<Gamemaster> There isn't much I had planned to do today other than
get an idea of what sort of process the group planned to use in setting
up the trading outpost. Any particular plans in that regard?
<Varjeela> Sorry, I hadn't really been thinking about it.
<NoBison> I would think we would want to get some duck goods into
town to whet the appetites, then conduct some traders to a meeting with
the ducks.
<NoBison> Once things start moving then we should think about building
some permanent buildings for warehousing.
<NoBison> Any other thoughts?
<Varjeela> Talk to Varza. A trade route used only by the Isaries
cult is something she'd want to support, and she's got the local contacts
in Corflu.
<Varjeela> We've had one load of duck goods in town already, that
might have whetted the appetites. And I'm certainly not going back without
another load
<NoBison> So, we take some sample goods back, get Varza to help
us contact the proper traders, then set up a face to face with the ducks
at the island.
<Varjeela> Sounds about right to me. I'll also be on the look out
for someone to eventually take over running the trading station.
<Gamemaster> Does Varjeela & Co. plan to do that for the first
few weeks or months?
<Varjeela> Probably. Although I'm also trying to set myself upas
HP in Corlfu, and I need to stay around the town for that.
<NoBison> I would think we would have to, as the ducks just barely
trust us as it is.
<Varjeela> I'l just have to keep paddling back and forth...
<Varjeela> Hey, I've got an apprentice! He can handle the trade
post? With his reputation for honesty?
<Gamemaster> Are you talking about Nijehl - our Nijehl?
<NoBison> Who's the apprentice?
<Varjeela> Could be! (Well, at least he isn't a complete stranger.
Beter the devil you know?)
<Gamemaster> Its a possibility actually. I've been talking to Ivan
(Nijehl's human master) and he won't be able to attend for quite some time...
<Varjeela> So maybe he really does get bitten by the Issaries bug?
This would be a way for him to make quite a bit of cash, after all.
<NoBison> NoBison would hang around with which ever group looked
like it might need some muscle.
<NoBison> Does that sound acceptable?
<Varjeela> Is Joss now an NPC? If so, can I hire him as my chauffeur?
I think I'm going to need one!
<Gamemaster> I think Joss is probably an NPC again.
<Gamemaster> I wonder, NoBison was aware that the group might want
to head off afterward to seek out the oasis where the healers hold sway
(can't remember the name of it off hand) wasn't he?
<Varjeela> Hi Mawth! Just in time: we were deciding what all the
ex-PC NPCs were going to be told to do.
<mawth> ok - what's the option?
<Gamemaster> Looks like Nijehl is destined to be an administrator
of a market and Joss to be a chauffeur of some sort.
<Varjeela> That's right, once the trading was set up, Varjeela was
going to be retired from play and No-Bison was off to the Horn Gate and
the White Ladies.
<Gamemaster> You're lucky - they hadn't turned their attention to
Mawth yet! :)
<NoBison> Generally at this point it seems to be help start the
trading post or stick with Varj while she becomes HP of Issiaries
<Varjeela> Both of which might be a bit boring to play for anyone
but me, really. So we're delegating stuff to NPCs.
<mawth> it soudns as though people are wanting to settle into routine-type
activities?
<mawth> aside from no-bison of course...
<Gamemaster> Yes and really what I hoped to do was get this sort
of stuff fleshed out today so that next time we can get back to adventuring.
<Varjeela> Fine. I think the next bit that requires GM input is
what happens when we talk to our friendly local matron?
<mawth> I guess mawth is really not that interested in 'hanging
around' - he is keen to stay until things settle down around the market-arrangement
with the ducks, but then I think he'd be keen to investigate options elsewhere.
<NoBison> No chance for adventure while all this is working its
way out?
<mawth> perhaps to do some more investigation of the swamp inhabitants,
maybe learn about the ducks if they would have him around?
<Gamemaster> Do you go straight back to Corflu or do you go to the
site of the future Market first and spend some time there cleaning/preparing
it?
<Gamemaster> I'd say not but next meeting we will flash forward
an appropriate length of time and resume adventuring type activities -
if that's acceptable to everyone?
<mawth> spend some time at the market first
<Varjeela> Sort the site first: we want to have it looking good
when we show it to people.
<Varjeela> Sounds good to me, Dave. A few things for us to sort
by email first, of course.
<NoBison> suggestion to flash forward sounds good to me.
<Gamemaster> Ok. It'll take a few days to clear away debris and
make the area use-able. It'd take longer if you plan to build shelters
and the like there first.
<mawth> yes, thinking more about it, mawth would prefer to stay
here at the market site, and try to develop some rapport with the ducks...
<mawth> Mawth will start work on a shelter
<Varjeela> Enough to make it look presentable. We might get offers
fro the locals in Corflu to do the building: if we get them to join in,
they'll be more likely to support it.
<NoBison> I thought mostly we could use tents at first with shelters
as things develop.
<Gamemaster> Ok Mawth. Shouldn't be a problem. The first Duck visitors
begin arriving about 3 days after you folks return to the site.
<Varjeela> So Mawth gets the translator, and gets to know the ducks?
<mawth> I agree no-bison. I think that mawth will probably want
to stay for a little while, thought, so a semi-perm shelter might be good
<NoBison> Does Varj anticipate any problems? If not I will stay
with Mawth and also see if I can't get the ducks to thaw out.
<Gamemaster> Shelters may be difficult to plan. There is a general
lack of building materials for one thing. Yes, you'll probably have to
arrange at least some of the work with people in Corflu.
<mawth> Fair enough, i can wait.
<Gamemaster> Ok. The Lunar sticks with Mawth then?
<Varjeela> Definitely talk to Varza! I want her family's financial
backing at this rate, if only to pay the builders.
<NoBison> Does Varjeela want a body guard?
<Varjeela> The Lunar sticks with whoever's talking to the ducks.
Mawth at present. And we keep him away from Corflu, and Corflu people,
at all times.
<mawth> Not that mawth is really the most personable of chaps, but
he's starting to learn to be more accommodating to people of different
backgrounds, and the ducks are river folk after alll...
<Gamemaster> Ok. So once the site is clean you and some others go
into Corflu and try to arrange Varza's backing (which you get without problem).
<Varjeela> While I'm in Corlfu I borrow Varza's Issaries shrine
and do some serious praying. Advice on the trade route/post, advice on
being HP, and possibly some more spells (Dave, we discussed this?)
<NoBison> Asking for a divination?
<mawth> I imagine people would start thinking of mawth as "that
crazy shaman in the swamp who talks with the ducks"
<Varjeela> [OOC: Divination is a spell, and it's a spell I don't
have: yet! Roolz: don't you just love 'em?]
<mawth> a lack worth remedying in a high priest! :-)
<Varjeela> Definitely: I thought I had a decade or so to go before
this became relevant! Precocious? Me?
<NoBison> If I stay with Mawth do I have any luck in doing a little
friendly drinking with the duck guards?
<Gamemaster> Yep. As for the Duck Gurads you only get to establish
any kind of rapport with them after you've met them several times. They
react poorly to you because of your wild appearance and such...
<Gamemaster> It sounds like the group will be tied up with all of
this stuff for approximately 50 days or so.
<Varjeela> That's a long time, but I think you're right.
<Varjeela> Does anyone arrive from Pavis in that time?
<NoBison> See if I find anything out about their origins or other
interesting tidbits when they do get around to liking me?
<Varjeela> One of the purposes of my prayer to Issaries was to keep
them informed, after all.
<Gamemaster> Bye that time there would be at least one shelter and
the clients would be stopping by regularly.
<Varjeela> The ideal would be the arrival of an elderly and near-retired
Issaries priest(-ess), with all the spells Varj. lacks and none of her
ambition.
<mawth> Yes, Mawth would like to get to know No Bison and the Ducks,
and Huff and his people better during this time, maybe even helping out
with some minor magics if the ducks would accept it
<Gamemaster> What NoBison discovers is an interesting tale. These
ducks are descendents of a group who decided to go off on their own many
centuries before.
<NoBison> Originating where?
<Varjeela> Ooh! History! Listens with interest when this is passed
on.
<NoBison> Yes, Yes, Yess?
<Gamemaster> What I had said was that the Ducks claim to have originally
come out of the north.
<NoBison> Up around Dragons Pass?
<Varjeela> The North? Dagori Inkarth? Pent?
<Varjeela> (Dragn Pass is west from here, isn't it? Well, NW)
<Gamemaster> All you can tell is that it is somewhere north of the
delta area.
<Varjeela> So, why did they leave?
<NoBison> They must have had some hard times?
<Gamemaster> They came south to establish their breeding program
and conduct it without the interference of outsiders.
<Gamemaster> Until your arrival there has been vritually no contact
with the outisde world.
<Varjeela> Outsiders? And a few centuries ago? Hmmm...
<Gamemaster> Over that time their language evolved into something
distinct.
<Varjeela> Their language evolved that much over only a few centuries???
<NoBison> This sounds like they have some fanitacally held beliefs.
I will tread litely with them.
<Varjeela> Methinks Issaries was taking a hand there! (Or someone
cursed them?)
<Varjeela> Problems with either the EWF or the GodLearners would
fit, really.
<mawth> mmm... indeed... i wonder if they have any sense of being
River folk? what are their religious beliefs like as regards their surrounds?
(Problems with Dave's connection getting worse!)
<Gamemaster> The last thing I had typed was: You will find that they
do not consider themselves to be River Folk but they do have a highly developed
Spiritual understanding of the world
<Varjeela> Any oddities suggesting EWF or GodLearner influence?
<Gamemaster> No thing that immediately jumps out at you Jane.
(And we arranged to meet two weeks later).