Palathadric

Yo', chillax matey!

Oh, is that what you kids call it.

"What's the matter? Can't speak? I prefer communicating verbally than through written notes. At least I can tell from you're eyes that you're not some abomination using Arthur's name to get a discount." I accept the 255 gold and the weapons, still puzzling over the figure. How could a hero he had never met before be a Dragoon already? Arthur also had spoken of his love for dragons... "Meh!" I nod. "Certainly. Pray tell, how have your mixtures been turning out of late. Produced any really fascinating items?" Returning to the hall from the Marketplace, I hand the three spears to Arthur. "Have you heard from Tarn recently?" I query casually to see his reaction, before admiring his little companion.

I bring Arthur's three spears to the Marketplace and upgrade them each to WP: 10 each at Anwyl's. "Now you're bringing spears? Are you intending to use those as a Druid as well?" "Just a precautionary measure," I assure him. "Precautionary against what?" "Do you want my gold or don't you?" "Grumble...grumble." I upgrade the spears for 100 + 100 + 100 = 300 * 75% = 225 gold. 255 - 225 = 30 gold profit.

"I could get you a 15% discount on your purchases. I went on a quest to save the marketplace from some thieving town watch members, so they owe me a fair bit. I'm trained as an artisan now and believe me, when you know how to go about it, those fellows cave in when enough pressure is demanded for discounts." I chuckle. "So," I add, "you gave up raiding for a more peaceable venture? Or is alchemy a better tool to you?"

"Anytime you need it."

I take the 585 gold from Dyric and head over to the Marketplace. Returning to the hall, I hand Dyric back his vastly improved weapon. "It should work like a charm now," I assure him. "Nice doing business with you."

I enter the Marketplace with Dyric's money and his Crossbow of Incessant Warmongerers. Noticing the new store, I grin a little. I will have to check that out as I wait, I muse. Approaching Anwyl's armoury, I hand him the Crossbow. "I need this upgraded to a Level 14, on the Anwylian Scale, weapon." "Crossbow? Since when have you taken to archery. I thought you were an Artisan?" "Um...of course, I am planning to train as a druid...or something like that." Grumbling, Anwyl takes the Weapon and upgrades it to WP: 14. WP: 8 to WP: 14 costs 90+100+110+120+130+140=690-25%=518 gold spent. 585-518=67 gold profit.

I shoot up an eyebrow wondering what kind of trick the rogue is trying to pull on me, but decide to be patient. "Nope to upgrade from a Level 8 weapon to a Level 15 weapon would normally be 840 gold at the Marketplace. I can give it to you for 715 roughly. To upgrade to a Level 14 weapon would be 690 normally, but I can do about 585 for you."

I believe it's 586.5 to be precise. "585, you're talking about that Pongcanis one, right?"

"You took up alchemy. Strange indeed for one like you. I once had plans to take that route, but I've since decided against it. I'm not sure if the making mixtures is quite my forte, though the Guild to consider me a friend. Actually, if you're ever interested in purchasing things from the marketplace, those fellows owe me a couple of favours. In actuality, they practically owe the wellness of their businesses to me, but they'd refuse to admit it...entirely. Anyway, I can get you a discount from the marketplace if you need one."

"What's it to you what I spend it on?" I say mockingly. "You've got a strange smell around you these days. What have you been drinking recently?" I think quickly for an easy amount. "I can give you 15 percent off."

Same here.

Spying the bulky Alchemist around I query, "Still interested in Grating Stones. I've got one of those available. Selling for 300...you know...inflation...or whatever."

"Right," I affirm. "Idiot dwarf, eh?" I chuckle. "They can have the tendency to be that way...idiotic, I mean. What's a 'Vonnetate'?" I ask of Dyric, seeing the Arthur has left. I raise an eyebrow, but keep silent. Black, inky blood. Hearing Purpearl's mutter. I call over. "I can sell you the same shield you'd get in the marketplace for 35 gold if you want it."

I sell the Pongcanis Quiver and Blessed Amulet to Fabian for 20 + 10 gold = 30 gold. 1244 + 30 = 1274.

I toss the bag to Skrall and take the Darksteel Armour. "250 gold it is," I whisper, while fitting the armour to my form.

"Being that it clearly won't fit you. I might relieve it from you for a pretty coin or two." I hold up a sizable bag of gold. It's true that it could very well be Tarn's, stolen off of him, but in Dastan I'm sure he can find plenty more that are just as good, I reason with myself. "Your name again, 'assassin of light'?" "Yak! At times I have my bad days and wonder the same. I wish we could just get rid of the loafers like that." I snap. "But for now all we can do is just do the best we can to make the world a better place and not make excuses for ourselves for not doing so." "So I guess it's a good thing she's out of the way then."

I ignore Atramor's comment about the Bonapartes. Of course a weapon-seller like him would prefer them out of the way. He doesn't realize that the only reason he is in business is because they are helping him to eliminate the competition. "I've done some work for the Guild before. I have to say that it was questionable at best. We ended up having to save them from the very item they created with our help. Not sure how enthused I'd be about working with them a second time. Although I have to say that it's probably better that Erdathcath and I were there with Sarge to eliminate the threat. If it were another group of heroes things could have gone very differently. That's the worry about questing these days. You're never sure what's going to happen. Your party might suddenly turn against you for no apparent reason. Just a little while ago I was saving some gnomish colony from the Wolfgang who were terrorizing it and suddenly my party decides to fight with the Wolfgang." I quickly glance around to make sure that none of my party members from that quest are around or listening. ...I haven't seen or heard much of the Ji Pei, but to me, they look like trouble." I shrug. "Who's this 'Baba'? The name...I might have heard it before. I can't recall. It's not too late for our organization if we weed out the evil influences..." I glance up at the ceiling, before allowing my eyes to roll over to Skrall. Suddenly, they light up a little, "Hey! Is that Tarn's armour you got in your bag there? I could have sworn I've seen that armour before." "Why do I have the feeling I've seen that before?" "You can say that again." I nod in agreement. "Ack! Don't be so gloomy! We've all done our part to make this world a better place...at least most of us. We may have made our mistakes, but consider the state Eubric and the world would be in if it weren't for us. Sometimes I feel that the few remaining heroes...the real heroes...are the last thing that are holding this world together. I know that at least two or three times I've prevented a disaster that would have spelled the destruction of Eubric or even the world had we not stopped it when we did. Sometimes we fail to see all we do because we're standing too close to the picture, but when we look back...only then can we see the amount of lives we've changed. Sure, our deeds may not be good in a showy kind of way. We may not have crowds applauding our efforts, but isn't the hidden good of even more value than the outward kind?" "Indiacca...? It's possible. I don't remember. Ask the sword slinger over there," I toss a nod in Atramor's direction. "We fought him together with a certain Shadeaux representative, Mr. Shawe. There was also this group of knights. ...They didn't seem to do a whole lot, although at first they appeared noble enough." I shrug. "Who's this 'Wren?'"

I'm about to comment on Dyric's peace talk and applaud his effort until he calls over the ogre. I roll my eyes. When will we have some decent fellows who have the right morals but who also have the right sense of justice? I muse. "Yeah! He gave us a whole list of people, but I didn't really know who any of them were. Who's Nyx and why would I have to tell her?" "Hmm, I ran into Miss Shadeaux back in Dastan some years ago now. She seems a decent sort. Good, respectable. She was all for saving the ancient creatures and that makes a lot of sense. We could learn a lot from Dastan's dragons if we paid them the reverence they deserve. Those beasts can really be a bank of knowledge if treated right. I haven't had any run-ins with the Hinckwells in my whole time here. Rather strange, actually. But just now Atramor and I came back for a job with the Shadeaux...getting rid of some bull pirate. Seems more of a Bonaparte's line of work. From what I see, the Shadeaux seem a reasonable folk. I'd advise you to stay away from the Ziegfrieds though. They spell trouble for Eubric."

...Because Melvin is awesome!!!

Thinking twice, I hand Namyrra 200 gold. "Keep the change," I mutter. "Good work back there." "Oh, and if you ever need to buy something at the marketplace, those guys owe me a favour or two, so I can get you a good deal." I throw 100 gold Atramor's way. "One thing you know how to do is to defeat those smelly furballs. Take this and let me be the first to know if you know of any good equipment on sale. Oh, and those money-hoarders at the marketplace give me a discount for saving their businesses. It's hardly worth mentioning, but if you've got anything to buy or upgrade, let me know, and I'll get a cheaper price for you...the same goes for you, "Assassin of Light." Wondering whether or not it would be deemed offensive to hand gold to a rogue and an assassin at that, I just lean forward and query. "What does it mean to be an 'assassin of light' anyway?"

Your renders are amazing. Now I'm starting to get bored of POV-Ray before I've begun to use it as well as I could/should be.

I thought it was exactly the same just with a fancy name.