Hmm. I was also hoping to pick up a few basic tools for any construction or sapping we might need. Specifically, I was hoping to purchase the following:
1 shovel
1 pickaxe
1 machete
1 hatchet/hand axe
1 high quality skinning knife
1 high quality hunting knife
1 high quality utility knife
1 Lantern of Aglarond
8 flasks of good oil
Assuming I was to trade my leather, would the tools leave enough for something better than a +1 blade?
Ghân has the 140GP and 2000 in chits/barter for use. You may be able to find a feral dog in Osgiliath or purchase a well bred dog here or Osgiliath. Let me know if you are looking for Hunting, War, Tracking or GP. Large, up to 4+1HD or small (1HD about 25-35 pounds)
As to Druidic magic, 2140 won’t buy much that is permanent. There would be some chance at a spell enhancer for a specific spells or two.
The journey north could be done with only the party. Gilraen would appear to have been given begrudging permission to adventure, especially is she is being looked after by her champion and others. The party has but to ask.
Heading East would and should include Hodwain, but no one else. He would appreciate the help, but understand not wanting to go on such a far journey through such tough lands.
South would be war! It would be tough to set up without many NPCs. I would shy away from that.
There is always asking around for local hot spots. Dangers, haunts and etc.
Omi no Kami That list should be available as a throw in with a pair of +1 Short Swords.
Alright, in that case I’ll do it: the list of tools, plus the swords. 
Ghân will ask Fang how confident he feels about Tracking.
He can use Locate Animals for Hunting, so unless Fang is nervous about tracking, Ghân would like to first Speak to a **well bred Large War dog **and explain about travelling, eating Goodberries and bodyguarding spellcasters. If the dog is interested, Ghân will ask the owner’s permission to cast Animal Friendship and buy the dog if it works.
If there’s money left after that, Ghân would be interested in a spell enhancer for Neutralise Poison or Summon Insects.
Ghân would relish going North with Gilraen (not as much as Thoroncir ;)).
Local hot spots are fine too.
However he feels embarrassed about going anywhere with Hodwain (though he will continue to be suspicious of strangers) and war is not for him (unless it comes to him, when he would be happy to guide a large Cavalry force past some pickets towards a major battle …)
Fang tracks pretty well.
The breeder of the War Dogs seems surprised you want an adult and not a pup.
He looks very suspicious of your idea of first enchanting the animals and only then buying. He also looks uneasy dealing with you at all.
What would enhance Neutralize Poison? It always works and has no material component.
There is a Golden Scarab that allows Summon insects last twice as long and summon twice the number and of mixed types. It will do 4 hp per round instead. It works as the material component. It could be had for 1400gp.
OK, War Dog it is then.
This seems to need careful handling. I’ll explain first that I’m very good with animals.
Then I’ll ask to pay him just to Speak to Animals. If he refuses, or it turns out he’s mistreating his animals, I will retreat, collect some members of the party and come back.
If I get a suitable dog that is interested in going adventuring, I’ll pay the man to let me cast Animal Friendship, with the guarantee that he keeps the money if it fails, and that I pay the agreed purchase price if it works.
(If there are two suitable dogs, I’ll try the second if the first fails.)
No worries - I though there might be some especially virulent poisons…:eek:
Ghân wants that! 
The vendor, his name is Gorveis, mulls your offer. "Here is the deal, I have a very had to handle large aggressive male. He is 4 years old and I use him as my main guard and for breeding. I am the only one that can handle hom and even my sons fear him greatly.
I will charge you 10 gold to cast your spell to speak to him and then 100gp for your second spell. If you can tame him or befriend him, I wish you luck. His name is Anca."
The dog is huge, as big as a warg, but a bigger head. He is larger than Fang. A full 4+3 HD and surelynear max HP.
“Stotious” is not to be found either on Dictionary.com nor in my edition of the Random House College Dictionary. A suitably obscure word for an Elvish bard, I’d say. 
Sir Thoroncir has a Lantern of Aglarond and it has done him good service, for those looking for a recommendation.
Gilraen asks him (I am reliably informed by a certain gentleman in New Jersey) if he has talked to Curunauth about the Numenorean sword. “He not only was the senior smith for reforging Anduril,” says she, “but he is steeped in deep secrets and powers as the son of Celebrimbor.” The Sea-Knight of course immediately agrees to seek out Curunauth, and asks her along.
If Ghan wishes, Thoroncir would be glad to accompany him in his shopping so as to allay the fears of any merchants or tradesmen.
He will take care to see that Riglo’s share is passed along to his friend in the city.
As to the party’s next destination, he favors north, east or south, in that order, so long as the fair Gilraen goes with them.
Riglo friend is his cousin in the city guard. He is easily found. He thanks you on behalf of Riglo.
Gilraen sends a messenger for you to be at the Citadel at 9 pm with the sword.
Curunauth asks what you have learned about it and then examines the sword and explains that, “The Men of the West made excellent blades here and that they are fully receptive to additional enchantment. This type was usually friendly to enchantments against either undead or evil wolves. It is a difficult procedure and would take a month in Imraldis once all the needed components were collected. Something to think about for the future.”
Thoroncir warmly thanks Curunauth for his insights, and (his hangover waning but feeling like “a bit of the hair of the warg” still might do some good) asks if he might buy the Elf-lord a refreshment in the establishment of his choice.
Ghân will tell Gorveis he’s definitely interested, return to base and ask Thoroncir to come back with him (nothing like having a distinguished Knight to assist!)
Ghân will then pay the first 10 gold straightwaway because he can check how Anca feels about things. He will then discuss the second fee, depending on what he finds out. (After introducing his titled companion, of course.)
If Anca is not being mistreated and there is no problem Ghân can help him with (e.g. he wants to stay, but needs far more exercise…), then Ghân will ask Anca if the dog is interested in adventuring (fresh air, exercise, occasional combat ). Ghân emphasises that Anca must be prepared to work with the party, especially Fang (and Brownie).
If Anca likes the idea of adventuring, then Ghân will ask Gorveis what the purchase price is. Ghan then points out that:
Finally Ghân asks for a discount.
(DM, if the bit about ‘we supply the nobility’ is too much for unsophisticated Ghân to think of, then ignore it. I thought it would amuse you!)
I honestly can’t think of too much I want at the moment, although I do have an idea for ornamenting my harp that I’ll run by the DM - it is unlikely to have much practical effect although I suppose it might earn me a situational bonus now and then once I get around to being a bard for real. I need to see how my yew wood is maturing, and perhaps spend some time baking up some lembas for a journey - otherwise, unless I hear of some interesting item for sale and not costing too much, I’ll bank the money for now.
I should certainly vote for a trip up to Imladris. The people there have been hospitable when I have visited it in the past (the last time was a while ago, at least as humans reckon it) and I would be delighted to help them out in return. Also we might swing by the Old Forest on the borders of Buckland while we’re up there - for another visit I would like to make, on Merry Brandybuck’s suggestion.
Curunauth says to Thoroncir, “Thank you but I need to get a few tasks done tonight as I will shortly be heading back to Imraldis.
That reminds me, if your party is heading north, perhaps you could escort me back to Imraldis. I can even pay a nominal fee. Elladan was my escort down and that was plenty but he is riding with Prince Legolas I believe on some Orc raid just north of the Dark Lands. My work here finished up swifter than I expected and I prefer the comfort of Imraldis to the stony efficiency and grandeur of Minas Tirith.”
You get the impression that he might come as close as an elf, especially a Noldorian elf can to being an absent minded professor type.
Ghân speaks to Anca, “I am treated well enough for *(chattel)**, but I yearn to run the lands and prove myself. I can work with Fang as long as Fang knows who is big dog. I am fine with horses.”
I thought the next step was the Animal Friendship spell?
I will assume it is. Anca fails his save; I gave you a bonus, as he wants to go with you. The spell works well.
The barter, “I have a few dogs and pups with odd ailments or injuries. If you can find out what is wrong and cure them, I will only charge you 50 gold. As to supplying nobility, I already do. I run the best kennel in the Kingdom and they know it. Who else could have raised such a monster as Anca?”
Anca is over 200 lbs and would most closely resemble a long legged English Mastiff. In fact if you bred an English Mastiff and an Irish Wolfhound, you might get a dog very much like Anca. He stands a 36” at the shoulder and is long legged. When he works off a little fat, he should be a swift runner at least for spurts. He is a grayish dog but has patches of black and brown. His face is one that only a mother could love, but humans would probably say the same thing about Woses. 
I will gladly stock up on the best of whatever can be had, since I’m quite flush with cash at present. Were there two dozen in that nice new quiver already? If I can find another two for now, that would be great.
[Tolkien-geek dick-measuring]Dude, that’s “Imladris”, “Imlad” valley and “-ris” cloven (same root as in “Orcrist”, Goblin-cleaver")… not “Imraldis”. “Riven-dell”, see? [T-gd-m]
Thoroncir says, “I would welcome your company on a journey northward, my lord, as I expect would my comrades, if that is indeed where our party decides to go. Let me speak to them further. If we happen not to go there this time, however, could you nevertheless take word to Imladris of my request that the necessary components for an enchantment against the undead (if such items will keep indefinitely) be assembled? That might save some time in the future.”
The Sea-Knight leaves his temporary address at the Citadel with the Elf, and takes his respectful leave. He then goes to find Ghan to see if his favorite Wose needs any assistance in acquiring a hound.
As he walks the clean, bustling and eye-pleasing streets of the capital of Gondor, Sir Thoroncir thinks of his true love, smiling to recall how beautiful she was in her white robes. He sees a broadsheet soliciting laborers and craftsmen for the great rebuilding of Osgiliath, and idly wonders if a brief side trip there would be of interest to his comrades, ere the party sets forth on its next adventure.
Malacandra: There were two dozen +1 slender arrows in the quiver and I can’t believe I messed up Imladris. I know it; I have spelled it correctly in the rest of the threads. I am disappointed in myself.
Basic arrows you can use will have the following costs:
+1 100 per or 1050 per dozen
+2 250 per or 2625 per dozen
+3 400 per or 4200 per dozen
Curunauth to Thoroncir, “I hope your journeys take you in my direction then. As to assembling the components, it will work best if you do at part of the gather yourself. However, I can tell you that you’ll need to find a diamond of roughly 1000 gold value and several stones of Chalcedony worth about 200 gold. As a quick guess you will need another 5000 gold worth of labor and material.”
You add a quiet presence to Ghân’s shopping. You do get the feeling that Ghân may have been dismissed if you were not there with him.
Does Miron still have plenty of ordinary arrows, or would you prefer him to assume a loss and go trolling for some new ammunition?
I believe you are low on regular arrows.
In that case, Miron will don his oldest, most travel-worn garments before taking a trip through the weapon stalls, in the hopes that the merchants won’t see his beautiful, shiny new equipment and raise their prices.
Unless one of the party would like it he’ll sell both of his old, non-magical shortswords, and buy as many arrows as he can afford. (If he actually has enough gold to purchase 90 non-magical arrows, that’ll be more than enough.)
Deor will take both the pocketknife and the scroll of Fireball and Knock, leaving himself 40 gp remaining after getting the dragon Identified.