A smile of pleasant surprise crossed Mabel's face when she realized this shop was not simply snake oil and garbage balm. But before she could explore the magical wares or even note that another from the restaurant had followed their group, they were confronted by a pair of twins, supposedly looking to assist them. Mabel's smile fell away, this just made her miss her brother all the more. And to be so lucky as to apprentice to the same place? What a dream.
A third shop worker appeared, telling them off and calling one of their number a royal customer. Mabel squinted curiously as Ariel spoke up to reveal it was her, a daughter of Triton? Mabel's smile returned, the hamster in her brain running double time as she said excitedly, "Wait? You're royalty, and looking for a prince. Are you a princess?"
After Ariel asked about the three of them knowing who she was, the twins laughed to themselves, "Humans, she said,"
"How adorable,"
Azul chuckles as he answers Ariel, "I make it a point to know as much as possible. Knowledge is power. But it looks like I owe you an apology. It seems like you were keeping it a secret from your allies here,"
Azul then asks, "Aside from that, is there anything in particular you're looking for? This shop has a wide variety of magic items to choose from, as well as everything mundane for all of your adventuring needs,"
@Crimson Flame I'll need Ariel to make either an Arcana or an Insight Check. (In the Dice area, that will be a 1d20+2 for Arcana or a 1d20 for Insight)
*+1 Weapon (hand crossbow) (uncommon, dmg 213) Every strike by this weapon is accompanied by a monstrous snarl.
*+1 Weapon (handaxe) (uncommon, dmg 213)
*+1 Weapon (lance) (uncommon, dmg 213) Every strike by this weapon is accompanied by a burst of light.
*+1 Weapon (mace) (uncommon, dmg 213) Every strike by this weapon is accompanied by a spray of phantasmal blood.
*+1 Weapon (scimitar) (uncommon, dmg 213)
*+1 Weapon (war pick) (uncommon, dmg 213) This finely crafted weapon is said to lead the one who wields it to wealth and glory.
*Weapon of Warning (sling) (uncommon, dmg 213) Foes slain by this weapon dissolve into flower petals.
*+1 Ammunition (20 arrows) (uncommon, dmg 150)
*Javelin of Lightning (uncommon, dmg 178)
*Sword of Vengeance (longsword) (uncommon, dmg 206) A masterwork weapon, wrapped in electrum wire.
*Trident of Fish Command (uncommon, dmg 209) A masterwork weapon, set with jade.
*+1 Shield (uncommon, dmg 200)
*+1 Shield (uncommon, dmg 200)
*Adamantine Armor (breastplate) (uncommon, dmg 150) A masterwork armor, painted with an unknown coat of arms.
The Old man feebly shakes as he straightens himself out and lowers his walking cane to the ground,
"Well...I...I threw off the Emperor's Groove,"
Pacha looks confused at first before he asks, "What?"
"His Groove! The rhythm in which he lives his life! The rhythm in which he lives his life! His pattern of behavior! I threw it off, and the emperor had me thrown out the window!" As he spoke, he became much more animated as he made small gestures before making the large arch gesture at the mention of being thrown out of the window.
Pacha's mouth was agape with horror at hearing what happened to this old man, before he speaking (clearly somewhat at a loss for words), "O-Oh, really? I'm supposed to see him today--"
"DON'T THROW OFF HIS GROOVE!" The old man reacted with horror. His small, frail body leaps upwards so his feet was against Pacha's chest and he held Pacha by the green poncho. Pacha stared with wide eyes as he answers, "Oh, OK!"
After receiving that reassurance the old man hops off and starts to walk away. Pacha calls after him, "Hey, are you going to be alright?"
The old man doesn't answer. Instead he keeps on walking and he speaks again, shaking, "The Groove...!"
In response to Mabel’s question, Ariel nodded. “Yes. Princess Ariel of Atlantica, at your service. But, it’s really not that big of a deal.” She said with a smile. “Just because Daddy is ruler of the sea doesn’t make me different than any other Mermaid.” Ariel crossed his arms and sighed. “I’m the youngest of seven sisters. Daddy is so overprotective sometimes… He’s terrified of humans, but I don’t agree with him. Now that I’ve actually met a few I know for a fact he’s wrong. I had to make a deal with a sea witch just to be here.”
Then she turns to Azul, “It’s alright, they would have found out eventually. Um… I’m going to look around. I’ll let you know if I find anything.” She said as she browsed the shops wares looking for anything that catches her attention.
By the time Ariel spoke up again the Huntsman had recovered from his shock just enough to hear her say that her royalty wasn't that big a deal. Hearing her say that put him a easy somewhat. It was a relief to know that she wasn't going to hold his impertinence against him, but he didn't enjoy that he had done it even so. Having recovered enough to move around again, the Huntsman began to browse. He quickly noticed that none of the items had a listed price, only instructions directing customers to ask the proprietors for the price. The Huntsman though that an odd thing, but he had never been to a magic shop before, so he figured that was just the norm.
Eventually, the Huntsman came upon a quiver of arrows that looked to be of an almost supernaturally high quality. And considering what shop the arrows were in, they probably were supernatural. After a moment of consideration, the Huntsman looked to the nearest proprietor and spoke. "How much do the arrows cost?"
Kida looked visibly confused at the scene that played out before her. She wanted to offer the man assistance but he seemed not to need it and the things he said just sounded like a foreign language to her.
She turned to Pacha once the man had hurriedly left them. "What is.... groove?" Surely there was an explanation for the behavior of the emperor. Maybe throwing off whatever groove was was an offence in these lands?
The trio seem to be listening to Ariel as she answered the group. The twins seem to be chuckling amongst the both of themselves. But Azul's expression seems to become unreadable when Ariel mentioned that her link to her family doesn't make her any different than any other mermaid.
When she mentioned that she was going to be looking around, Azul simply answered her with a slight bow and a hand over his heart, "Take the time you need, Your Highness. We are here if you have any questions,"
When the Huntsman asked for the price of the Arrows, Azul answers, "That would be 500 gold pieces per arrow. Of course, we can work out a deal if that's too expensive,"
*+1 Weapon (hand crossbow) (uncommon, dmg 213) Every strike by this weapon is accompanied by a monstrous snarl.
*+1 Weapon (handaxe) (uncommon, dmg 213)
*+1 Weapon (lance) (uncommon, dmg 213) Every strike by this weapon is accompanied by a burst of light.
*+1 Weapon (mace) (uncommon, dmg 213) Every strike by this weapon is accompanied by a spray of phantasmal blood.
*+1 Weapon (scimitar) (uncommon, dmg 213)
*+1 Weapon (war pick) (uncommon, dmg 213) This finely crafted weapon is said to lead the one who wields it to wealth and glory.
*Weapon of Warning (sling) (uncommon, dmg 213) Foes slain by this weapon dissolve into flower petals.
*+1 Ammunition (20 arrows) (uncommon, dmg 150)
*Javelin of Lightning (uncommon, dmg 178)
*Sword of Vengeance (longsword) (uncommon, dmg 206) A masterwork weapon, wrapped in electrum wire.
*Trident of Fish Command (uncommon, dmg 209) A masterwork weapon, set with jade.
*+1 Shield (uncommon, dmg 200)
*+1 Shield (uncommon, dmg 200)
*Adamantine Armor (breastplate) (uncommon, dmg 150) A masterwork armor, painted with an unknown coat of arms.
Kida didn't need any skill of Insight to see that Pacha is just as confused as she is. He answers her, "Honestly? I have no idea. I hope he'll be okay..."
Shang answers the both of them, "I'll go after him and make sure he's okay. Please go on ahead," before he departs.
The trek through the palace is long, and many of the guards had to point both Kida and Pacha in the right direction. Eventually they reach a large pair of double doors where a different palace worker waited. This worker wore a simple blue and red tunic and he stops both Pacha and Kida, "Hold! May I see your invitation, please?"
"Of course. Here you go," Pacha hands the parchment to the worker, before he speaks, "Wait here," and enters.
There is a bit of distance, but Kida and can see and make out the discussion started by the worker inside the grand hall.
"Ah, excuse me, Your Highness. But the village leader is here to see you,"
"Oh great! Send him in!" The young man in red answers him, before he turns to an old woman wearing a purple and black dress.
"Oh, and by the way, you're fired,"
The woman is clearly surprised as she stutters, "Fired?! Wh-wh-what do you mean, 'Fired'?!"
"Um. How else can I say it?" The young man casually starts before he snaps his fingers and another worker appears to write what he says down on a slip of pink paper. The young man continues,
"You're being let go. Your department is being downsized. You're part of an outplacement. We're going in a different direction. We're not picking up your options. Take your pick! I got more,"
With the young man clearly having finished his explanation, the worker tears the paper off of the pad and sticks it onto one of the older woman's long fingernails as she stutters helplessly before sitting down on the throne.
She seems to shake herself out of the slack-jawed, surprised stupor and speaks again,
"But-But Your Highness, I have been nothing but loyal to the Empire for-for over many, many years!"
"Hey hey, Everybody hits their stride! You just hit yours fifty years ago. Sooo...who's in my chair?"
The older woman noticeably growls in anger at the younger man after he asks his condescending question while another man in yellow speaks up excitedly,
"Oh! Oh! I know! Yzma! Yzma's in your chair, right?!"
"Very good, Kronk! Here get the snack!
"Got it!"
The young man in red threw a cracker towards the burlier man, Kronk who proceeds to try and catch it with his mouth, like he was nothing more than a dog. The most painful part? He actually leapt off of the high perch the throne was on and fell to the floor!
"OK, you heard the man. Up, up, up!" The younger man shooed Yzma away as Kronk called, "I'm okay!"
Yzma does indeed stand up and leaves while grumbling angrily under her breath, while the young man in red makes himself comfortable in the throne...
The old woman storms past Pacha and Kida, seeming to not have noticed either of them, while a burly man hurries after her. As he passes by the both of them, he briefly excuses politely, "Oh, excuse us, Sir, Madam," before continuing to hurry after the old woman.
A voice then can be heard, "OK, show him in!"
The worker looks to Pacha and Kida and speaks, "That's your cue. Go on in,"
Pacha nods and looks to Kida a little nervously before entering, clearing his throat, and speaking "Uh, Afternoon, Your Highness. I'm here because I received a Summons--"
"Hey, there he is! My main village man!" The young man, the Emperor(?) answers so cheerfully and casually.
"Um, Pacha. Anyways, I got this summons--"
The young man shakes his head, "Pacha. That's right, you are just the man I wanted to see!"
Pacha clearly looks befuddled as he asks, "I am?"
The young man then looks to Kida and speaks, "Aww! And you brought your grandma with you! That's so sweet!"
"That would be 500 gold pieces per arrow." Azul answered the Huntsman's question
"Per arrow?" The Huntsman replied, eyes wide in shock at such an asking price. If a single arrow cost 500 gold, then that would mean he would need to pay 10000 gold for a full quiver! That kind of money would be enough to actually put a dent in the royal treasury! The Huntsman was unsure how these people hoped to stay in business with prices like tha-
"Of course, we can work out a deal if that's too expensive." Azul added before the Huntsman could finish his thought.
Ah. That made sense. The gold cost wasn't meant to be affordable. That wasn't the way the owners of this shop wanted to be paid. The Huntsman had a feeling that if he asked for a deal, he would get much more reasonable terms for the arrows. Even so, he hesitated to ask. With the Huntsman's only experiences with magicians up to this point being the Queen, he wasn't eager to start dealings with more of them.
But even as he thought this, the Huntsman found his eyes drawn again and again to both the arrows and to other things about the shop. While his experiences with the Queen had left him wary of magicians, the Queen had only ever compelled him to service through threats and coercion. These people were actually going to offer him rewards in exchange for whatever it was they wanted. At the very least it wouldn't hurt to hear them out.
"What... what sort of deal did you have in mind?" The Huntsman asked.
Mabel glance between Azul and Ariel as they discussed further. Azul assumed Ariel was hiding her royal nature, while Ariel seemed to think it didn't matter and she was just like any other mermaid. Did royals really believe that? The fact her father didn't like humans was slightly concerning to Mabel though, as a human, traveling with her. She looked back at the wares on display, attempting to distract herself. There did seem to be a lot of useful items in this shop, though none of them had price tags.
Mabel turned a healing potion bottle on one the shelves near her, inspecting the fluid inside until she overheard the Huntsman learning that arrows cost 500 gp each, or an undefined something else. Mabel recoiled from the potion display. Healing potions would be useful, but not worth the cost of one's soul (literally or figuratively). She stepped away, "Oh-kay, to rich for Mabel's blood."
She turned to watch the Huntsman as he attempted to haggle with Azul. She didn't think the answer was going to be anything any of them wanted to pay, but she was curious about what it was. "Right, how many squirrels for an arrow?"
Any semblance of tension left the Huntsman when he heard Mable speak those words. In its place came complete and utter confusion. "How many... squirrels?" The Huntsman asked as he turned his gaze towards Mable, his face making no effort to hide how perplexing he found such a form of payment to be.
Mable smiles brightly back at him, but looks like she's totally serious about squirrels as a form of payment. She offers little explanation, whispering to the Huntsman with one hand raised to block her lips from view, "Though I don't have any at the moment."
