Chapter 156: Meals and Deals

Chapter 156: Meals and Deals

Rowan Keep looked less like a military fortress than it did a pile of building materials. All around the walls were large piles of stone, gravel, sand, and timber. Piles of dirt and clay that were dug from the foundations of the new walls rose high in several places. However, the two roads that led up to the keep were clear, and two hungry travelers had no trouble walking up to the western gate.

Corporal Gustavus was on duty and was plainly happy to see Ozzy and Suzette, "Well, well. We have distinguished visitors from our neighboring village. Look sharp lads, you have them to thank for your new armor." He bowed low to Suzette and then shook hands with Ozzy.

Ozzy had actually noticed that the Corporal and three legionnaires were all outfitted in re-inforced sedge bull armor. He'd been told the dark red leather was normally reserved for officers because of the fire resistance it offered. But with the huge number of hides coming from Sedgewick it seemed that even the privates were getting upgrades - which is why some of the smiles were genuinely for Ozzy, and not all for Suzette.

"Good to see you again, Gus."

The gate guards moved to either side. The corporal waved them through, "I won't keep you with small talk. I suspect you are looking for dinner. Head straight through the main courtyard and out the front gate. It will save you a long walk through the construction. The merchants have been expanding their little fair and there's always something decent cooking now. But my recommendation is to visit Merchant Kallvek's stall. He's added a large tent for dining and cooking meals. Quite popular with many of your fellow workers."

Suzette turned to Ozzy, "Let's go visit Kallvek. I have some things to chat with him about already."

Gustavus chuckled, "Always more efficient to kill two wyverns with one ballista." After the two workers had left the guards noticed him wincing as he massaged his hand. Gus was notorious for trying to get a good grip when shaking hands, and it was obvious he'd lost this round to the Butcher.

The merchant fair was actually starting to live up to its name. When the workers and players had first started arriving, the rag-tag group of vendors outside the South gate had mostly been there to supply some basic gear and give out some starter quests. Now, instead of a dozen small tents there were at least fifty and several of those were set up to sell food. Word was obviously spreading to the rest of the world. As players poured into the far North, the merchants followed.

Many of them waved to Suzette and told her to stop by later. A Dungeon Keeper with magical items was always a welcome customer. One small man at a tent with no customers hurried over to talk to her, visibly anxious. "Lady Suzette! How nice to see you! How are my snails doing? Do people like them? Will you be needing more?"

Ozzy looked over at the tent that Merchant Vodspaller had left unattended. Simple shelves held row upon row of brown crockery pots in various sizes. Most held a quart of his fine snails, but he also had some pots the size of a small barrel, strangely labeled 'Party Pot! What's more fun than a barrel of snails?' The sign at the front of the tent had a badly drawn snail with a slime trail and the words 'Vodspaller’s Famous Eating Snails'. Ozzy had tried his snails. They were quite good. The problem wasn't with the escargot, it was the marketing.

Suzette had seen the signs as well. She beamed at the small man, "Why, Merchant Vodspaller, so nice to see you! And yes, some of my customers enjoyed your snails. We're slowly going through the batch we purchased from you. The north just isn't known for its fine crawlers though, so there are not many customers who are familiar with them. Still, I get a few to try them now and then."

The snail merchant considered her words, "I was hoping they would be more popular. My family was overjoyed at the income I brought in last time from the magical items you traded. They decided to simply send me the rest of the year’s crop and I have over a thousand quarts, plus way too many Party Pots. The local adventurers don't seem too adventurous in their eating habits. I was sort of hoping you might be up for another trade?"

Suzette looked at Ozzy, not wanting to ruin a night out with trading. Ozzy grinned, "You make deals when the deals are in front of you, not when convenient." He entered the merchant’s tent and set down his large leather bag in a spot blocked by a rack of snail pots. It sunk into the ground a few inches. It was quite heavy at the moment. Ozzy could pack it, but he was being very careful where he stepped, and was leaving deep foot-prints.

Suzette started taking out items from the bag and laying them on a table at the front of the merchant’s tent. "You’re saying you have a thousand pots plus the large ones? Our last deal was 200 of the quart-sized crocks for two magical items. Now, I understand that you were making me a very good deal at the time. Normally I'd never ask the same of such a distinguished merchant, but then again, this is a large load of cuttlefish to take on a moment’s notice."

The small merchant tried to calm himself. All his hard-learned lessons on dealing were melting every time this girl smiled. Plus, he hadn't sold a snail in days! "I am willing to hear your offer ma'am. I have faith that it will be close to what I need with little in the way of dickering."

Suzette was pointing to the items, "All of these are enchanted items. Tell me what you think.

Enchanted Sword of Bile: +10 damage to monsters, +30 damage to humans you don't like.

Magical Stone-Wrought Shield: +10 mitigation, double normal weight, immune to Rustblight.

Citrine Necklace: Grants +2 INT, -1 AGI

Stomper's Boots: Heavy Work boots, +10 mitigation to damage to the feet, +20 Damage with kicks and stomps.

Mace of Face Smashing: +20 damage, knocks out opponents’ teeth on a critical hit.

Breastplate of the Heavens: Always shines brightly and automatically casts the cleanse cantrip on wearer's clothing and hair.

Thrifty Bow: This otherwise normal bow creates its own slightly-enchanted arrows on command. Saves on ammunition.

Potion of Skittering: Increases stealthy, crafty movement for 1 hour. 10 doses.

Vodspaller perused the items, becoming excited as he looked at them, but ultimately shook his head no, "I'm sorry, it's a good lot of items, but I'd need a little more."

Suzette looked at Ozzy, who nodded and brought forth a barrel. The wood was dark and smelled of a smokehouse. He pulled off the wooden lid and a wonderful smell started to spread, getting the attention of everyone nearby.

Scrimshaw by Roland Duck Lord

Leatherworking by Ozymandias

Woodworking by Georgette

The merchant turned the blades over and over, inspecting every bit of them, "Very nice. I like the little butterflies carved on the blades. Am I correct in saying this is something your village made, versus looting from a dungeon?"

Suzette nodded to him, "Several of us were needed to turn the tusks into the items, but we can possibly make more if these sell well. I have another item also," She handed him a wand about a foot and a half long.

Ironwood Wand with Dark Steel caps

A sturdy wand for a beginning magician or sorceress. The rugged materials will handle arcane overloads better and are resistant to damage. Bonus for spells using metal, wood, or nature affinities.

"Easily sold to the universities, but they generally like to buy beginner wands in bulk. Could you make more?"

"Quite a few more. What is your offer for knives and wands?" Suzette had been worried. Johannes had insisted there would be a market for the wands. He said he'd buy some himself when their college reopened. It was nice to see he had been correct.

Kallvek considered, "Are you still in need of foodstuffs? I can offer you one-third of the price I sell these for as credit towards supplies for your town, at medium market rates."

Suzette laughed, "Not nearly good enough. You buy the food stuffs at wholesale from other merchants. And knives and wands don't go stale, or out of style. Seventy-five percent sounds fairer."

It was Kallvek's turn to laugh, "Fairer for one side, I think. But I believe there is room here for all of us to profit. I propose I take fifty percent of what I sell your items for, and buy you what you need at Low market prices. I, of course, have the costs of transport."

That was good enough for Suzette, "I agree to that. I'll get you a list. In particular there are some spices and curing salts I need a lot of - and maple syrup."

Kallvek nodded, "I smelled the bacon you traded to Clement. Would you happen to have more of that?” He turned and looked at the Butcher.

Ozzy met his gaze, "Yup. Three more barrels packed tight. And I have something special I want you to see."

"Oh. I always like special. Please show me."

Ozzy brought out a much smaller cask. The lid was cut in half and hinged with a clasp. He carefully opened it and pulled out a large chunk of reddish bacon. Suzette had moved back a good ten feet. The stuff reeked of hot peppers and whisky with enough dark mana to make her stomach squeamish.

"Oh my. Is that what I think it is? Mage's Delight? The orcs call it Burny Death Bacon.

Before Ozzy could answer, Myrna suddenly appeared next to the merchant, tearing the bacon out of his hand, and had shoved it all into her mouth. Ozzy saw that she had very sharp teeth.

"Good! Good! Spicyhot! Dwarfpisss-notberry? Peppers? Mana? Soaked in Dark and Fire. Tasty good." She chewed and swallowed it down in only a couple of seconds before commenting on the taste. Then she put both hands on her stomach and looked distressed.

With little warning Myrna tilted up her head and burped! - loudly! A huge ball of fire erupted from her throat, rising up to the top of the light canopy. Fire and hot air lifted the canopy, tugging on the ropes and pulling stakes from the ground. Before for anyone could stop it, the lighted red and yellow canopy floated up into the sky taking ropes, tent-poles, and stakes with it. As it sailed away it was visible for miles, causing quite a few rumors of impending doom.

The little kobold turned to Ozzy, "Maybe worth teaching. Make sausage fingers into nimble fingers first! Then teach."

Lucky You! Myrna-Od-Ata of the Fire Crested Tribe has offered you a Quest!

Raise your Dexterity to 12 and she will teach you more about grilling and trade recipes with you.

She turned to Kallvek before going back to her grill, "Good Bacon. Buy. And need new tent!"

Kallvek turned to Ozzy, "We have a deal. But I need a stiff drink before we discuss price."