In reply to The Bride (msg # 26):

Avina, upon hearing her name, smiled and removed her blue floppy wide brimmed hat revealing locks of wispy blonde hair tied into a braid. In a tentative manner the young woman inclined her head.

"I am most pleased to make your acquaintance. Yet, I am no apprentice but a simple pupil only. You both have traveled far yourselves. Do you bring any news from your lands? It would be good to know how other lands fare. Radagast would be most interested I'd wager."

In reply to Beli (msg # 25):

Arnulf again inclined his head as Beli bowed.

"I too am honored Master Beli of Lonely Mountain. A rare thing to see one of your fine folk here. I think there is nothing yo may do to make yourself acceptable as you are most welcome already but I will extend an invitation to join us this night in the grand hall. A visitor comes from the south and we will feast her in the Grand Hall. Would you dine under the light of the Lamp of Balthi this eve?"

At Trotter's statement Arnulf smile retreated a bit.

"That is the way of things good sir, is it not? We, who have never met the other, remain strangers until we remedy that. I have given you my name and yet I know you not. As a guest of Woodmen-town, we would like you to join us this eve yet your mind and will are your own. Enjoy your stroll and fear not, I shall nay keep Master Beli nor you without good reason."

He then turned back to Beli "I hope to see this eve Master Beli. I also hope you may convince your companion to do likewise."
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:06, Wed 01 Nov 2017.

"Greetings Avina. Aye it was a good journey but now that I have fulfilled my fathers request I plan to return to Dale and answer Bard's call. As for news probably nothing you have not heard. Now with Dale and Esgorath growing the north should begin to prosper once more."

In reply to The Bride (msg # 26):

Amalina listened to the conversation betwixt the gathered crowd but in the moment of silence, she cleared her throat.

"Bride? Would you watch my wares for a moment? I must speak with Barald. I shall return in just a moment."

She then smiled and pocketed the silver coin...
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:41, Thu 02 Nov 2017.

At the mention of food, Trotter's face lit up just a bit more than usual.

"Please, sir, wait a moment," he began, "I have been long on the road alone.  I am not as accomplished at dealing with people as I am with the travelings of the road."

He took a breath before continuing, "My name is Trotter and, I never turn down a chance to have good food.  I will try not to let my road manners get in the way of the fine dining."

He finished speaking and looked up at the man, then at Beli, and then back to the man, "Until later then," he said with a soft smile on his face.

In reply to Trotter (msg # 32):

Arnulf again smiled down on Trotter "Well then Master Trotter of the road, tonight you will partake in good food and we learn the ways to deal with one another. You and Master Beli present yourself to the warriors and they will allow you inside the inner palisade. Until later then."

The elder turned to the dwarf "Master Beli? Come with a great appetite. I look forward to learning more of your folk."

In reply to The Bride (msg # 26):

Arnulf then saw The Bride and with her Avina. He nodded in the direction of the pair standing with the Barding and Beorning.

As the Elder approached he inclined his head "Bride! You have brought Avina. You have my thanks. I hope your trip was uneventful. You both are most welcome."

He gave Avina a slight bow "I hope the Brown One is well welcome. Radegund will be most pleased by your coming."

Arnulf then looked to Beran and Lifstan "Eh now? Two more guests have come to Woodmen-town. I am Arnulf, one of the elders. Welcome then!"

Bali said in answer: "I thank you for this honorable invitation to join the elders of this town for dinner. I really appreciate that
and I accept the invitation with utmost gratefulness. I hope we will establish good relations between my people and yours, reverend
elder Arnulf."

Beli waits till elder Arnulf and the other warriors have left and are out of earshot.

Beli then said to Trotter, "please come with me. I spotted a merchant from the far South who seems to have superior wares
on offer. It may be somewhat more expensive, but it's often worth the money to get an excellent blade. You know, in a fight to the
death, you want all the help you can get."

Beran smiles at the Bride "Ah well at the moment, I was planning to find companions; such as Lifstan here, to travel towards Lake-Town as I have little knowledge of the lands east of the Mirkwood and west of Misty Mountains." he then addresses Avina "I don't have much in the way of stories or tales to tell beside what I have seen on the mountain paths, Goblins have been an issue but when have they not?"

As he is addressed by Arnulf he turns to the elder "A pleasure to be here,
 I look forward to spending my time here until I can make my way towards Lake-Town."

In reply to Beran (msg # 37):

Arnulf gave the Beorning an appraising look.

"Well then allow me to extend an invitation to join us tonight. We will be holding a feast in honor of Avina's and The Bride's arrival tonight. In the Grand hall... " he hitched his thumb over his shoulder to take in the big hall on the rise and within inner palisade.

"... we have other guests who are also visiting our town. Mayhaps they are heading in that direction. One is a dwarf of Lonely Mountain and the other a Hobbit, though he is the first I have ever seen."

He looked upon Lifstan, again taking measure of the Barding.

"You are also welcome. In fact, we shall have a hunt today to hopefully provide meat for the table this eve. Would you two care to join us?"

Then smiling at The Bride "Would you honor me woman of Mountain Hall... to be a member of my party?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:56, Sat 04 Nov 2017.

In reply to Beli (msg # 36):

"Lead on," friend Beli," he said, "this southron merchant won't know what to expect when he sees us!"

There was almost a little cheesiness in his words. As if...maybe, he liked shopping!

Bali leads Trotter to the Southron merchant.
If there are other customers in conversation with the merchant, he'll wait respectfully till those people have left.
He then introduces himself to the Southron merchant:

"Good afternoon to you, sir. I'm Beli from the Lonely Mountain. It's wonderful to meet so many people from different parts of the world in this town.
I hope you've had a safe journey to this town? Would you like me to tell you about the Lonely Mountain?

I would like to look more closely at some of the picks you've lying on your table. Is that okay?"

In reply to Beli (msg # 40):

As the Hobbit and dwarf make their way to the merchants table he inclines his head in greeting. He was tall and broad shouldered. His smile was warm as he presented his wares. Beli noted that his squint eyes appeared alert. The dwarf saw the weapons were made of good steel and were all well made. There was a set of daggers that seemed well balanced for throwing and another that appeared to be of dwarven make. Trotter saw a variety of small blades, daggers, and knives. There were two short swords, one with a curved blade.

"My name is Brego! Well met Beli of the Lonely Mountain. It is my wish to make it to Dale and the home of the dwarves one day. Your folk make cunning weapons from good steel. Something that I can appreciate greatly. And aye! I would be most interested in whatever you can tell me of that place. The road to the south is safe enough. Once past Dunland that is. The men there are raiding but mainly into Rohan. What may I do for you good dwarf?" he said as his eyes took in Trotter for the first time.
"What is your name?" Brego asked, his squint eyes going wide for a heartbeat but his smile remained.

Beli sais to Trotter:
These weapons are made with good steel, that' a fact.

He then Speaks to the merchant and tells him an interesting but innocent story about the Lonely Mountain.
After the story, he picks up the picks he thinks he needs.
He asks: "These small tools look very useful to me, to tinker with toys or with hatches which got stuck. Do you want to sell them to me?"

In reply to Gandalf The Grey (msg # 38):

"Greetings Arnulf. I would gladly join your hunt today. Though I must warn you my skills at hunting may prove to be lacking."

"Brego," Trotter began slowly, "your wares look quite good." He looked the man in the eyes as he spoke, trying to gauge his intentions.

"You may call me Trotter,"  he stopped for a moment, still trying to see if there were any other intent behind this man's words.

After a moment, he glanced down at the two short swords trying to compare their make to the one he carried.  "Tell me about these blades," while he asked about both, it was clear he was eyeing the curved blade.

The Bride nodded her acknowledgment of the others words, and smiled at her fellow Mountain Hall woman. "Oh, forgive me, Avina, I'd forgotten you were his pupil." Having said that she turned and watched Arnulf and his party enter the Market Green, smiling softly.

"Good to see you Arnulf and you are most welcome. It was a pleasure to escort Lady Avina." Having said that she figured their conversation over until the meal tonight but when he invited her to join his party for the hunt her whole face lit up in a bright smile. "I gladly accept your gracious invitation, thank you."

In reply to Beli (msg # 42):

Brego's smile broadened at the dwarf's query "Ah! Yes master Dwarf. I am in that business. A toy maker then Master Beli? If so you will find these most useful and very rare in a place such as thissss. Yessss! Quite rare indeed."

The merchant paused while Beli inspected the tools at hand. It was then that Trotter asked about the blades.

"Master Trotter is it? Very well, I shall do so and happily. These blades? Ah! A discerning eye you have. The curved one... you will not see it's like here in this place or even in Dale beyond. It comes from a place far to the south Master Trotter. Aye! Beyond Gondor itself. The land of the Corsairs some would say. The balance is good yessss?" He said looking upon the Hobbit with interest.

In reply to Lifstan (msg # 43):

Arnulf smiled at the Barding and Beorning as he inclined his head.

"You both honor me! I shall send out three hunting parties. You Master Beran will go with one. You Master Lifstan will travel with another. Having three parties will give us a greater chance of success... and if we are lucky, then all three will succeed and we shall have a feast indeed."

He then said to The Bride "Would you accompany my group Bride. To have one of the good folk of Mountain Hall with me would be a honor as well. Your Hound is welcome of course. Tonight you and Avina will have places of honor at the feast and it is I who thank you for seeing the Healer safely here."

"Meet me down by the river in a hours time. Shop as you will until then. Do not worry Master Lifstan, you will do well enough. Until then!" he said inclining his head once more.

Lifstan nods in return to Arnulf, "Very good then, I will see you shortly." Turning to Beran and the others "If you will excuse me I need to speak with Barald about some ax handles. Though you are more than welcome to accompany me should you wish." his attention focusing on The Bride and Avina more than the others.

Nodding to Amalina and Odo, "Amalina, Odo perhaps we shall meet again later this evening. If not it has been a pleasure making your acquaintance."

Trotter focused on the eyes of the trader as he responded.  He didn't let his desire for one or both of the blades showed.   With a glance at Brego he picked each sword up, testing its balance.

"Corsairs, you say," he studied the man, "I don't know much about them...only little snippets I've heard in tales..."

As he finished speaking he put both blades back down and said, "how much are these blades, as a pair and individually?"

In reply to Lifstan (msg # 48):

Amalina smiled broadly and inclined her head "I hope my axes serve you well man of Dale. I hope we meet again but it will not be tonight. I will nay be at the feast. that is for others more important than me. Yet, one of my folk will be there. The Bride it seems. Go with care when you return home."

Odo's frown fade just a tad as he held out a bundle of dried jerky "Fare well! But ye twould fare all the better wi' sum of my jerky. Five coppers... worth the price."

In reply to Lifstan (msg # 48):

Avina, who had been shyly quiet, looked to the Dalesman and bit her lip.

"Can we... can we go with the warrior to the wood carver's stall Bride? I would like to see his wares myself."
This message was last edited by the player at 04:53, Wed 08 Nov 2017.

In reply to Trotter (msg # 49):

Brego gave the Hobbit a slight shrug "The Corsairs? I know them not save they hail from a faraway land to the south... Umber methinksss?"

Trotter is able to test the balance of both blades and realizes that the curved blade seems to feel better in his cable hands. Yet, both seem to be of good steel. There seems to be runes of unknown script upon it though.

"The swords are but ten silvers each or I will give them both to you for fifteen." he said smiling.