Once you arrived in Colinswealth, you procured a room and the next day headed to the market to apply your trade. There you saw an Elf playing a harp at a fountain. You played a few songs with her, and are currently dividing the coins.
"I am a bard, same as you. I travel and sing and find out what the world is up to. Have you not heard? The Elven King is planning on re-opening the ancient trade routs. That is important information, and I would expect all travelers to know it!"

The Fiddle is your bread, and your voice is your butter. You tell stories and sing song, to entertain is your livelihood...

Best of luck to you, if you'd started a bit earlier I wouldn't just be going to bed.

Hey... I remember this quest!

Weren't we making this bard into a lesbian? I remember her flirting with the blacksmith to lower a price, but I'm pretty sure we were making her a lesbo.

>>10837711

Well that's wonderful, we may want to consider joining a caravan that will be traveling on the newly reopened trade routes. It'd be an interesting way to see the world and perhaps we could learn some Elvish songs on the way. Ask her if she'd like to join us.

>>10837736
Are you sure you're not thinking of that Cthulu cultist quest we had yesterday?

>>10837755
No, this was from January. We were steering her towards lesbian shenanigans.
We had her kiss the Paladin for the gift, and, while we haven't made a move on Tabby, a lot of people wanted lesbian shenanigans with the musclegirl.

>>10837776
Oh I remember this quest, I just didn't remember people trying to go for lesbian bard. I do however remember cutting off the bandit's ear, good times.

>>10837745
You were planning on heading to the city of Vimestead, but your plans weren't set in stone. You're prepared to go to anywhere where your trade can get you coin. Maybe you can accompany this elf back to her homeland?
The elf sighs and rolls her eyes. "The roads won't be opening for a few months yet. I'm traveling to gather news to share with my people once the roads are open." She shifts around slightly. "I normally wouldn't be traveling with humans but... I hear there are bandits on the roads nearby..."
Come to think of it... you don't know her name yet.

>>10837855
Well then, let's ask her. Try to mention that we will be heading to a larger city in the time between now and when the roads reopen. She's welcome to come along with us and if she does we'll split the coin we earn preforming and with it could hire some guards.

>>10837855
Ask her name ans ask her if she wants to go to the city with us.
If I remember right, Tabby wanted to do some strongwoman stuff as part of the show.
This elf is a good singer, and the more the merrier, and safer, it is on the road. Also, ask her if she has any weapons training.

>>10837923
We don't need guards! The leader of the last bandits who fucked with us got a knife to the dick. And his uppity friend got something cut off. Armor maybe though.

Wait now I remember, we were going to form some sort of traveling circus deal. Let's go look around at the other performers for more talent to join us.

>>10837923
>>10837928
>>10837943
>>10838038
You introduce yourself to the elf, and ask her if she wishes to accompany you to Vimestead, the largest city in the immediate area. You assure her that all coins will be split fairly, and that the last bandits who troubled you payed for your room at the Inn. Giving you a puzzled look, you explain tot he elf that you turned them in for a bounty.
She contemplates this for a while, idly plucking the stings of her harp. "You may call me Faral... and I believe that I will walk with you on the roads. There are very few of my people out and about." Next you ask her about defending herself. "I an skilled with the bow, as are most of my kin, and I'm also able to use shortswords, though I have none with me. I know no magics, but my Elven ears and eyes are better then those of you humans. And I carry no armor. Where are you staying, if I may ask?"

There are also two other talented performers in the market. A Juggler and joke teller, and a small boy with a preforming dog.

>>10838122
I say we skip them and stay with our all girl traveling show.
Maybe try to find a dancer?

>>10838183
agreed.
but we should dance AND play the fiddle.

>>10838122
Looking back on the threads it appears we were staying at Nobby's Knob. Assure her that it's a better place than it sounds. Try for the juggler/joke teller, he's got multiple talents and it seems like he'd probably be pretty handy with a blade with the high dexterity required in juggling.

>>10838247
But... but... LESBIANS!

>>10838183
>>10838206
Singing, dancing, and playing the fiddle? I don't think we should spread ourselves so thin.

>>10838266
Maybe it's a female juggler or an elven man, they count as women.

>>10838296
I mean find a woman dancer. Like a Gypsy.

>>10838122
Our show will be unsuitable for small boys, but perhaps we could acquire his dog?

>>10838311
I shouldn't have linked to your post, but the other guy was implying we should dance along with our current act.

>>10838183
>>10838206
>>10838247
>>10838266
>>10838296
>>10838311
>>10838384
You tell Faral how to get to Nobby's Knob, and quickly explain that it's actually a nice place. Though she still have a slight look of repulsion, she stands and takes her half of the coins. "I will meet you there this evening then."
You made bank with that performance. 24 silver and 9 copper worth of coins are added to your coin pouch. You left 20 silver with Tabby, so you now have 48 silver and a few copper.
You debate talking with the juggler. On one hand, you don;t have any jokers in your group, and he might be skilled in a fight, but on the other hand you generally prefer the company of women to men.
Now what you could really use is a a dancer. Everyone loves dancers. Especially you. You toy with the silver ring on your finger. And decide to move on.
As you pass, you take some interest in the boy and his dog. The dog balances on a ball, balances the ball on it, and other tricks of the like. The boy gives a command, and the dog obeys. After the performance you approach the boy. You ask how much he would be willing to sell the dog for. The boy looks up at you, shocked. "Sell Jim? Not likely miss! He's my best friend in the whole world and I'd starve without him! besides, he wouldn't listen to a word you said."

>>10838476
I suppose stealing the dog is futile

>>10838516
You'd steal from a little boy?
I mean... yeah we cut a guy, but he was insulting our girlfrie-Tabby.

>>10838476
Well of course we wouldn't be able to buy a boy's best friend off of him. Let's go try to find a cabaret or a theater to pick up a dancer, maybe hit the market on the way there. We could probably use another change of clothes and we could sell a couple of the bandit's weapons off too. Keep the shorts sword for the elf though, we can give it to her a present later.

>>10838546
Yes.
We could leave him some coins to get by until he finds something else. Now I'm wondering how he even got it in the first place. On second thought, nuts to that, I don't even want the dog anymore.

>>10838573
We should keep all the weapons. A dagger for each of us, the bow and shortsword for the elf.
Better armor would be good. Maybe something for elfie.

>>10838647
We already have a hip dagger though. We should sell one of the daggers and pick up a weapon like a cutlass or something.

Which Magic expansions do I have access to, and how much mana is floating in my pool

>>10838647
We are wearing a padded vest. which sounds ugly, and we should get, like, a brigandine made of velvet or something flashy. Who wants an ugly bard?

>>10838516
>>10838546
>>10838573
>>10838601
>>10838647
You briefly think about stealing the dog and leaving some money, but you quickly dismiss the thought. With your luck the dog is magic of something.
You look at the equipment you got off the bandits. You set the bow and shortsword aside, along with one of the daggers for Tabby. The Elf gets a sword, and you already have two of your own, so you decide to sell two of them. Searching around the market for a bit you find a blacksmith who looks over the daggers carefully. "Not bad... I'll give you 20 silver for the two of them." In the little town you were able to get a high quality knife for 3 silver, marked down from 5. But everything here is more expensive.
Do you take it or try to haggle?

>>10838709
I'm pulling things our of both 3.5 and 4E. You know parlor tricks and are a pretty good Ventriloquist. (Prestidigitation and ghost sound)

>>10838757

Haggle, we're a bard we should do fine. Show off a bit of cleavage and go for a bit of flirting to get a reduced price.

>>10838771
So our bard only shows interest in men long enough o get a price cut?
Whore.

>>10838800
Hey man, if you got 'em use 'em.

>>10838800
Well we could try to get our strong women to go for some intimidation or lie and tell him that they are special runed daggers or some other crock and they are worth far more than twenty silver.

>>10838800

Well we are a bard what else are we supposed to do. I also vote to try and haggle, use or whiles to get a higher trade for us.

>>10838771
>>10838800
>>10838834
>>10838841
>>10838903
You decide to haggle. You "absentmindedly" undo your padded vest and stretch, flaunting the good the gods saw fit to give you. While doing so, you weave a tale of bravery and cunning, and how you tricked a bandit king in order to get this mystic dagger.
The blacksmith raises a brow and looks down at the dagger. "Little lady, I've been a blacksmith for, I'd say twice as long as you've been alive. I'm no dwarf, but I do know magic weapons. And I doubt my wive would be happy with you flaunting yourself before me. However, I thank you for the story and, and making me feel a little younger. I'll give you 25 silver for both of them, but I won't go one copper higher. I'll also give you a 10 percent discount on one item in the store."
The blacksmith has some pretty standard wares. Nothing magical, but all kinds of armor and a decent assortment of weapons.

>>10838921
Say "It was worth a shot", close your vest, and look around for a pole weapon, a halberd of some sort.

Halberds are under basic martial proficiency right

>>10838921
Pretty good deal for the circumstances. Let's find a nice rapier for ourselves and try to pick out some decent chain mail for Tabby.

>>10838921

deal, also let Him we Might be preforming at the "Knob" later so if he wants to take his wife there and dance A bit, make her feel younger, then we'll have a song for him.

>>10838955
>>10838972
Out vest is pretty... light as well. Maybe we should get something for ourselves as well?
And then give the leather armor to the Elf. They dig light leather, right?

>>10838972
we're pretty good with the knifes, can we even use a rapier?

>>10839010
in both 3.5 and 4E, yes we can.
>>10838989
we can use chainmail. I say we pick up 2 chain vests,

>>10838955
>>10838972
>>10838987
>>10838989
>>10839010
>>10839088
Well at least you were able to get a better price. You tell him you're staying in the Knob and plan on preforming later tonight, and he should bring the missus. "Well... I grab a drink there every so often. Maybe I'll stop by."
Looking through the shop, you pick out a rapier for yourself, and two chain vests. The vests are 40 silver a piece, and the rapier is another 25. You can get 10% off one item, but you only have 73 silver and a few copper.

>>10839148

well we should get the vest for Tabitha if she needs something better, And the rapier for us, we can keep wearing what we got until we find something nicer.

>>10839176

>>10839148
>>10839176
You know... we could probably sell the Silver Ring and get both vests and the rapier,

>>10839148
Buy the rapier and one vest with the discount used on the vest. Perhaps if we entertain him and his wife well enough and earn enough cash from our performance we'll be able for afford a second vest later.

Oh wow

Bard Quest

I awaken the Finnish Troll

I still say we should have picked up a halberd. Bards with rapiers are just overdone.

Also, how much would it cost to have these chainmail vests fitted?

>>10839176
>>10839181
>>10839198
Damn! 28 silver short! If you had the money you gave Tabby then maybe... oh well. You choose to take the discount on the vest and you buy the rapier as well. You'll continue to use the padded vest. It's a little warm, but better then nothing, like Miranda said... You briefly wonder what Miranda is going now, but quickly push the though to the side.
You have 12 silver left, and the room has already been paid for for the day. The market isn't the largest you've been to, but there is plenty to see and do. You notice that the Juggler and the small boy have both left the market, and all the other performers don't seem to be as good as you or them. You still have most of the day to kill.

>>10839288
... we're using D&D rules for that. It just works.

>>10839296
Go find a dancer or maybe an acrobat at a local theater house. Browse the area for any horses/wagons for sale, we definitely won't be able to afford one, but we'll need some to start our circus.

>>10839296
Find a clothier and get yourself some +cha clothing, stuff that you think would improve your earnings while playing. Shouldn't be too expensive.

Perform at the market entrance.

Assuming quest is still on, I'm a fan of saving some of our cash and just buying the Chain shirt for Tabby. We don't know how much longer we'll be in town, and the blacksmith probably doesn't have many people coming in to buy a rapier. We'll need to look into getting some armor for Faral as well; probably something similar to what we have at the moment (Padded Leather Armor isn't that bad for a ~Level 1 Bard to have on them at this point in time.)

After that, we should explore around town some more and try to hear about any more news events or other interesting little stories, maybe an hour or so doing this before returning to the Knob and talking with Tabby and Faral about our future plans, as well as seeing if we wish to turn this little group into a sort of traveling circus/caravan group. I like the idea of getting a dancer and we'd probably need someone who can give out fortunes.

Not entirely sure about making this an all-female gig, then again I wasn't a fan of the whole lesbo angle we pulled back in January.

>>10839296

actually lets check the "Knob" see how much room is there for a small concert, also be on the look out for a male or female dancer, female would work better though

>>10839346

Okay then, forget my first paragraph and put forward my suggestion for the next few hours in paragraph 2.

Sometime soon we should aquire a cow. For lifting.

>>10839346
I'll support not digging the all girl crew bit, we missed out on the juggler because of it and he'd have been a good asset to the show. Right now we have two, maybe three acts if the elf preforms alone. We need tons of performers and it'll be difficult if we limit our hiring to only women.

Ugh... Why's this gotta start up now, right when I should be going to bed?

Assuming it's still around when I wake up and OP is around still, I'll return to help out with it.

>>10839388
More importantly it'll be hard to recruit performers if you have no money to give them up front. They need an incentive to join your troupe other than 'we can make money together'

>>10837776
don't give in to the "let's be lesbians lol" trolls. Fight them ! if vampire bride quest had no sex in it then so can bard quest!

>>10839422

True but we weren't avoiding sex, we were avoiding drinking too much blood that we would kill people. and we killed alot of people.

so lets look for more work.

>>10839342
>>10839344
>>10839346
>>10839357
You wonder around the market for a while, keeping an ear out for anything interesting. You play a few songs here and there and manage to get 8 silver.
You pass stalls of all kinds. Eventually you come across one that is both more colorful and a little more permanent then the rest. Stepping inside, you find it's a clothes shop. bright clothes and scarves hang on racks. A little old woman sits behind a counter and winks at you. "Hello deary. Judging by that fiddle, you're a musician, aren't you?" Pulling out a measuring tape, she starts sizing you up. Half an hour later, she has you fitted for a corset and a soft cotton skirt. She tried to sell you silk, but you told her you're working on a 20 silver budget. Stepping back, she smiles. "You look a treat, you do. You're so pretty I'll sell it all to you for 6 silver."

>>10839483
Whats the catch?

>>10839492
I don;t think there is one. In one of the other threads it said a traveler who was VERY careful and VARY frugal could probably survive on 1 silver a day, if they didn't mind eating bad food. 6 seems like a fair amount.

>>10839483
Nearly sounds too good to be true, but go with it. Ask if you can get a top hot and suit jacket deal so we look a bit more like a ring master.

Maybe we should get something with sleeves.

Can we get something like this?

>>10839579
It's spring, the weather is good, we don't need sleeves yet.

>>10839600
>>10839492
>>10839510
>>10839512
You poke and prod the deal for some kind of catch, but can't find one. So you ask about some fancier clothes. "Well the jacket won;t be much, for a goo done I'll take 3 more silver, and the Top Hat... well now those are a bit pricier. 5 coins for that." Which is still only 14 silver. That leaves you with 6. You pay for your clothes and leave the shop. You keep your traveling hat on and the top hat in the box for now. You'll save them for performances.
Eventually you pass by a large tent with a very animal smell about it. Across the lane there is a corral with horses. As you get closer you notice two men arguing in the street, one is slightly dirty and smells like the tent, while the other is in a suit. They seem to be arguing over what is better, camels or horses.

>>10839612
eavesdrop for a mo'

>>10839612
Tell me, does the camel salesman look a little... crazy?

>>10839633
>>10839612
Holy shit... Crazy Hassan?

>>10839600
or we could go for this look.

>>10839612

Run from there. Run until you can run no longer. Run back to your group and weep, tell them how you almost were violated by the madness of a seller of camels and his madness.

>>10839694
I like Hassan! He's nice!

great should have expected this, we use up all our money and now we end up in debt buying camels

>>10839632
>>10839633
>>10839656
>>10839694
You stop to listen for a moment, as the argument escalates. "People do not need horse! They need camel! Camel better then horse, less water, twice the work! People need better then new slightly used camels!" The turbaned head of the camel salesmen turns slowly to you.
Something tells you to flee, to run fast and hard. You have no idea what it is, but you bolt. As you turn a corner you hear a the man's voice. "See you soon!"
After running flat out for a few minutes you need to stop to get your breath back. You sit down on a barrel next to a bright yellow and red tent with blue streamers. A small hand painted sign sits out front. Polm reedings, 2Silver.
Nice and acurate profesees
Now yur futcher in life and love

>>10839797
Great, we could always use phony fortune reader in the circus. Go inside, but don't spend much money. Ask for your fortune and other things.

>>10839797

Ahh a Precog why didn't I think of them, great warriors and mystics, lets see whos inside

>>10839797
>>10839825
Well they can't spell, that's for sure.

>>10839797
They have their own tent. Lets see if we can recruit them for the show.
We are the Grand Master!

>>10839825
>>10839830
>>10839831
>>10839856
You step into the tent and see an old woman hunching over a glass orb. "Hello young one. I knew you were coming. I saw your lovely hair in my crystal ball this morning." She motions you to sit down. "Palm readings are my specialty. Lets see here... You are a musician, and a good one at that. Oh my. You have a long and profitable life ahead of you. Your lifeline, that's this one right there, is nice and long. You will have... 3 children with a handsome fire headed man, with the strength of ten men."
She holds out her hand and smiles a toothless smile. "2 silver my dear."
A goat walks into the tent, idly chewing on some paper. A young woman follows it. She is a beautiful woman, with dark skin and eyes, and hair the color of a raven's wing. She has on a loose purple skirt and a loose white blouse. "Grandmother! Gregor got loose again and, OH! I'm sorry, I didn't know you were with a guest." She bows low and backs out of the tent. The old woman coughs and holds out a hand.

>>10839954
A Gypsy. And with a description like that, I think we just found our dancer.

we research how to summon Katana Imps. Then I ask around if there are any... abandoned castles in the woods nearby.

>>10839954

Well it was either a camel or this, lets try joking with her and telling her we are a boy, try to lower our voice or look like a young man.

>>10839976
/psychic. She may have inherited this old hags clearly legit abilities

>>10839991
we're wearing a dress. I doubt we can pull off boy. (If I remember right we look like OP's pic)
I say we pay the scamming old woman and follow the girl out of the tent.

>>10840012
looking at it... she might be SOMEWHAT legit.
I mean, we DO know a fire headed (redhead) person who can lift cows (Strength of ten men)

>>10840035
>a handsome fire headed man
> fire headed man
>man

>>10840035
And princess might already know the trade somewhat, if false.

>>10840067
Well... Tabby isn't exactly a delicate flower.

>>10840067
>Note: check sex of Tabby

>>10840075
Well unless she's hiding a certain something from us the fortune's pretty much bunk.

>>10840105
She could be talking about Tab's brother. potentially.

>>10839976
>>10840012
>>10839991
>>10840035
>>10840070
You drop two coins into the woman's hand. "Ah-ha. I can do tarot cards next for another three you know. Tell you all kinds of things!" You stand and decline, and quickly leave the tent. You have an idea brewing, and you slip to the side.
Peering around the tent, you see the woman sitting on the ground petting the goat. "Now Gregor, what have I told you about wondering off? I saw that butcher look at you, you could have ended up a kabob!" She occasionally hands it a piece of hay or whatever else is near at hand. You notice bells on one of her wrists and, as she stretches out a well muscles and toned leg, one of her ankles. They make a soft jingle as she stirs. She looks up with a start. "OH! I did not see you there! Please do not give me such a fright!" She has the accent of someone from the south lands.

>>10840142
>>10839954
Yum.

>>10840142
"sniff... So uh, nice goat"

>>10840178
Yeah, THAT'LL win her over.
Ask her if she can dance.

>>10840142
Put on your bard charm and pop on the top hat. Tell her about our wonderful up and coming circus and how a beautiful woman like herself could earn a lot of money and see the world with your band. In general sell the circus life to her as best you can.

>>10840199
We're a bit small to be a circus, but defiantly sell the traveling troupe shtick.

>>10840216
That's why I called it an up and coming circus, we're going to embellish a bit in order to make the life seem more appealing than it may be.

>>10840194
Yeah, but we're going to have to drag this goat along. Find out about this goat.

>>10840216
>>10840199
>>10840194
>>10840178
In one swift motion you take off your traveling hat and pop the top hat out of its case and onto your head. The woman is surprised and smiles. "Nice trick." You bow low with a flourish and sit on a nearby crate. You compliment her on her fine animal, the goat looks at you like it wonders what your clothes taste like, and compliment her on her beauty. She blushes faintly. "Oh no, I am nothing compared to how Grandmother was when she was young." You ask her if she can dance. She nods energetically. "Oh yes!" She beams proudly. "I am the second best dancer in the clan! I can also tell fortunes, although I am not really as good as Grandmother."
You get to the point. You tell her of all the wonderful opportunities for life on the road , and how a good looking woman such as her self would rake int he coin. She looks at you puzzled, "But... I already to that now? And if I left Grandmother, who would help her with the caravan... I mean other then the rest of the clan." She scratches Gregor behind the ear. "And I could never leave Gregor."

>>10840316
So she's ALREADY a traveling performer?
Even better! That means shes already used to it and probably knows the land better then us.

>>10840159
I Second this. Gypsy girls are hot.

>>10840390
I'm glad to know I wasn't the only one thinking of Esmerelda when he mentioned the goat.

>>10840424
Gypsies fucking LOVE goats!
>>10840316
Ok... how can we convince this girl to leave her family of gypsies and travel with us instead?

>>10840316
schmooze a little more and figure out an incentive. And of course Gregor can come.

>>10840390
YOU WILL BURN GYPSY

Also ask name

>>10840351
>>10840431
>>10840432
>>10840478
This keeps getting better and better. She will make an excellent addition to the crew. First things first though, you ask her for her name. "I am called Zanne. It is a pleasure to meet you." She bobs her head in a bow. You ask her how she would like to come with you. you use every card in your bardic deck, so to speak. "I... I am not sure. I love my Grandmother very much. I learn many things from her and the others. Although I wish they would boss me around less... that would indeed be nice. I would not want to leave my family forever." She adds the last part hastily.

>>10840557
Pick at that. The freedom of the open road, away from the family.
Besides, she knows all the campsites I'll bet, she can go back any time she wants.

>>10840557
I wonder if she can fight?

>>10840557
Well, if she joins now while the troupe is small she can wind up high on in the pecking order. And she could come as a temporary addition to see how it works out for a few months? Also, asking Granny? I get the feeling gypsies are distrustful of poachers of their kids.

>>10840597
>>10840627
You tempt her with thoughts of freedom. You turn the charm up to eleven and really butter her up. It's unfair how such a beautiful young woman such as herself is treated like a child. She should be out and about, making her own money and spending it on things she wanted. Zanne's eyes mist over for a moment as she thinks about all the possibilities, but she quickly snaps back to the present at the sound of the old woman from inside the tent. "Zanne? Where are you girl? You get in here right now!"
Zanne looks quickly down to your violin case. "I would very much like to hear you play. Where are you staying?" You tell her you might be playing tonight at Nobby's Knob. "I know the place. Please go, if you stay too long Grandmother will get upset." She gently, but firmly pushes you back out into the street. "I will listen to you tonight." She quickly disappears back into the tent.
You decide now is as good of time as any for meeting back up with Tabby and Faral.


Well it's time for me to sleep now. I don't think I'll be doing a thread tomorrow, but probably the next day.

>>10840749
Damn. Well good night.