Delivering the Goods

I have not run a session with Valgrim for several weeks. Mainly, because I was unsure where to take him next. He still had a contract to fulfill but he needed a plan. It took a while but I finally came up with a plan that I thought might work. If this was a non-solo game the GM will have packed up and left while the players came up with their plans.

Again this is D&D 5e set on Aedenne using the Solo Adventurer's Toolbox.

Wanderings of Valgrim - Session 4

After a few days of rest, Valgrim has fully recovered. He has also had Tekin find him a leather jerkin and a crossbow. He spends the time planning how to best House Zimri and get the wine delivered to Sandcrest as he had promised.

Can Valgrim find a local map-maker? (Likely). Definite yes. Is there another route to Sandcrest? (Likely). Maybe. Is the other route dangerous? (Very Likely). Definite yes. Natural dangers? (Possible). No.

Valgrim asks Tekin if there is a local map-maker. Tekin ponders and tells him there is one in the marketplace. Valgrim and Tekin go to the map-maker and buy a map of the land around Opotal. Looking at the map Valgrim can immediately see another trail that heads to Sandcrest in a looping longer route to the south. He points to the trail and tells Tekin, “That is the route we shall take”. Tekin puts up his hands and objects. The longer route is not used because nomadic raiders of the Dastani tribe claim that area. “Not me, brother. I will not take that route,” Tekin says. Valgrim considers him for a moment then an idea comes to him. “No. You will take the usual route with a decoy wagon full of water and I will take the southern route with the wine!” Tekin, objects that he will not risk his life for some barrels of water. Valgrim assures him that he only needs to travel a few miles until he is out of sight of the town. Then he can wait and return after a few hours. There will be no danger.

“And what about you? And my employer's wine? What do I tell Master Zerfal?” Valgrim tells Tekin not to worry because he is certain his plan is going to work.

The next morning they load up two wagons taking some effort to conceal what they are doing. They leave early in the morning. As they follow each other through the town, Tekin turns his wagon toward the north gate and Valgrim turns his wagon toward the west gate.

Are they ambushed in town by Zimri bandits? (unlikely). Maybe. Is it Valgrim who encounters trouble? No.

Everything appears to go smoothly for Valgrim. He passes out of the gate and heads off into the desert following a seldom-used path.

Is there an encounter? Number of rolls 2. Yes. Is Valgrim beset by Zimri thugs? (Possible). Maybe.

A few hours out of Opotal, Valgrim spots four riders on his trail and about a half hour behind him. He surmises that Tekin must have been stopped and searched and the bandits discovered his ruse. He urges the horse pulling the cart along and looks for a good spot to defend from an ambush. Valgrim spots a rise with the foundation of an old stone building atop it. Deciding this would be an excellent position with which to defend himself he pulls the wagon to a stop, ties off the horse, and positions himself behind the wall with his crossbow ready.

The bandits see that he is waiting for them and they slow their horses and approach carefully. Suddenly, arrows fly at the bandits from the desert. Two of them are struck but stay on their horses. They turn and beat a hasty retreat for Opotal. Two men clad in sand-covered robes rise up out of the desert holding short bows. The approach Valgrim’s position and wave. Valgrim motions with his crossbow and yells, “I thank you for your help with those dishonorable thieves, but I must warn you that being chased has made me nervous and this crossbow has a light trigger!”

Rolled on the Situations Table and I got “disarm”. Not sure how to interpret that. So I rolled again this time asking, Will the raiders attack? (unlikely). No.

The two men pause. Then one of them tells Valgrim that they only wish to share equally. They will share a safe passage if he shares his goods. Valgrim levels the crossbow directly at the men and tells them he cannot let that happen.

The two speak amongst themselves for a minute then they shoulder their weapons and disappear into the desert. Valgrim waits for a few minutes and then quickly gets moving again, looking about nervously. Valgrim does not encounter any more problems on his trek to Sandcrest. He pulls up to Bertan Zerfal’s shop in Sandcrest and finds the gate is locked. After some banging on the door. A man appears and sees Valgrim and the cart and starts shouting excitedly for Master Bertan. Finally, Bertan Zerfal appears. He is surprised that Valgrim is here. It has been several days and he assumed that Valgrim had been killed by bandits. He had been awaiting word on whether he had lost another load of wine. “Come, come inside. Tell me all about it. It has been 4 days. I am sure you have had some adventures.”

Valgrim tells Bertan about the events of the past few days. Upon learning of the involvement of House Zimri, Bertan smacks his fist on the table, “Of course, Sala Zimri! I should have guessed!” He is amazed when he hears of Valgrim’s escape from the warehouse. Moving over to a desk, Bertan counts out the agreed-upon amount of gold, pauses, and then adds 10 more gold. “You certainly earned this my friend.” Valgrim accepts a pouch of 100 gold coins.

“Tell, me. Can I convince you to make more runs of wine?” Valgrim shakes his head, “I am not a cart driver”. But I will protect your business and put an end to these bandits for the right amount of gold”.
Valgrim says goodbye to Bertan and agrees to meet him in two days. He heads over to the Greasy Spadger Inn and waves hello to Savanna the owner. It is fairly busy so he waits to speak with her. Once Savanna comes over to speak to Valgrim he asks if Nisa is still in town.

Has Nisa waited in Sandcrest for Valgrim to return? (Possible). No. Did she leave voluntarily? (Likely). Yes.

Savanna tells Valgrim that Nisa cleared out of the Inn on the same day that Valgrim left 4 days ago. A little disappointed, Valgrim thinks about it for a while and then orders a meal.