Lumberjacks, Ho!

[The Barbarian]

The usual smell of the bazaar was never hard to recognize. It’s pungent musk marched arrogantly down his nasal passage and proceeded to announce its arrival. Grimacing, he couldn’t help but taste it as well.

It tasted like broken dreams. And poorly made falafels. More or less of the fried snack because we was forcing one down.

Tossing the “free sample” falafel-nightmare into an overstuffed trashcan, he passed under the shadow of a fruit vendor yelling loudly that his produce was the least rotten in the area. Raising an eyebrow at the odd sales pitch, he continued to his destination. A shop known for making all sorts of axes any fellow, with a huge blade to a small handle fetish, could want. Arriving at “Bob and Kgaith’s Axe Emporium”, he looked quizzically at the two names. Shrugging off the questions that he was dying to ask the owners, he pushed open the polished oak doors and made his way past the rows of axes, saws, and various other serrated and huge weaponry that adorned the shelves.

The smell was slightly better in here, laden with the fragrance of broken dreams but with a hint of pine. He was in no mood however, to ask for it to be bottled. He had wood to chop and had no time to waste.

No one was at the front counter, which never failed to surprise him. Hardly anyone ever stood waiting patiently for someone to wander blindly into their shop and Tyrael didn’t blame them. But now here he was and he wanted “customer satisfaction”. Looking for a bell to ring and finding one, he slammed a massive palm onto its tiny button several times.

He shifted his massive body irritably. His patience and the smell of pine were wearing thin.

[The Barbarian]

After ten minutes of waiting, the barbarian's patience had evaporated like the scent of trees that were only a memory now.

Obviously he wasn't ringing the bell loudly enough.

"HEY! ANYONE BACK THERE?! IF YOU'RE ALRIGHT WITH ME STEALING SHIT FROM YOUR SHOP, JUST KEEP QUIET!"

The silence that ensued only fueled his growing anger. And there were lots of weapons around his person to smash the place with...

[Artifex Felicis]

((Bad timeing mate, sorry bout how long this took. Vacation sucks for althanas. Speaking of which, battle later as well I'll post in.))

The merchant walked into the shop sleepily, hair mussed to one side and eyes half closed. It was pretty obvious what the man was doing.

"Sorry sorry," A yawn escaped the man that his mouth couldn't even cover. "What do you want?"

[The Barbarian]

His glowing eyes narrowed on the man in front of him. He assumed he was Bob. His partner in the business couldn't possibly be a human.

"Well," he began as he relaxed his muscles, "I'll be needin' an axe for choppin' trees down. Something made of damascus or delyn. Prices on both of 'em if you be so kind." He said as he leaned on the counter and eyed the man as friendly as his mood would allow.

[Artifex Felicis]

"Well," the merchan yawned again and grinned sleepily. He pointed almost lazily towards the axes, many hanging pristine and shining in their cage. The handles stuck out a bit, and they could be hefted for the customer to get a good feel for them. "See which one you like. 350 for the Damascas 475 for the deyln. Both'll have Rywan handles of course."

[The Barbarian]

Holding the axes in his hands, he said "They both feel pretty nice. But I'm gonna need more than just one., ya know? At those prices, can you work out some...special deal for a bundle pack?"

[Artifex Felicis]

"Probably about 600 for a pair of Damascas axes and about 850 for the Deyln axes," the merchant said with a yawn. HE leaned on the table, and continued to talk with his eyes closed. "Doubt you'll be going for Liviol though, so you won't need much in terms of sharpness or expensive metals. Two Steel Axes would be around 450 gold though."

[The Barbarian]

"Steel huh?" Tyrael mulled over the idea. He knew they had wood stronger than oak growing in the area, but he wasn't too sure he wanted to trust steel for such a big job.

"I'm gonna need your best price on...3 axes of steel, 3 of delyn, and 3 of damascus. We got lots of wood to chop, pal." He said as he twirled a steel axe in his large hands.

[Artifex Felicis]

"600 for steel, 800 for Damascas and 1000 for the Delyn axes my friend," the merchant said quickly. He knew how buying more in bulk would end up decreasing the price of each specific axe, but it didn't really matter to him. A Sale was a sale, even if he might not give away that much. "And be careful with that damn thing. I don't need you to kill someone without it, and especially not me or you."

[Ranger]

Ranger pushed through the doors of the shop, none too eager to be venturing through the Bazaar. Once upon a time, years since passed, the markets of Radasanth had been held sway by the captivating power of the Red Hand. Now those tariffs and embargoes on trade had been lifted, but the resentment felt behind them had not passed. The drow was hard-pressed to work with the conniving, thieves the city called merchants. However, without an outpost or craftsmen of their own set up, he had little choice in the matter.

“I apologize for appearing so late, Tyrael. And good day to both of you,” he said as politely as he could. One of his members, Tyrael, was already present and engaged in a conversation with the dealer. The drow made his way just in time to hear the prices listed. “I hope the prices listed will not waver with my presence.”

From a pouch at his side he lifted his purse, over five thousand gold pieces clattered loudly with the sudden movement. He held his smirk and looked at the merchant. Hopefully, he prayed to all the Thayne, that the man would not recognize him as part of the group that had long since fought them. “If I am buying multiple axes, I assume I would get a better discount? Correct? There is a lot of hands present, and a lot of wood to be cut… We are going to require a few at least.”

[Artifex Felicis]

The merchant's eyes widened at the sight of the gold, it wasn't often that much came into his shop and had the possibility of actually staying there. He opened and closed his mouth a few times, and then began to speak in a very careful voice to control him from almost breaking out in thanks.

"I'm sorry, sire, but those prices are as cheap as I can go, but I can make a deal with you. Six of each type of axe I can let go for the amount of gold put onto my table, plus I will give an additional two steel axes, how does that sound?"

[Ranger]

Ranger nearly laughed at the sudden change in face. The man was no different than most of the merchants. If the buyer flashed enough gold, or anything valuable, they would fold over immediately. "Perhaps we do not have that much wood to cut," the prophet chided. "How much for three delyn? I have not heard of a metal exclusively from the Kachuck mines being sold for so little... After all, if we are to buy axes, why not buy ones for more than wood?"

[The Barbarian]

"Ya weren't listenin' when ya walked in, Ranger?" Tyrael said with a sigh. "What good are those ears if you ain't listenin' with 'em."

With a grin to his superior, he said, "Them delyn axes gonna run us 1000 gold." He eyed the merchant with his pupil void eyes. "Right?"

[Artifex Felicis]

"Still a thousand gold, yes," the merchant replied. "I would keep in mind though, these axes are made to chop, singularly and hard. They aren't meant for constant quick strikes. Just a thought, but battle axes are worth about the same, but aren't as good for cutting down trees. Just a thought. I don't want good customers to get cut down because an enemy dropped his broken shield and you couldn't draw the axe back in time."

[The Barbarian]

"Wutcha think?" He asked as he continued to twirl the steel axe in his hand. He could do this with the battle axe strapped to his back. A simple wood cutting tool was barbarian child's play.

"My gut says we'll be needin' the choppa's. We could always keep weapon's around us when doin' our work, ya know?"