“Godsend” and his engineers wanted no part of getting involved with the Królewna & Bonifacja Trading Company, a fact which they made clear last night.  But the leftovers of the two other bands were willing to keep forging ahead – whether out of lust for gold or just reckless disregard I don’t know but the end result is the same.  Argo seemed almost as broken up about Barrelhouse as Molly did about Sken but they got over it enough to head for Sluice.  You live this kind of life long enough I suppose death just becomes part of the deal.

One other good thing I’ll say about adventurers for all that they talk non-stop the one thing they don’t do is bellyache about their injuries.  Everyone, except me of course, was pretty busted up after fighting an entire gnoll clan the day before but no one said a word about it – they just marched along as happy as clams.  Er, clams that march.  Much like death after a while you have to assume that pain become a constant companion.  Now that I think about it I can’t totally blame adventurers for their braggadocio – they’re not really like the rest of us, they’re almost their own species.  Once you’d had your face split open by a falchion and survived you’re going to look at life and the world a little differently.  Doesn’t make it any less annoying though.

As we walked I reiterated again and again to my new friends that what we were not going to do was rush into Sluice and start killing everyone.  What we were going to do was get the lay of the land, figure out what was going on, and then come up with a super clever plan.  I said it so much they clearly started to get annoyed by it but repetition is the key to getting your message across.  At one point Argo growled at me –

“I don’t remember you being elected leader.”

“Good thing to since you just let your leader die. “ I threw a look at Molly “Both of you did.”

From the look on his face you’d think that I had just dumped a basketful of puppies into a vat of acid.  I quickly apologized – I’m great at phony apologies – and explained to them that I just wanted to make sure that we didn’t rush into this situation unprepared.  We’re dealing with a vast and organized group of scoundrels here not a band of savage humanoids. 

“We all have our areas of expertise.  This is more my wheelhouse – just let me help you.”

The big man was actually sniffling “You shouldn’t have said that about Gutboy.”

Men can be such babies sometimes.  We could have reached Sluice that day but I requested that we stop a few miles away so we weren’t approaching at the end of the day. We want lots of daylight in front of us when this thing kicks off.

__________________________________________________________

Funds: 9,863 gold

XP: 65,003

Inventory: Ring of Many Garments, Bag of Tricks (rust), Cap of Disguise, Secure Pocket, Resplendent Diplomat’s Palette, Secure Paypack, Skeleton Key, Brooch of Shielding, Pouch of Magic Stones, Masterful Grey Gloves, Black Marketers’ Bag, Biting Bracelet (Endless Ammunition), Boots of Escape, Bracers of the Glib Entertainer, Ring of Animal Friendship, +1 Falchion, +1 Greatclub, +2 Commanding Light Crossbow, Headband of Alluring Charisma +2, 4 potions of unknown wickedness, Manual of Quickness of Action, Bracer of Fire Resistance (10), Spear of Piercing Thunder

Signet ring, noble’s outfit, candlerod (9), masterwork dagger, succubi carving, Domiel family ring, walking stick, masterwork playing cards, spinel and peridot holy symbol of Kralten, diamonds (14), silver crown, waterskins (6), trail rations (7)

Potion of Invisibility, Potion of Spider Climb, Potion of Eagle’s Splendor, Potion of Jump

Silver ring, gold bracelet, gold and pearl pendant, gold ring, platinum necklace (2), mithril hair clasps (3), 4 small diamonds

Revenge List: Duke Eaglevane, Piltis Swine, Rince Electrum, watchman Gridley, White-Muzzle the worg, Percy Ringle the butler , Alice Kinsey , “Patch”, Heroes of the Lost Sword, Claire Conrad, Erist priest of Strider, Riselda owner of the Sage Mirror, Eedraxis,  Skin-Taker tribe, Kartak, Królewna & Bonifacja Trading Company, Hurmont Family, Androni Titus, Greasy dreadlocks woman, Lodestone Security, Kellgale Nickoslander, Beltian Kruin the Splithog Pauper, The King of Spiders, Auraluna Domiel, mother Hurk, Mazzmus Parmalee,  Helgan van Tankerstrum, Lightdancer, Bonder Greysmith, Pegwhistle Proudfoot, Lumbfoot Sheepskin

Rumors : Exiled noblewoman (Reoccurring), vigilante “Litheria”(Reoccurring), murderous Halfling (Reoccurring)

Graltontown Buildings – Mill