He says nothing. You sense he is less than pleased with your presence.
He grunts.
A soldier sits dourly at the table.
0
stnd
13
"A piercing crystal, it's called. A long, thin blue crystal. You throw it at a magic barrier, and it dispels the field! I'm going to try to make one. A crystal, I mean, not a barrier."
0
crystal
12
"Research. I'm going to the library at Formello, to learn how to make a special sort of crystal."
"I'm William. Apprentice mage of the Tower of Magi."
A mage sits in the corner, working out equations on a sheet of vellum.
0
stnd
12
"You know, I hear a dragon lives in the honeycomb. But I prefer an audience I know is friendly."
"He's a dragon. Lives to the north, far to the north. And he likes humans. I'm looking to see what he would give someone who showed him what human music was like. Plus, I've never played for a dragon before. I bet nobody has. It would be a first!"
0
motrax
11
"I travel from town to town. That's not so hard, as there aren't too many of them. I'm on my way to play for Motrax now. That'll be a first."
0
minstrel
11
She seems pleased you noticed. "I made it. Only instrument of its kind down here. Took me a year. Would have been worth ten years. And now, I'm a minstrel."
0
guitar
11
She doesn't say anything. She simply starts playing. A truly stunning torrent of song pours forth from her guitar. Then she pats it lovingly and looks back up at you.
"I'm Gypsy."
You see a stout, striking woman sitting at the bar. She's carrying, amazingly enough, a guitar. She looks at you as if you're nothing special.
0
stnd
11
8
39
"Alas, the Mertis arms is not so luxurious that we can afford charity."
3
room
10
3
You are brought thick, steaming slabs of lizard steak, with mugs of some sort of wine. It's delicious.
"Alas, the Mertis arms is not so luxurious that we can afford charity."
10
meal
10
"A fine meal is 3 gold, and the most luxurious room you can find is 15. You can't go wrong at the Mertis arms."
0
help
10
"I run the Mertis Arms, the finest inn in Exile! We serve merchants, travellers and farmers alike, with the best drinks and the best rooms! Let me know if you need help."
"Welcome to my humble inn. I'm Mark."
You see the bartender. He's cleaning the already spotless countertop.
0
stnd
10
104
purch
9
He yelps in horror. "It's mine! Not Eldins, whatever he says. It's mine!" He looks you over, and smiles slyly. "Although you could purchase it. Just a hundred gold."
0
brooch
9
"I'm supposed to go with a caravan back to the Great Cave. But the undead are too much for me! They're horrible! The beady eyes and stuff! I'm staying here, where it's safe! Now go away.
0
hiding
9
"I'm hiding."
"Bertrand. Don't tell anyone I'm back here, please!"
You find a man hiding back here. He seems terrified to see you.
0
stnd
9
She sighs sadly. "I would be still. But a minor power struggle landed me here."
"I am a spellcaster of small skill. I would love to teach you, but I cannot. You would have much better luck in the Tower of the Magi, to the south." She smiles sadly. "My aboveground magical training was limited, I'm afraid. I was nobility, you see."
0
spells
8
"They appear in the Grim Cavern, and come out to raise havoc. We really don't know what makes them appear. They aren't a terrible threat anymore, but once they were a horror to behold."
0
undead
8
20
healing
8
"This is the only settlement between the northern cities and the Great Cave." She corrects herself. "No, the mage's tower is to the south. But they set themselves apart."
0
village
8
"Serving this village as best I can. I provide much more healing than I should have to. I have helped fight the undead on occasion as well. I wish I could rely on goodness more and spells less."
She nods calmly. "I am Esther. Welcome to this tiny island of peace."
You see a noble-looking woman in long, flowing robes. She wears a wooden ankh.
0
stnd
8
8
sell
7
15
8
Tina's fine weaponry
7
purch
7
"Still, they aren't so bad. Nowhere near as bad as the Nephilim or Sliths anyway."
"Plenty of those outside of town. They just appear and come out of the west. They used to attack the farms, but we got good at butchering them, and now they stay away unless we leave town. Then they mob us." She sighs, and starts polishing a spear.
0
zombies
7
"I run this half of the market with my husband Matt. You can purchase armor from him, and weapons from me. You can sell me your weapons too. I recommend the bronze spears. They'll keep the zombies well away."
"I'm Tina. Pleased to meet you."
You see a beautiful woman with long, brown hair. She is quite pregnant.
0
stnd
7
6
sell
6
8
1
Matt's armor shoppe
5
purch
6
"Yeah. From the Grim Cavern. The skeletons don't attack the towns and farms much, thank goodness, but anyone leaving town is fair game."
0
undead
6
"I buy and sell armor. Lots of demand, what with the undead. You can sell some if you want, or buy stuff."
"I'm Matt. I'm Tina's husband."
You see a tall, awkward brown haired man. He's polishing a shield.
0
stnd
6
3
0
Terri's supplies
12
supplies
5
15
2
11
rations
5
"I have rations. And supplies. Which would you like?"
0
purch
5
She nods. "Lizard-drawn sleds. They haul shrooms and preserved meat to the Great Cave. Takes a lot of supplies. Business has been good. Food's cheap here. If you need to buy rations, let me know."
0
caravan
5
"I sell farm supplies, mostly. But I sell stuff for the merchant caravans too. You might be interested in purchasing something?"
"I'm Terri. Interested in supplies?"
A small blonde woman works behind the counter. She looks at you with a broad smile.
0
stnd
5
"Yeah. The farmers 'round here bring up the cattle and lizards. Then they bring them here to be sold and taken north and west. Good deal all around."
0
auction
4
"On the west side of town. Go take a look! Lot of good livestock there."
0
house
4
"I run the auction house."
He shakes your hand. "I'm Elmer. How are ya'?"
You see a tell, wrinkled old man, carrying around a sheaf of papers.
