And so it begins...

As the group closed the distance upon the frivolities ahead, the lights, music, and general sense of exuberance ignited a dangerously short fuse behind Briar’s wide eyes. Her moth-like attraction to all things joyous and bright created a blanket to cover the memory of her task at hand; surely Elden was wrong about these merchants. Sensing nothing but the happy glow of smiles and embrace of music, the fairy darted ahead like an animal on the chase, eyes on the move to catch any glimpse of a trinket or totem to hold long after the evening had passed on.

The warm atmosphere transported Ashtar to days gone by. Of night markets, performances under moon and masks, and dancing the night way--of times of joy and merriment before such soft words were taken from him. Ashtar approached the group of folks.

"Evening." He gave a courteous nod. "Might we speak with the leader of your merry band?"

Briar darts to the wagons, leaving the others to catch up at their own pace.
The cloth-covered wagons have two torches hanging from the tops, and the small doorways inside are close.
The larger wooden wagon is open at both ends and wide enough to walk through. It is also full of all sorts of bits and bobbles. Gloves, Hats, Scarves, Instruments, Mirrors, Maps, Vials, Pottery, Candles, and more. Sadly, in the middle of the wagon sits an elderly lady; she is currently knitting.Ashtar and the others approach the wagons, and a few of the traders notice them. The party does not stop or slow down, but two ladies stop dancing and start sashaying towards the party.

The two ladies are gorgeous. They have long black hair, voluptuous hips, and nice-toned legs, and they are both scantly clad. Only wearing knee-length skirts and shirts that show off their cleavage and bellies.
One of the ladies does a slightly revealing curtsy and offers a handout to Ashtar. The other lady heads right for Couth.
The main lady offers an ungloved hand towards Ashtar. "Now why would you want to speak to that old man when you could enjoy my company instead?

Couth smiles as he sees her closing in. Stiffens up in a priestly manor. "I bet you would be fine to show me this place." He does his best not to let his eyes linger anyplace other than forward. He points to the head wagon, "Could you be so kind as to bring me to the master of that large wagon there."

Briar can assume that the covered wooden wagon is where they hold the items the merchant sells. Once inside you fly around looking at everything. The elderly lady without looking up from her knitting says dryly to Briar "You Break it You Buy.
A few things catch your eyes. ,A wooden mask covered in barnacles — it is always wet
A necklace of gold braid and nine knots, with an ivory clasp.
A solid sphere of ice that emits smoke but cannot melt.
A curiously made coin of magically toughened glass, stamped with obscure ritual imagery and filled with quicksilver, without seams or air bubbles.
A heavy brass tube two feet long, and an inch across, in the shape of a stylized dragon's head and mouth.
An ornate walking cane too tall for the average humanoid to use.
A lute with a bad custom paint job that the previous owner had tried to do themselves.
A small hourglass, the sand inside of it goes up instead of down.
A rather large iron pot covered in scratches and scorch marks that can't seem to be taken off.
A rope that is currently tied into a hangman's knot.


The lady on Couth places a hand teasingly on his chest and moves it up to his cheek. She leans in close to his ears and breathlessly whispers into it. "I would should you what ever you want." Her tongue flicks playfully on his ear.
The other Lady speaks up. "Why would you want to spend time with that old bored? We can entertain both of you so much better."

"Ladies." Ashtar gave them a gentlemanly bow. "Your company would indeed be a pleasure. Please, walk with me and lead us to your leader, if you have one. If not, your elder would do.""We're here on business, I'm afraid. My acquaintance here may be more open to frivolities, but I, I am a gentleman, and a gentleman does not mix business with pleasure." He gave her wink, and then held out his arm to allow her to lead. "Now, to your elder, if you please."

With childlike wonder, Briar scampered busily from shelf to shelf, pressing her nose as close as possible to each object that caught her fancy. The murmurs of awed excitement bubbled from her grinning lips, sprinkled with highly audible bursts of "Oh, what is this?!" and "What’s this do?!" whenever she saw something especially intriguing.

At first, she was drawn to the hourglass with sand that rose from below. She was lulled into an almost silent revelry as she watched the object carefully before shouting "Amazing!" and moving on to the next item of intrigue. Then the quicksilver-filled coin pulled her attention for a long enough time to cause her to stop moving again. "Whoa..." She studied the disc until the wafting smoke from the unmelting ice pulled her away. Entranced by the cold yet resilient orb, she giggled and clapped her hands to her cheeks.

Finally, having identified the three items she found most interesting, Briar turned to the knitting woman with a friendly inquiry.

"Can you tell me about these? Where did they come from? What do they do? How much?"

Alyria debates following Briar for a moment, contemplating keeping her on task, before deciding that it'll be fine for her to be distracted for now. Moving up to trail behind the women that are being asked to lead them, she complains under her breath, "Maybe I would like a sexy wench to come and try to seduce me. Maybe I like the company of both wenches and rakes."

Couth does his best to disarm the women by reaching up and grasping the attacking hand form him. He thinks that probably isn't going to do more than slow her. "To be sure your blessed but as our good man Ashtar says. We are on business." as he gives her back her hand.

He smiles to her, "Business doesn't last forever." and turns a bit to Alyria, "Wenches and Rakes both?! Really." as we follow Ashtar.

Eyeing Couth with a devilish grin, Alyria responds, "Absolutely. Just because I wish to complete a holy quest does not mean that I must behave in a holy fashion at all times. Although many seem to call out to the gods with me, for some reason."

The lady on Aster sighs and begins pouting. "Everyone is always business. I never get any fun... She wraps her arms around Aster's waist and starts leading him to the bonfire. "Do you want to speak to Our Elder or who is in charge? You are being very confusing."

The lady teasing Couth moves in between Couth and Alyria, holding on to both of their waists. I am sure the three of us can have tons of fun together. Leave the quest and business nonsense for later. Come with me and let me distract you both for a bit."

---

The lady looks up at the few items Briar has. " You don't want to know where they came from. They do what they do." She points with her knitting needle. Hourglass is 10 golds, Ice Orb is 20 0 golds, a Coin is 30 golds." She goes back to knitting.

Priestly Couth only gives Alyria a slippery wink before our lady takes charge with further offers. Couth smiles broadly, "Oh you are a tricky one for sure dear. The church would never know what to do with you." and Couth thinks, I have a few thoughts for sure. as lets himself be guided. "I can't see why the towns people are so unhappy with you all. Seem so FRIENDLY."

"Apologies, I thought they may be one and the same. Take us to your leader, please." Ashtar had to agree with Couth's assessment that these folk seemed friendly, but he could certainly understand why the townsfolk might be unhappy with them. Not everyone enjoys merriment. There was a time he enjoyed them, but nowadays... Ashtar sighed inwardly, and let the woman lead him

Although Briar’s friendly demeanor and personable smiling never faltered, the internal dialogue of her mind soured marginally at the lady’s dismissive reply. "Rude! Now I see why they want you all gone," she thought to herself. Scooping up the hourglass, Briar eyed the coin curiously. It wasn’t doing anything so far as she could tell. That meant, per the lady, it did nothing but the stated price suggested that it did do something; it was irresistible.

Aiming to lower the woman’s guard with an actual sale, Briar pulled the stated sum of 10 gold from her coin pouch and held it aloft to the knitter in order to purchase the peculiar hourglass. "Why wouldn’t I want to know? That seems silly. I bet the stories are really magical. Can’t you tell me just one? Unless they’re from someone murdered. Maybe then I really wouldn’t want to know. So then you would be right. Oh! Does that mean you can read minds?!" Hoping the woman would be relieved to see her go after the incessant conversation, Briar pushed her questions with all the energy and force of a child just learning how to ask "Why?"

Eye of the Storm followed along. He wasn't a talker. He was mostly there to back up the others for now. For now he had followed Briar, for his own reasons. The black panther never left his side. He stepped into the old lady's wagon and saw the odd assortment of goods. Immediately, he felt ill at ease. There was magic here, but what kind? He looked at the old lady most of all, like he was watching a spider in its web. He looked at her knitting, and anything out of the ordinary..

Language - Sylvan: "There are things of light and shadow in this world, and there are things of shadow and light the world in the mirror." He purred with a dark and serious tone. "Some brings gifts, some take things. An hourglass that steals what time a bearer has left. An orb that steals the warmth of the owner's heart. A coin that collects a soul. All things that return to the other side in time, bearing true value back to the one who planted the seed."

The fairy should understand his words. But would the woman? He watched for the sign of recognition...

The two ladies playfully lead Couth, Alyria, and Ashtar to the bonfire. Sitting in a wooden, ornate arm chair is an older gentleman with a thick white beard. He waves a hand, and the music and dancing slow down a little.


He is yelling loudly so everyone can hear, with a chuckle behind his voice. "Ethelinda, What did I tell you about bothering the locals?"
The main lady on Ashtar leaves his arms and rushes over to the man. "But father, you never let me have any fun, and this one is really cute." She winks at Ashtar and blows him a kiss before sitting down on the ground with her father.
The man just shakes his head and laughs heartily. "I am sorry about her. Kids..." He motions for the three of you to sit next to him. "Now, good evening. What can I do for you?"

---

Ashtar let the woman's arm go gracefully, and bowed as he would to someone in a leadership position. "She kindly guided us your way, and for that she has my gratitude." He spoke with warmth and courtesy, and he took one of the seat offered to better look the man in the eyes as he spoke.

"Some of the townsfolk, however, are less familiar with foreign customs due to their provincial life. They're used to the quiet life, perhaps, and cannot comprehend the music and laughter and dancing the night away. Some wives don't take too kindly at their husbands' lingering eyes, nor at the... delicacies they take as open advertisement. They do, however, like the business, and do not wish to cause offense at their ignorance of outside customs, so we've been sent to speak with you, and ascertain your intentions, and whether there could be an agreement of mutual benefits for both parties."