The way I interpreted it was that we got a letter/saw a note about the job, and we'd only meet C.E. if we found the item and turned the quest in. Since we are getting advance payment, that's clearly wrong, so yes, we should meet while accepting the quest.

Good point. Yes, so you will meet in Jithan and begin your journey there?
The merchant will sell you a backpack, an old and unreliable map of Den Sile and a Water Bottle for 175 GP. Yes/no?

*Winces*

I'm officially downgrading gold pieces to silver pieces, by the DND standard :)

Deal. Are there any other special things I should consider bringing to Den Sile, given its terrain, etc. I'm finding it hard to tell from the map.

If you have the geography skill, remind me and I can make a roll for that.

Based on the poor map you have, though, you should be good to go. It looks like an abandoned settlement in a grass field. There are hills to the west, but you won't necessarily have to go there.

You will have to trek through a forest (or otherwise bypass it), but that shouldn't be too much of a challenge.

Upgrading the character sheet to reflect your purchases.

Oh, I suppose you might want to grab some type of weapon just in case? But that's up to you.

is there anything you would like to purchase before we set off? I can't give you a list of items at the moment, but if anything strikes you, let me know.

As soon as the 2 of you post in the thread, I'll start :)

Just FYI, we've both posted. Now might be a good time for C.E. to come forward.

I'll do my shopping after talking to C.E., maybe I'll find out something that will help me decide what I might need.

I wonder, with the mission in Den Sile, though I'm not going there: how big are the distances in the game? Is the travelling time a few days, a few weeks, or shorter?

From Jithan to Den Sile: I called it a 3 day journey by foot.

I'd like to buy a backpack, some climbing rope and a lantern from the merchant.

The merchant will make this transaction for 225 gold. Is this acceptable?

200 gold, with extra oil for the lamp, and that nodding yak doll over there.

He will throw in the yak doll and some extra oil, for 226. (He has to save face here).

It's a deal.