Heroica RPG - Quest#75: Falling Stars

[Sandy]

"I s'pose. Can ya' offer us anythin' in the way of supplies?"

"Aside from ordinary foodstuff, not really. But I hear our visitor might carry something useful, since he said he's a merchant after all. Oh, there he comes."

The heroes see a green-skinned figure carrying a heavy backpack running towards them. The man is very familiar to Tesni and Tarn.

"By the mercy of the gods, Sham Poo has been saved! I cannot believe that you have returned!"

[CMP]

"Sham who? And what do ya' mean returned? Do ya' know some of us?"

[Flare]

"Greetings Sham Poo. According to our werepanther friends here, you will be providong us information about the enemies new hideout and will be providing free equipment to help us in our battle. Speak."

[Peppermint_M]

"Ave Sham! Here to try and bleed us of gold again? Your mother will be happy to hear of you!" Tesni called. "So. Sham, tell us, just what are those stars doing?" Caves were sacred to the Hightribe. Tesni was livid to hear of the desecration.

[-obelix-]

"Nice to meet you Sham." Thalion bowed slightly, a bit confused as he never saw the man before. Staying in the back quietly, he waited for a reply on Tesni's question.

[Rumble Strike]

Tarn smiled at the Orc merchant. "Sham, it is good to see you again. Do you know what happened to Jun?"

[Costy]

Nagure raises his hand and strokes the animal in front of him on the neck. "You're a funny looking thing, aren't you."

[Sandy]

"Greetings Sham Poo. According to our werepanther friends here, you will be providong us information about the enemies new hideout and will be providing free equipment to help us in our battle. Speak."

"Yes, I saw them... Wait, free?! Who told you that?! *phthui*"

The half-orcish merchant spits to the ground in disgust and glares angrily at the werepanther elders.

"I still have some stock left, so maybe we can negotiate a sizable discount. Everything's duty free, of course!"

"Ave Sham! Here to try and bleed us of gold again? Your mother will be happy to hear of you!" Tesni called. "So. Sham, tell us, just what are those stars doing?" Caves were sacred to the Hightribe. Tesni was livid to hear of the desecration.

"My mother won't be happy until I've brought her this backpack full of gold. Poor Sham, always trying to do his best and work his hardest, yet all he gets is accusations of greed and dishonesty! Anyway, after you left me at the dungeons, I made it outside that dreadful pagoda. I stuck around to wait for you - honestly, I did! - but when the airship bombed the place, I had no choice but to flee for my life. I stealthily followed the surviving bandits all the way across the mountains to this valley. You cannot believe the ordeals I've been through! I was almost eaten alive by a herd of ferocious yaks! Finally, I saw the bandits slip into the waterfall, and when I saw this village below me, I ran here to warn these good civilians of the threat that had just moved next door. There isn't many of the bandits left, about thirty, I think, but these farmers are helpess against that kind of warriors! Luckily you arrived before they have done a full-on assault. The Stars are still cowering in those caves, licking up their wounds methinks..."

Tarn smiled at the Orc merchant. "Sham, it is good to see you again. Do you know what happened to Jun?"

"Oh, you mean the blue-skinned guy? He was with the bandits, along with some other blue-skins. The bandits kept a close eye on them, probably because they were valuable hostages. I heard the blue-skins are the rulers of this strange land, so I imagine they'd want to keep me alive. On the other hand, they kept me alive as well, even though not even my mother would spend a dime on my behalf..."

Nagure raises his hand and strokes the animal in front of him on the neck. "You're a funny looking thing, aren't you."

The animal brushes itself against Nagure's hand. It seems to take a liking to the yeti. The owner of the beast looks wary, though. He is probably afraid that the yeti will eat or steal his prized steed.

[Rumble Strike]

Tarn was heartened that Jun was possibly still alive, albeit a hostage. "Ella was right. This may not be purely a mission of vengeance, perhaps this is a rescue!"

He clasped the half-Orc by the shoulders in gratitude of the news, then said, "So what wares did you manage to keep hold of?"

[-obelix-]

"Oh, you mean the blue-skinned guy? He was with the bandits, along with some other blue-skins. The bandits kept a close eye on them, probably because they were valuable hostages. I heard the blue-skins are the rulers of this strange land, so I imagine they'd want to keep me alive. On the other hand, they kept me alive as well, even though not even my mother would spend a dime on my behalf..."

Thalion's mood improved, "If this is true then these are excellent news! No matter the additional circumstances, we might have a chance to save Jun!"

He looked at Sham, "Is there anything more you can tell us about the Blue-skins; were they bound, did they carry their weapons?"

[CMP]

"So the blue guy's alive, then? I guess we'll add that to our to-do-list, then, s'pose his old lady wouldn't mind if we brought him back alive rather than avengin' his death. What do ya' have to sell?"

[Flare]

"Do you know anything about the leader of these thugs? Anyways... It wouldn't hurt for us to see your wares..."

[Sandy]

"Sham's sorry, I didn't follow the bandits very closely... All I saw that the blue-skins were all rounded up into one group. But yes, let us finally get down to business! Here's what I have left after you Heroicans rummaged through my wares the last time..."

SHAM POO’S LEGIT GOODS (Totally necessary for bandit-ousting business):

Grand Potion – Restores 25 health to the target. Costs 18 gold. (3 in stock)

Remedy – Removes all negative effects from the target during a battle. Costs 16 gold. (4 in stock)

Neutralizer – Removes all temporary effects from all allies and all opponents during a battle. Costs 55 gold. (3 in stock)

Phoenix Essence – Revives a fallen ally with full health during a battle. Costs 70 gold. (2 in stock)

Smoke Bomb – Allows the party to escape the battle. Costs 10 gold. (3 in stock)

Deadly Venom – Use on a weapon to make it cause the badly poisoned-effect on any enemy it hits for the duration of one battle. A poisoned enemy loses 1 health each turn. Costs 59 gold. (3 in stock)

Mythril – A very rare metal. Costs 2002 gold. (1 in stock)

[CMP]

I leave for two seconds to see if Neutralizers were really more than half off and you jack up the prices...

Atramor poked through the supplies with the end of the Pheles Rod as Sham pulled them all out of his pack.

"I've got enough consumables to get by myself, dunno if anyone else wants anything."

[Flare]

"Whatever happened to discounts, you ragged ripskate of a bum. I hope you don't expect for us to waste any precious gold on you." Benji gets a wicked look in his eye. "If you were willing to lower the price of your wares considerably, we might reconsider. For example, that chunk of rusting mythril - I'll give you 750 for it."

[-obelix-]

Thalion taps his empty coin bag, "Even if I wanted some I can't afford anything. So, I guess am ready to proceed..."

[CMP]

Atramor chuckled at Benji.

"There's a fine line between hagglin' and bein' a smartass, mate."

Edited July 21, 2013 by CallMePie

[Flare]

Atramor chuckled at Benji.

"There's a fine line between hagglin' and bein' a smartass, mate."

"Thanks for the concern, but thankfully I can afford to cross that line if needs be." Benji says smirking while hefting his crossbow in his arms before putting it back where it was before.

Edited July 21, 2013 by Flare

[Sandy]

"Whatever happened to discounts, you ragged ripskate of a bum. I hope you don't expect for us to waste any precious gold on you." Benji gets a wicked look in his eye. "If you were willing to lower the price of your wares considerably, we might reconsider. For example, that chunk of rusting mythril - I'll give you 750 for it."

Sham takes a step back, feeling intimidated by Benji.

"Y-y-you can't threaten anything out of me! M-m-my backpack is enchanted, it won't open to anyone else! B-but maybe another generous discount is in order, just for you guys this once. Gotta keep the customers happy, they say..."

SHAM POO’S LEGIT GOODS (Heavily discounted!):

Grand Potion – Restores 25 health to the target. Costs 11 gold. (3 in stock)

Remedy – Removes all negative effects from the target during a battle. Costs 9 gold. (4 in stock)

Neutralizer – Removes all temporary effects from all allies and all opponents during a battle. Costs 51 gold. (3 in stock)

Phoenix Essence – Revives a fallen ally with full health during a battle. Costs 53 gold. (2 in stock)

Smoke Bomb – Allows the party to escape the battle. Costs 6 gold. (3 in stock)

Deadly Venom – Use on a weapon to make it cause the badly poisoned-effect on any enemy it hits for the duration of one battle. A poisoned enemy loses 1 health each turn. Costs 52 gold. (3 in stock)

Mythril – A very rare metal. Costs 1635 gold. (1 in stock)

[Flare]

Sham takes a step back, intimidated by Benji.

"Y-y-you can't threaten anything out of me! M-m-my backpack is enchanted, it won't open to anyone else!"

"Your backpack won't do much good for you dead." Benji hisses silently. He then grins and puts a hand on the timid orc's shoulder. "Relax kid, I wouldn't hurt you. But that doesn't mean we're pals... Yet. A little bit of bargaining wouldn't be bad for either of us. So what do you say? 750 - no, lets say 800 gold for that piece of rock? (mythril )"

Edit (after Sandy's edit ): "Listen, your a good kid. I'll give you 850 gold for the rock and your stock of remedies. Good business can't be denied!"

Edited July 21, 2013 by Flare

[Peppermint_M]

"There is being a smartass and then there is being a thug." Tesni sniffed. "I would love that mythril but I think I'll hang onto the gold and save up for our next meeting. We should speed up and see if we can help any of Jun's comrades."

[Flare]

"There is being a smartass and then there is being a thug." Tesni sniffed. "I would love that mythril but I think I'll hang onto the gold and save up for our next meeting. We should speed up and see if we can help any of Jun's comrades."

'Ouch. Reprimanded by a woman. Patience, Benji, indifference... or else reveal your weaknesses. Anger is weakness, unless used properly to achieve a goal. Otherwise, it will control you, and destroy you. I must remember this.'

[Sandy]

"Listen, your a good kid. I'll give you 850 gold for the rock and your stock of remedies. Good business can't be denied!"

"N-n-no more discounts, you beastly man! Sham does not negotiate with s-s-savages!"

The merchant retreats behind Tesni.

[Peppermint_M]

"Unless you want to be cut off at the Hall bar Handbag, I'd reign it in." Tesni said. She turned to the merchant. "Sham, do you know the way to these caves? Maybe if we direct

here at the bandits he'll calm down."

[Flare]

Benji, aggravated, rolls his eyes at the two clowns and walks away. He taps the head werepanther on the shoulder and tries to start a conversation. "So, what is your culture like? This is the first time I have been to Xu."