Walking up to the steps of the merchant's hall, Thalenir glances skyward to check the time. "Hmm," he mumbles to himself. "He should have been here by now." He shrugs. "Ah well, a few more minutes, then."
He proceeds to open the front door, which creaks loudly. A cloud of dust rises from the floor, sending him into a brief fit of coughing. "What in the world were they keeping in here? An earth elemental?!" he exclaims as he walk in. After a few moments, he locates an overturned bench, sets it right, and takes a seat.
Thalenir smiles. "Ah, there you are. I was wondering who they'd send." Thalenir approaches the counter and extends a hand to Cenerate. "I don't believe we've met, but the family name sounds familiar. Wasn't your brother part of the expedition to the Maelstrom a few years ago? Oh, and how is my father these days?"
Thalenir calms himself. "Sorry. You'll have to forgive me. I've been on this shard for a few months now. It's the longest I've been out of touch with Beryl in some time. I know the procedure. Business first. Perhaps if you have some time afterward, I can buy you a drink and talk about home. The local farmers nearby make a stout ale you'll have to taste to believe."
Thalenir takes out a pouch and begins assembling goods on the table in front of Cenerate. "I'm in search of some fealsworn gold with which to make an emblem. Two ingots should do. Unfortunately, my ability to pay for them will depend heavily on how much you can give me for these." Thalenir proceeds to discuss the terms of the deal in more hushed tones (OOP: Email on its way).
"Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain."
- Wizard of Oz
After a few minutes of conversation, Thalenir shakes hands with Cenerate and the two exchange goods, coin, and a few parting words. Thalenir rises and looks around. "Speaking of business, I suppose I'm the only one who knows you're here. Let me drop by the local tavern and tell others to come see you before you head back to Beryl."
Thalenir walks out the front door of the merchant's hall, calling back, "And don't forget. I owe you a drink."
"Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain."
- Wizard of Oz
The merchant sighs at the inactivity on this shard and draws a rune in the air. His finger lights blue as he burns the air with arcane energy. The sigil glows in size and swallows the merchant and his trunk. In a flash the sigil and the merchant are gone.
For every minute you are angry you lose sixty seconds of happiness.
-- Ralph Waldo Emerson
As the young wizard sits down, a powerful wind issues from a short glowing rift in the material of time. The rift is no larger than a few feet tall and it opens only a few feet away from the bench Thalenir sits upon. A large chest is seen creeping out of the rift and behind the heavy burden is a short bearded man.
?Dash it all and bother with you!? The dwarf spits at the chest as the rift closes. ?I shall have to get that re-enchanted with the levitate rune at first chance.? The dwarf mutters to himself, rubbing his lower back.
Realizing that he is not alone, the dwarf straightens and looks to his company. ?I am Cinderbeard, Cenerate Cenderbeard.? the dwarf bows. ?I am here per your request for goods and services, directed by the Berylline Syndicate.? The dwarf pauses to begin fiddling with the locks adorning his chest. As he unlatches the final lock, the chest unfolds into a rather sparsely stocked stand.
Moving behind the counter the dwarf disappears for a short time behind its height. This stand was clearly meant for a human. A sliding noise can be heard from behind the counter and shelves, and the dwarf reappears shortly there after clearly perched upon something.
Restarting the conversation with the patient empyrean, the dwarf says, ?What ever do you need, besides a broom??
For every minute you are angry you lose sixty seconds of happiness.
-- Ralph Waldo Emerson