Martin and Reller (Stik and Kafen) private thread

[Breila]

(OOC: I've read this, give me a little time to mull it over and decide how to proceed)

[Stik]

[OOC]No worries. Martin is doing his best to "plant seeds" around town. It's all about networking, getting to know people, what they do, who they know, etc. If all goes well, he's going to be very popular with the locals, which should allow him to gather all sorts of information, and secure all sorts of advantages.
Martin's ultimate goal is to be able to walk through the market square, call ever shopkeeper by name, walk behind the counter at the bakery, eat a roll, take a few cookies with the baker's compliments and then give said cookies to the leathercrafter, in exchange for some repairs to his swordbelt, that sort of thing. [/OOC]

[Breila]

(OOC: I know what I want to do, but I need to finally draw maps so it makes good sense (and I can keep track of things), I will do that on Monday. Sunday is family time. In the afternoon, we will all be together at last!)

[Kafen]

(OOC: Reller is going to move around the fising area and help the locals with their nets and get in some fishing. And, he will stop in and visit his friends while hanging out with Martin.)

[Breila]

As was to be expected, Martin gets the children's attention. They crowd around him, giggling, pushing each other around, the way children behave.

"My dad said that there are goblins in the mountains to the south, and someone has to take care of them" one child volunteers after the goblin song.

"Yesterday, we saw men with wolve's heads in the Adams's shed, remember?" a pigtailed girl stage-whispers to her friend.
"You don't need to be wolf-headed to be a strange fellow" an older boy comments, "It's sufficient to be from the dockend." "Now what does that mean?" another one asks, a teen with a breaking voice, his fists raised. It looks as if a fight is going to break out.

Just then, a portly man arrives. He wears a ceremonial blade on his hip, the crosspiece of his belt sporting an anchor. "Looking for trouble again, young Drummer?" he asks the boy who spoke first. "We're all Saltmarshians, and I want none of that nonsense around here."

He then turns to Martin, extending his hand. "Jonathan Winder, Harbour Master of Saltmarsh. Pleased to meet you in person. That was a great show yesterday night." Then he turns to Reller. "Master Reller, would you please have a look at Warehouses two and three? We might have some pests in there."

[Stik]

"Yes, you’re all Saltmarshians – Samtmarshers – Saltmarshites – Saltmarshiarians – well, you’re all from here, anyway. And don’t you be spoiling for a fight, Drummer. This boy might save your life at sea someday…or not.

"And let me tell you this: it doesn’t matter where you are from. Believe it or not, I was born in a palace, but later on I wound up singing for my supper like the lowest-born viatori wanderer. And do you know what? I am happier for it.

"So go and play, now, and save the violence for them that need it. If nobody hits anyone else first there won’t be any fights, capisce?"

As the children scamper off, Martin addresses the newcomer.

"Greetings, Harbourmaster. I’m very glad you enjoyed the show, and hope to see you again at my next one, whenever that is. I am also available for private parties, jubilees, weddings, anniversaries, fetes, festivals, funerals and assorted shindigs.

"So tell me, how’s harbormastery treating you these days?"

[Kafen]

Reller bows his head in reply. "Of course, I shall look into that when we are done here, Harbormaster." He waits for the Harbormaster to reply to Martin before asking his own questions.

[Breila]

The Harbormaster is obviously pleased by Martin's interest and basking in his own importance.

"Well. Saltmarsh is little known because it is a rather small town, but we have quite a lot of traffic here. Dunreese to the South is the bigger town, but we are closer to the Capital, whereas there is the mountain range between it and Dunreese. So goods come here by boat or are brought away, and caravans take them on for distribution inland. See the warehouses? This is where things are stored. Only goods destined for Saltmarsh itself, or that the local commercants deem precious, are brought into the town itself. At the gate there, goods are inspected and taxed. What stays here is not. We are a kind of free port down here."

[Kafen]

"Anything stored in the warehouse?" Reller asks casually. "I am curious as to what kind of pests were sighted?"

[Breila]

"A few chests and bundles, waiting for the next caravan inland" the Harbourmaster answers. "And there were no pests sighted, but a report of eerie sounds at night. And there is strange stuff on one of the chests now."

[Kafen]

Interested, Reller suggests. "I will bring my companion if you do not mind. We can look at it as soon as we are done here."

[Breila]

The harbourmaster nods to Reller. "Do as you please."

[Stik]

"So you're saying that goods may come through here without being taxed? Sweet. I have a friend up north who might want to ship five-eighths of a shite-load of distilled liquors south. He was looking for a place to send them where he won't get pinched until he squeals. This might be a good place for him, then.
"It's mostly schnapps, and sambucca, but he does some nice brandies, too. Get much of that sort of thing through here?" Martin is the picture of innocence as he asks, but he's watching the harbormaster closely.

Upon hearing of Reller's assignment, Martin perks up (as if that were possible). "Well, I don't want to keep the vermin-investigator from his assigned task, so I will bid you good day, sir, and hope to see you again very soon. Remember: my services are available for all manner of gatherings - fetes festivals funerals and shindigs. Just ask."

[Kafen]

"Sambucca?" Reller inquires casually. Moving on, he says to both the Harbormaster and Martin. "We should be off to see what is up with this warehouse."

[Breila]

"You should see me in my office later about the shipment" the harbourmaster tells Martin, with a glint in his eye that might be greed. "It all depends on where that is from and where it should go. If it's inland to the East, Saltmarsh might be the best place to use."

The warehouse in question is the second one from the right. All warehouses are long, one-storied structures, with a high thatched roof. Three large double doors, almost gates, give access to them. The harbourmaster comes with the two men and removes the padlock from the bar blocking the right door. Then he points into the far right corner "There it is" and returns to his office with a salute.

The only light in the structure is what is coming in through the door. Beams support a wooden ceiling. Between them, wooden bars partition the open space into three parts, each accessible through one double door. The warehouse is fairly empty, it being not yet harvest time and the trade of the winter goods being mostly over. In the far right corner, a few bales sit, some crates and a few barrels. With his keen elven eyes, Reller can make out a flaky white substance spread over some of the merchandise.