[OOC: I have changed the order of events slightly to save time.]

Samuel is keen to talk more about the opportunity for employment and says he would love to talk with Guilliame's grandmother. However, his hands are full and his feet cat-entangled, so he can't provide too much help for Guilliame as he packs up the supplies to be taken back to Masterful Mixtures.

As he packs, Guilliame asks Samuel about Armand Guss, but the young man just shakes his head and says he has never heard of the man.

When he has finished, Guilliame takes the little lamp he lit to near the entrance and, after extinguishing it, leaves it on a table just inside the door. He then ushers Samuel outside and calls for the cat to follow.

The cat just looks at him and hisses, refusing to leave the darkened shop. It even hisses at Samuel when he also tries to coax it out.

"Umm, I could talk to it," says Samuel, "Find out what the problem is maybe."

"I think leave it for now. I have a feeling it wants to stay and look after things here. Naomi had a chat to Master Fini before he left and he may have left some instructions about the cat."

[[Does Guilliame lock the cat inside the Fini's store?]]

Open the door to allow the cat to come out - if it doesn't come out then close the door.

Does Guilliame think an identify spell would work on a magickal cat? If so do that (ignore previous instruction).

Ignore 2 previous instructions because Guilliame won't be carrying around his identification equipment. Ask Samuel if he would go back to the shop and ask Naomi whether Fini left instructions for his cat. If he goes then stay with the cat and await his return.

Samuel looks a bit confused, but does as Guilliame asks.

As Guilliame is waiting for Samuel to return, the cat suddenly turns and disappears back into the darkness of Fini's shop.

Then Samuel comes back looking even more confused, and he is now not carrying his parcels.

"The lady in your shop told me that the Finis don't have a cat and she is wondering what on earth is going on," he says. 

Then he says, "And I just remembered something someone once told me. If it is a familiar, it's not a cat anyway, it a spirit of some kind, maybe a fey spirit. Perhaps this Master Fini left it to look after his shop?"

"Thanks for checking. Maybe Master Fini has set it up so that it only appears when people it doesn't expect appear in the shop. An interesting spell if it is a spell. I'm going to investigate next time I'm at the library. In any case I'm happy to leave it here when we go." 

Leave and lock up with backpack full of supplies.

Guilliame closes and locks the door leaving the cat inside the store. Then he and Samuel make their way to Master Mixtures.

Samuel lets Guilliame enter first and then follows.

As soon as he sees Naomi, he bows to her and says in Stemian, "Greetings old one, my apologies for my rushed entrance before. May the spirits of your ancestors watch over you."

Naomi's reply is equally formal—for her—as she bows and says, "And may the spirits of nature nurture you."

[OOC: Make a Religion check for me please.]

9

Guilliame's parents sent him to temple school for his education, so he has been thoroughly indoctrinated in the Mithran pantheon of the Sorendenese Empire.

However, his grandmother, has always followed the tenets of her Stemian background. It would also seem that Samuel has those same beliefs: ancestor worship (against the tenets of Donai) and the belief that the forces of nature are controlled by spirits native to the world rather than the gods of the Mithran pantheon.

[OOC: This was probably obvious, but Guilliame is aware from his own religious training that these are beliefs might get them into trouble with the Mithrans, if Samuel and his grandmother continue to outwardly practice their beliefs. This will be especially the case if the Mithrans are able to get the king to declare other religions anathema, which is why Fini decided to take his family out of the city.]

Offer to make some cha. Otherwise listen in on the conversation.

Once the formal greetings are over, Samuel respectfully addresses both Naomi and Guilliame.

"I come from a small village near Galth and am at the School of Occult Studies under the king's patronage because it was discovered that I am an innate sorcerer. However the patronage only covers my study materials and board at the School, and so I am looking for part-time work."

Naomi looks at Guilliame, who says, "I will put the kettle on." and then proceeds to make char while listening into the conversation.

"So, why do you think we would be interested in your help?" asks Naomi.

After a moment, Samuel replies saying, "I grew up being taught the ways of the forest by my mother and father, and have knowledge of herbs and their medicinal uses."

"Show me," says Naomi picking up a crock of dried roots. "What would you do with this?"

As Guilliame makes the char, Naomi quizzes Samuel about the names and properties of a variety of herbs held by the shop.

[OOC: As well as Guilliame's experience in the shop, he has proficiency with both Herbalism Kit and the Nature skill, so he knows the answers to all Naomi's questions, and so to does Samuel it seems, with a little prompting.]

Guilliame hands out the hot cups and then Naomi pulls him off the side.

"So, what do you think?" she asks. "It would be useful to have another set of hands around here, and he seems a nice enough lad."

"As long as the shop can afford it I don't have a problem. And we are getting some extra income in now. It might actually be useful having another set of eyes in the shop if things go the way Master Fini thinks."

"How much do we pay him?" Naomi asks, looking at where Samuel is carefully investigating the crock with the word 'Newt' written on its outside.

[OOC: Take a look at the section on paying for Services here to get some idea of the sort of money to pay people. However, remember that Engelian Adventure's prices are one tenth D&D prices (i.e., 1 gold piece in D&D would be the equivalent of 1 silver constantine).]

OOC I am basing this on the book costs of a skilled hireling being 2GP/day in the book  (2 con) and an unskilled 2SP/day (2 lions). If that is not right then please correct.

"Samuel knows a few things but he still has a lot to learn. I assume you will be spending some time down at the school so won't be full-time at the shop. How about 2 lions a day to start with and we see how things go?"

Samuel thinks for a moment and then says, "Okay. I am not sure what my timetable will allow at the moment, but I'm sure we can work something out."

He then offers to shake hands, starting with Naomi, who speaks in Stemian as they shake. "May the spirits bless this deal."

Samuel replies, equally formally, saying, "May we honour our ancestors with this agreement."

He then offers his hand to Guilliame.

[OOC: Guilliame has made these sorts of verbal agreements many times before when dealing with Stemian suppliers. They are considered binding amongst the parties involved by Stemians (i.e., there is no written form of the Stemian language) and the custom is generally considered cute by Sorians, where some form of legal paperwork would normally be involved.

So, does Guilliame shake, and does he use the ritualistic words for this deal.]

"Just remember that we have to deal with people of all backgrounds here. Just in the last couple of days we had Seeker Lomani of the Donai church and her apprentice here. If you agree to that then we can do business."

"How about we see how things go for a 10 day at 20 Lions and then talk again."

Offer to shake respond "May we honour our ancestors with this agreement." if he agrees.

"I do not know of this Seeker Lomani of whom you speak," says Samuel, "but a person's background does not matter to me, as long as they do the right thing."

He then offers Guilliame his hand, and as they shake he repeats the words he said to Naomi.

Guilliame says the expected response and the deal is made.

Smiling, Samuel asks that he be allowed to take his new book and writing equipment back to School and check that he has nothing else that needs to be done today. He promises to return about a candle after midday.

[OOC: Let me know if this is okay, and also let me know what you want Guilliame to do now. It is about mid morning."]

Say OK to Samuel.

After he is gone help Naomi with setting up the new stock. Tell Naomi about the sale of the spellbook and tut the Engles from the sale in the shop's strongbox(or whatever?)

Then go and inspect the goods left by Narissa.