A Merchant's Word

Guided inside the merchant's quarter, the party arrives at yet another extravagant sight. The room is an explosion of color, a violet tapestry lies on the pale looking wooden floor. Yellow curtains and mannequins wearing all togas off different colors. Whilst the colors are a strong presence in the room, the general neatness is also notable. Papers are stacked via date and necessity and books are ordered alphabetically.

"My apologies dears for the mess. It's been quite a hectic period these last months."

"What's going on?"

"Please do not pay me any mind. I would just bore you. Unless you insist because frankly. I… Need… To… Vent." The talkative merchant Sodagar says emphasizing the last part with a deadpan stare.

"Sodagar, it's the least we can do." Cristal replies already pulling a chair closer. Instead of a bright extravagant smile, a subtler more heartfelt smile appears on the merchant's face.

"That's why you're all my darlings." His tone more heartfelt and serious as he softly hits Cristal on her chest plate armor.

"But please sit down, take a drink. It's going to be a loooooong ramble."

Not needing any further offer all the party members pour down some wine in their cup. The wine is of elven make and has a rather high alcohol percentage and is especially sweet. Every part member has alcohol in their hand and is sitting in a comfortable chair or sharing the crimson colored couch. All ears are ready for the merchant's rant.

Sodagar begins with the merchant republic of Crewent. His hometown and also where he's part of the higher ranks in the republic. He talks about some of his colleagues being either "idiots, living with a stuck up their behind and some he called bootlickers hoping to taste even the Doge's shit." The descriptions only get more excessive and detailed, making it clear that he bottles up his opinion on his colleagues.

The merchant does not only talk bad about his colleagues. He also talks about some new colleagues with potential and some new rule changes that could be seen as positive. However, the general outline is still negative.

"And now I even have to deal with the Silver Trading company. I'm in desperate need of silver, and they are probably the only reliable source left."

"Can you truly not find an alternative?" Sol asks trying to understand more about the subject and also to show that they're still listening and not just drinking.

"No, When the rebellion wasn't as bad I managed to make a deal with some tribes in the planes of beasts. They have herbs and some accessories that could fetch a good price up north, so I thought why not? With the rebellion now raging out of control most silver mines in Ararazi are unable to supply. However, the silver merchant company has stockpiled on their ores and even have the rights of some mines on the northern part of Ararazi that are still functional. They're quite frankly the only supplier, and they are well aware of that fact." Sodraga says before he begins to smoke on a water pipe that he brought out of nowhere. He puts in some herbs that are probably the "Sygur" from before.

"I'm afraid we can't enjoy ourselves with "Sygur" at the moment Sodagara. We have to stay focused after all." Hellas says, seeing that Sodgara has started to double down on the pleasantries.

"Oh no worries dear. The "Sygur" is already in town. You don't truly believe one administrator and a few guards are going to stop a good deal now?"

"How?"

"Please darling, you just have to keep one box filled with "Sygur" with other boxes filled with junk. Then you tell the administrator that you have a "special" arrangement that cannot be checked. He can't allow entry, but he doesn't want to anger yours truly, I'm quite the big deal. Whilst in the meantime you pay off one measly guard who checks the crates with the other wares where the "Sygur" is actually distributed."

"You're going to end up in jail one day." Cristal says as she shakes her head.

"Please darling if something goes wrong it's all dear Rios his fault. He ends up in jail for 2 days and receives an anonymous bail-out. I wonder who that can be?" Sodgara replies laughing to himself, the situation he explained appears to have happened before.

"Is there anything else you want to vent, my friend? Otherwise, we should call it a night."

"Mmmmh, not really you've all been brilliant listeners. But why don't you all ask me something. Let's make it a more fair trade shall we?"

"You've already given us a place to stay."

"Oh please that's nothing. Come ask!"

The party thinks about the offer for a moment. The amount of issues they encounter during the trip could easily vary between hundreds or nearly none. Most depend on random factors such as the weather and robbers.

"Is anything special going on in Sytrich?"

"The slavers are scouring for new wares. It seems a large trade with the Eastern Holy empire is in progress. The rebellion has been a good supply of refugees "dissapearing."

"What would they want with more slaves?"

"My…. Friends have told me that the Eastern Holy empire fears its stagnation would lead to its downfall. They want to organize an expedition in the Ashen land to claim new land and lost cities."

"They want to enter The Ashen land with slaves? That's suicide not an expedition."

"The crown prince wishes to expand the realm before he inherits the throne and the king does not have much longer to live. Some says he has the "Dog's cough" but it appears to be something else."

"Can I also ask a question?" Sol decides to ask, before it was rather out of politeness and showing interest. However now it could be deemed a favor for friends, and he's quite unfamiliar with the merchant.

"Please friends of friends are friends of my own. Ask!" Sodgara replies raising his silver cup of wine in the air before he takes another gulp.

"Two questions then. What is Revay like and how are the roads these days?"

"Revay is a kingdom where people are born in the saddle. Grass plains wide and vast, the nobles are headstrong. They bicker a lot and if not for the royal family they would've killed each other long ago. For your question about the road I assume you're hinting at possible robbers? Otherwise, I have to say that the roads are unneccesarrily bumpy and quite the atrocity. Give me sea trading any day of the week, and I'm a happy man. For the robbers, You might find some deserters roaming the southern borders in Norka. They wouldn't dare enter Sytrich or the Silver trading company. Slavery and death are not quite what brigands desire."

With all necessary information given the party continues to small talk with their friend for a little while. After some time plenty of them call it a day. Only Gunnir and Tika staying awake for nearly the entire night.