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RESPITE MARKETPLACE - AFTERNOON
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Froge tends to his rented stall, having managed to nab one at last. The amphibian looks hopeful and happy, his display more cluttered than it used to be, with vials in different sizes and some new-looking, but very old style strikers. He has a makeshift barrier of boards set up between his stall and the fabric merchant next to it. A forced caveat of the rental contract. Reasonable.
Ninell wanders through the marketplace, occasionally stopping to speak with merchants here and there as he continues his search for tasty baked goods more information about the dragon that Calgwen had described. What he's been hearing so far has matched up decently well with the info he already had from back home, but it's still in pieces that he'd have to sort through later in the afternoon.
Froge is demonstrating his wares, a small number of folks gathered nearby, though some with crossed arms chuckle a little to each other while watching Froge prepare. They all know what he's got, it's not even an uncommon good in some places, but his grin is a little contagious. "Frogs have the best firegas in Respite, yes? Rich! Not smelly! Hot! Watch out for the hot!" He'd been turning one way to speak to marketgoers, but suddenly turns back in the other direction, the sound of a sparker chaking for a moment before the noise is overridden by the whoosh of flames. He holds the vial high enough to avoid anything particularly flammable, the valved cork providing a beautiful jet of orange flame. He turns the valve closed before singing the wooden divider (again) as some in the crowd clap . Many of them move on right away, as if they were just there for the intermittent 'show' while the rest mill about amongst themselves.
Ninell happens to be walking near the crowd when the whoosh of the gas being ignited catches his attention. He slows to a stop, his height letting him get a pretty clear view of the stall even behind numerous other people. As the rest of the crowd starts to disperse, he gets a view of the merchant properly, and tilts his head when he sees the frog going about his usual demonstration. A new face and a species he's not seen around town yet... maybe they have some knowledge the others don't? Thinking this, he approaches the stall and waits patiently for the merchant to finish up what they're doing so he can open a conversation with them.
Froge likewise spots Ninell approaching through the crowd, similarly not recognizing Ninell as a local. He raises the vial, smiling at Ninell. "Ah, you want to buy, yes? Best firegas!"
Ninell tilts his head as he leans in a bit to examine the vial being held up by the merchant, a spark of curiosity in his eyes. "Firegas? What is this firegas? It looks similar to the, ah..." He pauses, trying to find the word for it in Trade Common, "...The, er... fuel we use in Eukune to light our lanterns and other flame-bearing works."
Froge nods a little, tilting his head. "Yah, have been hearing that a few times! It's from our home, here on Aephix. So ah... No waiting for a caravan, yes?" He tilts the vial, showing it's a more or less invisible gas. "Have more powerful firegas, though!"
Ninell hums and nods a bit as he looks from the vial Froge is holding to the other vials arrayed across his stall. "Hm... I do have some traveling I must do in the near future, and having extra fuel for my lantern would be a boon, I will say. What is your asking price?"
Froge grins, nodding. "Good for lanterns! If lantern is firegas... Not oil. Do not put liquid firegas in oil lanterns, please." He picks out amedium sized vial from the clattering box under his stall, a leaf glued by sap around the cork showing it hasn't been opened yet. "This one is 12 silver pieces! Last one! I had more, but ah... Gave them away to the featherclaws. Need it bad, some did."
Ninell takes a few seconds to look at the vial that Froge pulls out from behind the counter, mentally comparing it to his lantern, stored back at the Minnow. He nods a bit when he thinks it will suffice for a full refill once the current store of fuel runs dry, though he shifts his gaze from the vial back to Froge as he mentions he gave away a lot of his stock. "I will be happy to take this last one, then. I believe it will serve as a proper refill for my lantern. Do not worry, my lantern is not an oil one." He pauses, then smiles a bit, "The featherclaws... those that are milling about and looking as though they are completely unfamiliar with the town?"
Froge nods, his smile saddening a little. "They lost their home a little while ago... Some were not happy Respite is here. I asked some elders in my village, they say the featherclaws claimed this land long ago, but never built here. Wanted to claim our home too, but turned away. Tried to establish trades a few times, but they didn't want to." He leans over as he talks, not really looking away from Ninell as he retrieves a damp cloth.
Ninell seems to latch onto the info a bit as he goes to grab his pouch of coin, so he can count out the payment for the vial... plus a little extra. There was a blessing in having a coin that traded differently than normal. "So they are some of the natives of this land, hm? And their home is gone... an ancient home, too." He tilts his head as he slides the coins across the counter for Froge to count up, "Do you know where they are from? That is... where they lived before they were displaced here?"
Froge nods, perhaps a little too vigorously before he slaps the wet cloth onto his forehead. He's just happy to be helpful to people! "They lived on the mountern! High plateau, uh... Ten days? Maybe twelve? For a frog, anyhow. But also not from Respite, from Aventa Vella." He chuckles a quiet frogsong, shrugging. "I'm told. Never tried to go, myself, only a trader in Respite Falls! Very kind people, a lot of good trade!"
Ninell hums thoughtfully. "So at least two weeks' worth of travel... In which direction? Where is Aventa Vella from here? With that knowledge, I might be able to set out sooner rather than later to continue my search."
Froge hums, looking vaguely West. "I couldn't tell you where they lived, no no. Aventa Vella is just South, though, following the sea. Not many visitors go there." He gives Ninell a lopsided smile, "All swamp, no dry beds for furred folks!"
Ninell chuckles and nods. "Well, I will not have to stop by Aventa Vella unless the feathered folk have their previous settlement beyond your home in that direction. Having more than one location to work off of will make my search easier, of course. I will need to mark it on my map."
Froge chuckles a bit nervously, a low croak underlining the sound. "I ah... Definitely can not read a map to help you there. A guard could help, though! Most of them are plenty clever!"
Ninell nods again at that rather obvious (in hindsight) statement. "This is true. Though... that may mean I will be here for some time yet, as a number of the guards are off-duty after the battles they were drawn into, according to the word about town." He pauses thoughtfully, then shrugs, "...Though I suppose I am not exactly in a hurry beyond trying to finish this up as soon as possible."
Froge shrugs, smiling at Ninell. "Just means you wont run out of firegas for your lantern any time soon!"
Ninell smiles in agreement. "Yes, exactly. The town is well-lit during the night, so I will not need my lantern until I travel beyond the walls in whichever direction I need to."
Froge glances at the vial in Ninell's hand expectantly, his eyes flitting to another shopper waiting with two vials in hand. "It is, and as... Closed as I still find it, it feels a bit safe too! You're new yes? Have you visited the Thirsty Minnow? Lots of rooms, and good fish!"
Ninell nods at the statement. "I have, and in fact already have a room there. I, uh..." He glances behind him upon seeing Froge's eyes flick over his shoulder, then starts a little upon seeing another customer waiting. He hastily bows at the customer and steps aside so they can deal with Froge. "Oh! My apologies! I best stop taking up your time, sir. Thank you for this fuel. It will be very, very useful!"
Froge gives Ninell a quick nod, smiling but a little relieved that the other didn't turn away after the first couple minutes. "It is the best firegas in Respite! Good luck! If you think I can help any more, feel free to ask!" He slides the damp rag off his head before starting to deal with the next customer.