"Allow me to buy you one! I already got a free drink today. Why not one for you as well. Two tankards of ale! Tell me your woes friend."
Bartholomew heads over to Rifiki to collect on his wager of brandy.
AS Rifiki had promised, he pops the top of a fine aged brandy, it is dark amber in color, with notes of spice as the smell wafts through the air. He pours you a drink, and the moment it hits your pallet, you are in awe of the taste. It is smooth, doesn't burn going down and is truly a masterpiece.
If you want to by a couple tankards of Applejack for the house, it will cost you 1 gold and 2 silver.
-Thank you mate.
Yue orders something to feed his belly and help the ale down.
-Well, I've just been in a terrible place, and terrible things I've seen there, aye. But I'm a tough lad, here and here- touches his chest and head -so I'm willing to go to tough places - for some coin.
Pauses for a long drink and burps.
-Should you happen to know anyone who needs a tough lad, will you care to suggest I'm available? I guess I'm of more use to you with my purse full, uh?
Winks and finishes his ale.
"A round of applejack for the house!" Cries Bart. "May good fortune meet you all." He mage-hands the coins over to Rafiki.
Turning to Yue, "Well it looks to me that you have come back in one piece. And with gold burning holes in your pockets too eh? Well it just so happens that I make all sorts of fine magical artifacts, so I am well equipped to help you with the problem of your full purse."
Bartholomew takes a drink from the glass of brandy and practically melts on his bar stool. "My compliments to you Rifiki. This is truly the finest drink I've ever had. I should get into duels more often if this is the result."
Turning back to Yue, "Well come now friend. You can't just tantalize us by saying you've seen terrible things and leave it at that. I don't think anyone is offering adventuring work tonight. I could use a good story."
-Well, sadly there's not much story to be told- says Yue while ordering another tankard. -When we were about to get to the interesting thing, we had to leave. Most of my group was wounded and keeping on it would have been suicidal. So I guess that is one less story I will be able to tell to my grandchildren.
He seems to be carefully thinking about saying something or not, while giving small sips to his new ale.
-About... er... what you said... How much would it cost to enchant one of my Masterwork weapons? Mind you, I don't have enough gold, but seeing what you offer will help me decide whether I should save some gold for an imminent purchase or spend it on something interesting...
"I'm afraid I don't deal in weaponry or armor. But I have worked with a wonderful dwarf named Riggar. We crafted a fine cloak together not long ago. Tell him I sent you, and maybe he'll cut you a deal. That is, assuming the cloak I made didn't fail him. If that's the case, he may double the price. Can I interest you instead in a stylish headband instead? It seems like you are a man who could appreciate a good headband. I make them in all styles and colors. This one here enhances my cognitive power." Bartholomew takes his headband off and practically forces Yue Fei to feel it's thread count.
-I surely appreciate a good headband like the one you're showing me, but I fear it might be a bit beyond my capabilities to acquire it. If luck's still on my side, though, I'm sure with a little bit more of good hard work soon I'll be the content owner of one of your beauties.
Entering the small tavern is a pale elf clad in a purple dress, a fine armour of darkened leather and an armour of contempt. One hand rests on her belt, near the longsword that somehow appears woefully out of place. The other hand alternates between weighting her purse and clutching it hard as if the mere act of being in a tavern risked its disappearance. Which, to be fair, it probably did.
She managed to keep her look of professional disinterest and superiority until she spotted the innkeeper. It took her a while to tear her eyes off the drow, but once she did she merely sighed and shrugged. Kyonin is a long while away. Both for him and me I guess ...
Sitting down at one of the corner tables, she tried to figure out which one of the patrons that where the one the farmer had told her about; the one that could craft some magic - for a price of course. And if the drow innkeeper would serve her kind.
Yue nods in a kind of silent salute.
"A drink for the newcomer! Rafiki, put another one on my tab" The brandy is having its intended effect on Bartholomew, and while his spirits rise, so does his tab. "Who's up for another wizards duel?"
Bartholomew tries to cast dancing lights, but fails. As primal magic takes over, he notices that somehow the aurora borealis is inside the tavern, and becomes dazed by it. If anyone is withing five feet of him they also see the strange spectacle and are dazed for a round unless they make a will save of 15. Everyone else just sees the wizard transfixed, blinking at the ceiling.
Riggar, sitting in a chair nearby, enjoying his mug of Dwarven Headsplitter, looks up at the sound of his name.
Aye, who be saying me name? Unless you got a ale to give me, or wish to start an order, it best be a good reason lads and lasses?
Riggar looks in the general direction of Yue Fei and Bartholomew, and gives Bartholomew a nod with a raised mug.
With a small nod Laillei at Bart Laillei thanks for the drink. A duel might be an entertaining watch, if nothing else. She repeats the nod for Yue, seeing as it was only courteous. And another newcommer? Hmm. I wonder if that maniac with an axe came along this way too!
Bartleby wanders though town, walking down the streets with Martin in tow. "Sure is quiet around here these days."
-Hello again, folks.
Yue sits near the fire and orders a drink.
-Any of you have seen Bartholomew recently? I'm interested in a headband we talked about not long ago...
Rifiki strolls through the crowd. There is some business, but not a great deal. He gives a nod at a few patrons, and he stands on the center stage. He looks around, and smiles at everything going on. When the crowd starts to hush, he raises his hands and waves at all around.
Hello all, sorry for my absence, but I assure you I have not left. I don't trust anyone to run my Emporium, but MYSELF. So, I have a new side-business of sorts. I am now the proud owner of an auction house. Here is how my auction hose works
He pauses for a moment, then once he has formulated his thought he continues, For the time being, I will be putting my own items up for bid, however to make things a bit more interesting, the items of for grabs will be in an "anti-magic field" to ensure that all bidders have equal opportunity, and it keeps divination magic out of use to gain an advantage. I will clues to what the item may be, it will be up to you if you wish to believe what I say or not.
So, the first auction will be at a side shop I have built, and will take place in 30 minutes for anyone interested in such an event.
He leaves the stage, and heads back to his shop. He goes inside the extra building. The outside looks unimpressive, while the inside is quite lavish and posh. Crushed velvet drapes line the windows. Oak benches are lined in rows, and can easily fit 100-150 people. At the back of the room, is a pedestal, inside of a 30 purple-azure field.
Rifiki comes out 25 minutes later, with a big smile on his face. He steps inside the anti-magic field, and places a silver dagger on the pedestal. He steps back outside and stands at a podium and addresses the crowd.
Greeting everyone, and thanking for making my first attempt a successful one. Now, on to the starting bid, before I go into detail about the dagger you see before you. The opening bid for what you see is 1000 gold pieces
After a few people let out a shocked reaction, Rifiki continues on.
The dagger you see is indeed an Alchemical Silver coated dagger. It once belonged in an Osiron Tomb of a pharaoh. The etchings on the hilt give the dagger two things: its aesthetically appealing to the eye, and it is where the magical properties are stored.
What Rifiki says is true, well at least about the etching reference. The tomb bit was most likely for flair, but it could be true for all Rifiki knows[/b]
After a few moments he goes on, This hot dagger has a moderate enhancement on it.
Three bidders start a bidding war. It starts at 1000, then 1200, then 1500, than 1850 gold pieces.
The current bid is 1850 gold piece.
A goblin bursts into the room through the window.
Biteface want coins. Biteface want bite face. Take Biteface hunting.
Yue is not really interested in the dagger, so he approaches Bartleby.
-Sir? Sorry to disturb you, my name is Yue Fei. I've heard you could enchant weapons for a good price...
Having no idea what the dagger is, Bartleby is also less interested in it, but curious about the event in general keeps one ear tuned to the auction...
Turning to Yue Fei the tiny halfling clambors down from the back of Martin his massive ape companion.
"Why yes sir, yes indeed I do!"
Yue offers his hand.
-Well, how much would you charge me to turn this marvel here- he says showing his bow -into a magic weapon?- He caresses the bow with love. -You know, it's a family memento...
Laillei heads back into the nice tavern. After the road some warm food and a nice drink to wash down the dust would do perfectly. She sits down at a table near the hearth and gives the drow inkeeper her customary long look before shrugging and starting to ponder if she really needs a flaming dagger. Coins are burning my purse - better that a dagger burns my foes? But mostly she was interested in a brandy that burned her throat. And a visit to that halfling artificer once his current business is done!
Taking Yue's hand in his own tiny little hand, "How enchanted to you want it?" The tiny halfling, about eighteen inches tall, inspects the bow. "Hmmm.."
Yue struggles to not remove his hand from the halfling's.
-Basically enchanted, I'd say. The most basically.
"Well, normally that would cost you two thousand gold, but it will only cost one thousand to enchant. How about we split the difference, and I will do it for fifteen hundred?"
Bartleby rocks back and forth on his heels as he stands on the table. "It will only take me a day or so. "
Yue seems to think about the matter for a second, then he answers. -It seems a good deal.
He leaves the bow in the table for Bartleby to take it, and presents his hand for Bartleby to shake it. This done, he produces a small pouch and proceeds to count a good amount of coin.
-Is it alright if I pay you split, also? Seven hundred and fifty, here they are.
"Sure. We can settle the rest up afterwards." Bartleby puts the bow into a pack on the huge ape's back, and he shakes Yue Fei's hand solemnly. "A pleasure doing business, come back any time, I'm always open for business. I can enchant many things."
-I'll be sure to come back when my purse allows it.