Bartering and a Proposition!

You chat with Rowan on the way to Khaldur, asking him questions without seeming too suspicious. “So, how much do you know about the surrounding area? I haven’t been here for… a long, long time.” He shrugs, looking around the woods as you walk. Well either he is an airhead or truly does not know. The forest gives way to farmland, the town finally in sight! Cows moo at the sight of you two, goats bleating as you stride forth, Rowan seemingly left behind until he realizes how much further ahead you are of him.

“Yo, Maeva! Wait up!”

“Well hurry up then, Rowan! I used to live here when I was younger, and I want to see how it has changed!” You do not think he overheard your mumble, “for the worse…” The stout stone walls were worse for wear, many pockets of stone had crumbled but its overall structure was there. “Why must everything fall apart?” Shaking your head at the disappointing sight, soon approaching the two human guards on duty who cross their spears to bar your passage, not that the closed gate would have done anything. Morons.

“Halt!” One of them shouts, his partner looks at him.

“Dave, you shouldn’t be shouting, people are sleeping.’

“Yeah well… What is your business here! I don’t recognize you she-elf!” No really?

“Well, I don’t recognize you either, does that mean you can’t go in either?” His partner snorted and Dave huffed. “My name is Maeva Vaelius,” you bow slightly, “I am a humble acolyte who has been travelling a long way, seeking many herbs and flowers to help the faithful masses…” With your truesight you could see Dave sneer under his partially enclosed helmet, debating on whether to believe you.

“Yeah, and what of this black clothed thief?” Rowan shrunk back at the vitriol aimed at him, you held out your hand in reassurance.

“He is nothing more than my bodyguard, for while I may be a higher level than him, he is still a hero while we are merely commoners” Dave’s partner, whose name you still do not know, shifted.

“Dave, we should let them pass, we don’t get many heroes nowadays and I think the mayor would have us scrubbing the latrines if she found out we turned away any…” Dave huffed again, you decidedly do not like this man. You mark him down as one who will **** away on one of the nearby plantations you’ll erect in his honor. Finally, after a few terse moments, Dave moved his spear away and his partner did the same.

“My name is Frank, it was a pleasure to meet you Maeva, I hope you enjoy your stay. You too, Rowan.” You nod, striding past them, leaving Rowan to stutter and jog to catch up with you.

“Dang Maeva! I forgot to mention these parts still have a grudge against elves, that’s kinda why Edmund made me pick one…” Rolling your eyes at your companions weak-willed nature, you arrive in the market square shortly to find that most of the stalls were boarded up but there were a few stragglers behind putting away their own goods for the day. With a friendly smile, you approached the one you judged to be the least xenophobic. A reptilian male.

Hunter-of-Beasts, Level 11 Trapper
[Lizardkin, NPC, Explicit]
Owner of The Randy Huntsman

Well that certainly is a thing to name your business. Hunter-of-Beasts, whom you are now dubbing Hunter, stopped what he was doing and crossed his arms. The stereotypical hiss of the lizardfolk was evident in his speech, “What do you want woman?” Blunt. Better than that dick of a guard.

“I was wondering about your wares, my good man, are you still open for business?” He stared down at you with his amber slitted eyes, having a good half a foot taller than your 5’10” frame, let alone your body weight in lean muscle. You continued to smile nonetheless, hoping your charisma and beauty would help you out. Though now that you think about it, you do not exactly want a randy huntsman to be too wooed by your feminine charms. He snorted and stepped back, arms unfolding to re-open his stall.

“Fine, only for a few minutes, browse and then either buy something or leave…” Nodding with a smile, you and Rowan looked over his wares as his stores pop-up menu appeared.

The Randy Huntsman
Raw Meat (Deer) – 80cp
Raw Meat (Wolf) – 1sp
Raw Meat (Boar) – 2sp
Raw Meat (Bear) – 3sp
Leather – 4sp
Pelt (Deer) – 10sp
Pelt (Wolf) – 15sp
Pelt (Boar) – 25sp
Pelt (Bear) – 50sp

Hmm… While you probably should buy some meat, it seems as if copper pieces are almost entirely useless, a sentiment which Rowan does confirm. You are still glad to note that the 100:1 coin ratio your people instituted with the Dwarven Empire is still around. Your attempts to barter fall flat which is not unexpected as he is out in the forest quite often due to his profession, though you do manage to entice him with the remaining five lemons you have. You like this man. After some haggling you shake hands to receive five fresh chunks of venison in return for the five lemons and a handful of copper pieces. Stowing them away in your inventory, you are glad it pops into Aetherium so you do not get your robes bloody.

You lead Rowan to the local tavern, The Unicorn’s Horn, but the sign hanging out front does not depict a rearing unicorn with a horn on his head, rather sticking out from down lower. Sighing, you both head inside and are greeted by a matronly human woman, her rotund figure is at least a surety the food is good. “Hello, are you two travelers? I would assume so since I don’t recognize ye, but ah well! What can I get for you? I would recommend the goose stew with a side of- OH! Goodness me! My name! Yes! My name is Merryweather, and yours…?” You wait for a few more moments as she stares at you expectantly, once you are certain she will not interrupt you smile warmly.

“My name is Maeva, this is Rowan, we are weary pilgrims collecting herbs out in the forest to help the faithful with their ailments…” She tuts to herself, shaking her head as she rounds you into the kitchen.

“HAROLD! WE HAVE A COUPLE OF NICE PEOPLE OUT FRONT! GET THEM THE SOUP OF THE DAY AND SOME BREAD!” She shows you to your seats, getting rather firm when you keep offering her money for your meals, “Now now deary, it’s the gods goodwill to help those who help others!” You manage to keep your wince in check but let out a sigh when she goes into the kitchen, presumably to **** poor Harold based on the yelling that comes out of the partially open door.

“So, Maeva, what do you actually do?” You blink and turn to Rowan who was staring at you, you could not read his expression which was rather odd, but you chalk it up to being without your truesight.

“I never lied, Rowan. I do, or well did, help the faithful. You have not been in the world for long, and I haven’t either in a way…” You ponder over what exactly you should tell him when Merryweather comes back with two large wooden bowls of steamy soup and two chunks of bread that makes your mouth water. While she was not looking, you had Rowan use his pickpocket skill in reverse, putting two silver pieces into her wide apron pocket. As you two dig in, you have to pace yourself after you inhale the first three spoonful’s without even a taste. “I was trapped in a different plane, I only recently got back out and the world is far different than what it was." Rowan’s eyes widened and he seemed rather impressed.

“Whoa! That’s pretty cool, er, well, um, not cool that you got trapped, but, uh, heh…” He trailed off with a bashful look, focusing on his soup which suddenly became much more interesting.

You giggle and touch his shoulder, “It’s alright, well, since you aren’t going to be hanging with that arse anymore, would you like to help me make the world a better place?”