Hi-Lo (mercantile)

[Quonundrum]

Andronichishche pauses at the threshold of the door, realizing that he has yet again spoken without a clear understanding of how his words could be interpreted. He slowly turns about with his head hung low in shame and allows the backpack to slide off his shoulder to land on the floor with a dull thud. After a moment he lifts his head and begins to speak, but stops abruptly, obviously to consider his next words very carefully.

A few longer pauses later he quietly responds. "Please forgive my rudeness. It is true that one in my lifestyle can become numb due to the experience. For myself, it's more about keeping an emotional distance so that I can reason clearly and without haste. It would certainly seem cold and aloof, I'm sure."

He folds his hands behind his back and slowly paces the room. "I do this precisely to ensure my emotion doesn't cloud my judgement, of which I am finding difficult as of late. I've become rather fond of this small town ... and our friendship, in particular. I feel inclined to share with you more than I should allow myself, and in truth I haven't shared what concerns me most of that island and why it preoccupies me so."

Andron steps over to a shelf and absently examines a tool. It's clear that he's not interested in the object itself but acting out of nervous energy. "We've discovered a cave system on the island which appears to have been used to guard a great evil. Due to recent events I am deeply concerned this evil may be close to being free. I can not and will not allow it to endanger the lives in this town. As such, any new bit of information I must consider in relation to this greater mystery. I should not have allowed myself to let slip my thoughts, though. You have enough to worry about with tending the store after Mr. Nehru's passing. I am sincerely sorry."

[OGRE MAGE]

Nallissa nearly starts crying again when Andron shares his private feelings.

“I’m sorry too. I didn’t realize that you had so much hanging over your head.”

“You don’t think we are in danger here if you accidentally do something you shouldn’t?”

[Quonundrum]

Andronichishche, seeing Nallissa start to tear up again, involuntarily steps towards her but his reticent nature quickly reasserts itself and he stops to awkwardly to clear his throat before carefully responding. "I will be honest and say that yes, there is that possibility. However, I fear that due to an ... incident ... which occured on the island before my arrival, has forced our hand, as it were."

He walks back over to the door to retrieve the fruit laden backpack, hoisting the heavy but precious package onto his hunched back. Raising his free hand in a placating gesture Andron says, "Rest assured that we are investigating meticulously and carefully", wisely deciding to keep the acid trap event to himself. "I had better get this fruit out to be distributed, but I promise to stop by before we leave again for the island."

As noted before, Andron will donate the rest of his fruit to the fire tenders and thereafter return to his hut to crash in his hammock for some much needed rest.

[OGRE MAGE]

”Please do!” Nallissa shouts at Andron’s back as he exits.

[Darklin2]

After retrieving the last two barrels from Marge. I make my way back to my tent. Drop off the barrels and head to the Hi-lo. Entering.

Nall, how are you today? Could i ask you a favor, Neighbor? Could you refer any wizard you meet to contact me at my tent. I want to start a Wizards Guild. They can meet me there or leave a message here for me where they can be found. If that is ok. Oh and by the way. Do you have any broken items you need repaired? I can fix most anything. It would increase you inventory and maybe start me a credit line.


While i am here. Do you have any hammocks? And how much are they? Could you also refer anyone with broken equipment or gear to me for repairs? I dont want to undercut your business but maybe if you took a trade of broken equipment for something i can fix, it would increase your sales and boost inventory. Say i need a new set of armor, give me a couple gold on that armor for my old stuff you them sell me a new set at your price and bring my old stuff to me ans for a small credit i will fix the old suit and give it back to you to resell at full price. Win, win.

[OGRE MAGE]

Nallissa tries to take in everything her new neighbor is telling her.

”I am fine, thanks. I trust that your spell stuff went well? I have heard tell of a few other wizards who were interested in starting up a guild here. Have you sought anyone else out about this endeavor yet? Strength in numbers and all that.”

“I do have a few items in need of repair. And I do have a good selection of hammocks here.” She moves into the back room and retrieves a busted metal lock that appears to have been broken open at one point.

“Think you could start by fixing this?”

[Darklin2]

I have contacted Arondon but he is the only one so far. Marge told me about Harold, an older gentlemen that disappeared but she said he has been here a long time but has disappeared. I was hopeing you could spread the word.

I will give that lock a try. I have some black smithing skills and when that falls short a little magic doesn't hurt. Thanks Neighbor.
Ill get it back to you as soon as i get it fixed. It all depends on the pirate mission and how detailed the lock is.

How much you get for a hammock?

[OGRE MAGE]

Nallissa

“Harold was such a sweet old man. I was so sorry to hear that he went missing.”

“If you can get that lock fixed up for me, I will give you one of the small hammocks. Sound good?”

[Quonundrum]

Andronichishche enters the door to the Hi-Lo in the early morning, obviously prepared to return to the island as he awkwardly maneuvers the ten foot bamboo pole he's carrying through the doorway. He nods and smiles to Nallissa, "Good morning, lady Nallissa. I hope I'm not here too early in the morning, but we're heading back to the small island today. If you'd like, I can take a couple small sacks from you for more fruit?" He stops, apparently unsure how to continue, then hesitantly asks, "I may need of your mirror again ... if you don't mind, that is." Andron blushes slightly and adds, "Sorry, I'm not accustomed nor do I find it proper to ask a lady for her personal effects."

[Darklin2]

Nallissa

“Harold was such a sweet old man. I was so sorry to hear that he went missing.”

“If you can get that lock fixed up for me, I will give you one of the small hammocks. Sound good?”

I wish I could have known him. He seems to be a good man from all the information I have been told. Sounds good to me. I need to get up off the ground. These sand fleas are eating me up. I will get on it right away. See you soon.


Heads out and back to his tent. Seeing Cealwyn heading towards his tent.

[OGRE MAGE]

Andronichishche enters the door to the Hi-Lo in the early morning, obviously prepared to return to the island as he awkwardly maneuvers the ten foot bamboo pole he's carrying through the doorway. He nods and smiles to Nallissa, "Good morning, lady Nallissa. I hope I'm not here too early in the morning, but we're heading back to the small island today. If you'd like, I can take a couple small sacks from you for more fruit?" He stops, apparently unsure how to continue, then hesitantly asks, "I may need of your mirror again ... if you don't mind, that is." Andron blushes slightly and adds, "Sorry, I'm not accustomed nor do I find it proper to ask a lady for her personal effects."

Nallissa just stares back at the half-elf and his long bamboo pole, not sure how to respond. She cringes as he enters, hoping he doesn’t break anything expensive with it.

“You really must eventually learn that we all need to help each other out if we are to survive. You can use anything I own, at anytime, friend. Here is a sack you can use for my share of the fruit, and here is my mirror back. Don’t forget to bring it back to me again. That means, I really want to see you come back here again.”

[Quonundrum]

Andronichishche appeared ready to request two minutes for rebuttal but then sighs with a shrug, the pole he carries bumping the ceiling and floor of the small shop, in that order. "You are right ... as usual. Please excuse an urban priest his old habits and formalities as I adjust to life on the frontier. However ...", he leans forward for emphasis, "I will continue to refer to you as lady. Your kindness, compassion, and humility demands no less." He turns to exit the store but pauses in the threshold. "And I will accept no argument", he adds with an impish smile before stepping outside, closing the door behind him.

[OGRE MAGE]

Nallissa just smiles and nods as Andron leaves, unwilling to argue over the truth.

[OGRE MAGE]

I wish I could have known him. He seems to be a good man from all the information I have been told. Sounds good to me. I need to get up off the ground. These sand fleas are eating me up. I will get on it right away. See you soon.


Heads out and back to his tent. Seeing Cealwyn heading towards his tent.

“Oh, you don’t need to tell me about those damn sand fleas. I think they might be bad enough to lift a person off the ground and carry them away around here.”

“Good luck with the lock!”

[Bluehorse]

Keg

Once the man was able to get some food on his stomach and a bit more water, he filled his waterskins at the public barrel and headed to the Hi-Lo to see about shelter.  He walked in and took a moment for his eyes to adjust before stepping up to the counter.   I was told I could ask about shelter here, Ma'am.  I don't need anything fancy.  I'm likely to sleep too much to pay mind to the accommodations themself.  My name is Keg.  Drifted in this morning.

[OGRE MAGE]

Nallissa just stares back dumbly at the badly burned and man with the shriveled skin.

"Your face. It's........its.......peeling off. Are you in much pain? Because it looks completely awful."

"Oh I am sorry Mr. Keg, was it? Yes, of course we have a place for you to rest. You sure look like you need it."

"There are private shacks for rent. 5 gold coins a week. If you need cheaper accommodations, a bed in the common house is only 1 gold a week."

[Bluehorse]

Keg


He reaches into a waterlogged pouch and a gold coin stamped by one of the more Northerly Kingdoms clinks onto the counter.  I'll heal.  So do you get much news from the mainland here?

[OGRE MAGE]

Nallissa takes the coin, looking at it carefully before responding.

“No, not really. Captain Quark brings word and letters back and forth to a town called Saltmarsh, a small seaside town on the eastern shores of the Azure, where he ports his ship. But he only comes and goes about once a week now, if that. It seems the interest in coming to an unexplored island to start a new life is beginning to wane.”

“Do you need help finding your way? You really do look a freight of health.”

[Bluehorse]

Keg looks... relieved. He just shakes his head and cracks a surprisingly happy grin. No. I'll be fine, thank you. Which way to the common room? I'm going to catch up on sleep and enjoy some shade.

[OGRE MAGE]

The portly shopkeeper points the grizzled human towards the common houses on the other side of town, just past the loggers trail.

There he finds an empty cot and sleeps for as long as he possibly can, dreaming about ripples in the surface of the water and being covered in slimy tentacles.