Menu
News
All News
Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
Pathfinder
Starfinder
Warhammer
2d20 System
Year Zero Engine
Industry News
Reviews
Dragon Reflections
Columns
Weekly Digests
Weekly News Digest
Freebies, Sales & Bundles
RPG Print News
RPG Crowdfunding News
Game Content
ENterplanetary DimENsions
Mythological Figures
Opinion
Worlds of Design
Peregrine's Next
RPG Evolution
Other Columns
From the Freelancing Frontline
Monster ENcyclopedia
WotC/TSR Alumni Look Back
4 Hours w/RSD (Ryan Dancey)
The Road to 3E (Jonathan Tweet)
Greenwood's Realms (Ed Greenwood)
Drawmij's TSR (Jim Ward)
Community
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Resources
Wiki
Pages
Latest activity
Media
New media
New comments
Search media
Downloads
Latest reviews
Search resources
EN Publishing
Store
EN5ider
Adventures in ZEITGEIST
Awfully Cheerful Engine
What's OLD is NEW
Judge Dredd & The Worlds Of 2000AD
War of the Burning Sky
Level Up: Advanced 5E
Events & Releases
Upcoming Events
Private Events
Featured Events
Socials!
Twitch
YouTube
Facebook (EN Publishing)
Facebook (EN World)
Twitter
Instagram
TikTok
Podcast
Features
Top 5 RPGs Compiled Charts 2004-Present
Adventure Game Industry Market Research Summary (RPGs) V1.0
Ryan Dancey: Acquiring TSR
Q&A With Gary Gygax
D&D Rules FAQs
TSR, WotC, & Paizo: A Comparative History
D&D Pronunciation Guide
Million Dollar TTRPG Kickstarters
Tabletop RPG Podcast Hall of Fame
Eric Noah's Unofficial D&D 3rd Edition News
D&D in the Mainstream
D&D & RPG History
About Morrus
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles only
By:
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
Community
Playing the Game
Story Hour
Forgotten Lore (Updated M-W-F)
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="Lazybones" data-source="post: 7225089" data-attributes="member: 143"><p>Chapter 84</p><p></p><p>The interior of the tiny shop was dingy and dim, the only light filtering through a small window that looked like it hadn’t been cleaned in years. The shop wasn’t that far from one of Adelar’s several busy squares, but its outer door opened onto a disused alley, not one of the busy streets that flowed with worried townsfolk and refugees from the war.</p><p></p><p>It seemed unlikely, however, that the shop would have seen more custom even if had been more favorably placed. It was difficult to even tell what was on sale; the only merchandise on the narrow shelves consisted of an assortment of wooden boxes. If the boxes themselves were the products then they clearly needed attention; even the best of them looked like they had been dropped off a wagon or left outside in the elements for a few weeks.</p><p></p><p>The same could be said for the old man who sat behind the counter. His sagging flesh was all wrinkles and spots, and while his coat looked like it had once been decent it now had frayed edges at the cuffs and collar, as well as a large faded stain on the left shoulder the size of man’s fist. He sat there eating shelled walnuts from a crumpled bag. A curtain behind him led to a back room where even more boxes were visible, stacked into precarious-looking mounds.</p><p></p><p>The old man’s eyes flicked up when a shadow passed in front of the window, but there was a delay of ten heartbeats before the door swung open. The new arrival also had the look of a merchant, but one of an entirely different class than the proprietor of the shop. His coat had been recently pressed, and there were lines of golden thread at the cuffs, with ivory buttons carved into decorative spirals. Enough of those buttons were undone to reveal that he wore two chains, one in silver and one in gold. Each of those was likely worth more than anything in the shop, the old man included, but the shopkeeper’s eyes barely flicked over them before settling on the new arrival’s face.</p><p></p><p>“Master Markuin,” he said, his voice scratchy with age, or perhaps from disuse. “What do you have for me today?”</p><p></p><p>“I made an interesting purchase recently,” Markuin said, turning to shut the door behind him. His eyes registered distaste as they swept through the interior of the shop, but he made an effort to collect himself as he went over to the counter. “Of the sort you are interested in.”</p><p></p><p>“Oh?” the shopkeeper said. If he was interested he hid it well, shoving another handful of nuts into his mouth. Bits of them fell out through the gaps in his teeth as he chewed.</p><p></p><p>Markuin seemed a bit put off by the other’s reaction. “A young woman of part-elven heritage visited my shop the other day,” he said. “She had some small pieces for sale. Nothing special, for the most part, some decorative jewelry in silver, a small ivory statuette of a warrior. But one item of note. A knife, the blade a solid slab of jade, surrounded by a hilt made of bronze plates. Quite old.”</p><p></p><p>The shopkeeper had reached into his bag, but as the other man spoke he drew his hand out and thrust the sack under the counter. “You have my attention,” he said. “The artifact… did you bring it?”</p><p></p><p>Markuin smirked, and gave the interior of the shop another evaluative look. “I may give you the opportunity to make a bid on the item, in respect for our… past relationship, but it will be at a time and place of my choosing.”</p><p></p><p>The old man snorted. “Tell me of this girl. Where did she come from? Did she say where she found the object?”</p><p></p><p>“My understanding is that this transaction involves some sort of renumeration,” Markuin said.</p><p></p><p>The shopkeeper regarded him for a long moment, then reached under his counter and produced a small leather pouch. It clanked when it landed on the wooden surface. Markuin snatched it up and undid the snap to look inside, then gave it an evaluative heft before tucking it into a pocket of his coat. “She is a recent arrival, just came to the city a few days ago. She and some companions journeyed north to join the King’s forces. As to the artifact, she was somewhat cagey about that, but indicated that she and her friends had been looting ruins in the south. From her accent I’d say not too far south, she didn’t have the coast on her tongue.”</p><p></p><p>“As if there’s anything to find down there,” the old man said. “How much did you give her for the artifact?”</p><p></p><p>“I offered three hundred, but allowed her to bargain me up to four. Perhaps a bit high for the raw materials, but she seemed to have some understanding of its… historical value.”</p><p></p><p>“Where is she staying, this girl?”</p><p></p><p>“How should I know? I got the impression she did not expect to remain in the city long. She may be gone now, for all I know, off to join the fools’ crusade.”</p><p></p><p>The old man’s jaw clenched, but with an effort he loosened it and nodded. “Let me know when you are ready to sell. I will make you a fair offer for the item.”</p><p></p><p>Markuin made a slight bow, but the awakened greed was already clear in his eyes as he turned to leave. The door creaked as it swung shut behind him, and a moment later the shadow of his passage slid past the window. But the shopkeeper waited a full fifty heartbeats before he said, “Did you hear all that?”</p><p></p><p>The curtain shifted and a hulking figure that barely fit through the doorway slid into the room. In the deep shadows away from the window his face wasn’t quite visible, but he looked like he could have picked up the old man and snapped him in two without straining. He didn’t say anything, just stood there looming in silence.</p><p></p><p>The shopkeeper didn’t even glance at him, he just looked thoughtful for a moment. “Tonight,” he finally said. “Make it look like an accident. Take nothing but the key.”</p><p></p><p>“The girl?” the giant rumbled.</p><p></p><p>“Leave her to me,” the old man said.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Lazybones, post: 7225089, member: 143"] Chapter 84 The interior of the tiny shop was dingy and dim, the only light filtering through a small window that looked like it hadn’t been cleaned in years. The shop wasn’t that far from one of Adelar’s several busy squares, but its outer door opened onto a disused alley, not one of the busy streets that flowed with worried townsfolk and refugees from the war. It seemed unlikely, however, that the shop would have seen more custom even if had been more favorably placed. It was difficult to even tell what was on sale; the only merchandise on the narrow shelves consisted of an assortment of wooden boxes. If the boxes themselves were the products then they clearly needed attention; even the best of them looked like they had been dropped off a wagon or left outside in the elements for a few weeks. The same could be said for the old man who sat behind the counter. His sagging flesh was all wrinkles and spots, and while his coat looked like it had once been decent it now had frayed edges at the cuffs and collar, as well as a large faded stain on the left shoulder the size of man’s fist. He sat there eating shelled walnuts from a crumpled bag. A curtain behind him led to a back room where even more boxes were visible, stacked into precarious-looking mounds. The old man’s eyes flicked up when a shadow passed in front of the window, but there was a delay of ten heartbeats before the door swung open. The new arrival also had the look of a merchant, but one of an entirely different class than the proprietor of the shop. His coat had been recently pressed, and there were lines of golden thread at the cuffs, with ivory buttons carved into decorative spirals. Enough of those buttons were undone to reveal that he wore two chains, one in silver and one in gold. Each of those was likely worth more than anything in the shop, the old man included, but the shopkeeper’s eyes barely flicked over them before settling on the new arrival’s face. “Master Markuin,” he said, his voice scratchy with age, or perhaps from disuse. “What do you have for me today?” “I made an interesting purchase recently,” Markuin said, turning to shut the door behind him. His eyes registered distaste as they swept through the interior of the shop, but he made an effort to collect himself as he went over to the counter. “Of the sort you are interested in.” “Oh?” the shopkeeper said. If he was interested he hid it well, shoving another handful of nuts into his mouth. Bits of them fell out through the gaps in his teeth as he chewed. Markuin seemed a bit put off by the other’s reaction. “A young woman of part-elven heritage visited my shop the other day,” he said. “She had some small pieces for sale. Nothing special, for the most part, some decorative jewelry in silver, a small ivory statuette of a warrior. But one item of note. A knife, the blade a solid slab of jade, surrounded by a hilt made of bronze plates. Quite old.” The shopkeeper had reached into his bag, but as the other man spoke he drew his hand out and thrust the sack under the counter. “You have my attention,” he said. “The artifact… did you bring it?” Markuin smirked, and gave the interior of the shop another evaluative look. “I may give you the opportunity to make a bid on the item, in respect for our… past relationship, but it will be at a time and place of my choosing.” The old man snorted. “Tell me of this girl. Where did she come from? Did she say where she found the object?” “My understanding is that this transaction involves some sort of renumeration,” Markuin said. The shopkeeper regarded him for a long moment, then reached under his counter and produced a small leather pouch. It clanked when it landed on the wooden surface. Markuin snatched it up and undid the snap to look inside, then gave it an evaluative heft before tucking it into a pocket of his coat. “She is a recent arrival, just came to the city a few days ago. She and some companions journeyed north to join the King’s forces. As to the artifact, she was somewhat cagey about that, but indicated that she and her friends had been looting ruins in the south. From her accent I’d say not too far south, she didn’t have the coast on her tongue.” “As if there’s anything to find down there,” the old man said. “How much did you give her for the artifact?” “I offered three hundred, but allowed her to bargain me up to four. Perhaps a bit high for the raw materials, but she seemed to have some understanding of its… historical value.” “Where is she staying, this girl?” “How should I know? I got the impression she did not expect to remain in the city long. She may be gone now, for all I know, off to join the fools’ crusade.” The old man’s jaw clenched, but with an effort he loosened it and nodded. “Let me know when you are ready to sell. I will make you a fair offer for the item.” Markuin made a slight bow, but the awakened greed was already clear in his eyes as he turned to leave. The door creaked as it swung shut behind him, and a moment later the shadow of his passage slid past the window. But the shopkeeper waited a full fifty heartbeats before he said, “Did you hear all that?” The curtain shifted and a hulking figure that barely fit through the doorway slid into the room. In the deep shadows away from the window his face wasn’t quite visible, but he looked like he could have picked up the old man and snapped him in two without straining. He didn’t say anything, just stood there looming in silence. The shopkeeper didn’t even glance at him, he just looked thoughtful for a moment. “Tonight,” he finally said. “Make it look like an accident. Take nothing but the key.” “The girl?” the giant rumbled. “Leave her to me,” the old man said. [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Community
Playing the Game
Story Hour
Forgotten Lore (Updated M-W-F)
Top