Elven Trade Negotiations

[etherial]

From the collected letters of Ursula von Knucklebreaker:

15 Mawag, 1421 T.H.

Dearest Mother and Father:

I hope this letter finds you well. As you will discover from later on in this missive, I have not terminated my association with the Circus. Despite your unseemly behaviour in sending me to that awful prison they dare call a school, I have not abandoned you, either.

Finding myself short on funds and unwilling to yet debase myself by asking for a loan, I responded to a work notice from the Cubrews Trade Alliance, in the interest of exploring the wilds of Barsaive and reconnecting civilizations. The leader of Cubrews, one Gordad Treasureborn, seemed quite overwhelmed. His quartermaster George led the horses through the front offices! Three other Adepts were hired, one Windling Weaponsmith who claimed to know Navigation but was easily lost; one Human Wizard who was full of ideas and talked too much, and one Elf Nethermancer who spoke too little and thankfully had just come from the Kaer that was our destination and was able to guide us there.

On the third day of our trek through the wilderness, we came across a small fortification on the road and some armed guards. They claimed that there was a toll of 10 silver each - a stiff price indeed - and upon further questioning did not seem willing to take our credit. As a matter of fact, they seemed to belong to some sort of criminal syndicate, being that they were adamant that they did not report to our most High Majesty the King or to any other Nameable Authority figure. Eventually they lost their patience and opened fire on us, hoping to cow us into submission, but our Spellcasters sent withering spells in their direction. One jumped out from behind a tree and clobbered Robert, but Rilya and I made short work of him, with an assist from my animal companion Zimbu.

Pressing the attack, I rounded on the two original belligerents, wounding one in the face and leading them to both flee. Another hidden bandit tried to steal a saddlebag and indeed had run off with it, but a quick spell from Robert and a promise of Clemency caused him to dump its contents, allowing us to recover all but a small pouch of goods.

Two more days passed as we trekked into the mountains, and there was a brief pause as Rilya spotted two wolves lurking in the rocks. Pethrytholilanista was able to frighten one off and Rilya and Robert leapt into action against the other one. Whether through an excess of zeal or an unanticipated weakness on the wolf's part, it died in the battle. I'd hoped to make a new friend out of it, wolves generally being considered quite companionable creatures, but alas I shall have to try again in the future.

Later that day, we arrived in the construction site that would eventually become the village for the former residents of Kaer Avon, and began talks. Rilya spoke well with the local Weaponsmith and agreed to an exchange of our plentiful but plain weapons for the rare and ornate Elven kind. Pethrytholilanista spoke with the town leadership for an exchange of various seed materials -- and literal seeds -- to aid them in their growing of crops and a contract with Cubrews for further trade. Robert nearly ruined several deals but did manage to coax the village Elementalist into coming with us and exchanging some knowledge with him. As for myself, I did the family proud and met with the entertainers from their Kaer, told them of Throal's grand adventures so far, and offered you as masters of entertainment negotiations.

Our trip home passed generally peacefully, with the brief exception of encountering more bandits who attempted to spook the horses and failed. They feared dealing with us, and Treasureborn was quite pleased with the profit we made on the items we did trade, even though we lost a small pouch of goods.

Yours,

Ursula von Knuckebreaker, née Nusserman


PCs:
Pethrytholilanista, female Elf Nethermancer
Rilya, female Windling Weaponsmith
Robert, son of Paul, male Human Wizard
Ursula, female Dwarf Beastmaster

NPCs:
Gordad Treasureborn, Cubrews Trading Alliance
George, an Employee

Dasyra Mialar, female Elf, leader of Kaer Avon
Vulred Bigen, male Elf Blacksmith
Renna Vapetor, female Elf Elementalist

Zimbu, a monkey