"They call me Pat," said the old man to Panatix.  "I could really use an ale right now.  Would you be a good lad and get one for me?"  A closer look at the old man's eyes showed that there were definite signs of cataracts, and it was highly likely that he couldn't see much more than the general size and shape of the gnome.

Circulating amongst the vendors, sights, and stalls, she once again spotted the dark haired girl.   Who seemed to be giving charity to a poverty stricken man.

It was a kindly thing to do, for one whom most were plainly trying to ignore.   This girl and her friends seemed to be the goodhearted sort, from what she'd so far learned of them.    Adventurers or the like, were they?

Panatix smiled at the man's request and looked around in a quick circle before seeing a nearby vendor drawing pints from a keg. Stepping over to the make-shift bar, Panatix asked for two but requested one to be about half size for himself.

Handing the full pint over to Pat, "Here you go, good sir. Now, about my question. As I said, I'm looking for some good quality trade goods but I want to get them from someone who will deal fairly with me."

The gnome took up his smaller ale and tasted it. "Not bad. Not bad at all." Turning back to Pat, "Once I strike a deal, we can go have a good meal at the inn. Do you have any good suggestions for who to bargain with?"

Telemachus had been walking with Panatix up till the point he approached the old man.  While he didn't leave their presence completely he did move to a few of the stalls nearby and began talking to the merchants.  Thankfully by now he'd exchanged the old blue-grey and russet clothing for a more modern set while getting rid of the orc cloak and boots for a far more comfortable set of human sized ones.  He also had the luck that the leatherworker in town had some light armour available so he was accented in a slightly less protective but fitted suit of leather armour that didn't have the stink of Matuk on it.  The bald headed man almost had the look of a proper ship Captain.

Having just negotiated a decent price on a scimitar and its baldric he finished putting it on while slipping it behind the cover of the cloak he wore.  He looked at Panatix, "So what does the good man Pat have to say about the merchants here?"

Pat drank his ale and gave a satisfied belch.  "Now that is right kind o' you.  Not like the rest of these 'un folks.  Special like goods, well, then there's the madder dye.  Gives you a bright red for your cloth.  Bright red, can see for miles."

"You wouldn't be able to get another ale, now, would you?" asked Pat.  "Thirsty business this."

"I'm well stocked," Westin says. "I hiked in from another town and always carry extra supplies. Are you are staying at the Cat and Custard Pot Inn? That's where we are staying."

As Odelia was about to buy the item for the man, she saw Panatix and Telemachus approach and start engaging him in conversation. Seeing as they seemed to be caring for him already, she found redundant to offer her aid, and so kept wandering the streets away from the trio and the fair itself. It occurred to her that the town would be quiet and peaceful outside of the noisy environment of the festival, and she decided it was a great opportunity to explore it to her heart's contempt.

Panatix almost laughed as the pint disappeared in almost one quaff and waved the bartender over to order Pat another pint. "So tell me, Pat. Who would I talk to about getting some cloth with this particular dye?"

Panatix glanced up at Telemachus as he walked back up, "Pat, here, says that cloth treated with madder dye gives it a bright red hue. It's a dye that's unique to Monteci."

OOC: How much is a pint of the ale Panatix is buying?

In reply to Westin na'Belva (msg # 255):

"Cool! Let's get going. We can explore the fair and then return to the inn. We may meet a friend or two along the way," Storm says.

Having come from a farming community, Storm is impressed by the sights and sounds of the fair. He is thankful though that he has a ton of asils.

Wick went about to collect other things before the fair comes to town.  The blanket, rope and pouch went quick, but he hadn't grabbed enough of his share of the loot to cover the hook or tools, so he makes a run back to the boat for more asils.

All told, with clothes and meal and equipment, he was down 252 asil, and he hadn't even looked at weapons as yet.

Telemachus tilted his head as he thought about the potential uses of the dye upon certain things since he'd spent a lot of the week going about and speaking to various local merchants about outfitting the Ananke so that she'd be ready for sailing when they were finally ready to go, "Aye it sounds useful.  I should talk to the man I spoke to about our anchor and sounding line and see if he can mark out the fathoms on them using such a notable color.  Make it far easier to keep accurate records of the coast while we sail."

Dak left the others to wander around.  He thought to find a present for his mother.  She could really use a new gutting knife and a frying pan.  Maybe get his little brother a new clam digging shovel.  His father would be happy with whatever asils he could give him.

For the first time, Dak wondered what had happened to the boat he'd been in when the slavers took him?

While the streets away from the festival were quiet, Odelia noted that there were pairs of men, dressed in leather tunics and armed with a short sword and a club, seemed to be regularly walking about the streets.  Some men dressed in the same manner had been seen about the festivities, as well, and their purposeful gait suggested town watch.  One of the men, as she crossed paths, seemed to eye her carefully, as though he might be putting her appearance to memory.

Wandering about the booths, Dak was able to find someone selling a thin boning knife, an iron pan, and even a small clam-digging shovel, all told for forty-five asil.


Pat managed to lead Panatix and Telemachus to a booth where a young woman was selling small pots of madder for twenty asil.  Another booth nearby had bolts of cloth dyed with a distinctive red-orange, the product of the madder and linen, for forty asil.

As the day continued, the smell of the roasting pig permeated the air, until it was time that the food was ready and people began lining up as bits of the roast pig were cut onto platters and passed along tables where bread, cheese, and pickled root vegetables were also being passed along for those in attendance to enjoy.

In reply to Dak (msg # 261):

As Dak wanders around the fair, he notes a young man of similar height and build walking towards him. The man nods at him in greeting as he approaches. Dressed in what must have once been good quality clothes, they now hang from his frame, threadbare and stained from the road. Despite his almost destitute appearance, his gaze is confident and steady. "Well met, neighbour," he says with an easy half-smile. "My name is Karel, and I couldn't help but notice you and your friends among the rather plain townsfolk. You do stick out quite a bit. Anyhow, as you might be able to tell," he says with a wry glance down at his apparel, "I'm in between commitments. Would you have any place in your crew for a skilled rigger? If so, maybe you could introduce me to your captain, or mate."
This message was last edited by the player at 15:08, Fri 09 Aug 2019.

If he gets the chance to talk to the others, he'll suggest that this might be a good time to offload some of their gold and silver dinner ware.  True, he did have a couple of them allocated to him when they divvied up the loot, but maybe selling a set might go better than piecemeal.  On the other hand, he wasn't sure if any of the locals had the sort of coin to make it worth the effort.

Making his way out and about, Wick moves about the booths, keeping an eye out for anyone who might have a fine dagger or three that they'd be willing to sell for a reasonable price.  He's constantly distracted by the scent of the roasting meat, it sets his mouth to watering.

When the time comes, he is quick to queue up to get a plate full of roasted pig, pickled root vegetables, bread and cheese.  He also looks out for someone who can provide a good mug of ale and a nice, out of the way place to eat and watch people passing by.

Lenelle continued her own wanderings, mostly observing others.   It wasn't so often that she got out amongst the secular crowd like this.    Which was sort of a shame. If any were in need of Atu's blessings and grace, it was the hard working, toiling, common folk.

As she made her way, she kept an eye out for any who might be injured. Whether from an accident at the fair, or perhaps bearing the bruises or bandages of some previous misfortune.

If I come across any who happen to need it, I'll use the healing NWP, or cast cure light wounds, to treat them, as charity work from the church. Or, if someone just looks down & out emotionally speaking, I'll try to engage with them and lift their spirits.

Edit-  Either prior to or after the meal, I mean.   
This message was last edited by the player at 16:39, Sat 10 Aug 2019.

In his explorations of the fair, Wick did not see much evidence that they would be able to get close to the value of the dinnerware that they had found on the boat, although he did find someone who had a number of daggers on offer--there were two stilettos being offered for forty asil each, one which had been weighted for throwing at fifty asil, and even one made of silver at three hundred asil.

Finding an ale was a fairly simple matter as there were a number of vendors, some from the two taverns in town other than the one inn, and another of those who had come in from a farm with barrels of stout.

Conversations could be easily overheard, as folk told tales about who had recently had a new baby and was thus at home, or new betrothals settled over the winter with nuptial celebrations planned for after the autumn harvests, and talk of crops and animals.

Some music was also being played, and a few people were starting to dance in the square, a ragged shape which started to take on the form of a country reel as more joined in, a fluid dance as some left to get more food or drink while others had finished their meals and joined the figure.

It seemed Odelia had been wrong in her assumption, as the guard was patrolling the town as usual, despite the festivities. It was a rather foreign thing to her, since in her experience authorities had shown to ditch their duties in favor of leisure quite often.
Not having a clear goal as to where to spend her money on, she continued walking around the city, exploring for anything noteworthy to do.

Panatix glanced at Telemachus to see if he was staying with them when Pat started across the grounds to a couple of booths. He spent a minute or two looking at the pots of dye and considered buying one but really wanted to see the cloth.

Panatix stepped over to the booth table that was piled high with bolts of cloth. Reaching up, he felt the cloth to determine the quality of the linen and checked the dye job to make sure there were no imperfections that he could see. Satisfied that the linen weave and dye job were good quality, he looked at the seller and shook his money pouch a little bit to get his attention. "Good sir, good sir. Down here sir. I would like to purchase 10 bolts of your cloth. I am prepared to offer 300 asil, payable now, in good silver coin."

With his new found companions, Storm explores the fair. Having come from a farming community, he is rather impressed by the festive mood here. He had only experienced some market fairs in his hometown held near the castle.

Coming to a clothes store, he buys himself some pants and shirts that he can wear beneath his armour. He also treats his new companions to some ale at a pub, teling them of his limited experience out of his homeland so far.

OOC: Buy clothes, ale and will I bump into my friends?

Westin enthusiastically joins Storm in exploring the different offerings at the fair. When they near a spices display, Westin will interrupt, "Spices! I must stop here for a time and see what they have to offer." He will quickly go over and proceed to carefully check for any unfamiliar spices. He will also test the freshness and quality of any familiar spices. All along, depending on availability, he will chat with the spices merchant, asking about the use of any unfamiliar spices, where the spices came from, their opinion of the quality of spices for the season and in general the best places to get particular spices. Interesting new spices as well as a good discussion and what seems reasonably honest and useful information will warrant a purchase and good wishes.

When he rejoins his companions, he will explain, "Creating sumptuous meals is a passion of mine and for that, spices are essential. I was a cook decades ago and really enjoyed it. Still enjoying cooking though I don't often get a chance to dedicate the time needed to create a truly exceptional meal. That's one thing I like about humans. They really appreciate a good meal. Elves are much less enthusiastic and are almost as happy with a dreadfully plain meal. Humans were always much more fun to cook for."

At the pub, Westin listens closely as Storm relates his story and experiences since leaving his hometown. "I had guessed you weren't around here as you seemed so interested and fascinated with the fair," he comments. "Will you shipwreck friends, oh, that sounds a little odd, your recently found friends be arriving here soon? I would like to meet them and maybe discuss things a bit."

"I don't think we're looking for any new crew," Dak replied to the stranger, "but you could still speak to our captain.

"Look for a light colored bald man," he went on, looking over the crowd and not seeing Telemachus nearby.  "He's here and I think I last saw him with a gnome."

"I'm here to be selling," said the man to Panatix, sounding agreeable to the terms, though he did seem a little puzzled as the bolts were slightly taller than Panatix himself, being 43".  "How do you mean to carry ten bolts away?"

"He has friends," he replied to the merchant as he walked up to nod.  Looking around he spotted the easy to see Storm and he raised his hand in the air to wave him over, the bald head on a young face made for an easy flag for other companions to spot where he was.

Seeing his friend,'Storm tells his new friends ,"There! Those are my friends. Shall we go over to meet them? I am certain they will love to know you!"

With that, Storm gently leads his new friends to meet his old friends.

"Hey Tele! How's your exploration of the fair? Well I found these friends talking about some wizard guy and I got interested so I became friends with them. They are also eager to meet my old friends."

With a quick nod at Panatix, Storm says,"This gentleman is Panatix. I believe he is learning to trade! Say my friend, need help with your cloth?"

Storm pauses, looking at his new friends, he says," Captain Telemanchus! Sailor of our boat! Westin the extraordinary spice master and I suspect master of many spells!"

The turning to Silas, Storm says,"And this fine young man Telemanchus is Silas! I believe he is very good in spinning tales and picking up local gossip."

Looking at his feet, Storm says,"And of course, me! Stormrider, former shepherd and now a justice man!"

With such casual introductions of his friends, Storm hopes to set everyone at ease and he will then suggest dinner with the rest.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:16, Tue 13 Aug 2019.