Adventurers in Narmaren

[Chris1234]

Wandering around, Ruehar notices a preponderance of offerings of pottery is all shapes, sizes and colours as well as a wide variety of seafood: squid, fish, oysters, dried seaweed, strange things in shells and so forth. The amount of other finished goods is lower than one might expect in a decent sized town (which Narmaren certainly is not) and accordingly attracts significantly higher prices. Of the transient tents (without a rim wall), by far the largest tent, well situated in the shade of a tall, gnarled desert oak and easily visible from both the tavern and the shrine, has a broad variety of bladed weapons set out on sand-coloured rugs. A small sign indicates that the weapons have been "blessed on the battlefield". The elf hears a snatch of conversation about people going missing, but gets a frosty look when he moves closer. Clearly the two men, water merchants by the looks of them, aren't too keen on non-humans. Moving around further, Ruehar picks up that there is an undercurrent of uneasiness and this enhances the wariness towards non-humans. A solitary small hobgolbin, also drifting though the tents, is hit in the back with a piece of thrown refuse. His sudden turn and growl, reaching for a club, is met with blank stares.
Still looking for a vendor of trappery, Ruehar overhears firstly that someone called T'Jenn is searching for a missing woman, secondly (and unrelatedly) that sheep herders moves their flocks around in the sparsely-grassed hills to the west of Narmaren and thirdly that "...those gnomes are still prospecting for gold or silver somwhere out there..."
Finally Ruehar locates a nervous-looking man with a strange body odour that sells traps. These aren't delicate traps though, rather being something to break or crush a small creatures leg.A brief discussion with the man, probably in his late 20s, reveals that he's only been in town for four days and is planning on moving on tomorrow as no one seems too interested in his wears, only the "damned half-hobgoblin." He says he's never heard of Earnie and Ruehar doesn't detect any sign of falsehood. When it's clear that the elf isn't about to buy any traps, the sweaty fellow closes down the conversation with, "Move along, if you please. Paying customers welcome, of course."

What next?

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OOC: I've made some rolls for you on Observation & Glean Information with generous bonuses afforded by the elf's superior Alertness, Observation & Sight.
(You get one 'tick' on Glean Information.)

[TristenC]

What half-hobgoblin would you be referring to? he asks quietly as ge discreetly slips the man a silver.

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Ooc: second Tic mark added, silver subtracted.
Ruehar wants to keep in mind the man who mentioned looking for a missing woman to follow up with after talking with the merchant

[Chris1234]

The trader accepts the coin and tries to make it vanish, but fumbles and it drops down between his feet. He leans forward, giving Ruehar a smile, more of a leer really, revealing some rotting teeth and a hefty dose of halitosis. "That one, the orange-coloured one," he says, pointing. "Only seen the one. But he's disappeared." There is no sign of the creature, but it was in the general vicinity of the one that received some thrown refuse earlier. Mr Halitosis picks up his coin and scuttles back into his tent.
Wandering round a little more, the elf sees the short hobgoblin move into sight and then gone again behind another tent. Stepping carefully between nicely laid out pots and a competing area of seafood and things in shells, Ruehar tails his target back to the large tent by the tall, gnarled desert oak. He appears to be in conversation with its trader.

What next?

[TristenC]

Rurhar goes to peruse the blades, listening subtly to the hobgoblin's conversation as he browses the short swords. If the peddler addresses him, he'll ask what exactly the sign means by "blessed on the battlefield"

[Chris1234]

There's quite a variety of edged blades, all one handed, or so it would appear.
The orange bloke talks with a really thick accent and and, to make it worse, with something of a dialect.

{OOC: Modern Languages-Focuran skill check, please. No modifiers.}

[TristenC]

[Ooc: Focuran lang check, magic number 58% => RK001 Focuran lang check [1d100] = 24: W007!]

[Chris1234]

{OOC: Congrats.}
Despite there being quite a few words that RK (?) has not heard before, he manages to get the gist that the trader is named Delton and, less certainly, the orange fellow is Groont. Groont wants to be given a blessed handaxe without having to pay ??scrimjog?? for it and rudely declines he offer of a (normal) handaxe at special rates. Delton is resistant to parting with a blessed item but is told that it will stop him (Delton) from disappearing during the night like the others. It's unclear to Ruehar as to whether that is an offer to safeguard the trader or if it's a threat that Groont might facilitate any such disappearance.

Delton responds, "Let me think about it", and closes down further dialogue by turning to the elf, "Greeting good sir! I can see you are a fine and distinguished and discerning customer. Only the finest wares are good enough for you. So what item of sparkling blade-craft, guaranteed to lay low almost any foe, may I have the pleasure to provision you with?" Ruehar sees a small sign that proclaims the weapons have been "blessed by the battlefield".

What next?

[TristenC]

Greetings my good man. Fine wares indeed! Tell me, what exactly does "Blessed by the battlefield" entail?

[Chris1234]

"Means that they're blessed by the spirits of the great battlefield. Weapons thrust into the hallowed ground of the great battlefield and left to draw power for a full moon. Guaranteed not to break during normal combat and cuts the essence out of spirits and incorporeals," Delton replies with a very, winning smile. "Tell me, what is your weapon of choice? The best test is how it feels."

[TristenC]

I prefer the short sword for bladed combat. I've something that will do for now, but I may have to pick one up in the near future. He handles the weapon, examining it. [OOC: Is there any way to tell if it is actually 'blessed' as he says?]

[Chris1234]

It seems a decent weapon to Ruehar. Groont has stalked off with a dirty look at the trader.
"It suits you, sir. Fits like a glove if I might say so. And yours for the trifling sum of 350 herons*. If you want to trade in your old sword, then this one's yours for a mere 240 herons. So what do you say?" proffers Delton. The fellow picks up on Ruehar's hesitancy, adding, "Of course, fortune ebbs and flows for esteemed adventurers such as your self and when waiting for the next flight of herons..", he chuckles at his own weak joke, ".. then it's time to see Tren, erstwhile tailor and local lender of liquidity, which is to say, coin."

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To detect magic you need to be able to detect magic.
*'Heron' is a common term for the local gold coin for the obvious reason of having that creature stamped on one face.

[TristenC]

Ruehar examines the blade to see if he can determine its worth, checking for any runes or signs of magic from his training. Once Groont has gone he speaks quietly to the bladesman. Trouble with that last one? Sounded almost like he was threatening you, but my Focuran isn't the best... perhaps I misunderstood...

He watches the trader carefully to see if there are any hidden feelings about the threat or Groont.

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Appraisal on sword value, also using magic knowledge to see if it has any physical markings hinting at actually being magical. Base 40%

observation(19%) or glean info (23%) on merchant about Groont, knowing the current local situation and having witnessed the exchange.

Ruehar appraisal on sword, observation on merchant [1d100] = 82[1d100] = 24

[Chris1234]

"Oh that. He's trying a little bit of extortion. But one you show weakness, you're finished. Thanks, I can manage," replies Delton. "But because you've shown concern, I'll shave my margins for you. I'll knock 3% off. How's that sound?"

The sword seems a decent weapon to Ruehar and has not visible runes or engraving.
Ruehar thinks that Delton knows something related to the interaction with Groont but that has not yet been discussed (between Delton and the elf.)

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OOC: Loans are available from Tren. Very reasonable rates.

[TristenC]

You know... I've been searching for a man who supposedly disappeared from his tent. It sounded like he made some hint at that. He hasn't given you any trouble before has he? Or do you know if he's been involved in any other disappearances?

[Chris1234]

"Him? While I wouldn't describe him as harmless, he doesn't have the brains of a lizard so I doubt he's involved in the disappearances. Now, much as I enjoy your company, I have to ask, do you intent to buy anything? If that premier weapon was too rich for your tastes, I think I can find something a little less effective but significantly more, hmmm.. economical. What say you?" responds Felton.