Shortly after, the guest of honor deigns to make her appearance and Azam hurries over to make his impression.
Moments later, his voice is magically-enhanced and his speech carries far. "My dear friend, Avisha al-Isman. I have for you, this small gift. It is a token, an emblem that symbolizes all the respect we have for you in your new position. I ask that you carry it always to remember how worthy of the role I believe you to be."
The intended gift, in Pennypockets's hands, is an ornate dagger. Flashy. Likely valuable. Not terribly interesting.
The received gift, now in Avisha's hands, is a poorly-crafted toy soldier in an ill-fitting uniform.
Azam beams around at the crowd as Avisha opens the box. He does not see her face as she pulls out the to and lets the discarded carton fall to the ground. "You think I'm like a child?" she shouts, and Azam barely has time to register surprise. "So you think my promotion is undeserved!?"
Azam turns back to Avisha, his eyes snapping to the doll. She slaps him across the face and stomps back the way she came, followed by howls of laughter.
"Oh," says a whisper of laughter carried on the wind as the Pathfinders meander away, "I think that went very well! That's what the binder wanted to happen, which is a shame, but can you imagine the two of them as allies? This opportunity to prevent that is surely for the best--and they both had it coming. More importantly, Azam has no idea who most of you are and he'll forget the rest since he's more angry about the gift now and has no idea of your involvement in that.
"Keep the dagger. I'm sure it's valuable, but I strongly suggest you don't trade it in this city or he might be able to trace it back to you."
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"What a delightful instrument!" BK occasionally announces as he continues to experiment with the device and accompanying vocals as they move on to the next mission, though further missions seem to be the furthest thing from his mind at the moment. His compositions, however, seems to be rather dangerously about the mission they just completed.
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Mimi thinks back and tries to remember what Safa had said about their third goal. "I beleeve de last task ees to go to de Overmarket and acquire a brass stopper, a silver chain, and a cold iron container, dat ve are den to take to a Raha Shul for further explanations. Safa gave us a small glass orb to 'elp us in dees endeaveur, dat if I am not meestaken..." She turns to gnome bard. "... ees in de possession of Bankerknell." She looks around for any reaction or correction. "Veree vell den. I see no raison to vait any longer. To de Overmarket ve go."
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Dennis is sad to see his wondrous toy soldier discarded and unwanted. He considers sneaking back to rescue it, but he can't risk the mission! He thinks, "Maybe Safa can conjure up another one for me. I'll ask later!"
The young fighter walks with the group to the market. On the way, he mutters, "Fighting is fun. Parties are fun. Shopping is boring." Fortunately, he's a Pathfinder and trusts that excitement will likely present itself.
The round plaza of the Overmarket is crowded but well kept. Long, curved stalls surround an imposing fountain in the middle of the market. On the eastern side of the plaza, an empty wooden auction platform stands as a grim reminder of the cruel practices that continue in the city. Sitting
cross-legged nearby, a young girl displays a handmade sign proudly stating, "Melika, local guide, two copper pieces."
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"You know what would be REALY funny? It sure looks like this container, stopper, and such will be used to imprison something. What if we put a tiny hole in the bottom and filled it with clay and painted it to look like the container."
BK giggles.
"Won't he be surprised if he tried to use THAT to imprison a genie? It would serve him right!"
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Dennis likes BK's idea. "Tricks are fun!" He then follows Pennypockets to chat with the young girl, not much younger than he is.
Being about her age, he speaks for the group. "Hi. I'm Dennis. You're Melika? These are my friends. Penny gets excited and sometimes forgets to introduce himself." He indicates the goblin and continues, "You seem nice. You're a guide? Mimi says we need to find Raja Shul. Do you know where he is?" Dennis finally stops jabbering to let her respond.
"Well met, young sirs!" says the girl with a bow, "I am an unofficial--though widely recognized--expert on the Overmarket. For my humble business, I come here before customers start arriving, while the shopkeepers are still setting up their shops. I prepare a list of which merchants are selling wares today and the kind of goods they have available. I provide these summaries to locals for the minimal charge of two coppers. For outsiders like yourselves they may not do much good--you don't know the merchants or the shops. For you, I provide guide service.
"You guys seem like a lot of fun! I've never had a goblin customer before, and I don't even know what that person is!" Her eyes are on Sunshine of Happiness. "Tell you what, I'm feeling generous. For you, one of my pamphlets for the usual two coppers--and my personal guide service, at no additional charge. It's not the only way to find your path through the Overmarket, but it's assuredly the best."
She bows again, and stays bowed over for several seconds before snapping back up.
"Oh, sorry. Raja Shul? She sells, mmm, potions mostly. Somebody feeling sick?"
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When Melika refers to him as "Young Sir", Dennis puffs out his chest importantly. He whispers to Pennypockets, "She called us Sirs. Like we're knights. I wanna be a knight when I grow up." Then turning to Melika, he confirms what Mimi said, "No one's sick. We just have to buy some things. For an important mission." Assuming Melika leads the way, he follows along, trying not to trip on his halberd, which would be very embarrassing in front of the nice girl.
Mimi notes that several others have acknowledged Melika, greeting her by name as they pass by. That lends credence to her claim that she's something of a fixture in the area, but her motive for wanting to join your group seems less certain.
"Certainly, Mad-missile," she says and holds out her hand. "Two coppers, please!"
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Sunshine comes along the others and nods while Dennis introduces them all. Seeing that Melika is quite popular in the area, she feels it is right to trust her and help them with their errands in the Overmarket. She reaches for her pockets and gives her two copper pieces. "Make sure you really what you are telling us or I'll let him kick your butt." she warns her and points at her legchair that seems ready to kick butts as he stomps his wooden hoof on the ground. "So we need items to find. How about we start with... Or we can start with somebody named Raja Shul."
"I've never got in a fight with a chair before!" says Melika as she accepts the coins, "You're definitely an interesting group of customers." She hands over a folded piece of parchment, inside which is written in a neat hand:
Jalal’s Books: Spellbinding stories and bookbinding of the finest quality.
First World Metalworks by Ary: Visiting her stall is just like stepping through a portal to the world of the fey.
Firrah’s Expeditions: Purveyor of fine goods and silks. Here only for a limited time!
Glittering Prisms: Metals, gems, and glassware by the talented Elyon.
Drawn to Scale: For all your mapmaking needs, ask Basu.
Tinctures and Tonics: A craft almost as old as Lissom himself!
Dreams of Prada Hanam: Seek wisdom and potions from Raha Shul, the astounding arcanist.
She flips her sign over--the back reads--"Guide pamphlets, two copper pieces"--and leans it next to her basket. "I usually get paid for most of the ones people take when I'm not here," she shrugs.
"So first stop Raha Shul? You're in luck, she's even on my list of today's notables as you can see."
She hurries along, and soon leads the Pathfinders to a colorful stall filled with pendants, potions, and the sweet scent of innumerable spices. Behind the counter, a dignified woman dressed in elegant Jalmeri fashion smiles and holds out her hands in a welcoming gesture. “I am Raha Shul, purveyor of mystic gifts for the wise. Or perhaps you seek a cure to what ails you?” she says with a small bow.
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Mimi looks the dignified woman over a moment before saying. "Veree pleezed to make your acquainténce, Raha Shul. My name ees Mimi de Valence and ve 'ave been sent to de Overmarket by de djinni Safa to acquire certain objets, namelee a brass stopper, a silver chain, and a cold iron container. Safa mentionné dat you might be of 'elp in dis enterprise."
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Dennis stifles a yawn as the group begins the shopping trip. He's about to ask Melika, "Are we there yet?" when they arrive at the colorful stall of Raja Shul. He's quickly distracted by the interesting pendants and spices.
When Mimi introduces herself, Dennis squeezes in and says, "Hi. I'm Dennis. I'm Mimi's friend. We met Melika. She called me 'Sir' ... like a knight! She helped us find you. She's very nice...." He pauses dreamily and quickly continues, "I don't like shopping, but your store is really colorful. Anyway, we're new in town and were wondering what those objects are for ... the ones Mimi mentioned." At long last, Dennis stop talking.
"Goodness, I certainly don't have that set of items here!" says Raha (entirely sincerely as far as Mimi can tell). "Don't you know what you can do with those three items? While not individually valuable, they're used in genie binding! No, surely not. If such things came into my possession, I would ensure they were never kept together lest they fall into evil hands."
She raises an eyebrow. "Surely you noble Pathfinders aren't seeking such cruel tools? In that case I will tell you that Such a bottle allows even the untrained to trap a genie, but making the binding permanent requires expending considerable additional resources—and no small amount of willpower—to create a powerful genie seal. Without it, the bottle is just a snare for unaware genies, who tend to seek quick vengeance against the would-be prankster who tricked them.
"Well... if you do find them, I'd trade alchemical items for them. I do remember seeing an unusual carafe in Ary's stall, which isn't far from here. I believe Elyon uses silver and other metals in his creations, so he may be able to help with the other two items."
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Sunshine joins the others as they begin their strolling from shop to shop. Their arrival of Raja Shul's shop almost mesmerized her with its different colors and scents. She keeps herself into focus and listens to the conversation. She takes note if the old woman is not the evil when she tells them that those items must not fall into evil hands. She quietly observes her from behind of everyone. “Genie-binding, huh? It makes sense... Hmmm.“
Sunshine of Happiness feels certain that Raja's information is entirely solid, or at least that the merchant believes it and is confident that she is correct.
As to her motives, though... it's hard to miss that he claimed not to want the items then offered the Pathfinders a bounty to acquire them. Sunshine catches a hint of greed in her eyes--she does want them, she's certain.
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Dennis looks mortified when Raja explains that the items are used for genie-binding. "The same bad man who captured Safa will capture more nice genies. We can't let that happen, right?" He looks to Mimi first, and then the others. "Didn't Safa tell us we just had to get the items?" Out of earshot of the store owner, Dennis whispers to the others, "Who can we trust with such bad things? Maybe we collect them and destroy them?"
Dennis lets the grown-ups talk it over, while he thinks to himself, "This boring shopping task is picking up...."
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Mimi muses what Raha Shul has told them but doesn't come to any decisions about it yet. "De instructions Safa gave us are dat ve are to merelee acquire deez items; she mede no mention of a specific deesposition and 'as apparentlee left dat in our 'ands. So let us accompleesh de required actions first and vorree about de rest vonce dose tasks are complete. First stop ees dees stall of Aree's for a carafe." She turns to Melika. "You know vhere dees stand ees? If so, you may lead de vay."
"'Course I do!" says Melika cheerily, "She's even on my list for today."
"Come back soon!" says Raha as the Pathfinders go, "I'm always here if you need a pick-me-up."
Melika leads you to a nearby shop.
Metal creations ranging from refined silverware to sturdy iron pokers rest on shelves and hooks along the back wall of this tiny shop, all decorated with intricate patterns. Behind the counter, a gnome with strong arms and a mane of untamed, deep-green hair absentmindedly inspects a leaf-shaped earring, visibly dissatisfied with the result. She looks at a tall iron carafe displayed prominently on a small, raised shelf and sighs.
As she turns around, her face lights up with a wide, welcoming smile.
“Welcome to First World Metalworks. I imagine it, you buy it!”
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As Mimi enters the shop, her eyes immediately go to the same tall iron carafe that the owner is looking at so disconsolately. She wonders if the carafe is actually made of cold iron.
Deciding to play it cool, Mimi looks around the shop and coos appreciatively. "Eet ees indeed as impressive a plece as ve 'ave been led to beleeve. Look at all deez vonderous objects. Eet ees so deefficult to select any particular von." She walks up to the solidly-built gnome at the counter. "I suppose dat you are de Aree whose boutique ve 'ave 'erd such grande teengs about? If so, you must be veree proud; such un excellente sélection you 'ave 'ere." She looks around as if having trouble deciding, then her gaze lingers pointedly on the carafe displayed prominently on the small raised shelf, before coming back to rest intently on the shopkeeper. "Vhat ees your favorite? Perhaps I vill also find eet pleaseeng to de eye and veesh to acquire eet?" Her gaze doesn't shift from Ary's as she says this, but a smile spreads over her face and she raises an eyebrow knowingly.
"Oh gosh! Let's see... So, I love stories about fairies and the First World and things, you know? As a gnome, I have a connection." Avy smiles proudly. "All my work is inspired by those stories, and by the people and creatures of the First World. Look at the decorations on these candlesticks! They look like leaves, right? But I was also trying to imitate how delicate a sprite's wings are, y'know?"
She looks over at the carafe. "Now I see that's caught your eye, but it's actually a commission. Although the customer should have picked it up a few days ago... I know that might be a sign he doesn't want it after all, but I really should give him a few days before I give up and sell it to someone else."
"Psst!" says Melika, interrupting your planning, "Ary likes to collect fairy tale stuff, right? I saw a real pretty sketch of a strange forest up at Drawn to Scale I bet she'd like. If you want to talk her into giving up something she doesn't want to sell, a gift like that could help, right? I am such a good guide."
"I... suppose it could?" Ary answers Penny doubtfully, "I have seen leaves before, you know."
"I can show it to ya," whispers Melika.
Qen is able to confirm that the vessel is indeed composed of cold iron .
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Back at Raha's...
"So, if you suspected someone was going to use these to bind a genie, how could you sabotage things without letting the binder know?! I was thinking drilling a tiny hole in the bottle and covering it up would work! What do you think?"
Now at Ary's...
BK looks a little worried as he hides his new toy (the glass orb with the swirlies in it) behind his back, in case someone has the bright idea to trade it.
"Ary, it is such a pleasure to meet a gnome in this all too human world! Any glimpse into the first world is always a unique pleasure! Have you ever met a sprite?! That would be nice. Could you tell me more about that carafe over there? It looks unique! Who commissioned it?"
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Dennis is lagging behind he others as all the shops along the way present quite a distraction, but eventually arrives. The lad, who likes to tinker with anything and everything, thinks of himself as an expert in crafting. He studies the carafe.
He helpfully states, "You have lots of metal here. That iron carafe -- it's metal too. Iron is a kind of metal. There's also steel." He steps back, proud to have contributed. He sneaks a peek at Melika to see if she's impressed.
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Now that Ary is friendlier to them, Mimi is at a loss on how to convince the woman to part with the carafe. When she hears Melika mention the sketch, Mimi leans over and whispers back. "And vhere might ve find such a sketch? Perhaps you could lead us dere." Mimi nudges Pennypockets to join them on this side-quest while the rest of the group continue their efforts with Ary.
"Oh," Raha answers Banterknell, "I'm afraid the only way I know to do that is to keep the items out of the binder's hands. I can help you with that part if you bring them to me!"
Qen knows that cold iron is a type of metal that resists magic. While that has some useful applications, it's also a dangerous material for some innately magical supernatural creatures. Cold iron weapons are highly effective against demons, apparently it can be used to bind genies...
And it's basically poison to fey, who are harmed by its touch.
With this piece of information, Ary pales. "Oh no! Get it away, then!" The gnome thrusts the pitcher at Quadennillia. "I can trust you guys not to do anything bad with it, right?" she says anxiously from Mimi to Banterknell. "Ugh, now I question why he'd want it..." she shudders. "Well, I'll make a new one out of normal iron. He'll have to take it or leave it, if he even comes back."
It seems the sketch will not be necessary.
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Mimi aborts her plans to acquire the sketch and instead helps Qen wrestle the carafe out of the shop. Before leaving, she turns to the shopkeeper. "Do not vorree about dees item. Ve vill make sûr eet ees properlee deesposed of."
Once outside, she nods appreciation to Quadennillia. "Veree vell done my leetel murine friend. She practicallee threw eet at us. I suppose dat Banterknell can 'old onto 'ees orb for a leetel beet longer." Turning to Melika, she adds. "So far so good. I beleeve ve vill now need to visit Elyon to obtain de silver chain and brass stopper. I take eet you know de vay?"
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Dennis tries to keep up with Mimi to the metal shop -- always with his halberd dragging on the ground, slowing him down. "I didn't know shopping would involve so much rushing." In between stalls, Dennis asks the group, "Seemed like Raja wanted our items. Really bad. Can we trust her? I don't. I don't think we can trust anyone."
Dennis was dreading the shopping experience, but he's enjoying the aerobic workout. And the colorful stalls. He muses aloud, "Maybe I'll shop more often!"
"I sure do!" says Melika, and soon she has led the Pathfinders to another stall.
The thin stall is covered with elegant crystal creations. The glow of an everburning torch creates multicolored beams as the warm light bounces off beautiful earrings, delicate figurines, and thin vials. Topping an elegant decanter, a brass stopper stands out like a setting sun atop a crystal waterfall.
Sitting on the left side of the stall, a shivering elf covered in a heavy robe looks up and smiles.
“Welcome to the G-g-glittering Prisms,” he says, his teeth
chattering as he rubs his blue-tinged fingers together.
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Mimi once again turns on the charm and essentially goes through the same routine as she did with Ary, though without the thinly-veiled come-on at the end. "Oh! 'Ow impressive dees plece ees. Look at all de merveilleuse objets. De stories ve've 'erd of Elyon's créations do not render eet justice." She turns to the chattering man standing to one side. "I suppose dat you are de Elyon whose stalle ve 'ave 'erd such grande teengs about? If so, you must be veree proud; such un excellente sélection you 'ave 'ere." She looks around as if having trouble deciding, then her gaze lingers pointedly on the elegant decanter and its brass stopper. She eyeballs the stopper's size and decides that it would be a perfect fit for their carafe. "Dat decanter ees indeed a most majestic objet. I particularlee like de brass stopper. Vhat vould eet take for you to part vith such a création?"
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Wehn Mimi declares his bauble off limits, BK smiles broadly and removes it from hiding, once again staring with fascination into it's depths and trying to find ships and dragons and such. His head not really in the game he is almost surprised when they reach the next stop.
Bluntly he exclaims, almost interrupting Mimi, though he does wait a fraction of a second for her to finish what she is saying, "You look really cold! Are you cursed?!"
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Sunshine just waits outside looking at the other stalls' items while they are making conversation with they fey. The trade is so fast she isn't able to choose nice tiara for herself on the nearby stall. She quickly joims the, and finds the group is successful in getting the carafe. She does not ask them how they did get it.
Upon arrival on the next shop, she finds the the shivering elf rather odd to be shivering. “Are you good?“ she asks the elf too.
"Ah, you flatter me! I can not take credit for m-making that, I'm afraid. No-Note the exquisite craftmanship. And you see it's part of a set. I c-couldn't let that go for anything less than . Interested?"
When the others ask about his health, he frowns. "No. No I am not 'good.' But I'm not cursed, either. I-I think? I was working on a floral arrangement for a client. I encountered an odd p-plant with massive blue flowers that s-seemed to suck away all warmth. It sh-shot thorny seeds at me and I felt an overwhelming cold. I pulled them off and threw them away and it seemed better, but I haven't been able to feel w-warm since.
"I did order a remedy from the apothecary Lissom, but he's taking his time getting it to me. He may still hold a g-grudge over--well, never mind.
"It's the stopper that interests you? Well, it's the least valuable part of the set I suppose. But I probably shouldn't split it up."
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Dennis frowns when the elf tells of his troubles with the hostile blue plant. "Gee, I'm real sorry, Mister. I don't know about nature. I fell asleep ... a lot ... in herbology class." He turns to our vine leshy and continues, "But I bet Sunshine knows everything about plants." He looks to her expectantly.
Depending on what Sunshine (or the others) know, Dennis offers, "Maybe we can get your antidote for you! Maybe an even steven trade for the stopper?" He pauses and asks, "Ummm...why is Lissom mad at you? Maybe if you said you're really sorry. My mama says that always helps!"
Elyon scoffs, visibly uncomfortable. “I might have called his poultices and potions ‘folksy remedies’ instead of ‘real medicine,’ but he kept on insisting that my crystal vials would be useless to a traveling healer as they are prone to breaking. Apparently, he’s allowed to insult my profession, but I’m not allowed to return the sentiment!"
He raises an eyebrow at Nicnax, but the expression is ruined when he abruptly sneezes. "...you really want just the stopper? I suppose I could probably replace it with something that matches better, anyway. Fine. For the medi--med--" He sneezes again.
"I can take you to Lissom's," whispers Melika while he's distracted. "If you can't get Elyon to apologize, you can always just take it. If he's paying for it, it's not even really stealing!"