The Forgotten Wish

Khond has a tear of genuine grief roll down a single eye as he hears that the spicy will not be spicy. Probably. After that, however, there is little that slows them down from moving to the side of the establishment, from where they can enter the stable areas, with enough place to store the cart, a worker there helping put it somewhere safe, and allow Khond entrance as well.

Oren meanwhile, takes his short trip around, but... Doesn't really find anything of note. With his focus mostly on trying to find a back to the establishment, he's blind to both what kind of shops or what conversation surrounds him, only to eventually conclude that he thinks the inn might not have a back..? Maybe. It must be closed off, or something, and he eventually relents to go check out that interesting little shop he saw earlier.

The place is empty at the moment, besides the old man behind the counter, who seems almost startled at someone entering. The top of his hair has gone bald, though the grey hair around stands almost untamed around it. Still, his bespactled eyes immediately fall upon Oren. Not quite a stink eye, but... Well, evidently the man held no intent of letting Oren fall out of his sight. A quick look around reveals mostly things that presumably don't interest the dwarf. Pots, old tools, there's a few older instruments, books perhaps..? Although near the back there are also a few pieces of equipment. Most battered or rusted, or rusted and battered, but not all of them.

"...Can I help you?" he finally asks, after far too long a pause.

Khond chuckles some, "I've been traveling alone for a little bit now, it's no worry for me.  You sleep where you're comfortable.  For now, let's head inside."  Heading into the inn - after thanking the worker for their help - Khond makes for the counter.  "Hoh there, good sir!  I wonder, are you perchance seeking an entertainer for the night?"

"Rick will have to consider where is most comfortable, though probably in a bunk!"

If the place doesn't appear to have food imminently, Rick will pop out and look around for interesting things say to Khond,

"Rick will be right back! Khond will make sure Boss Pallen gets food if Rick isn't right back, yes?"

A quick inquiry reveals that food isn't quite ready yet, proper cooking likely to start soon, although he could spare some bread to tide one over in the meantime. Drinks are of course available. And an enthusiastic smile given to Khond.

"Of course! What exotic company..."

Oren give a smile when he notices the man watching him and the fact that the man doesn't seem in too good of a mood. 

The smile is genuine and he moves closer to the shopkeeper.  "Nice place you have here.   I enjoy seeing old and vintage items.  Maybe because of my parents.  Or that I'm Dwarven.  We live long and we learn to appreciate how older things are often better than new ones."

He does his best to be as charming as possible to the man, using both his smile and his words.    Persuasion: 16

Oren walks about, looking at the goods for sale.  When he sees some books he asks, "Any written in Dwarven, by chance?"

When he sees the armor and equipment he focuses on the one (whatever that one might be) that is not rusty and looks to be in the best shape.  "Ah, you kept this in good shape.  What do you know about the item?"

(Oh, and he is using his charisma and persuasion to be likable and engaging, and make a friend, rather than to try to weasel a good deal out of the man)

Sylvera has no qualms about paying the gold piece for a room. Its only a single gold piece after all... 

"Well then," she says, rising from her seat. "I will be taking my ...meal, in my room." She pauses as if considering whether she even wants to try this... not-spicy stew, but ultimately decides against rejecting it. She glances over when Khond enters, and briefly wonders whether or not it would be worth her while to see what sort of 'entertainment' the centaur can provide. Of course, that would involve staying down here with all the commoners... She clears her throat for no apparent reason, then says to the barkeep, "Just send someone up and knock when my food is ready." Then she heads to her private quarters, where she may or may not leave the door open a crack--just for a time... to see or hear what sort of performance Khond is planning... 

((Rick spot anything that'd catch his eye looking just outside the inn?))

Looking perception: 22

The old man, perhaps skeptic for a moment longer still, does seem to soften up as Oren begins to explain himself. He gets off from behind the counter with a slight groan, more his old bones than a sign of annoyance, however. It's his words especially that seem to catch the man's interest.

"That's true, isn't it..? It's vital to keep history alive, you know, lest it be forgotten. I may have a couple dwarven related texts here in fact, if, ah, you're open-minded. Different times, about two thousand years back, when dwarves still laid claim to a large swathe of this area... " he trails off, a bit uncomfortable, even though it sounds like old blood. At least nowadays as Oren knows, humans and dwarves prosper both with their trading contracts. "But there's some stuff about and before the war still, most of them copies, but still important," he says, before things turn to the equipment. There are several pieces that look like they could still be useable, though in varying degree of wear. The most prominent item for sure is a maul however, looking almost like it would be fresh from the smithy, besides maybe some wear on the leather-bound hilt.

"Ah, good eye! Destiny even, perhaps? My records say this weapon here is a relic from that ancient battle two millennia before, a spoil claimed upon victory. Although some of the engravings here," he says, pointing to some writing in dwarven "Seems to suggest the weapon may be much older than that."

There's some hesitation in his words as he says that, but Oren gets a look at the writing. It's old dialect, and in rhyme, but basically seems to describe this maul to be meant as a gift from the dwarves to the elves. There are no specifics on "which" dwarves and/or elves, however.

---

Sylvera decides to go take a rest in her chambers already, finding them to be very simple, but clean. Downstairs, Slick is taking the chance to peek outside, but doesn't really spot anything too close by that seems interesting, and this inn is far too prim and proper for any kind of shady characters, though a few of the regulars already seem to be arriving after work, playing a standup game of cards. That's also a sign for Erzel to call out to Khond he could start his performance whenever he wants, and that he'll start on cooking soon. There was that theater from before, perhaps? But if he goes to watch a full show he'd probably miss dinner...

Nodding to the old shopkeeper in agreement Oren says, "You are right, keeping the memories of the old ways is important.  So many times we can learn from the past.  My Grampa taught my father and him me, on certain old blacksmithing tricks that probably cannot be found in many places anymore."  As he says this he inspects the maul more closely.   He puts his hands near the weapon, "May I?" he asks and waits for an answer before picking it up to get a good feel of it.  If he gets the nod to pick it up, he will look it over with a smile, and then backing into an area where he has a bit of room so he won't damage any goods in the shop, he will do two small swings with it, both one and two handed.  "Nice.  I'm not used to a weapon quite this heavy, though.  But....Hmm.....   And it looks like when it was forged it was a gift to the elves...from somewhere in the lands.  How....Different."

He asks the shopkeep, while looking him in the eyes, "What price might you be selling this for?"

He also asks, "Can I trouble you to help me find the Dwarven books you might have, I would really appreciate taking a gander at them.  I wish my father was actually here too, right now.  I know he'd really appreciate seeing the books you mention."

Rick is disappointed, but not too disappointed and heads over to one of the games of cards,

"Rick greets the cards players! Rick wonders if the table has room for Rick?"

Oren gets halted for a moment when he asks to pick up the weapon, asked to dip his hands in a bowl filled with some kind of dry powder, rub his hand for a moment, then be allowed to pick it up. He finds a somewhat clear spot in the jumbled shop, and gives it a few practice swings... It seems heavy, but effective, although he wouldn't describe it moreso than a normal maul from his little experience. The man seems excited when asked, however.

"Oh, indeed. But the implication there seems to be that this piece may date back all the time to when the God emperor first set foot on these lands. No need to mention dynasty when there are only the two to worry about. If that's true, it would be a priceless artifact, of course," 

(Give me an insight check?)

He hesitates for a moment at the question of selling it. Almost as if he seems hesitant on actually parting with anything in his shop. "If I did, what would you be doing with it..?"

"And, ah, yes, let me help you find some books. I think a few of them I have copies of already, so it'd be quite safe for those..."

---

As Slick moves up to the group, he gets met rather enthusiastically. Two of them seem on the older side, and judging by their clothes and general demeanor, the last one on the younger side when compared to them, but seeming to have some kind of heavy labor job himself judging by the calluses on his hands.

"Sure sure! Can always deal in a newcomer. You know bridge?" the bearded one asks with a gravelly voice. The other older one, fully bad in comparison to his friend, asks next with a thick accent.

"You coming from the finger or the salt?"

Quote from M0rtimer7 >>

"Oh, indeed. But the implication there seems to be that this piece may date back all the time to when the God emperor first set foot on these lands. No need to mention dynasty when there are only the two to worry about. If that's true, it would be a priceless artifact, of course," 

(Give me an insight check?)

He hesitates for a moment at the question of selling it. Almost as if he seems hesitant on actually parting with anything in his shop. "If I did, what would you be doing with it..?"

"And, ah, yes, let me help you find some books. I think a few of them I have copies of already, so it'd be quite safe for those..."

---

Insight: 9

"What would I do with it?  Well, like any weapon, if needed it would be used to fight.  And it being stout dwarven made, that is exactly what it was meant for, even if it was also meant as a gift.  So, fighting with it will honor the weapon and her smithy creator.  But, I'd also being traveling with it.  People with see it.  And hear it's story, it's history."

He then waits to see what book copies the old man brings out.

Rick slides into a seat,

"Rick comes by way of the finger with a dip in the salt! Rick is guarding Rick's boss on the way to see family."

Rick looks between the guys,

"Bridge, yes! Rick is a fan of bridge, who is Rick's partner?"

Oren is having some difficulty figuring out exactly what it is that this old man wants, but the slight wince at hearing that he'd plan to use it is clearly not good. Still, there is more to it than just that, as he's clearly deliberating still, thinking things over.

"Ah, well... It really should be kept safe somewhere... But with the Vanstrom family as it is, and with how well it kept I suppose it should be fine...Would be good maybe... And you are a dwarf so a part of me does only feel it's right," he admits. "Still, it remains a relic. I really can't let it go for less than fifty gold."

He also helps digging up some books that could be interesting related to dwarves. He offers some further explanation as well, stating how much of these lands used to be dwarven in a time long past. Most records are from around that period of war, including a book about tactics employed at that time. Others are records of life before that time, but the very oldest copy he has concerns matters around 4000 years ago, and that book is by this point obviously a copy of a copy of a copy, and contains mostly traditional stories. The books seem to go from about one gold piece to five, depending on age. A few actual originals he has likely cost more.

---

Rick gets a few confused looks at his answer, before the younger man speaks up.

"Forgive these two, they're using some local lingo. Salt means you come from Mezzra, finger means you come from Mhurgot."

"Aye, you don't need to ask again though," the man with the thick accent speaks up. "I can still smell the salt on him! Might wanna get that washed off before you go to the big city!"

The other older man gives a brief "Tsk," as if to not be impolite to their guest, turning back to Rick as a chair is pushed out for him. "Rick, I'm Vloumisk. Potty mouth is Vasel, and our young smithy is Fel. As for partner, depends- You any good with bridge?" he gives a grin, but eventually the two older men make sure to set him up so he partners up with Fel. As cards are being dealt, Vasel turns again to him.

"So you've seen any of those murders on your way here???"

“It should be kept safe??   The Vanstrom family?    I’m confused.  What do you mean?” He asks with sincere interest.   
If the old man was trying to get him invested in the item it might be working.  

Rick gives his arm a sniff and shrugs,

"Rick understands! Mezzra indeed."

Rick is quick to answer,

"Rick is a fair hand at bridge! Some have beat Rick, but not many."

The next question catches him off his guard though,

"Rick saw a murder in Mezzra, but none on the way here! Rick saw only a tree laying across the road most suspiciously."

He leans forward,

"New friends must share the details with Rick!"

"Oh no, no, nothing as exciting as you may be thinking, I apologize," the merchant says, apparently too honest for his own good. "I just mean that the Vanstom family used to own it, safely stored, but had to get rid of it. I just don't want to see history potentially be lost, you understand?"

---

The man shrugs at Rick's question, seemingly just as disappointed.

"If I knew everything I wouldn't be asking, right? Me and Isk literally only just heard on the way over. Six dwarves got killed on the Northern road in some kind of ambush? Was that what you saw?!"

"Apparently some culprits are already caught, too? Not sure about that part." Vloumisk chimes in.

"Why would our guard even be catching anyone? Isn't the North road Mezzra business?" 

Erzel in the meantime has started working on dinner. It presumably won't take long.

"Rick saw nothing but a tree on the road."

His ears lay back on his head in annoyance,

"Rick lost good silver betting there were culprits!"

He shakes his head,

"Rick didn't see any guards from town on the road. Rick doubts they snuck past without Rick noticing and then beat Rick here!"

Rick leans forward and lowers his voice and looks conspiratorially between the three others at the table,

"Rick loves a mystery! Where can Rick get more information on this ambush?"

With the owner's approval of his performing, Khond makes for a relatively open space and fishes his flute out, where he sets to an opening performance.

Performance: 17