"These items easily cost around 18 silvers. Aside from the weapons, the bronze amulets are the most prized item and it is highly sought after by foreign buyers due to their exoticness. They say that it is a show of wealth among the merchants." A local trader shared his knowledge of goods with Diacrao and Conrad who were dealing with said local, who inspected the bronze amulet.
"I assume this is your first time at the market, and this may be your first kill because you rarely made an appearance here. Regardless, I hope this information might serve some purpose for you. Here, the 18 silvers in exchange for the goods." The local trader passed on a small coin pouch, clinking as Diacrao accepted the pouch. "Thank you." Diacrao shared his gratitude.
"Hey, could you tell us more about the goods? what's the hot stuff that people are selling nowadays? maybe you can help us through with where we can get cheap gears and such?" Conrad's sudden burst of questions surprised Diacrao, and the trader as well, who gave out a hearty laugh to his array of questions.
"I would like to help, but I will have to share this another time, I will be closing shop early to attend my personal events. Say come back another time, rogue, and we can have a hearty conversation about this." The local trader responded, much to Conrad's dismay, but he nodded and gave a thumbs up with a smile to his response. Shortly after the conversation, the rogue and the swordsman left the trader and blended in with the crowd in the bustling marketplace.
It was a bright evening, and the marketplace was bustling as usual, with both local and foreign traders setting up their shops by the streets as they sold their goods, ranging from common items such as bread, and straw baskets, to exotic and quality goods such as high-quality swords forged from the local blacksmiths, to foreign carpets and fragrant incense sticks that provided a calming aroma to those that passed by its scent. It was truly a multicultural scene where traders of various lands came to sell their goods and share their knowledge and sagas of the greater world beyond the land of the republic, and the Xeyrian empire. But for a fledgling like Diacrao, he had yet to uncover the world around the republic and its lands, which he still considered vast and foreign, the reality that is yet to be comprehended by an otherworldly foreigner like himself.
The rogue and the swordsman met up with the rest of the party who was relaxing by the bridge in the heart of the town, overlooking a water system. "Welcome back guys! How much did we make?" Aitana, who noticed their arrival stood up and asked them about how it went, curious if they were able to secure a proper deal.
"Well, would you consider 18 silvers a good profit for a rookie party?" Diacrao tossed the pouch to Aitana, which landed on her palm, she subsequently opened it and smiled at his word. "Of course, it's pretty good, we should give ourselves a pat on the back for what we have accomplished."
"Please, some of us almost died today," Conrad started his rant with a cold response before he proceeded with his rant. "I mean we could have easily taken on those furballs if someone learned how to aim properly, but no, she only knows how to accurately get on my temper, but can't shoot for nothing!" He spilled out his rant, and the rest of the party members knew who he was talking about specifically.
"Of course you will still be butthurt Conny," Zemfina responded, unfazed at his behavior. "Oh please, stop acting so distant and cold. You always act like this when you mess up big time, big eyes." Conrad went on again with his reinvigorated tirade about Zemfina's performance, but he was cut short by the huntress herself.
"Sure, but I clearly remembered that you were mostly running away, while Kadungon and I have been doing most of the fighting. The best damage you ever done was just a few slashes, while you hopped away from battles like a frog, but sure, put the blame on me, as always." She threw her viewpoint amongst his rant, and again, with the monotonous, unfazed tone. Conrad was about to give his response before Chiasoka jumped right in.
"Guys! Come on! this is no time to be fighting. This was our first kill, our first success! are you really gonna overlook what we have accomplished together? Sure we made mistakes but we were able to make it out together, right? We can assess our faults when the time is relevant, but now, we should rejoice at our victory!" Chia said as she hoped her words could attempt to diffuse the conflict between Conrad and Zemfina, and luckily for her, it worked.
"Yeah...I guess." Conrad responded, while Zemfina only gave a light smile and a nod to Chiasoka. "Of course, I was planning on checking out the tailor shops down in the weaver's district. Does anyone want to follow me?" Zemfina extended her invitation to her party-mates. Chiasoka jolted into excitement and accepted her invitation, while Aitana just gave a quick nod, accepting her invitation as well.
"That makes the three of us in one group, how about you three?" Chiasoka asked the other three, who had not given any response yet. They declined the invitation, each of them stating that they had their own plans to explore the town on their own and do their own activities. "Right before we go, we should split our shares, here, everyone should take 3 silvers each.", Aitana said as she opened the coin purse and equally split it around the members. As they were done, the ladies said their goodbyes, and left the scene.
"I don't know about you guys, but I am craving some Mutton marinated in some thick, spicy shea butter! Heck, they probably have it roasted now. Catch you guys later." Conrad sprinted away from the scene as Diacrao and Kadungon waved towards the rogue, leaving both of them alone.
"You know Kadu, I didn't expect this day to come."
"Me too Dia, but I am happy, although, I am not really sure what I should spend my money on."
"Likewise. I don't know where to go either, or if I want to spend at all. I think I want to save."
"Hey, your coin, your choice, Dia. I am gonna head outside of the walls, get a feel of nature, you know?"
"I feel you. It will look scenic in the evening especially. Have fun Kadu."
"Peace man."
Thus ended the brief conversation between Diacrao and Kadungon, as they went on to their own ways. Diacrao was unsure of his next destination, he didn't have a specific place in mind to go, but he did want to explore the town, learn about the life of its dwellers, its activities, and culture, and get a general and better understanding of this place. It had become his personal quest, to understand the world around him, and so he left the spot to fulfill his quest to enlighten himself in this new world.
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The trade districts of the town have always been busy, but the weavers district was especially busy today, as an influx of customers from local, and distant lands have swarmed the markets to get their hands on the exotic and beautiful textiles that were produced in this region.
The weavers of Manda were known for their exceptional skill in their crafts, for designing high-quality textiles, decorated with well-decorated patterns and ornate jewelry and ornaments such as pearls, gems, and beads into their textile goods. The fame of their goods has extended beyond the borders of their realm, as foreign merchants were present in the district, expressing their interest in buying these textiles, only to sell them at an exorbitant price in their homeland, citing their exoticness and diligent craftwork as the factor for their pricey tag.
High-quality textiles weren't the only goods produced in these parts, other goods such as hats and clothing items of varying prices, led to an influx of individuals of various economic backgrounds to swarm the marketplace. The three ladies were huddled by a stall that offered an assortment of clothing options, from exotic and expensive clothing made from the finest silk to cheap, convenient, and affordable clothing.
"Wow...these silks are so exotic, decorated with some fine glass beads. But their prices are gonna plunge us into an unrecoverable debt."
Chiasoka commented on the prices of the beautiful silks and the other lasses agreed with her comment. Despite its exorbitant prices, it was still a fun activity to indulge in window shopping, feasting their eyes on fine, exotic, and fashionable clothing that was like eye candies, quenching their hunger for aesthetics and design.
"Take a look at that Black Kemis! It looks absolutely stunning, and that golden patterns, oh my!"
Aitana took notice of the Kemis and it became really clear between Zemfina and Chiasoka that Aitana was infatuated by the Kemis and its aforementioned patterns. This is further reinforced when she held on to the Kemis and inspected its design, running her hands on its soft, starstruck by its crafty design.
"Guess somebody just had a love-in-first-sight moment."
"Shhh, don't interrupt her, she is getting intimate with her beloved!"
Zemfina and Chiasoka teased and giggled at the infatuated mage, causing her cheeks to flush with red as she told them to stop the teasing in a soft, cracked voice before she had her eyes stolen by another red kemis with a unique pattern, and this has led the other two ladies to continue their teasing antics towards the priestess.
"Come on guys, don't tell me you don't think these outfits are gorgeous!" Aitana said as she showed them the garment. Though they teased her, they also complimented her taste and her sense of fashion, and that it would look good on her if she were to don it.
"Hey look at this cool hat!" Chiasoka went towards and pointed towards a multicolored Isicholo that caught the girl's attention. "Damn Chia, and I thought Aitana was gonna get us broke," Zemfina remarked, although, her eyes were well focused on the beaded hat as well.
"The color design on this hat is amazing, it's neither an eyesore, nor is it dull, its composition is just perfect, and its size is just right to be worn by any woman without looking shabby at all. Whoever made this is well experienced in their line of work." Chiasoka let out a short, yet unexpected critique that shocked the other two women just from her observation.
"Buuuuut, we will surely get into a crippling debt if we were to get this now, so someday hat!! Speaking of which, should we check out other vendors?" Chiasoka suggested, and seeing as how they had spent enough time in this stall, they agreed to check around the other vendors and to see their wares and prices.
It was probably a good idea to know where they can get affordable clothing and tailoring services, not just for them, but for the males in their party as well.
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Conrad was not necessarily the biggest in terms of his stature, but he certainly had a voracious appetite among his comrades. He was seated by the stall in which its name was written in the local written script, but Conrad could not read the local script as he was not trained or taught about it, but from the conversations he gathered between the owner and the customers, the owner was named Rudo, a hearty, owner of Zanziyin heritage, a local probably, and he is known for his Mutton, marinated in a combination of shea butter and spices, creating a flavourful delicacy.
The price wasn't cheap though, it cost about 1 silver, but Conrad was gonna find out if it was worth the price. "Order up for the fine gentleman named Conrad! And here you go, fresh from the Western coast! enjoy your meal sir, and if you want anything, just ask, alright? Hahaha!" Rudo served a plate of his special delicacy, a sizable portion that could feed up to two people, but it is Conrad we are talking about, the lad who could eat a two-person portion with no issues.
The smell emitted by the dish provided an aromatic and flavorful fragrance that intoxicated his mind, whilst his stomach growled as his mouth was salivating over its scrumptious aesthetics. Without further delay, he held onto the piece of meat and gnawed on it, ripping its meat apart as he chewed voraciously.
In less than a minute, his mouth was overflowing with an explosion of flavors that swarmed through his taste buds, befuddling his mind as he couldn't grasp how rich in flavor, this mutton actually was. He moaned in excitement, as he continued to feast on the meat. Rudo noticed the rogue's erratic eating behavior, and couldn't help, but smile at it, knowing he made yet another customer, satisfied. A silver coin, well spent.
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The outer walls of the city didn't have many activities going on, aside from the usual caravans of merchants from the interiors, usually traders from the other Zanziyin republics who preferred traveling by land instead of Sea, Saqari traders from the mountain ranges, and other Xeyrian vassal states such as the Kharash people, who he found to be quite an interesting group of people in the region.
But today, he decided to take a break from learning about the world around him and enjoy the nature that stood beyond the walls of the Stone Town of Manda, and to take a break as well after the exhausting battle against the gnoll. He walked for a good distance until he found a hill that provided a scenic view of the Stone Town, and the valley that it was built within, overlooking its bustling port, and the far distant sun that was sinking into the endless sea.
He lay down, on the grassy hill that was jotted with Commelina flowers, as he laid his eyes over the scenery, a spectacular sight that honestly gave him a surge of calmness, and the breezy wind further added to the relaxed vibe that he was feeling. He can't help, but close his eyes, and relax, bathing under the evening sun, and getting lost in this temporal state of tranquility.
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Diacrao's aimless stroll leads him into many parts of the town, introducing him to districts that he hadn't been to before or knew existed and introducing him to the cosmopolitan nature of the town, and the industrious nature of the Zanziyin people who were well adept in the craft specialization of various goods and craftworks.
But that was not it, he also witnessed various communities, and ethnic groups that have arrived to set up shop in the region, professing in both local and various foreign languages that created a mix and mash of incoherence in his mind, but that was too be expected in a busy town such as Manda. But aside from the busy streets, he can't help but appreciate its architectural grandeur and planning that went into building this town, an architectural feat that he repeatedly adored.
Not only was the architecture grand but some of it was well decorated with various aesthetical choices, from growing vines to hanging flowers on the entrance of each house, to cultural engravings etched on the doors, depicting tales, that he unfortunately could not decipher, for now at least. The vast array of artworks certainly impressed him, nonetheless.
But on his stroll, he did notice that not all was utopia, especially regarding foreigners like himself. He passed by a few guards, who chased off beggars, except, they weren't locals, rather, they were Auxiliaries, just like himself, who were still dressed in their battle gear, albeit, it had seen better days, and they looked like they needed a bath.
"Yeah, so you got kicked out from the Auxiliary Corps and owed a loanshark with a hefty sum. That still doesn't give you begging rights. Now steer clear or else we will have to force you out, foreigner." The guard was blunt and was ready to use force by any means. The foreigners had no choice but to obey their orders, and so they left. "And remember, if I catch you around again, you'd be brought to court! Not get a job like everyone else!" The guard scolded before he resumed his patrol around the town.
It was brief, but it got his attention. That person was an Auxiliary just like him, but an unfortunate turn of events had turned the young lad and his buddy into abject poverty, and it seemed like they weren't helped by the local authorities or institutions. He assumed that the people could have potentially stained their names by doing a terrible misdeed, or rather, the locals don't really seem to care about the foreign auxiliaries.
Either way, he didn't allow his thoughts to be clouded with his doubts, so he cast them away and continued his aimless stroll, feeding his eyes with the architectural and artistic aesthetics along the way.