Venja points at the box and asks softly, "Mind if I ask about that belt? What is it and is it for sale as well?" She's got a curious streak in her...
Looking at Gabe as he indicates his interest in the armor, Indeed take your time if you need to come up with the money. I will be here with it unless someone else decides to purchase it in the meantime. Glad I have something on hand that you are interested in.
Turning to Venja with a smile in her eyes. Oh you saw that belt then. Well, again this is what the druid told me but he said that it would give the wearer an iron constitution and make one feel more hale and fit than ever before. If what he says it true then it is a bargain for only 4000gp. I have never tried it on myself as I am not one to dabble and try on magical items, but if you want, it is for sale. I should mention as well that the druid was a bit vain as he said that the belt was created to match perfectly with whatever clothing the owner possessed. Again, I never tried it on to see if it worked but he seemed quite the honest type. The leather belt as you can see now has a buckle that is in the shape of a bear's head.
Beck is interested in the belt, and takes a look at it, "So a Drood is who yea got this from then? Mind if I try?" putting it on if she allows. "Well, still got my tail and my man-bits so i'm figurin it ain't cursed. Feels fair good too eh? Now yea ain't much interested in weapons yea said, but how's about for trade? an' goods what we may got?"
Nodding her head that she is at least willing to let you try it on, she responds back to you. Your right that I do not have any need for weapons myself but if that is what you have to sell then I will at least look at what you got. Make me an offer then and bring what you have to the table and we will get this deal done.
Xanxan looks about discretely at the windows and exits just in case he ever gets in trouble in this place, but other than that is ready to go when the others are.
"We ready to go? Nice shop, but I fear there's little I need. I'm sure I"ll regret that later and think 'oh, I could have used that' but for now.." He shrugs.
"I'm with you Xan, nothing here calls out to me except the need for food supplies which seems to be well in hand already."
"Aye, well, we'd like a moment ta take a look around an' such," Beck says, removing the belt. He then produces the Spear of Manhunting, "Now far as trade goes, we gots this magic spear what can root a man ta the ground. Good thing for defendin from raiders or what-forth, but if yer not interested we can likely count out coin."
In the meantime, as the proverbial ice-breaking seemed to have been successfully done, Helgash helps himself to some additional trail rations, placing them on the counter - "For the time being, I am taking these Miss Verana" - he reaches for his pouch, holding it in hand with a smile - "How much do I owe you?"
Verana looks at you Beck and nods her head, Indeed that does seem like a valuable item if one knew how to weild it properly. I am afraid that I don't know anything about using one of those. If what you say is true though I will consider it strongly. How about 2000gp applied to the purchase of the armor or belt?
While waiting for Beck to make a counter proposal Verana tallies up the trail rations, That will be 2 gp then mister Helgash. And please do come back if there is something else that you would want to purchase or make an offer on.
_________________________
Venja and Xanxan step out of Verana's sundries and notice that not many people are out and about at this time. Clearly they are all either home preparing lunch or out working at their jobs. As it is you feel as if you have the run of the town at the moment without having to worry about people following you.
Helgash produces the two gold pieces, and siezes the chance to drop a hint at Verana - "Beck is a straight shooter. You can rest assured that his claims are bound to be honest and true" - even though he is not directly involved in the business, he tries to offer his assistance to the group who has so far accepted him in their midst.
"And I will be definitely returning whenever I have a need for supplies. Thank you for your assistance Miss Verana" - the tiefling adds, as he stores the rations in his backpack.
"Aye it's powers are impressive. Yea can trap a body with it, stickin em. Weren't no fun ta get spiked by, no-sir-ee." beck adds
"Beck is a straight shooter. You can rest assured that his claims are bound to be honest and true"
Gabryjel glances long at Helgash, studying him.
He’s quick to sing our praises without knowing us well yet… it could be a sign of a lad ready to be a friend; or it could be someone trying to manipulate you all by playing you for fools… best watch him carefully… Time will show his true colors, but nothing says you can’t be prepared in the meanwhile…
He studies the Tiefling casually, but says nothing more at this time, content to merely observe...
Venja and Xanxan step out of Verana's sundries and notice that not many people are out and about at this time. Clearly they are all either home preparing lunch or out working at their jobs. As it is you feel as if you have the run of the town at the moment without having to worry about people following you.
"My... what ever will we do with this opportunity?" He asks her.
"My... what ever will we do with this opportunity?" He asks her.
Gabryjel glances at Xanxan.
"Don't know about you, but I aim to misbehave..." he says with a dry grin, hefting his bow in his hand.
Verana smiles and nods her head at the both of you. Alright, you convinced me that protecting myself and my daughter is worth the extra to you. I don't have that type of coin though but will credit your account on purchasing one of these items. Are we ready to do business or do you still need some time to come to some arrangement amongst yourselves?
------------------------------------
Those outside, where do you want to head to or do? Spend time in the tavern, dig up a grave, scare townsfolk with weapons drawn at a tailors back door?
Verana smiles and nods her head at the both of you. Alright, you convinced me that protecting myself and my daughter is worth the extra to you. I don't have that type of coin though but will credit your account on purchasing one of these items. Are we ready to do business or do you still need some time to come to some arrangement amongst yourselves?
------------------------------------
Those outside, where do you want to head to or do? Spend time in the tavern, dig up a grave, scare townsfolk with weapons drawn at a tailors back door?
"I'll take the armor, I guess; seeing as how you'll credit me," he says to her.
"Aye, sounds good! 'Preciate it ma'am" Beck says with a bow, giving a grateful glance to Helgash.
Verana smiles at th transaction, Nice doing business with you all. Please come again should you be needing anything. I still have this belt if you can find the coin or items in trade to make up the difference.
She tries to pick up the weapon and everyone can tell immediately that she has no clue what to do with it. With a small sigh, her daughter walks over and takes it from her. Here, mother, you hold it like this. Rally you should have Marcus show you next time I invite him over for dinner. It wouldn't hurt for you to show some interest in what he does at the Tower.
Packing his rations, and moving out, Helgash offers a wink to Beck. Once they are outside, he addresses the group - "Nothing like some solid trade and bartering to make new acquaintances" - he comments - "Where to next for the remaining of your wares? That is, if you have any?"
scare townsfolk with weapons drawn at a tailors back door?
"Let's take a listen..." He'll skulk about near the outside of the tavern and see what folks are saying when they think they aren't there. He'll also keep his eyes out for a local temple if there is one.
As they move along, Helgash notices Xan moving away to skulk near the tavern - "That might get us into trouble if they see him" - he comments to the others - "Do you have any discarded weaponry or armours to sell? We could head on over to the blacksmith" - he suggests.
Xanxan you manage to avoid being seen or heard as you make your way to the tavern. All you can see is the owner and his wife inside. It seems like they are talking about the new people in town but can't make out exactly what they are saying.
There is a temple as that is where Roth is located.
Verana addresses Xan softly, "Excuse me a moment, I have more business back at the general store." Venja goes back to speak with Verana.
"Verana, do you mind if I ask you exactly who Marcus is and how I can get a chance to speak with him? You mentioned him earlier and said he does something at the Tower. Can you maybe elaborate a bit on that?"
She tries to be as sweet in her approach as she can to get more information out of the merchant.
The daughter nods to you Venja, as she glances towards her mother. My name is Milivsa. Marcus is my, well, he is...he and I have been seeing each other as of late. Milivsa finally manages to stammer out. He works at the Pale Tower as one of the guides into the forest. Being a guide and stationed there he got to know his way around weapons and was trained a bit by the guards. Whenever he is not on a tour of the forest leading the regular guards he comes to see me. Leaning in close to you Venja she whispers quietly trying to keep her mother from heating. Its been pretty steady as of late as it has been 2 years that we have been seeing each other. MOther doesn't know about the first year. I think he is seeing more of me and traveling to see me than actually at the Tower.
You can tell that the way Milivsa is beaming that she is head over heels for the guy and cant wait to marry him, if he ever gets around to asking that is.
Venja smiles at Milivsa and whispers with her softly, just soft enough so her mother doesn't overhear too much. "Your young man sounds very impressive... and you seem quite smitten with him and he with you. I'd love to chat with him about the Pale Tower if you think he'd see me. When do you expect him next? Perhaps we can meet and talk."
Milivsa nods to you and blushes slightly. I don't know exactly when he will return next. If he is on a patrol then it could still be some days yet. If he is finished with his patrol and it was a short one I would expect him in a couple of days then. He has a scar on the side of his right cheek he got from a branch that whipped at him when he was riding on horseback. That way you tell who he is and ask him if you see him.
"Alright, thank you... and if he returns sooner rather than later, send word to me and I will come meet with him. I will keep my eyes open for him myself while I'm about town or environs, though I suspect if he returns, he will make a beeline to you." She smiles at Milivsa with girlish consipiratorial glee.
Xanxan decides to stop hiding, and walks into the tavern all decent like to see how it goes, "Hello folks. Hope I'm not being any trouble? I worry we've made a bad impression. I know we can be a bit odd, but we really DO mean well. We're just not used to these beautiful but, to us, strange lands."
Milivsa nods and giggles as you turn to leave. If he knows what is best for him he will come straight to me indeed.
____________________________________
Xanxan, you notice that for a brief second Emil and Katrina share a look. It is gone immediately as Katrina smiles at you, welcome, please come and sit down. Where are the rest of your friends? I would so like to have them join us right now. I can understand how you feel being in a strange place. What would you like to drink while you wait for your friends?
bluff You can easily tell that they were talking about you and it wasn't good. The sweet syrupy voice is clearly enticing you to join them and with your comrades. Why you don't know but you are very suspicious.
"Only if you'll join me," the gnome smiles.
If they agree, he'll try to swap drinks on them and see what happens.
Will save
Thinking that she has you duped Katrina sits down and places a drink in front of you and a drink in front of herself. Before she takes the drink though she looks back at Emil who is standing in front of a very large ornate mirror. While her attention is diverted you manage to slip the drinks around before she can even notice. Turning back to you she rises her glass and offers a toast. To the peace and quiet of this place.
Tossing the drink back a look of surprise dances in her eyes before it is replaced with a vacant expression. You are pretty certain that she is under a spell designed for you.
In fact you believe that should you suggest any course of action at the moment she would carry it out to the best of her ability as if under a suggestion spell.
Emil at the bar looks on closely watching to see what the reaction is from you. Neither hand can be seen at the moment as they are below the level of the bar. Perhaps cleaning the glasses as you hit a slight tink sound.
Xanxan tries to put on the same vacant expression.
Then he says in a slightly monotone voice but still directed at Katrina, "This is nice. I'm glad you're my friend, Katrina. I'm glad you're willing to help us."
Katrina just stares at you for a bit befo nodding her head. [b]Yes, being friends is nice. As such I would suggest you leave now before trouble finds you. Things have a way of being found out and problems surface when you least expect it. Pus people don't like strangers around here. It gets them all worried and scared something is going to upset their delicate way of life.
Xanxan make a perception roll please and a sense motive at the same time on Emil.
After talking with Mivilsa, Venja heads back to the tavern and is surprised to find Xan missing from where she left him outside. She looks around the area, and in the snow outside the place, but she has no experience in tracking and probably can't make heads or tails of the signs there...
She listens at the door a moment to see if she can hear him inside.
She waits around outside a few minutes, and if he doesn't show up, she pokes her head into the tavern to see if he went inside.
"Well, thank you for your advice, Katrina. Before I go, Please tell me the specifics of the dangers facing us that you know about? It's all been very vague."
Before leaving, Beck takes a look at the cold weather gear, lookin' it over to see if it's better suited to the extreme cold of the area, not to insult Xan's craftsmanship, but what would keep out the cold here would cook a body where it's warmer.
If there's not much by way of gear, Beck will stroll along with Helgash, "Well, we don't got much for sellin off, but we do gots a li'l coin an may have some gear ta pick up a few things. Still, not e'rbody here may be as nice as Ms. Verana, so I'll keep an eye out, an' watch your back, eh?"
After talking with Mivilsa, Venja heads back to the tavern and is surprised to find Xan missing from where she left him outside. She looks around the area, and in the snow outside the place, but she has no experience in tracking and probably can't make heads or tails of the signs there...
She listens at the door a moment to see if she can hear him inside.
[dice=perception]1d20+8
She waits around outside a few minutes, and if he doesn't show up, she pokes her head into the tavern to see if he went inside.
Even though he has just met the group, Helgash cannot help his own nature, and while Xanxan was doing 'his thing', the huge tiefling stood outside, peering through the window, not wanting to overstep his bounds with his recent acquaintances, but making sure things did not get out of hand, and ready to step in if needed.
As Venja approaches, he smiles - "Xanxan seems to be working his considerable charms within - as far as I can see, things are running as smooth as possible"
If there's not much by way of gear, Beck will stroll along with Helgash, "Well, we don't got much for sellin off, but we do gots a li'l coin an may have some gear ta pick up a few things. Still, not e'rbody here may be as nice as Ms. Verana, so I'll keep an eye out, an' watch your back, eh?"
Helgash nods at Beck - "I just want to make sure that the master Halfling is safe" - he comments, looking through the window - "Then I would suggest heading to the blacksmith, and see if there are any useful additions to your gear from that particular commercial establishment"
"Well, seeing that he seems to have things well at hand, I'll wait out here and let Xan work his charms on the locals then. I wonder what he's finding out." Venja muses softly to Helgash as she waits with him outside the tavern.
Beck, the warm weather gear wouldn't provide you any further benefit from the cold but it would mask you a bit from others at a distance being a local style and not give away immediately that you are strangers.
Xanxan your 'charms' are indeed persuasive and Katrina begins to tell you a bit about the area and what specific dangers to look out for. If it is specifics you want, then know this. The Pale Tower knows that you are here and they are not happy about your presence. Someday soon you will be 'summoned' before them to account for you being here. The summons are usually cruel and those taken are rarely seen from again. Harboring strangers is enough depending on the witches mood to earn a summons if one is not careful. They always manage to see what is going on, even right now...
At this point you cant help but look around the room. As you do so, you notice that Emil has moved from where he was in front of the mirror to a spot a few feet away. In his hands is a heavy crossbow pointed at you. Get up and get out!!! Leave town now before I fill you with bolts. Leave me and my wife alone and scram.!
Xanxan you realize now that the clink you heard was really the crossbow being set. It being hidden behind the bar the entire time you never saw it. So engrossed in Katrina's tale of those who offend the Pale Tower witches were you that you never saw Emil bring the crossbow up and aim it at you. At his side is a dagger.
Xanxan looks at the man with the crossbow, seemingly calm, but inwardly he's quite furious. Seek to usurp my will under the pretense of drink? And they sneer at my friend just because he likes having an axe about? The gnome moves to Katrina to use her as cover, "Katrina my dear, your husband is being irrational. DO try to calm him down." he looks at the man, "Careful, if you fire I'll likely have to duck behind something, or someone. Set it down, won't you?"
And , feeling vindictive, he adds to Katrina in a whisper, "Maybe you should reconsider being around such an unstable fellow. A lass like you is attracted to shorter fellows anyway." He doubts that will stick long, but who knows, it might, and if the potion is strong enough to last for years, then they deserve a little disruption for their treachery.
Venja is too absorbed in the conversation with Helgash to notice anything else apparently.
So how much for a set of outfits? I'm rather likin' the cut an' style. An' Xan may 'preciate a nice template ta study. Say a set o' five, a sixth if'n yea gots anything munchkin sized for the li'l tailor?" Beck asks of the Store-owner.
Beck is apparently too busy looking aorund elsewhere to notice what's going on inside...
Xanxan Init
Emil Init
Xanxan, you manage to duck around and get Katrina in between you and Emil for the time being, playing a deadly game of cat and mouse. At your request to have her cover you she seems to ignore it and continue on with her first command of telling you about the dangers of the area. Now if you truly are from far away, then another danger is the extreme cold and the winter storms that come through here. A person caught unprepared and it in the open would not last the night in the frigid temperatures. I fact I have heard tales of storms lasting no longer than 1 hour but leaving a whole party frozen in place. Beyond the cold and dismal weathe, the farther you stray from civilization the worse it gets. There are winter wolves larger than horses, trolls made of ice, dragons with breath that will freeze a mans blood and kill him before he realizes it.
Emil moves around to the side of the table getting a clear shot at Xanxan while yelling at his wife. Snap out of him wife and focus. after moving his full distance he is finally able toget a clear line of sight to Xanxan. Pulling up the crossbow he snaps off a shot aiming at xanxan's head.
Attack
Damage
The bolt sails wide over the head of the short gnome but clearly he means it for you to leave now!
Xanxan plays around the mullberry bush for a moment, but when it looks like the idiot might actually endanger his wife, well, best to be going.
"Do tell, Katrina, good advice that, many thanks," He hasn't forgotten the chat she was starting earlier about 'even right now' We're being watched, at least I am, even right now. Hope whoever is there is having a laugh.
Xanxan eyes Emil and says plainly "Now aren't you glad that wasn't poison the two of you tried to slip into my drink? Be right messy for your wife if it was. Your...hospitality will be remarked upon. If there's one thing I love to do, it's talk. A Tailor's curse upon thee for thy betrayal of one who originally meant no wrong to you, 'May the crotch of your pants always itch, and should you ever betray another guest, may your shirt have a hole in the back.. AFTER you put it on.'"
And out he darts, if he can.
Emil continues to yell curses at you after you leave the premises about ...giving you a new place to stick your scissore if you ever show up again and you had best leave town too before it gets worse for you and yours...
Venja and Helgash are standing outside the tavern when Xan runs out...
She was just reaching for the door when Xan tumbled out and she looked a bit surprised by his sudden appearance.
"I just heard a small commotion inside and was about to come get you... WHat's going on, hon?"
"'Small Commotion', that's me," the gnome says as he comes out in front of the others,"I strongly suggest we not linger in this town. Let's just say Katrina and Emil are NOT our friends and I've riled the latter by giving his wife some of her own medicine."
Venja looks to the tavern and shrugs... "Well, I don't think we were planning on staying all that long... though we did have a small task to perform for the local priest, it was something done better at night, if we're going to do it at all. Perhaps we should all meet back at our safehouse and discuss our next move."