"Belros, I think we can make an arrangement to help each other. I'm also thinking that your equipment and our horses are at the same place. I would propose making a team to get these things done.
K'tzhang, what ring are you talking about?"
Sulna looks to his plate thinking he spoke too much and dips some bread in his milk.
"Well Sthulna, it would stheem that Sthvetlana has lostht or had sthtolen a ring, she'sth the woman who makesth the dinner here. She might be a life partner to Oleg, the man who hasth the house and fathilitiesth here."
With a scratch of his head he describes the ring, "Sthvetlana sthaid, "It'sth a sthimple but beautiful brassth band with a sthingle flawlessth blue pearl."
Nerik stands by the rest of the group, but doesn't appear to be paying attention. He's looking at a spot on the wall.
Emerys says, "If it's okay with everyone else, I'd like to stay here. I'll see if Oleg could use a hand with things."
*Staring intently at the spot on the wall, muttering in abyssal.*
"So's...we know th' things we's got'ta do, now we jus' need t' figure out th' order we do 'em in." Sunny smiles, giving Milosh a friendly nudge as well.
"Also, how much is it gon'a be costin' t' hire...or...whut ever th' term be...some new horsey's?"
You all hear a different voice from anyone you know of to be at Oleg's. "Did I hear someone say they're in need of a few horses?" As you turn, there is a ruggedly handsome, middle-aged human man sitting in the drivers seat of a wagon stopped just outside the doors to Oleg's. Tied to the back of the wagon, you see 6 well cared for horses that appear to have been bred for the kind of work you're doing.
"Xenos my old friend! You could be the answer to our current predicament. We appear to be in need of the wares you have at your disposal." says Polson with a grin.
"Ha! I can't say I'm surprised in the least!" He climbs down and walks up to the gate, but stops at the gate, not moving even an inch inside Oleg's.
K'tzhang goes out to take a look at the horses, and seeing a small tan pony, jumps excitedly back inside the gate, running to find Sunny or Sulna. "Horsesth, the horsesth are here, I've stheen one I can ride. Come on, let'sth go sthee!!"
Sunny giggles and joins in K'tzhang's enthusiasm. Holding hands with the small Kobold and skipping out to view the horses.
*Strides outside, ducking his head to go out the door of Oleg's, "Any beast that can handle me?" to no one in particular.*
"I can think of a couple of things that can handle ya" as he laughs and gives him a pat in the back "Well we will find out soon enough my big friend"
"I never knew kobolds liked horses, if you need a lesson I'll be more than happy to oblige and teach you the basics K'tzhang's"
Polson beckons Xenos inside and watches for his reaction.
"Well Belrosth, asth a rule, there'sth not much call for horsthesth, but watching you all stheem so enamored by the beaststh, I wanted to sthee.....and look sthee...there'sth a little one...sthee I can ride that...once I know how you do it of coursthe... Occasionally we do ride creaturesth, nothing like riding a Sthlurk up the cavern wallsth, sthuch fun...thosthe were the old daysth though, before that usthurper Tartuk made our king get rid of them. How he ruined our clan." as K'tzhang continues to mumble and grumble to himself about Tartuk.
"But how can we afford to trade sthuch beasthtsth?"
"Out of respect for Oleg, I've decided not to step foot in his place of business until he welcomes me. I'm sure you understand. Please, join me outside so you all can examine the steeds I have procured."
With a shrug Polson steps out to talk with Xenos.
Sulna joins the others outside pondering to himself why Xenos isn't welcome.
Sunny skips about the horses. Throwing her blanket draped arms around their necks and hugging them, inhaling and sniffing their scent deeply.
"Oooo! Horses is one'a th' first words I learned. Long afore I ever saw on'a th' critters." She babbles to no one in particular. "That an' words like 'Cat, an' 'Dog', an 'Goat', an..." She pauses.
"I still in't sure why folks call other folks "Old Goats'...." She shrugs, leaving such a mystery to resolve itself on some other day as she goes back to scampering amongst the gathered horses.
"Hey, if'n we jus', y'know, borrow some o' these. We c'n get t' Milosh's steadin', check on his kin an then scoot off an' get our own horseys back an' simply return these ones whut we done borrowed!" She grins at every one else at her masterful idea, absently scratching one bare brown leg with another as she stands amongst the animals, still only draped in her blanket.
"Ain't no such thing as borrowing a horse from a merchant. There's buying, and there's stealing. Now, I will sell the lot of them to you for standard price, 300 crowns each for the heavy horses, 45 crowns for the pony. All these are combat trained and ready for nearly anything you can stumble upon around these parts. Once you've found your old mounts, I'll buy any of these'uns at a price of 225 crowns for the horses and 33 crowns for the pony. That's by offer. Deal?"
The price is fair, but I have no money gentlemen so I'll step down from this offer.
At Tobler's words Sunny just...blinks. Her face going some what blank. Then she simply flips a fold of her blanket over a shoulder and calmly walks into Olegs.
There she has a small morning wash and gets fully dressed before coming back outside of the main gate.
"Okeys! Who's off fer a jog over t' Milosh's steadin'?" She asks, now completely ignoring Xenos and his horses.
"Sadly my friend our money is tight. However, I could offer you a down payment and maybe take the rest in credit. We have some bits and pieces you may like to trade with also."
Polson looks around at the party assessing everyone for anything that would help...
K'Tzhang watches Sunny as she changes her ideas,he is confused by this, but understands that maybe these horses are just too much money for everyone to get one. "Oooh, money, don't know if I can even afford a pony to ride, looks like my feet will take a bashing!"
Xenos smiles and rubs his hands together. "Excellent! I was hoping for some negotiations regarding these horses." He goes to the side of his wagon and pulls out some simple folding wooden chairs and a small table. He sets them up quickly and pulls a small ledger from inside his vest.
"So, what is your offer?"
Sunny looks askance at Polsen,
"Hey, mate. Whut're ye sittin' down fer? We's ground t' cover if'n we want t' get t' Milosh's steadin' an' then back on't th' trail of our horses." She calls, stepping from foot to foot in an indication of marching.
Polson glares at Sunny before pulling up a chair. "My friend, how much would you take as a deposit? We are good for the balance although I believe your price to be way above Market value!"
Sunny blinks in surprise at Polsobn's glare, then at his words looks puzzled.
"Whut are ye blatherin' about? I dun't wunt t' 'depoosit', I want t' get a move along. As fer ballancin' markets an' such, whut are ye talkin' about? Some kind'a Fair or Circus, maybe?" She tilts her head and scratches at a temple, trying to figure out the meanings of Polson's words.
K'Tzhang watches the humaniod races do their bartering.
Xenos says to Sunny, "Pardon me miss, but if you're not going to be part of the negotiations, then I'd like to ask you to be on your way."
As he finishes speaking, Oleg speaks up, "Hey! Don't speak to my guests that way! I'll allow you to do business, but move your stock somewhere other than directly in front of my gate." Oleg closes his eyes for a moment, taking a calming breath, and says, "I will say this, Xenos' initial offer is fair and to market value. If'n the rest of your group agrees, Polson, I'll take on the debt of purchasing these horses, and pony, from Xenos until such time as you can repay me. For the horses, I'll charge a 1% compounding monthly interested until such time as you have repaid you debt to me, with no interest for the first month. How does that sound?" He stands and waits for the groups decision.
Polson stands and faces Oleg. "Deal." he says without waiting for anyone to answer or further negotiations. Walking away Polson puts his hand in the small of Sunny's back and begins leading her away, explaining things to her in Elven.
K'Tzang follows Sunny and Polson back into the fort, casting distrusting glances back at Oleg. The kobold wonders about him, he seems not to like him, or most of the party, yet it seems he's helped them out.
Once Sunny is free from speaking with the other elf, he speaks, "Sunny, what happened then, didn't catch it all. So we off to go on our adventures again. This time, we must make some maps, so we don't get lost."
"Here now...you..." She frowns a little, though it seems with concentration more than with anger. "Looky, here be th' problem.We's already have horseys. I still dun't see th' need t' be buyin' more o' whut we's already got, an' then we's got's t' some how sell back whut we's buyin' after we's got back whut we's already do own..." Now her frown does take on a cast of anger.
"I say, if'n ye were a freind who were lookin' t' be right helpful t' folks then ye'd be doin' us th' courtesy o' lendin' us yer...horses..." She seems to have to force her gaze to focus on Xenos' animals, 'An' be puttin' yerelf in a better position with which t' deal wi' folks here in'a future." She gives up trying to make herself 'look' in Xeno's direction and looks to every one else.
"Other wise, whut be th' point o' dealin' with somat whut's just gon'a suck th' stuffin' out'o ye when yer down?" She huffs. "I dun't see th' point o' dealin' with th' likes o' such a person, nor thing, in'a future." She says, with her tone indicating a finality in its deliverance.
"Come on. we's gots t' get over t' Milosh's steadin', however way we's choosin'" She finishes quietly.
Sulna looks confused.
"Polson, did we just buy horses?
Which is ok by me. I'm wondering how we will pay for them?"
Polson smiles at Sulna. "Do not concern yourself with such things my friend, I will worry about the finances later. If someone else could organise food and water for the journey I would say we are ready to go now.".
He pats Sulna on the shoulder and then selects a horse suitable for his size.
Once Sunny is free from speaking with the other elf, he speaks, "Sunny, what happened then, didn't catch it all. So we off to go on our adventures again. This time, we must make some maps, so we don't get lost."
Sunny nods, "Aye, we's off on our explorin' o' th' place." She grins happily,
"Well, we should see about gettin' ye all'a th' stuff ye could want, th' better fer ye t' be makin' yer maps." Then she giggles,
"As fer gettin' lost? Why, that be one o' th' funnest ways t' findin' new things!" She says quietly, though obviously more joking than serious.
K'Tzhang goes off looking around the fort/trading post for equipment to make maps and anything else that might be of interest. Hoping to do it without seeing too much of Oleg, but seeking out Svetlana.
If he sees Svetlana, "Many thanks for your hospitality, I will do what I can to find that ring for you. If there's anything I can do to help you, please just tell me. Although my kind are considered enemies of your tribes, I have left my tribe to pursue the service of my god, the great dragon Aspu, who in the beginning of time was good and looks kindly on me. So I hope with time you and Oleg wil be able to trust me and allow those soldiers to consider me friend."
Elven
You may lack the touch, but you got a point Polson
Now we better take a look in Oleg's Inn, for traveling supplies
Sulna will go about gathering rations (7 days worth for each person.) and putting them in sacks on the horses.
Oleg, Svetlana, and Xenos go about getting the horses, pony, and other supplies the group wants for their journey out and ready for the group to organize and pack how they want.
Goes over and looks at the bunches of paper, mumbling to himself, "Strange what these humans do, putting paper on walls, why don't they use cloth, much easier."
If he cann't see them properly he'll go get Sulna or Belros, at a push Polson.
Wall Posters
Completion: Any twelve bandits defeated completes this quest.
Reward: One week after the twelfth defeat, bandit activity is noticeably affected and the swordlords send a reward of 800 gp.
Completion: Either slay the kobolds or forge an alliance of peace with them.
Reward: The swordlords send a reward of 1,600 gp once the kobold activity is under control.
Completion: Slay a tatzlwyrm and deliver its head.
Reward: Oleg will pay 600 gp for a relatively undamaged tatzlwyrm head plus 300 gp for each additional relatively undamaged tatzlwyrm head.
Completion: Deliver Tuskgutter’s head to Oleg’s.
Reward: Vekkel has promised his masterwork longbow and six +1 animal bane arrows to whoever can kill Tuskgutter. He also promises to share the head cheese he plans to make out of this trophy.
Crimes: assault, banditry, grand theft, horse thief
For additional information, contact Kesten Garess at Oleg's Trading Post.
If K'Tzang determines no on is watching him, he reaches up and removes the poster about the Kobolds of the Kamelands. Carefully he folds it up and hides it away in a pocket.
He then gets the others and shows them what he's found.
Sunny skips along behind K'tzhang to look at the thing he's found.
After looking at K'tzang find "This is what I call easy money, excellent contribution my scaly friend, this will give us plenty of money to go around for a bit, give it to Polson so he can claim it, he is the one that they know"
"Did we already do that?" Sulna points to the poster about the kobolds.
Sunny puts a hand on K'tzang's shoulder,
"Um...technicality? No, I dun't believe we's have..." She says quietly, looking down at her freind.