Leila could see Henrick moving about in the corner of her eye. While he didn't go as stealthily about it as he could, the rapman might not realize he was there with the distance and herself as a distraction... But it is nice that he is there atleast. Those arrows of his does sting! But maybe they won't be needed here
The Rat-man smiles in a wide toothy grin rubbing his hands together. "Is Bega, tatomo mey gasta."
He makes a broad sweeping gesture over his cart as he removes a covering tarp.
When news of a visitor reaches Bazzle he heads out. He defers to Leila who has the position of communicator. Quietly mentions to Leila, "I can translate for you if you need me."
"Thank you - but I can manage this time." she quietly replies to Bazzle "but if you know what to look for - if the trader has anything useful to the ship - that would be awesome!"
There was a small chance that the trader actually had something useful to the ship - but worst case, they got to look at all manner of wondrous and exotic objects! She gave the Rat-man a grin (the body language here seemed similar enough to the one she was used to, so she was pretty sure a grin would be appropriate) and replied. "Tatomo verdo!" she gestured towards Bazzle "Gamma terme looca mey etire"
Leila starts peering into the cart. There was a lot of stuff there! Some she had seen, some she could barley guess what they were. She kept her eyes open for any sort of crystal or anything, in case they were the type needed. For her own curiosities sake, she also looked for any written works. "Mucho gasta ... Mey restico atlamtica! Rempti cala erde ?" she added absent mindedly.
Amalgus has been pretty quiet since hitting the ground planetside. He seems to be falling into a support role now that the mission is underway.
The cart is filled with various odds and ends. Jugs of water, Chitin armor, artful crystal jewelry, A handful of strange books and some very lightweight weapons.
"Ikaad, May chengo gasta menta mesal. Tatomomi sey Mehjad de Ashok?"
Leila looks trough the cart and stops when she spots the book. She carefully climbs up the side so she can reach them and peer inside. I wonder what these people write about? Perhaps there is a tale of an adventure somewhere! Or perhaps a history book! She glances over the titles looking for a book of either type. Or perhaps a recipe book! Or something about botany or nature ... She grins as her search parameters quickly widen.
She listens to traders reply to Bazzle - hopefully he knows something about the city. And if they were lucky, he might even share some for free!
If there is any fascinating books to be found she gathers them all and makes her way over to the Ratman. Clutching the pile of books to her chest she gave the merchant a sunny smile. "Ekvi mucho trinket? Et mey decein terban er gasta ti gelter?"
Bazzle listens to the trader politely. Conversing in the trade language comfortably.
The Ratman smiles again.
"Trinketa bibla, es aqani es bibla." as he holds out a small water pot for example.
"Ashok gasta menta, hmmm, sha sha hopo un aqani un mey deal."
One water for one book? She looked around in the arid landscape. Of course ! Just like Osirion back home - water is the most valuable commodity! The little halfling sets down the pile of books (carefully) and shoots a smile at the ratman. "Es aqani es bibla un hopo un aquani fi gasta menta. Axiomati!"
Leila takes of into the ship to fetch the goods. She first turned on the heating system in the kitchen to reheat yesterdays dinner - it would have to serve as breakfast. Then she headed to the water storage to take stock of the ships supply. This is really something we should have checked before we left Golarion! I hope there is enough to last a while. And all the cattle certainly will make it last shorter ... She peered into one of the supply barrels as she contemplated their fate. A smaller extra cauldron 'acquired' from the kitchen would have to serve as a container for the liquid that they would trade.
After doubling back to the kitchen (with the cauldron of water under one arm) she secured a basket and filled it with the food, utensils and other items suitable for eating and headed back outside. She placed the cauldron of water at the merchants feet and looked up. "Aquani!" she proclaimed. The food she placed on a small rock that would have to serve as a table for now. Then she dashed inside once more to quickly fetch a smaller canteen, so that everyone could have something to drink. Quietly she remarked to Amalgus when she passed him "How is the ships water supplies ? Can it restock by itself or do we need to take a trip to fix that anytime soon ?"
"The vessel is fully equipped for long periods of interstellar travel. It has a particle collector which filters for small bits of usable matter which can be used as the base particles for the formation of new materials, some of which include organic compounds that can be rearranged into food and water. It also has a food and water replicator which uses supernatural energies to produce sustaining fuel for organisms. I understand that the replicated food and water are much more palatable than the processed material from the collectors."
"The vessel can produce roughly sixty liters of water a minute. In the event of a crash landing where the replication systems are offline, the vessel stores approximately five thousand liters of water in the secure hold, and one hundred liters in each preservation pod."
"Trade as much water as you like."
After receiving confirmation that they can afford to spare some water Leila quickly serves the food and completes the transaction. Bazzle and the others can listen to the merchants tales. I wanna see what I bought! The small halfling picks up the pile of books and moves over to her rock where she makes herself comfortable and starts peering trough them. I wonder what they write about here!
The merchant settles down to eat, clearly in a jubilant mood at his sudden prosperity.
"The nearby city belongs to the Contemplatives of Ashok, not the most sociable folk but very intelligent. They know more about just about anything than anyone else. The trick is getting their interest long enough to get them to share it. The best way to talk to them is to let them know you have a idea, riddle, or story for them. If they are impressed or interested they will share information with you. If they've already heard it or it bores them they give you the cold shoulder.
Not the toughest folk or the craftiest but the mental powers they have make them tough to push around. Any more questions?"
Leila looks up from her books as the merchant starts to speak.
A story or riddle? I wonder if ours is good enough. Or maybe we need to come up with a cunning riddle!
She looks down at her new collection of books. There was one on Arcane Networks or something! Perhaps it contains more information abut the Ashok's powers aswell? Better show Bazzle and the others later! She looks up with a start. The others! With a guilty look she glances at Amalgus and Henrick. I don't think they understand what the merchant is saying ...
The halfling sets her books down for a moment and dashes over to them. "Heya!" She gives them a sunny but guilty smile "Sorry - I forgot you might not understand him! He is a travelling merchant - and we offered him a meal in exchange for information about the nearby City. Apparently ..." She quickly gives a summary of what the ratman said. She finishes with "Oh - and I also managed to trade for some books!!" She waves a book written in a strange script in front of them. Some of the pages seems to contain paintings of crystals ...
"If you want to ask anything - shoot! I'll translate for ya real quick." As she speaks she bounces up and down, as if trying to impart some of her excitement to the others trough induction. She quickly turns and dashes back to the merchant - a new question has already formed in her mind. "Can't you tell us a little about yourself ? Surely you are no Ashok - you must also have wondrous tales of home!"
"Are there any dangers between here and the city? Is it easy to get on the bad side of the locals?"
Leila quickly translates Henricks question then turns to him. "Good question! Let's hope they have humour!" You all get the feeling she is hoping for the Ashoks sake and not her own ...
Bazzle starts to translate but then sees Leila is pulling translation duty.
"In answer to the tall one's question, not many danger between and the Ashok, except for wildlife. Depends on the locals though. The Ashok are distant and don't get angry but they don't think like others so they are just as likely to kill an annoyance as teleport it away. There's the Red Men, look like the tall one but red, the Shobhad-neh, big four armed savages, the Red Lizards, like Red Men but scaly and stick to the desert. Then there's the best race on Akiton the Ysoki, my people. I come from the Hivemarket, the greatest trade city in the world."
"Hmm, Hivemarket, that sounds like a good bet for buying things we might need. Where would we find that?"
"Yes - yes! It sounds like a wondrous place!"
"Just about clear on the other side of the world. It'd probably take a year or so to ride there even if you took no stops."
"Woah! That is really far then! What are you doing all over on this side then? Just trading? Or are you looking to see the world ?"
Leila looks impressed and leans closer, her body language urging the merchant to continue his story.
I wonder how long it would take on the ship ... and if we could land close? Hmmm! We might have to visit after we said hi to the Asok. I love to visit their marketplace!"
"Hmm, other side of the planet eh? Well I don't think it's quite as big a deal for us, but we might as well check out this place since we're here. "
"Nope! And it would be wondrous to visit. But we don't have to tell the merchant that !"
Amalgus stands quietly, his servos whirring and his mind running analysis and calculations as the others spoke.
Thinking of a new question Leila fires it off at the merchant too "Were are you going now? If you came from half the world away - what is left? Wouldn't you have a story or two for the Asok - isn't there anything on your mind?"
Bazzle speaks in common to the crew, "I wonder if this city on the far side of he world is the best place to get the sensor crystals."
"Perhaps you are right Bazzle..." Leila ponders "But since we are already on this side - shouldn't we check out the Asok city first? The seem interesting!" Crystals ... Hmm - didn't I just ...? Yeah! With a smile she continues "On the topic of interesting - check out this book Bazzle! Perhaps it have some guidance ?" She dashes over and fetches the book 'Crystal Farming and You' and hands it to Bazzle. "Careful!" she laughs "Would like my extra-terrestrial book back at a later date ..."
"Hmm let me see."
"Enjoy!" she smiles at him "Maybe it could help with your research - and who knows, perhaps we can grow our own crystal!"
"Would like my extra-terrestrial book back at a later date ..."
"The correct term is "extraplanetary"" Amalgus said in his oddly muffled voice. He always sounded like he was talking from behind a metal helmet. "Terrestrial would be describing the elemental plane of earth, where Terran is the native tongue."
"Though, in point of fact, the book, in being native to the Prime Material, is in fact Extra-Terrestrial, as are all of us. So, in that regard, you are correct."
Leila blink, nods and smiles "Exactly what what I meant!" in a tone making abundantly clear she in fact didn't mean that. Tapping her cheek she ponders "But wouldn't it still be a planetary book - since, you know, Akiton is also a planet ?"
"Yes, but the word is contextual, depending on the speaker. It is extra planetary to you." In that regard it is similar to the word "foreign."
"Oh... That must mean I am an extra-planetary creature to you - right?" She laughs "Never thought of that!"
After dealing with the peculiar native salesman the crew decided to make the trip to the City of the Asok after all. While they had a few good leads on the crystal needed to restore the ship, a bit or two of extra knowledge couldn't hurt! But neither could they leave the ship completely unguarded - if it were to be lost, they would all be marooned on this weird, red world. Thus Amalgus, Hendrick, Leila and Bazzle were chosen to make the trip and the others remained. They had left the starship a few hours after sunrise hoping to make good time. At first - walking was awkward. But bit by bit, they adapted. Leila in particular seemed to enjoy skipping and jumping ahead instead of the standard, more dignified, way to walk.
And now, five hours later, the sun was at its zenith in the sky. It was noticeably smaller then what they were to back home, but yet the unescapable rays seemed harsher. Perhaps it was the barren arid landscape, which flat monotony was only occasionally broken by equally inhospitable plants or larger rocks - offering precious shade. Or maybe the thinner atmosphere simply let more light trough. All in all, they had made good progress. The city in the distance had grown larger and larger, but there was yet some way to go. Like an artificial mountain it loomed over the horizon.
But for now, a short break and lunch was highest on the agenda. Luckily there was a formation of rocks just north of their position, just a few more minutes of walk. It was one of the larger formations they had seen - the largest rock was almost twenty feet high, and there were over thirty of them all in all. To the west of the formation there were dunes of reddish dust, no doubt deposited there when the Akitonian night wind met the walls of stone. Where the dunes didn't cover the base of the rocks a surprising amount of plant life thrived. Most of it seemed to be some kind of thorny, tangled bush. But among the brown branches there was also other plants - something that was best described as a thornier mix of a pinecone and a cacti, large reddish fern and small herbs with purple eight pronged flowers.
Further down, in a crevasse between another pair of rocks another identical pair of eyes stares at the party. The feeling they convey is that the creature in contemplating which dressing would go best with this unfamiliar meal it spotted.
"Look! Wouldn't that make a great camping spot! There is shelter from the sun - plus I bet some of those plants are edible!" The halfling laughs and tries to drag her companions towards the large pile of rocks.
"Looks like a sort of oasis ahead. Probably can get water there. "
The halfling nods. "It never hurts to replenish our supplies!"
"Though I might suggest a bit of caution. Looks like things haven't been using this oasis much. Might mean a predator is in residence. "
"You are right on both counts . . ." He scans the area but seems lost in enjoying the newness of the experience.
"The local flora at this oasis does not bear the signs of having been eaten by local fauna. This could indicate potential toxicity in the foliage, or the waters that feed them. Caution is recommended until a sample can be procured and analyzed."
The halfling tilts her head to the side. "Eh? Poisoned or guarded ? But the shade looks nice ... I bet I could sneak closer and take a look! I'll just use a miliscule of magic - I'll turn back if I see anything wrong. Whadayathink?"
"No reason not to at least take a look. We just need to keep our wits about us. If you want to try a scouting on the down low, feel free. I'll keep an overwatch. "
"Okeydokay! I'll take a look!" the small woman leans in closer and starts to point out features between the party and the oasis. "I'll head there first, then ..." She tells (and points) out the route she is planning on taking, so that perhaps her companions can keep an eye out - even if she is invisible. With a smile and a wave she pops the Vanish spell and heads off into the distance.
The halfling quickly makes her way towards the oasis. The hard, dry Akitonian soil makes it easy to avoid leaving footsteps - so they only appear where Leila deliberately put them - hidden by small shrubs or rocks from the oasis, but in plain view to the party. Since she pointed out her route to the party they can, with some difficulty, track her with those. After half a minute she reappears hidden behind one of the larger rocks, right in the middle between her goal and the party. Her dress with muted earthly tones would blend in perfectly on Golarion, but not with Akitonian soil. She waves.
After about ten-twenty seconds, Leila seems to have decided to start moving again. With a dramatic gesture she sweeps her colour-shifting cloak around her, causing her to easily blend in with her surroundings. Not soon after the last visible parts disappear as her magic once more takes hold and she continues her expedition.
Back at the vantage site, a sudden light breeze takes the edge of the heat for a few sweet moments. But then, as quickly as it came it is gone again and the heat is back in full force. In the distance to your east, a lone Jackalope has appeared. Currently, it is observing you with curious interest. It is about 750' away. Meanwhile, the Oasis looks tranquil. After a while, the animal shuffles a bit closer to you before taking shelter underneath a tilted rock - still making sure it has full vision on the party and the oasis.
Details of the creature is hard to make out in the shadows where it resides, but it does appear to be the size of an horse - give or take. One feature you can make out is that the head appears to be rather large, even for such a body.
It appears to have no legs, but it might just be laying down. If you were to hazard a guess, you would say this one might just be a few pounds heavier then its friend.¨
Henrick watches the halfling proceed into the oasis noticing nothing amiss. He will follow at a good distance, remaining about 100' from the oasis when he stops.