Chapter 2.3: Return to Hochoch

After Aanbo and Theran have completed their training, Olpert returns with the proceeds of the sale of the various items. Split between the 7 adventurers (Aanbo, Arya, Chase, Jonel, Myrtha, Rosemary, Theran) and the Jarl family, each gets 16 eagles, 11 seals, and 6 cubs.

With enough experimentation, Chase finds that he can call what number will be rolled on the magic die.

As all this is happening, Morton arrives in town. Morton had been inducted into the Dungeon Busters organization some time ago, but was doing various odd jobs for Cecily. When he recently finished those tasks, Cecily announced that Morton was ready to take a position at a field office, and asked him which office he wanted. Remembering some of the people who started with him weeks ago, Morton asked after them. As soon as he found out that they had gone on to Hochoch, Morton had selected that destination.

Chase heads off to consult with Larissa. Once again, Lienne proves very helpful to the ranger, though she takes his arm and walks with him through the town, sharing intimate details of various passersby with him as they walk. Eventually, she leads him to a small cottage and gestures for him to continue. "I don't get along with Larissa," she says, "But tell me about your visit afterward!" A somewhat portly man answers the door. "Yes?" When Chase explains that he wishes to consult with Larissa, the man nods, calling over his shoulder, "You've got another admirer, dear!" He winks at Chase. "ANOTHER ONE??" comes the good-natured yell from inside. "Tell him to go away! I've already had too many rangers wooing me today!" At Chase's frown, the man laughs. "Haha! Come in, come in; that's just our little joke. You may enter." The man introduces himself as Barl, Larissa's husband. Larissa, a cheerful woman with greying hair, is busy with some baking, flour puffing from her hands as she waves at him. But Chase notices that, as bright and cheerful as Larissa seems, the light of the fire and the several candles in the house doesn't fully touch her, as if she is in the shade of something between her and every light source. She puts the tin in the oven and wipes her hands on her apron. "Well!" she says, smiling kindly up at Chase, "You want something identified, is that right? It takes time and effort; I can do the first item for 25 eagles."

Larissa identifies the black leather armor as leather armor +1.

Myrtha asks Sara, who directs her to Crisjen, a reputable fletcher. Myrtha spends 2 eagles on quiver and 20 arrows.

Chase finds the black leather suit a little tight-fitting at first, but it stretches out as he wears it throughout the day. Olpert receives the donation of Chase's scale armor gratefully.

Theran finds a woodcarver, Raymond, and presents his proposal: would Raymond be able to carve him a breastplate out of wood? Raymond is intrigued at the idea. He says he can do it, but it will take time and money to get all of Theran's measurements and carve it especially to fit him. Lumber is too thin; he'll need to start with a larger piece of wood. He doesn't have a hardwood log large enough now, but he can commission Tym to select a good-sized tree and fell it. Accordingly, a wooden breastplate hardened for combat (in all other respects functioning as a normal metal breastplate) would take 20 days to craft and cost 400 eagles.

With all the treasure that the party brought out of danger to Hochoch, each of the 7 PCs also gain 91 XP.

As I said before, Morton the half-elf Dungeon Buster arrives in town as the party is doing shopping and finishing their training. "Welcome!" Olpert Razorsson greets him when Morton asks for directions and arrives at the construction site that will be the guild's hall eventually. "Cecily sent us another one, eh? I remember you from the orientation. Well, I think we have enough hands here in Hochoch. Why don't you join the others on their next foray? A few of our members - Quest, Joseph, Manthis - have gone missing, and Joseph was last seen by the group that's going back to Orlane. They're also trying to reopen trade with Orlane, which is responsible for providing most of the food in the region. If we don't, there's possibility of famine within the year. The farmers here can't increase their production in one growing season, and we don't have cash on hand enough to establish new trade with more distant farm communities. So that's two things you'll be trying to do in Orlane: find our missing people if you can, and get rid of whatever is preventing Orlane from providing food to the region."

Raymond agrees to three-quarters of the money up front, but he points out that it will be a full day for the two of them to take and record all of Theran's measurements, which would mean another day's expenses (lodging) for him and everyone else before they could set out to Orlane again.

Theran pays the 300 eagles to Raymond and works with him on the fourth day.At the start of the fifth day, Olpert calls all the Dungeon Busters together again to discuss assignments.