"All I know of that bird is that it is a noisy pest, always squawking about and always nearby. I do feel like it is following me, gods know why” He smiles at Qdiria’s comment “I know very little in the way of magic, and doubt I have the power to summon a being. It shares nothing but grief in any case.” Brandon pauses at Ressys comments about mysterious forces “Truly? Omens? Not something I had heard about or considered” Brandon stares off and appears lost in thought for a moment.
“No matter” he shrugs “I would be happy if we all go to the trader together, I have some things to buy as well.” He takes another look at the scimitars and other weapons recovered from the bandits “I can make no promises on negotiations, but will do my best. Hopefully we run into a merchant that is more accepting of the condition of these weapons. I am ready to go when you are.” He shoulders his pack and prepares to set out.
He looks again at the different items that poured from the bag. “Did you find anything interesting, Ressys?”
As he looks at the items, Durnham is drawn to the snuffbox with the word Dreams on it. In his studies, dreams were sometimes described as windows or doors into other realms. Sometimes knowledge or power can be gained through dreams.
As the others talk about birds, he only half listens, distracted as he is by the thoughts of dreams as a way of gaining more knowledge.
If I were more skilled in Divination... maybe I could seek a location for the cure in my dreams.
Ressys invokes his natural magic detection power and his eyes glaze over as he inspects the pile of trinkets that fell from the bag.
@Ressys:
None of the items has an aura of any kind, all are magically inert. Only the bag’s green aura of conjuration magic stands out.
Durnham inspects the silver snuffbox; it is well crafted and carved, but otherwise unimpressive.
@Durnham:
You know of a few traders in Palebank, normally small businesses specializing in one particular type of good. Bennar Nordan is a blacksmith, a fine one. He would likely buy and sell weapons. The closest thing to a general store would be Esta Orbryn’s shop near the docks.
"Thank you Durnham, this should keep me in bolts for some time." She says accepting the 46 bolts holding them up for a moment offering to the others in case they needed more, then putting any refused in her pack.
Happy to hear Kotar accepting her suggestion of the oil, she plans to stock up. As to the destruction of the spore-effected items, "Yes, outside of town seems the best option." She nods back at him. The renewed mention of the Glaive has reminded her to keep an eye out for one. She just couldn't imagine the Goliath firing a bow, his strength commanded a mighty weapon. Remembering a frightful night in Uthodurn where she'd seen a guardsmen send a bandit to flight at the end of one.
Brandon dismissed the bird as a pest, but it truly seemed to be following him. Hopefully not a bad omen, it merely seemed curious to her and then another thought occurred. "I know I must sound the doomsayer but what if its someone else's familiar sent to spy?"
She watches Durnham looking over the snuff box and giggles slightly to herself. "One night, one of the kids in my old neighborhood picked up a box like that and stuffed some of the contents into a pipe and smoked it. He definitely had some interesting dreams that night, some before he slept as well I think."
She leans down and gathers up the ink, "If I may? I'm always out of ink." Eyeing the straw hat, whistle and salt as well, but not touching them.
Ressys holds the ivory whale statuette for a moment before speaking.
"Trinkets it seems. They may have value, perhaps not. But I would like to keep this one if I may?"
Looking around he settles his gaze on Brandon. The old druid, whose life already has been longer than the human's will be when he dies of old age, gives him a serious look.
"The creature is tied to you. Nature does not single you out without purpose. Embrace the honor the raven has given you and it will reward you."
Letting the moment pass he continues,
"Let us find the trading post. We can get some oil to ensure the destruction of the spores. We can then get our own private affairs taken care before meeting again tomorrow."
“Unfortunate that the items are not useful for us on our journey.” He opens the snuff box and examines the contents to make sure nothing else of value is inside.
He looks to the others as they discuss the Raven. Interested, now that his thoughts aren’t on something else. But why would a raven follow anyone?
”Yes, lets go To the shops and unload what we can and split whatever money we can. Bennar the smith may buy the weapons and Esta’s shop near the docks is where most general supplies can be bought.” But first... I need a moment with Elro.” He then sets the bag of holding down and stands to walk back into the barracks.
Inside the barracks he approaches Elro and speaks up. “Elro, I wanted a word in private. If you have a moment? I returned home at my Uncle’s request... we hadn’t been close for a long time. But he sent me a letter saying that he needed to tell me something about my parents and their deaths. Now that he’s gone I don’t have any idea where to turn to for answers. Do you have any ideawhat Urgon might have wanted to share with me, or any more information about my parents and what happened to them on that fishing trip?”
Qidira admires the craftsmanship on the Ivory Whale Statuette wondering at what sort of tools would be required. Her Jewelry tools could possibly accomplish the task, she'd have to try with a suitable piece to work with. She estimates the value of the Statuette based on the Ivory and the craftsmanship. @DM
Skill as a jeweler allows her to "Identify Gems. You can identify gems and determine their value at a glance." Would this help her in appraising the item?
She agrees with Ressys perhaps the Raven tailing Brandon should be embraced and considered a good sign, there's still that small worry however.
She picks up the bag of holding for Durnham, holding it patiently outside the barracks for him to emerge. Then on to the shops and many more things this evening.
Elro looks up surprised as Durnham re-enters the barracks. “Your parents? He never said anything to me, although that’s no surprise. Your uncle and I were...respectfully distant from each other”
He pauses, makes to speak again and then closes his mouth, looking down at his desk and thinking. After a brief pause he looks up again with a sincere look: “People whose opinions I respect held him in great regard. The Moonshadows, your adoptive parents, were among them. Your uncle would often check in on them, maybe they know what he planned to tell you?”
Outside the barracks, the rest of the party talk amongst themselves and sift through the trinkets that fell from the bag.
@Qidira:
Although not a gem, you can appraise the statuette’s craftsmanship and it is competently, if not exquisitely made. If you bargain hard, it might fetch 10gp
Qidira moves over to Ressys, "That's a decent piece, competent work. A good negotiator might get 10 gp for it should you wish to try to sell it at the trader."
Durnham snorts in disgust. “That greedy old grave robber cared less about me than about people who have been dead for 500 years in another country.” His voice drips with bitterness. “I’m surprised he ever gave any thought to me or the family that took me in. Probably paid them off to ease his conscience.”
He looks back at Elro, “That man was dead to me long before he ever caught the frigid woe. I only came back because he said he had something to tell me about my parents... apparently something he couldn’t put to paper for some reason.” He shrugs before continuing, “I’ll ask the Moonshadows but I doubt he told them anything.” Throughout his talk, Durnham’s hate is apparent, but so is the pain and longing underneath, merely hidden behind his anger like a cheap carnival mask.
He turns to walk to the door “Thank you for your time Elro... do you have any last suggestion on supplies we should get? Does this boat ride include board or do we need to bring extra food for the trip?”
Elro is startled by the bitterness in Durnham's voice. He lets the young dwarf finish his piece, deciding that he cannot offer any words to explain or mitigate Urgon's actions towards his nephew over the years. That will be the old dwarf's burden to carry in the next life, unless he had left behind some way to make amends to this remarkable young man.
As the wizard stands in the door ready to go, Elro responds "I will make sure that food is covered for the journey. Some supplies will be available at Syrinlya in case you forget essentials, but my advice would be a couple weeks' rations each plus tents and kit to make a fire. Winterwalker and the goliath will be your greatest assets; between the pair of them I doubt you will get hungry or lost"
He pauses a moment before continuing "Give my regards to the Moonshadows"
"Hmmm, perhaps." Ressys says to Qidira is response to her assessment of its value. "Perhaps gold isn't always the best way to judge somethings value either."
"Let us find the blacksmith and see if he will buy the weapons. Then we will know what funds we have to buy the rest of our supplies. Here comes Durnham now." He says addressing the whole group as he slips the small ivory trinket into his bag. "Lead us to the blacksmith master dwarf. Then to the trading post." he says seeing Durnham rejoin them.
Once at the blacksmith he will allow Brandon, who seemed better with words and more in tune with the ways things worked, to lead the negotiations. Having never had any use for metal armor he looked to see if Bennar Nordan had any hides he could use to better protect himself. But he wondered if the trading post may be better for such purchases.
Durnham nods, “Thank you, I will,” and leaves to rejoin his companions outside.
Once outside he informs the group “Elro will make sure we are given food aboard the ship and agreed with me that we will need to rely upon Winterwalker and Kotar through this expedition.There will be a chance to get supplies in Syriniya if we can’t find tents, rations, fire kits, or other supplies before we go. Let’s move on!”
Qidira eagerly follows the group to the Blacksmith. Tucking herself towards the middle of the group already feeling the need for warmer gear and pulling her cloak in tighter against the cold. She was already under-dressed for Palebank.
“Thank you, Ressys. You are wise in the ways of nature and have given me something to think on.”Brandon looks again in the direction the raven disappeared, then sets to packing up the items they have for trade. Durnham exits the barracks and urges them on, almost as if he is in a hurry to leave suddenly.
“Lead on, Durnham”Brandon follows, trying to sort out some of their equipment needs for the journey “Tents and rations”he echoes the dwarf. “We should take stock of what other equipment we need. Don’t forget nothing, that’s what the old sergeants in Bladegarden would say. Other than my armor and weapons, I don’t have much beyond a rope and tinderbox.” He looks at Kotar and Ressys “What else should we gather? Lanterns and oil? Do we need pitons and climbing gear? What can we expect in Eiselcross?”
He waited in silence as Durnham returned to the garrison for a moment. To speak to Elro, the dwarf said. Something personal, the goliath guessed. Otherwise the wizard would have taken the rest of the group inside. Either way, he didn’t take long to return. As he did, Brandon asked about what to expect from Eiselcross and that made Kotar remember how everything he knew and took for common sense was different from the usual in these lands.
“Strong winds, colder than here.”Said the fighter to the warlock. Images of home taking hold of his thoughts. “Mountains, little in the way of food, depending on the area, and almost always plenty in the way of dangers.”He continued, almost nostalgic, keeping pace with the group.“I would suggest cold gear, snowshoes and a bedroll because believe me, you won’t last long sleeping in contact with the ground. There won’t be any shop further away from the coast so we better have food. Dried rations mostly, like fruit or meat, since we don’t know how long we’ll travel. Fire will always help so tinder and some wood too. We can forage for kindling, but if the weather gets bad or we journey into a frozen desert we may not find any."
Durnham leads the way to Bennar Nordan’s smithy. As the early afternoon gets underway you find Bennar working hard at a forge outside the main building, a log cabin with a pitched roof. Despite the frigid conditions the dwarf is stripped to the waist, braids from his red beard and hair swinging as he works.
He looks about middle aged, so likely 100-200 years old. Ruggedly good looking, his physique was clearly carved at the forge and his arms bear numerous small scars from sparks and drips at the anvil.
As you approach, Bennar senses your movement and looks up. He does a double take at the familiar faces in your group, surprised as much as happy: “Winterwalker? What brings you- Durnham?? My word, that’s a formidable combination of brains. And I see you have some muscle...and...”
His gaze moves from Kotar and Brandon to little Qidira almost hidden behind them, “...and some fingers, is my guess”
He shrugs, deciding that discussing or deducing the reason for such a gathering was beyond the limit of his curiosity.
“I’m guessing you’re here for business, what can I interest you in?”
You look around at weapons, armour and tools hanging from hooks hammered into the beams of the cabin’s exterior. Even the most cursory and untrained observation reveals that they are excellent.
Durnham smiles and steps into the forge, “Hello Bennar. I wish we were here under happier circumstances. But, Elro has asked us to find a cure for a sickness that has affected a few people. You may have heard my uncle Urgon passed? He brought something from one of his adventures that sickened him and those who have gotten in contact with it. We are headed to Eisselcross in the morning to search for a cure and need to buy and sell some items.”
He swallows and continues, finally looking the smith in the eyes. “There a family... children, who have caught it. Their lives are at risk.”
“Good day, Master Smith. As Durnham says, we are outfitting for Eiselcross and in need of armor and equipment. Your reputation precedes you and not without merit based on the exceptional craftsmanship you have displayed here.” Brandon gestures to the weapons and armor hanging in the shop.
Brandon slings the bag containing the bandit’s equipment off of his shoulder “We have to items for trade, for gold or perhaps store credit.” Brandon starts to arrange the items, 5 light crossbows, 5 scimitars, and Kotar's old chainmail. “The weapons are fine quality, just poorly taken care of. They belonged to bandits who are no longer in need of them”Brandon gives a small smile. “I figure these are worth 15 gold pieces each, for a total of 150 gp, and another 50 for the very large chainmail. You can probably make two sets out of that.”
Brandon scratches his chin for a moment “But we didn’t come here to take your gold. Durnham is in need of a chain shirt and perhaps a large set of hide armor for Winterwalker, if you have it. We are also looking for climbing equipment; hammer, pitons, and iron spikes. Perhaps we can come to a discount based on the goods we have to trade?” He looks around the shop “Outfit us with the armor, and throw in a hammer, and a few sets of pitons and spikes, and you can have the whole set for 120 gp.”
"What do you think? We are hoping we can come to a deal, Elro has us departing first thing in the morning. We must make haste, for the children's sake."
Kotar, in answer to Brandon's questions names off some items they'd need. Wood, she hadn't even considered. But at those elevations, she supposed there were very few trees if any. And Snowshoes. The snow was already coming up to her waist most of the time, she wondered if they made them in her size. Loading up on food would be excellent. Probably should take all they could carry as food and wood would get used up along the way. She had a bedroll, but would still look at the ones here as likely made warmer.
She enters Bennar's establishment, eagerly greeting the warmth of the heat radiating from the forge letting it soak into her bones and start to dry the dampness out of her clothes. A fine smith working hard at the forge. You could tell a lot about a person, especially with as lightly this fine specimen of a dwarf was. Admiring the detail and quality of the work about her. Then she heard reference to herself, a good eye too it seemed. She gave a bashful grin at the dwarf and a nod.
She let Durnham do the introductions and waiting patiently for him to finish explaining their quest.
Brandon starts negotiating and she admires the work on the walls about her, looking at her own daggers in need of a good sharpening. Then turns to Smith. "May I also ask if you'd have a set of Studded Leather available? It might be that I am asking in the wrong place, but your skills are obviously behind compare so I'd prefer to get it here. I'll also happily pay for professional sharpening of my blades. I have 4 daggers and a shortsword."
"All I know of that bird is that it is a noisy pest, always squawking about and always nearby. I do feel like it is following me, gods know why” He smiles at Qdiria’s comment “I know very little in the way of magic, and doubt I have the power to summon a being. It shares nothing but grief in any case.” Brandon pauses at Ressys comments about mysterious forces “Truly? Omens? Not something I had heard about or considered” Brandon stares off and appears lost in thought for a moment.
“No matter” he shrugs “I would be happy if we all go to the trader together, I have some things to buy as well.” He takes another look at the scimitars and other weapons recovered from the bandits “I can make no promises on negotiations, but will do my best. Hopefully we run into a merchant that is more accepting of the condition of these weapons. I am ready to go when you are.” He shoulders his pack and prepares to set out.
He looks again at the different items that poured from the bag. “Did you find anything interesting, Ressys?”
As he looks at the items, Durnham is drawn to the snuffbox with the word Dreams on it. In his studies, dreams were sometimes described as windows or doors into other realms. Sometimes knowledge or power can be gained through dreams.
As the others talk about birds, he only half listens, distracted as he is by the thoughts of dreams as a way of gaining more knowledge.
If I were more skilled in Divination... maybe I could seek a location for the cure in my dreams.
Noob
Ressys invokes his natural magic detection power and his eyes glaze over as he inspects the pile of trinkets that fell from the bag.
@Ressys:
None of the items has an aura of any kind, all are magically inert. Only the bag’s green aura of conjuration magic stands out.
Durnham inspects the silver snuffbox; it is well crafted and carved, but otherwise unimpressive.
@Durnham:
You know of a few traders in Palebank, normally small businesses specializing in one particular type of good. Bennar Nordan is a blacksmith, a fine one. He would likely buy and sell weapons. The closest thing to a general store would be Esta Orbryn’s shop near the docks.
"Thank you Durnham, this should keep me in bolts for some time." She says accepting the 46 bolts holding them up for a moment offering to the others in case they needed more, then putting any refused in her pack.
Happy to hear Kotar accepting her suggestion of the oil, she plans to stock up. As to the destruction of the spore-effected items, "Yes, outside of town seems the best option." She nods back at him. The renewed mention of the Glaive has reminded her to keep an eye out for one. She just couldn't imagine the Goliath firing a bow, his strength commanded a mighty weapon. Remembering a frightful night in Uthodurn where she'd seen a guardsmen send a bandit to flight at the end of one.
Brandon dismissed the bird as a pest, but it truly seemed to be following him. Hopefully not a bad omen, it merely seemed curious to her and then another thought occurred. "I know I must sound the doomsayer but what if its someone else's familiar sent to spy?"
She watches Durnham looking over the snuff box and giggles slightly to herself. "One night, one of the kids in my old neighborhood picked up a box like that and stuffed some of the contents into a pipe and smoked it. He definitely had some interesting dreams that night, some before he slept as well I think."
She leans down and gathers up the ink, "If I may? I'm always out of ink." Eyeing the straw hat, whistle and salt as well, but not touching them.
Ressys holds the ivory whale statuette for a moment before speaking.
"Trinkets it seems. They may have value, perhaps not. But I would like to keep this one if I may?"
Looking around he settles his gaze on Brandon. The old druid, whose life already has been longer than the human's will be when he dies of old age, gives him a serious look.
"The creature is tied to you. Nature does not single you out without purpose. Embrace the honor the raven has given you and it will reward you."
Letting the moment pass he continues,
"Let us find the trading post. We can get some oil to ensure the destruction of the spores. We can then get our own private affairs taken care before meeting again tomorrow."
“Unfortunate that the items are not useful for us on our journey.” He opens the snuff box and examines the contents to make sure nothing else of value is inside.
He looks to the others as they discuss the Raven. Interested, now that his thoughts aren’t on something else. But why would a raven follow anyone?
”Yes, lets go To the shops and unload what we can and split whatever money we can. Bennar the smith may buy the weapons and Esta’s shop near the docks is where most general supplies can be bought.” But first... I need a moment with Elro.” He then sets the bag of holding down and stands to walk back into the barracks.
Inside the barracks he approaches Elro and speaks up. “Elro, I wanted a word in private. If you have a moment? I returned home at my Uncle’s request... we hadn’t been close for a long time. But he sent me a letter saying that he needed to tell me something about my parents and their deaths. Now that he’s gone I don’t have any idea where to turn to for answers. Do you have any idea what Urgon might have wanted to share with me, or any more information about my parents and what happened to them on that fishing trip?”
Noob
Qidira admires the craftsmanship on the Ivory Whale Statuette wondering at what sort of tools would be required. Her Jewelry tools could possibly accomplish the task, she'd have to try with a suitable piece to work with. She estimates the value of the Statuette based on the Ivory and the craftsmanship. @DM
Skill as a jeweler allows her to "Identify Gems. You can identify gems and determine their value at a glance." Would this help her in appraising the item?
She agrees with Ressys perhaps the Raven tailing Brandon should be embraced and considered a good sign, there's still that small worry however.
She picks up the bag of holding for Durnham, holding it patiently outside the barracks for him to emerge. Then on to the shops and many more things this evening.
Elro looks up surprised as Durnham re-enters the barracks. “Your parents? He never said anything to me, although that’s no surprise. Your uncle and I were...respectfully distant from each other”
He pauses, makes to speak again and then closes his mouth, looking down at his desk and thinking. After a brief pause he looks up again with a sincere look: “People whose opinions I respect held him in great regard. The Moonshadows, your adoptive parents, were among them. Your uncle would often check in on them, maybe they know what he planned to tell you?”
Outside the barracks, the rest of the party talk amongst themselves and sift through the trinkets that fell from the bag.
@Qidira:
Although not a gem, you can appraise the statuette’s craftsmanship and it is competently, if not exquisitely made. If you bargain hard, it might fetch 10gp
.
Qidira moves over to Ressys, "That's a decent piece, competent work. A good negotiator might get 10 gp for it should you wish to try to sell it at the trader."
Durnham snorts in disgust. “That greedy old grave robber cared less about me than about people who have been dead for 500 years in another country.” His voice drips with bitterness. “I’m surprised he ever gave any thought to me or the family that took me in. Probably paid them off to ease his conscience.”
He looks back at Elro, “That man was dead to me long before he ever caught the frigid woe. I only came back because he said he had something to tell me about my parents... apparently something he couldn’t put to paper for some reason.” He shrugs before continuing, “I’ll ask the Moonshadows but I doubt he told them anything.” Throughout his talk, Durnham’s hate is apparent, but so is the pain and longing underneath, merely hidden behind his anger like a cheap carnival mask.
He turns to walk to the door “Thank you for your time Elro... do you have any last suggestion on supplies we should get? Does this boat ride include board or do we need to bring extra food for the trip?”
Noob
Elro is startled by the bitterness in Durnham's voice. He lets the young dwarf finish his piece, deciding that he cannot offer any words to explain or mitigate Urgon's actions towards his nephew over the years. That will be the old dwarf's burden to carry in the next life, unless he had left behind some way to make amends to this remarkable young man.
As the wizard stands in the door ready to go, Elro responds "I will make sure that food is covered for the journey. Some supplies will be available at Syrinlya in case you forget essentials, but my advice would be a couple weeks' rations each plus tents and kit to make a fire. Winterwalker and the goliath will be your greatest assets; between the pair of them I doubt you will get hungry or lost"
He pauses a moment before continuing "Give my regards to the Moonshadows"
"Hmmm, perhaps." Ressys says to Qidira is response to her assessment of its value. "Perhaps gold isn't always the best way to judge somethings value either."
"Let us find the blacksmith and see if he will buy the weapons. Then we will know what funds we have to buy the rest of our supplies. Here comes Durnham now." He says addressing the whole group as he slips the small ivory trinket into his bag. "Lead us to the blacksmith master dwarf. Then to the trading post." he says seeing Durnham rejoin them.
Once at the blacksmith he will allow Brandon, who seemed better with words and more in tune with the ways things worked, to lead the negotiations. Having never had any use for metal armor he looked to see if Bennar Nordan had any hides he could use to better protect himself. But he wondered if the trading post may be better for such purchases.
Durnham nods, “Thank you, I will,” and leaves to rejoin his companions outside.
Once outside he informs the group “Elro will make sure we are given food aboard the ship and agreed with me that we will need to rely upon Winterwalker and Kotar through this expedition.There will be a chance to get supplies in Syriniya if we can’t find tents, rations, fire kits, or other supplies before we go. Let’s move on!”
Noob
Qidira eagerly follows the group to the Blacksmith. Tucking herself towards the middle of the group already feeling the need for warmer gear and pulling her cloak in tighter against the cold. She was already under-dressed for Palebank.
“Thank you, Ressys. You are wise in the ways of nature and have given me something to think on.” Brandon looks again in the direction the raven disappeared, then sets to packing up the items they have for trade. Durnham exits the barracks and urges them on, almost as if he is in a hurry to leave suddenly.
“Lead on, Durnham” Brandon follows, trying to sort out some of their equipment needs for the journey “Tents and rations” he echoes the dwarf. “We should take stock of what other equipment we need. Don’t forget nothing, that’s what the old sergeants in Bladegarden would say. Other than my armor and weapons, I don’t have much beyond a rope and tinderbox.” He looks at Kotar and Ressys “What else should we gather? Lanterns and oil? Do we need pitons and climbing gear? What can we expect in Eiselcross?”
He waited in silence as Durnham returned to the garrison for a moment. To speak to Elro, the dwarf said. Something personal, the goliath guessed. Otherwise the wizard would have taken the rest of the group inside. Either way, he didn’t take long to return. As he did, Brandon asked about what to expect from Eiselcross and that made Kotar remember how everything he knew and took for common sense was different from the usual in these lands.
“Strong winds, colder than here.” Said the fighter to the warlock. Images of home taking hold of his thoughts. “Mountains, little in the way of food, depending on the area, and almost always plenty in the way of dangers.” He continued, almost nostalgic, keeping pace with the group. “I would suggest cold gear, snowshoes and a bedroll because believe me, you won’t last long sleeping in contact with the ground. There won’t be any shop further away from the coast so we better have food. Dried rations mostly, like fruit or meat, since we don’t know how long we’ll travel. Fire will always help so tinder and some wood too. We can forage for kindling, but if the weather gets bad or we journey into a frozen desert we may not find any."
Durnham leads the way to Bennar Nordan’s smithy. As the early afternoon gets underway you find Bennar working hard at a forge outside the main building, a log cabin with a pitched roof. Despite the frigid conditions the dwarf is stripped to the waist, braids from his red beard and hair swinging as he works.
He looks about middle aged, so likely 100-200 years old. Ruggedly good looking, his physique was clearly carved at the forge and his arms bear numerous small scars from sparks and drips at the anvil.
As you approach, Bennar senses your movement and looks up. He does a double take at the familiar faces in your group, surprised as much as happy: “Winterwalker? What brings you- Durnham?? My word, that’s a formidable combination of brains. And I see you have some muscle...and...”
His gaze moves from Kotar and Brandon to little Qidira almost hidden behind them, “...and some fingers, is my guess”
He shrugs, deciding that discussing or deducing the reason for such a gathering was beyond the limit of his curiosity.
“I’m guessing you’re here for business, what can I interest you in?”
You look around at weapons, armour and tools hanging from hooks hammered into the beams of the cabin’s exterior. Even the most cursory and untrained observation reveals that they are excellent.
Durnham smiles and steps into the forge, “Hello Bennar. I wish we were here under happier circumstances. But, Elro has asked us to find a cure for a sickness that has affected a few people. You may have heard my uncle Urgon passed? He brought something from one of his adventures that sickened him and those who have gotten in contact with it. We are headed to Eisselcross in the morning to search for a cure and need to buy and sell some items.”
He swallows and continues, finally looking the smith in the eyes. “There a family... children, who have caught it. Their lives are at risk.”
Noob
“Good day, Master Smith. As Durnham says, we are outfitting for Eiselcross and in need of armor and equipment. Your reputation precedes you and not without merit based on the exceptional craftsmanship you have displayed here.” Brandon gestures to the weapons and armor hanging in the shop.
Brandon slings the bag containing the bandit’s equipment off of his shoulder “We have to items for trade, for gold or perhaps store credit.” Brandon starts to arrange the items, 5 light crossbows, 5 scimitars, and Kotar's old chainmail. “The weapons are fine quality, just poorly taken care of. They belonged to bandits who are no longer in need of them” Brandon gives a small smile. “I figure these are worth 15 gold pieces each, for a total of 150 gp, and another 50 for the very large chainmail. You can probably make two sets out of that.”
Brandon scratches his chin for a moment “But we didn’t come here to take your gold. Durnham is in need of a chain shirt and perhaps a large set of hide armor for Winterwalker, if you have it. We are also looking for climbing equipment; hammer, pitons, and iron spikes. Perhaps we can come to a discount based on the goods we have to trade?” He looks around the shop “Outfit us with the armor, and throw in a hammer, and a few sets of pitons and spikes, and you can have the whole set for 120 gp.”
"What do you think? We are hoping we can come to a deal, Elro has us departing first thing in the morning. We must make haste, for the children's sake."
Kotar, in answer to Brandon's questions names off some items they'd need. Wood, she hadn't even considered. But at those elevations, she supposed there were very few trees if any. And Snowshoes. The snow was already coming up to her waist most of the time, she wondered if they made them in her size. Loading up on food would be excellent. Probably should take all they could carry as food and wood would get used up along the way. She had a bedroll, but would still look at the ones here as likely made warmer.
She enters Bennar's establishment, eagerly greeting the warmth of the heat radiating from the forge letting it soak into her bones and start to dry the dampness out of her clothes. A fine smith working hard at the forge. You could tell a lot about a person, especially with as lightly this fine specimen of a dwarf was. Admiring the detail and quality of the work about her. Then she heard reference to herself, a good eye too it seemed. She gave a bashful grin at the dwarf and a nod.
She let Durnham do the introductions and waiting patiently for him to finish explaining their quest.
Brandon starts negotiating and she admires the work on the walls about her, looking at her own daggers in need of a good sharpening. Then turns to Smith. "May I also ask if you'd have a set of Studded Leather available? It might be that I am asking in the wrong place, but your skills are obviously behind compare so I'd prefer to get it here. I'll also happily pay for professional sharpening of my blades. I have 4 daggers and a shortsword."