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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Carlo-One" data-source="post: 8082693" data-attributes="member: 7015827">With breakfast done, the five companions returned one last time to their rooms, to pack up and go. They assembled in the guest quarters’ corridor as Shanni finished packing, which included checking to make sure nothing had been disturbed in their absence. Darrow mentioned his desire to start a brewery in Tallwell and that the Ironhelm tavernkeeper might come out and run it for the right price, which found favor with Rahnee. She gave a happy laugh at the prospect, but then stopped as she heard the clank of armor coming down the hallway.Toran Goldfinder arrived with his guards and once more offered his greetings. Dermot acknowledged this with a deep nod, while Darrow declared he could be civil, now that he’d had his ale, and bowed in response. Aerikoth as usual stood calmly, holding his staff in front of himself with both hands and remaining silent. Toran smiled and said that he saluted the bearer of Haelgrim as he headed to the outside world, asking when Darrow intended to return. Darrow admitted that they didn’t rightly have a plan, but based on the tasks ahead of them, he guessed they would return no sooner than a tenday or two. Shanni chimed in and said that maybe it would just be to pick up their share of the hoard, breezily saying they had to go and give the things they had found a good test.Toran, as if beginning a prepared speech, explained that as the one responsible for the Clan's wealth and trade, he wished to explore every opportunity to increase benefits for the Clan. In a querying tone, he raised the fact they had spoken of a human noble in Teziir who would be interested in trade with the Clan. Toran also addressed Shanni and expressed his hope there were no hard feelings for any previous misunderstandings.In response Shanni yawned a little, obviously deliberately, as Rahnee informed Toran that they were speaking of Council Member Queron. The clan treasurer then asked if he should send a trade mission to the city, whether it would be able to find and converse with him, which Rahnee answered in the affirmative. Darrow confirmed that Queron would be the right man in Teziir to discuss trade with and had a good impression of the clan, as Darrow and his companions had helped him in the past.Toran showed enthusiasm at this and said he hoped to open up new opportunities for the Clan, this sounding like an excellent one. He stated that in matters of trade, however, one must show that one has something special to furnish; he believed one of the items from the dragon hoard might be just the thing. Dermot quirked an eyebrow at this and looked at the others, as Toran continued talking about how such an item would be a token of Clan Ironhelm’s bounty and new prospects. He then asked if any of them had an item they would like to sell - at an excellent price.Shanni expressed her disbelief at this while Darrow, supported by Rahnee, commented that there was plenty of dwarven arms and armor which would be considered special by humans. Toran dismissed this, saying that Ironhelm had always traded the wares of its smithy, so something unusual to attract more attention was what was needed. Shanni facetiously suggested Helrud’s boots, which had a nice pair of laces in them according to her, which prompted a forced laugh from Toran. He asked if there was nothing else that they had which would be worth, say, ten thousand gold.When this question was met largely with obfuscation and indifference, Toran pointed out that such an item would be difficult to sell, given the need to find someone with the necessary wealth and interest, modestly terming himself such a person. Shanni replied by telling him there was no point in selling something you can make better use of while travelling. After another forced smile, Toran alluded to the fact that oftentimes, having objects of great value can be dangerous, since one must constantly protect them, and what better place than the citadel of the clan for that? Darrow bluntly said they were used to danger and Rahnee termed the ten thousand gold a drop in the bucket for an item such as he was describing. Toran countered by saying that ten thousand was a princely sum.Dermot, playing ignorant, questioned what “Lord Goldfinder” was expecting, as the real bounty was the hoard, according to the ranger, with their “little souvenirs” just tokens. He then paused meaningfully and asked if there was something he had in mind, wondering out loud how would anyone know what was down there. Toran, perceiving an opening, thought perhaps they could show him what they had found. Wordlessly, Darrow pointed to his boots while Dermot said the most superb thing he had seen was a sword, producing his cold magic short sword. Toran inspected the sword and agreed that it was nice indeed, but was still curious why they were willing to forego half of the dragon hoard’s gold, for the items they kept. Dermot told him that this way was easier and the ranger’s assertion of the practicality of their choice was echoed by Shanni, Rahnee and Darrow.Toran appeared skeptical but gave up further probing, leaving them with a thin smile and an offer to do business in the future. Before he left, he confirmed that they would be at the inauguration a month hence; Darrow assured him of his presence while Shanni sported an obvious smirk. As soon as the clan treasurer and his guards had disappeared around the corner, Shanni asked if they could go now.</blockquote>

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