Ty will pour everyone a drink (although he'll only hold his own) while somebody pulls out and presents the cloak.
"I would love to toast, but water if you please. Rhylellia pushes the wrapped cloak into Alexis hands and winks at her.
Suddenly feeling awkward, which may have something to do with the location they are at. Pulling the folded cloak out of her bag and gingerly sets it down on the table for all to see. Here.
Valla reaches for the cloak, then stops herself until Genedair gives her a nod. She gingerly picks up the cloak and spreads it out on the table. "It's beautiful!" she breathes, then casts detecting magic.
She grits through the pain of the overwhelming aura enough to ascertain that you have indeed recovered the Cloak of the Inheritor.
"Marvelous! Well done!" Genedair says. "The Seventh Church and Order of Iomedae cannot thank you enough for this great service. Tomorrow night, I would like to host a banquet in your honour for the clergy here and certain trustworthy friends of th Order. I understand that you brought back other relics taken during the raid. I will inform the Sexton to insure you are generously compensated for those items as well. I will also have rooms readied for you so you may be comfortable."
Your needs are all seen to. The Church Sexton pays you for your loot (giving you the higher amount when I indicated the church would pay more). In addition, Genedair has awarded you 500gp each. The Sexton hints rather prissily that you may wish to use some of that money to buy yourselves some clothing appropriate for tomorrow's festivities.
So from what I gather, Ty is looking for a magic shield to buy outright, and Thanephos is looking for a magic longbow to trade with the greatsword. It makes sense that they would be travelling/looking/inquiring together. Are the ladies coming along as well or going clothes shopping on their own?
That's an easy one. Assume you can get a wand of equal charges.
So after a filling breakfast the next morning, the intrepid adventurers set out on their next great challenge: shopping. While in this world, there are no great stores filled with shelves of magical wares, the city of Absalom is large enough that anything relatively "normal" can be found with a little effort.
Alexis is the first to be successful when, in a tiny shop that secretly caters to the fetishes of the rich and noble, a gnome with an obnoxious leers slips her a pair of gauzy sleeves, advising her to "have fun" with a nasty chuckle.
Ty gets a line on a junk dealer who may be able to help Alexis with another of her purchases. In a back alley, a cloaked and hooded figure you are almost positive is a kobold, hands you a pouch in exchange for coins. Inside, a flaming stone practically hums and vibrates to be let out.
Then, while buying her cold iron kukri at an armourer's, Alexis spots a segmented iron bar, lying forgotten behind a stack of maces. The shop keeper had thought it lost long ago, and is very happy to sell you the traveler's any tool.
Assume all of your mundane purchases and sales go off without a hitch.
While Alexis is buying her weapons and any tool, Thanephos strikes up a conversation with a young elven woman buying arrows. She is quite happy to flirt with him and listen with obvious amusement to his stories of his own prowess with a bow. "You must be careful, my young human friend. If you try to use that bow of yours as much as you claim," she says with a wink, glancing down at his groin, "It will soon be as flaming as old Sir Engelworth's."
Thanephos smiles, I sincerely hope so, but in the meantime I'm stuck with this big old greatsword that I'm just carrying around. I don't suppose you'd know who may be willing to make a trade?
"You want to trade that sword for a flaming bow like Sir Engelworth's? That must be a very special sword. I've never heard of anybody else around these parts with a bow like that, and I doubt the old knight would want to part with his for a giant sword, but you can always try. Most afternoons, you can find him laying his bones at the Foaming Tankard, and no, that wasn't a euphemism...unless you want it to be!"
Thanephos' smile grows, I'll check there, thank you. I'm afraid that I've never been there before, would you terribly mind showing me the way?
She smirks. "Depends! Leading a hapless human boy-child across the city is thirsty business. How do I know I'll be properly compensated?"
I wish I could take offense, but I'm afraid that's impossible around you. If it would suit you, I would be happy to treat you to a drink once we arrive.
The elven woman smiles at Thanephos, and once your purchases (and hers) are complete, she leads you out.
You only make it half a block before a group of six early-20-something humans approach you. Alexis (and only Alexis) hears that man's voice whisper "Watch out!" before she is sent sprawling on the cobblestones by deliberate shoulder-to-shoulder contact. Rhylellia, now warned, barely manages to avoid one of the young women who tried to knock her over, too.
The young man that knocked Alexis over laughs roughly (and slightly drunkenly). "Watch where you step, half-blooded demon freak!" he calls out. "Our Lord decrees you be put where you belong!"
Standing up quickly and setting herself between her companions and the drunken humans. Lips twisting into a snarl, Oh and where is it you think you are sending me? Her tail instinctively curls around her waist.
"Maybe back down on the ground, for start," another one of the young men says, stepping forward. Wearing rich velvets and carrying a very fine rapier on his hip, he holds out the silver holy symbol he wears around his neck, an unfamiliar one of two hands cupping a stylised flame. "Lord Masoumi's light will scorch you if you try to rise too high!"
"Fanatics." Ty calmly states. He attaches his shield, but doesn't draw a weapon, yet.
His bow leaps to hand before the man even notices, and an arrow is nocked in the blink of an eye. He speaks lazily, despite how much effort it must take for his thin frame to draw such a large bow, Step back. Now.
The snarl vanishes and amusement settles in. Raising an eyebrow at the man, So standing is to high for me? And your new Lords tenets include finding the people who are not human and pushing them around? Do you kick Gnomes or is it just mutts like me? Who by the way had no choice what their ancestors did and who they bedded.
Taking at step forward, Just so you know I am a Tiefling no a. What was it you said? 'Half-blooded demon freak.' Grinning at him now, I was born of two humans. I was also under the impression that they education in Absalom to be a little better.
"Humans who have allowed demon blood into their line pollute themselves. Soon, the days will come when humans regain their rightful supremacy over the lesser races," he finishes, shooting a glare at the elven woman with Thanephos.
Thanephos shrugs, Well thanks for sharing your little story. Now move along and leave her alone.
The rich loud mouth moves to loom over Thanephos, despite the arrow quivering inches from his chest. "You might want to think about whose side you're on, little man, or are you hiding a tail under your skirts?"
You see two city watchmen approach the disturbance. One seems ready to put a stop to things when the other grabs his arm and whispers something in his ear. Much more reluctantly, he approaches and nervously asks the rich loud mouth, "Are these folks bothering you?"
Rhylellia looks pleased to see the guards. She walks up to them. “My companions and I were perusing the markets, after a long pilgrimage to the Seventh Church, when this mob accosted us.” Rhylellia points to the people who pushed Alexis and her. “They wished violence upon us and through their fervor were going to loot and maim if not kill. They are bigots and a poor example on the city. Where would one go to bring up charges of these assaults?”
Ty slowly but firmly pushes Thanephos' bow arm down. If Thanephos looks at him or questions hi, Ty will only silently shake his head.
The guard looks concerned as he clearly believes Rhylellia's tale. The drunken lout laughs.
"Captain, have them arrested!" he calls out. "My mother will want them hung by their heels and whipped for this insolence!"
The guard captain goes even paler than before, and although Rhylellia can see a tremor in his hand, and hear one in his voice, he turns to the rich man and says, "My Lord. I fear that would not be proper. Forgive me for saying, but you and your friends do appear to be a bit into the drink, and this group do not seem the sort to wantingly attack a group of armed folk in the street in broad daylight."
"And we are?" the young man roars back angrily.
"N-n-no, my Lord. Of course not. I'm sure they did not intend any offence--"
"What is this city coming to?!" the young man shouts. He lifts his hands and produces a Flame of Masoumi. "The day is soon coming, and is now here, when Our Lord will lead the human race to greatness and glory once again. The lesser races pollute our way of life and our great city with their presence. They swarm out of Kyonin, and the Holds of Belkzen, and even the Worldwound, and come to Absalom, and bring their problems with them. We need a total and complete shut down on the lesser races entering our city until we can figure out what to do with those we already have here..."
The young loudmouth proceeds to continue on for quite awhile with his little aggrandising speech, and the crowd seems quite taken with him. You notice several elves, a dwarf, and family of halflings quickly vacating the area as tensions rev up.
Quietly mumbling to the others. We should leave.
Rhyle goes a little ridged, but her posture quickly recovers. She turns to the lord, and says in a kind and subservient voice. “My my deepest apologies lord, I thought Absalom admittance was more open hearted. I now know its admittance privileges have changed. I apologize for my friend’s presence and my own presence.”
Rhylellia looks back to the guard and whispers pleadingly only to him. “You seem decent. Please say you’ll ‘deal’ with us to him and please take us at least safety out of sight of him, I beg you?”
The young lord, quite taken with the sound of his own voice and the admiration of the crowd, doesn't even seem to notice Rhylellia's play of subservience.
The guard captain nods to her request, "Like your friend suggests, you should leave."
You are easily able to slip into the exodus of non-humans and flee the scene.
"That is not the first example of human-centric bigotry I've seen in the streets these past two days," your elven guide says once you're clear. "I especially loved the part where you threatened to kill a member of the local nobility in the middle of the street. True, this is not Oppara or Westcrown, but still, it was either very brave or very stupid."
From her tone, it's impossible to tell which side of that coin she favours.
Thanephos shrugs, I didn't overly care. He insulted my friend and I responded appropriately.
"It was stupid. It was illegal and it was an overreaction to an insult. You can't afford going to jail, right now."
Staring at Thanephos with obvious shock on her face. Taking a moment to collect her thoughts before replying. I do appreciate the show of loyalty but I do not want you to go to jail either. Nobles think that they are above everyone else and tend to be very zelous when it comes to defending their honor. The last part is practically dripping with bitterness.
"Also, this one was a fanatic."
He shrugs again, It was what needed to be done. Maybe not the brightest thing to do, but no hero I've read about was renowned for always making safe decisions. Either way, it's in the past.
"My hero," the elven archer purrs, giggling slightly as she kisses him on the forehead.
Your guide soon leads you to an up-scale drinking hole called the Foaming Tankard. Inside, you find a neat pub, well-swept and clean, with smiling serving girls and well-to-do merchants sitting quietly at their tables, discussing business and the weather. Your guide points towards a grizzled old gentleman near the back, then nods towards the bar, expectantly.
Thanephos first heads to the bar, collecting a round of drinks for his companions, as well as something of his guide's choice, then walks towards the man at the back.
Sir Engelworth?
Alexis quietly following the others into the tavern but stays back avoiding the bar and stands ridgedly waiting. Seeing Thanephos follow the pretty elf she falls back in line. Careful to keep her head down and tail tucked back under her skirt.
The old man finished his drink. "I might know him. How much money does he owe you?"
Assuming you assure his he doesn't owe you any money, he admits to being Sir Engelworth and asks what he can do for you.
Thanephos cracks a smile at the old man's response, then sits down opposite Engelworth. I'd heard that you happen to have a magical bow, and I was wondering if you were interested in trading it for a weapon I brought back from a recent exploit. Flaming greatsword.
Sir Engelworth pauses to give you an appraising eye, then tries to take another drink, only to find his cup empty.
"You are completely serious, aren't you?" he asks rhetorically.
"Lad, look at me. Do I look like I'm about to 'Out Sword' and charge down a dragon? What use do I have for a flaming greatsword? Several years back, a lord from somewhere offered me a small estate and castle for my bow. I keep this bow because of the stories it can tell, and to remind me of the companion's I've lost and the good that I've done in my day. What stories does your greatsword tell?"
Thanephos looks at him intently, This sword was retrieved from an undead who had stolen a holy relic of great power. You say that your bow reminds you of the good that you've done? Think of what good could still be done with it. I'm afraid I don't know the sword's full story, and for that I apologize, but this sword just feels different. It feels like it has a history.
"Then when you find out that history, and can tell its proper tale, I will consider the exchange. You are off to a good start, lad."
"What is your bow's story," Ty grumbles.
The old man's eyes twinkle. "Ah, my friend, as the old saying goes, 'I'll tell you mine, if you tell me yours!'"
He laughs loudly at his own little joke.
Ty is surprised by the question, and an expression of anguish crosses his face.
"You want the bow," he says defensively to Thanephos. "Tell him your story."
Crossing her arms in agitation but keeping silent and waiting.