:) I know. We've still got 40 more post before I close the thread; don't worry about it, I'm keeping an eye on it.

"That would make me a sort of predator then, wouldn't it?"

Rasha chuckled to herself, then she added, her tone more somber:

"I understand your point, and really, I mostly agree with it. I was just curious to know how you came to those conclusions, that's all."

She paused, then added, in a conspiratory tone:

"Tell you what, if you explain me that, I'll tell you how I came up with my own opinion. Deal?"

Ferret had glanced up with a slight, surprised frown at Rasha's mention of the incident with the wolves, but had remained silent as they moved through the streets. Having spotted a couple of supply shops, however, he bluntly interrupted the two women. "Dusk Rat, do you and the others carry any particular equipment for staying out in the forest for a few days? Tents or bedrolls or anything like that?"

"I've been..." begins Dusk Rat, then frowns as she is interrupted by Frost Ferret.

"I've a small amount of food, a blanket, and the means to set up a fire." she replies, a little irritated by the abrupt interruption. "I've little space for anything else. You'd need to ask the others what they carry, since I can't see into their packs from here."

This said, she turns back to Rasha.

I can't remember OOC what anyone else had (I recall the group had two tents between them, but not whom those tents belonged to - might have been those in the other group), and IC I don't think Dusk Rat would have paid much attention to that kind of thing anyway ;).

The bounty huntress shook her head and said to Feeret, in a pretty bored tone:

"I don't carry anything - I prefer to travel light. You should have known that already, Ferret."

Then, with a shrug, she turned back to Dusk Rat.

"So, you were saying?"

Dusk Rat blinks, trying to remember what she was saying.

"I know these things about other species because I've seen them." she says. "I've not spent my whole life inside that monastery, you know. I've had time enough to live among creatures who were of species other than human. Life like that is much more simple, with none of these...politics."

She says the last word with some distaste.

That seemed to pique the bounty huntress interest.

"Oh? A place without people? That's unusual, and... fascinating."

She didn't made a straight ouyt request, but for a Kai Lady with Dusk Rat's level of perceptivity, the woman's curiosity was as easy to notice as her missing fingers or scarred face.

Frost Ferret looked momentarily mystified at the tone of the responses he had procured from the two women, but quickly turned about and headed for the shop called Traveller's Friend.

:) Not very friendly you lady companions, are they? Nevertheless, they're following you inside the shop all the same.

Once inside the shop, Frost Ferret found that the shelves, as well as the good on sale over them, had been organized with great efficiency, with every possible kind of supplies spread over its entirety, yet all arranged by type as well as price.

There were three or four people browsing the area, including a rich couple, if their dress were anything to go by, as well as two armed man, one of whom was checking climbing equipment whereas the other one was discussing over the prices of a set of fur coats and blankets with a clerk.

However, the most noticeable figure was a richly dressed, portly man with a rich blond beard, that looked at the three newcomers as soon as they entered with an interested expression, before moving toward them surprisingly swiftly, a wide smile on his face.

"Ah, new customers! It's my pleasure to welcome you to my establishment, the greatest shop for travelers in all of Toran! I can see that you, my honourable sers and noble ladies, are experienced travelers from your attire; fear not, for there's no request that we can't satisfy, for here, we're every traveller's friends! Do tell me, my honourable guests, how can I be of help?"

If there's anything you're looking for, Frost Ferret, ask for it - you could browse through the shelves if you wanted, but to come up with an appropriate inventory of every possible thing you could find here would not be easy!

Beside, who knows... perhaps you can get something special if you handle this guy just right? ;)

This message was last edited by the GM at 00:11, Wed 11 July 2012.

"Certainly more...interesting, in some ways, than many of my experiences with my own species." says Dusk Rat with a shrug as they enter the shop. At this point she looks around at each of the people present within the establishment, though she says nothigng further for the time being.

Rasha looked with curiosity at Dusk Rat, but she didn't inquired further once they were inside the shop - clearly not wanting to make the young Kai Lady uncomfortable by asking about her past in a place where they could be more easily overheard.

When they entered the market place, Shark slipped off to a side alley, "Just goin'ta ask some questions," she murmured as she disappeared.

She'd spotted some beggars off the main path, none that she'd recognized but they had an all too familiar look about them; the way they watched their feet with hoods drawn tight, Shark suspected they were paying far more attention to the crowds than the crowds were paying to them.

"Any luck, there lass?" the kai woman said tossed an old haggard woman a coin, "I bet ye see all sorts of things sitin'ere , even if'em things dun't see you." Shark had chanced a look into the woman's cup, aside from the coin Shark had tossed it was empty. Then again, the woman may be emptying it herself, "see anything out of the ordinary these past few days?"

"I'm looking for a piece of canvass for a shelter," said Frost Ferret, his fidgeting glances between the shopkeeper and the rows of shelves likely demonstrating that he'd rather have been left to look for things himself. "Or possibly a tent. And a hard-wearing blanket." He glanced at Rasha, for some reason momentarily thinking that she might tell him if he'd forgotten anything, but he quickly looked away again and waited for the man to show him some items.

The old woman looked up at Shark with an interested glance, as she answered:

"Luck is a fleeting thing, dear kid - none can really say to have her, it is she to glance upon us when she feels like it. As for interesting things... I see many, everytime and everyday. Why, some would think that a bautiful girl like you, tall and dark and carrying weapons made of gold, and perhaps blood from faraway places, would be an interesting sight."

She lowered her eyes on her cup, as if to act demurely, and then continued, her tone still carrying no emotion:

"We're among merchant here... is there something you want to buy?"
***

Meanwhile, in the shop, the portly man seemed happy at Frost Ferret request.

"Ser, you're in the right place! Here, we have small tents for two people, or normal ones for four, and even big one that can host up to six! And we have tents made in all form of materials; you can see that this one is made of fur, in the manner of the men of Kalte, to withstand the cold, whereas this bears a spotted pattern that allow for better hiding among the woods - the Smmerlund Army Ranger Corps are among ourt best customer for these. And these one, made of a layered cloth, are built to withstand the sandstorms of Vassagonia! There's ample choice, as you can see... just state your preference, and you'll see that we, the Traveller's Friends, can easily satisfy them!"

:) List:

Blanket (1 person, 2 backpack spaces): 2 GC
Small Tent (2 people, 1 Backpack space): 6 GC
Normal Tent (4 people, 2 Backpack spaces): 8 GC
Big Tent (6 people, 3 Backpack spaces): 10 GC

Special materials:

Layered: +2 GC [reduce atmosferic damage]
Fur: +3 GC [reduce temperature damage]
Spotted pattern: +5 GC (tent only) (can be combined with fur or layered) [increase camouflage effectivity]

"Do you sell sheets of canvass that one can use to make a shelter?" asked Ferret, the price of blankets making his Kai cloak seem suddenly more appealing as something to wrap himself in to sleep.

The man looked funny at Frost Ferret when he made his request, and patted the closest tent, saying:

"These are made of canvas, ser... you meant that you were looking for a piece of cloth not yet shaped into a tent?"

With a shrug, the man moved to another portion of the shop, and showed up several piece of that same cloth with different lenghts as he sadi, pointing:

"As you can see, we have these sails - we don't usually sell them to privates, only ships need them, but I suppose they could serve your purpose?"

Various sails: 1 GC for every 4 m² piece of canvas - that's a 2x2 m piece.

Each 2x2 Sail would occupy 1 backpack space and can be used as a tent, but it requires the user to set it up correctly - which is a DC 2 Hunting check - and you can only try once, since you won't know if the setup was good enough until after you've slept under it.

This message was last edited by the GM at 15:29, Mon 16 July 2012.

"Information," shark replied, holding up a golden crown, "'m sure ye see yer fair share of forginers'ere ina market. I'm lookin fer a man, a Vakaroes. Ye seen any'ov at sort?"

The woman seemed surprised by the question, and seemed to think for a moment, before answering:

"There's not many men of Dessi in Toran, it's not a country that interested in merchants. The last man from there was a potion merchant that walked in yesterday - looking for his son, he said to one of his client, a young Kai who acted as his friend. That man, the Dessi merchant, I think is still in the plaza."

She paused, looking at the cups in her hands again.

Shark sighed, she hated it when they got like this. "The second one be the man I am interested in, yes," Shark replied. "As an explorer I dun't'ave much ta offer 'cept at I may put in a good word fer your cooperation, aye?" She asked, giving the woman a serious look. Perhaps if she realized they shared a similar association, she'd be more willing to talk.

"At man's stirred up some trouble where he ain't welcome ta, an me an me associates is hopin ta put an end to it, see?" Shark left some ambiguity over who here associates might be, perhaps the woman would assume it was more of the 'explorers'. "Anythin ye'ave ta offer would be much appreciated."

The woman's eyes widened very, very slight, and then she nodded.

"I see. You should have said so earlier."

There was a pause, and then the woman spoke quicker and with much more decision, as if she was giving a report, although the words were almost inhaudible.
"I hope you're know what you're doing, kid; that man has powerful backings, and if you're lying on being who you say to be, the right people will make you regret using their name like this. Those who claim to be part of the family when it's not true always thinks themselves clever, but the Guildmaster is always cleverest than them all."

And with that, without taking the coin that was still in Laughing Shark hand, the woman quickly scuttered away, although she added one last sentence:

"The merchant is that man's father by all accounts, but the son does not seem to want to meet him."

And with that, the woman had disappeared amng the crowd... and that was when Shark noticed that the gold crown she'd earlier put in her cup was now laying on the ground, as if the woman had specifically wanted to hand her that one back, too.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:22, Fri 13 July 2012.

"Yes, I will take one piece of canvass," said Ferret after eyeing the material for a moment.

OOC: Did anyone have a flint and steel? How did we get a light down in the sewer?

The man nodded, and with a quick move, he picked one, folded it on itself, and offered it to Frost Ferret with a smile, asking:

"Do you need anything else, ser?"

Dusk Rat stated earlier that she has the means to light a fire. As for light, in the tunnel you didn't used any - Swift Fox was leading ans she can see in the dark, and Dusk Rat was able to lead you around and had her rats to lead her, so you didn't used any light at all.

Sighing, Shark bent down and picked up the last coin. Well, they had a lead now, at least. Pocking the coin, Shark headed back into the market, looking for the group she'd left.

Do I need to roll anything to find the others?

This message was last edited by the GM at 18:44, Tue 17 July 2012.

There's no need to roll anything, Laughing Shark; once Frost Ferret is done with his shopping, I'll make a post where the group reunites and you can decide on where to go next.

"No, thank you," said Ferret, handing over a gold crown, taking the sheet of canvass, folding it under his arm and then moving to leave the shop with little more than a brief glance around at the other wares on offer.

OOC: I would consider buying some long-life meals, but with the state of his backpack, FF would have to balance them on his head. :)

Alright then!

Dusk Rat, if you want to pick any meals, the shop is selling "packed rations" - each one cost 1 GC and count as two meals while taking only 1 backpack space. Let me know if you need any.

And with this, the thread is closed! I'll be opening the new one shortly; hopefully, much like the other team, leaving the "Toran" thread will mean you too can start to get into a more fast-paced section of the game! ^_^