Sasha shouldn't have been surprised that the stuff here was more expensive than she was used to - she'd heard that about remote locations. As she dug the extra coins from her purse, she asked, "So, do you know of anybody looking for some muscle? We have a few days off in town, but I'll be needing work sooner rather than later."
|
The smith stops to think then shakes his head.
"No one come to mind, at the moment, but I will keep an ear open just in case. You might want to make an appointment to see the Lieutenant, Jadale. She might have some work for adventuring types. You can set it up at the Inner Gatehouse. Just tell the guard that you want an appointment and where to get in touch with you and he will contact the Lieutenant."
Sasha thanked the man, and promised to be back tomorrow for her gear. As she and the others headed back outside, she said, "Where to now? When Alex suggested they go to the general store, they headed in that direction.
|
|
The General Store is just a few steps down the main road from the smith's tower. A simple half timber building, the front door is propped open with a barrel filled with apples. A hand written sign states; 1cp eachin bold black letters. A smell of mixed herbs and leather goods greats you as you enter this shop. Shelves line the walls, with a couple of glass show cases arranged in the middle of the room. A curtained doorway leads to the back rooms, and a desk and chair are setup to receive shoppers payments.
Alex immediately began studying everything on the shelves and in the cases to see if there was anything of interest. As she perused the shelves she also listened to see if anyone came out of the back room to greet them.
Sasha wandered through the store, hoping to find a good map of the area. She also needed to find a few torches, as she'd burned her last one along the trail.
|
|
You scan the shelves and look around the display cases. Most of the items are mundane; household goods, some food stuffs and a small amount of 'adventuring' gear; rope, lamp oil, dried trail rations and torches. There seems to be nothing of an alchemical nature.
As you are examining the good, you see the curtains part and a slim older halfling enters the room. He is well dressed and groomed, but walks with the aid of a crutch. His left foot ends at a wooden peg that you can just make out peaking from the end of his tailored trousers.
His voice is surprisingly deep and mellow as he speaks.
"Welcome to my store. My name is Mosley and if there is anything I can help you with, please just ask?
Inamm paused by the apple barrel and inwardly grinned. The true sign of a small and well policed town was such displays of an honour system. She chose a nice plump apple and then slipped a few gold coins into the small slotted box on the side of the barrel. At least they have the sense to limit access to the coins. Maybe I can regain some of my lost innocence from the times when my need surpassed the security measures.
Inamm looked over the goods offered. She could not suppress a giggle when she saw a small copper bell displayed among the wares. Calaam would never forgive me if he knew I passed up the opportunity to get a bell. "Essential equipment for all worthy travellers." Never quite understood your need for one, but here's to you, Cal. She picked up the small bell and then remembered that chalk was another "essential tool". If they have that I will honour Cal with that as well, but there is no way I am going to get a ten foot pole.
As if hearing her voice in her head, Inamm then went in search of the item that her mother had always ensured to have on her. A proper glass mirror is not only an essential female accessory; if broken they offer many alternate uses to a resourceful girl.
"Welcome to my store. My name is Mosley and if there is anything I can help you with, please just ask?
"Do you carry anything less mundane in nature? Not necessarily magical but more, shall we say, unstable? When used properly of course - not necessarily on their own. Or even medicinal?" Alex voiced her train of thought as she twitched her head towards the back room behind the curtain.
I'm looking for a map of the area," Sasha added.
|
|
Mosley hobbles over to on of the display cases and opens it up. Inside are a number of maps, some crudely drawn, while others seem to be works of art.
"As you can see I have a few to choose from. The ornate ones were actually cut out of a pre-empire book called a gazetteer. The others are of a much newer, and unfortunately, cruder pedigree."
The maps depict lands you have never heard of, showing sweeping plains, vast oceans and towering mountain ranges. A few you recognize as somewhat local. Most of the 'newer' maps are of local destinations.
After he has shown Sasha the maps he trundles over to Alex.
"I do carry a few 'special' items that may be of interest to you miss, but I must ask to see your coin first and extract a pledge from you. You must promise that anything I see you will not be used against the keep or any of its residents. Do you swear this? "
As he talks, you notice him twisting a copper ring on his left index finger.
Alex pulled out the coin purse that she had received earlier and jingled it for Mosley. "I swear to you that I mean no one at the Keep any harm. Mostly I like to heal people. The other stuff is more for protection than anything else. I have no malicious intent, that I swear."
|
|
The area maps are mostly new and of average to poor quality. They will cost from 3sp (a rough sketch of the keep in charcoal) to 10gp (a ink and parchment map of the keep and surrounding area, including some interesting sites!)
The old halfling limps into his back room where he produces a large black iron key and opens a padlocked storage cabinet. Within are a number of alchemical mixtures, as well as raw materials.
"Is this what you were looking for?" he asks with a hint of a smile on his lips.
Sasha looked keenly at the expensive map. It was ten times the price of any map she'd purchased before, but she was feeling flush, and it looked interesting.
for the nice map
appraisal roll for items to restock alchemy kit:
Sasha looked at the nice map with an experienced eye. Mr Mosley was asking 10 gp for it, and it was probably worth at least that. She considered trying to barter him down a little, but decided against it. "I'd like to take this one, kind sir," she said, reaching for her money pouch.
"Is this what you were looking for?" he asks with a hint of a smile on his lips.
Alex's face broke out in a huge grin, "It's like you read my mind, Mosley. That is precisely what I was looking for." Alex looked over the materials she needed to restock her alchemist kit before asking, "What would you charge for all these items?"
Giving the man his money, Sasha reverently rolled up the map and put it away in the tube he provided. "We've just arrived," she said to the merchant, "and looking for work. Do you know of anybody looking for a little extra muscle?"
"For you madam....50 silver pennies, or 5 gold shillings, if you would not mind. I usually get more stock in when the dwarven caravan comes in."
Alex was already in the process of pulling out 5 gold pieces when he told her how much the items were. "You have a deal, good Mosley. Don't be surprised if you see me again." Alex collected her supplies from Mosley and was in quite a good mood now that she had somewhere she could get the supplies she needed.
She listened to Sasha as she inquired about work.
Do you know of anybody looking for a little extra muscle?"
"As well as other talents?" Alex added.
Sasha smiled. "My thanks. And if you hear of anything further, perhaps you could direct them to us? We're staying at the Merchant's Hostel."
Inaam shows the merchant her collected items. How much for these, kind sir?
"I think that's everything, thank you!" As they headed towards the door, Sasha said to Alex, "I believe you said something about a bakery?"
|
|
The three of you exit the general store and walk across the road to a number of row houses. It is not hard to follow the smell of fresh-baked bread, and soon you are standing at the half-door of a freshly whitewashed cottage. Inside you can see a table full of loafs of bread and buns. As you take in the delicious smell a robed figure exits from the backroom. He is carrying a tray of fresh scones. The thing that catches your attention is that he is dressed like a Grey Friar.
"Good morning to you. Can I help you with anything?" he asks as he starts to remove the scones from the baking tray to the table.
Alex clapped her hands together in delight as she surveyed all the offerings of the bakery. "I would love one of those delicious scones, kind sir."
|
|
The robed man smiles and tosses a scone to each of you.
"On the house for defeating those orc's masquerading as my fellow monks! I wish I only knew where they got the habits, and if there is a healing house now missing a number of their brothers and sisters."
A sad look comes across his features as he contemplates this possibility.
Sasha's hand had twitched to her new flail when she saw the man's habit, but she immediately realized there was no orc hidden beneath the robe.
Catching the scone, she took a nibble, then made a face when she tasted its sweetness. Discretely pocketing it, she gestured to some dense-looking rye bread. "I'll try a loaf of that, please." She couldn't understand how anybody could stomach anything so fluffy and sweet.
"Are you aware of anything like that happening before?" she asked the baker. "I've never encountered false Grey Friar's before, nor heard of them. But it seems that traveling holy men would be vulnerable to attack."
|
|
The man moves over and retrieves the loaf of rye and brings it to Sasha at the half-door.
"Nay, I have not heard of such before. While the roads are somewhat perilous, I would have never imagined such a rouse could have occurred. It is a shame no one retrieved one of the false monk's habits, for then I would know if they were counterfeit or real. Ah well, no sense of worrying about something we have no control over. Now, is there anything else I may get you ladies?"
As he talks, you notice a short line of Keep regulars has formed behind you. A handsome woman and two younger girls with baskets stand quietly and await their turn. The two youngsters are wide-eyed looking at the weapons Sasha is carrying.
Catching the eye of one of the little girls, Sasha winked. She then flipped a dagger from its sheath and danced it across the back of her hand. "It's important for pretty girls to always have protections," she said to them. "That way, if anybody bothers you, and they're not listening to you, you can make sure that they listen."
She flipped the dagger back into it's sheath and unbuckled it from her belt. "You girls practice with this," she said, handing them the weapon. "But do it outside so if you cut yourselves you don't get blood on the linen."
|
|
The woman gives Sasha a look of disapproval, but does not take back the "gift" she has given to the 2 girls. She moves forward in the line and begins to order and pick up a number of loaves and rolls. The girls absently hand their baskets to the baker, paying absolutely no attention to what is being said or done; they only have eyes for the dagger Sasha gave them, and quick, covert glances at the warrior.
"Nay, I have not heard of such before. While the roads are somewhat perilous, I would have never imagined such a rouse could have occurred. It is a shame no one retrieved one of the false monk's habits, for then I would know if they were counterfeit or real. Ah well, no sense of worrying about something we have no control over. Now, is there anything else I may get you ladies?"
Alex remembered that items had been collected from the orcs after their battle. Thinking there may be a possibility that a monk habit may have been retrieved she said, "There is nothing more I need from you dear Brother but maybe there is something I can do for you. I make no promises but I will ask a few of the merchants that were with us to see if they happened to bring back some of the garb that the orcs were wearing. If possible, I will bring it to you to take a look at. No one wishes their calling in life to be besmirched."
Diplomacy:
Diplomacy roll
|
|
Both Alex and Inamm are able to find one of the other guards who accompanied you on the journey who decided to keep one of the robes, however he is not willing to just give it up to you.
"It's good cloth, it is and I dinna get any o' tha other booty, so whys should I give up this one treasure to yous?" he mutters from the table he is sharing with 2 other caravan guardsmen in the tavern.
Alex could understand why the guard wanted to hold onto the robe. She sized him up to try and figure out what his price may be compared to what she knew the cloth was probably worth.
"It's good cloth, it is and I dinna get any o' tha other booty, so whys should I give up this one treasure to yous?"
"You misunderstand me, kind sir. No one wants to take your boon from you. I seems only fair to pay you for what you have in your possession. How does 2 gold schillings sound?"
Alex dug out a couple schillings and handed them over to the guard. "Just helping out a Brother, that's all. He wanted to get a look at the robes the orcs were wearing and you wanted 2 schillings - it's win, win."