OOC: Vestan, if you want to talk to the traders you can post here....
This message was last edited by the player at 23:32, Fri 09 Feb 2007.

The store looks much the same as before.  As you enter, Gremag smiles broadly and moving forward to great you seems a totally different person.  Fluid movements belie his great mass, it is obvious he is a thief of some distinction.  Rannos watches you enter and begins cleaning his fingernails... with a stilleto.

"Welcome back... Vestan is it? I was hoping you could join us a for a little chat." purrs the trader. "We've been hearing interesting things about you! The zombies, yes? Ha! There are much better ways to get some new clothes, for them that are interested in earning a... little extra. First though before we get down to buisness, I would like you to tell me all about your adventures, they sound so... interesting."

Vestan leans nonchantly on a low shelf stacked with shirts, apparently unconcerned with the dust he leaves on them from his clothes."Well, I'm justinterested in collecting some mementoes of me adventures like, you know how it is. Summat to scare the gran'kids with when I'm old an' grey." Vestan's eyes don't leave the big mans face. As to my adventures, these nowt much of interest to tell. His eyes flick around the store and as he continues to speak, he starts to peruse what's on offer in earnest. "I seem to have fallen in with a bunch of do-gooders and wusses, peaches! I like peaches, these eem slightly bruised though, thankfully the biggest one has now left. Never trust a Knight, me old uncle Bert used to say, they're all tough and macho on the outside side but nowt but boy buggering hipp-o-crypts on the inside. Wow! I like these towels, such vivid colours, bet the dye will run though, The old dwarf is ok, but he's deaf and pretty senile to boot. Likely to croak any minute now, especially as he likes to shout. One of these ear trumpets ought to fix him though, can I take it? I've fought a few beasties, a big snake which I wanna use the skin of to make me boots.Cor, some marbles! I'll take a bag of those, please. Some Zombies who apparently are really dead people come back to life and I'm not allowed to take the skin cos they might complain. Got any skinning knives?"

The trader gently but firmly takes the ear trumpet and marbles out of Vestans hands.  Up close he smells a bit of garlic. "We'll do some trading later, Vestan, first to the reason we wish to talk to you. Unless I'm mistaken, the zombies were in the old ruined moathouse? I am interested in finding out a bit more about you do-gooder pals.  Would you be interested in assisting me in this, the rewards could be considerable."
This message was last edited by the player at 22:12, Wed 21 Sept 2005.

"Well, I've pretty much told you what I know. But maybe I can think of something else - you do do skinning knoves don't you?"

"Oh Yes we've got knifes! But there is more than one way to skin a cat, ehh Rannos! We were wondering what was the discussion at the council this morning. It is rare for them to meet in such a hurry, you know it's usually weeks of planing before they can find a suitable date, let alone agree an agenda!" the trader looks directly into Vestan's eyes and continues, "So Vestan, what did they want to talk to you and the do-gooders about?"

"Ach! THey were pissed off with me for wanting to make some boots out of zombie skin. How was I supposed to know that they were once people, eh? They look like monsters to me! Any how, they soon shut up when I told them I wasn't going to take any of their non sense. Besides they need my help in clearing the rest of the place out. Which is why I need the knives. And possibly some pliers and clippers too."

"Now you see thats the sort of thing that interests us!  They are going back to the moathouse? And you with them, excellent! Vestan, I can see this is going to be a mutualy profitable buisness.  When are they planning to leave? Not today I hope, less chance for you to shop!" said the trader as he started walking along the shelves finding the knives and other items Vestan wants so much.

OOC: I'm wanting to move the other thread along, so I need to know if you are planning on telling the others of this little conversation or are going to keep quiet.  If the latter we can continue it in parallel otherwise we will have to role play your arrival back at the inn....

"Well I hop-e it's sooner rather than later, I've got everything I need, cept skinning knives, clippers and snippers and possibly some scrapers. I don't understand why we even came back, something about walking wounded or sommat."

OOC: If they ask, i'll see what he says. If they don't ask, why would he mention it?

The trader helps Vestan find everything he wants, nothing magical unfortunately.  He refuses any offer of payment saying "No need Vestan, we're partners now, arn't we Rannos! As I said this buisness can be mutually profitable!" The other trader stops cleaning his nails and looks over at you a grim smile on his face, goes to a shelf and removes a bottle of ancient looking liquor of some sort and pours three shorts, giving one to Vestan and one to Gremag. "Yes partners! Here's to buisness!"

OOC:  If you are happy to finish here, I can move you forward to the Inn. If you want to add the items Vestan takes to you character sheet that will be fine.

As Vestan moved through the village to the tanners, he could not help but notice how few people were about. Suddenly from across the village came the distant wailing of the wives and mothers of the dead, as they learned the terrible truth. Passing close to the store he could see Gremag looking out the window, a grim look on his face. Seeing Vestan he signs to him that he would like to talk

He reaches the tanners and starts banging on the door which only resulted in a dog inside the house barking.

OOC: the bark is deep suggesting it is no lap dog.

Hmm! thinks the halfling to himself. "I've no nummies to distract the dog with, at least not unless I'm willing to give up some of my trophies."

For a couple of heartbeats he toys with that idea then gives a shrug and considers the wailing he had heard and what it may have meant. "His widow is bound to be amongst that lot - she'll know about my suit." HE shakes his head "And you would have thought that bunch of do-gooders would have been a little more subtle about telling them their loved ones are dead. Bet old Grampy just went up to them and said are you the Widow Tanner or something!"

He felt no guilt in the background thought that went through his head that that had been his plan as he sets off back through the village towards where the widows were making all the racket.

Vestan leaves the barking dog and heads across the village to where he knows the church is. There are few about as everyone seems to have congregated at the church. The most Vestan sees are a couple of militia men who watch him silently but make no effort to stop him.  Their worried expressions show how deep the fear in the village now is.

As he approaches the church, he sees the villagers being lead into the church by one of the lesser priests. The sound of grief and mourning have if anything grown louder as they enter.  The wagons are drawn up outside and he can see that the corpses of the villagers have been removed likely into the church.  The dead monsters and enemy humans still are piled in their wagon, their blood now dried by the sun looking like ugly brown stains.

Time passes and the villagers remain inside the church.  Vestan is growing tired of waiting when he sees a familiar rotund figure coming towards him. "Ah! Vestan! just the man... er halfling I was looking for. Would you ming joining me in the store for a small libation?"

"How about a drink instead?" deadpans the halfling. "All this waiting has made me thirsty, never was one for sermons and the like - too much religion involved. Say, you wouldn't know if the ex-tanner had finished a snake skinned suit would you?" As he speaks our hero trots off after Gremag towards the store and the promised drink.

"Excellent idea! Unfortuanetly I've no idea if the tanner would have completed you job buit I suspect he was too busy on militia buisness." said the trader leading the way back to the store.

As they pass one of the militia guards, he shouts out "Hey Skinner! Jaroo was looking for you, sounded important."

Vestan continues to follow Gremag, licking his lips in anticipation of a nice cool drink.