Game Thread

The merchant smiles broadly, "Why yes! Fine sir. The truth, as you say, is soooo important." He sets the sceptre down pats it absentmindedly. "If you're looking for deep quality -- the most excellent of things, well.. surely some of these other items might do."

He points out three items in particular. A small kaleidoscope a few inches long and worn with age; a bronze monkey claw that can easily fit in the palm of your hand; and a wristband of whorls and other shapes made out of a stainless metallic material.

As the merchant speaks to Dikaios, Reojk is able to perceive that his new ... colleague, manifests a divine aura. The aura is present, but dim. Perhaps the man, himself, is unaware of his potential.

The item looks like a little brass monkey claw. There's a sense that there's something particular about it, but even with Reojk's skills in such things, it's hard for him to assess what it might do.

The merchant practically jumps with astonishment. "What?!" he reaches for the brass hand, but then stops, and then kind of wiggles nervously. "Of course not! Why the very idea that I'd extort someone. That seems... Well so. I can't even.". The shopkeeper is nervous, though it's difficult to tell if it's because he's honest and has been rattled by the accusation or if it's because he's not honest and he's been caught out in the shadow of the Tower by some strange man with an odd scarf.

First looking at the shopkeep, then the brass hand, then the shopkeep again, Dikaios attempts to calm the situation down a bit.

"We are not here to extort either, or so I assume. No one wants undue attention unless it serves us all. Perhaps you can tell us more about this item and why someone may want it?"

He speaks in a calm manner, almost gentle.

The merchant clearly decides he likes Dikaios better than Reojk. He sidles up to the friendly gentleman and agrees vigorously. "Yes, yes! Undue attention is a bad thing." He looks closely at the brass monkey hand, and squints. His brow furrows and he says, "Ah yes. I believe that it is a device that will allow you to grab one thing at a distance, drawing it back to yourself." He smiles. "It would also look good as a talisman of sorts, of course."

The merchant considers the offer, but is disinclined to just part with it out of hand. "You seem a gentleman of fine knowledge and discernment. Surely you understand that I can come by these things only with the most careful of relationships and crafty business judgement. It would be difficult to part with this without some recompense to reflect the effort and.. judicious um.. judgment I've used in protecting it from unworthy eyes."

Having used several big words, the man is quite convinced he's made his case.

The merchant begins to look a bit more uncomfortable again. The thin one with the weird scarf makes him very uncomfortable.

Dikaios is able to find a vantage point well enough. It does take several blocks of walking to look out over the undercity -- as the gentrified folk near the Tower have no particular desire to have their days ruined by looking over the vast unwashed masses about whom they could care less.

As you stand there, contemplating the view -- an old man headed towards the market appears to spot the pair of you and makes a beeline through the light crowd to you. He appears very agitated and as he closes he says, "Divine ones! I'm blessed to have found you so quickly!"