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Post by mister frau blucher on Mar 19, 2012 12:14:14 GMT -5
The seven companions continue briskly on your way south. The tunnel gets wider and the floor is worn smooth by eons of travel. There are lanterns carefully maintained here.
After several hundred yards, the passage gives out into a huge circular chamber, easily several bowshots across. There are clusters of close-packed, black buildings which reach the rough ceiling of the cavity, lit by caged white slugs and floating green nodes of brightness. Tight streets wind among these old structures. Dwarggs trudge back and forth between the buildings. A varied host of alien creatures lounge or move as well. Some stare at you. You see caprians and pale humans, tentacled and fish-like beings, and others that seem to lack symmetry. On the central avenue you see there are two prominent merchants (Strife Brothers and Vempoor’s), an inn for commoners, and one for the wealthy, a seedy market, and a tavern echoing with violent voices. Off the central avenue are a host of alleys and bleak courtyards, from which odd lights and sounds reach you.
There is also an auctioning block. It is now packed with bidders on races from the surface. Your hands clench in rage, but there is nothing you can do – not presently, anyway.
There are many tunnel mouths exiting in various directions. Those to the north (from wence you have come) and west are very prominent. The underworld trade route breaks up into several different routes and these continue in several tunnels to the east; but your path presently lies elsewhere.
There is also a low tunnel to the south, which according to the elf who hired you is the path to your ultimate destination. [You can explore as much or as little as you want. Brian's characters will be joining at an opprotune moment.]
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Post by Lord Inar on Mar 19, 2012 22:25:06 GMT -5
"Well my friends, I believe the reason we, at least Tembo and myself, are here lies that way." Reynaldo gestures to the low south tunnel. "However, I doubt that we would have made it this far without the aid of all involved. I know that there are other interests about the mountain as well, and I would be happy to indulge them first, as I do believe that once we are successful in our endeavor below, we will need to make haste to leave. What do you wish?"
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Post by blacknigel on Mar 20, 2012 10:57:50 GMT -5
“Rreynahldoh, you know we share your path, but I think we all need to spend some time here,” says Rrowullh. “It’s hard to judge the hours, but I think it is mid morning. Unless we intend to stay long, I think we can avoid the costs of the inns.”
“Tembo, you told me once that Mother Sara said you’d gain important information about our goal here. Do you have an idea where to start?"
"For my part, I’d like to see what wares the merchants and the market offer before we move on. I think our path might have hidden dangers and obstacles. So if I can find tools or implements for detecting and disarming traps here, they might be worth the costs.”
“Fine, I think we should stay togethurr as much as possible and not stray too fahr,” Khanmahtt chimes in. “Gort warned of the dangers here of Slavers and the Blackledge Arena. I’ve had enough of entertaining Dwarggs. Even if I did profit from it,” he shoots a glance towards the auction block, “I doubt any of those will.” He fastens Kludd’s belt and dagger around his waist and settles it around his armor. “Hmm… the fit will take some getting used to, but I might as well show the merchandise.”
“So, which Merchant to start? Or do we trawl the marketplace first?”
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Post by mister frau blucher on Mar 22, 2012 13:12:37 GMT -5
[Hey guys, I am not going to spring an attack on you here, so if you want to explore a few shops independently before regrouping, no problem!]
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Post by blacknigel on Mar 22, 2012 13:50:11 GMT -5
So to keep things moving, the Tigrans will start with the interestingly named Strife Brothers, but they will also check out Vempoors and the Market.
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Post by blackjack on Mar 22, 2012 19:54:26 GMT -5
Shadout approaches Enyeto. "Enyeto after we peruse the markets. May I buy you a hot meal? I feel we need to get better acquainted." Enyeto looks the mage up and down. "You have shone courage and a hot meal would be a change. I will join you mage."
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Post by mister frau blucher on Mar 23, 2012 11:40:00 GMT -5
So to keep things moving, the Tigrans will start with the interestingly named Strife Brothers, but they will also check out Vempoors and the Market. You stoop under the doorframe as you enter Strife Brothers. Before you are all in, several dwarggs with crossbows gesture at you. “No spellcasters,” they say. [If it is just the tigrans, this is obviously no problem.] There are six of the squat men, and the family resemblance is unmistakable to you, even with their alien features. They offer you a beer made from certain rocks, with their compliments as you browse their wares. Many, if not most of the objects make little sense to you; evidently items suited for life under the earth. But there are some interesting and utilitarian goods. There are rations of twisted earth-roots (4s/day, recover hit after rest (max 1)). There are torches (2s) and glowstones (half range of torch, lasts half day; 5s). A healing salve they call chut is 25s per dose (heals 2 hits; 5 doses for sale). Mushrooms with hallucinogenic properties are 10s for one. Five medkits are available, for 50s, and a used set of unremarkable lockpicks for 80s. A hammer and a score of iron spikes runs 5s. A red lodestone is 2s. A goblin cutlass is 45s, while an ornate battleaxe of uncertain origin is 175s. A stout small shield is 10s. There is a bin of used knives and daggers, of varying sizes and forms, for 1s each. There is also an assortment of manacles. A single pair is 40s. A single pair that may be added to a longer chain or other manacles is 50s. A slave's neck collar is 25s. [If you have questions for the Strife Brothers or wish to make a purchase let me know; when ready to move to the next location, I'll post it. Should anyone not with the tigrans wish to make a purchase, let me know as you can follow them in afterwards.]
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Post by mister frau blucher on Mar 23, 2012 11:48:09 GMT -5
Shadout approaches Enyeto. "Enyeto after we peruse the markets. May I buy you a hot meal? I feel we need to get better acquainted." Enyeto looks the mage up and down. "You have shone courage and a hot meal would be a change. I will join you mage." [This reminds me, I gave Shadout a karma point for his spy mission and spotting the black-shrouded figure speaking with the tattooed mage. Also on the assumption that Shadout's words may mean he is going to the seedy market, I am posting that location's info here. So that leaves Vempoor's as the only other prominent shop on the central avenue - which i will post when someone goes there.] A cyst in the ominous buildings holds the market. The merchants’ stalls reverberate with swells of hollering. There is little of interest here to you as far as goods, except for fish, which line the boards of several booths. Evidently, it comes from a great lake west of Blackledge, the dwargg city. You can purchase a week’s dried fish ration for 2 silvers. It is surprisingly good. There are also a wide assortment of cheap clothing. should you wish anymore, for as little as one silver an item. In addition, you may hire a lantern bearer here, for five silvers a day. Lantern bearers are non-combatants; their only function is to hold a lantern aloft for a party so they may see in their explorations and fights. They wear leather armor, and have a dagger which they only use as a last resort. They must be equipped with torches or lanterns at your expense.
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Post by blacknigel on Mar 26, 2012 13:13:58 GMT -5
Rrowullh asks the Strife Brothers, "This is fine merchandise, but seeing these lock picks reminds me. Locks aren't the only obstacles one like me might encounter. Do you have, or happen to know where I could get, implements for disarming or removing traps?"
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Post by blackjack on Mar 27, 2012 17:50:35 GMT -5
Shadout walks up to one of the merchants selling fish. "Fine Sir, I am in need of a item I don't see lying about. I'm in need of a potion of Radiation Immunity." "Would you know where I purchase such an item?"
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Post by mister frau blucher on Mar 28, 2012 15:29:17 GMT -5
Rrowullh asks the Strife Brothers, "This is fine merchandise, but seeing these lock picks reminds me. Locks aren't the only obstacles one like me might encounter. Do you have, or happen to know where I could get, implements for disarming or removing traps?" The one you address shrugs. "Traps, as any experienced thief will tell you, vary greatly. A bear trap in the floor, a gas cannister behind a wall panel, an arrow trap, an illusion. All are different, are they not? There is no implement to detect them all." here his brow furrows in thought. "Those who plunder old tombs tell me a long stave is the best all-purpose probe in finding such traps. It is not wise to use your spear, as you could lose the point. We do have some 8-12 foot staves that would be good for such a purpose. Two kinds of wood; that from the surface world, at 2 silvers a stave, and that which is made from dried and hardened mushroom stalk, for 1 silver. "You might travel to every nook in the trading post, and you will not hear more accurate advice." He takes a long pull from the earth beer.
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Post by mister frau blucher on Mar 28, 2012 15:31:48 GMT -5
Shadout walks up to one of the merchants selling fish. "Fine Sir, I am in need of a item I don't see lying about. I'm in need of a potion of Radiation Immunity." "Would you know where I purchase such an item?" The dwargg you address smiles when you approach, then scowls at your question. "What in the bloody hells would I or any other market merchant have anything like that lying about? Not sure what to do with it. Try Strife Brothers, or Vempoor's Emporium." He belches loudly and you believe you can hear him mutter "fool" at the end of it.
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Post by blackjack on Mar 29, 2012 17:16:55 GMT -5
"My fine minuscule merchant. Where is Vempoor's Emporium?" "And please keep your directions "short"."
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Post by Lord Inar on Mar 29, 2012 23:32:27 GMT -5
OK, one catastrophic system meltdown later, I'm back!
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Post by mister frau blucher on Mar 30, 2012 8:47:38 GMT -5
The dwargg looks at Shadout and rolls his eyes. "Can't ye read?" He points to a row of signs above doorways, on one side of the central avenue. They are all in Dwarggish.
"Assuming you can't, it's the one with the picture of the palm holding the book. Sheesh."
Shadout, while unable to discern the Dwarggish words, does identify the sign the irritable merchant points to.
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