Meeting back up at the Markets – 3A-EW

Chapter 3 – Getting Underway

When Kaylen and Alanthea approached the entrance to the town market they saw Lyria waiting on a bench to one side. “Where are the others?” Kaylen wondered aloud when they drew close enough and Lyria stood to greet them.

“Ursa’s coming up just there.” Lyria pointed past Kaylen, who turned to see the towering frame of the half-giant strolling down the street just a dozen or so paces behind him. “Lynn and Vesili should be here any minute. Everyone split up to retrieve their personal gear before meeting back up here.”

“That’s reasonable.” He agreed, then turned to gesture to their new healer, “This is Sister Alanthea, a priestess of Mortanius. She was the only healer looking to join an adventuring team at the Cathedral. Alanthea, this is Lyria Gallowglass, my older sister and the team’s greatswordsman.” Lyria gave a nod as she was introduced.

“And this…” Kaylen turned as Ursa caught up to them, “Is Ursa Cloudwalker, our shield maiden.”

Ursa laughed, “First I’m a lady, now I’m a maiden?” She asked, bemused.

“Would you prefer something else?” Kaylen asked.

The half-giant shrugged, taking a moment to examine Alanthea.

“Well, Ursa, this is Sister Alanthea, our healer. She is a priestess of Mortanius.”

“You’ve picked a lot of women.” Ursa pointed out.

“That wasn’t intentional.” Kaylen lied. “It just seemed to work out that way. Alanthea was the only healer candidate available at the Cathedral. I considered a variety of candidates for most the positions, and you all ended up being the best among them, regardless of gender.” He believed that last part. There may have been one or two candidates that would serve just as well as Talindra or Vesili, but they weren’t better choices, and he didn’t regret any of the decisions he’d made.

“You found a healer?” Kaylen spun to find Vesili standing next to Lyria looking up at Alanthea from the shadows of her hood.

Alanthea nodded in reply.

Before Kaylen could introduce her again he spotted Talindra approaching from the north road, she took in the priestess’s slender frame, then glanced briefly at the half-elf before meeting Kaylen’s eyes.

“Talindra, Vesili, this is Sister Alanthea, our healer, priestess of Mortanius. Alanthea, this is Talindra, our marksman, who also goes by Lynn, and Vesili Tenorei, our team’s rogue and scout.” Kaylen gestured between the three of them, and Talindra exchanged a subtle bow with the priestess before Vesili did much the same.

“Will you buy me some armor now?” Alanthea asked, turning back to Kaylen.

“Yeah, we can get to that.” Kaylen assured her before addressing the curious looks he was getting from the others. “It was something that came up when I recruited her, she’ll need some protection, and as a priestess living in the cathedral, she didn’t really have any money of her own.”

“I guess that makes sense.” Lyria agreed, glancing at the others then back to Kaylen, “Are you going to be able to afford that? What’s your budget look like?”

“I’ve built up a moderate war chest selling magic items over the last few years. I’m not going to be able to buy her fitted plate armor, but a simple chainmail tunic and some adjustments to make sure it works for her should be fine.”

“Alright.” Lyria nodded, accepting his explanation.

“So with that out of the way, are any of us familiar enough with this market place to lead us to a good armorer?” He asked the assembled group.

“I don’t really wear armor.” Vesili admitted.

“Why not?” Talindra asked.

“It slows me down.” The half-elf explained.

“We could get you lightweight armor.” Kaylen offered. “Something like my chainmail shouldn’t really hinder you.”

“I might need to squeeze through a tight space or jump to a hard-to-reach ledge; even an extra ten pounds could make a difference.”

“Well, I’m taking Alanthea to purchase armor, are you going to accompany us or meet back up with us afterward?”

Visili blinked at him, then looked down, “I’ll stay with you, I guess.”

Kaylen nodded then looked around at the others.

“I know a pretty good armorer.” Lyria offered.

“Then go ahead and lead the way.” Kaylen said, nodding to his sister.

In short order they were entering a low stone structure that echoed with clanging hammers and other sounds of craftsmanship, but the front room contained a few armor stands and a young woman reading a book behind the counter. She looked up as they entered and quickly put on a smile, setting her book down. “Welcome to Ander’s armory, my name is Marian Ander!” She said, then blinked when she saw how many of them filed into the room. “Are all of you looking for armor?”

“The priestess here requires some chainmail.” Kaylen waved Alanthea to the front. “Some of the rest of us might also need to purchase something, or have some armor adjusted.”

“Mine could use some repairs.” Lyria pointed out, gesturing to a couple places where the steel plates she was wearing were dented.

“Let’s get you set up with some armorers then.” Marian said. The six of them followed her as she approached the second largest man in the room who was working over an anvil on what appeared to be a fancy breastplate, comparing it to a mannequin he had next to him before hammering at it a little more. “Hey dad, this group is looking to buy some armor, and this warrior said she needed her armor repaired.” She gestured towards Lyria, then turned back to Kaylen and his group. “This is my father, Master Rolph Ander.”

“Adept Kaylen Gallowglass. It is my pleasure to meet you.” Kaylen extended a hand to the master smith.

Rolph set the breastplate aside and shook Kaylen’s hand. “The pleasure is mine. Now, which of you needs new armor?” He asked, and several of them pointed to Alanthea.

“Alright, I’ll see to your armor, you can follow my daughter, Marian.” He pointed to Lyria. “She’ll introduce you one of my apprentices who will look after your needs.”

So while Kaylen, Vesili, and Alanthea followed Rolph into a small side room, the others went with Marian. Kaylen noted that Ursa was having to duck her head to avoid hitting the ceiling and wondered if she would have been more comfortable waiting outside.

“So what kind of armor are you looking for?” Rolph asked as he sized up Alanthea and brought out a mannequin from a closet that was close to her size, though broader in the shoulders and chest and without her subtle bust.

“We don’t have the time for anything fancier than a chainmail shirt and cowl like I wear, that should be sufficient.” Kaylen pulled back his robes to show his own chainmail shirt to the armorer.

“Should be relatively easy, though it will need some adjustment. We don’t get a lot of people as slender as you are.”

“I understand.” Alanthea said, nodding.

“First step, is fitting you for an aketon.” Master Rolph informed them.

Alanthea nodded again, and quickly took her satchel off her shoulder and set it aside before unbuckling her sword belt setting it and all five blades next to her satchel. Next came off her cloak, and finally her robe, leaving her in a thin chemise that didn’t conceal much of the priestess’s figure.

“Wow, you’re bold.” Vesili observed.

Alanthea glanced at the half-elf, a curious expression on her face.

“You don’t really need to dress down quite that much.” Kaylen added with a raised eyebrow.

“They are correct. You can leave the robe on.” Master Rolph agreed.

“But I will be wearing my robe of office over the armor.” Alanthea countered.

“Very well.” Rolph picked out an aketon from the wardrobe, and handed it to the healer without looking at her directly. Then as she put it on, and began buckling the straps in the front, the armorer went to the door and called out for an assistant. “I’m not as good a tailor as my cousin Hali. She’ll take some measurements while I size you up for the chainmail.” He explained, and a moment later a portly woman entered the room.

There was definitely a resemblance between the two artisans. Both had dark curly hair, and both had sturdy frames with agile fingers. “Oh my!” Hali said as soon as she saw Alanthea in the ill-fitting aketon.

“Indeed, Hali.” Rolph concurred. “I picked out a coat that had the right sleeve length, but she’s so slender that it’s practically hanging off her shoulders. Think you can fix that?”

“I’ll take it in at the sides and see if that is sufficient. I can always pin it in back too if it requires a bit more slimming.” Hali agreed, and got to work.

Rolph started taking some measurements while Alanthea stood with her arms out to either side. Meanwhile Kaylen watched, finding the situation fascinating in its own way, and Vesili got up and began wandering the room looking at various things. She kept her hands gripped behind her back as if to prevent herself from yielding to the temptation to touch anything. The priestess, on the other hand, was a bit of a mystery to Kaylen. She seemed sheltered, and naïve of certain social norms. But she was also unflappable, uncaring if she made others uncomfortable. He wasn’t sure if she was flirting on purpose, or simply didn’t know any better, but he was certainly eager to find out.

“Try to keep your companion from touching anything.” Rolph said after a moment, while Hali worked.

Kaylen followed the smith’s gaze to where Vesili was, her hands still behind her back. “Vesili, you heard the man?” Kaylen asked, drawing the half-elf’s attention.

“Of course.” Vesili replied. “He can see I’m keeping my hands to myself.” Rolph looked annoyed as he turned back to Alanthea.

Vesili met Kaylen’s gaze and shrugged, and continued to wander without getting in the way, while Kaylen stayed to one side and watched as stitches were sewn, rings were removed and added, and eventually Alanthea had a new shirt of steel links that would protect her and even fit her moderately well. The whole process took about an hour, and by the end of it, they had been rejoined by Talindra, who had finished her own business with the armory. She advised Kaylen that Ursa had had some banding on her shield replaced then went outside where she could wait more comfortably than she could indoors, and Lyria was still having her armor repaired.

With Alanthea’s armor finished and paid for, the four of them sought out Lyria, who was just having the finishing touches put into place. Once Kaylen had settled with the other armorers for their work, they all joined Ursa outside, ready to get to their next errand.

“I assume we’ll need rations and travel supplies?” Kaylen asked.