Upon leaving the clinic, everyone was silent. The plague doctor's instructions and advice kept reverberating through their minds like angry wasps as they attached their wingpieces. Keanu was the first to speak, gesturing over towards the marketplace stalls further down the road.
"Shall we head over and see what wares they have available? Doctor Devorak is right, we won't last a day without some form of weaponry."
Korcari turned to him and smiled; it was a bit forced but he could tell she was simply unnerved by all they had heard. He returned the expression as gently as he could.
"Sounds like a plan," the Imperial replied. She turned to Ronja and continued. "I know a lot about bartering. Perks of growing up in a merchant caravan. If you both see anything you want, come find me and I'll help you get the best price."
The Wildclaw didn't seem all too convinced but nodded anyway. Her crest puffed up restlessly as she faced the stalls. "Very well, let's get what we need and go." Eyes catching on a weapon-smith near the back, Ronja took her leave and went to peruse his wares. Sharing a look, the other two followed suit.
In the end, Keanu found a nice staff that could not only be used as a channel for his magic, but also as a physical weapon as well. He stocked up on a few more health pots and some bandages in case they ran out, along with a couple extra rolls of parchment.
Korcari purchased a set of polished twin daggers, a whetstone, a set of lock-picks, and a few snares to help gather food while in the wilderness. Though her gaze caught on a beautiful set of Darksteel Bracelets, she turned away. They were not practical...she didn't need them.
Ronja returned to the party with a skinning knife, a rather short but powerful cleaver, extra water skins, and a portable spit to roast meat with. She seemed a bit sheepish about having asked for the Imperial rogue's assistance in bartering for the spit, but grateful that she hadn't had to pay the original price.
After pooling their remaining funds, the group grimaced. Even with Korcari's haggling skills they only had enough to purchase maybe a few day's rations altogether. Though most of their time would be spent out in the wilds, they would need to return to the city periodically to report back to Doctor Devorak and replenish supplies.
They couldn't do that without coin...
Frowning, Ronja turned to face the city gates, tail twitching. When she spoke, the other two blinked in surprise. "Why don't we go explore those ruins the doctor talked about? The ones to the north?" She shrugged and turned back to her group. "There were a few of those in the Shrieking Wilds. You could always find good stuff there, if it hadn't already been picked clean by other scavengers. And Korcari, you have experience with this do you not? We can go explore and bring back whatever we think will sell for a decent price."
The Imperial grinned. "It is right up my alley," she replied happily. "What do you think Keanu? It would certainly help our money problem."
The Coatl chuckled, lips curled up in a soft smile. "I say we go for it," he declared. Gripping his staff tight he turned and began walking towards the city's entrance. After getting some directions from one of the guards, Keanu and the others requested to be let out.
Despite their newfound excitement, the sound of the heavily fortified gates slamming shut behind them made the adventures jump. This was it...they were really going to try and find a cure!
Trying not to think too much about what dangers lurked along their path, the three began their trek to the northern ruins. It took almost half the day before they spotted the toppled columns and crumbling walls of their destination. Glancing about nervously, the group approached with caution, weapons drawn.
When it was clear nothing lurked in the shadows, Korcari began to scan for any traps that might have been left behind, either by the original owners or other explorers. Thankfully, it appeared that no one had been brave enough to explore these ruins. They each took a small section within shouting distance of one another and got to work.
All in all it was a pretty lucrative find. There were cloths that could be cleaned and made into bandages, clay fertility statues, various minerals and ores, and intact pottery that could be used to store potions and salves. Unfortunately no treasure chests had been found.
When they had scavenged all they could the trio began the trek back towards the Hewn City. The darker it got, the more nervous they became, but thankfully made it back to the gates before anything decided to ambush them.
The night merchants were
very pleased with their finds indeed!
Deciding to sleep in one of the local inns for the night, the group resolved to head out first thing in the morning to finally begin their journey.
