Chapter 1: A new crew, a new adventure

Marwin strokes his beard and stares t the chest. "Wish I could help, but this seems outside my areas of expertise." He looks around the area, then at the ghostly horse. "If trying to move it doesn’t work out, maybe we could bury it. Come back later with a wagon or something?"

We will find a way to haul and if I must, I will strap it to my back and carry it slowly. obviously Sirocco doesn't want to leave that chest anywhere he isn't.

During the hours Klim spent identifying the items you have thoroughly searched the manor house. Other than a rough kitchen area, sleeping spaces for both dogs and an indeterminate number of bugbear noting of interest is found. The Oni, Shargriz, had his room furnished, though you can not think where he got most of it from, but little of it is of value.
Having examined the manor it is agreed this would make a good forward post for the base or you could keep it for yourselves. Perhaps you could get some Grippli to work for you or hire a couple of guards yourselves. Though wary of the lock you have searched the chest and during your handling of you heard a large amount of coin along with heavier or larger items shift inside. The wizard had proven himself adept at creating and manipulating walls of stone and could likely repair the mannor, or at least the walls.
The chest is fastened to the spectral mount and you head back to base keeping to the more heavily traveled paths worn by the bugbear. After another hour you make it back to the base. The gate guards look with keen interest at the large chest and rumors and gossip quickly inform the entire area of you return with "vast mounds of treasure" Before you can even relax the clerk arrives with a couple of guards and looks over the chest, glances at something he hides in his hand, then whispers something to the guards and walks back towards his office, next to Phlan's.

Heading to the wizards quarters, you decided this was the best course on the walk back, you knock on the door. Jax and Klim are a bit familiar with the wizard and know to wait, quietly and patiently, as hard as it may be. After several minutes the door opens.
Hmmm??? Oh, Jax ..... and you lot. Looking over your shoulders to the horse and the small crowd of onlookers that he glares at till they disperse he waves you in. Come on in. The party crowds in to the wizards parlor, dragging the chest in with you, which he eyes again. You quickly explain the situation and he rises to examine the chest closely without touching. Settling back in the chair he says If I open it I want first pick of any magic inside. Oh don't worry, I doubt anything I would like is anything you want. I can guarantee anything with direct tactical applications will not be my choice. If there is nothing I like then I want 1/10th the value. I can tell you it is cursed and I am your best bet to get inside without triggering the curse. He sits back in his high plush armchair awaiting your responce.

Lee speaks up: "Not 10%, but if you agree to 5%, then we have a deal."

Lee puts forth his bruised and scarred hand, ready to shake on the deal.

A bargain well struck as always Fiznik

Klim whistles in amazement at the bounty within the chest.
Now that’s a good haul. Well worth the effort I’d say. Now let’s see about getting these gems converted to coin.

Sirocco is just thrilled that the chest is open. Contents is nice too. "I think it is a good time to split out the kitty of coinage and this too." as Sirocco needs a new obsession. (Any thoughts GM for one. I have knocked off two so far.)

Jax gets ready to argue the proposed exchange but is cut off by a glare from the old wizard
He almost stammers his acceptance of the done deal, coughs and glauers at any who look at him for a moment.

Sirocco feels annoyed about the bugbear who got away. Was there only one? Where did he/they go? He fees certain this will have concequences.

As you leave the wizards residence, leaving him the chest, you are followed by a couple of guards, again. Jax explains to the group that they will need to explain the source of their newfound wealth to the expedition. Several of the researchers are annoyed that the scouts "keep bringing back improperly cataloged archeological items". Luckily the contract does allow you to collect and retain most of what you find. Once you have satisfied the basic contract you can stay on and either renew the contract as Jax and Klim have or simply work on commission but without access to the base support.You are escorted to the clerks office where the contents are tallied and all your new items are examined and most are returned as having little historical or research value. The Circlet, bottle, glaive, and Talwar are held back for examination and further study though the clerk assures you that they will likely be returned as they are "only minor items". The clerk and guards take all the coin and you are given 285 PP in return long with the gems and other items. The clerk notes the scouts have accumulated many minor items and if you wish you may have the expedition sell them for you.
After all the bookkeeping you are taken to talk with Phlan where Jax explains how he slew the giant, with your hellp. Klim explains the giant was an Oni and tells of the manor house as a possible forward base which Phlan is interested in especially now that the road is done. He will have Danoll and the other scouts work with the gripli evaluate it for that purpose but urges you to make some headway into securing one of the standing ruins further west or north.

You spend the next day resting and training. Everyone is now level 6!

The items withheld are returned the next day after they were examined in detail

Now that we’ve settle that, what next? I say we head north and clear out the ruins there

Wat takes his newfound wealth and approaches Marwin Goldenriddle while holding his Immovable Rod in his hands, inactive of course.

*Triiil* "Marwin, I wonder if I might ask a favor of you, please? *chiiirp* "I have an idea for a modification for this rod, and I think you could create it."

Hak rushes the next bit, taking the small pause in the conversation for a non-no response.

*Kaa* "If a sheath of some sort could be created, that would be able to be strapped to the inside of one of my legs, hinged in such a way that when I use my other foot to move the top end of the rod away from my leg, that the rod moves to a horizontal position, and pushes the button engaging the immovable action of the rod at the same time, allowing me to perch on it whenever I wish, without having to work as hard as I currently do? *Sqwwak* *Honk* *Kaaw**Chiiirp* "I now have money to pay for materials and your skill." *Triiiil*

Hak stands there watching for Marwin's response, with his eyes wide open and an eager expression on his face.

Sirocco feels good the next day. In the evening he had finally perfected a couple of spells he had been working on (Blindness/Deafness & Misty Step) and now has new ones to think about. He feels more ready for action.

North sounds good to me, but some more rest would be good too. as he is chewing on a candy. (Part about needing rest is a lie. As he starts the day off right.)

As everyone is getting ready in the morning to start the day, Jax speaks up to his team while he cleans his weapons. Now then, this would be the proper time to put in any orders for specialty items you need. It can take a while for delivery, so ordering ahead of time is wise if you’re getting anything magic, for example. Thus far we’ve mostly kept a group koffer, so take your expenses from that. Jax gestures to his eyes, which an observer would notice glow with a dull arcane light. His pupils are less like a cat’s and more like a bird’s, an eagle in particular. Some of these outings can take a while and it’s good to be efficient with our time

Marwin looks at the rod, as well as the mechanism that Hak has. He rubs his beard. "I'm not a master artificer, but I can probably make that work. Materials will run you about 50 or 60 gold. It's probably at least a week and half of work, double that if I take some extra time to ensure a quality job. And that's if I'm just sitting around camp. It'll take longer if I'm doing it in between outings. I'll give you the friends and family discount and say 25 gold for my labor if i do it quick. 50 if I take my time. And I'll need to have the mechanism to work with, unless you bring me a new one." Marwin pauses. "Looks like a fun job though. I've heard about these rods before, but never seen one up close."

*Kaaaw* "Thank you!"

Hak reaches into his pack to to grab coins to give to Marwin. While he is searching about for just the right quantity of shiny, roundish objects he pauses and looks up at Marwin again.

*Chiiirp* "I really appreciate the offer of a discount, but I don't want to take advantage of you. *trill*

Hak hands Marwin 20 platinum pieces.

*squwak* "Do take your time, please. And let me know if the bill runs any higher. *kaa* "That will keep me motivated while we're out working!" He gives Marwin a happy Aarakocra grin, which looks somewhat like a raptor's about to bite one's face off to the uninitiated.

Hak give Marwin a friendly nuzzle with his beak along the side of his shoulder and arm, then hands Marwin the sheath he has before flying off for dinner.

Hak accepts the 10 PP gratefully, and bows formally.

*Trill* "Yes, sir. In the future, I will endeavor to bring you such prizes. *chiiirp*