It is about noon. The rain continues to fall outside. Refrum makes everyone a bowl of overcooked eggs and grey porridge. 

"I don't know what kind of inventory she has on hand, but I can take you to see Alma if you want knives and blades," replies Refrum. "She's not inexpensive, but she's talented."

Gerrard:

"I have been cooling my heels here all morning.  Let's get moving and see Alma," says Gerrard.  Turning to Kei, he adds, "She might have a use for that special shortsword as well, though we may need to look elsewhere for protections magical and mundane."

"Master Refrum, do you have any contacts who might assist us with improved armor or items that might add protections before we go forth to do battle with the cultists," Gerrard asks on Kei's behalf.

Before they leave, Gerrard relies on Kei to help set up his disguise as well as possible, though he helps where he can (Help action).

Kei 

With the less than ideal garments and dye, Kei attempts to create robes such as might be worn by some road weary acolyte. He uses the blank ink to dye the golden trims and adds some magical flair into the mix to dull the sheen of the material. When satisfied he turns his hand to the actual disguise kits. Some make up and tacky hair cream get applied to Gerrards face to change his appearance. He makes similar applications to himself. "Boko, I gather you can join us as a street rat or some other innocuous animal?" he asks of his druidic friend. 

"One last thing" Kei says as he grabs a random book from Refrum's myriad of manuals. "This shall be our copy of Tharizdun's teachings. Just in case we're meant to have been contacted like Dory was." With a final look over the two disguises,  Kei simply states "Ready as we can be, I guess."

(Each of you: make a Performance or Deception check to see how well you can play the parts. You may have advantage due to the costumes.)

Refrum nods. "Alma's just a few streets away. I expect she'll be in. As to armor, she'll know who to talk to."

Unless you have further business (or costume malfunctions you wish to address), you follow Refrum out into the rain. 

You arrive at her shop within a few short minutes – but long enough to get sopping wet.

Her shop is squashed between two forlorn industrial buildings, up a set of uneven stairs slanted at a very awkward angle, and behind a heavy, weatherbeaten door. Within is a tidy arms shop, clearly specializing in slashing weapons. Alma is a thin, ageless woman with white hair, sitting behind a deep bench. She has a burly, well-armed assistant who glares at you across the room. Alma eyes you suspiciously, but warms at the sight of Refrum. "Master Refrum!" she greets, ignoring the rest of you. "Are you well, I trust? What brings you here?"

Gerrard:

Trusting in the disguise work Kei has done, Gerrard decides not to try and BE anyone in particular.  Just another face in the crowd, huddled against the rain and stepping carefully to avoid soiling his garments with mud or even less desirable effluent.

Performance with advantage:  22

When they enter, he stands quietly, waiting for Master Refrum to speak.

Kei 

Dressed the part and face altered artificially Kei walks silently along with Gerrard. In his mind he runs through the upcoming events. He tries to plan the outcome but is fully aware that his plans usuaend up failing. He too remains silent when they enter the arms shop.

Deception 28

Kei looks and plays the part of the poor, traveling acolyte perfectly. He is completely unrecognizable.
Gerrard is less well-disguised, and his makeup is already running from the rainwater. But he does his best to blend in.
Alma's musclebound assistant studies both of you carefully.

"These two are looking for blades. I'll let them speak as to what they are looking for," explains Refrum to Alma. "You may trust them; they are doing good work," he adds.

She turns and regards you. "Blades? I carry blades. What do you need."

Gerrard:

Pulling back his hood, Gerrard says, "We have a pivotal battle tonight against those who corrupt the city and seek to raise a horror against its citizens."

"I have a lightly-enchanted blade," he adds, showing his moon-touched rapier, "and one of moderate power," he continues, showing his flame tongue dagger. 

"I hope to use a blade tonight of sufficient power to end the whispering aquatic monstrosity we expect to encounter, as well as its minions.  My companions and I could also use upgraded defenses if possible as well," he adds.

Kei 

"Brother Gerald, don't forget this as trade" Kei says as he produces the poison dosing sword. "Perhaps this is of value to the fine lady" he does his best scholarly/priestly impersonation as he hands the sword to Gerrard. Turning to Alma he says "Fine assortment you have. Perhaps this may give you an indication of the quality of that we seek", he plucks a single ruby from his pouch and holds his hand out for Alma to see.

Alma has a full selection of high-quality weapons at PHP prices, including silvered varieties.

She brings out a few special items - a Sickle of Warning and a sturdy battleaxe she refers to as Hew. "300 gold, or that ruby, for either."

"Not good enough?" She fetches a long, velvet-lined box from under the counter. She opens the lid. Within is a Vicious Glaive. "2500 gold."

"Feeling richer? I have more expensive items. What is it you seek? How much do you want to spend? I'm not interested in that sword you have. That'll get you arrested."

Gerrard:

     "My abilities run more towards blades that can be used with finesse instead of brute force," says Gerrard, "and I prefer to fight with two matched ones if I can.  That being said, I would be particularly interested in any matched sets of rapiers you have.  For a truly spectacular set, I would be willing to trade in the flaming dagger so as not to overly deplete our small group's funds...We hope to find protective magics as well before we once again risk our lives for this city."

(As an idea, Gerrard could trade his flaming dagger for a flaming rapier and a +1 rapier, covering the difference with one of the rubies -- 300 gp for the +1 rapier, 200 gp for changing the flaming dagger to a flaming rapier)

Alma has a pair of matching nonmagical silvered rapiers in stock for 250 gold.

Trading in Gerrard's flaming dagger for a flaming rapier would cost 1250 gold, plus 300 more to add a +1 rapier. "But I'd need a week to acquire those," she adds.

"I do have immediate access to a very special longsword," – she goes on to describe a sword of sharpness – "but we couldn't part with it for less than 25,000 gold."

"As to protective magics – do you mean arcane wards or simple armor? I don't carry either, but I can direct you."

Gerrard:

"Ah, those matched silver rapiers are truly works of art," says Gerrard longingly, "but if you have no magic rapiers or light weapons currently, I fear they will not help me this night.  I hope to survive and return to buy them--they appear to be made by a master craftsman.  Thank you for showing me your wares."

Turning away reluctantly, Gerrard says, "We should save our funds for protective items, unless there are weapons that have caught your interest?"

Kei 

"Blades are your interest Brother Gerald. Looking at these prices I fear we may not have enough for magical defences, but we should try" Kei continues his charade. Looking at Alma he says, "We would be most appreciative of your help. I have visited this town many years ago, but I fear it has changed much since then. Where might we find a purveyor of wards?"

Alma shrugs. "Everything changes. As long as we keep our heads above the canal, we shall survive another day."
She turns to the inventor-priest. "Refrum, take them to Yari's - use the inner alley at the bottom of the steps and keep out of the rain."
Refrum nods politely. 

Unless you have further business here, Refrum leads you down the stairs and through a dank, dripping underpass. The smell is potent, and you must keep your head down to keep from scraping your scalp on the low, plaster-and-stucco ceiling. Turning a corner, Refrum leads you down a half-set of stairs into an open shop, partially flooded with rainwater, smelling strongly of cheap incense. Yari's. It's full of inexpensive religious symbols and tacky decorations.

"What? What?" asks a gruff, pot-bellied, middle-aged man with the odor of someone who has not bathed in months. He is sweeping water ineffectively away from a display case. "What you need?"

Gerrard:

”We have been told that this is the place to find items of protection that might allow us to better survive the rigors of combat,” says Gerrard, “Do you have any such items available?”

"Yes yes." Yari proceeds to show you a raft of inexpensive but cheaply-made religious and superstitious charms and gaudy talismans.

It takes a little convincing before he hints at his real stock. Eventually you learn that, among his current offerings, are:

For 300 gold each:
A Cloak of Protection
Pipes of Haunting

For 2500 gold each:
A mantle of Spell Resistance
A Ring of Evasion
A Scroll of Protection (from fiends) 
A Cloak of Displacement

Gerrard:

Speaking to Kei and Boko, Gerrard says, "I say we use 5 of the rubies to get the Cloak of Displacement and see if we can use the last one to get the Cloak of Protection with 200 gp back.  i already have a cloak of protection, so we can all have a cloak for protection." 

Quote from Scott_R_Simmons >>

Gerrard:

Speaking to Kei and Boko, Gerrard says, "I say we use 5 of the rubies to get the Cloak of Displacement and see if we can use the last one to get the Cloak of Protection with 200 gp back.  i already have a cloak of protection, so we can all have a cloak for protection." 

Noticing that Boko already has a magic cape, Gerrard amends, "Master Kei, let's purchase the Cloak of Displacement for you."

Kei 

Whispering to Gerard he says, "The rubies may be worth 500 gold to the right person, but as you saw merchants don't always offer their full worth. I wouldn't bank on the full 3000 the rubies represent. I can try to persuade the man but maybe the more simple cloak is within our budget. The pipes also may have their place in our endeavour, making a large number of people flee may come in handy. I only fear I've lost my touch with musical instruments since my...incident".

((Waiting on a ruling from DM on Kei's proficiency))