You pass through the gate and walk between two giant man-like statutes of stone and metal. Over 14 feet tall and resembling a thin spindly man, rune-covered bracers encircle their forearms and a long tabard bearing the coat of arms of Katapesh covers the rest of their two ton frames.
Aluum golems, powered by the souls of Katapeshi slaves and prisoners bound into glowing gems in their chests. Where ever you are in Katapesh it is never far from one of the constructs.
The merchant hails you, the goods on his wagon still being assessed by a trio of blue and grey garbed officials.
He gives you details of his accommodations in the Lower City before speaking humbly to Grall.
Master Grall. Do you still wish me to procure sale of your enchanted blade? I will need the weapon you understand? To show buyers.
To Zeladiel he hands a fat pouch of gold and gems, the agreed thousand gold pieces fee for guarding the wagon as agreed.
I thank you Master Elf. I take it I can find you at the villa of Master Rayhan?
The merchant is either terrified or putting on his best attempt at it. He raises no objection to putting the caravan into cover and his men, no strangers to gnoll attacks it seems, hurry to get the animals, and themselves, up the cracked steps and into the alcove.
The merchant jerks his neck around at the halfling's sudden insertion into the conversation but stutters out a response.
Um ... yes. It is the district of Katapesh directly outside of the northern city gates. A slum for the poor and the do.. the gnolls. The first stink to the nostrils of our route I am afraid.
Does my answer suffice Mistress Nuveril? He glances briefly at her hammer.
Khalid is not sure if Radi is convinced although the evasion at least comes out smooth and believable.
Radi looks around at the rest of you and then turns his attention back to Khalid. I see, I see. Well if you'd like me to take a look at what items you do have. You know give them an expert appraisal, I'd be very happy to do so. I've been around, just so you know! I've traded with the dwarves, jann and elves so I have, and a dozen races stranger.
Did you know theres a village of gnomes in the south of Katapesh? An odd place that. Don't think I left with a single stich I came with. And that includes the clothes I wore! But I left with a whole new cargo so I did. Mmm what was its name again...
Well anyway, happy to assist.
The merchant studiously avoids looking at Khalid's magic haversack, never far from the inquisitor's reach.
I think I'll have just one more mug before I find my bedroll.
You settle in for your evening meal. No game today unfortunately so its travel rations and hard bread washed down with a little bit of heavily spiced red wine from a large cask loaded onto the wagon.
While to date Radi has expressed all kinds of curiosity about your adventures he has veered away from the jinn in the room, the great treasure you apparently found.
Yet a few mugs of wine seem to fortify him perhaps as he stumbles into it, gesturing with the mug as he goes.
I am not one to pry. No, no. Radi Hamdi is a man of discretion they all say. And yet I am not one to avoid doing friends a service neither. The talk in town... well you know what they were saying.
It is smart to keep ones business to ones self. And by Abadar there is no better place to sell something than the markets of Katapesh! And I know everyone there. By which I mean I know which men are honest and which would as soon leave you facedown in an alley in Dogtown.
Perhaps I can help? Point you toward the former sort for whatever it is that you have.
"I can hardly stop you from doing so whether I am present or not," she replies. "I have no desire to remain in Kelmarane now that there is no prospect of further battle, so I will return to my people on the savannah. As far as our paths are one, it would be wise to travel together, as a larger group dissuades predators and bandits -- unless, of course, your employer objects to my presence." She glares at Hamdi.
The merchant cradles the polished wooden staff he uses as a walking stick and dry washes his hands when the question is put to him.
No objections. No objections at all my fine ah ... friend. You are most welcome as long as you like.
The man seems rather intimidated by the unpredictable halfling.
Kadisa is grateful for the assistance and seems to be getting on well with the acolytes. His acolytes now you suppose.
As you say your final goodbyes he takes your hand.
Thank you Linah. For my life and what you've manage to achieve here.
I fear the path that Sarenrae has placed you on is a hard one. But if I may give you some advice, do not let it harden that generous heart. I have seen how much your companions look to you and not just for healing. I suspect they need you more than they realise.
May you walk forever in her light until we meet again.
It takes no particular skill to determine that Radi doesn't seem overjoyed to go too much into specifics about his goods. Nevertheless, he responds to Khalid's question.
In terms of goods only a half load to be frank. The more profitable journey was the one here with supplies for the town. With the northern route opening up though I do have a few choice items to sell from the Orisini markets. Plus scrip and coin of course. And the animals. And myself. One never knows what to expect in the shifting sands of the desert.
This sounds a reasonably plausible enough explanation to you (with no collective skill ranks in things such as profession merchant which would give you further insight). Summer is drawing to a close and by the end of the month the seasonal rains will make travel impossible for a month or so. Its perhaps the time that a cautious merchant would look to make a final run with what they have.
Khalid:
You study the man carefully with one eye while keeping the other on the surroundings. The merchant is presenting a genial front which may well be genuine but you suspect he is more canny than he lets on and his words in this case seem carefully selected to you. He is definately very keen to have you all as part of the caravan though, you do not think that is feigned.
The three herders go about their task with practised efficiency. They are of a type often seen in the markets, fields and warrens of northern Katapesh. Part-Keleshite, partly of the southern desert tribes they are of an ethnicity that is generally looked down on by both groups. They speak to each other in a mongrel Badawi that has little in common with the traditional nomad tongue and less still with the variation that the savannah tribes such as Nuveril's speak.
Haleen perches on a rock while you wait for the rest of the group to arrive. The small woman wears a set of practical travelling clothes under a light chain shirt, a scimitar belted to her side. The former flame witch seems to have made a few purchases from Zantus and Arjun's shop before getting ready to leave, a brace of potion vials rests loosely around her shoulder.
The merchant smiles when Linah says she will join for free and smiles wider when Zeladiel mentiones half, the elf not well concealing his own need for haste.
The skinny man rubs his hands together. I had planned to offer 250 gold. The most I could offer is 450 gold total, for you to share as you will. Half now, half when we get to Katapesh.
Zeladiel notes that is still a fine sum for caravan guards, if not heroes. From the man's dress he certainly doesn't seem particularly prosperous.
Linah:
The man seems genuine enough to you here. He seems like a small time operator clearly very pleased at the thought at travelling with the heroes of Kelmarane.
With Nuveril and Arasmes gone, it is the four of you and Haleen left to speak to the apparent caravaner.
He nods his head to Zeladiel.
Ah news, yes. I had sought Master Guardsman to engage your services. My caravan is not large but I planned to leave for Katapesh on the 'morrow and the word was that your timing was urgent. This will be my last journey for the season and I wanted to take no chances.
He scratches his head. I had not planned on hiring all of the mighty heroes of Kelmarane though, just one. I fear I would struggle to afford a fair price for six.
