Bartering for a Waterskin - Mapping the Hex pt. 8

Parnell Dubson
Jul 9, 2023
8 min read

Updated: Jul 12, 2023

When last we left off Denckash was able to procure his much needed papers and finally be on his way. Now, he still wanted a waterskin but he had no money, he was going to try to trade the tattered cloak (which until last night I totally forgot I had the cantrip Mending and see if I couldn't fix it.

Disclaimer: I utilize the Mythic Game Master Emulator (Mythic or Mythic GME) as well as The Solo Adventurer's Toolbox 1&2 (TSAT) & the Solo Wilderness Crawler (SWC) to supplement the adventure and build the terrain. I prepared little outside of the game world I already created, basic hex maps, and some lore that was already written from previous adventures. I will leave links to their respective links to support the authors at the end of this post. I encourage giving them a look!.

Scene 6 - Bartering for a Waterskin - 1FB - 12:33pm - Day 1

Denckash walks outside to present his newly acquired papers to the guard, so he can see if he can barter this tattered cloak for a waterskin.

CL=4, Chaos Roll 1d10=9, no modification

Denckash presented his newly obtained papers to the guard, hoping for passage into the town, or maybe get some of his coin back. The guard takes a look at them.

Does she let him go on his own? Likely 75%, d100=23, yes.

She rolled the write back up and slipped it into a small tube, handing it back to Denckash.

"Very well, keep these on you, some guards may ask to present it." she said with a strange mixture and sardonic tones and sterility, much different than her previous arrogance.

"You don't seem so bold as you did before, does a piece of parchment change that?" He asked

Does she say why? Unlikely 35%, d100=21, yes.

"Yes, I must away, though. Have a day." She said scurrying off, not speaking in complete sentences and actually quite distraught.

In reality, and currently unknown to Denckash, the guard was informed by a passing guard that some of them may be reassigned to the Lewrobo Expedition. She isn't handling it well.

Puzzled but relieved to be rid of the guard, he turned to head back to the Market Square. While he was out of funds, he wanted to see if maybe he can barter with this tattered cloak or perhaps utilize his herbalism skills to make a few coin, he wasn't on a timeline or schedule after all.

Random encounter to the Market Square: d100=18, yes!

TSAT1: Urban encounters: d100=95, NPC appears with a quest

Alrighty! Just what I need for some coin. Let us see what it is!

Quest Problem: d100=5, Criminal Escaped, Apprehension/Bounty Hunt

Sweet! Let's use the TSAT NPC Generator next!

Name: Wendel

Race: d100=14, Human

Gender: d100= 39, Male

Age: d100=50, 50 years old

Alignment: d100=62, Lawful Evil

Profession: d100=37, Executioner (!)

Disposition: d100=80, Pity

Emotion: d100=39, Distracted (+/-0 to Q/A)

Economic Status: d100=64, Rich

Interesting, an executioner is after a criminal…and neither him or Denckash had met yet. I *could* flesh out the NPC more from the DMG but I don't think it is relevant at this time. When I interact with NPCs I usually like to bulk them up, but I don't feel that is pertinent right now. Maybe later I will make a Character Profile on here. For right now, I want to leave this as is and build this quest. Paul Bimler suggests, with each quest to ask WHAT, WHY, WHEN, WHERE, HOW & WHO. We will utilize Mythic for this, ignoring doubles with no modifiers, simply rolling >50, yes & <50, no.

What is the crime?

Was it a violent crime? 1d100=14, yes! Only violent crimes are punishable by death in Lapoach

Did it end in the death of someone? 1d100=33, yes! They found the body of someone

Was the victim a high ranking individual? 1d100=12, yes! The body belonged to a noble family

Was it against the kingdom? 1d100=83, no, it wasn't a crime against the kingdom but an individual

Was magic involved in the slaying? 1d100=57, no! No, it seemed more like a mugging.

Why did the criminal commit the crime?

Was the victim targeted? 1d100=35, yes! The criminal knew exactly who they were going after

Was it politically motivated? 1d100=26, yes! The target was someone who the criminal disagreed with politically

Was it for personal gain? 1d100=63, no! The criminal was trying to make a statement

When did the criminal escape?

Did it happen recently? 1d100=100, exceptional no, this crime took place not so recently

Was it over a year ago? 1d100=53, no, less than a year ago but more than 3 months ago

Where would the criminal be?

Does the executioner have an idea where the criminal could have went? 1d100=28, yes! The criminal fled the village.

Does the executioner think he is going to another village? 1d100=37, Yes! The executioner feels he would have headed towards Filopi, a settlement right outside the borders of the Kingdom of Lapoach, in the Freelands outside of Lapoach's laws. About 2-3 days travel east.

Does the executioner know how to get to Filopi? 1d100=44, yes! He says you could either follow the coast until you get to where the land turns north, then about give or take 18 miles south. There will be a marker to show the end of the kingdom.

How did the criminal escape?

Did they escape from prison? 1d100=59, no! The criminal escaped capture when he was arrested but slipped through the guards.

Did they use magic to escape? 1d100=95, exceptional no! They used agility to escape

Did they have help? 1d100=68, no! They were working alone

Who was the criminal?

Is the criminal male? 1d100=31, yes!

Is he originally from Lapoach City? 1d100=36, yes! He was born in Lapoach

Is he an elf? 1d100=51, no! He was a halfling

Is he a commoner? 1d100=7, exceptional yes! He was the last person the executioner would expect to commit such a crime.

Wow! That was lengthy. Do you want to know the crazy bit? When I rolled the quest I had no idea where I was going to go with it, I think it came out well enough. I am excited to see where this goes. Now, the thing to remember is Denckash knows nothing about this. And, somehow, a halfling was able to off and Elven noble. Welp, let's see how this plays out.

A burly looking human who was grey at his temples and maintained a dour disposition was approaching citizens with a peace of parchment with a face on it. He was asking citizens if they had seen this particular figure. Denckash assumed nobody had because the human approached him next.

"Dragonborn, have you seen this halfling?" he asked

He hadn't but he wanted to sus this guy out.

"Who is asking?" Denckash inquired

"The village guard, he is a fugitive." the person asked

Is he dressed as a guard? Unlikely 20%, d100=65, no.

He has a loose leather vest with no shirt and a pair of, what looked like, leather pants with frills going down the sides.

"You don't look like a guard. Are you?" Denckash retorted

I could use the TSAT system for role-playing NPCs which uses a d20 with modifiers based on current emotional modifier as well as my Charisma mod. So, that is +0 for "Distracted" and -2 for Charisma. This question has an Unlikely outcome which has a -4 modifier already, so altogether we have -6. However, I prefer the Mythic GME and just translating mood through dialogue. Why? Because chaos reigns.

Very unlikely 15%, d100=6, yes!

"I am employed by the guard, but I am the executioner." He replied, though he constantly was looking around and not really making eye contact with Denckash

"What reason does the executioner have to be searching for a criminal?" He wondered.

"Well, he was sentenced to death but he escaped, so I am, ya know, looking out for him." The executioner muttered while scanning the area.

"Why aren't the guards?"

Is it the executioner's fault that the criminal escaped? 50/50 35%, d100=50, no

"They've passed it off to each other then told me since I was the one who would be executing him, that it was my turn to look." The executioner replied

"Your turn?" Denckash repeated, confused.

"Yeah, my turn," he said looking behind him, "He escaped three months ago so we just look around the village. The guards don't care because it's one less prisoner to worry about…but the Sergeants are on us. We are hoping we can find him before we had to form a posse, but it looks like it's about that time…" Through many stutters and trailed off sentences, the executioner explains that he is offering 50 gold to anyone who can lead them to the criminal & 200 gold for the prisoner himself. He also explains the crime in nature and the description of the target. It is a young halfling named Belso Brambleheel, originally from Lapoach. Belso was found with the body of an Elven noble by the name of Luthorin, nephew of the contested mayor. The working theory was that it was politically motivated, seeing as Luthorin was very outspoken on how Lapoach should turn out non elves. It was strange because Belso was usually a timid, quiet person.

"Has there been unrest amongst the races?" Very unlikely 15%, d100=64, no

I set the likeliness to Very Unlikely because when I rolled for the relations of the races in the description, it came up as living in harmony, so this Luthorin must have been a one off.

"No, usually everyone gets along." the executioner explained.

Does he ask Denckash to help? Likely 55%, d100=53, yes!

"You look like an adventurer, perhaps you can search for him, we have a lead…" he continued.

Denckash thought of it for a moment, and he really didn't care one way or another whether this halfling was caught but he needed coin.

"What did you have in mind?" Denckash followed up

"We feel he may be in Filopi, a town right outside of the borders of the Kingdom, in the Freelands. About two and a half days trave east."

The Freelands are neutral zones not under control of the Kingdom of Lapoach or the Duchy of Scheck. Self-governed settlements or homesteads dot the landscape, however, and the duchy & kingdom can only gain more land if they absorb these settlements or homesteads. Here and there there will be scuffles for parts of the Freelands but usually there is no contention. The only conflicts come from the neighboring cities in the province of Meretta who haven't signed The Freelands Treaty.

Does Denckash know where Filopi is? History DC14, d20+1=10, no

Denckash hadn't heard of this place but figured he could continue his journey, learn the terrain, and collect his coin. One step closer to his boat and eventually figure out what to do about Scheck. It may be pertinent for him to gain some renown with Lapoach and establish a home base.

"Sure, I will find your halfling. Perhaps I could have some coin for supplies to help?" Persuasion DC9, d20-2=16, success!

"That is fair, I'll give you 14 gold now and the remaining when you get back."

New Thread: Wanted: Belso Brambleheel

+14 GP

The executioner handed him 14 gold and gave him basic directions. Follow the coast until you see the sign for the border, then go south. He also took the wanted poster with him, it may come in handy should he find a suspect. The executioner, who he finally introduced himself as Wendel, told him to go to the training camps beyond the tree line near the entrance to the city once the task is complete. Denckash asked where he could find the general goods shoppe and he was told it is right next to the Inn in the Market Square. He continues on through the road that lead there, noticing the traffic jam was cleared up and it was more lively than before. Finally, after working through a crowd, he arrived at the shoppe.

End Scene CL=4

Update: New Thread - Wanted: Belso Brambleheel