As Digorye walked among the booths in search for something interesting, he soon left the Solamnic booth of his "benefactors" behind. And after a while he found a small almost nondescript khaki tent stained by its exposure to the elements near the heart of the bazaar.

Outside the tent Digorye saw a small wizened smiling gnome, though odd looking by most standards. He was completely bald, his skin almost the same color as his tent, and his eyes have visible cataracts that have turned his eyes a strange shade of gray. And though his eyes seem to stare straight through Digorye, he still started talking to him in the typical quick way of gnomes, that is almost impossible to understand, and hawking his wares. Digorye see jewelry next to trinkets that almost surely means that they are fake and less expensive than the real thing.

But suddenly the gnome’s speech slowed down.

“I have been expecting you. You are seeking answers. But the answers you seek will only lead you to more questions. Your path is long before you find the final answer.” The old gnome’s smile widens slightly. “Seek out the elves, they will they will provide the first answer and your next questions.”

And having said this, his voice speeds up and he returns to speaking about his wares as if nothing had happened.

Digorye looks up at the sudden change in voice from the gnome. "Seek the elves? Which elves... are there some in town here, or am I meant to travel to the elven homeland?" Slightly thrown off by the goings-on he shook his head, as if shaking out the remainder of a dream upon waking.

"Whatareyoutalkingabout," Halthorne asked.

Quickly apprising that the situation has changed, Digorye easily goes with the flow. "I was asking about this jewelry, is it elven make? And if it is, which elves made it? I hear that there's a significant difference between items of Qualinesti and Silvanesti design."

Although he's able to use his practiced art to cover up any visible confusion, Digorye has a thousand questions running through his head... who is this gnome, and what did the message mean... where did it come from, for that matter... which elves is he to seek...

“Youmusthavebeenraisedbyhumans,” Halthorne said. “Thatisnotelvenatall.” As if he knew exactly what piece of jewelry Digorye was talking about.

[OOC: Just a reminder, in my current outfit and makeup I look exactly like a pureblood human, except to the most keen observers]

"Hmm... I must've been confused. Alright then, thanks," Digorye said, as he turns and walks away to look at the next booth. The whole time, still pondering over the unusual message.

As Digorye keeps looking, he finds almost everything he might want, depending on how much he is willing to pay for it.

Digorye will approach a jewelry vendor and casts his eyes over his wares. "I'm looking for a circlet, preferrably of elven design. It's for my girlfriend... do you carry anything like that?"

"Are you looking for a bracelet or a tiara?"

"A tiara, to sit atop her head. And preferably, if you have one that comes with a matching clip she can use to hold her hair back off her face, that would be even better.

"If you're certain you want something of elven make, I should tell you that that will be more expensive. I have a selection of various makes and models. How much were you planning on spending on your girlfriend?"

"She really likes Elven jewelry, I would prefer it to be that if possible. Or at least something that appears of elven design, even if it wasn't actually crafted by elves. And ya know... if it looks gold, but isn't made of real gold... she'd never know the difference, if you get my drift..." Digorye winks at the merchant, starting to get more friendly with him in anticipation of the upcoming negotiation.

"I see. Unfortunately you have come to the wrong man for such deception," the merchant said. "But perhaps I'll have something for you anyway. Elven craftsmanship is rare. But I do have a golden circlet of Silvanesti origin, simple in its beauty. And a matching clip for the hair."

The merchant brought fourth a golden circlet of elven design and a matching clip. Both were made of gold without accents that would have made them more expensive.

Drawing on his years of acting skills, Digorye has no problem disguising his awe at the fine elven craftsmanship, so simple but still so elegant. "Not too shabby I guess..." he said, in a gruff and unimpressed voice. "I expected something elven to have more leaves or flowers or something on it, but I guess it'll do. I'll just have to tell her it's elven, since it's not so obvious. What are you asking for it?"

[OOC: Perhaps I should have been clearer in my description of the circlet, but it is obviously of elven design.]

"I want 150 steel," the merchant said.

[OOC: By Digorye's estimate, the set is worth 140 steel. Which means the merchant would have added an additional 10 steel because its elven.]

[OOC: Yeah, I assumed it was of fairly obvious elven design, especially to elven eyes. I was just trying to play down that fact a bit as part of my negotiation for the price. ;-)]

"One fifty?!" Digorye looks completely outraged at that price. "Oh geez, you've got to be kidding me! No way that shiny trinket's worth so much. Maybe I could offer 80 steel for it... but even that would likely be pushing my wallet. I was planning to buy her a nice birthday present, not a betrothal gift!"

[OOC: I'll use my high persuasion skill for all it's worth, here]
This message was last edited by the player at 19:50, Thu 22 Nov 2007.

[OOC: I figured that might be the case, but to be on the safe side I added the comment just in case.]

After some negotiation and back and forth on the price of the golden set, Digorye was able to bring him down to 140 steel, but it's clear that he won't go any further than that. At least not on this piece.

"Unfortunately, it remains out of my price range. I'll have to look around for something a little less fancy I guess. Maybe somebody else has the kind that's not really gold, so I could still convince her it's worth more than I can really afford to spend on it." Digorye lets out a heartfelt sigh, as if imagining the disappointed face of his girlfriend at not getting such a fancy trinket. "Sorry to have wasted your time, sir." And with that, he slowly and sadly walks away from the booth, with his head hanging low.

"I have a similar golden circlet," the merchant hurried to add. "It's not elven in design and there's nothing for the hair. But it'll only cost you 86 steel."

Digorye slows down and turns to see this new offering. "Hmm... as you say, not nearly as nice. And it's only the one piece, she'll still have to tie back her hair with a cord or something. I'll give you 75 steel for it."

Continuing their negotiation, Digorye was able to get the price down to 82 steel.

Reluctantly digging out his change purse, Digorye slowly started to count out the coinage. Continuing his act of being a bit simple, he stumbles over the count a few times, not always being entirely able to determine exactly where he left off, and occasionally 'forgetting' to actually release the coin onto the table while counting it off.

[OOC: I'll give him 76 coins, but quickly count out the remaining 6 with no fuss and many apologies if he recounts them and calls me on it. Not really trying to pull a fast one, just acting a bit stupid to see if I can get away with it. After that, I'm done and ready to fast-forward. I decided it's not a good idea to try to pawn off something as unique as the statues that we found, so close to somewhere that they were potentially bought]

The merchant recounted the steel coins, noted that six were missing, and commented on it.

[Remove 82 steel from Digorye's purse.]