Grint nods slowly in acknowledgement.
"I won't deny that part indeed, but beauty is more than just the baring of your skin."
He sits back looking up in thoughtful contemplation.
"Though I'd guess most men would care only for that. So your recommendation for outfits would probably be very good."
Elsa seems flabbergasted at Sabel's words You would...debase yourself for....these words fail her and she looks around hopelessly. It is not for the female to pander to the male.
not sure what you guys know about Irrisen but it is one of the few completely female dominated societies on Golarion.
Mary takes a moment before answering Sabel's question.
"Emm, there's 8 i think. 4 from Kharum and 4 out of towners.
Have you decided on how you are spending the night? Malena and Sabel have their homes here, but the other 3 of you...."
Malena has been watching the altercation with the rude men without commenting, interested in how Elsa approaches the situation, and seeing it is so very different from how women in her family and her culture would do so.
After the altercation is done, she'll say to Elsa, "Hello, Elsa. I think you got my name earlier, but just in case you didn't, it's Malena. I like your ideas about men needing to be subservient to women... I can't help but wonder if some Varisian clans might have gotten into a whole lot less trouble if they had started from that premise."
Lyssa's about to mention what she thinks is Sabel's personal reason, a lack of cleavage, when a place to stay the night is mentioned.
Uhhh... if she's a local and I could sleep at her place, I might not want to say that now...
"Could I sleep at your place, Sabel? Or perhaps Malena's?"
"I guess I still have a place for the night at my old caravan. I'm leaving them after the festivities, but for now I still have a palce to sleep. We're camped right outside the city, so I'll have a nice little stroll tonight."
I'm beginning to think I shouldn't hang out so much with these ladies. I'll be a simple packmule in no time.
"You're welcome to my house, although it is a bit small. You'll have to sleep in the common room. If you want you could sleep at my place too Grint, that's if you don't mind sharing the room with Lyssa. I don't have extra blankets though, so the best comfort is the rug in front of the fireplace. I do have some pillows you could use to soften the night a bit." She said with a welcoming smile.
I'll have these to together in no time at all.
"I'd much appreciate it if you'd let me make use of your common room, but Grint's not joining."
Lyssa gives Grint the look. "Grint, stop being so pushy! I already told you I'm not interested in you. Go sleep with your caravan!"
"My place is also quite small," Malena says, "as I live there alone and not opulently. I am not... yet... a Varisian queen."
Malena offers a brief mischievous smile.
"However," she continues, "there is a common room where I can throw some blankets and pillows on the floor for a person or two if necessary."
Grint gives Lyssa a look and then Sabel.
"Look Lyssa, I already said I would stay with my caravan. I never ever mentioned staying together in the same room. If I would have it, that will never happen. And Sabel stop trying to give Lyssa any ideas to continue that notion of hers."
Grint holds his right hand to his heart and then holds his hand as a greeting to his head, first to Malena, then to Elsa.
"I think it's better for me to return to my quarters. A fine evening to you two ladies, perhaps we'll see each other tomorrow. Miss Lyssa, Miss Sabel." With a last nod toward both Sabel and Lyssa he heads out of the door and strides off in the direction of the camp.
I should really be careful with those two. Malena and Elsa seem relaxed enough, but the other two. I can't almost believe that that Lyssa girl is actually a monk, seems to me she doesn't have the discipline to listen.
I have a room at a reputable establishment. Elsa says to the others, she stands as Grint turns to leave. She holds out her hand to him and says Escort me to the Inn of the Broken Dish? in a questioning tone that edges on command.
Grint looks up in wonder at Elsa, then he grins and shrugs.
"How can I refuse a lady if she asks that of me. It will be my pleasure miss Elsa."
Grint leaves a silver piece on the table for the ale and his part of the meal.
Grint gives Lyssa and Sabel a look as to say. Don't start with me now.
"After you m'lady." Grint says, trying to be gallant as he holds open the door of Mary's establishment.
"So miss Elsa, you seem to be a stranger to these lands. May I ask where you are from?"
When Grint and Elsa are gone, Lyssa whispers to Sabel and Malena. "Did you see how he looked at her?"
"Anyway... shall we go to your home, Sabel?"
Sabel stands up from the table and says. "Yes lets leave, It's getting late. We still need to build a fire to warm the room a bit."
She walks towards the door and continues the conversation.
"Are we heading for the docks tomorrow then? If yes, before or after the shopping?"
Before she leaves the inn she waves everyone goodbye and gives one more dark glance at the sailors that entered a bit rudely.
Lyssa stands up and walks after Sabel. "See you tomorrow, Malena! We'll meet at the town's square?"
"Hmm... depends on the time we'll spend shopping," Lyssa replies as she leaves the inn with Sabel, "If we spend the entire morning, we'd have to do it after the contest."
Grint, I come from a land far away. My home was the northern land known as the Linnorm Kings, I left after some difficulty with my family. Did I say the Broken Dish Inn, I meant the Eager Patron, my knowledge of this city is faulty. I have been here only two days.
As they arrive at the Eager Patron Elsa says to Grint You will come tomorrow morning?
"The Linnorm Kings? I must say I've heard the name before, but my history of the lands is a bit rusty."
He then looks up at Elsa as she mentions it's the Eager Patron.
"Oh that inn? I think it's more in the centre of town, not near the docks. We should head this way than." He says as he points the way.
"I can escort you tomorrow morning if you'd like. It's a nice change of pace of duties. I'll wait outside or in the common room tomorrow morning, I'm an early bird myself. Good night to you miss Elsa."
Grint says as he greets her again as before. When she heads inside the inn, he strolls away to the caravan encampment outside of town.
As the group leaves Mary's, the other patrons leave as well.
Sense Motive 16
You get the feeling you're being watched.
The sky is bright and clear. A few late birds fly off as you pass them.
Each of you reach your respective place to spend the night.
The following morning:
Chatter is already present, as the early merchants are getting to their shops again. A rooster can be a heard, though it's call is somehow cut short. The sounds now come from what and whomever is up and busy.
In the morning Lyssa walks to the town's square, where she asked Malena to meet up. "Let's go to the upper market first? I doubt I'll be able to pay the clothes they sell there, but you never know."
Sabel follows Lyssa to the town square. "I vote upper market, it can't be that expensive. I have to leave later in the afternoon by the way, the people on the lower market will need me by then"
"I don't need to do any shopping just now," Malena says, taking a deep breath and enjoying the morning air. "I would like to go to the docks and investigate this black-haired brigand we learned about yesterday. And, probably, I should set up my stall and do some fortune-telling sometime today... a girl has to stay in food one way or another, after all!"
Hmm someone is watching us, I can feel it. Could just be those sailors though, or perhaps we've drawn too much attention with those sailors. Let's see if they follow or not.
Grint stands early the next morning outside the Eager Patron as promised. He wanted to stay inside the common room, but he was asked to go outside if he didn't order anything.
So Grint stood outside watching people move about the street and occasionally looking inside the inn for signs of Elsa.
Grint
Nothing catches your eye.
You do hear a slight *meow* above you.
Should you take a few steps forward and look up, you can see the young cat you saw earlier relaxing on the awning. (Luifel)
It looks at you briefly as well.
"Aww okay. Do let us know if you discover anything!" With these words Lyssa parts from Malena, and walks to the upper market with Sabel.
"What do you think I should buy? I was thinking of a dress, but I'm not sure. Do you know what this season's color is?"
"Oh, green and beige are the colors of this season. I would pick a long dress also." She seems to be thinking. "Maybe a pretty necklace and some matching earrings."
As Lyssa and Sabel arrive at the upper markets they notice they are in the nick of time before the figural storm hits. The number of customers are increasing rapidly. Several stands are crying out to attract buyers.
"Delicacies from Magnimar, only the finest!"
"Buy your fashionable clothes at our shop, Lamare stands for quality."
"Jewelry for the ladies, pocket sized sundials for the gents."
Elsa
As you come down, the innkeeper looks up.
"Did you sleep well miss? With the festival going on, the mornings tend to become noisy earlier in the morning than they usually do."
Elsa nods her head at the Innkeep, Indeed, thank you for inquiring. seeing Grint waiting for her outside Elsa walks to him Shall we go?
Grint looks back down as Elsa exits the inn as he was a little bit distracted by the cat that seemed to follow him around town. Perhaps it's just coincidence.
"Very well, where to? I'd like to visit the docks and perhaps have a word with a certain man there about missing lottery money. What kind of business do you have today?"
Lyssa browses the stands in search for green dresses, and beige or green accessories. She also searches for new shoes, because wearing sandals under a dress is a bit weird.
I find myself unencumbered, I would walk with you. Elsa says allowing Grint to lead her onward.
Lyssa & Sabel
You see clothes that are the desired colors. Though you've also noticed a nearby shop with some very nice dresses hanging behind the glass windows. A sign above the door says Lamare quality clothing.
"Greetings ladies..", a man behind a clothing stall says. "Looking for some clothes for an occasion? We've just got new colors with our dresses."
Prices are presented on a small wooden plaque.
Dresses, 5gp.
Skirts, 3gp
Shoes, 3gp
Lyssa goes to the shop and enters it. She browses the shop for the same items as she browsed the stalls, also looking for price tags.
Lamare quality... it has a nice ring to it, but will I be able to afford it?
Sabel leans over to to Lyssa and whispers in her ear.
"Those are a bit expensive aren't they? They do look lovely though..."
After examining the clothes a bit closer Sabel remarks.
"They are very well made though aren't they? They have a very nice cut. And I think they would fit you perfectly too. Let's try something on you then shall we?"
Maybe Grint will like her more in one of these dresses! No man can resist a woman in a nice dress.
Lyssa & Sabel
"Very well, i'll be here if you need my wares.".
As you enter and look at the clothing in the Lamare shop, a blonde woman in likely her late thirties walks up to you with a questioning but warm look.
"Greetings, i am Brigitte Lamare. Do you see anything you like, or would you like help to pick something out?"
The pricetags on these dresses show a higher number.
A "normal" dress costs 10gp. A finely ornamented dress ranges from 20 to 25gp.
I do have some money... I can't carry it with me though, and my closet is already full.
"Do you see something you want Lyssa? Else I think we could look about some other shops."
She looks to be thinking.
"A simple dress might also do for the contest."
Grint and Elsa will head out the direct way towards the docks, taking the route via the city streets and the central market to the south-west.
"I still have money left for shoes this way, but I'll buy those at a stand," she says to Sabel. "Do you by the way have a coat I could borrow? I don't want everyone to see what I'm wearing until the moment's there."
Lyssa & Sabel
Brigitte looks surprised, "Prices are what they are my dear, i'm not going to cut short on them. I'm assuming...this is for the contest yes?
However....there is one dress that might do."
Brigitte walks to the windows and takes off a similarly colored dress. It's slightly decorated.
"I propose a deal. This dress is merely a model, not of the high quality we use for our dresses. You can buy this for 10 gp if you mention you've bought it here. Advertising you understand.
My son will likely be there as well, so if you do, he will give you 2 gp back."
Malena
Despite the festival, the number of people interested in having their fortunes told weren't many.
Watching the people walk by, there is clearly one person heading specifically towards you.
It's the elderly woman you've noticed at Mary's yesterday. Despite her wrinkled looks, she still gives off a feeling of self confidence, yet modesty.
"Hello my dear. Fortune hasn't been on your side this morning has it.
Care to have a little talk to take your mind off of it for a few minutes and help an old woman get some distraction from her everyday life?"
If Lyssa can't remember the son's name from memory, she will ask Brigitte for it. Afterward, Lyssa will go back to the stand she was at before.
"Hello again! I'm looking for shoes. To be specific, a pair of beige flats. Do you have such a pair of shoes?" Lyssa asks the man at the stand, while she also looks for such a pair.
"Sorry I left my coat at home, we don't have enough time to go grab it before everything start I think."
Sabel walks with Lyssa to the stand and watches with her over her shoulder.
"I wouldn't go with flats if I were you, high heels would go way better with the dress. Beige would fit though you are right in that."
Grint looks like a high heel person, I think he would like those better.
"If we are finished with the shopping maybe we could meet up with Grint, Elsa and Malena before the contest starts."
Lyssa & Sabel
The son's name is Jules, the names of the Lamare family are known as many of the wealthy buy their clothing from them. A likewise blonde 16yo kid with a tad bit of cockyness to him.
The merchant is smiling as he sees you return.
"Welcome back ladies.... Beige shoes you say? We do indeed.
We have flats, higher heels and something in between. 3gp a pair."
Lyssa pays the man 3 gold for a pair of beige flats. "Thank you!"
Lyssa & Sabel
The shoes weigh 1/2 lbs, and you've got 2 1/2 hours left till noon.
It is 9:30. 2 1/2 till the contest.
Malena smiles at the woman and tries to give the impression of being open and friendly (which, for the most part, she is), while being a bit wary of the woman inside.
"Of course!" she says. "Where do you want to go to talk?"
"Let's hurry then, it isn't a small city."
She walks along with Lyssa towards the docks, where they last saw Grint headed.
"I hope we meet them there."
Grint has to see Lyssa in the dress, he simply must!
Malena
"There's a bench over there at the side of the road by that tree.", indeed there stands a lush green tree with a wooden bench.
The talk is about every day things. The past and the future of the city, the festival, and more personal things like family and childhood.
"..and then my father gave me a bunny on my 5th birthday. Fluffy and adorable, you could hug it and it wouldn't resist. Do you remember what you got on your birthday when you were that age?"
"My brother though, several years later, gave me such a scare disguising himself as a ghost in a dark alley. I was forever terrified of such things... Has anything ever terrified you?"
After the life's questions were over with she stands up.
"Thank you dear, for hearing out an old woman's tale. It does me good."
She walks onto the street and stops after a few feet, to look back over her shoulder with a smile. As 2 people walk by the woman is gone...as if she was never there to begin with.....
[/b]
All but Malena
As Grint and Elsa are on their way to the docks they almost bump into Lyssa and Sabel, whom had taken a little shortcut. (Sabel lives in Kharum..why not?)
Before you have the chance to catch up with talking, a young woman comes up to you.
"Good morning, may i have a moment of your time? I'm Lizzy from the city's University. We are conducting research on phobias. The university wishes to find new methods for helping people get rid of them and this way we can decide which phobia has priority to be dealt with."
She hands you all a short list with a few questions and a few quills.
Are you afraid of:
-Spiders []
-Jesters []
-Commitment []
-Women []
-Men []
-Dogs []
-Other, namely: []
The worst experience ever was:
______________________________
The thing that gave me the most joy in my life was:
______________________________
After all the commotion of the morning thusfar, the group arrives at the gates of the docks.
A sign above a modest accommodation says: [Dockmaster]
However, 2 guards step aside to question you.
"Good day, what business do you have at the docks, you don't look like any of the types that usually come here."