"And since Swift and Zigel may not return before we must leave for the meet, we may need the edge a few wands or scrolls would give us." -greep- "Do we have time to check the goods at Melchion's?"
-GreeP-
"Oh, we should have lots of time," Karrin says with s dismissive wave of her hand, then she stops and thinks, ". . . unless we're supposed to meet someone at a specific time. I'm sorry I wasn't listening. I was sort of playing with my dress."
...
"And since Swift and Zigel may not return before we must leave for the meet, we may need the edge a few wands or scrolls would give us." -greep- "Do we have time to check the goods at Melchion's?"
-GreeP-
Giving a small curious sound Swift can't help but be annoyed as she misses bits of the conversation and it abruptly comes to an end. Quickly she scurries out of the way of the door and finds the best hiding place she can so she can continue her listening in to the intriguing words of both Sage and the halfling.
Blacky becomes a shadow in the dimly-lit hall as the two men emerge from the room.
"I expect to hear from you soon Broadfoot." Mr. Sage says to the hobbit in a dark tone.
"This ain't a precise science Sagish, as you well know," The small hobbit retorts in an angry voice. "Yeh want the goods, yeh pay the price. With what's on the table you are getting a bargain and that's no screed."
"Keep me informed of your progress, Broadfoot." Mr. Sage says in a still tone that drips menace.
"Yeh'll be the first ta know, Ser Sagish." The hobbit replies.
The two men depart, heading down to the ballroom again after the hobbit locks the door they came out of.
Greep still has the 100 gp (in platinum Merts) that Renkar gave him for the last recon. Melchion may take that as a down payment.
Greep still has the 100 gp (in platinum Merts) that Renkar gave him for the last recon. Melchion may take that as a down payment.
"I mean we're going to be doing something later . . . that's why we're all cleaned up, but we got lots of time I think." Karrin says without taking her eyes off of her new dress.
The three find roughly 100 GP in various denominations in pocket change on the bodies. They also come across these trinkets:
A ring with a large black opal stone encased in a basket weave of gold wires. (On Duuvarg's finger)
A palm-sized crystal orb that slowly changes colors between red, blue, white and brown. (In Duuvarg's beltpouch)
A set of full plate mail that can fit any medium creature. Made of mithril.(On Duuvarg's body) This will take time to get off him, as if removing plate with assistance
3 blue potions, each bears the same label in Common: Wooly Cupgrass’ Philter of Health Improvement. Cures what ails you.(Duuvarg, Horv, Sargak)
A bilious green potion without label.(Duuvarg)
2 necklaces in silver with a banded agate set in a silver mounting.(Horv & Sargak)
A rusty horseshoe, a white marble, a banded agate and a brass key. (All in one of Duuvarg's beltpouches)
The List:
A ring with a large black opal stone encased in a basket weave of gold wires. (On Duuvarg's finger)
A palm-sized crystal orb that slowly changes colors between red, blue, white and brown. (In Duuvarg's beltpouch)
A set of full plate mail that can fit any medium creature. Made of mithril.(On Duuvarg's body) This will take time to get off him, as if removing plate with assistance
3 blue potions, each bears the same label in Common: Wooly Cupgrass’ Philter of Health Improvement. Cures what ails you.(Duuvarg, Horv, Sargak)
A bilious green potion without label.(Duuvarg)
2 necklaces in silver with a banded agate set in a silver mounting.(Horv & Sargak)
A rusty horseshoe, a white marble, a banded agate and a brass key. (All in one of Duuvarg's beltpouches)
The four decide a trip to Melchion's would be in order to determine what exactly they gained from their encounter with the goblins.
The intrepid group sets out after a quick stop at the Copper Cauldron to drop off the new dresses. Karrin, Eir, Ffethpaar and Greep walk down to Melchion's Magical Marketplace down Copperman Way.
The wizard's shop is empty at this time of day. As the four enter the bell on the door rings, and the voice of Melchion sounds from the back.
"Be right there! Please watch for the cat!"
The cat he mentions is fast asleep on a stack of books on the countertop.
The shelves of the shop are stuffed with tchotchkies from all over the planes: Demon skulls, crystal geodes, stuffed squirrels. Musty books and several crystal balls line the countertop where Melchion's cat, Cuddles, snoozes oblivious. A few bins of common material components for spells line the rear area of the shop. Several clusters of shrunken heads dangle down from the ceiling like withered cantaloupes.
The old wizard appears, dusting himself a bit. He is wearing a dirty linen apron and is covered in some sort of sparkly pink substance.
"Well, good Peak to yeh folks! What can I do for yeh today?"
"We got some stuff that needs identifying!" Karrin says looking around the shop, "are those shrunken heads? Aren't they illegal or anything?"
Melchion looks up at the heads and laughs
"Dear girl, those things are older than I am! They came with the shop, I've never sold a one. They're my good luck pieces."
Melchion takes all of you in.
"Yer them cutters ol' Renkar jest hired, yes? What would yeh be needin' identified? And have yeh got the components or am I includin' them too?"
"Are you talking about pearls?" Karrin asks scratching her head, "I don't have any . . . I kinda thought that magic shops didn't need them these days, like you could make an object or something that could work in the place of all those pears, or you had magic that was way more powerful, or you had natural abilities, or maybe you were so learned that you could tell us what we needed to know without any spells. Stuff like that. Maybe you should see what we need identified before you quote a price. Not that I'm telling you how to do your job cuz I certainly couldn't! It's a hard job I'm sure. Not only do you have to know all those spells and things but you got to deal with all those idiots coming in and asking you stupid questions, going on and on about stupid things, and balking about your every price! No sir! No way I could work in a magic shop . . . or any kind of shop really. Or a bar. You know bar tenders have to sit and listen to all sorts of people. They just talk and talk, and most are drunk so they make no sense, and a bar keeper just has to listen. People are just too annoying.
"Just out of curiosity," asks the clueless Karrin, "how much are the shrunken heads worth? I want to take one home and stick it in a jar of water to see what happens."
Melchion tries to follow the young Tiefling's chain of logic, but looks a bit bufuddled.
"Nah we don't needs no pearls miss, but owl feathers cost a bit, an' I for certain don't like usin' me dinner wine to cast a few Identify spells. Still an' all yeh should tell me what yeh wants me to see first like I ast' an' mayhap I wont be needin' no owl feathers an' wine. Mayhap I knows what's what."
Melchion looks up at the collection of heads
"Now why would'cha want to be puttin' one in a jar of water?"
Greep quietly spreads out the items on the counter. He wonders if Hanali would kill him if he got Karrin a shrunken head that matched her new outfit. He decides not to risk it.
Curious as to what is in the room and why it needed to be locked Swift looks around to make sure nobody is watching before shifting back to her humanoid form. Claiming her tools from the place she likes to keep them stashed in the top of her boot she makes her way over to the door and quickly sets to work unlocking the door of mystery.
Greep quietly spreads out the items on the counter. He wonders if Hanali would kill him if he got Karrin a shrunken head that matched her new outfit. He decides not to risk it.
Melchion looks over the assembled items.
"Hmm"
Curious as to what is in the room and why it needed to be locked Swift looks around to make sure nobody is watching before shifting back to her humanoid form. Claiming her tools from the place she likes to keep them stashed in the top of her boot she makes her way over to the door and quickly sets to work unlocking the door of mystery.
Swift leans down to the small door's lock and easily opens the simple mechanism. She quietly opens the door and a small room is revealed to her. Everything within is halfling sized.
A table with two unfinished drinks and a half-empty bottle of Prime whiskey sits at the far side. A small rumpled bed is in the center of the room. There is a large leather-bound book on the bed, with a large silvery clasp lock on it. Various articles of small clothing litter the polished wood floor. A travelling case and an adventurer-style backpack sit in an open wardrobe. It looks as if Broadfoot makes his kip here, and has for some time. There is an undefinable aura of livedinness to the room.
The tibbit's greedy eyes look over everything, so many looting options, so little time. Deciding the leather-bound book is likely the most important clue she grabs it and thrusts it into the backpack that rests in the wardrobe. She also puts the whisky in the bag if she can fit it in as well before scarpering from the room, not wanting to be in the room too long during a busy party.
Closing the door behind her she hurries onwards, looking for a good hiding plce to stash the bag where she'll be able to pick it up quickly later, she and Skrint have some more dancing to do afterall.
Eir will stroll around silently dragging her finger across anything dusty.
Melchion looks at the items and frowns.
"Well, the blue potions are easy enough, yeh can buy them right down the street at Wooly's store. They're healing potions. The green one looks like a homebrew, I'd have to do some experimentin', or yeh could go visit Wooly down the street an' he could identify it for yeh more than likely."
Melchion looks at the opal ring.
"Now this little beauty more than likely has to do with transformation of some sort. Changing summat to summat else. I'm not sure what to what though, and I'd need to try and find its control word."
Melchion fondles the orb.
"Orbs are fer divination or protection, as a rule. The fact this'un changes colors says to me it does several jobs, so I would guess protection. Course, protection from what is the corker."
Melchion takes a look at the plate pieces.
"Looks to be standard magical plate armor, I can probably get yeh a reading on its puissance. Good workmanship, might be from the Dwarven Mountain out in the Outlands. They do a right bunch of mithral work, an' this has dent-healing and stretch fitting glammers woven into it."
Melchion takes a look at Karrin's Axe.
"Now this is a beauty. Hmmm.."
Melchion looks closer
"If I had to say off the top of me brainbox I'd say it's Frost Giant work, mayhap from the Inner Planes. Those runes on the haft are variants on Odin's what he gained from hanging off Yggdrasil fer nine days. I can feel the cold comming off the axe head, an' I never seed such a material. Blue crystal! Might take a bit to figure this'un out."
Melchion looks at the group
"I'll do the lot fer 200 Ladies, leaving out the potions. If yeh want them back immediately that is. I'll drop it to 150 Ladies if yeh give me a few days."
As Swift grabs the leather tome and lifts it off the bed a loud voice begins to wail in what Swift can recognize as Broadfoot's voice.
"THEIF! THEIF! OH HELP THEIF! I AM BEING STOLEN BY A THEIF! HELP ME HELP ME! THEIF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
The shreiks come from a large mouth on the back side of the book that is yelling the loud message. The voice is very loud and piercing. The message starts to repeat.
"By the various gods, can nothing ever be simple? Hush you!" Swift hisses at the book as she thrusts it into the backpack and throws a bunch of the clothes from the floor on top of it in an attempt to muffle the yelling book.
As Swift attempts to get the book in the crowded backpack, Skrint appears at the doorway.
"Swift what are you doing? I can hear that screaming all the way down the hall! We have to leave, someone will be coming at any moment!"
Skrint looks down the hallway. There is a distant sound of doors opening.
Swift gives Skrint an apologetic smile and donning the backpack breaks into a sprint, out of the doorway and away from the sounds of other opening doors. "Sorry, I've got to go" She whispers to the catfolk as she flees, unsure if he'll want to stick with her or hide himself away from trouble.
Swift swings the heavy backpack onto her shoulders. The large leather book is stuffed into it , but the voice still echoes out from the satchel. The fit is awkward, since the bag is obviously cut for a hobbit's frame.
Swift runs by the amazed Skrint and darts down the hallway towards the stairs . Doors in the hallway are opening, and hobbit heads are poking out of several. There are three opened doors in this hallway with witnesses. One hobbit dressed in a nightshirt is holding a piece of bar iron in his hands. He shouts out in a stern voice:
HALT!
Swift feels a compulsion for a moment to freeze in place, but she shrugs it off. She makes it to the stairway and begins her descent. There is some sort of altercation erupting behind her, but in the kayos she cannot figure out exactly what is transpiring as she hurtles down the stairs.
Swift makes it to the ground floor, but the book still screeches audibly and the only path out of the Burrow is through the ballroom. Skrint is nowhere in sight.
Completely in over her head the young woman gives an annoyed and upset little sound. Unexpected tears stinging at her eyes as she realises she might not be able to get out with the book that would help her find out what's going on with Mr Sage and Emelia. Swallowing hard she decides to take a huge risk and scarpers through the ballroom, keeping her head down she clutches the bag tight to her chest in the hopes of muffling it just a little. Keeping her eyes and ears open for people moving to stop her she gets ready to throw the bag at them if she really has to, her getting away being a little more important than the book.
Swift runs out through the crowded ballroom. Her agility aids her somewhat, but the screeching of the book gets her glances, then frowns, then folks moving in on her. She dodges the first few, but a murmuring crowd begins to reach out to restrain her. A shout rings out:
"That cony-catcher's knicked me backpack and spellbook!"
Swift recognizes the harsh tones of Broadfoot the associate of Mr. Sage.
Swift manages to get through the first section of the ballroom without being stopped, but at the entrance to the Burrow there seems to be some activity with various hobbits gathering to block the entrance. Some are dressed in the red armor of the Harmonium.
Biting the bolt the tibbit seems to think that now is a time for an all or nothing approach and without thinking speeds up rather than slowing down, her eyes focused on the exit.
"That cony-catcher has knicked me backpack and spellbook!"
The crowd begins to ring the young tibbit. A voice rings out:
"Stop theif in the name of Factol Sarin and the Harmonium!"
Swift, seeing her options dwindling, hurls the back pack into the ringing ball goers. It crashes into several hobbits, bowling them over. Swift darts through the opened gap like a streak of lightning, the crowd roaring in dismay at her back.
"Seize her!!!" The Harmonium trooper yells as the crowd begins to follow Swift. She jinks and dodges several attempts to restrain her, one time dodging a hobbit man by grabbing his head and pushing herself over him like a gymnast over a vaulting horse.
Swift manages to make it to a side corridor and quickly races down the round tunnel, the roar of the crowd increasing as the disappears from view. She changes into Blacky and keeps running as fast as four legs can take her.
A door lies partially open, a set of stairs descending into what looks to be an undercellar. Blacky decides that a nice dark cellar might be a good place to hide for a while, so she heads down the stairs at a breakneck pace.
The undercellar is deserted, but there is enough root vegtables and hard cheeses stacked within its stony walls to feed a regiment of hobbits for a fortnight. Kegs of ale and a pile of chairs and tables complete the room.
Blacky is looking around when the door is flung open at the top of the stairs.
"The girl must have run down here! LUMOS!" A voice cries. Blacky can see a bright light come into life at the top of the stairs.
Casting desperately around, Blacky sees an old rusty stormgrate fixed in the stone floor. It has several rusted old padlocks on it, but a cat would easily be able to navigate the holes and go into the sewer. The smell of rich decay and a distant sound of running water come from the grate.
The sound of thudding steps pound down the stairs. They will be in the cellar in seconds.
"I've only got a hundred gold on me." -greep- "Will you trust me for the rest and do the identifications now? I will put this up for surety. It was the present I gave to myself with my first bonus from my first employer, so it is precious to me."
-greep-
"I've only got a hundred gold on me." -greep- "Will you trust me for the rest and do the identifications now? I will put this up for surety. It was the present I gave to myself with my first bonus from my first employer, so it is precious to me."
-greep-
"A few days?" Karrin wines to herself, "but I might need my axe before then . . . oh wait, I still got a back-up."
Karrin overhears Greep's conversation.
"No need to do that Greep," Karrin says, "the armor alone is worth at least a thousand, if we can't settle our tab I think that'll be more then a enough compensation."