"I had a chat with Gov. Hawkryn and he has agreed to grant you a long leash. Just don't pull on it too much would be my advice."

"Professionally speaking, that means she's our new shadow." Zoccola added with a careless shrug.  She figured there were probably watchers tucked away far out of immediate notice as well, but if the governor was willing to entrust their presence with Nalisha, that was fine by her.  "Frankly, I didn't mind the chaperones following us.  I just felt bad they couldn't relax at all.  Having to watch someone else enjoy food and fun while you're working is awful."  It sounded as if she spoke from experience with the unpleasant edge on that remark.

It was a chat on the go as, despite Zoccola still speaking, The Hound didn't lose pace in following after Booth into the shop and carrying her along with him.

"With no intention of causing any trouble, they can better serve elsewhere regardless. Did anyone happen to make a list of all the things we need to buy today? I remember most, but I admit my memory is not always the best when it comes to things that were said." Tauroak left the rest unsaid.

"Keep your friends close, your enemies closer, and neutral enigmatic figures closest of all." Elodie said with a smirk, then shrugged at Tauroak's comment.

"I was never much of a shopping list girl. I have people for that. Or did."

Jurassic grumbled casting a suspicious glamce at Nalisha, " 'Buy me lunch.' Indeed. "

He replied to Touroak, "Between you, Zoccola, and I the list should be covered. I wonder what we might find that isn't on that list."

Nalisha smiles at Jurassic but says nothing. She walks towards the door and opens it. It's massive and easily weighs several times what a normal door would but it swings easily on its hinges without the slightest sound.

Inside the building you are greeted with the familiar smells of a smith and the dry warm air associated with a place constantly filled with flame. The forge lies on the far side of the large central room and has a well crafted hood overtop leading to it's chimney. The bellows move up and down on their own on a slow pace. No work is being done at the time so likely just to keep the embers hot and ready.

On one side of the shop weapons and armor are displayed and on the other shelves filled with the sundry items travelers may need. Right as you come in the room a granite sculpture greets you set firmly in the center of the entrance way.

You hear a voice from the back,"Be right with ye!"



This message was last edited by the GM at 15:33, Sat 29 Jan 2022.

“Thanks.”  Booth called back.  The sailor then started to wander and look at the stuff that was available.  It reminded him of Krak.  He had spent several trips equipping his friend.  Now Krak was gone.  It had been more fun shopping for his friend.  Krak wasn’t much for knowing what he needed and Booth had hooked him up well.

He looked at the group.  I didn’t think Elodie would use a suit of armor or some wicked looking weapon.  Not likely he could fit her out.  Maybe he would spot something goblin sized for Zoccola but it wasn’t like she wouldn’t find it herself.  That left the newcomers.  Well, there was nothing specific he was looking for so he just looked.  Sometimes you stumble across a diamondbin the desert.

A solidly built dwarf appears from the back of the store as he wipes his hands on his apron.

"and what is it I can do...." he pauses for a moment when he looks up and sees you. "Well Sparks and Ash it's true and you're in my shop. It's a rare thing to see outsiders. The names Raygren and what would you be needing?"

"We're going worm hunting, so a trowel. And we'll need a very large hook and fishing line for after we've caught our prey!" Elodie called out impulsively, then laughed at her own joke.

“Heh.”  Booth chuckled at Elodie’s request.  He envisioned the largest anchor and chain would be needed to fulfill that request.

“We hear you got a big worm problem.  Got anything to protect from the poison?”  The sailor asked the dwarf.

Zoccola likewise got a mild chuckle from the jest, though it was clear from the soft 'Hm...' she gave as a look of focus crossed her features that her inventive mind had likely begun to ponder out the mechanics of such an idea.

"Got anything to protect from the poison?"

"Or at least the giant, harpoon-like spike used to deliver said poison." the Goblin added in.

Tauroak felt his nearly-empty, and rarely used, coin pouch. "Father's blessing upon you and your forge, Master Raygren." As the others spoke of the items they were in need of, Tauroak returned to his oft quiet state to await his reply.

Raygren looked back and forth between the travelers in his shop as the barrage of questions flew through the air. Then .....



The smith turned and smiled at Tauroak, "A proper greeting cousin, and his blessings upon you as well."

Turning back towards the group, "So you look to hunt Purple Worms. I wish you great success. We need those halls open once again. There will be much work in the repair I fear. Let me look and see what I may have."
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:30, Tue 01 Feb 2022.

Raygren reappears from the back of his shop shaking his head. "There's nothing back there large enough to harpoon a purple worm. I could craft something like that but even he's have trouble carrying such a thing. " Raygren motions towards Jurassic.

He chuckles as he speaks, "I've never been a worm outfitter before. You know however, a gnome colleague of mine, Gnorse Gnammerlan, has been analyzing some worm poison. He may have some answers for you. Aside from equipping you for combat, I'm not sure what more I have for you".
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:05, Wed 02 Feb 2022.

“Alright, what do you have for combat?  Got anything better than this?”  Booth held out his dagger.  It was a bit absurd that this wiry guy would plan to fight a purple worm with a dagger.  The sailor was a stubborn lot and had taken on crazy odds before.  Probably a good pick to try and remove their trade blocking adversary.

Jurassic remained stoic in the face of the hakf slight the dwarf threw his way.

With things moving toward the idea of fighting the tyrannical giant becoming a reality, Tauroak realized it was time to give some serious consideration to what preparations he could make to better prepare him for that day, "I'm in no position to buy right now, but I have considered the need for better protection with the increasing dangers out there. Would you mind showing me what you have available? Nothing too heavy, mind you, I need to maintain some use of my speed, but something more than simple leathers."

"I don't know, I've seen you do some amazing work with just the tools you have on your body." Elodie said, coming up alongside Booth as she spoke. The good reception of her joke earlier had lifted her mood a little, but she left just enough ambiguity in her voice to let him question what she meant.

Tauroak glanced over at Elodie, When Purple Worms Collide, sounded like a book title he'd rather not read. He was tempted to comment, but held his tongue.

"Ahhh certainly."

Waling over to his racks he pulls out a suit of armor hanging on a wooden bust. It's finely crafted leather with metal reinforcements fitted within. "Naturally custom fitting is included in the price."

He shows Booth a sword with a hilt made to be like brass knuckles with holes for his fingers. On the bottom of the hilt is a striking block to allow for it to be used backhanded.

"I call this The Scrapper".

---

Studded Leather +2

The Scrapper - +2 / Knuckles or strike plate may be used as an unarmed strike and adds 1d4 to the damage.
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:09, Thu 03 Feb 2022.

"That's a fine piece there, Cousin. I like the idea of avoiding too much metal, what with the foes we have in mind. Have you done any work with metal substitutes?"

The mariner gave Elodie a tilt of the head and gesture with his hands as if to say, thanks.

Booth tried not to drool over the short sword.  Negotiating on a price never worked in your favor if you looked too interested.  He tried to be patient and waited as Tauroak asked his questions.

The sailor held the blade if allowed and practiced some swings with it while the druid talked.  When Raygren circled back around to him, "How about that.  I know a Scrapper from growing up.  I'll take it.  How much?"

Browden asked politely, "Do you have magic boots? Boots of speed or Elvenkind?"

Raygren looks at Jurassic and tilts his head sideways then turns and walks towards a cabinet. While he does so he begins the bartering process, "Well now I'd let you have them both for 6000 gp. But then maybe you have something to offer back in the way of items? I'm sure a band of worldly travelers such as yourselves would have something worthy of trade?"

He plunks a pair of blue boots on the table, "Elvenkind here they are. $2000 gp or like I just said, we see about a trade."

"Whoa..."  Booth gently handed the sword back to the dwarf like it was some fragile precious thing.  Evidently shopping wasn't going to be something he was doing here until he hit some buried treasure.  "Too rich for my blood."

Old school it was.  Back to his fists and whatever he pulled off of any corpses.  He had never lived a life of opulence.  When a sailor got paid, he blew it on wine and women.  He was still waiting on his next payday.

(OK.  We need a big payday before we are going to be able to shop like this.  Things are stalling out.  I recommend we summarize anything else and get on with the worm hunt.)