Erika nods. "Of course. As I said, only to see if they have something to buy."

She tosses her pack on her allotted horse. She's wearing a thick fur cloak over her leather and scalemail, made of what appears to be wolf pelts, and has a leather-and-steel headpiece on that provides some face protection while leaving her hair in its braids behind. She looks to Zira. "I promise we'll be there and back as soon as we can. No other diversions or trips to strange taverns today."

"Lead the way, Areon."

"I'll go with you!" The voice belonged to Trixi, but the face (dress, weapon and so on) - to Molle. Molle-Trixi laughed "How do I look?" She turned around to demonstrate her first ever use of the spell she was so impressed with yesterday. "Thanks for tips, Erika - not that wereboars  would care but it was too awesome not to learn!"

She ate her porridge with the speed of someone raised in a big family and was ready to go. Even if she did not need a silvered weapon, she was eager to see one.

Quote from Viper15E >>

Erika fingers the tip of her blade. "My shield is strong... But if the old stories of weres are correct I won't be able to do much beyond taunting them from afar. Any silver blade for myself and Ted would be better than none. If we are to potentially face these foes, we should not make the mistake of starting out helpless."

"Gen-ga, before we leave in the morning, we should check with Areon's smithy. We might not have time, but the coin would be well worth it to this expedition if they have anything in stock."

She feels her own purse "Though I might need to borrow some coin should they have a blade or two."

Persuasion (Adv: Enhance Ability) 10 19 

 

OOC: For whatever reason I biffed this request. Sorry. So retro-post.

Last night.....

"I don't control the expeditions purse strings but I'll relay your request to one who does," Gen-ga replies with a curt nod.

This morning....

"I can see to extending a couple of hundred gold pieces to ease your concerns but this is already an extremely costly endeavor and we only have so much coin allowed for unplanned expenses," Zira replies nodding leaving the table and returning to where the party has gathered outside with the horses giving Erika a pouch with 50 platinum. "Spend wisely and be quick," she adds next with a nod moving to her black and white horse checking it's tack as she then moves mule to mule checking them too.

The mercenaries look on already mounted murmuring to one another looking at Zira and the party.

OOC: Reminder PHB 148 on silvered weapons: You can silver a single weapon or ten pieces of ammunition for 100gp. This cost represents not only the price of the silver, but the time and expertise needed to add silver to the weapon without making it less effective. But you're in a frontier town not a city. Availability is going to be a problem.

While Ragnar makes peace with the horse he's been allotted, and gets ready to follow the others to the weapon smith, he watches the mercenaries. 

I'm sure Zira know's who she's hiring, he thinks to himself. But not all mercenaries are averse to changing sides for more money. He's not sure what he's looking for, but some men hold themselves in a different way when they're anxious, or stressed or have already planned to kill someone. He tries figuring out if there's anything off about their intentions.

While he does, he quietly says "Vägledning."

Cast Guidance then Insight: 14 plus Guidance Roll: 3   = 14

Ragnar whispers

 Zira continues it move from pack to pack speaking to a young half-elven teen talking about the pack saddles. The two male mercenaries lose interest in her work but the dark elven woman continues to stare at Zira. Then suddenly she notices Ragnar watching her. So, she tugs up her hood and adjusts her position atop her horse so that she's turned away.

Erika smiles at Trixi, and gives a clap. "It is a handy talent to have! Very good. You look just like her! Just think of who you can become when you need to, or if you do not want to stand out in a place. Such as if you were tall and crimson of hair or have blue skin..."

"Got that covered!" Laughed again Trixi. "I'll remember, thanks. So, shall we get you a weapon? We will be quick," assured she Zira and, still in Molle's disguise, followed Erika and Areon.

Hopping out of his seat and jogging alongside the group, Ted chuckles, “Hey, don’t leave without me! I wanted to pop into that magical mending shop too and grab a few components for our studies. I want to see the look on Gen-Ga’s face when they see me cast a real life spell!”

Ragnar jogs to catch up with the others, looking once more back at the dark elven woman.

"It may be nothing," he says when he joins the others. "But something seems off with one of the mercenaries. The elf is overly interested in Zira's movements. Did anyone else notice anything?"

He shrugs and laughs to himself.

"Maybe I'm seeing shadows where there is only bright light. But I think I will stay close by her when we leave town."

Erika replies in common as Ragnar catches up, following Areon. "You mean Vanya? She... does not like Zira. I spent some time two nights past talking to her during watch. There is some bad blood between the two. She blames Zira for the death of a friend."

She pauses a moment, reflecting on their conversation. "Vanya seems to care about the other members of the expedition, though. She spoke highly of Gen-ga."

"Hmm," Ragnar mulls that for a moment. "Perhaps that was all it was. Do you think it beyond her though to still mean Zira harm while protecting the others?"

While they walk, Ragnar takes in the sites and sounds of the street, but paying more attention to the people they pass on the way to the smith. If this is really a hot bed for the Omnipotent and slavers, it would pay to keep their guard up.

(Perception: 26  )

Erika will also keep a sharp eye as they walk, making sure no ambushers lurk in alleyways and that she does not see anyone from Duncan's she recognizes. 

From its ready position on her back, the painted wolf eye on her shield has the faintest glow visible when they walk through the shadows of the buildings.

Perception (adv): 11  17 

Ragnar doesn't notice anything in particular.

Erika notices people moving about early morning business and doesn't notices no ambushes awaiting them in the shadows.

The party travels to Harker's Helm the smithy that Areon visited the night before. The shop is open on this dreary morning with stoked fires in the forge as multiple smiths now work at three different stations within. A passive glance around shows the staff to be predominately human, elven, or half-even. A strikingly beautiful elven woman with dark hair wearing fine lavender robes is helping a pair of dark elves in brilliant red leathers looking at elvish low bows and owlbear feather-fletched arrows! They are speaking in a language foreign to you all if you don't speak undercommon. A human woman, tall and dark-skinned with braided hair pulled back from her face, is drinking out of a tankard looking over the forge and wears a leather apron smudged in ash. She's already got hours of work done from the sweat and soot on her beautiful middle-aged face. She seems to perk up at the sight of Areon entering the forge. Smiling she gives him a nod as he enters with the party behind him.

"Morning," Astrid Harker calls out to Areon. "Clarrisa he's back and brought friends with him," she adds jovially as Clarissa, the elven woman, looks up spotting Areon gives him a smile as well as a nod but continues her business with the dark elves leaving Astrid to manage. "Is there a problem or did you find a little more coin to spend," she asks grinning as she nods to everyone who entered the forge taking another drink from her tankard before returning her gaze to the party.

Ragnar quickly scans the smithy, appreciating the high quality of work evident, but the forge makes the room hotter than he finds comfortable and he waits at the door.

"Aeron, If they have silver tipped arrows, I would take some, but if they only have a few I can live without them." Ragnar says and pats his battle axe with one hand.

He then moves back outside, leans against one side of the door frame, keeping the doorway clear, and then watches the people pass by on the street.

"Ah," Astrid begins with a curt nod. "We have very few weapons and less than say fifty arrows and no bolts. It's an expensive metal that tends to attract the wrong sort to the forge if you know what I mean," she adds. She then looks over at Ragnar curiously who's not with the group but looking out over the street before returning her gaze to Areon. "I think...," she looks to Clarrisa who's wrapping up her sales, "well let's see," she begins again going to a secured area of the forge as two of her smiths look up from their work as Astrid fumbles with keys and unlocks a grate over a stash of weapons that looks like they are held in a ground vault. Astrid then disappears below. "Yes," her voice comes echoing from within. "Not much left I'm afraid," she says frowning. "These are from my grandmother's time here at the forge. Early days of Timbergrove settlement before the culling of beasts changed by Ellyria's impact. It tore a hole in the Spell Weave when it fell but Clarrisa and her house as well as the old houses of Embera helped to seal it," she says smiling. "I...that's how we met," she explains cheerfully as she holds up 4 silvered daggers and two quivers with roughly 17 silvered arrows fletched with owl bear feathers. "We just don't get much call for them anymore. Fine steel or strong leathers sure," she adds coming out of the vault offering them up. "I'd say it's a Queen's ransom but each dagger is worth the cost of the weapon itself and it's silver...," she pauses looking to Clarrisa who now approaches the party.

"A call for such weapons? Please tell me why," Clarrisa asks Areon who can easily read the distress on her face. 

The silvered daggers looked even prettier than Trixi imagined! "Can I have one? If one's left, of course." Molle-Trixi had enough restrain not grab one of the blade immediately but admired the weapon openly. "Word is, there are beasts in the mountains that can be killed only by silver. We decided to get ready." She looked at Areon "Have some gold on me, if we need more for the arrows."

Erika examines the weapons with Areon. "These are fine blades. Areon was right to bring us to you, you and your ancestors show great craftsmanship."

"We are with the Holbright Institute. Some of our friends were harmed by creatures most foul in the mountains to the north... and we believe only silver can harm these creatures, not steel."

"If we make a few purchases, perhaps you could reduce the price? I will spread the word of the value of your wares to the rest of the institute, so anyone of ours who travels through Timbergrove know that the best smithy is here and here alone..."

Persuasion 25 (would appreciate the help from other party members to make the case!)

Erika intends to purchase a dagger for herself, using the loaned money from Zira, and is expecting to pay that back at some point.