Whizbang Dustyboots said:
"Well," Harval says, stroking his beard, mentally counting how far to go until his weregild debt is repaid, "'at depends on what 'fair market value' might mean."
Voadam said:
Aeligim's attention is caught by the name of the target item "What is the Fiend's Embrace reputed to do?"
Still smiling, Arakk answers, "Excellent questions, both, and the answer to the first depends on the second." Turning first to Aeligim, he says, "To be frank, I have no idea. Rumors say that the cloak was fashioned by a demon prince from the hide of a pit fiend, and offered as a gift to his lover. Zarlag's notes indicate only that it is powerful, but no further details are offered."
"As to what it's worth..." Arakk now returns his attention to Harval, "that all depends on what it does. Clearly, if the cloak is in Cold Stones Keep, and you return with it, it will need to be independently appraised of its powers and valued accordingly. I will pay your group the full value of the cloak, once its powers have been determined."
Whizbang Dustyboots said:
"And where did you find this lot?"
Arakk laughs. "This lot? Why, the same way I found you, good sir. Good advertising! Ruined keeps, inhospitable swamps, peril to be faced, treasure to be won... Adventurers always come calling for this sort of business, it's in their blood. The very fact that you all sit here before me is proof of that."
Land Outcast said:
Idivien asks, "What wass thiss place... Cold Sstoness Keep before it became abandoned?...I assume it iss abandoned"
Arakk shrugs, "Who knows, a remnant of some lost empire perhaps? I haven't seen anything in Zarlag's writings to answer that question. But, yes, it does seem that the keep is abandoned. Or, at least, it was when Zarlag visited it years ago...although his exploration was not exactly what one might call thorough."
Rayex said:
Thinking that this keep might hold a shrine, the possibility remote as it is, Gnro decides to accept the task.
"I will go, sir...."
"Excellent! Our first willing soul! This young lady..." Arakk's voice trails off and his eyes narrow as he leans forward to peer more carefully at Gnro's hooded face. "Hmm...there are no Wolf Nomads in this room, perhaps you might consider lowering your hood? If these others are to be your travelling companions, it won't do to try to keep a secret such as this. You are safe here."