The Humble Merchant

Starting Out

We start in the eyes of an imaginative young boy named Xolan who is on his way to the local merchant with his friends, Simon and Delmore.  They are currently in the starter town of Hythe and they are also on their way to get their first basic equipment so they can start their first quest as official adventurers.

Xolan: okay, so we have 60 gold to split amongst us.  Any ideas on what to buy?

Simon: well you don't need to worry about me because I've already bought myself some mage robes and a magic staff.

Delmore: and I bought a small combat knife for me to wield, although I still need to get some real adventuring clothes.  Preferably something that I can move around in easily.

Xolan: wow, you guys have it all figured out then.  I guess I only really need to get myself some armor and a proper sword and then we can head off into a dungeon.

Simon: we can't hold off on getting torches and rations for the trip too though.

Xolan: what's in this dungeon anyways?

Delmore: well it's only a simple dungeon so probably some slimes and goblins or something.  Hey Simon, what kind of magic do you have anyway?

Simon: I have a simple firebolt and stunning shock spell, I can only collectively use them 3 times before I run out of magic.  And if that happens, I have a small dagger on me.

Xolan: do either of you know what the shop is called that we are going to?

Simon: I think it was called The Dreaming Traveler or something like that, I don't remember.

Xolan: weird.

They had finally arrived at the shop that had a sign above it that said "The Travelers Dream."  And when they first walked in they saw a person sitting who had a weird silver metallic owl mask over their face.  They seemed to inspecting a blue potion of some kind.  They then quickly set it aside when the adventurers walked in.

Ready to buy their first items Xolan walked up to the person behind the counter and said...

Xolan: hey your mask is kind of ugly mister.

Merchant: I was already aware of this when I first put it on, now tell me, what might someone like yourself be interested in buying with the little gold that you have.

Xolan: well we were- wait how did you know we didn't have much gold on us?

Merchant: intuition obviously.

Delmore: alright then, so we are here to buy a simple sword and some armor for my friend and some adventuring clothes for me because I don't want to get what I'm wearing now dirty.

Merchant: if that is what you are here for then why are you talking to me?  Go on, browse, have a look around.

And so the group found a bronze sword and leather armor for Xolan, and a garb for Delmore, all for the low price of 35 gold.  The group had also gotten some torches and rations for the dungeon, all of it costing an extra 12 gold.  All with 13 gold left to spare.

And after buying all of that...

Merchant: thank you for your patronage dear customers.  

Simon: you are very welcome sir.  Wait, what is your name?

Merchant: oh but of course, my name is Pablo.  And it is been a pleasure to be seeing some new faces.

Pablo stood up and bowed his head down to the three boys then sat back down.

Xolan: well then Pablo, I wish you good luck for the future!

Pablo: and I wish the same to you Xolan, Slayer of the Goblin Lord.

And as they were walking out of the shop...

Pablo: actually Delmore, I would like to speak with you alone.

Delmore: oh really, and why is that?

Pablo: because I would like to give a special item to you for free, if you want it that is.

Delmore: ugh, fine what is it?

Pablo then walked up to Delmore and placed a mirror in his hand.  The mirror appeared to be attached to what looked like a lantern handle.  The mirror also had some ancient looking carvings on the back of it.

Pablo then whispered something into Delmore's ear that the others couldn't hear.

And then they said their goodbyes and left.

Xolan: he seemed nice, he even gave me a cool nickname!

Delmore: that guy was a mask wearing weirdo, I swear the equipment he gave us had better be good or so help me-

Simon: I'm sure he has our best interests at heart, he was even nice enough to give us a discount on the sword.

A moment of awkward silence then passed before Xolan abruptly broke it.

Xolan: hey Delmore, what did he whisper to you before we left?

Delmore: he said that I couldn't tell you or this item wouldn't work as intended.

Simon: he sounds like a liar.

Xolan: well even if he is, it's not like it matters too much.

They all noticed it was getting dark out because they had apparently spent a long while searching for the right items.  It was admittedly just Xolan just saying how cool everything looked while getting distracted time and time again.

Simon: well I don't know about you guys, but I am going to go home and get some rest.  I once heard that monsters are more hostile at nighttime and we wouldn't be experienced enough to handle something like that.

Xolan: Simon is right, I'm getting tired, we'll go to the dungeon tomorrow.  Let's agree to all meet up right here in front of Pablo's shop.

 They had agreed and off to their respective houses they went.

They all went to sleep, woke up, ate, and headed off to where they had agreed to meet.

And that concludes the first chapter.

If anyone is actually seeing this and wants me to make more.  Leave a comment telling me so.  And of course you should also leave feedback on what I could improve.  One last thing: feel free to complain about the grammar.