ashley?

"I don't care anymore, just so long as Alice isn't doing weird things while I sleep. Anything's better than a cold tent near dead goblins."

The meal costs Ashley 2 silver 5 copper. The rest of the bill is as listed, pay appropriately. The lodgings is 5sp per room per night.

Tharden, Nundro and Sildar say their goodnights.

Sildar says before you go, "Be careful, we'll either meet you back here with Gundren or at the mine when we're done and rested. Leave us a, note with Toblen if you're not going to make it back or send a letter in care of Toblen. Good luck out there."

When you're ready, Evangela shows you to a small room with a window to the North.

Let me know your plans for tomorrow. Don't worry about being overloaded in town, you also can presume you have everything when bartering.

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 >>/6772/
> Alice tries to snatch a bit of snake from Cat's plate with her fork
Cat easily parries the attempt with her own fork
Nyahaha you're up against a Great Weapon Master Nya!
Here, you can have a bit of snake Nya but stay out of my plate Nya!
Cat gives Alice a small but of snake out of pity

Cat pays 24cp for food and drink
Thank you Nya that was a great meal Nya!
Oh Nya may I please borrow your kitchen tonight or tomorrow morning Nya when its not busy Nya I need to prepare rations for our trip Nya we will pay for everything and clean of course Nya!
Cat looks as cute as a Barbarian can be

> Tharden, Nundro and Sildar say their goodnights.
Good Night Nya and take care Nya!

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 >>/6787/
> Cat gives Alice a small bit of snake out of pity
Ahh thanks Cat, I really should have ordered that! At least the cherry brandy was great!

Alice downs her brandy and pours 305 cp from her coin purse on the table
Sorry 'bout that maa'm, gotta get rid of my small change!

 >>/6787/
> Oh Nya may I please borrow your kitchen tonight or tomorrow morning Nya when its not busy Nya I need to prepare rations for our trip Nya we will pay for everything and clean of course Nya!
Alice raises her hand
You can count on me if you want your kitchen cleaned!

 >>/6785/
> "I don't care anymore, just so long as Alice isn't doing weird things while I sleep."
Well excuse me for existing!
It's bath and laundry night, you can just drop anything you want cleaned under the bed but you're safe otherwise. It's not our tent, I don't care if you spread dirt here.

Now what do we do with this rock? You're just gonna leave it on the table? Or am I supposed to eat it?
As everyone is leaving, Alice dives under the table to look for anything edible and discretely hides the rock down there before following the others to the room

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 >>/6785/
Yulya pays 13 cp for her food and 5 sp for the room
Thank you and goodnight!

In the room Yulya undresses and stuffs her dirty clothes under the bed to Alice
Lets enjoy the comfort of a room and bed we will be out on the road long enough!

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 >>/6787/
> Cat pays 24cp for food and drink
> Nya may I please borrow your kitchen tonight or tomorrow morning Nya when its not busy Nya I need to prepare rations for our trip Nya we will pay for everything and clean of course Nya!

 >>/6790/
> You can count on me if you want your kitchen cleaned!

Toblen agrees once his chef has left for the day Starting [22:00] I'll allow 4 rations to be made per hour. 

[He's willing to sell 2sp per lb worth of either rabbit or snake meat up to 10lbs or any items from the menu such as acorns, pine nuts, eggs, mushrooms, up to 15lbs, the spices aren't for sale but he is willing to let you have salt. If you come up with nice sounding recipes I'll allow them to be designated 'fine' and you will get a mood boost from them.]

> As everyone is leaving, Alice dives under the table to look for anything edible and discretely hides the rock down there before following the others to the room

There is nothing edible. Alice leaves the rock behind.
> Alice downs her brandy and pours 305 cp from her coin purse on the table

 >>/6796/
> Yulya pays 13 cp for her food and 5 sp for the room

Ashley pays her 2sp and 5cp. "We'll hunt later."

The room is simple and there's a space by the window Ashley grabs a blanket from the dresser, and a towel, washes her face in the basin in the room and then finds a spot near the fireplace on a fur skin rug to curl up and sleeps.

Cat and Yulya can cram onto the single bed.

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 >>/6799/
> Cat and Yulya can cram onto the single bed.
Cat stuffs Alice under the bed but remains dressed for now and lays down next to Yulya
Nya let's have a short rest and get up at 22h to cook Nya! Help me clean Nya and you'll get some scraps Alice Nya!

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 >>/6800/
> Cat stuffs Alice under the bed
Hey hey watch it you brute! I can go under the bed myself!

> Help me clean Nya and you'll get some scraps Alice Nya!
Anytime!
Just wake me up when you're going
Alice lurks under the bed among piles of dirty clothes

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 >>/6801/
> 22h
Cat paws under the bed and pulls Alice out
Let's get to work Nya!
Cat goes to the kitchen and starts preparing rations with Alice

 >>/6799/
> He's willing to sell 2sp per lb worth of either rabbit or snake meat up to 10lbs or any items from the menu such as acorns, pine nuts, eggs, mushrooms, up to 15lbs, the spices aren't for sale but he is willing to let you have salt. If you come up with nice sounding recipes I'll allow them to be designated 'fine' and you will get a mood boost from them.
Nya Ashley wasn't too fond of snake Nya so let's take Rabbit Nya!

Cat simmers 6 lbs of finely chopped and salted rabbit meat in a pot until it becomes soft
Alice Nya you still have those candy-coated herbs Nya? Toss a few in the boiling water Nya!

While the meat is cooking, Cat roasts 2 lbs of acorns in a dry pan, adds 1 serving of spices from her belt pouch and grinds the mixture in a mortar after it is done.
In the same pan she briefly roasts 1 lb of pine nuts which remain whole''

In a frying pan Cat fries 8 lbs of vegetables and 4 lbs of mushroooms, adds another serving of her spices and mixes in the fried pine nuts in the end

Lastly the simmered rabbit meat is mixed with the ground spicy acorns

Cat whispers to Alice
Nyaa we can also combine the veggies with our special meat Nya! Or whatever Ashley Nya hunts Nya!

The end result is 6 lbs sweet-spicy rabbit meat and 12 lbs of fried mushrooms with vegetables and pine nuts. That's 6 meat rations for Ashley and 12 vegetable rations for all of us that can be combined with meat we have and find. Makes 18 rations. If Alice helps and they can make 4 + 50% = 6 rations per hour it should take 3h or until 1am.

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 >>/6814/
> Cat paws under the bed and pulls Alice out
''Ow not again, can't you just call me?

> Alice Nya you still have those candy-coated herbs Nya? Toss a few in the boiling water Nya!
Sure thing!
Hmm, I never ate those even though Ashley gave them to me...

Alice eats one candy coated herb and throws 4 into the pot
Just tell me what else I need to do!

After finishing, Alice neatly cleans up all dishes and surfaces
We should charge money for this, the kitchen has never been this clean before!

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 >>/6799/

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 >>/6800/
 >>/6801/
[22:00]
 >>/6814/
The chef is just leaving and Toblen gives you the okay to use the stove but not to use the equipment. With Alice helping you can make 6 rations per hour.

You buy 6 lbs of rabbit meat for 120cp
You buy 2 lbs of acorns for 4cp, what a deal!
You buy 1 lb of pine nuts for 1sp, cheap!
You buy 8 lbs of various vegetables for 160cp
[01:00]

You two work feverishly and are done with tasty meals that will help offset any traveling mood losses.

[1d20=18 and various rolls] All goes very well and you're all set.

Ashley sleeps well knowing she more than pulled her share to afford the 13cp she'd pay for the room as her share and doesn't mention it. She also knows Cat will share rations with her because she also sometimes hunts and doesn't claim the meat and usually just eats the offal and bones in panther form.

Morning comes and you wake to a frosty window overlooking the town.

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 >>/6822/
[06:00, Spring 14th, -3.3C It is snowing!]

"Yay!" Ashley cheers. "Let's make snow devils! And Snow Goblins to throw snow balls at."

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 >>/6822/
> You two work feverishly and are done with tasty meals that will help offset any traveling mood losses.
Tired, Alice returns under the bed but work is not over. She turns into a blob and begins cleaning Yulya's and Cat's clothes. Then slimy tendrils emerge from under the bed and engulf the two sleeping on the bed as well''

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 >>/6823/
> -3.3C It is snowing
> Let's...
Slime noises of disapproval can be heard from under the bed as Alice refuses to get out

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 >>/6823/
Yulya gets up next
Good morning!

 >>/6823/
> "Yay!" Ashley cheers. "Let's make snow devils! And Snow Goblins to throw snow balls at."
Let Alice and Cat rest a bit longer, they've been working hard last night!

Yulya gets dressed and goes to take a look outside with Ashley

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Cat wakes up a while later, all fresh and clean, and finds Yulya and Ashley gone
Nyaah where is everyone?

After finding an unresponsive sleeping Alice puddle under the bed, Cat grabs her clothes, gets dressed and goes down to the inn to look for breakfast

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Children outside are playing joyfully with this white powdery substance that none had ever seen in their life as their parents scratch their heads as to what the heck is going on.

"It's never snowed this far south, never in all my life, not the least of which in Spring?"

"Say goodbye to any chance the crops  will survive this."

"They were dead anyway with all the frost."

https://youtube.com/watch?v=ZxTKkE07zA0

4 inches of fresh powder coated the ground in a blanket of purity, making everything look angelic. The crunch under your feet made a sound like that large dragon did when he crunched into that ox back at the rest stop, reminding you with every step of the situation at hand and the futility of it all.

Ashley plays joyfully along with the other children, summoning Mr. and Mrs. Bigglesworth who bounded from snow drift to snow drift in apparent glee.

You can hear Hobby talking with a distinguished, rather girthy, gentleman, arguing in fact, about the goblin situation and disposition of carts that will now be coming on a more regular basis and who should act as the receiver of the carts in the future.

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Considerably later, hunger and the cold from the missing clothes wakes Alice and she emerges from under the bed, slowly morphing into human form. Alice looks out of the window with discontent
Damneeed, why is it so cold! And now even snow! It's that goddamn Ice dragon! Cant't it go where it's already icy?

Alice dons her cloak and goes to search Cat to have breakfast

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 >>/6833/
Yulyas fun time in the snow throwing snowballs for the Bigglesworths to catch is soon overshadowed by noticing Hobby arguing with a man Yulye thinks might probably be Harbin.
Hey psst Ashley!
Whats going on over there? Is that this Harbin? I dont want to get into any trade dispute but we should listen whats going on here. We need to do business with Hobby and store our belongings at his place! If only Cat was here with her fine ears!

Yulya tries to assess the situation and listen in but has no intention to interfere

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 >>/6835/
Cat meets Alice at the Inn
Good morning Alice Nya! You all rested Nyow? Those two should have time to play outside Nya let's get them to have breakfast Nya! Having meals together is important Nya!

Cat swiftly picks up Alice and goes to look for Yulya and Ashley

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 >>/6840/
> Whats going on over there? Is that this Harbin? I dont want to get into any trade dispute but we should listen whats going on here. We need to do business with Hobby and store our belongings at his place! If only Cat was here with her fine ears!

Based on the conversation, Yulya could indeed tell it was Harbin with Hobby.

 >>/6843/
 >>/6835/

Cat comes out of the Inn, carrying a very poorly formed Alice and Finds Yulya inching her way closer to two very disproportionate men arguing, Cat recognizes one of them as Hobby, dwarfed by the other. She hears them discussing trade and who should lead the town as a trade hub. The larger man argues that he has more capital, storage, and willingness to take anything they have to offer and Harbin argues he's in a closer position to the road to be able to quickly get them handled and he would be willing to send them his way after the general supplies are handled.

Ashley can be found in the large field in front of the Inn, the Town Green, which is more of a Town White at the moment, helping kids push balls of snow together to make oddly shaped snowmen.

Others out and about are all fretting over the snow and what that meant for spring, and what it could possibly mean in general.

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 >>/6850/
Nyaa good morning Nya so much snow Nya! 

Cat listens to the conversation between Hobby and Harbin
Yulya Nya we should butt in there Nya if we tell them we defeated the goblins Nya we might get something out of it Nya and we can sell to whowver pays most Nya!

But Nya we gotta do something about this too Nya...
Cat holds up a nearly lifeless Alice by her neck with one paw and tries to keep the mask on her face. It continues to fall off into the snow

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 >>/6852/
> Cat holds up a nearly lifeless Alice by her neck with one paw and tries to keep the mask on her face. It continues to fall off into the snow
Alice is not amused but to weak to seriously protest
I'm glad you're having fun and all but please bring me back inside and give me breakfast! Or I'll turn into a snowman too...

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Yulya is glad Cat has showed up as reinforcement but also concerned about Alices state
Good morning you two! Uhm more or less I guess?
Please dont hold Alice like that Cat! Bring her back inside so she can warm up and then let us quickly look what these two gentlemen have to say! I also would like to eat something warm.

After Cat has carried Alice back inside they approach Hobby and Harbin. Yulya looks for Ashley to help but is shoved forward by Cat. She manages to cast Guidance on herself like always it such terrible social situations before meeting the two traders
Uhm Good Morning gentlemen I apologize for intruding but seeing you here we are in need for your services!
Sir Hobnail we have already met when we arrived! Sir Harbin I presume? We are adventurers from Neverwinter in the service of Sir Gundren Rockseeker! You may have heard we cleared out the goblin den that was endangering the trade route to Phandalin yesterday! Shipments should arrive more safely and regularly now! I am sure there will be plenty of business opportunities for both of you so I suggest you work together for the prosperity of this town! I am not a merchant but I would think that splitting the business would be more beneficial than competing against each other.

Yulya tries to mediate between the two like a proper Peace Cleric though she hates disputes and dealing with bickering people. Or people in general for that matter

But this is not why I am bothering you! To keep it short we need to return to Neverwinter today and we both want to sell a few of our goods we cannot take along to Sir Harbin and we also require a safe storage place for other things we would like to leave here at Sir Hobnails place until our return in about a week.

Yulya still looks over to Ashley should negotiations be necessary

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[07:00 lightly snowing]

 >>/6860/
> To keep it short we need to return to Neverwinter today and we both want to sell a few of our goods we cannot take along to Sir Harbin and we also require a safe storage place for other things we would like to leave here at Sir Hobnails place until our return in about a week.

Hobby looks up at you and smiles, "hello again and I'm so happy you made it back safely, a shame that Gundren wasn't with you but I hear he's in good hands. Yes of course you're welcome to store anything you need within reason, I would never charge for that." He glances warily at Harbin, "In terms of any items I couldn't buy, well I hate to say but Harbin is your man." He speaks seriously to Harbin, "This conversation is not over but if you'll excuse me, I need to get back to my shop, perhaps more supplies will arrive today."

Harbin rolls his eyes, flicking his wrist at Hobby like shooing a fly, "Well met, indeed I am the Harbin Wester at your service." He bows courteously, "I'll be opening the shop shortly and I guarantee I'll buy anything you have that's worth anything, please stop by, I'll be opening precisely at 08:00, looking forward to it." He brushes  snowflakes off his coat and says his farewells as he's off to the inn for breakfast.

Ashley is now having Mr. and Mrs. B attack the snow goblins as the local children cheer.

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 >>/6860/
> Please dont hold Alice like that Cat! Bring her back inside so she can warm up and then let us quickly look what these two gentlemen have to say!
Sorry sorry Nya you're really not good with cold Alice Nya!
Cat carries Alice back to the Inn unde her arm and then joins Yulya

 >>/6862/
Cat listens to the brief conversation and is pleased there isn't any trouble. She waves goodbye and then joins Ashley to make a few large snow hobgoblins and blows them apart with a few Berserker-strength snowball throws and paw strikes
Alright Nya shall we have breakfast Ashley Nya? The others are waiting Nya!

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Alice warms up at the inn and looks at the breakfast options and prices after again finding nothing under the tables
Haa, another Brandy would be great now but I can't waste 3gp! I need something warm!

Alice spots Harbin entering the inn and hopes her party will follow soon

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 >>/6862/
Yulya is relieved the conversation went swiftly
Thank you both we shall have breakfast now and then visit your shops!

Yulya goes to have breakfast with the others

 >>/6874/

Please provide a list of items you want to sell, then keep track of what you want to store afterwards

Everyone gathers back at the inn, menu choices aside, as you're eating breakfast you overhear many conversations centered around the snow and concerns over rumors of a dragon causing this impossible weather. As the local flora is being killed by the inclamate weather, the local fauna is being driven away leaving the predators to search for prey. Many more migratory animals are moving on leaving hunters with nothing to catch but rabbits and snakes. Without any idea when crops could be planted, the prospects for the town are failimg fast. The prospect of renewed trade is one glimmer of hope, but without hunting, farming, or mining, the town is destined to fail.

There are murmers of asking Neverwinter for help to clear out a dragon, but detractors claim the dragon is mature and would be a challenge even for Brutus the famous dragonslayer himself. They're considering making a collection for a quest but Orachalcum level quests aren't cheap.

In the end, the consensus is, if the Rockseekers could manage to open that mine, now that there's trade, neither rain, sleet nor snow would stop the eventual prosperity of the town.

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 >>/6876/
Alice happily eats her breakfast while warming her hands at a candle. But she feels the burden of mine-clearing on her shoulders
Hey, arent those guys a bit too eager? Looks like we really gotta clear that mine now whatever is inside. And we eventually gotta get rid of that damn dragon too. But we can't involve others if he's really at my ship. The last thing I need there is nosy people. This sucks!

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 >>/6876/
Cat tries to listen to whats going on in the inn while eating
Nya looks like the cold is causing a lot of trouble Nya not just for Alice Nya! I really hope we can make th through that mine Nya! But the dragon Nya? If even Brutus Nya had trouble with it Nya? That's a few numbers to big for us Nya even the small green one was difficult Nya right Alice Nya?

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 >>/6879/
> she feels the burden of mine-clearing on her shoulders

Yulya also feels the pressure rising
What have we stumbled into here? A simple escort mission for rookies they said...

We have prepared what we need to sell. Let's eat up and then visit those two shopkeepers! Do you think anyone here would take the amethyst we have or should we store it for now?

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 >>/6879/
Alice sits grumbling to herself.

 >>/6884/
> Nya
Worriedly mews

 >>/6886/
> Let's eat up and then visit those two shopkeepers! Do you think anyone here would take the amethyst we have or should we store it for now?
Yulya keeps it together for now.

Ashley eats more snake and goat's milk happily pays her 2 silver and 5 copper and is ready for another day!
Tell me if you bought or ate anything.

In general the patrons of the tavern this morning are in a good mood, most of the merriment is coming from Harbin's Table where he's treating guests to the cheapest ale available. They're discussing the great news about the Triboar trail and the hope that Gundren and his brothers will get the mine working, and with it, lucrative jobs for anyone who wants one. The biggest rumor coming from Harbin himself that there's rich veins of Mithril hidden in that mine, and if true, that would make this town the newest epicenter of mithril production and one of the richest towns in Neverwinter as a result.

[08:00] Having eaten his fill, Harbin glances your way with a flick of his wrist as if to say, he's on his way to work and you should follow him. To the protests of his tipsy guests, he's out the door with the flamboyance of a noble and indeed he is the only nobility this town has and will no doubt reach even higher status once the mine is open. Especially considering he boasted at his table that he is building ore processing facilities at his property.

Optional Interactions #1

Just a few hundred feet from the Lionshield Inn, Harbin's home looks as plain and pedestrian as the others of the town, built from a mixture of reclaimed stone ruins and modest wood construction. Next to his home, you see laborers clearing snow and beginning their day in an adjacent building working on sleuths, crushers and other ore processing equipment. Across the lane, they also seem to be digging trenches and laying clay pipes to divert water from a natural spring just south of town, and discharging into a creek. Quite an undertaking for a small town but it looks like they're doing it professionally. In an adjacent building, a large furnace is being assembled and what looks like the means to smelt bars is sitting on long shelves in the simple barn.

Just before you follow him into his home, you're waylaid by none other than Sildar, "Good morning ladies, well we're on our way as I presume you'll be soon, I'm glad I could catch you before we left. Limit your dealings with Harbin, he cares about only one thing, coin, he doesn't care about this town or anyone on it other than himself. I'm not saying don't trade with him, but don't do him any favors expecting any good will in return.''

Optional Interaction #2

You enter Harbin's home and he's set up the living room as a small shop, on open standing shelves are odds and ends including some things you might like. He smiles and sits at a large table, "Come and show me what you have, I guarantee I'll pay fair price for anything you have, I want to make Phandalin a trade stop worthy of the region and I can't do that without stock."

See Trade.txt

Ashley looks around, finding nothing to her liking.

Requirted interaction.

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Cat eats 2 servings of scrambled eggs, hazelnut bread and drinks  hazelnut ale and pays 14cp

She listens  in to what's going on a harbin' table, her ears gradually folding backwards
Nya I don't like this man Nya another noble Nya

> Just before you follow him into his home, you're waylaid by none other than Sildar, "Good morning ladies, well we're on our way as I presume you'll be soon, I'm glad I could catch you before we left. Limit your dealings with Harbin, he cares about only one thing, coin, he doesn't care about this town or anyone on it other than himself. I'm not saying don't trade with him, but don't do him any favors expecting any good will in return.''
Cat greets Sildar and nods in agreement as her tail sways back and forth
Nya not much choice here Nya! Gozta do what we gotta do Nya.

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 >>/6893/
Not finding any dedicated cheap breakfast option, Alice orders scrambled eggs, hazelnut bread and fruit salad and pays 1sp and 8cp.
She looks over at Ashley's breakfast choice with slight bewilderment
I'm glad you're eating properly, you're too thin anyway but oof, even for someone like me who can live off cart grease and soiled half-orc panties, that's a bit heavy for breakfast...

Alice glances over to the fat vulgar noble with disgust but also relief
At least he's not causing us any trouble and we should keep it that way. I mean his business model depends on a working mine and without us there will be no such. So he'd better invest in us if he's smart!

 >>/6893/
> Harbin glances your way with a flick of his wrist as if to say, he's on his way to work and you should follow him.
Alice gives him a thumbs-up and finishes her meal

> Sildar.jpg
> Limit your dealings with Harbin, he cares about only one thing, coin, he doesn't care about this town or anyone on it other than himself. I'm not saying don't trade with him, but don't do him any favors expecting any good will in return.
Alice steps away from the others and takes Sildar aside, out of hearing range of Harbin
Morning Sildar! My word, I don't like this man either but he's an asset for us as much as we are for him. We don't want trouble with nobility. It's tiresome and we don't need even more enemies than the monsters we have to deal with. 
[dramatic pause]
But rest assured, if he tries to fuck us over we have a special way of dealing with such - people. And it's not as merciful as we handled the goblins...
Alright see ya, take care and good luck!
The creepy smile of Alice's Kitsune mask makes her words even more eerie

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Yulya eats a mushroom veggie omlette and pine milk and pays 14cp. She also buys 6 hazelnut cookies for 2sp and stores them in her pack

 >>/6898/
> At least he's not causing us any trouble and we should keep it that way.
''In an unusually optimistic fit Yulya decides to give Harbin the benefit of doubt and waves at him as he leaves.

 >>/6893/
Sildars warning shatters Yulyas hope of a mutualistically beneficial cooperation. Not that she didn't already know but a Peace Cleric can dream. But she remembers that both gaining a nobles favor and a nobles wrath means nothing but trouble.

> You enter Harbin's home and he's set up the living room as a small shop, on open standing shelves are odds and ends including some things you might like. He smiles and sits at a large table, "Come and show me what you have, I guarantee I'll pay fair price for anything you have
I am afraid we have little to sell at this point Sir Harbin we found mostly scrap when clearing the goblin den. On the contrary we need a few supplies from your shop.

Yulya offers with slight embarrassment:
TREASURE CHEST WITH KEY 2gp
HOODED LANTERN 2gp
DARTS (10X) 3sp
BELT POUCH (2X) 4sp

We would like to buy 
SOAP 4x 8cp
CHALK 2x 2cp
LIGHT GLASS VIAL 2x 10cp
OIL FLASK 3x 3sp
SEALING WAX 5sp
AGAR 1gp

I apologize for wasting your time with such a puny amount but we will be back soon and hopefully have more to trade then.
Yulya bows hoping to get out of this unfortunate social interaction with a noble as quickly as possible

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 >>/6895/
 >>/6898/
> I'm glad you're eating properly, you're too thin anyway but oof, even for someone like me who can live off cart grease and soiled half-orc panties, that's a bit heavy for breakfast...

Ashley eyes her and looks away. "Hmph".

 >>/6904/
> Trade offer
Once you decide on what you want to trade, it's done.
Trade2.txt

< span class="spoiler">*
I have your current total coinage as:
8pp
112gp
182sp
1022cp 

You may exchange through him copper for silver or gold or platinum, so just tell me what your final denominations are.
< span class="spoiler">

Harbin makes the exchange happy to take copper as much as anything, and smiles as you leave him his items. "I'm happy to serve, now that that's out of the way, let's talk about opportunities and cooperation. I know you're on your way to Neverwinter and I'd like you to pick up a few things for me if you can? I don't care if you're with the trade guild or not, I'll pay full price for them and let's say 20% on top for your trouble? In addition to that, I'd like samples of any type of ore you find in that mine, if you need to borrow a pick axe, please do. Finally, if you'd like to hang up the adventurer's hat and are interested in the life of a trader, I would be willing to sponsor you for the trade guild, if you accept, I know someone high up in the trade guild and they'll wave the fee and the test and you can lease a cart from me with two strong horses as a bonus at a modest discount. If you're at all interested in that, let me know when you drop off those test supplies and samples."

Harbin explains the following items he would like you to get for him while you're in Neverwinter and in the mine.
< span class="spoiler">
Harbin Wants from Neverwinter:
3x vials of arsenic
3x vials of sulfuric acid
3x vials of nitric acid
3x vials of quicksilver
3x vials of hydrogen peroxide
3x vials of Ammonia
3x vials of cyanide
3x vials of hydrochloric acid
3x vials of Ammonium Nitrate
3x vials of Sodium Carbonate
3lbs of Lime
3lbs of activated carbon

Total cost would be 20 gold, he will pay you 24gold for them. Total weight would be 20lbs.
If you choose to do this, what you will buy from the Alchemist shop to make inventory manageable is "Harbin's Supplies, J, 20gp, 20lbs"
< span class="spoiler">

"Once my testing is complete, I would pay you to supply my needs for some subset of these items in volume by any means. We could get rich together!"

< span class="spoiler">
What Harbin wants from the mine if you can find it:
3lbs of copper ore
3lbs of silver ore
3lbs of gold ore
3lbs of mythril ore
3lbs each of any interesting other ores or rough gems

He will pay you 2 gold for any of the above items each for his testing. This is well above market price for raw ore.
< span class="spoiler">

Required response

Ashley looks interested in the possibilities of making money on the side regardless of what Sildar said.**

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 >>/6909/
Cat exchanges most of the copper coins she is carrying but keeps a distance from Harbin as if he were contagious. Noble is noble and except as cooking ingredient Cat doesnt want to be close to them.

 >>/6895/

Just so you know, in most small settlements the nobles run the shops, they're the only ones with enough capital to setup, stock and trade in a place where you can't get financial assistance. They become the bank, the loan officer, the shop owner, land lord and eventually commission the garrison, towers, palisades, walls, and so on as the city grows. Without nobility, you have easy pickings for other nobility to swoop in.

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Yulyas sweating increases as Harbin lists all the options of cooperation. It all seems to good to be true. Due to her paranoia Yulya doesnt full trust her abilities to read people despite her maxxed out WIS. She still tries to look for clues Harbin has any sinister intentions and what are his motives with INSIGHT during their conversation

Yulya bows as she takes the money
Thank you for your generosity Sir Wester we appreciate it! We shall try to acquire the supplies you desire from Neverwinter if it helps Phandalin to prosper. Though our carrying capacity is at its limit as we do not have a cart or mule. So I dare not make a promise but it should be manageable to set aside 20lbs for your goods. As for the mine please let us first deal with the evil that appears to lurk within which my senses tell me will be quite an ordeal. We are still adventurers first and foremost. We certainly will help to deliver supplies if needed but I'm afraid we lack the qualities to become full time traders with our set of skills. Yet I thank you for the offer!

Yulya tries to remain polite but vague and read Harbins reactions. She hates these kind of interactions much like bartering and negotiating in general and just wants to get out of the entire situation without trouble. Or worse getting dragged into a conflict between a noble and the mine owners.
Now if you excuse us Sir Wester we need to depart for Neverwinter! We shall meet again once we return. Hopefully with all the items you requested!
Yulya bows again and tries to get out of the shop as fast as good manners allow
Let us store the rest of our goods with Sir Hobnail now!

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Alice briefly looks at the chemicals but finds nothing extraordinary. She packs the acquired goods in her backpack and is ready to continue on to Hobby. For now Harbin seems well-behaved but that doesn't mean he's off the menu yet.

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 >>/6917/
> We shall try to acquire the supplies you desire from Neverwinter if it helps Phandalin to prosper. 

"Certainly, whatever you can manage is appreciated, your efforts will certainly help Phandalin at any capacity. It would take me ages to get these at this rate even with the road open. I sent a letter with the first courier to arrive in ages. He had a letter for me that made no sense. I shudder to think how many I missed." His ears perked up when you said donkey, "horses I like, I'd like to think of a few I know as friends, donkeys on the other hand, well they're a pain in the ass." He chuckled to himself.

"Well trade thrives on traders, I'm an awful trader, couldn't possibly handle that awful gravel road, not for a day! So I appreciate your choice for your sake. The offer stands however, the trade guild locks them down, the margins are slim and we're technically not allowed to sweaten the pot officially. Especially not if we ever intend to do official business with Neverwinter, Waterdeep, Daggerford, they're so strict and it's a good thing. But times do get desperate." He turned his attention to Ashley, "Speaking of which, I heard what you did poor old Hobbie." He chuckled, "I can't say I approve of your negotiation style but it made me laugh. If you ever want to lead negotiations for me, please let me know, the world needs more laughter."

Ashley gave him an annoyed look, unsure whether that was a compliment or a jab, "I'll pass."

Make your next moves, Hobby is next I suppose, state what you're leaving behind. When you're ready to begin traveling, let me know.

 >>/6917/
> Yulya tries to remain polite but vague and read Harbins reactions.
[1d20+7=25]

You are left with only confusion, you sense no hint deception or foul dealings, and you're sure of it. You think, what was Sildar talking about? But for that you have no answer. It could be that he's just that good at hiding it but highly unlikely.

It's fair to ask for permission to deliver ore samples even though no one would likely know.

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Cat nyas a goodbye as they go to Hobby's shop
Nyaa what was that about Yulya Nya he seemed nice for a noble Nya what should we do Nya?

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Alice doesn't really care as long as the guy doesn't cause trouble but still looks at Yulya waiting for her verdict
No idea what happened now but a pleasant surprise for once. I say we get Harbin the items and look at the situation again when we return. If he's honest with us he would be quite an useful connection. We could trade things and make some money. I still would never give him any samples from the mine without Gundren's permission...
Whatever, my main enemy is the fucking cold here. How comes I don't even have shoes? We should have bought shoes. If Yulya hadn't incinerated all the wolves I could have fur boots made out of them. I hope it's warmer in Neverwinter.

Alice trots on to Hobby while grumbling to herself and occasionally swearing about dragons

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 >>/6936/
> You are left with only confusion, you sense no hint deception or foul dealings, and you're sure of it. You think, what was Sildar talking about? But for that you have no answer. It could be that he's just that good at hiding it but highly unlikely.

 >>/6938/
> Nyaa what was that about Yulya Nya he seemed nice for a noble Nya what should we do Nya?

 >>/6943/
> Alice doesn't really care as long as the guy doesn't cause trouble but still looks at Yulya waiting for her verdict

Yulya leaves Harbins shop relieved but deep in thought
I cannot sense any ill intent in this man. How peculiar this is not what I expected. He might value personal gain over common good which is expected for a merchant but it does not seem he plots to deceive or harm us on the contrary. If Sir Wester is blessed with wisdom he should understand that honest cooperation would be most beneficial and profitable for all sides. I pray this is actually the case.

Ashley what is your impression of Sir Wester?

 >>/6943/
> I say we get Harbin the items and look at the situation again when we return. If he's honest with us he would be quite an useful connection. We could trade things and make some money. I still would never give him any samples from the mine without Gundren's permission...
I agree. I was hesitant but I think it is for everyones sake if we deliver those goods. I see no harm in it. Then let us focus on purifying the mine. We will judge Sir Westers actions after our return and consultation with Sir Gundren.
Now let us depart!

> How comes I don't even have shoes? We should have bought shoes. If Yulya hadn't incinerated all the wolves I could have fur boots made out of them. 
Yulya looks at Alice shaking snow from her bare feet like a cat that stepped into a puddle
We should stop by at Lionshield Coster to buy you some decent shoes. You will also need them in the mine. I really do not know why we did not do that last time. Probably because you had your legs retracted? But I guess you cannot travel hopping along the road for hours. So let us go to Miss Graywind!

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[09:00 Spring 14th, -3C snowing lightly and snow is still accumulating with no sigh of it melting]

 >>/6945/
> Ashley what is your impression of Sir Wester?

Ashley's distracted by the snow and seeing the children playing in it, 
[1d20+1=3] 
"Uh, who? The fat guy? No clue, but I do want to buy the stuff if we can get paid for it, I don't mind carrying it. I wonder how much a trader license is, if it's only 5 gold then maybe this small run will pay for itself. If we can buy wholesale and sell it for over full new price, I'm in, I bet I could pass a test, and we could ask Hobby what he wants too, with my 40% over with him, we could make a ton. Maybe they have a cart we could buy and pull at Neverwinter, I still don't think a horse is a good idea if the goblins just use them as target practice when we leave him outside."

A simple 4 wheeled cart capable of carrying 2x the puller's total carrying capacity including the weight of the cart could be found at Neverwinter or commissioned by a cartwright. There would be a small risk someone could come along and steal it if you don't secure or hide it and it would draw extra attention from bandits. A cart capable of carrying 1000lbs that Cat could conceivably pull would be a remarkably low cost, 15-25gp. Based on her carry capacity, a 150lb cart could manage that and could be used for most travel between locations along roads and over relatively easy terrain, not suitable for overland travel in forests, swamps, mountainous terrain etc. without severely slowing you down unless she carried it. There is no cartwright at Phandalin and the small farmers only have full carts or wheelbarrows and likely not willing to sell. None of you are capable of repairing parts but you could buy spare parts and replace parts, it would be subject to a small risk of breaking on the rough roads, especially the Triboar trail but all of you together could unstick it from any rut. It would be roughly 3x5ft so not suitable to drag through caves or in all but the main shaft of mines. A full wagon like Gundren's without any supplies or spare parts would be between 35-100gp or more depending on extras, they do offer models of carriages with suspension meant for passengers but they have lower carry capacity, his was a converted war cart so it would be considerably more than 100gp, a horse would be between 50-100gp each, other beasts of burden vary in Neverwinter.

> No shoes
> I really do not know why we did not do that last time

"Because she wants to be naked all the time maybe?" Ashley rolls her eyes and marches on to shopping.

Lionshield Coster is open and just inside at the counter is Linene. "Oh look who it is, and I don't see Gundren with you, this means I believe you owe me money for thieves' tools and that shield on your back little miss."

Ashley scowls internally at her unofficial nickname and looks around like she didn't hear her and inches back towards the door.

Linene raises an eyebrow, "Don't think you can escape, I have you dead to rights and a letter to the guild is all I need to get the 35 gold out of you if you value that plate."

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 >>/6946/

Ashley slumps forward in defeat, "It's not like he's not going to be rescued, and we did Rescue Sildar! Look, I'm good for it, Gundren will be back in just a couple weeks, Sildar and his brothers are taking care of it or we'd be on our way with them now. Look, we're here to clear that mine so you still have a town to sell your wares to, or should we move on and take some other quest?"

[Intimidation 1d20+4=19 vs DC15]

"All right all right, two more weeks then the letter goes out. If you're telling the truth, then there's nothing to worry about I guess." She eyes Yulya, Alice and Cat, "Do I dare ask what else you need?"

"Shoes for this one, and they can pay for it," Ashley says.

She points to the shelves on the back wall.
There are suitable boots for Alice priced at 1gp, 2x the actual value, and weigh .75lbs, they're not as high as Ashley's high boots but would work well.

Interaction #1

[09:30]

At Barthen's Provisions, you're stopped by Elmina before you can talk to Hobby, "Fancy seeing you back here, ready to rip me off again hm?" She glares at Ashley but then sets her eyes squarely on Yulya, and points accusingly "I hear you're the leader of this proprietor of banditry, Cleric of Peace, what is it you need now? Blood for your rituals?" She doesn't look to be in a good mood.