Elendor
Under the Veneer
The Vintner of Finney, maintaining his disguise, meets with Saereda the merchant. Hushed talk for an early morning.
Sort Date: no date set
Location: Esgaroth: Market Square
Game Date: 3054-6-18
IC Time: Dawn
Weather: Pleasant spring.
Description:
11/17/2011
10:39 PM
Logfile from Elendor.
The Market Square
You have arrived in the two-hundred eighty feet by two-hundred eighty feet open-air market known as the Market Square. Four buildings, brighter in colour than most of the buildings in town, border the market and are filled with shops of every kind, along with the taverns and other places people like to meet. Hawkers walk about with carts peddling goods, and entertainers draw a few crowds when the weather is decent. People from the outlying areas, and the occasional groups of Dwarves or Elves, may be seen amongst the locals.
The very center of the Market itself is a fenced-off hole spanning ninety feet in circumference. A few steps descending through the hole leads to the Market Pool, an area directly beneath the town. A few pulley contraptions bordering the area might suggest that it is used as a means of transporting goods directly from rafts into the market square.
Obvious exits:
West leads to Center of Bowman Street.
East leads to Center of Avenue of Tales.
North leads to Center of Firespark Lane.
South leads to Center of Merchant's Way.
Market Pool leads to The Market Pool.
The Town Hall, Tavern, Gamer's Den, Armour Shoppe, and Weapon Shoppe
[Saereda(#29499)]
The sky is clear and the air is warm early this morning. The world is just on the cusp of dawn, and there's a cripsness to the air off the lake. Summer dew coats the planks of the city in a fine sheen in the pre-dawn twilight, and the barest hint of warm light brightens the outer eastern horizon.
It is not unusual to see Saereda up before the dawn, often with busy steps as she makes deliveries or checks on her early morning delivery workers. This morning is no different, and she is speaking softly to a young man with a loaded cart. "Just out of the city, take the first left, and proceed in that direction for about half a league. Dunya's farm hold is just beyond that point. Plenty of cattle in the fields, you can't miss it. Got it?"
The woman raises both of her brows and waits for the young delivery driver to nod before handing him a piece of parchment, "Just make sure you have someone sign off on the whole lot before you leave." Just business as usual, apparently.
[Adom]
Nothing of the enigmatic Vintner's pursuits may appear either ordinary, or unusual. In his true business, Adom is seen at any hour of the day - and all but himself and perhaps one other aware of when or where he sleeps. Yet he lingers in disguise into the warming months, when a wine-man should be visibly marketing new vintages with the magic of spreading gossip. Is his cart still parked south of the barracks? What of his hunting hound?
The figure now known as Earl enters the market slowly from the South. Unladen and without cloak in the fairer weather, he moves through the first signs of life for the business day. While the Vintner might make special effort to meet all eyes, this woodworker Earl looks forward with purpose and finds no pleasantries and greetings as he goes. Save one. Spotting Saereda in the rising dawn, he approaches and says, "We must talk more. I'd be a liar if'n I didn't say I don't remember what was said just before.. or anything after.. a certain name. I do hope's you ain't doin' business with that fella."
[Saereda(#29499)]
It's with some amount of amusement that she quirks a single brow at the man she knows as Earl when he speaks to her, but she doesn't reply immediantely despite the faint smile that touches her expression. "Go on then." She says to the young man who's working for you. "The dawn's coming, and time's wasting away." Saereda's employee shoots Earl an inquisitive look before he turns away from the two. A flick of the reigns, and he heads out. It's only once he's started moving forward that the merchant woman turns her calm smile back on Earl.
"His name certainly did have an affect on you then." Saereda takes a step forward, her hand catching a wooden post as she leans her hip against it. "And none to positive. Can I ask you a question, Earl?"
[Adom]
Hands opening with admission, a head tilting left with honest expression, he responds, "I'm still learnin', but I know he's posted up at the intersection of No-Good and Weasel. And that he stays right at the center of 'bout anythin questionable. I can't prove nothin' on him, so ask away - can't say as I'll have an answer." His eyes drift, watching the wagon-load go, an odd attached curiosity in his lingering regard.
[Saereda(#29499)]
Something about Earl's opinion makes the woman's smile widen into something more like a grin, "I think this one you can answer... but you may not want to." Saereda mutters the last a little more softly and pressed the tip of her thumb to her lips looking out at the horizon before her hand drops and her gaze shifts back to Earl. "Your feelings are unusually strong on this matter for it not to be personal. So, what exactly did he do to you?"
[Adom]
The casual honesty shrinks, the receptive hands closing now in folded arms at chest. Adom answers, "He ain't done nothin' to me, that I know of. That's the thing. Seems as if there's strings attached on everythin' in Esgaroth - a merchant lady knows that much." His brow folds with narrowed eyes of thought.
"As for feelings? Sure, I got some feelings that may seem strong. Wakin' up alive the next day outta be high on yer list too," he pauses meeting her eyes to add singularly, "m'lady." He adds a shrug and simple declaration, "Suit yerself, I don't want nothin with him."
[Saereda(#29499)]
"I'll just say this, Earl." Saereda sighs and then smiles rather gently. "You're right. There's strings attached everything here in Esgaroth. Sordid reality, but ... you don't need to really worry yourself over the ... 'no-good weasels,' as you put it. You -knows- they're up to no good, and that knowledge does give you the upper hand. Don't doubt that. They're the least of your worries." Dropping her voice as she takes a step closer to Earl, the woman's eyes suddenly narrow. "You only need to worry about those who are hiding what they really are. The ones with the veneer of civilization. Those are the ones worth avoiding if at all possible."
Her sharp gaze ligthens suddenly with a sudden change to a smile as she adds, "And, for the love of the Dale-Lands, I am not a lady."
[Adom]
Once Adom nearly laughs as her speech draws towards conclusion. The resolve to remain stalwart crumbles with her final words, and his burst of laughter is truly sincere. Gathering wits, eyes closed, hand up as if to request no more, he speaks, "Point taken. I ain't one neither if'n we got more clearin' things up to do." He winks.
"Yes'm, I have learned a thing or two about veneers, and smoothing out rough edges, and all the likes of woodworkin the last few months. Far cry from just choppin down the wood and leavin the details to other hands..." he says more fully, measuring each word with slow rhythm and guaging Saereda's responses. "If'n you ain't a lady, then, if I say yes to workin' with ya, if things get ugly, can't says as I'd treat the moment with more than 'Every man for hisself.'" he adds.
[Saereda(#29499)]
Giving Adom a once over while looking down the tip over nose as if she was being a little snooty, Saereda arches a brow and then suddenly breaks into a grin, "Well, fine then. I'll try to remember not to refer to you as a 'lady' either." She breaks into a soft laugh then and shakes her head as she grins at the man, "Ahh, Earl. If things go ugly, that's exactly what I prefer you would do, in reality. I have my own plan for when that happens, and I really do recommend you develop one for yourself. Ideally, even in a worst case scenario, I'm hoping for at least a controlled disaster, but ... be prepared for all scenarios."
With a shake of her head she stares out at the square with a pensive frown, "I can't say what the future holds, but I'm going to take my best attempt with it. I can't promise you any stability. All I've got is an opportunity, and that's what I'm offering." Looking back up at Earl, Saereda smirks, "So - your choice, really. And if things go well ... perhaps the opportunities will multiply into something entirely new."
[Adom]
"I'm outta practice at choice," Adom makes quick in response, but the pause thereafter is long with the burden of thought. Right hand lifts as if to point decidedly and falls. The left rises after open, and inquisitive, and also falls without worded backup. Shifting weight side to side, once, twice and a third, at length he speaks, "Ah hell with it. I ain't ever left a man behind, and ain't gonna start up on THAT as a habit now. Can't say as I'm all too fond of this phrase 'controlled disaster.' Or especially how ya say 'WHEN it happens.'"
His pose becomes solid, hands clasping behind his back, and his eyes have sincere burden of question as he asks, "What am i supposed to do for ya? I hate sanding."
[Saereda(#29499)]
She watches Adom with a quiet patience as he works through his thoughts, her eyes just like a calm sea as she studies him. A shade of a smile touches Saereda's lips when he finally speaks, and then she nods her head once. "I generally assume the worst will happen. If not now - then later. I may be wrong, but it's just how I work. Don't read into it anymore than you're comfortable with, Earl."
"I'm needin a protector. Someone who can accompany when the need arises on trips down to the docks, outside the city, and the underdecks. Normally this would be a simple issue. Hire someone with a good sword arm or a nasty left hook, and the position would be filled. Simple." Shaking her head, Saereda lifts a finger, "But... I also need someone who isn't going to scare my connections. So a King's man simply will not do. I also need someone who isn't going to rat me out to the authorities if I do some trading that isn't completely legal. Are you following me?"
[Adom]
The Vintner's slow nodding agreement at each sentence shows his understanding. "I follow the words, but I hope you'll follow my cautions," he offers as first response. He bites the inside of his cheek, eyes drifting into unseen distance.
"Plannin' for the worst, yes'm, thats some true wisdom there, I can't argue. Done learnt that plan myself. Course it took a bunch of hard knocks and some hook-shots of my own - given and received - to get there. I heard quick not to mess with them 'decks - so don't nobody know me there. Ain't got no taste for blue-coats bein my friends neither," he says, eyes narrowing with final curiousity, "but what good's a protector with no scarin'?"
[Saereda(#29499)]
That last question makes her laugh, and Saereda leans back against the wooden post. "I am not interested in your ability to scare anyone. I am, hoewver, interested in your ability to make people respect you. That's all that is needed. I don't want fear from those I deal with. I want respect. Some will understand this just with words, and some will need persuading of a more physical variety. I really do not specialize in that. That's why I need someone like you."
[Adom]
Shaking his head, a reluctant acceptance, Adom admits, "Respect's somethin I do know plenty about. And ya ain't gotta always prove it. Just act it, be it, do it. They'll see." He nods deeply and starts to turn.
"Ain't gonna say i'm all the way sold just yet," he speaks, even as his body's direction cues a departure, "so I'll ponder on it a night or two and I'll look around for ya in a couple three days. Seems as it ain't that hard to find ya. Hope ya got SOME skills at hidin' if'n this 'worst' comes to pass. Hope I don't have to share that with ya." A conclusion found, he strides away through the dawning morn of one more day in Esgaroth.
11/17/2011
10:39 PM
Logfile from Elendor.
The Market Square
You have arrived in the two-hundred eighty feet by two-hundred eighty feet open-air market known as the Market Square. Four buildings, brighter in colour than most of the buildings in town, border the market and are filled with shops of every kind, along with the taverns and other places people like to meet. Hawkers walk about with carts peddling goods, and entertainers draw a few crowds when the weather is decent. People from the outlying areas, and the occasional groups of Dwarves or Elves, may be seen amongst the locals.
The very center of the Market itself is a fenced-off hole spanning ninety feet in circumference. A few steps descending through the hole leads to the Market Pool, an area directly beneath the town. A few pulley contraptions bordering the area might suggest that it is used as a means of transporting goods directly from rafts into the market square.
Obvious exits:
West leads to Center of Bowman Street.
East leads to Center of Avenue of Tales.
North leads to Center of Firespark Lane.
South leads to Center of Merchant's Way.
Market Pool leads to The Market Pool.
The Town Hall, Tavern, Gamer's Den, Armour Shoppe, and Weapon Shoppe
[Saereda(#29499)]
The sky is clear and the air is warm early this morning. The world is just on the cusp of dawn, and there's a cripsness to the air off the lake. Summer dew coats the planks of the city in a fine sheen in the pre-dawn twilight, and the barest hint of warm light brightens the outer eastern horizon.
It is not unusual to see Saereda up before the dawn, often with busy steps as she makes deliveries or checks on her early morning delivery workers. This morning is no different, and she is speaking softly to a young man with a loaded cart. "Just out of the city, take the first left, and proceed in that direction for about half a league. Dunya's farm hold is just beyond that point. Plenty of cattle in the fields, you can't miss it. Got it?"
The woman raises both of her brows and waits for the young delivery driver to nod before handing him a piece of parchment, "Just make sure you have someone sign off on the whole lot before you leave." Just business as usual, apparently.
[Adom]
Nothing of the enigmatic Vintner's pursuits may appear either ordinary, or unusual. In his true business, Adom is seen at any hour of the day - and all but himself and perhaps one other aware of when or where he sleeps. Yet he lingers in disguise into the warming months, when a wine-man should be visibly marketing new vintages with the magic of spreading gossip. Is his cart still parked south of the barracks? What of his hunting hound?
The figure now known as Earl enters the market slowly from the South. Unladen and without cloak in the fairer weather, he moves through the first signs of life for the business day. While the Vintner might make special effort to meet all eyes, this woodworker Earl looks forward with purpose and finds no pleasantries and greetings as he goes. Save one. Spotting Saereda in the rising dawn, he approaches and says, "We must talk more. I'd be a liar if'n I didn't say I don't remember what was said just before.. or anything after.. a certain name. I do hope's you ain't doin' business with that fella."
[Saereda(#29499)]
It's with some amount of amusement that she quirks a single brow at the man she knows as Earl when he speaks to her, but she doesn't reply immediantely despite the faint smile that touches her expression. "Go on then." She says to the young man who's working for you. "The dawn's coming, and time's wasting away." Saereda's employee shoots Earl an inquisitive look before he turns away from the two. A flick of the reigns, and he heads out. It's only once he's started moving forward that the merchant woman turns her calm smile back on Earl.
"His name certainly did have an affect on you then." Saereda takes a step forward, her hand catching a wooden post as she leans her hip against it. "And none to positive. Can I ask you a question, Earl?"
[Adom]
Hands opening with admission, a head tilting left with honest expression, he responds, "I'm still learnin', but I know he's posted up at the intersection of No-Good and Weasel. And that he stays right at the center of 'bout anythin questionable. I can't prove nothin' on him, so ask away - can't say as I'll have an answer." His eyes drift, watching the wagon-load go, an odd attached curiosity in his lingering regard.
[Saereda(#29499)]
Something about Earl's opinion makes the woman's smile widen into something more like a grin, "I think this one you can answer... but you may not want to." Saereda mutters the last a little more softly and pressed the tip of her thumb to her lips looking out at the horizon before her hand drops and her gaze shifts back to Earl. "Your feelings are unusually strong on this matter for it not to be personal. So, what exactly did he do to you?"
[Adom]
The casual honesty shrinks, the receptive hands closing now in folded arms at chest. Adom answers, "He ain't done nothin' to me, that I know of. That's the thing. Seems as if there's strings attached on everythin' in Esgaroth - a merchant lady knows that much." His brow folds with narrowed eyes of thought.
"As for feelings? Sure, I got some feelings that may seem strong. Wakin' up alive the next day outta be high on yer list too," he pauses meeting her eyes to add singularly, "m'lady." He adds a shrug and simple declaration, "Suit yerself, I don't want nothin with him."
[Saereda(#29499)]
"I'll just say this, Earl." Saereda sighs and then smiles rather gently. "You're right. There's strings attached everything here in Esgaroth. Sordid reality, but ... you don't need to really worry yourself over the ... 'no-good weasels,' as you put it. You -knows- they're up to no good, and that knowledge does give you the upper hand. Don't doubt that. They're the least of your worries." Dropping her voice as she takes a step closer to Earl, the woman's eyes suddenly narrow. "You only need to worry about those who are hiding what they really are. The ones with the veneer of civilization. Those are the ones worth avoiding if at all possible."
Her sharp gaze ligthens suddenly with a sudden change to a smile as she adds, "And, for the love of the Dale-Lands, I am not a lady."
[Adom]
Once Adom nearly laughs as her speech draws towards conclusion. The resolve to remain stalwart crumbles with her final words, and his burst of laughter is truly sincere. Gathering wits, eyes closed, hand up as if to request no more, he speaks, "Point taken. I ain't one neither if'n we got more clearin' things up to do." He winks.
"Yes'm, I have learned a thing or two about veneers, and smoothing out rough edges, and all the likes of woodworkin the last few months. Far cry from just choppin down the wood and leavin the details to other hands..." he says more fully, measuring each word with slow rhythm and guaging Saereda's responses. "If'n you ain't a lady, then, if I say yes to workin' with ya, if things get ugly, can't says as I'd treat the moment with more than 'Every man for hisself.'" he adds.
[Saereda(#29499)]
Giving Adom a once over while looking down the tip over nose as if she was being a little snooty, Saereda arches a brow and then suddenly breaks into a grin, "Well, fine then. I'll try to remember not to refer to you as a 'lady' either." She breaks into a soft laugh then and shakes her head as she grins at the man, "Ahh, Earl. If things go ugly, that's exactly what I prefer you would do, in reality. I have my own plan for when that happens, and I really do recommend you develop one for yourself. Ideally, even in a worst case scenario, I'm hoping for at least a controlled disaster, but ... be prepared for all scenarios."
With a shake of her head she stares out at the square with a pensive frown, "I can't say what the future holds, but I'm going to take my best attempt with it. I can't promise you any stability. All I've got is an opportunity, and that's what I'm offering." Looking back up at Earl, Saereda smirks, "So - your choice, really. And if things go well ... perhaps the opportunities will multiply into something entirely new."
[Adom]
"I'm outta practice at choice," Adom makes quick in response, but the pause thereafter is long with the burden of thought. Right hand lifts as if to point decidedly and falls. The left rises after open, and inquisitive, and also falls without worded backup. Shifting weight side to side, once, twice and a third, at length he speaks, "Ah hell with it. I ain't ever left a man behind, and ain't gonna start up on THAT as a habit now. Can't say as I'm all too fond of this phrase 'controlled disaster.' Or especially how ya say 'WHEN it happens.'"
His pose becomes solid, hands clasping behind his back, and his eyes have sincere burden of question as he asks, "What am i supposed to do for ya? I hate sanding."
[Saereda(#29499)]
She watches Adom with a quiet patience as he works through his thoughts, her eyes just like a calm sea as she studies him. A shade of a smile touches Saereda's lips when he finally speaks, and then she nods her head once. "I generally assume the worst will happen. If not now - then later. I may be wrong, but it's just how I work. Don't read into it anymore than you're comfortable with, Earl."
"I'm needin a protector. Someone who can accompany when the need arises on trips down to the docks, outside the city, and the underdecks. Normally this would be a simple issue. Hire someone with a good sword arm or a nasty left hook, and the position would be filled. Simple." Shaking her head, Saereda lifts a finger, "But... I also need someone who isn't going to scare my connections. So a King's man simply will not do. I also need someone who isn't going to rat me out to the authorities if I do some trading that isn't completely legal. Are you following me?"
[Adom]
The Vintner's slow nodding agreement at each sentence shows his understanding. "I follow the words, but I hope you'll follow my cautions," he offers as first response. He bites the inside of his cheek, eyes drifting into unseen distance.
"Plannin' for the worst, yes'm, thats some true wisdom there, I can't argue. Done learnt that plan myself. Course it took a bunch of hard knocks and some hook-shots of my own - given and received - to get there. I heard quick not to mess with them 'decks - so don't nobody know me there. Ain't got no taste for blue-coats bein my friends neither," he says, eyes narrowing with final curiousity, "but what good's a protector with no scarin'?"
[Saereda(#29499)]
That last question makes her laugh, and Saereda leans back against the wooden post. "I am not interested in your ability to scare anyone. I am, hoewver, interested in your ability to make people respect you. That's all that is needed. I don't want fear from those I deal with. I want respect. Some will understand this just with words, and some will need persuading of a more physical variety. I really do not specialize in that. That's why I need someone like you."
[Adom]
Shaking his head, a reluctant acceptance, Adom admits, "Respect's somethin I do know plenty about. And ya ain't gotta always prove it. Just act it, be it, do it. They'll see." He nods deeply and starts to turn.
"Ain't gonna say i'm all the way sold just yet," he speaks, even as his body's direction cues a departure, "so I'll ponder on it a night or two and I'll look around for ya in a couple three days. Seems as it ain't that hard to find ya. Hope ya got SOME skills at hidin' if'n this 'worst' comes to pass. Hope I don't have to share that with ya." A conclusion found, he strides away through the dawning morn of one more day in Esgaroth.
Players: Saereda, Adom
Located in: Dale-Lands
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