Mas Bagus

Sovereign's Will: The Edge of War [Looking for new players]

"Anyway Mister. Can you please lower the price? I believe these are lower than you suggested price." The blonde said to him with a sweet gentle tone.

The merchant enthusiastically clapped his hands

"True. Your observation is the most apt, Miss! Hahaha. But if I appraise my stuff with the same price where I got'em that would leave me with no profit at all. I assure you the prices are rated fairly! What about this, I give you more discount! These two for 95 coins!"

Sovereign's Will: The Edge of War [Looking for new players]

He paused a bit, there was a yelling. I bit noisy folk themselves ain't they? And they complained about him being a disturbance.

Returning to Athena, to address her strong recommendation, the merchant sighed jovially. His shadows had completely disappeared now, leaving the old man with his head half-bald and scraggly beard. He lowered himself and sat back at his initial spot.

"Apologies ma'am. But I believe we have resolved the excess noise of my peddling activity, nay? And more importantly, Like ya'all, this 'ol me ais a weary traveler too. Don't be like those unfriendly locals to me, aye? It's simply me business strategy to rest myself and my burden beasts and also make a profit from such leisure activity."

Sovereign's Will: The Edge of War [Looking for new players]

For the entire duration of their conversation, Castor sits unmoving. The smile never left his face and he clapped his hands in anticipation.
At first he felt he had to say something to ease their suspicion, but his patience to not immediately debate a questioning buyer and let them discuss it between themselves seemed to be paying off.

The short woman had already left. That was a shame though.

And for the first time in the last five minutes, he acted friendly again toward the bear twins.

"That's a fair question, girlies!" He winked. "We are still in Kindeance ain't it? In Kindeance the king himself guaranteed the safety of traders like me! Kha kha kha! Trust me, have you ever been a dealer for once? Ever thinking bout becoming one yourself?"

He coughed, or laughed, nobody can really tell. His eyes scanned all four before leaning forward toward Loise and Athena

"I'll let you in on a little secret of me trade. Consider this a bonus? Ya?! A good merchant knows potential buyers when they see one. I call it--- intuition, you see! Been in this business for many years this me sense is sharp enough now. That way those pesky, desperate brigands, and heroes of righteous cause can be seen clearly as a day! A very useful sense indeed and dat way I can protect myself just fine!"

Sovereign's Will: The Edge of War [Looking for new players]

Whatever alluring speeches the bear was making, he was not having it. And the failure of their guardians to react appropriately to the fact that those two were not only invading his personal space but also touching his items without first asking him (and arm-twisted him instead) makes the situation not improving.

"I said back off," he said with a straight face. The shadow was still swelling around him, but it did little to scare the two juvenile bears. Especially the bear in front of him. The shadow on the rug twisted at his silent command and started to make a pushing move at Rose's hind paws, physically urging her to step off the rug.

The merchant had been very nervous for the entire ordeal. Usually, he would praise the other bear's keenness in appraising his items, but it means nothing now. For God's sake, her twin was walking around his merchandise! What if she stepped on one? What if her blood tainted the rug? The item! Seriously all he wanted was for these animals to back in line and shop like everyone else.

They seemed to comply with the demand. But the sass remained. Adding to it were explanations, explanations that could make even the most patient man pull his hair in frustration until he is bald.

But then those words came, like music in his ears.

"You two should apologize to the man. Invading someone's stuff is a big no to everyone. Grab stuff that you guys interested to buy and I handle the payment”

The shadow subsided, and the smile returned. Ignoring the bear, yet still alerted and prepared for their antics, the man faced the fair lady.

"Certainly miss! Your "friend" seemed to be fixated on that Abydos' talisman and I say she has good taste!"

he avoided using the word 'child', though this entire exchange indeed looked more like a mother buying her children fancy trinkets.

"I tell you what. 60 gold coins and it's yours! Sounds reasonable, right? The Ayane's pearls is a bit cheaper. 50 gold coins! Take both and I will give you a special price. Just one hundred gold coins! How's that?!

Sovereign's Will: The Edge of War [Looking for new players]

It was all fun and games until... well until it doesn't.

The merchant had been trying hard to be as affable as possible, and these two bears had been pushing their luck a bit too far. When one bear removed herself from him, he thought it was over. But apparently, another one swiftly replaced her, allowing the other to peruse his stuff. Touching, probing them to her heart's content with those clawed paws! Without him beside! How outrageous!

And that was where his patience ran out.

"Tell your pets to behave. M'kay?"

His eyes flashed at Athena and Loise, and all of sudden his voice changed from jovial into stern, and he seemed to grow tall, and menacing his shadows alone could make the air around them feel stifled. Some unknown power pushed the groping bear and the pulse caused the hanging lanterns to sway wildly.

"Put my things back! It ain't right for you to fiddle something that ain't yours yet."

Sovereign's Will: The Edge of War [Looking for new players]

"Kah kah! All right! 'preciate the spirit! That's the spirit! Yeah! But if you two want to buy, please stand behind the rug yeah!

It seems his words had fallen on deaf ears. The two bears were relentless in their escapades and it escalated into some rough pushing and unintentional but reckless nudges against his stuff below. And as much as he loved being cordial to his buyer, it seemed the merchant valued his merchandise even more.

"All right fellas! Hahaha. Enough with the skinship? Ok? Look, that fair lady will pay for you! Ain't that wonderful?" At this point, the merchant started to wiggle free.

Sovereign's Will: The Edge of War [Looking for new players]

The man seemed to be comically surprised by the twin's unexpected approach his hat jumped out off his head and landed among his merchandise.

"Hey, you there cute lady obe there! Don't be shy. Uncle her won't bite! Keke! He sells stuff! Take a look!"

The blonde squire wasn't moving, yet. But it didn't let him down. More will come and true was his prediction.

"Welcome! Welcome. Got hankering for skewering people? I've got spears!" pausing to look at Athena's impressive polearm, he quickly changed his tune. "Or perhaps want to pawn one? Unlike the other merchants, I only take 20% from me sales! All stuffs will be appraised fairly! Guaranteed!"

Heaving to catch his breath, the seller made a gesture for Athena to look around before bowing to pick up his hat. The shieldguard however was not interested.

“Rather inconsiderate to be making a sales pitch this late when many good folks are trying to sleep, don’t you think?”

"Is that so? Then, Pardon me, ma'am." he coughed, two yellow eyes of his glinted with a strange spark when addressing the black-haired woman in front of him. He lowered his voice, but his jovial attitude remained unchanged for everyone to hear. "If it pleases you some much I can lower me sound a bit. But a man gotta make a living somehow, eh? Tehehehe. When you you see a buyer you peddle. Kindeance way! Please look around!

"And what are these" he asked, shifting at the twin bears who flanked him from both sides and started to get rough with their antics. He smiled, either affectionate or the smile of a merchant seeing two sacks of gold in front of him, you couldn't really tell.

"Cute little things! I like smart animals like yours. What's your name? Both of you? You have names?"

He tried to reach for the bear on his left, intending to pet her muzzle.

Sovereign's Will: The Edge of War [Looking for new players]

The traveling merchant stumbled toward the camp unhindered, bringing with him the sound of creaking metal and ungreased wheels to alert potential buyers-- well, if not to disturb their sleep. He then turned to the left a bit before stopping at another clearing to the north, and jumped from his carriage to greet the sentries.

"Goodnight goodnight Fellas. I see that you have keen sight over there. I mean ye no harm. But arms ye! I've got arms for those who seem to be bothered by my less-than-spectacular entry!

The man could be seen slapping his bearded cheeks and placing his brimmed hat on his chest. "Ah manners manners! Gotta have manners in front of those upstanding ladies, wandering in the middle of a wilderness, at night even are ye?! But I ain't one to judge. Castor Goodenough, a merchant by trade, and these were my burden beasts, Tom and Jerry."

"Tsk tsk. To the business then!"

Seemingly just slightly offended by their lukewarm response, the man spun and retreated into his carriage, opening the trunk of his enclosed vehicle and laying out a carpet just next to it. A moment later he was already sitting behind his merchandise. Potions, blades, and jewelry were laid neatly. Some look attractive even to the untrained eyes. And all was placed under the light of his four lamps for everyone to see.

Among the other impressive-looking weaponry he had, there was a curved long sword made of jade and a scimitar with edge gleaming with flowy patterns. In his trinkets section, there were wrist beads made of pearls, and a sapphire necklace fitted in a frame that looked like a gold scarab.

Perhaps he had more interesting things in his wagon. All you need to do is just ask!

Sovereign's Will: The Edge of War [Looking for new players]

Ah, speak of the devil. The baby face squire approached them and asked eagerly.

"I heard my name. Is something would you both like to share?" She spoke to Jazdia and Athena.

@Louise Ironside

"There is a civilian transport inbound to our camp," answered Jazdia, still maintaining an indifferent expression if not fatigued.
Then there was more inquiry came from Athena asking about the cargo.

"Weapons," she said, still facing Athena, however, the glow in her eyes had faded. "Swords and jewelry and other things. If there are any living beings inside that carriage of his, their life force will be flaring brightly in darkness. I saw no such a thing. He is alone."

Sovereign's Will: The Edge of War [Looking for new players]

Jazdia moved to stand beside Athena, yawning and squeezing her own shoulder nonchalantly when the cat youkai prepared her shield. Briefly, the elf looked at her, witnessing the resoluteness, eyes gleaming under the moonlight.

“We’re still pretty close to the road. It’s not likely anyone else would be traveling this late. Still, I’ll take first watch” Athena said, swaying her spear. “I find myself more suited to keeping an eye out in the dark.”

"No objection from me..." the elf yawned again, "But we hardly alone."

Now her eyes too gleamed with a faint purplish hue.

Jazdia pointed at the far distance. On the same road, there were four moving dots of light swaying in the darkness, approaching their camp at a slow but steady speed. More detailed inspection revealed a four-wheeler drawn by two donkeys and coached by a man. Traveling merchants seldom travel at night, but they weren't really an uncommon sight.

"Looks like another carriage," muttered Jazdia. "Strange, we didn't encounter any other traveler during our trip. Maybe he was in Pesti when we passed the crossroad? Should we warn the others? Your call, but I don't think the man was dangerous, though his cargo might suggest otherwise."