TTYOL-001 - Let's make a deal

📌 Table of contents

• [[#Video Actual Play]]
• [[#Textual Actual Play]]
• [[#Reflection]]

Video Actual Play

Links mentioned

Textual Actual Play

Episode 1

System/s and/or resources:

• Wandering Tea Garden
• Iron Valley by M Kirin
• Solo RPG Toolkit

Entry played on:

• 2022-09-22
• 2022-09-24

Game loop

One-line synopsis:

Sampaguita dreams of buying a carriage, so she can grow a rooftop garden and travel around the world, brewing special teas. Today's the day she tries to strike a deal...

Events

• 🔮 Oracle: When are you starting your adventure? (Iron Valley dates)
• Result: [49] Summer 24
• 🔮 Oracle: Where does the story start?(Wandering Tea Garden locations)
• Result: 1d6: [5]. A sprawling city atop a cliff

[💭COMMENTARY]

📝 Starting the Story
Gameplay will start on Summer 24 in LOC-Talabis City, a sprawling city atop a cliff.
Recapping Sampaguita's stats, promises & items.

[📖ROLEPLAY]
Sampaguita pulled the door open, yanking at it with more force than needed. She found herself off-balance, her dark brown hair thrown back suddenly. The woman held fast to the wood, steadying herself and smoothing out her wide checkered skirts.

"I told you it's in good condition," chided a sour voice.

[🎮GAMEPLAY]

Sampaguita paid the gnome no mind, stepping into the carriage. In her experience, doors tended to stick more than not or couldn't be trusted to stay shut. Inside, she took stock of the rounded space with its sloped ceiling and curved walls. On the far wall was a large window with stained glass extending nearly from corner to corner. Bright summer light streamed in, bathing the space in a warm glow and rainbow hues. Beneath the window lay a solid wood cabinet with many drawers. To its right was a plush seat.

"You can sleep in there--or use it as storage, either way," declared the gnome, as he shut the door behind him. Surprisingly, there was plenty of room for the two of them. He stepped past Sampaguita and climbed the short ladder to open a small door. "It goes like— well, it goes like," he huffed, pulling at the door.

Cocking her head, Sampaguita easily opened it for him. "Thanks," chirped the gnome, before he waved at the small opening with flourish. It was as yet empty but could possibly fit a mattress.

"Clever engineering," said the gnome smugly. "This space is underneath the driver's box. A half-orc physician ordered this custom, so he always had all his implements, no matter how far his patients lived. Noticed the high ceilings, aye?"

Sampaguita turned slowly and noted that except for the large window and cabinets, there was only the open door, more windows and bare walls. The ceilings were, she agreed, a good height.

"That no-good physician changed his mind," the gnome groused.

Sampaguita turned to face the merchant, frowning down at him. "Why? Isn't it good construction?"

Although no stranger to leaky homes, Sampaguita felt that her grand adventure deserved a respectable backdrop. Leaks would only harm her plans, not to mention damage the carriage itself. She knew all about that.

The gnome scoffed at her. "I built this carriage me-self. It's good construction!" He thwacked his open palm against the walls. "See? Solid timber."

Tucking a lock of hair behind her ear, Sampaguita assessed him. "But you said the original buyer backed out. That doesn't bode well."

"Bah!" spat the gnome. "This will hold against any weather, mark my words."

Sampaguita only hummed in response, as she unlatched the windows and tested them. Shrill shrieking accosted their ears as the windows opened wide.

The gnome winced. "That's me baby. I better hurry home to help the wife." He tapped his foot nervously. "Look, this carriage has been sitting here for a good while now," he began. "I'll do you a deal, if you take it off my hands today."

Sampaguita frowned again. She wasn't planning on making such a large purchase after only a short inspection. She didn't even have a horse, and she said as much to the gnome.

"You could pull it yourself. You're big enough," he huffed. At 175cm, he might be right about that. She was a good head taller than most humans around. "My missus is sick of this city, and this is the last of the large wares I need to sell." The distant shrieking continued.

Sampaguita carefully shut the windows and noticed it kept out the shrill cries. That would be handy on her travels, she supposed.

"I have yet other carriages to view," she stated primly. "It would have to be a very good deal for me to make a decision today."

The gnome sighed. "You'll be needing something to draw the carriage, you said?"

The dark-eyed woman nodded, looking around the carriage for any signs of damage or neglect. You never knew with these merchant types.

The gnome sighed again and reached high on his tiptoes to open the door. He stuck his head out and whistled. Sampaguita followed him, looking out. He only came up to about mid-calf for her, so it was easy to see what he was looking at.

At the whistle, a donkey ambled towards them. Its coat was shiny, long, and sorrel in colour. Its eyes were bright and brimming with intelligence. The animal came to a stop by the carriage and brayed, shaking its long mane and tail. Sampaguita thought it looked beautiful but wasn't sure it was up to the task.

"Donkey's as good as a horse. Maybe better—and cheaper," intoned the gnome, catching the look on her face. He held out his hand. "Good enough a deal?"

Sampaguita blinked at the gnome. "What's its name?"

"His name is your business, not mine."

"How do I care for him then?" she countered.

"How were you planning to care for a horse?" The gnome raised a brow at her.

Blinking again, Sampaguita mulled the matter over. Donkeys were known for their strength and their hardiness, after all. At her size, she thought she might look ridiculous straddled on a donkey. But she needed a donkey to draw the carriage not for jaunts down a promenade. Sampaguita inwardly chuckled at the idea and fished out her purse from under her skirts. She handed over all of her gold and most of her silver.

The gnome did not look impressed. "This is a fine carriage, and I have fetched you an animal, to boot." The donkey snorted as if to agree. "This will not do."

Pursing her lip, Sampaguita handed over the rest of her silver, leaving only precious few bronze coins in her purse.

The gnome's frown deepened. "Look," he began, but he was cut off by a yowling noise. He blanched and pushed the coins back into Sampaguita's hands. "I have to go—the baby..."

He was pushing Sampaguita out the door with surprising strength for his size. Before Sampaguita could dig her heels in, she was already out on the cobblestones and the carriage door locked.

The merchant climbed aboard the donkey, muttering to himself about time-wasters. Sampaguita steeled herself with a deep breath and moved to stand in front of the donkey.

"How much more do you need, sir?" She looked him straight in the eye. "This is all I have. Please. I'm desperate to leave the city."

The gnome adjusted his hat and frowned up at her. Despite being astride a donkey, he still had to look up at the tall human. He opened his mouth to speak but winced instead upon hearing renewed screeching. He tugged at the donkey's reins, and the two began to trot in the direction of the screams.

"I can help with your baby," Sampaguita pleaded. She jog-walked to keep apace. "I have a blend that's chamomile-based—many mothers swear by it."

Well, two mothers swore by it, and one was her own from when she was a wee babe.

The gnome cast her a disbelieving look. "If true, you would have untold riches," he deadpanned.

Her cheeks reddened, and she told herself it was from the exertion. "I work—I don't have the time to forage—this was to be my new start," she got out, not sure how to prove this to him.

They were now in front of another carriage, evidently the source of the screaming. The door swung open as the gnome carefully climbed off the donkey.

A lady gnome emerged from the carriage, looking harried and rocking a baby.

The gnome frowned in concern. "I tell you what," he began. "Knock on my door if you can help with me baby." He sighed. "I help me wife, but my babe is crying all the time..."

Shoring up his shoulders, the gnome gave Sampaguita a grim smile. "The name's Bayabas if you come knocking." Then he rushed to his family, forgetting all about Sampaguita as he took over the thankless yet important task of rocking a screaming baby.

Sampaguita looked on, unsure what to do next. The family had retreated back into the carriage, slamming the door shut. The donkey snorted next to her and pawed at the ground. The gnome's home was away from the cobblestone paths of the city market. Sampaguita stared down at her grassy surroundings, listening to the contented munching of the donkey and the incessant wailing of the baby. Then she spied a sign for an apothecary and smiled. There was an idea.

Day left: 6am

[🎮GAMEPLAY]

• 🎲 Dice: Is everything as it should be?
• Roll type: MUNE Fair > TWENE
• Roll Result: No, but > | 5 | Increase major element |

[💭COMMENTARY]

Apothecary has more inventory in stock than you would expect from a business operating in a caravan on the outskirts of a city (which indicates the apothecary has a lot of knowledge and experience to pass on). But the apothecary is semi-retired and doesn't just take on new customers

Sampaguita goes to the Apothecary

• wants to buy some ingredients tea for baby
• Apothecary doesn't sell her wares to just anyone.
• Sampaguita tries her best - using Bartering - and tells her story of wanting to start a wandering tea garden and needing to convince a merchant to sell her a carriage
• Agimat agrees, however, she must agree to become her apprentice and return regularly to train with her and supply her with materials
• she must start today

Day left: ⌚️⌚️⌚️⌚️

Agimat asks her to look for Marshmallow Plant since that is an ingredient she'll need for her tea

• Sampaguita forages and finds Marshmallow
• time passes

Day left: ⌚️⌚️⌚️

Sampaguita organises Agimat's stock for her

• Agimat asks Sampaguita to tell her more about her plan to persuade Bayabas. They think that she probably only has one chance to impress Bayabas so she needs to make sure her tea tastes great and does the job.

Day left: ⌚️⌚️

Sampaguita prepares lullaby tea, using Agimat's ingredients, including the new marshmallow plant she got

• She does a great job, Agimat is impressed and she has enough to prepare for Bayabas.

Day left: ⌚️⌚️

maybe tea by itself won't be enough.

• Agimat talks about beeswax ear plugs that she used to use when Foraging noisy Plants.
• Sampaguita thinks that's a great idea. But Agimat doesn't have prepared beeswax handy but she can show Sampaguita how to prepare the beeswax while she does other things.

• Sampaguita starts preparing the beeswax.

Day left: ⌚️

• she and Agimat get to know each other as they work
• it's getting late. Sampaguita promises to return as soon as she can.

Day left: Bedtime

• she heads home and takes care because it is very dark
• there is a ring of pigeons in front of her dwelling. This is a sign of good fortune.
• she heads inside and grabs some bird seed for the Pigeons, which they accept. Another good sign—they could have flown away.
• she has a quick dinner with her mother and tells her about her day before going to bed. Good things are coming, she can feel it.