Rothan

"The fort might well have a water source," said Rothan, "It must have done at some point, and if you say there are plants," he nodded to Rianne, "then I am glad you are with us." He said the last bit as a question though by what she'd said he assumed she intended to join them.

"We can get some stocks here anyway, certainly waterskins, food and the like. As for a weapon and clothes," he nodded to Dralas, "I dare say I could convince them to lend you a bow and I doubt they'd notice if you forgot to return it. For clothes it would probably depend on the clerk. I could definitely get some as a member of the temple but they'd be basic. Think of it as extra payment, if you want anything fancy I dare say Dranas could cut you deal." He smiled.

"Shall we go and see what we can get?"

Rianne

"Good idea, let's go.You coming Dralas? I'd like some warmer clothes, I've been freezing for quite some time now"

Eno Arval

Eno nodded.
"That all sounds fine to me. Let's go now while most people are still at the construction site. That way we won't have to deal with a crowd of hungry and tired people." He said.

Haz

Much to Haz's surprise, he'd been sent to the exact same spot he'd used to infiltrate yesterday. Only this time, they were ordered to dismantle the very same wall they'd built.
"No wonder those freaks keep stealing slaves. If they can't make up their mind on where to build, they'll never get done." He thought as he ripped a plate free from the scaffolding. The glue held up pretty badly which apparantly was also the reason they were tearing this down. One of the advantages of being a slave was that one practically became invisible. Oh sure, if he made a ruckus he would get the whip, but no one bothered to keep their voice down or hide their secrets as long as he acted his role and kept quiet. Not that what the foreman was complaining about was much of a secret. Still, it did give Haz a few ideas of his own.

"I keep telling you, those stupid 'volunteer workers' can't be trusted to keep the bags and pots properly sealed. They're not professional constructors, they're just people who try to get in a favour with the temple. So they open up the pots, scoop up more glue than they need, and then leave it open for the next guy who comes around. Then ash get's in the pots and ruins the glue." The foreman complained to a clerk.
"So just run back and tell him that I can't build anything with faulty materials. I suggest he makes a public announcement or something and rams some proper conduct into everyone's heads."

Rothan

"Good call," said Rothan and started towards the temple suppliers. He could probably have got a better quality of goods had he gone to the main building but he wasn't sure he would be welcome back there so instead made for the shack which distributed inexpensive necessities to the labourers.

The clerk looked up boredly, "Yes?"

"Tomorrow we are going to recover the howling bell in the name of almsivi. We require the goods necessary to do so."

"Go to the main building."

"No, what you have here will suffice. I personally need a light mace or hammer that I can use as a weapon, two waterskins and provisions for two days... oh and some clothes."

The clerk pulled out a sheet of paper, "This would be quicker if you all told me what you need," he muttered.

Dralas

The clerk wanted each of them to tell what they needed. When it was Dralas' turn, he recieved a bow, a waterskin, two tan shirts made of light cotton, and a pair of thick brown pants.

He familiarized himself with his new weapon while he waited for the others. The bow was sturdy enough, though not expertly made. It would do until he had the time to fashion a new one. He packed his new clothes away in his small pack, and slung the waterskin over his shoulder.

It would be time to leave soon, and Dralas wasn't quite sure what to expect.

Rianne

She got herself a warm tunic made of thick brown wool, a robe and two waterskins. Also she asked for some extra arrows, maybe she could prepare a few with her secret poison to make them more effective.

When equipped she went over to Dralas, lit a hackle-lo and waited...

"want some?" she offered him the joint with a faint smile

Dranas Heleran

While the clerk was distracted helping the ashlanders, Dranas helped himself to a few extra throwing stars, figuring that they could hardly be missed among the disorganized supply cache. Briefly it occurred to him that he could well get them for free if he asked--but he put down the thought quickly. By just taking the weapons he was saving the clerk a considerable investment in time and effort, after all.

Eno Arval

Eno calmly waited till it was his turn before stepping up to the counter.
"Ah yes, a waterskin, two candles and a portable lantern to put them in, please." He requested.
"I think I've got everything else I need already. And I doubt someone was polite enough to leave some torches or other lightsources at our destination." He chuckled when the clerk returned with his items.
"Alright, I'm done here. If there's nothing else that needs to be done, I'll excuse myself and make some more preparations for myself. Where will we meet before leaving?"

Dralas

He and Rianne stood outside the shack, smoking their leaf while the others got their supplies. The hunter's eyes were looking up. The skies had been clear all day, and the wind was still. There were no overt signs of that changing, but the ashlands often had a mind of its own. Dralas knew that Rothan wanted to leave by lunchtime. Personally he hoped to leave as early as dawn, before the ashlands decided to kick up dust again.

He heard Eno's voice drifting from inside, wanting to know where to meet.

"You're sure you want to come?" he asked Rianne, passing her the hackle-lo, "I don't mean to always drag you into my troubles."

Rothan

"We might as well meet at the north guard post, as for when... I had said before Lunch but I have nothing to do and would happily make that earlier," said Rothan. Would rather make that earlier, he thought, he didn't think he'd sleep well that night.

"I doubt I'll do anything more today. I'll go and get some of what passes for food here now if anyone fancies joining me. Then an early night I suppose."

Rianne

She took the leaf from Dralas looking him straight into his eyes;

"Please! I'll stand by you all the time, trust me, you hunter of the Erabenimsun, my mission is to aid you all the time! Gah, you're my kin you and me , we are of the same kind, never ever ask me again if I want to follow you or not, you damn well know I'll never leave you..not now!"

She turned away for a second, not wanting to show the tears forming in her eyes.

Then she kissed him...quickly and subtle

Why doesn't he understand? We have to stick together....

Dranas Heleran

"The earlier we leave the better, far as I'm concerned. Weather this fine surely can't last." Dranas chewed on a strip of kwama jerky. "And again, if anyone wants to barter for anything special--or at least better than that Temple junk--best to do it now. I've got plenty of good stuff, but when we hit the trail it stays here in this camp."

Dralas

Dralas hadn't expected such an emotional response, but even in his surprise he didn't pull away from Rianne's kiss. She looked up at him, and he wiped a tear from her cheek.

"No more tears," he said, tugging on a bead in his hair, "It's settled. We'll go together, you and me."

It was an old tradition among ashlander children for a boy to adorn a pretty girl with a piece of jewelry, and it was what Dralas did now. With a sheepish smile he gently took a lock of Rianne's hair and wove the bead into it. Though somewhat juvenile, it was no less heartfelt, and Dralas thought now that he should have done it back in Balmora, when he'd tried to give her a roasted rat instead.

Eno Arval

Eno nodded.
"I think I'm set. Unless...Sir Heleran, you wouldn't happen to have any fine tools would you? I'm talking about small knives, a pincer or two and a delicate scissor. I don't see much purpose for them on our journey tomorrow, but I lost my old set somewhere last night and I'd like some replacements to get me started with my craft again."

Dranas Heleran

Dranas thought for a moment. "Ay, I think I ought to have what you need. In my trade a fellow's always fixing up things and whatnot. I can go back to my camp and fetch the stuff. Probably set you back 8 drakes for a set of four knives--sharper than a clannfear's claws--1 drake for a two pair of pincers, and 3 drakes for a pair of very fine scissors. You bartering or paying gold?"

This post has been edited by canis216: May 19 2010, 11:48 PM

Eno Arval

Eno thought for a few seconds before answering. He didn't need four knives really, though if they were as good as the merchant said they were, having a few spares would be handy.
"I only have nine drakes total at the moment. However, I could make up the debt by providing you with some of my products in due time. I won't promise any masterpieces, not without the references in my journal, but I can create some good quality instruments using whatever I find in the wilderness, if I do dare say so myself. Regardless, I'd like to see the wares first before buying. No offense, but my needs are quite specific."

Rianne

She was all smile, she knew about that tradition as well, alhough she hadn't had so many young boys giving her things at all. Maybe because she normally scared men or boys away, she was not exactly a sweet timid girl, she had an attitude when she was younger and then she joined the guild og Wise Women because of her magical skills.

She didn't speak, just gave Dralas a sign that she acknowledged his gesture...

"Good! let's go and see if that barter-guy has got something useful, the old man is talking to him right over there"

Dranas Heleran

Dranas showed the instrument maker his tools--knives of case-hardened carbon-steel (forged by the finest Orc metal-smith in all the Wrothgarian Mountains , he said), and pincers and scissors of the finest stainless. After a modest bit of haggling (mostly Dranas trying to figure out the precise worth of one of Eno's instruments), an accord was reached.

OOC: This fine by you, Jack? Note the lack of any pesky "quantity" details, so we can ret-con more or less at will.

OOC: sure. Looks good to me

Eno Arval

While Eno doubted that the knives were actually crafted by Orcs, (they seemed too good for that) on the whole he was quite pleased with his purchase.
"Yes, as soon as I find some raw materials to work with, I'll get right down to bussiness and craft some fine instruments."

Rothan

Rothan left the others bartering with Dralas. He thought perhaps he should have picked up a better weapon than the masons' hammer the store had given him but then what was really going to be living in a long abandoned fort? Possibly rats but then his hammer would be sufficient, at worst it might be haunted but he couldn't afford silver weapons and spells would suffice. I bet Rianne knows a thing or two about putting down ghosts too, he thought.

He reached the food-stand but realised he hadn't got his bowl so headed back to where he'd left his pack and decided he might as well sort what he was going to need. He didn't want to travel too heavy so put aside everything but the food, his travelling cloak and a change of clothes. As he put it aside he realised that leaving the dissident pamphlet he had been studying was probably a poor idea so pushed it in along with the stolen ledger. If someone finds this.... It did leave any space for the hammer so he'd just have to wear it.

He took his bowl and made his way to the food-stands hoping to find something somewhat more edible this time.


OOC: is there anymore bartering to be done? If not shall be begin the following day?