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Dramatis Personae: Pan (Charlie) ; Kyrolan (Richard); Toni (Alan); Viran (Rupert); Marcus (Lynne)
Toni, the poorest member of the PCs, decided to travel to the city of Trang, centre of the Lodril cult of which he is a member. One reason was in order to gain a free spell. (He had noticed the more mechanics-oriented players were using Credit to buy spells and weapons, and initiates of a cult get a free spell on acceptance.) As he'd been born into Lodril he could apply for initiateship straight away - which he had done. Toni's family all follow the peasant-farmer aspect of Lodril.
Ironically, those PCs who used as much credit as they could as per the original RQ2 rules later found it a burden. Pan, for example, bought good armour and a couple of spells but found he couldn't buy any more spells or training until he'd paid of the full 1,000+L. Since the PCs only accumulated about 3-500L each over the first 2 game years, and most of that was one lucky strike, the only one who did not feel constrained by crippling debts all the time was Marcus, who doesn't yet have delusions of grandeur and doesn't like credit. He bought a horse as his biggest extravagance and invested his winnings not in weaponry - he thinks his leathers, axe & bow eminently suitable for his woodsman lifestyle - but in long term small business investments, with a view to supporting himself and a family later in life.
Accordingly, he collected as much food as he could, borrowed a hammer for self-defence and began walking.
His mendicant priest had given him basic instructions and it was only 130 kilometres each way. On the advice of the priest he invested his remaining cash (a handful of lunars) in cloth, lace, gin and other local produce which should fetch a good price in Trang.
Trang is quite different from Thule or Rood. It has almost a Wild West quality. Bronze was discovered in the mountains nearby a few years ago, along with quantities of other minerals, and poor folk flocked to the area to make a living. 20 years ago it was a village; now it is a town of 8,000 roughnecks. Toni liked it! He stayed well over a week.
Trang is run by the Guilds, particularly the mining guild, which is heavily influenced by the church of Lodril. Toni was not involved in the internal politics but did notice that no nobles are in evidence here. Most of the population came here because they had trouble with their landowners or Lords, and there doesn't seem to be a powerful family owning this area. Most Trang citizens profess that they don't care if you've got a title but can you put your back into honest work? that's the question. In reality most feel enough resentment towards Nobles that it is actively dangerous for Lords to come to Trang.
Toni reported to the Lodril temple who welcomed him: the mendicant had mentioned Toni's intention of coming.
After familiarising himself with the cult lore and rituals for a few days, he headed back home to continue making a living for himself.
It was day 2 of Dark Season when Marcus went to the other PCs with a Proposition. They all agreed to keep silent about this as it is borderline-illegal, and could be classified as smuggling.
Marcus had been offered a job by a merchant, who was impressed by his woodcraftyness, importing / exporting things to / from Rathorela. Marcus figured there was a fair bit of money in this, but though he's been to Rathorela and knows a handful of tribesmen (it turns out later), he doesn't want to go on his own and is inviting some fellows he can 'trust'.
The PCs would be spending 1-2 weeks tromping round the forest on foot, with large packs of trade goods, and making as many trading contacts as possible and finding out what the nomads want and what they've got to barter.
They would be paid 1 clack a day and one-third of the profits to share between them.
Everyone agreed to the scheme and Marcus led them all off to the forest after they'd made arrangements with their families.
1. As the PCs snuck over the border they were spotted by the tax collector and his guards, who stung Viran for 6L ... the others managed to look poor and scruffy and penniless... which they are.
2. PCs came across a burnt, misshapen tree with a bowl of incense smouldering in front of it. When they investigated closely, a swarm of mites and midges attacked them and followed for some time.
3. Hearing chopping and singing ahead, the party sent Marcus ahead to scout. He came back reporting it was an elf at work. Seems he is over his elf phobia.
4. Came to a small 'clan' of about 25 Rathorelans. They seemed very wary of the PCs, two warriors were guarding the approach to their camp.
Rathorelan Tribal Structure (info picked up by talking with / observing them)
The nomads live in groups of 3-5 families called Clans, which are part of large Tribes. The group just encountered, for example, are the Burnt Tree Clan of the Brown Bear Tribe.
Each Tribe covers a large area; each clan wanders a small area, following a hunter-gatherer lifestyle very similar to some American Indians. However, they do not farm in a systematic manner like the PCs own culture [in fact, there is a taboo about ploughing, and another about keeping animals as 'slaves'].
It appears to the PCs that they practise extensive forest management, or else the woods are very 'rich', for they have an enormous amount of meat in their diet by the PCs peasant standards.
They move camp every few weeks.
They are generally friendly once the PCs have shown their good intentions but seem to expect attack by their own people all the time. Apparently it's traditional to raid each other during Autumn.
They get on well with most elves.
They all, even the women and children, seem to be growing a 'winter pelt' - hair on their bodies. The women have light beards!
They seem to think the PCs lifestyle is a stupid way to live, and say 'your land is dead'.
The older folks are particularly scornful of the 'benefits' of Lunar/Carmanian culture, though they're willing enough to trade. The 'priests' (shamen) are the most conservative.
They have few bronze tools, most arrows for example being flint-tipped. They are keen to buy advanced weapons and armour, but the PCs don't have any with them.
More Encounters... and Pan dies!
5. The party spent the night with the tribesmen; a racoon sneaked into Marcus / Kyrolan's tent during the night causing some ruckus.
6. The next day the PCS set off from the Burnt Tree Clan's camp. Walking through the woods they came across a unicorn and foal. Kyrolan managed to get them to take honey cakes... but not from his hand.
7. Came across the Hollow Tree Clan's camp. Friendly trading.
8. Passed a 9-foot high anthill.
9. A Magpie spoke to the PCs, and when they talked to themselves about this in Carmanian, it switched to that language! In exchange for a Lunar (which Marcus objected to parting with most strongly) it warned them to alter course slightly.
10. Passed a naked tribesman hugging a tree. He seemed oblivious to his surroundings, including being hugged himself - which the PCs tried!
11. Setting up camp in the middle of the woods, a group of rough looking men walked into the camp. After some preliminary threats, their leader attacked Marcus:
NB: players blessed by Beginners' Criticals and a fumble by the enemy. Mad Wolf had an earring thought to be worth >30L and a silver ring everyone's sure is >1000L.
12. Next day: trouble with bears after the PCs breakfast (non violent encounter)
13. Ran away from a huge python with chameleon skin... right into the Blue Rock Clan's camp. Traded peacefully. They assured the party that the snake was friendly, but the magpie wasn't.
14. Leaving the Blue Rock clan, the PCs were followed a while by some wolves.
15. Camped in the woods to the sound of wolves howling.
16. At breakfast time, a young tribesman wandered into camp. Name: Kiol. Rather thin and malnourished. Offered him breakfast. He seems to have left his clan because he found them too stuffy and oppressive, but isn't a good enough hunter to cut it on his own. Fascinated by the PCs equipment, clothing, etc: bubbles with questions about Lunar life. Begins trying to learn Carmanian, willing to teach his own language. Taken on as a temporary porter.
17. Walking along a path, ambushed by 4 barbarians. Their net trap failed, but they were definitely winning (Pan was dead ! , 1 or 2 of PCs side had Befuddles on them during whole fight, Toni fell down a trap) until the fight suddenly ended in a hail of criticals and slashes from the PCs too quickly for any of the attackers to run away: they all died. This was when Mad Wolf made his escape. Viran and Marcus gave chase, but ran back to the others when they encountered a hideous, rotting zombielike apparition. So the PCs now had 4 sets of armour and weapons (spears, a broadsword, a couple of composite bows) ... but Pan was dead.
18. Marcus knew of a Healing Pool nearby. He swore all to secrecy as he suspects the Tribesmen would be well narked off at civilised folks messing about with their sacred places, and led the group there. But though the glade was peaceful, and by 'worshipping' the pool the PCs found they could heal themselves if they were in contact with it, Pan obstinately refused to auto-resurrect. Marcus & Kiol figured that a powerful magician was needed, and they ran off to the nearest one they knew of (a shaman called Ghost Dancer, back at the Burnt Tree clan.... by now the party had almost completed a circle). They located him and took him to the pool. He seemed reluctant to do anything but, after thinking a while, said he'd do it but the party would Owe Him One Big and especially Pan. He prepared a ceremony, ordering the PCs to take part in certain fashions. [An insight into tribal magic for the PCs.] To prevent anyone going bonkers in the middle of the ceremony, he warned that he was summoning a spirit who would summon a healer's spirit who might be able to interrupt Pan's death / rebirth cycle by diverting him back into his original body, if it was healed and warmed up and had the proper runes marked upon it, etc. The ceremony failed the first time, but worked the second time. By now it was late in the night and everyone collapsed from exhaustion.
Pan will be 'out of it' for a week now. Perhaps he should be left with the tribesmen to recuperate and learn their ways and language? Or you could rest with him; or all return to Genest (you're a day away, if that) for his convalescence...
The ever mercenary... um, ... enterprising.... Viran & Pan bought some 'stuff' from two elves they had met previously, Tanglevine and Bindweed, while on a visit to Aquapor; carted it north to Genest and the local trader, Mr Icarnos, bought it and split the profit with them 50-50.
Agricultural products:
1. Omegron mix: this is a super-fertiliser, like Phostrogen. It smells strongly of fish. It costs 1c / kilo.
2. Dran sap: this is a pesticide. Sprayed / sprinkled on crops to kill grasshoppers and other insect munchers. Apply up to once/week in Earth season; 1c buys enough to treat 100m2.
3. Ghirios extract: kills slugs and snails. Apply once / fortnight in Earth season: 1c buys enough to treat 100m2 for a 2-week period.
4. Quoros oil: Mixed with wine and sprinkled on fruit, crops etc this repels & kills Corn Weevil, etc. hiding inside the plants. Do not eat for 3 days afterwards. 3c buys enough to treat 10 fruit trees: typically applied twice near end of growing season to protect valuable, almost-ripe fruit. (NB: it's normal to leave a few fruit untreated so pests attack those & leave prime stuff.)
Drugs :
1. Drugs are a large part of life in primitive societies. They're not illegal. Hallucinogens, depressants, mood alterers etc. are familiar to most people through religious ceremonies.
2. As the use of drugs as an accepted part of life is a rather alien concept to me, I will just let Pan and Viran's trafficking proceed as a normal trade transaction for now. I will review the situation after a game year or so.
3. For the first year, I more or less arbitrarily rule that Mr. Icarnos won't trade in the drugs, from personal preference, and you must build up the trade yourselves, through role-playing.
4. As I recall, they were going to spike someone's drink to see what happened. As the next game begins at the Harvest Festival, it may be an opportune time.
Other products:
Perfumes, medicines, midge repellent, etc. But in an almost subsistence economy, these are luxuries bought mainly by nobles and wealthy merchants, etc. You will need to travel a long way to sell a lot of these.
General Trading Point: - roughly how much time will Viran and Pan spend hawking wares?; - how much travelling will they do?; - give me an idea of their sales speech to a typical customer.... I have put some thought into the economics of the business, and if you wish to develop it I'm ready. However, we must do some initial role-playing of the trading itself so we all agree we're discussing the same thing. Only once I'm sure I know how they're trading, and they know some customers and how the market operates, can I begin abstracting it to 'you got 2d10 lunars this month'. Otherwise, we'll repeat the mistake Jim & I made with his trading company 'STC' where he assumed it could grow exponentially without limit, and I tried to reason with his ambition of making as much money as possible through cartels, until he went too far, crashed the Sartar economy and was declared a traitor by Argrath - Hurrah!
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