"We already talked, it's fine. I just wanted to make sure she knew what she was getting into. Shall we go have some dinner?"

once there,

"So if you don't mind my asking, what's your sister like? Is she uhh...similarly gifted?"

"We already talked, it's fine." You say. "I just wanted to make sure she knew what she was getting into. shall we go have some dinner?"
"Okay." She said, and the two of you made your way back to the Hearth, where Ariana had already purchased a room with the money you'd given her, including meals. The tavern wench, the keeper's daughter, brought the two of you some soup and bread, and you started eating.
"So, if you don't mind me asking, what's your sister like? Is she, uh... similarly gifted?"
"She's beautiful." Ariana nodded, and gave you a smile, after looking around to make sure nobody was listening. "She has something called the... um, Gift of Flame. I don't know her others, though... And her familiar is adorable."

>>21744934
"What do you want to do now, Ariana? I've talked with my sister, so I have no other plans. Should we keep travelling south?"

>>21744934
"And yours is the gift of Dream I presume?"

>>21744934
"Do you often speak with your sister, Ariana?"

File: 1353870709579.png-(488 KB, 1028x1028, less shitty map.png)

"And yours is the gift of Dream, I presume?"
She frowned, and nodded. "S' called the gift of Truth."
"Do you often speak with your sister, Ariana?"
"All the time!" She said, and then frowned again. "Until recently."
"What do you want to do now, Ariana? I've talked with my sister, so I have no other plans. Should we keep travelling south?"
"I um... don't know." She said, and took out the map of the region again, spreading it out. She seemed strangely competent for a child, though not confident. "I have to keep traveling, but... I don't want to go to Angvard. It's too close to the Order. We could try to cross the marsh to Garamon, but that would take forever, and we could get sick and run out of food... I don't know..."

>>21745051
"Why did you and your sister separate?"

"Why did you and your sister seperate?"
"... Coming of age." She said. "To learn my gifts, and to learn to use them, alone in the world. But I don't have anything useful. No familiar, no Gift that lets me hide... Astora went through it too, but she had useful Gifts, and her familiar."
Silently, she continued eating, trailing off.
"I just want to go back." She said. "But I don't know where that is."

>>21745051
"I'm actually thinking of going back north. I have a house there, you know, and now that i know sister is safe..."

>>21745159
Well, if you want to be boring, I guess we could say that...

Alternatively, we could stock up some supplies and try to make it across the swamp, because ADVENTURE!

>>21745159
Buh-uh. We're not going back.
It's time for ADVENTURE!

>>21745143
Lets search for some quest hooks or something.

"Oh, that must be hard. But I'm sure your sister is looking after you, so don't worry too much."

>>21745178
What would we want there? I mean, we have no reason too, and she hasn'T either. We could at least sell the house to someone, make more dosh before running around.

>>21745195
Implying anyone would want to by a house in backwater town in middle of no where.
We have a magic sword, a magical loli and a mystery to solve. Seems more reasons than enough for ADVENTURE!

>>21745224
>backwater town

Not even a town, more like a hamlet

>Waymoor was once a mining/fishing town, but eventually it ran out of iron, and slowly started dwindling. You and Lyra, as well as your parents, were actually the youngest people there, and the only newcomers in the past few decades. It'll soon be a ghost town after this generation.

"Oh, that must be hard." You say. "But I'm sure your sister is looking after you, so don't worry too much."
She giggled. "She probably is. That sounds just like her."
Grinning, she went up to the window. "Astora~. Come eat with us!" She called, smiling.
She waited there a few moments, and then her smile fell, before she went back to her seat, in silence.
"We could stock up some supplies and try to make it across the swamp." You say, and she silently takes a big bite out of her bread.
"We could." She said. "Maybe my Gift of Vermin would help keep the bugs from eating us..."

>>21745299
To be fair, you dont seem to be very good at keeping vermin away, only at attracting it...

Why do you even avoid the order? I mean, if you travel with me we look completely normal. Can they find out if someones a witch by looking?

>>21745299
"Sounds like a plan!"

>>21745299
"The swamp is not populated by horrible monsters, right?"

>>21745327
I think it's the vermin-attracting thing which tips them off. Most people don't gather swarms of mice wherever they go.

>>21745299
"Have you ever tried using that Gift to control them? It seems they come to your aid when you're stressed or nervous."

"To be fair, you don't seem to be very good at keeping vermin away, only at attracting it..."
"Because they like me." She said. "They don't eat things they like... I think."
"Have you ever tried using that Gift to control them? It seems they come to your aid when you're stressed or nervous."
She nodded.
"I... can't control it. It's one of those Gifts that you can't control. It just ... happens." She said, bitterly. "It's almost a curse."
"The swamp is not populated by horrible monsters, right?"
"If there was a place something would hide from the Order, the heart of the marsh would be the best spot. Or in the mountains. So, um, maybe."

>>21745334
Yeah, but Ser Crios was all "I can't sense evil in this girl" when we met him. I want to know if there is something to that or if he was just melodramatic. And who better to ask than a witch?

Speaking of Crios, should we meet him before we go?

>>21745389
What do you want to do in Garamon anyway?

>>21745389
"Well in that case, that's definitely an option."

"Shall we get some sleep?"

"Why do you even avoid the order?" You say. "I mean, if you travel with me we look completely normal. Can they find out if someones a witch by looking?"
"I... don't know." She said. "But I want to be careful. The books say that the Order can do all sorts of things, and I don't want to learn if it's true."
"What do you want to do in Garamon anyway?"
"It's my coming of age." She said. "I have to keep traveling, or I won't mature. And... it's the only place to go, other than Angvard. On the map, at least. There's more to the east..."
"Well, in that case, that's definitely an option." You say, looking out the window- sun had set much quicker than you thought it would. "Shall we get some sleep?"
"Mmhm." She said, nodding, as she set her empty bowl aside.

You set your kit aside, glad that you don't have to set up camp, and get ready for bead, while Ariana simply curled onto her own blanket, not even deigning to remove her traveling cloak. She lay down, and closed her eyes, already asleep.

You make your own way to your own bed, and soon enough, you were asleep as well.

>Roll 1d6. Taking first roll. High and low is neither good nor bad.

Rolled 6

>>21745601

Rolled 1

>>21745601
Alright. We had ought to have insisted on the removal of the cloak before bed.

When you open your eyes, you see that strange holes cover your rented room's walls, radiating darkness, as ever-blinking opening and closed eyes stare out at you. Lying in Ariana's bed was a small, smouldering flame, pulsing like a heartbeat.

Your sword shivered.
<Well, we're here again, it seems.> One voice said.
<I suppose we have more chance to get acquainted with you.> The second voice said.

>>21745675
"Now is the time for answers, yes?
Who or what is Gabriel? Why would he take my place? And what game was he talking about?"

>>21745675
"Tell me everything, right now. And none of that mystic 'we can't tell you' either, Gabriel's already managed to do the impossible today, apparently."

>>21745675
"So, you can stop people replacing me. What else can you do?"

You sit up, and reach for the sword in your kit, pulling it out and laying it across your legs.
"Now is the time for answers, yes?" You ask. "Tell me everything, right now. And none of that mystic 'we can't tell you' either, Gabriel's already managed to do the impossible today, apparently."
<... You have a point.> One voice said.
<We don't know everything, though, and if we do say too much, our peers will... come and take us. Literally. We will no longer be able to speak to you, if they think we've done too much. So be cautious.>
"Who or what is Gabriel?"
<We... don't know exactly who or what Gabriel is. The way he took your place... it must mean he's something very similar to you.>
<But that should be impossible. Your sword is the only one that is in this phase, which means that, well, if he was like you, he wouldn't exist.>
"Why would he take my place?"
<His motivation is just as much a mystery to us as it is to you, I'm afraid. We simply don't know. We can see what you see, hear what you hear, but we can't... sense anything else.>
<Perhaps we could help you draw connections, but that's it.>
"And what game was he talking about?"
<We don't know. Did... Did you know him? From Before?>
The word 'before' seems to ring, like a chime, and everything starts echoing...
<Shhh.> The second voice says. <That is a thing we cannot speak of. Ares, do not say that again. Do not bring it up. It is unhealthy for him.>

>>21745874
"Unhealthy? What are you talking about?"

>>21745874
"Unhealthy, how?"

"What does being Real mean anyway? Is there anything special I can do now?
I saw Gabriel being vaporized but he came back without looking harmed in any way. Could I come from dead too?"

>>21745874
"Great. I'm stuck with a crazed unhelpful sword that I don't even know how to use."

"Unhealthy? What are you talking about?"
<We, like all beings, have our own goals and aspirations.> One voice said. <Telling you would be against these goal->
<Unhealthy for your mind.> The second voice said. <Human beings cannot contain much memory. Making you remember more than you can contain would shatter you.>
"What does being Real mean anyway? Is there anything special I can do now?"
<Yes. And no.> One of the voices said. <You can do what everyone Real can do. Hunt, eat, act, change the world with your own bare hands...>
<Things that are limited to us. We, in a twisted way, are not real.>
"I saw gabriel being vaporized, but he came back without looking harmed in any way. Could I come back from the dead too?"
<... It'd be best not to risk it.>
<Like everything else about Gabriel, we don't know. Perhaps you could, or perhaps some other being like you could take up the sword after your death, and become Real.>

>>21746011
"Wait, change the world with my hands?"

"If I am real, is it to assume that the rest of the people aren't or at least most of them? What can Real people do that not real people can't?"

"Is Ariana and her sister Real?"

>>21746011
"Gabriel referenced something about 'before' as well, didn't he? Something about the two of us 'playing by the rules' for more than an eternity?
Listen, I don't think I want to know what before is, but it sounds like perhaps Gabriel does, and is trying to involve me for some reason."

>>21746011
"So, by being Real, I am no different from a normal human."

"Wait, change the world with my hands?"
<Yes. Even the act of lifting a stone to place it somewhere else is entirely beyond us.>
"So, by being Real, I am no different from a normal human."
<Yes.> The second voice said.
<For the most part, yes. Here, at least.>

The eyes sitting in the holes on all the walls stopped blinking, and started opening wider, as the small pulsing burst of light suddenly seemed to flare, and sit up, and you can vaguely hear Ariana talking, before the flame hovered closer to you, floating onto your bed, and going dark again.
<It seems you're soon to awake.> The second voice said again.
<If you have any more questions to ask, ask them quickly- we're given more leeway with the witch-girl's Gift. While awake, it's much more difficult to give you knowledge.>

>>21746256
"What do you mean by "For the most part"?"

>>21746256
"Okay, just tell if there is anything I can do that normal people can't"

>>21746256
"What are Ariana's gifts? Can she really not control the Gift of Vermin?"

"What do you mean by 'for the most part'?"
There was a pause, and you have the strong feeling that they were discussing between one another.
<It is not yet time for you to know.> Both voices said, simultaneously.
"Okay, just tell me if there is anything I can do that normal people can't." You say.
<You can give up the blade, and your entire existence, fading into nothingness. Not particularly useful, but it's something none else can do.> The first voice said.
<You may also have the ability to sense when something is... wrong, with reality, like when Gabriel took your identity. We're not certain, however.>
"What are Ariana's Gifts? Can she really not control the Gift of Vermin?"
<We don't know much of witches. We can only see from your eyes, and hear from your ears, with most things in this world.>
<I believe her, in that she cannot control her gift. You'd best ask Ariana's sister, however- I have a feeling she's likely to know more.>

Suddenly, you awaken, curled in your blanket. You hear Ariana murmuring, and then feel her hugging you- she'd woken during the night.
"Astora." she mumbled, talking in her sleep. "When's momma coming back?"

>>21746435
Wake her up.

>>21746435
Get out of bed, try not to wake her. Get ready for the day.

What's the status of our finances?

You climb out of bed, careful not to wake her, and get your kit together. While you were at it, you take a look at your gold stores, quickly tallying up the cost of each of your purchases.

>Current Currency: 3 jewelry, 2 gold, 10 silver, 32 copper
>>Previous costs:
>Gear from shopkeeper at berbrook: 1 silver, 20 copper
>Maps: 4 copper
>Room at the Hearth: 1 silver, with 20 copper back

While you were at it, you also took a look at the rest of your gear.

>Survival kit (Tinder box, skinning and carving knives, blanket, etc)
>6 days of rations (Jerky)
>Sword, bow, 20 arrows, hatchet.
>Useless odds and ends

"Morning." Ariana said, her hair frazzled every which way, as if she'd slept restlessly, and she rubbed her eyes.

>>21746651

"Morning. How did you sleep?"
"Anything you want to do here in this town before we leave? Maybe you need something for the journey?"

>>21746651
"G'Morning sleepy head. Need anything in town before we get moving?"

Do both of us have cloaks that look like they would keep us warm in the rain?

>>21746747
I still think we should visit Crios again before setting out into the wide world. He still owes us swordfighting lessons.

>>21746770
Oh, forgot about those.

>>21746770
We had ought to check in with our charge before doing so. Having her sitting around elsewhere might invite Gabriel back.

"G'morning, sleepy head." You say. "How did you sleep?"
"Not very well." She said, and frowned again. "I kept hearing the mice squeak."
"Anything you want to do here in this town before we leave? Maybe you need something for the journey?"
She thought about it for a moment, and then nodded.
"Dagger. I want a dagger. If, um, it's not too much trouble."
"I think we should visit Crios again before setting out into the wide world." You say.
"What? Why?"
"He still owes me swordfighting lessons."
"Yeah, um, go ahead. I'll just... stay here, if that's fine. I don't want to go back there. Just in case."

>>21746844
Lets go find a weapon-smith for her then.

>>21746844
maybe give her money for her dagger while we go to Crios?

You make your way out of the tavern, gear in hand, and go down to the baazar, looking for a weapon-smith. The one you do see seems to have only expensive, intricate weapons, none designed for usefulness, but instead to look pretty. You have a bit of trouble finding someone with useful weapons, but eventually you find a stern man in a corner, hammering on a long spear weapon. Nobody else seemed to notice him, other than a careful look now and then.
"Whayouwant." He asked, eying you. His speech sounded like he was saying a single word, and it took you a moment to dissect it to find out what he meant.

>>21747098
"A dagger. Plain, simple, nothing fancy."

>>21747098
"You have daggers for sale?"

"A dagger. Plain, simple, nothing fancy."

"Good." He said, and slid a long, slim dagger toward you, expertly worked. "One silver."
You can't help but to raise an eyebrow. Your hatchet cost a silver, yes, but it was only dull, dirty steel. This dagger was cleaner and sharper, and should be worth nearly twice that.

>>21747277
"Deal, honest prices if ever I saw them."
Test the balance, edge, etc

>>21747277
If he's this good then maybe we should consider browsing the rest of his wares?
Fancy magical swords are great and all, but they're hardly versatile

>>21747298
Test the dagger before we accept the deal, please.

>>21747320
What would we need? We have a bow and aren't trained with any other weapons, the only reason we even keep the sword is because it is magical.

>>21747277
It is probably stolen, that's why it's cheap. At least that's what I think

>>21747336
yeah, lets examine it first before buying

>>21747320
if the dagger proves to be good, we could browse some more stuff

"Honest prices if I ever saw them." You say, holding the dagger aloft, giving him a silver coin while you examined it in more detail. It held a sharp edge, and though it wasn't especially balanced, it would be perfect as a tool, or an emergency weapon. You see a small symbol on the hilt- a marking to show who made the weapon, no doubt.

>>21747366
Would be strange to have a dude selling stolen contraband in the corner of the market. I think such operations are more... clandestine?

Well, i think we should go give Ariana her dagger.

>>21747367
>>21747430

Still not convinced it is not stolen. We shouldn't brandish it in this town.
See what other wares the man has to sell. Though we have no need of more weapons.

>>21747367
Out of curiosity, what's the Smith's Mark?

Thank the smith, take Ariana her dagger. Then find someplace nearby for her to wait while we talk to Crios.

...also, just a note, we may want to see if we can invest in some light armor at some point in the near future.

>>21747523
>smith's mark
>It's the Nike swoop or something, I dunno.

"What other wares do you have?"
"Weapons. Armor. Sell to mercenaries and the Order." He said. "Silver edged weapons, rosemary treated leather, Crossbows, bows, silver bolts, rowan arrows." He said.

>>21747558
Do we know what a rowan arrow is? Also, >>21747523 has a point. Light, comfortable armor would be cool, if it isn't expensive. We might want to look into getting a job soon, our money won't last us forever.

>>21747558
"How much would a crossbow be?"

>>21747558
>rowan arrows
(what's that)

Examine the bows he has. If his bows are much better then what we have, try to trade ours (plus some money of course) for it.
Also check the leather armor. Would be useful.

"How much would a crossbow be?"
He looked you up and down.
"Five silver." He said. "No bolts come with."
"And what do you mean by rowan arrows?"
"Arrows made of rowan wood. Good against evil creatures like vampires or witches."
You take a look at his bows, comparing them to your own. You'd made your own bow, so it wasn't very good, but most of the others are longbows, which you aren't used to. Should be similar enough to be able to use them, however... And then you see a pale, grey, recurved bow, made of horn.
"Two gold." He said, as you eye the strange, pale bow.

You make your way to the leather armor, and most of it had a strange, soft smell, and some of them had thin metal plates woven into the torso.
"Eight silver for the torso. A Gold for the full set, including bracers and boots."

>>21747850
Ergh. Either or both of those could be very, very good. They'll also eat up most of our currency reserves, though. What're our Jewelry pieces worth?

>>21747850
Holy shit a recurve bow.... Would be awesome, but it seems to be too expensive. If we get the leather armor, we get the full set, still, i think it is pretty expensive. If we are to hide out in the swamp with Ariana, money wouldnt matter much, though.

>>21747850
"Why is the bow so expensive? What is special about it?"

I'd like to buy the armor but don't buy it yet, we might get a discount if we buy it and the bow together.

>>21747899
>You'll have to negotiate for Jewelry. If you do it well, each is worth a gold to that trader. If you do it poorly, each is worth a silver to that trader.

>>21747850
What is the rate of conversion from gold to silver? What would be the price of a basic longbow?

>>21747911
>>21747899

We can easily feed of the land. I say it worth buying. We could try to haggle or strike a deal.

>>21747920
In that case, I submit that we should haggle with the smith for a jewelry, and if we do well, buy both.

>>21747922
>Ten to twenty silver is roughly worth a gold. The price of a basic longbow is two or three silver.

"Why is the bow so expensive?" You ask. "What is special about it?"
"Was my master's final work." He said. "Sentimental value."

>>21747967
I think i support that for now. Even if we get problems living of the land, we can still sign up with a merc company. Good archers are always appreciated, especially if they bring their own weapons.

>>21747967
>>21748070

Well, we got sentimental shit too. Our jewelry I mean, if he's selling it for so much for sentimental values then we could sell our too.

>>21747987
"Who was your master?"
"What happened to him?"

"Who was your master?"
"Old Kalameet." He said, and rubbed at his nose. "Only ever trained two apprentices."
"What happened to him?"
"Cave in." He said. "Eccentric old bastard was exploring a mine to find just the right coal for his forge."
"Well... perhaps I could negotiate..." You say, and reach into your coinpouch, and pull out two rings and a pendant.
"Sentimental value?" He asked. "Very appropriate."

>Roll 1d100 for haggling- Unskilled.

Rolled 58

>>21748148

Rolled 21

>>21748148

Rolled 82

>>21748148
welp

Rolled 59

>>21748148
Well, here goes nothing.

>>21748148
>>Roll 1d100 for haggling- Unskilled.

I wonder what it would take to get skilled in haggling.

>>21748356
Practice, presumably.

>>21748374
We could get lesson or maybe there are books we could buy which could teach us?

....can we even read?

>>21748423
Unlikely, but possible. Since our existence is basically a lie we tell ourselves i'm sure if we tried hard enough our backstory would align so we could read.

>>21748423
>Your mother taught you to read- that's all she could really do.

A few moments later, you have the new horn bow, and the man is sizing you for leather armor, your jewelry in his pockets.
"Rosemary or no?" He asked, trying to decide between two different sets. One had a symbol woven in, and had that soft smell you'd noticed earlier. "Good against spirits and nightmares, wards off witches."

>>21748452
"Hmm. I wouldn't worry about the rosemary, I'm not planning to fight any spirits, nightmares or witches."

>>21748452
>"Good against spirits and nightmares, wards off witches."

Hmm, might affect the Gift of Truth that Ariana has. Lets get one without rosemary.

"Hmm. I wouldn't worry about the rosemary, I'm not planning to fight any spirits, nightmares, or witches."
"Good to hear." He said. "Wise men don't. Evil beings are best left to the order."
He gave you a set of leather armor, including a cap and a lined traveling cloak, and sent you on your way.
"Wait." He said, and rummaged around in his inventory, before pulling out a quiver of arrows. "Take them. They're also

things my master made. They go with the bow."

>Horn bow acquired!
>Leather armor/cloak acquired!
>20 arrows acquired!
>Shoddy bow lost!

"Good luck." He said, nodding to you.

>Where

>>21748611
>Whoops, got truncated; meant to say
>Where to?

>>21748611
Go give Ariana her dagger, I don't trust leaving her unarmed with Gabriel around.

Then we see if we can find Crios for learning a bit of basic swordery.

>>21748611
"Thank you."

How much money have we left.
Lets see if there is anyone selling books, we should grab one to learn one skill or another and to have something to do when we are resting or need to pass time.

"Thank you." You say, and make your way back to the hearth.
"You're done with Crios alread-..." She asked, meeting you at the door, before raising her eyebrows. "You got new clothes."
She gave you a little sniff, and wrinkled her nose. "Clothes that smell really bad."

>>21748729
"Huh, I guess it is true then, I thought Rosemary wouldn't do anything."

"I came back to give you this, Ariana. I'm just going to go see Crios now and I'll be hurrying back as soon as possible."

"Huh, guess it is true then." You say "I thought rosemary wouldn't do anything."
She didn't seem to hear you, instead looking out the window, her eyes glazed over, and her cheeks pink. She suddenly shook her haid, and met your eyes again- they looked rather dazed. "Sorry, I wasn't listening."
"I came back to give you this, Ariana." You say, and hold out the dagger. "I'm just going to go see Crios now and I'll be hurrying back as soon as possible."
"... You're worried about me." She said. "I'll be careful. You should too."

>>21748841
>haid
>Hair, even
>Also, dropped my trip.

>>21748841
"What were you looking at out of the window if i may ask?"

still think we should buy some book or another but we can do that after the sword training, I guess

>>21748729
Wait I thought we got the clothes that weren't treated with rosemary.

>>21748841
I'm a hunter. Being careful comes natural to me. I see you as soon as i'm done

>>21748923
>Those that weren't were stored with those that were. It'll rub off eventually.

"What were you looking at out of the window?"
"A little stray doggy." She said, looking out again.
"I'm a hunter." You say. "Being careful comes natural to me. I'll see you as soon as I'm done."
"Okay, I'll be waiting." She said, absentmindedly, looking out the window again.

You make your way out of the Hearth again, and back to Struthhammer, where in the courtyard, you see Crios leaning back, smoking on a pipe, his helmet at his side.
"Ah, Abel." He said, as you approached him. "Pleased to see you."

>>21748973
"Hello, Ser Crios! How are you today?"

"We're about to set off again, and, well, you never showed me any swordsmanship on the journey. I was wondering if you could show me now? Any tips?"

>>21748973
"Hello, how have you been doing?"

"Hello, Ser Crios! How are you today?"
"Peaceful." He said. "Later today we set off for Angvard, and so I'm spending the morning relaxing."
"We're about to set off again, and, well, you never showed me any swordsmanship on the journey. I was wondering if you could show me now. Any tips?"
"Well, we'll have enough time for a proper lesson." He said, clenching his pipe in his teeth as he got to his feet. "Draw your weapon."
You draw your blade, holding in your hand. He immediately takes it, and readjusts the way you were holding it.
"Now." He said. "What you want to do..."

An hour later, you had the hang of the way to swing the blade, and some various tips and tricks on using the sword; When to slash, when to stab, and to never, ever, catch the enemy's blade with the edge of your own. Thankfully, you were rather fit, so he'd judged that you didn't need to use a heavy wooden practice blade.
"Though it would help." He said. "If you practice with a slow, unwieldy one, then when you use your normal blade it'll be fast and deadly from your own perspective."
He shrugged, and tapped out the pipe, before putting his helmet on. "But that's all I think I can teach you for now. Perhaps we'll meet again, someday."

>>21749141
"Thank you Crios, I'm sure this will be helpful."
Perhaps he can show us some drills that we can practice on our own before departure?

Then go and search for book-seller.

>>21749179
Uh, we cannot read, why search for a bookseller? Just go back to Ariana.

>>21749213
yes we can.

We can learn some skills from books, that's why.

>>21749213
well, apparently i am the one that cannot read, sorry.

>>21749213
Someone hasn't been reading the thread.

"Thank you Crios. The best of luck to you."

>>21749141
We should make a point of leaving a time buffer between ourselves and the Order party. At least 12 hours. I think we will have an easier time if we steer clear of them.

go collect Ariana and read some books.

"Thank you Crios, I'm sure this will be helpful."
"I'm glad to help. I trust you'll take care of the girl." He said, and nodded.
As you make your way down to the marketplace again, you run over the drills he'd taught you, trying to memorize them so that you could practice every day.
Eventually, you run into a book-seller, an old woman in a dusty old shop, a lantern the sole source of light in the building.
"Good morning, lad." The woman said, her voice hoarse. "What would you be looking for today?"

>>21749273
"Books, preferably the practical sort. Ones I can learn useful skills from, or at least learn the basics of them from."

>>21749273
"Hello, I'm looking for books on local fauna and it's medicinal properties. Do you have anything like that?"

>>21749273
"Would you happen to have any books for young children?"

>>21749273
Lets see what kind of books she has.

Things that I'm interested in:
Book on swordfighting
book on haggling
book on fauna, especially in the swamps

"Books." You say. "Prefer-"
"That's why everyone comes here." She said, cackling.
"Preferably the practical sort. Ones I can learn useful skills from, or at least learn the basics of them from."
"I have quite a collection of those, though they're rather dry."
"I'm also looking for books on local fauna and it's medicinal properties. Do you have anything like that?"
"I do." She said. "But in what region? Creatures of the great marsh, Sardin Plains, the mountains to the north..."
"And finally, do you have any books for young children?"
"Not many, no." She said. "I do have one on ancient folk tales- you may want to take a look at it."

>>21749414
shiiiit.

what do we need guys.

>>21749414
"Do you have a book on fauna that can be found all over?"

Go browse the collection of skills books.

>>21749414
Let's browse the skill books, and take note of the book of falk tales and the book on the great marsh and remember to take a look at them afterwards.

>>21749426
well, I already said it here >>21749400

"Do you have a book on fauna that can be found all over?"
"Of course not, lad. Such a book would be too big to carry. The world is a rather large place, as you'll soon find out."
You browse the collection of skill books, and you see that they're all nothing but primers- but the very basics of various things, from tracking animals, to sword fighting, to swimming... though you notice that you already know most of the things in the primers- in fact, Crios had taught you more about swordsmanship than even the primer did, and the primer would have taken you longer than a few hours to read. You can't seem to find one on bartering or haggling, however, but most physical acts and crafts are in the pile somewhere, no doubt.

>>21749594
lets see about fauna in swamps (or was it marsh that we had to cross?)

Heck, lets see if there is a book that talks about that particular patch of land we must cross.

>>21749594
Shame. I can't think of anything in particular we need that we probably wouldn't already have right now.

Check out the books on the great marsh and the Sardin Plains.

>>21749648
I am agreeing with this heartily.

>>21749503
Might I suggest between here and Garamon?

>>21749648
This is a good idea, also look at the fairy-tale book. A solid knowledge of local folklore can never hurt in a fantasy setting.

>>21749731
Seconding, I want to read scary stories around the fireplace

You pull open the book about fauna on the plains, and start reading. Most of the creatures were ones you knew, and it wasn't anything notable- the same creatures lived in the vale as lived in the plains- save that buffalo didn't quite live in the vale very well.

Next, you turn to the one on the marsh, and take a look. It seemed that the land mostly involved wading birds, amphibians, and smaller creatures, like crawfish, turtles, frogs, and otters. You thumb through, also reading about the flora in the same place, including which plants weer edible, and which were toxic- something which would be enormously useful. You start to turn the page again, but the old lady takes your hand.
"If you intend to read the book, I'd like if you bought it first. Otherwise, what would be the point of owning a bookstore?" She asked, and giggled.

Next, you take a look at the book of folk tales. You hardly read through one that spoke about a fish-woman falling in love with a man on land, before the bookseller started tapping her leg, impatiently- it seemed she didn't appreciate you browsing very much.

>>21749821
Fine. Ask how much the book on the marsh and the book on folk tales cost.

>>21749821
Take the book about the marsh flora, the folk tales one seems not as useful... maybe ask what it would cost.

"How much would the book on the marsh, and the book on folk tales cost?"
"The book on the marsh would be a single silver- the book on the folk tales would be two; it's rather old, you see." She said.

>>21749879
Take it. 3 Silver isn't all that much and the book on the marsh is useful, the book of folklore might be useful and at the very least gives us something to read with Ariana around the fire.

>>21749906
seconding this. We could stand to learn more about her and having the stories to read together might go a long way toward getting her to open up more.

>>21749906
>>21749983

Lets haggle a bit, come on.
Even a copper dropped is an experience in the skill

>>21750004
Let's see if we can haggle for extra goods, not less price.

>>21750004
aim for 2.5 silver. so offer 2 to start.

"Are you sure you wouldn't be able to part them for two silver?"
"I'm certain." She said. "One for the book on the marsh, two for the folklore. If you don't have the money, then you'll have to go without, I'm afraid."

>>21750030
Doesn't matter, as long as we haggle

>>21750054
We could claim that the book being old is, in fact, not good. That means that it is more likely to tear and easier to damage

>>21750099
offer her 2.5 silver

"Two silver and fifteen copper?" You ask, and she shakes her head.
"Three silver." She added.
"The folklore book is rather old, but it might be more likely to tear, and easier to damage."
She quirked her lips, and then pulled out a small book satchel, made of moulded leather and waterproofed.
"Then you can take this with the book on folklore." She said. "Should keep your books safe. Three silver for the lot."

>>21750225
"Alright. Thank you very much."

>>21750225
Done.

>>21750225
well, at least we got something.
Baby steps, people, baby steps

>>21750225
take it. more bags are always good

>>21750258
That's the spirit. Don't belittle the usefulness of a waterproofed satchel though. Even if we no longer need the books it will be useful for keeping dried herbs safe.

"Alright, thank you very much." You say, and give her the three silver she was so insistant on.
"Good luck, lad." She said. "If you intend on adventuring, remember three rules. The undead cannot cross running water and are weak to rowan wood, magic fears rosemary, and fell beasts are weak to silver. When you leave civilization, that's where magic hides."
She gave you a rather strange, cryptic look.
"Again, good luck, lad."
You step out of the bookshop, your new acquisitions in hand, and hurry up to get back to the tavern. When you finally get up to your rented room, you see Ariana sleeping on the floor, wrapped up in her cloak, and you see a bunch of rats piling up small crumbs for her, next to her. They scatter as you approach.

>>21750380
Heh, all she needs now is some bigger rats.

>>21750380
Gently wake her up, tell her we've got everything we need.

>>21750380
Aww, they're friendly. About what time is it?

>>21750380
Hmm
perhaps we should buy those rowan arrows after all? And few arrows tipped with silver.

>>21750380
let her sleep. she is clearly tired. Go down to the common room, get a drink, sit in a corner and observe.

You glance out of the window, guaging the time; an hour before noon, at a guess- and then you kneel down to Ariana, shaking her awake.
"G'morning, sleepy head." You say, softly, mirroring what you'd said a few hours before. "We've got everything we need."
She spoke a few words in an evil, fell language, pinching the bridge of her nose, before opening her eyes- the pupils were small, mere pinpricks.
"Muh...muhning." She mumbled, rubbing at her eyes again.

>>21750517
Oh dear. "What was that language you spoke just now?"

>>21750517
"What was that? Because it wasn't any language I speak."

"What was that?" You ask. "Because it wasn't any language I speak."
"Don't make fun of me just because I'm tired." She said, face red with indignation. She yawned and stretched. "While you were gone, I got some boots for our trip." She said, pulling out some thick leather boots.

Your friends left you a gift

>>21750608
"Good boots are useful for travelling. If you use bad boots and they get too wet inside when you travel for too long you'll get blisters the size of your toes. It's unpleasant.

Your friends got you some crumbs by the way. You shouldn't be so hard on them, they just want to help. They like you."

"Good boots are useful for traveling." You say, not asking where she'd gotten the money. "If you use bad boots and they get too wet inside, when you travel for too long you'll get blisters the size of your toes. It's unpleasant."
"Eww." She said.

"Your friends got you some crumbs, by the way." You say. "You shouldn't be so hard on them, they just want to help. They like you."
"I know." She said. "They do this every morning. They'll eat it later when I don't touch it."
She frowned, and slipped on the boots, wiggling her toes, as she slowly tightened them, tongue stuck between her lips.
"Okay." She said, getting to her feet. "I'm ready."

>>21750742
"Let's get to adventuring then!"

>>21750742
"Excellent. We have ADVENTURE waiting for us, and by adventure I mean a lot of walking."

Ruffle her hair, stretch, make sure we have everything together and then finalize payment at the Hearth and head out.

"Let's get to it, then." You say, and she nodded. "We have adventure waiting for us, and by adventure, I mean a lot of walking.
"Let's." She said.
<Let's!> Both voices in your sword said. In response, Ariana glared down at the mice hiding under her bed.
"Stop squeaking." She said.
The mice hadn't made a noise.
You ruffle her hair, after which she angrily pulls up her hood and crosses her arms, and the two of you get your affairs at the Hearth in order, and set out of Sardin.
Far, far above, sitting atop a mountain many miles away, Astora sat, covering an eye, her other hand constantly ablaze. She stared down at Abel, seeing through the distance as if it were a thin layer of water.
"Who are you?" She asked, finally.

You get a prickling feeling on the back of your neck, as if someone's watching you.
"Abel?" Ariana asked.
"It's nothing." You say, and continue walking.

>End of thread!
>I'll be sticking around to answer questions and such, and my twitter is @futureexabyte . On there, I'll say when there are and aren't threads, and sometimes comment on what's going on.

>>21750890
Her sister is one crazy bitch.

Meets us a day before and then forgets us.

>>21750890
Thanks, Exa!

>>21750890
Is Astora's familiar a giant bear?

>>21750952
>No, no it isn't. It's a different critter, sadly.

>>21750996
is it a lemur?

>>21752874
>Maaaaaybe.

It's clearly a human sized bird