The dwarf slowly opens his eyes, he yawns loudly and stretches. His eyes are bloodshot and speaks in a slow deliberate fashion with an odd accent none of you are familiar with. "Hey man keep it down. You don't have to yell all the time. I can hook you up if you wanna get high.... in the mountains..... it's a great place to find yourself... commune with nature just gotta be a little careful is all...." He very slowly gets to his feet and shakes the wrinkles from his clothing. "So what are looking for? Equipment? A guided tour of the foothills? Or maybe you need a bit of herbal enlightenment?" He coughs a bit as he wanders behind the counter and grabs a bit of water from glass that was sitting out. "Whatever it is I got your back man. Name's Thavol but I said that already.... or did you say that...."

Triäsa wrinkles up her nose a bit as she encounters the new smell. But she soon decides it doesn't seem so bad.  "This seems like a nice shop," she says as she looks about.  "Interesting - different colored ropes," she mutters.  Following the others to approach the brightly dressed dwarf, she just watches as Daventry tries to wake him. 

When he does awaken she chuckles a bit at all his words. "I think Daventry said your name.  But our first order of business is to see if you know anything about Vermeillon.  In the mountains to the east of here I believe.  After we hear about this place then we will want to talk about equipment." 

"What is the tenets of your Order Klin, is it not to seek knowledge and enlightenment? In that case you are clearly doing the will of not just the First Reader of Candlekeep but also your Order by seeking knowledge and enlightenment regarding the fate of Vermeillon and Chalet Brantifax. All knowledge will come at a price, but as long as we stand by each other Klin, that price will not be the final journey to the beyond." Ludolf comments on Klin's angst.

Ludolf is not too discomforted by the odor in Challenging Boulder. "Yes, please tell us what you know of Vermeillon and Chalet Brantifax and we will make it worth your while."

"Vermeillon?! You mean the creepy ghost town... yea, I stay faaaar from that place. Gives me the heebee jeebees. There is some serious bad mojo there. It's far out, high in the mountains. A good two days of climbing? I've been high enough, physically, to see it's silhouette against the clouds. It can be rough going that high. Gets cold even this time of year and ya gotta worry about giants and creepy birds. Not worth it dude." He pulls out a pipe, lights it and takes a long drag. "No offense but you all look more like the book type I wouldn't go looking for haunted villages if I were you... As for a Chalet I don't know anything about that." He takes another long drag and the offers the pipe to you all. "Puff puff pass man."

Daventry waves off the pipe for herself. "I'll stick to my two current vices, thanks love." She thinks a moment on what he said. "So not just abandoned, but haunted? What are the stories you've heard? And what giants and creepy birds?"

She looks over the gear. "It was a mining town, so I'd guess that there once was a path that could be handled by cart and horse. Is that still truth, or has time taken its toll and we're best on foot, piton, and rope? We've a horse we can use for packs, if the path won't allow a full cart, but if rockfall has blocked off even that, we'd like to not have to descend back to Maerin." She gravitates towards the climbing gear, as well as looking to see if any of the coats looks semi-stylish, if any.

"Yes, what sorts of things haunt the place? And are giants and these birds common throughout the mountains? Or just Vermeillon?"  Triäsa asks. "And, yea. I thought the would be a road of some sort. Will we have to actually climb to reach that place?"

She takes a momentary look at the pipe, but puts up her hand in refusal.  She gives Daventry a small grin, "So what are your two vices? Now I'm curious!"  She walks over with the woman to look at the gear as well.

"Are you quite sure about what you're telling us now Thavol, think hard so that you get the facts straight." Ludolf says, not quite trusting the dwarf's story so far.
Insight: 19 Persusion to get Thavol to stick to the truth: 19

Ludolf too tries to catch what Daventry's vices are, although his guess is dark tomes and sass.

Daventry flashes Triäsa a grin. "Now now, Tri. A girl shouldn't kiss and tell. The guessin', that's the fun part!" She picks up a set of spiked boot attachments, comparing the size to her own feet, as she awaits Thavol's response.

Thavol shrugs as you each turn down his pipe. He closes his eyes and takes a long hard drag.  "The road up the mountain is gnarly.  You could probably get a horse about half way, that much of the road remains. If you really intend to go all the way to Vermeillon you will have to leave them behind,  no way a horse will make it all the way up. I would be ready for anything... the mountain,  she can be fierce even in the summer."

He thinks a bit longer,  "I have seen all sorts of things on my pilgrimages. Ghosts, giants with two heads, beautiful women with full bosoms, zombies and flying lizards 30 feet long! But Vermeillon, never been there,  too spooky. Buildings falling apart and a creepy mist everywhere. No idea what you would actually find. Bad mojo that's for sure." He sighs thinking of the trip, "if you want to be prepared I can give you every opportunity to survive. Cold weather gear and climbing supplies,  25 gold a person to outfit each of you."

@Ludolf -- Thavol is being honest for sure. There is no attempt at deception and he seems to have your interests in mind. How much he is saying is real versus hallucinations... no idea... he doesn't even know...

Triäsa returns Daventry's grin, "Well, that sounds like you have already tipped your hand on one of them!" 

She then focuses on the items Daventry is looking at. "Are you familiar with mountaineering? I am sure I read something about it but have no practical experience." 

"Maybe. Maybe that's just what I wantcha to think!" Daventry says coyly, adding a quick wink.

As they look over the gear, she shakes her head. "Just the basics. Most my climbing was on rigging, not rock. Makes me disinclined to freehand up the Cloud Peak, y'know?" 

Hearing your inexperience with climbing your new Dwarven friend says, "Listen man, I can't have you squares dying up there. Make you a deal,  for a total of 175 gold I will take you all the way to the edge of that bogus place and give you the gear you need. Once your there you are in your own. "

(Mechanics you will get advantage on any survival or climbing related checks if you hire Thavol as a guide.)

Triäsa laughs at Daventry's comment. "Fine! You keep your secrets, and I will keep mine," and she matches the other woman's wink. She is still smiling broadly as she turns to Klin. "I know enough to know mountaineering could be dangerous if you do not know what you are doing."  She looks to the others as well. "I do think the offer of a guide is probably wise."  She lowers her voice a bit, though not so much that Thavol can't hear. "Can we afford it?"  

She then looks over at Thavol again. "We truly appreciate your offer to serve as guide. Surely selling 5 full sets of gear is a boon to your shop here.  If we paid 125 gold for the equipment could you throw in your guide services as a bonus?"  She gives him a bright smile. "You surely would enjoy an excuse to hit the mountains.  And just think of the awesome time it would be to see a group of fledgling mountaineers learn... the ropes!"  She laughs lightly at the pun.  "So what do you say?" 

As an aside she adds, "I really like the differently colored ropes.  The color does not matter much does it?  I would really like to get to pick out my own!"  

(Persuasion Check: 19, assuming someone will offer Help for Advantage) 

Ludolf just smiles as he listens to the banter of Daventry and Triäsa. "Yes, excellent idea with all the colors Thavol." Ludolf chimes in, trying awkwardly to flatter the dwarf. (Help action gicen to Triäsa.)

Thavol contemplates your counter offer very carefully, "I can't just give away my services man. Gotta close the shop take a few days off... but I could use a break from the daily grind."

His blood shot eyes consider Triäsa one more time,  "Tell you what,  I will rent you my services and gear for a total of 100 gold. When we get back down you have to return it all." He takes a long drag again from the pipe.  "All the ropes and packs are the same.  If ya dig the offer just go ahead pick whatever colors and designs you like. I will get everything else together. " Not waiting for a reply he starts gathering a pitons, lengthes of rope, gloves and boots. He also crams 3 different pipes along with a large amount of a strange weed into his pack. Finally he grabs a rather unusual rainbow rope,  stretching and checking it carefully before putting it in the pack.  

"Two options for travel as I see it,  leave tonight and camp at the base of the mountain or leave at first light and try to get a far as we can tomorrow.  Probably take 2 or 3 days to get there."

Triäsa looks at her companions, "Sounds like a deal?  We don't need to keep the gear do we?" She then glances back to Thavol, "Does that include cold-weather clothing too?  Or is that separate from the climbing gear?"  She then smiles. "Oh, and do you have purple? I think I'd like that color!"  

"We'll take that deal Thavol. No hurry though, I think we can afford one night in Maerin, don't you." Ludolf suggests, looking at the others while picking a grey-coloured gear.