```col-mdflexGrow=2.5===# Outline## Players Information There frequently are notices hung in [[landmark/bucklanders-import-emporium|Bucklander's Import Emporium]], and in taverns throughout [[settlement/the-outlands|The Outlands]], advertising openings in the Bucklander organizations for caravan guards of any race. Inquiries to residents of the city will indicate that [[person/rigaletto-brandybuck|Rigaletto Brandybuck]] has amassed a substantial merchant empire, and is said to pay top dollar to his employees. Interested parties are asked to apply at Brandybucks's large warehouse on East Street in [[settlement/the-dell|The Dell]].## GM's Notes Bucklander's almost always needs guards to accompany the many trading caravans that he sends out to bring back the exotic goods he sells in his shop. An average of two caravans leave Haven per month under the Brandybuck banner, with a typical trip lasting 3-6 months and involving stops in 8-12 cities, towns and trading outposts. Guard salaries range from 5-12gp/day, depending on the fighting experience of the individual. On rare occasions (when the caravan is journeying to very dangerous climes), Bucklander's will also hire a fairly high level mage to accompany the travelers and provide arcane assistance.To gain employment as a guard, a candidate must prove himself in mock battle with [[person/ori|Ori]], the dwarf in charge of all the guards employed by the company. The fight takes place with padded weapons, and continues until one fighter loses his feet, or gives up. It is not necessary to win the battle with [[person/ori|Ori]] to earn a job, only to acquit yourself honorably by lasting for a reasonable amount of time and having struck a damaging blow. [[person/ori|Ori]] is, after all, a Veteran fighter of substantial prowess, although his current life-style has softened his toughness a bit. He pulls his blows in these bouts, so that anyone confronting him outside these circumstances may be unpleasantly surprised at the difference in his performance level.The situation that distinguishes this job announcement from the many run-of-the-mill caravan guard jobs available in the city is the fact that an alert player character can use this opportunity as a stepping stone to obtain a more lucrative position in the Bucklander empire. Rigaletto is always desirous of bringing in sharp individuals who can help him maintain his pre-eminence in [[settlement/the-outlands|The Outlands]] merchant community, especially those adept at engineering underhanded, though not strictly illegal, maneuvers capable of hamstringing the competition. He has cultivated the friendship (or in some cases, grudging tolerance) of many influential individuals both in [[settlement/the-outlands|The Outlands]] and in the hall of city government.To take advantage of this opportunity, however, it will be necessary for the player to do more than perform his job well. As noted, [[person/ori|Ori]] has complete charge of hiring and assigning the company's guards. He has little desire to alert Rigaletto to someone who is performing admirably in the ranks, since such an individual might eventually represent a threat to the dwarf's hegemony. Consequently, the player (whenever he is not out of the city on assignment) must make an effort to cultivate the friendship of others in the organization and listen to the grapevine to find out about special schemes that he can volunteer to undertake. It is also a very good idea to attempt to get oneself assigned to guarding the warehouse or in-city stores, rather than caravan duty. The player must be careful in making these alliances not to rouse the suspicions of [[person/ori|Ori]], who would make a very nasty enemy.``````col-md**Locations/Start** - [[settlement/the-outlands]] **Key Participants** - [[person/ori|Ori]]- [[person/rigaletto-brandybuck|Rigaletto Brandybuck]]---### World Anvil Metadata**Id:** eaba07fc-29b4-44dc-9d79-b3da8d88127f<br>**Entity Type:** Article / plot<br>**Category:** Haven Encounters and Scenarios<br>**Tags:** FCoH-plot```