Akin's Throat 6

"You can help us by telling us what was in those cases."

Mirjik waves a hand dismissively. "Nothing. Trifles. The wares that I am forced to sell here, in this humid little hellhole, just to keep myself solvent. They aren't my preferred goods, that's for sure, but one does what one must to keep the merchandise moving. Even if that means custom inventory, I still keep proper goods for a proper sort of customer." He eyes Tao's unicorn form, and just smiles happily. Then he gets a good look at Mara, and looks even happier.

"Uh huh." Malachite stares at him suspiciously, and Mara gives the little shake of her head that indicates that someone isn't evil. The odd merchant laughs disarmingly.

"Sometimes, one has to sell what the market demands. That doesn't mean that the customers are asking for the right things." He winks at the female paladin. "You, however.. you look like people of some wisdom and experience. Certainly better traveled than most people I meet in this..." He pauses, and gives a delicate little shudder. "Marketplace." He eyes Malachite's crystal plate mail, as if evaluating how much money he could sell it for on a githyanki astral fortress. "It will be a pleasure to be able to boast of you as customers."

Agar grins, and walks up to shake his hand. "You're a mercane! I'm familiar with your race. It's good to see you so far from Sigil."

Mirjik large eyes gaze down at the halfling expressively. "One goes where one must, eh?" He gestures around the shop with one long arm. "It's an honor to meet you. Look around, see what catches your fancy. I have goods aplenty. In the mean time," he smiles again as he eyes the kobolds following Malachite around, "I'll try to give you some peace and quiet." He steps away and waggles his hands. "Shoo, shoo! Out for now if you can't show coin. And take those dratted flumphs with you!"

As Mirjik waves the kobolds out of his shop, the Defenders gaze down at the wares behind glass cases. Bizarre daggers, frothing potions, antique armor, strange jewelry, jewel-tipped quills. Tao looks at Mara. "I think he likes you!"

Mara looks uncomfortable. "Shut up."

Then Tao spots something familiar and taps the glass with her tapered horn. "Hey!" She calls over the others. "What does that look like?"

Nolin approaches and eyes it with interest. "It looks like those potions we stole from Hagiok the lich, way back in the Celestar. The ones that let us train in just a day or so, instead of weeks. Remember those? In a few hours, you relive months, gaining insight from them as the memories speed by."

Velendo strokes his chin. "I wonder how much he wants for them?" He reads the tag, and his eyes bulge. "5000 gold pieces a piece! That's ridiculous!"

Nolin rolls his eyes. "Not if we don't want to spend another few months training, or go back to the demiplane of Kodali's Retreat. He's got us over a barrel, although he probably doesn't know it yet."

Velendo nods in resignation. "Good point. Hey, how much money do we have, anyways?" A quick count comes up with a fairly low figure; several people have less than a thousand gold, and only Tao has more than 10,000 gp squirreled away in a bag of holding. "This is stupid! Where the heck is all our money?"

Nolin rolls his eyes. "TomTom has it."

Velendo groans. "And we didn't pick any up in the vault, and TomTom is stuck in some bizarre time-dimension along with Raevynn. Hummph." He glares at Agar, who steps conveniently out of sight behind a display case. "All right, fine. We'll have to bargain. I do have some dwarvish gems, but most of those are set aside as spell components. What else do we need to buy?"

Agar pokes his head up. "I have money, but it's in several hidey-holes on the outer planes. I could get it if I plane shifted out. I need spells and scrolls, myself."

Galthia also looks up. "I need something that will make me more effective in combat, perhaps enchantments for my magical gloves. That last fight was ridiculous." Everything looks at him with sympathy and agreement. A dwarf mutteres something about bad luck.

"Fair enough," agrees Nolin as Mirjik moves back towards them from across the shop. "These potions are marked at 5000 gp each. Let's bargain. We'll also want to get some information from him."

"I don't trust him," says Malachite.

"I know his people," says Agar reassuringly. "Their pride in their wares means that they'll almost never cheat you. They will try to strike a hard bargain, though."

"Almost never?" Agar shrugs as Malachite frowns. "Well, stay on your guard, Nolin."

Nolin looks at him in mock annoyance. "Oh, please. This is what I do."

The bargaining is extensive. Nolin is good, but so is Mirjik, and entreaties and mutual compliments compete with disparaging self-dismissal as the two go at it. When they finally finish, Nolin has purchased all ten of the unique potions that Mirjik possesses in exchange for a variety of minor magical items and more than 14,000 gp. The mercane has also agreed to speak with an associate, in the hopes of working a deal with Agar and Galthia. Both sides seem satisfied, which probably means that someone got cheated, but it isn't clear exactly who.

While Nolin is bargaining, Mara suffers a sudden bout of vertigo. She staggers, chest aching, but quickly recovers without injury. The group resolves to discuss it later..

"Tell us about this place, Mirjik," asks Mara once bargaining is completed and Nolin is packing up the delicate glas vials. "Who is Akin? Who is the most powerful person here?"

"Ah, Akin," replies the merchant as he pours drinks. "He's been here for more than a decade. Human once, they say. Now he's covered with mold, and is most likely controlled by the myconids – the fungus men." People shiver. "No one wants to upset him. You've already met one of the most powerful people here, Luccia. She runs the arena with her lover. They do a good job in enforcing justice, although they aren't the type of people you'd want to have tea with." In emphasis, he pours more tea.

"Ran the arena," corrects Malachite briefly. Mirjik raises one delicately arched eyebrow.

"You sounds definite about that."

"I am."

"You know that..."

"Not this time."

The mercane nods. "I'll remember to lay a few bets. Interesting news." They can see him recalculating the balance of power in his head, figuring the political ramifications and estimating how it may affect his business. His face doesn't show whether the result is a net improvement or not.

"Who else is powerful?"

"Well, let's see. Akin, of course, and the myconids. Galastor is a beholder who lives here, but he's almost never seen. There are several illithids. Mercenary Hall has representatives from a number of soldiers-for-hire. There is a drow or three to avoid. And of course there are temporary residents."

"Such as?"

As Malachite asks, the shop door behind him swings open and a human man walks through. His skin has the pallor of a fading tan, and his long hair is pulled back away from his face with a leather thong. A raven crouches on his shoulder, almost protectively. He has no weapons.. and there are only dark, ragged sockets where the man's eyes should be.

"Ah, Stone Bear!" Mirjik rises with a smile. "Come in! We were just talking about you. These are people you may want to meet."