The marks on the rat roughly match those on the rabbit. As before, there is a single deep narrow wound.
Enquiries suggest that magic weapons start around four to five thousand gold depending on what you’re looking for, although small weapons come cheaper. You’re mostly looking to make a private deal with someone who has one for sale - they’re quite rare and few people can afford them, so there isn’t a permanent establishment dealing in them. You also hear that Yakub Ismail, who is an outlander from the East and the local trainer in exotic animals, sometimes receives magic goods in trade for his valuable merchandise, and may be willing to exchange some for your owlbears and eggs.
Ulf asks the party which of them is looking for a magic weapon.
After the hubbub dies down, he explains that we need to decide how to buy magic items. Since there are no shops, we will probably only get a few chances to buy things, perhaps one or two at a time.
Do we want to pool resources for the good of the party, or just share the treasure equally?
To make it clearer, assume that Henrik and Redbread take their half-shares in cash.
The remaining treasure is split 5 ways - so if the Owlbear stuff sells for say 6,000 gold, the five Vikings would be owed 1000 gold each.
Now suppose Yakub offers us something magical worth 5,000 gold. None of the five can buy it individually, but we could agree all together to take it, give it to someone who can use it and that lucky person would then have to wait for more magic until the other four had all got something…
I think we can make those decisions as they arise. I wasn’t really understanding why we were splitting the profits anyway. It makes more sense to buy things as we need them as a group. The only difficultly will arise when we are faced with buying A or B but can’t buy both.
“With no have worry about little stuff me no need pocket coin. It make goo smell for us to join and get more good thingies. I wand big bashy hammer . . . so big me need both hands to swing good but not be hit be good to. Maybe we see what there and do talk about want.”
Roleplaying groups often split the treasure equally (saves time and arguments; players have different motivations etc).
I think this group is special because although we have different skills, we are united in being a group of Bjarni’s friends who are temporarily outcasts. We need each other - and will do well together.
So Ulf is happy to pay Hendrik and Redbeard a share in cash (because they joined us as skilled employees), but agrees with Bjarni that the five of us together buy magic stuff that will help the group.
Fellow Vikings! Are you happy with this?
Hello! I’ll be bringing in a Skald into the party soon. I’ve been reading the straight dope since 2000 but have never posted. I lurk well. Love me some DnD though! I’ll post more on my character and such after Malacandra helps me get everything together.
[Bertie Wooster voice ON] I say, Osvald! We Berserkers much prefer to be called ‘unstoppable’ rather than ‘heavy’, don’tcha know? Pip Pip and toodle-oo! [Bertie Wooster voice FF]
I’m sure the entirety of my future posts will be influenced by this auspicious start. I expect it to work excellent in GD.
“Cite, CITE! Do you not know I possess all the history of Odin’s breadth in my stories and songs? How can I be in error when my timing and tenor are immaculate. You sir, are to be cleaved.” Hmm… Success?
I’ll post a short character description when Malacandra gets me a sheet and introduces me. Until then… I’ll get back to work.
Osvald looks up: “Oh. Huh? What’s going on? I seemed to have nodded off for the last few hours. I’m sorry i haven’t been paying attention, but luckily my memory is quite good. So sorry though for being so quiet. But No one hardly noticed! Oh well. Oh Dear. More Snakes??? I wonder if I could create an auto-mah-ton. I’d love to have a wonderful Pet of my own! But where did this poison come from? Owliebears don’t have poison… Hmm… We should remember this in case we run upon an alchemist some day…
As for the splitting of goods? Osvald is quite happy with what he has. Perhaps some fancy clothes, and some saved funds would be nice. Oh and of course paper and ink for my own writing, oooh… and I’ll need money for Tea! But I suppose if we share our funds, I’ll try to keep my fancies to myself, and my pockets in check.
Though if we find any beautiful Maidens, however can I impress her without having funds?! Hmm… perhaps if I start saving up now, I could amass some gold- as I doubt many princesses would favor communal living lifestyles… Oh, but what If there are such maidens? Hmmm… that would be quite delightful indeed! Oooh, and if they had green eyes! Oh yes! Yes indeed!”
And Osvald continues to happily lose himself in his thoughts once again…
Ulf says: So let’s sell the broken Automaton for 100gp and the risky Amulet for 1000gp.
Presumably Henrik and Redbeard get 93 gold each; Bjarni 184, Ulf, Jorund, Ivar and Osvald 183 gold each.
That gives us all spending money (e.g. Ulf wants to make a bear teeth necklace).
Next we visit Yakub the exotic animal trainer and sell all the Owlbears. We ask what magic items he’s got and decide if anyone can use them.
Any treasure left over, Bjarni can keep on behalf of his party.
Then we return to the Black Snake, ready to use Detect Magic and then Dispel Magic to capture the larger automaton.
Well we’re selling the ‘cursed’ Owlbear Amulet, so how are you going to communicate with any Owlbears you keep?
Who’s going to look after rapidly growing powerful monsters on a boat?
How are you going to stop them trying to eat us when they are full grown?
The alternative is to find out what they are worth - and if it’s a lot, sell them to get an ‘obedient’ magic item!
dies down, he explains that we need to decide how to buy magic items. Since there are no shops, we will probably only get a few chances to buy things, perhaps one or two at a time.
because although we have different skills, we are united in being a group of Bjarni’s friends who are temporarily outcasts. We need each other - and will do well together. 