Chapter 3: The truth lies in the mountain...

[NJWilliam]

Gustov has his loot with him, which he carries very well due to his exceptional strength.

[Rukellian]

Gustov has his loot with him, which he carries very well due to his exceptional strength.

The merchant, with eyes of avarice flashing and glowing so brightly, smiles and nods his head as he hears Gustov's order. "Why yes of course! I most certainly have the items you seek. Let's see for the throwing daggers, 24 gp. The mining pick has seen some use so I will cut the price down to say, 12 gp." Looking at Gustov with a slightly lowered face, he says in a defensive tone: "I am sure that you can afford these prices, no? As you can imagine, not many stop by to peruse my shop, given that this place seems more like a prison than anything else. I've got a son too. If.... when we find a way out, I want to send him back to the real world, with a full coinpurse if I can help it. The boy does not deserve to live the life that we all do here..."

Upon hearing the request of any exceptional equipment, the merchant pauses in his welcoming attitude and takes on a more serious disposition as he gazes at the sack of coin Gustov has slinged over his shoulder. "Exceptional you say... just how much coin is in there I wonder? I might have something for you, considering your elvish appearance. I.... err 'found' something a many years back, in my days of youth, something that I'm sure might interest you, if the price is right of course."

[NJWilliam]

Gustov

Gustov smiles at the merchant, running one of his gems across his fingers and back again.
"Well, let's see what you have and then we'll see about the price. I'm willing to pay for quality."

[onlyme]

Whitsell would have spread his gold in 200 pieces per pouch when they split it up. When he goes to the shop, he would only show one or two bags... the rest hidden on him.

[Rukellian]

Gustov

Gustov smiles at the merchant, running one of his gems across his fingers and back again.
"Well, let's see what you have and then we'll see about the price. I'm willing to pay for quality."

The merchant nods with a smile and heads into the back of the room. A few minutes later, he returns, producing a wooden box of crude design with a lock and key. "I am no expert on ancient weaponry," he mentions, "nor am I well-versed in the cultures of others, but when I found this, I knew it had to be something special." He opens the lock with the key and raises the lid towards himself. After checking to make sure it was as he left it, he nods and then turns the container around in a grand fashion. This is what lies in inside:

elven dagger.jpg (36.96 KiB) Viewed 480 times

Now let us all just pretend that this is not from a popular movie that I'm sure all of us has watched at one point in time, and that it is part of my campaign world from an era long past.

[Rukellian]

Whitsell would have spread his gold in 200 pieces per pouch when they split it up. When he goes to the shop, he would only show one or two bags... the rest hidden on him.

The man who's face is hidden takes a step back and fans his arms apart, almost as if he were saying 'behold'. Upon closer inspection the display cases show many a different colors of stones and gems, all in different sizes and cuts. Whitsell, not being trained in such fine details of jewels or stonework has a difficult time discerning what is valuable and what is not. The merchant who watches Whitsell also realizes this. "These stones I have collected from many lands, even from the mountain here. They are valuable and worth their weight in gold, I assure you."

[onlyme]

Whitsell realizes he is out of his element, and has to decide if he can trust the merchant.
In these mountains, you say? Maybe I need a pick axe instead. Tell me, kind sir, what types of rocks are these things?

[Rukellian]

Whitsell realizes he is out of his element, and has to decide if he can trust the merchant.
In these mountains, you say? Maybe I need a pick axe instead. Tell me, kind sir, what types of rocks are these things?

gemstone display.jpg (85.7 KiB) Viewed 471 times

This is but only part of the display that stands before Whitsell. The gemstones glisten in the light that manages to shine through into the alleyway, some already cut into different fashions and designs. Though Whitsell does not know much of Jewelery or the craft of cutting said gems, he can tell that they are very pleasing to the eye, and that some of them no doubt may very well fetch high prices.

"Oh brave adventurer, you may indeed grab pick axe and descend into the mountain for treasures of your own, but know that the place is guarded bandits and much worse. Even if you were to reach the mountain safely, the ore deposits there are hard to get at and could take years to get a sizeable amount. THIS... is the culmination of years of labor. Will you pass up the chance of such a fine deal here in exchange for what could be a non-profitable venture?" The man boasts heavily of his own collection and its worth, but says little of how he actually obtained them.

If your character does actually want to purchase some of these gem stones from the shady merchant, I will need to know how much gold you will be using, so as to provide an accurate account of what is available in terms of the simple man's way of describing such items.

[onlyme]

Whitsell shakes his head...
Ah, so you do the mining yourself, do ya? I am looking to go there myself anyway. How much are you willing to pay for these things if I bring some back? Surely we can both make a profit?

[Rukellian]

Whitsell shakes his head...
Ah, so you do the mining yourself, do ya? I am looking to go there myself anyway. How much are you willing to pay for these things if I bring some back? Surely we can both make a profit?

?? I think your words contradict your earlier intentions. You wish to line more coin in your pockets then, not lighten your load with smaller items?

[onlyme]

Whitsell shakes his head...
Ah, so you do the mining yourself, do ya? I am looking to go there myself anyway. How much are you willing to pay for these things if I bring some back? Surely we can both make a profit?

?? I think your words contradict your earlier intentions. You wish to line more coin in your pockets then, not lighten your load with smaller items?

no... just trying to do some backward negotiating. if he says the rocks aren't worth buying, he shouldnt be selling them for too much...

[Rukellian]

The merchant pays only a few seconds to the thought of buying more gemstones from the adventurer. He shakes his head in dissaproval as he gestures his arm to the rest of the town/villiage. "Do you see this settlement as a place of wealth and riches? No, I didn't think so. The people here are poor, and cannot hope to match the value of these stones with coin of their own. If I were to buy more from someone else, where would that leave me? Less coin in my pockets, more stones to sell but no one to sell them to? But you... you and perhaps your friends, yes. You can help solve this problem of mine. Buy a few of these precious stones now and I can retire from this wretched stand and live just a little bit more comfortably." The merchant is steadfast in his position and it will take quite the proposition to make him consider any other alternatives.

Nice try Whitsell. Your logic was sound, but the merchant's reasoning cannot be denied, or can it?

[onlyme]

Whitsell is discouraged that his approach didnt work, and offers a grumpy rebuttal.

Ah, best of luck to you, then. My friends and I brought back some goods to re-line the coffers of the townsfolks. Hopefully some of that will find its way here. I have but 100 gold to spend on these coins, but I dont see the entire lot worth over 50.

[Grognardsw]

Deceidon decides to seek out Capt. Hal to discuss an attack on the bandit camp at the mountain, to once and for all smash their evil-doing. He has ulterior motives to create a distraction for the adventurers to infiltrate the mountain.

[Rukellian]

Whitsell is discouraged that his approach didnt work, and offers a grumpy rebuttal.

Ah, best of luck to you, then. My friends and I brought back some goods to re-line the coffers of the townsfolks. Hopefully some of that will find its way here. I have but 100 gold to spend on these coins, but I dont see the entire lot worth over 50.

"Well, if you only have 100 gold, you best move along then. You have no eye for fine gem work, I can at least see that. And even if you did have a good eye, boy, you still wouldn't have enough coin for the stone that I have in reserve. No, I'm sorry I even brought it up. Don't want to get a poor farm boy's hopes up now do we?" The merchant has taken on a more bitter tone after Whitsell's ending insult and makes it painfully clear that the conversation is over.

[onlyme]

whitsell will next move on toward an armorer... at least he will know the value of those... maybe find one that glows...

[NJWilliam]

The merchant nods with a smile and heads into the back of the room. A few minutes later, he returns, producing a wooden box of crude design with a lock and key. "I am no expert on ancient weaponry," he mentions, "nor am I well-versed in the cultures of others, but when I found this, I knew it had to be something special." He opens the lock with the key and raises the lid towards himself. After checking to make sure it was as he left it, he nods and then turns the container around in a grand fashion. This is what lies in inside:

Gustov lets the gem continue traversing across his fingers.
"Aye, that is certainly not yer run o' the day piece."
He stoops to examine it a bit closer. "What did you have in mind for it?"

[Rukellian]

The merchant nods with a smile and heads into the back of the room. A few minutes later, he returns, producing a wooden box of crude design with a lock and key. "I am no expert on ancient weaponry," he mentions, "nor am I well-versed in the cultures of others, but when I found this, I knew it had to be something special." He opens the lock with the key and raises the lid towards himself. After checking to make sure it was as he left it, he nods and then turns the container around in a grand fashion. This is what lies in inside:

Gustov lets the gem continue traversing across his fingers.
"Aye, that is certainly not yer run o' the day piece."
He stoops to examine it a bit closer. "What did you have in mind for it?"

"Truth be told, I know not how well it cuts or performs in battle for that matter, but when I picked it up, its weight was almost non-existent, as if it were as light as air itself! I've heard of such qualities from elven craftsmenship, but never really believed in it until I came across this. You may pick it up and get a feel for it yourself, but I'd wager that items like this usually go for hundreds of coin. I-I don't want to sound too ill-struck with greed, but I was thinking somewhere around 3-400 gold?"

[Rukellian]

whitsell will next move on toward an armorer... at least he will know the value of those... maybe find one that glows...

As Whitsell enters the main merchants square once more, he can see some of his group members go about in different directions. Gustov inside a weapon shop overlooking something at the counter, Deceidon heading over to the townhall, no doubt to ask about the hiring of men, and Flynn.... accompanied with Amberlyn. He takes an extra moment to see where they are heading off too, alone. Knowing Amberlyn though, Whitsell surmises that its probably just some herb picking, and Flynn her guard, he hopes.

Heading towards the Armorer himself, Whitsell spots another adventurer talking with the smith and happens to overhear their conversation.

"Reynold! Can't you cut me some slack here? Look, I know this armor keeps on falling apart, but that's because I keep on using it in rough combat. You know this, and I'm willing to pay." The smith just looks at the man while shaking his head in dissaproval.

"Aye, you have the coin lad, but not enough I'm afraid. I run an honest business here and I run special concessions to no one. Your an adventurer though, attacking those bandits right? You should have enough coin..."

"But I don't! *sigh* Trust me, if I had enough coin, I would sooner give up the adventuring life and settle down. Just a couple hundred more coin, just a couple hundred more..." Reynold just laughs at the young man, pushing off his silly notion of raising such a large amount of money in such a short period of time.

"Go work at a farm, boy! Like I keep on saying, I thinks it be more suited to your, skillset than adventuring life."

[NJWilliam]

"Truth be told, I know not how well it cuts or performs in battle for that matter, but when I picked it up, its weight was almost non-existent, as if it were as light as air itself! I've heard of such qualities from elven craftsmenship, but never really believed in it until I came across this. You may pick it up and get a feel for it yourself, but I'd wager that items like this usually go for hundreds of coin. I-I don't want to sound too ill-struck with greed, but I was thinking somewhere around 3-400 gold?"

Gustov nods again, and picks up the weapon, feeling both its weight and balance in his practiced hands, and feeling its edge for keenness.

If it feels better to him that the "ordinary" daggers he just bought and those he is used to using. He will say to the shopkeeper, "Well, it does seem to be well crafted, and certainly has a certain look to it. I can pay you 400 gold for it, and if your hear of any other well crafted weapons or armor, I'd appreciate if you keep me in mind and let me know."