CH. 03 - Sandon Festival

[Daos]

Summer is ending in Buho and that means the annual Sandon Festival.  It's a beautiful, sunny day that's warm without being too hot. It's Sardonx 27th, Rockday in the year 312 and it's 7 AM.

The past two months have largely been uneventful.  Otto was buried in the cemetery and there was much sadness from his passing.  He was considered a good man and was well liked in the village.  Kerna and her children have moved back to their home and repaired the fire damage, as well as hired a farmhand to help out around the place.  There has been no sightings of goblins, nor have there been any further reports of raids or attacks.  People are finally starting to relax and enjoy life again.  Nearly everyone in the village talked about the party's exploits, especially focusing on Damon, son of Sandon.  Ladonna and Ryan are brought up a lot, as well, although few ever mention Bula and Tavos at all.  But even that excitement wound down, and now all anyone can talk about is the festival, which has finally arrived.

(OOC: Spellcasters can pick new spells today. Check the Character Stats thread to see which spells are available and how many slots you have to fill.)

Ladonna Marche (Marche Residence)
Ladonna wakes up in her small, one-room house. Today is the Sandon Festival, so the taverns are closed, meaning Ladonna is off work today.

Her father prepares breakfast while her mother fusses over Felicia. Three of Felicia's suitors (a merchant, a craftsman and a knight) are coming to the village today for the celebration and to meet Felicia. Amanda had been up late making sure the dress Felicia would wear today was perfect, and now she was trying to get Felicia's hair just right.

Ladonna was awake before any of them, studying her secret spellbook. She keeps it hidden under a loose floorboard in the house. Every morning she wakes up before her family, studies it in secret, then hides it away again. Today was no different.

Ryan McIntyre (McIntyre Residence)
Ryan wakes up that morning in his small, one-room house with his mother. She starts working on breakfast while Ryan cleans up, get dressed, and studies and prays for new spells. It was Ryan's hope that his father would stop by the village today. He had promised in his last letter that he would try to do so.

Normally Ryan would need to report to the temple for training, but as today was the festival, he was off to enjoy himself.

Flinnton Lochlass (Lochlass Residence)
Flinnton awakens in the small, one-room house he grew up in. His grandmother, Vera, is already making breakfast for the day. Today is the Sandon Festival, a day celebrating the end of the Battle of Buho twenty years ago. The day that his parents died.

It was less than two months ago that everyone was huddled in fear that history would repeat itself, and goblin armies would attack Buho again. But a group of young people went out and somehow made peace with the goblins, at least for now, and people were in high spirits again.

Justin Tyme (Oakhill Residence)
Justin awakens that morning in his family's old house. It was so quiet these days. Once, it had been filled with the sounds of laughter and love. Now it was mostly filled with empty bottles.

Today is the Sandon Festival. He had not attended one in a few years now, but he doubted it was any different from before. Buho never really changed, not when it could help it. Unfortunately, the taverns would be closed today. The inn would be serving drinks, though. And at the festival itself, in the afternoon, there would be plenty of booze flowing there, as well.

Justin was still unsure what to do about the Irons. For the past two months, he had just drunk himself into a stupor. He was just one halfling, after all. What could he do to stop Jubilee's upcoming wedding? There would be people from out of town at the festival. If he asked around, maybe he could find out something. Maybe he could come up with a plan if he had more information. Or maybe he'd just get so drunk he'd black out and have to be dragged home by one of the Farboughs again.

The Farboughs...that reminds him. They are probably making breakfast right now. The family had sort of informally adopted him, since his own died. They always let him swing by for meals, when he wants to. And are often coming by to check up on him. So he could try and make something to eat himself, or he could swing by their place instead.  They even brought him a cake a few weeks back, on his 25th birthday, although Justin had not been in a particularly celebrating mood at the time.

Theronymous Wiggledigit (Baker Residence)
Theron wakes up that morning as he usually does, at the small, one-room house where he has stayed since his uncle died. His 'aunt' Gilly Baker, a widow who lost her own husband at the Battle of Buho, has taken care of him since then.

While Gilly is busy preparing breakfast, Theron has time to study his spellbook without being noticed (Gilly herself is unable to read, so easily believes it's just a regular book if she catches him with it).

Today is the Sandon Festival, the anniversary of the Battle of Buho. That means it is also the anniversary of Rascal's death. It was hard to believe that was twenty years ago.

The smell of whatever Gilly is making for breakfast easily snaps him out of his thoughts.

[notARobot]

Theron quietly studies his spellbook for about twenty minutes, all the while struggling to overcome the distractions of Gilly's fragrant cooking and his somber recollections of how he came to possess a spellbook in the first place.

(OOC:  Theron memorizes Audible Glamour and Phantasmal Force.)

Afterwards, he returns his most prized possession to his backpack, and joins Gilly at the table for breakfast.  "Aunt Gilly?" he says, "I know things haven't been...great between us recently.  I know I've been causing you undue amounts of grief and concern, and...I'm sorry for that.  You've always been there for me and I- I feel like I've been letting you down.  I'm going to try to make things right between us, make up for the mistakes I've made.  Could you find it in your heart to forgive me?"  He gives her his most sheepish, repentant expression while awaiting her reply.

After their conversation, he finishes eating and proceeds to take off his tunic.  Laying it flat on the ground, he unsheathes a dagger and carefully slices off the frayed bits at the waist end and sleeve ends.  While he works, he makes light conversation with Gilly without taking his eyes off his task.  "Are you going out to enjoy the festival today?  I know I don't usually go for that sort of thing, but I'm feeling unusually...festive today.  I think this one's going to be fun."  Once he finishes tidying up his tunic, he does the same with his breeches.

Upon finishing his tedious labor, he gives Gilly a quick peck on the cheek and heads out.  "See you later!" he calls behind him as he shuts the door.  With that, he heads over to the home of Silas Goff, the town's tailor and cloth merchant.

[HorizonsDream]

OOC: Charm Person and Friends

IC: After studying her spells for the day, Ladonna contemplated how she could mess up her sister's chances with her three suitors. "Felicia," Ladonna said. She was sitting not too far away from her mother and sister, watching her mother fuss over her sister's hair and clothing as if it was some sort of life and death situation. "Out of the three, which was the one you wanted to try to woo the most?" she asked curiously. Focusing on all three of them was a bit much, but she could focus on one man.

[Mercurion]

Leaning against the fence post outside of The Goblin’s Tooth, Flinn slowly, casually worked a branch of black hickory with his belt knife, the small castings piling up at his feet. Eventually the branch would be worked into a functional shape, but Flinn was taking his sweet time with it. No call to rush it after all.

The booming voice of the smith across the way rang out and Flinn saw Mattin’s son go to draw a fresh bucket of water for the forge. He caught the lad’s eye as he went to the well, nodded and smiled. He and Ingot had sparred with staff and hammer (the latter’s head wrapped in furs to make its blows less deadly) to hone their fighting skills on more than a few occasions. Soon the boy’s strength would outstrip his own he knew, though for now he was able to dump the lad on his back more often than not. One day, the boy would make a fine warrior, if he put his mind to it. But, Flinn thought sadly, it was more likely the Ingot would inherit the forge from his father and be tethered to the anvil his whole life, never seeing anything much beyond Buho.

Flinn’s stomach rumbled. The rabbit he’d snared had been gone after yesterday’s breakfast and it had been a half grown thing to start with. He thought of the seven scant coins jingling forlornly in his belt pouch and the satisfying bread and stew that could be bought with them, but he mentally shook his head; he was saving those for an emergency. Something would turn up. It always did.

He resumed his whittling, but he cast a sidelong glance at the woodpile outside the tavern, looking for a short, deep, round piece, something the right size and shape for a drum, one with a rabbit skin head. No one at the Goblin’s Tooth would be missing a single piece of wood…

[Justin Tyme]

Justin Tyme

The once respectable halfling rubs the sleep from his eyes and looks around for a drink.  Coming up empty, he sighs heavily.  At least the headache will keep my thoughts occupied.  I best set out to see if I can procure a pint or six from the festival. He looks around the home and finds his purse and feels the lightness in it.  Justin then spies the other things that have occupied his time here - the carvings.  What had started as tokens of affection to give to Jubilee had turned as a means to keep his sanity once he returned home.  His strong and dexterous fingers would unlock the secrets of the wood as he would carve all manner of creatures, flora, and figures.  His thoughts turn towards his love - Jubilee.  He blinks away the stinging tears and moves about his childhood home.

Using the basin and well water, Justin does his best to wash his morose mood away.  The cold water knocks the cobwebs from his mind, and he puts on his finery.  The bandoliers of daggers weighs heavily on the troubled shoulders of the halfling.  He shakes the living nightmare of what must have happened in the empty home from his mind, and Justin then fills his backpack with all sorts of his carvings.  "Mayhap these will fetch a pretty coin to restock my supplies?" he says aloud to no one but the ghosts of his family.  Then, he hefts the load of leather gloves, blanket, wood blocks, sharpening strap, and carvings onto his back and heads toward Buho proper.  "If nothing else, I can perhaps find out about the Irons and other goings on around here."

ooc:  I figure that Justin will ply his trade of carpenter and carver at the festival.  

[Daos]

Ladonna Marche (Marche Residence)
Felicia turns to Ladonna.  "Oh, I'm not--"

"Hold still!" Amanda demands, trying to fix Felicia's hair into an elaborate braid.

"Ow!  S-Sorry!" Felicia says to her mother, then finishes her sentence.  "I'm not sure.  I'm hoping I'll be able to make a decision better once I've met them all.  I mean, the knight is nobility, so marrying him comes with a title.  But he doesn't have much coin.  The merchant is pretty wealthy, but he travels a lot so I'd be left at home by myself all of the time.  The craftsman is always home, but he doesn't have as much coin as the merchant or a title like the knight.  Oh, you'll meet with all three of them, right?  You're always such a good character of judgment, I'd really value your opinion on all three of them."

"Breakfast is ready," Jonas announces.

"You two go ahead," Amanda says, never taking her gaze off of Felicia's hair as she works.  "We're going to be awhile."

"Alright.  I'm going to eat then head to the inn," Jonas replies.  In the morning of the Sandon Festival, it was common for everyone to head to the inn so the veterans of the war could tell their war stories (which seemed to grow more exaggerated every year).  As Jonas fought in the war, he would be expected there soon.

Flinnton Lochlass (Outside the Goblin's Tooth)
Flinnton takes off early and heads for the Goblin's Tooth to do some whittling.  The tavern is closed today, in honor of the festival.  But also because Bula and her staff are busy setting things up at the village square for this afternoon.  Thus there is nobody around to stop him from taking from the woodpile outside (and even if there were, it's unlikely the watch would do anything about stealing from a half-orc).  He easily finds what he is looking for.

Having caught his eye, Ingot moseys over, carrying the bucket of water as easily as he did when it was still empty.  Ingot is only fifteen, but stands six feet tall already.  He's completely bald of hair and his eyes are completely white, like pearls. His skin is greyish in color and feels smooth and cool, like stone. This is because Ingot was born 'earth-touched.'  It's incredibly rare and some say it was a blessing from Gonto herself, who is often associated with the earth.



"Good morning," he says in his usually slow and ponderous voice.  "Will you be attending the festival this afternoon, Flinnton?"  Ingot was, in many ways, the opposite of Flinnton.  He was from a prestigious family (his father being on the council) and was a very loyal follower of Gonto.  Ingot was focused, hard-working and had his entire future planned out for him.  All of this despite his strange appearance.

Justin Tyme (En Route to Buho Village)
Justin fills his pack with the little carvings he has made over the past couple of months.  It was not uncommon for people to set up little impromptu shops to sell wares at the festival, especially food and drink, but also 'souvenirs' which prove quite tempting to the out-of-towners that are just here for the festival.  There were bound to be a few tourists that would be willing to purchase his carvings, and maybe he could get a bit of coin that way, as well as question them on any news from the Deltan March.

As he heads to the village, he spots someone approaching him.  It's Queenie Farbough, the youngest Farbough daughter, roughly Justin's age.  She's a freckled lass with red hair down to her shoulders.  When she spots Justin, she stops and waits for him to reach her, then falls into step with him back to the village.  "You're up!" she announces, as if this were a surprise.  "I thought I might have to come splash you with a bucket of cold water or something.  Well, this is good then!  You're feeling better?  Heading to the festival?  Ma and Pa sent me to check up on you, you know."



Theronymous Wiggledigit (Baker Residence/Silas' Shop)
'Aunt' Gilly was an older gnomish woman, having just turned 60 recently.  She has the normal brown skin typical of gnomes, but kept her white hair fairly short, especially in the summer time.  As she and Theron sat down to a hot breakfast, she listens to what he has to say and her eyes fill with tears.  She's usually fairly emotional on this day, the day her husband was killed protecting the village, but it's more than that.  She seems genuinely touched by Theron's apology.



"Of course, dearie," she says, wiping her eyes.  "Of course, I forgive you.  I love you, just as much as if you were my own son."  The rest of the meal is fairly light-hearted, and Gilly seems in better spirits than she has in months.

"Yes, I think I will go," she says in answer to his question.  "I just need to clean up a bit.  You go on ahead and I'll look for you later."

After departing, Theron makes his way to Silas' home and shop.  The front door hangs open, and inside Silas is gathering up some merchandise to present at the festival this afternoon.  Silas is a heavily built man in his early thirties with beady brown eyes, a mop of greasy brown hair and a somewhat high-pitched voice. He is not a native to Buho, but rather moved here some ten years ago and set up shop.



"Now then, what else should I bring?" he says to himself, folding up some trousers to put into his pack.  "Summer is wrapping up...it will get cold soon, and my cloaks are always a hit with the tourists.  I should grab some of those, too."  He hasn't yet noticed Theron at his doorstep yet.

[notARobot]

(OOC:  Now seems like a good time to share that Theronymous speaks Tardish with what we would regard as a mild Irish accent -- the Irish of County Cork, specifically.  Whenever he uses jargon from the thieves' cant, this accent becomes more pronounced; though it's not clear whether or not he does this intentionally.)

"Ho, there's a rum old codger!" Theron belts out from behind the man to announce his presence.  "How's things, Silas?  Off to peddle your wares among this year's crop of tourists and travellers, I take it?"  He pauses, smiling, and takes a moment to glance over the tailor's wares as Silas recovers from being startled.  "I'm actually in need of your services as a clothmonger myself, as it happens.  Lucky I caught you here, before you'd made your way to the town square...wouldn't do to have to pick through the dregs and leavings after everyone's made off with all your finest, eh?"

"Don't worry, I have good coin to pay you with.  Among those fine cloaks of yours, would any happen to be cut to the proportions of a handsome gnome such as myself?  I'll take it in black, if you have it.  And I've decided I'd look rather dashing in a cap, as well -- it needn't be anything fancy, mind you, so long as it fits snug enough so it doesn't droop down over my eyes.  Maybe a dark blue one, brimless...what do you think?"

[Nuke]

After breakfast, Ryan prays for his daily blessings.

OOC:Detect Magic, Detect Evil and Command.

After they finish, he asks, "What time to you want to head to the Inn Mom? I'm sure Dad will know where to find us." When it is time, he accompanies his mother and selects a seat to listen to the story time. Since it is a holiday, he will start with ale early, but not getting too carried away.

[HorizonsDream]

"Mother," Ladonna says as she stands from where she was sitting. "You're going to end up ripping out all of her hair at this rate," she points out. "And she is going to be considerably less attractive without her hair. Maybe take it a little easier," she suggests before she looks at her sister. "I had plans on meeting all three of them," she admits with a sweet smile. "I'll try to give you the best advice possible." She waves to her sister before she joins her father for breakfast.

[Justin Tyme]

Justin Tyme

Justin smiles at Queenie as he approaches the waiting Farbough daughter.  He stops and bows in a flourish true to his ostentatious way even though his headache pounds in his ears, taking off his pack as he does so.  "Good morning, my Queen.  If it is a bath you wanted to give me, I would only do so if you would join me," he says with a wink and smile changing the subject about feeling better.  "Your beauty rivals that of this morning, and I owe your parents a word of gratitude for sending such a royal visit."  Justin fishes through his pack to find the figurine of Queenie that he carved within it.  He holds it up and says, "Merry Festival, my dear."  After handing the carving to Queenie, Justin puts his pack back on and begins his trek with Queenie.

"I was hoping to sell some of my carvings at the festival - care to join me?"

[Daos]

Ladonna Marche (Marche Residence)
Ladonna sits down to a cold meal of cereal.  When she is done, Jonas heads to the inn while Amanda continues to prepare Felicia.  Ladonna can head to the inn, as well, and listen to the speeches and tall tales of the war.  It's nothing she hasn't heard before, but most of the villagers will be there, and it might be a good opportunity to speak with the village council.  On the other hand, she could instead head to the village square and help Rebekah set things up.  Or perhaps she could take a third option if she so chose.

Ryan McIntyre (Buho Inn)
As Ryan and his mother step into the inn, Shanson greets the young acolyte.  "Ho, another hero to join the ranks," he says, giving Ryan a free ale.  "Maybe you'll get a turn to tell a tale about your time in the forest, eh?  If these old fogies let you get a word in edgewise, that is!"

Ryan and Judy take a seat.  Pretty much everyone in the village who fought in the war is present.  This includes Ethen Benton, Mattin Tenhammer, the kohen, Olaf and Janna Farbough, Caerlon Osgood, Keliath Flamebeard, and Jonas Marche.  Damon and his mother, Sennah, are also present.  It's still early, so likely more will arrive within the hour.

Currently, Caerlon is in the middle of a war story.  "...Goblins to the left of me, goblins to the right...my speeding horse tore through a sea of inhuman fangs.  A pair of the biggest goblins you ever saw, big as orcs they were, rose up at me, but biff-bam!" he makes a punching gesture with both fists.  "I sent them flying like two green toy balls.  Then, a third came screaming at me."  He makes an animal like hissing sound.  "And that's when I got mad."

Justin Tyme (En Route to Buho Village)
Queenie turns bright red, so that her face matches her hair, and then punches Justin in the army playfully (but actually pretty hard, enough that it nearly knocks him off balance).  "Whatever, Cooper!  I'm sure my looks ain't nothing compared to the noble ladies you're used to by now.  Jeez!"

She's pretty surprised when he hands her the figurine.  "Hey, ain't this...me?"  She looks it over.  "Wow, you're pretty good.  I knew you were always whittling and such, but I didn't know you could make stuff like this."  She tucks the figurine away.  "Sorry, I ain't got nothing for you...oh, wait!"  She pulls out a wedge of cheese, likely from her family's ranch.  The Farboughs were a dairy family, they raised cattle and produced milk, cheese and butter.

"You gonna sell these things at the fair, huh?  That's a pretty good idea, actually.  Tourists eat that stuff up.  C'mon, I can help you set up a place in the square."

Theronymous Wiggledigit (Silas' Shop)
Silas starts and whirls around, clutching his chest.  "Oh, bah, it's just you!  Need to put a bell on you, I swear."  He puts a few more items into his sack as he listens to Theron's request.  "Huh!  You sure have some timing, asking to buy clothes now of all times.  Well, as it turns out, I do have a bit of a surplus in case the fair is bigger than anticipated.  But in return, you should help me in taking this stuff to the square.  I want to make sure I have it all set up before the out-of-towners arrive."

(OOC:  We'll assume that Silas happens to have what Theron asks for, due to the surplus.  The price varies depending on what the item is made out of.  For a cap, it's 1 SP for cotton, 1 SP and 5 CP for linen, 3 SP for wool, 5 SP for velvet or satin, 1 GP for silk and 10 GP for fine fur.  For the cloak, it's 5 SP for cotton, 7 SP and 5 CP for linen, 1 GP and 5 SP for wool, 2 GP and 5 SP for velvet or satin, 5 GP for silk and 50 GP for fine fur.)

[notARobot]

Theron hardly seems to notice Silas asking for his assistance as he surveys the merchant's goods with characteristic intensity.  After a few moments of feeling the different cloaks' fabrics, he plucks one up and asks, "You said this material is called...velvet?"  In a seemingly trance-like state, he continues to run his fingers along its smooth surface.  "I've never...felt anything this soft before.  Normally I would never dream of donning such finery, but I suppose today IS a special occasion."  He happily withdraws three gold pieces from a small sack in his backpack and hands them over to the man in exchange for a dark blue velvet hat and a black velvet cloak.

As he folds the articles up and gingerly nestles them within his backpack, he seems to come out of his textile-induced reverie.  "Oh, of course I'll help you set up shop!  I was planning to head over that way anyways, as a matter of fact -- I haven't the patience to sit around the inn listening to those old men tell their war stories for the thousand-and-first time."  With that, Theron slips his arms into the backpack's straps, grabs a heaping bundle of clothing and fabric nearly as tall as he is, and slowly follows Silas to the town square.

[HorizonsDream]

After eating, Ladonna heads to the inn like most of the other villagers. While she has heard the stories before, there was nothing wrong with mingling a little bit.

[Justin Tyme]

Justin Tyme

Smiling and rubbing his shoulder the halfling says, "That's Justin, my queen,"  his smile fades and he finishes with, "Cooper died along with the rest of his family."  He looks away as he realizes that an uncomfortable silence lingers between the two.  Justin takes the wedge of cheese and says, "I would have settled for your company in trade, but now it appears as though I am indebted to you once again.  My thanks."  

Once at the square, Justin will find a place that will offer him the best chance for success in sales right outside the inn and where the sun will not bake him, either.  He stakes out his 'territory' with the blanket he brought and sets his backpack down.  He unloads the figurines and the extra blocks that he will use to continue to carve to pass the time.  As he is setting up, he says to Queenie, "Before things get busy, ye might want to hustle home to stow your figure and get some breakfast.  Perhaps your mother would be so kind to send you back with some of her biscuits and bacon and a pint or three for me?  Thank you, my queen."

Justin then will ply his wares by juggling the blocks, the figures, and at times even his knives to attract attention.  "Come one, come all - you are just in time to buy a one of a kind Sandon souvenir from Justin Tyme!"

[Daos]

Ladonna and Ryan (Buho Inn)
Ladonna heads to the inn after her father.  There are quite a few people here already, including Ethen Benton, Mattin Tenhammer, the kohen, Olaf and Janna Farbough, Caerlon Osgood, Keliath Flamebeard, and Ryan and Judy McIntyre. Damon and his mother, Sennah, are also present. It's still early, so likely more will arrive within the hour.

Caerlon is just wrapping up a story about his exploits in fighting off a score of goblins single-handedly, when someone else enters the inn, as well.  It is Clay McIntyre, Ryan's father.  Clay is an enforcer for the church that spends most time traveling about, going wherever the church sends him to fight heretics, root out blasphemers and bring culture and civilization to the wilderness.  He's an older man in his late thirties with brown hair.  He's got a beard growing and is covered in dust from the road.  He has not been to Buho in at least six months.



Justin Tyme (Village Square)
Queenie frowns at Justin's statement about Cooper being dead, but doesn't remark on it.  Instead, she just says, "You don't owe me nothing.  I'm just being neighborly, that's all."

She leads him to the area where the Farboughs are currently setting up their own stand to sell their cheese, milk, butter and so forth to anyone who is interested.  Olaf and Janna aren't around; likely they are at the inn (being veterans, after all).  Instead, it is Queenie's older brothers and sisters that are setting up shop.  There is a spot nearby it that's perfect for Justin's purposes.  It is in the shadow of the large statue of Sandon Auger, the hero of Buho, so there is some nice shade.  He sets up his blanket and his works there.

Queenie huffs and puts her fists on her hips at Justin's request.  "What am I, your wife now?"  She turns away and sighs.  "Okay, fine.  But only because I was hungry anyway, that's all."  She heads off toward the Farbough ranch to get some food and drink.

There are a few other places that have started to set up shop here, too, in anticipation of the festival.  Rebekah is setting up shop with two of her employees, prepared to sell food and drink.  Tavos is setting up a spot for the Augers, to sell their pots, vases and other clay wares.  Rakit has a spot for his various knickknacks.  Silas is with Theron, preparing to sell clothing and bolts of cloth.  Bula and her husband, their toddler in tow, are setting up a spot for the Goblin's Tooth.  They seem to be advertising some kind of 'strawberry ale.'  There are also shops set up for the cobbler, the woodworker, the cooper and wheelwright, the weaponsmith and the armorer.

(OOC:  Can I get a CHA check to see if you attract any customers this hour, please?)

Theronymous Wiggledigit (Silas' Shop/Village Square)
"Yes, velvet," Silas replies.  "I don't often get to work with the material.  It requires a special loom to make, which I have, but there's rarely anyone in town who can afford to buy it.  Aside from the baron.  He sometimes sends his men to request new clothes from me for himself or his daughter."  He accepts the three gold coins in payment for the hat and cloak.  He, of course, makes sure to bite the coins to ensure they are real.  Satisfied, he pockets them.  "Well, that's one sale out of the way, at least."

After he puts his new clothes away and helps gather up Silas' wares, the two head out toward the square.  Silas has a little area prepared right next to the Lonely Pony's stand.  Rebekah is there with two of her employees, setting up a stand to sell food and drink.  "Ah, good morning to you, Miss Gibert," Silas says to her.

"Silas," she replies neutrally with a polite nod.

When she doesn't add anything further, Silas clears his throat awkwardly, then begins setting up his wares.  Theron assists, and from here he can spot the other vendors, as well.  The Farboughs have set up a place to sell their milk, butter and cheese. Tavos is setting up a spot for the Augers, to sell their pots, vases and other clay wares. Rakit has a spot for his various knickknacks.  Cooper, or rather, Justin, has set up a blanket to sell small wood carved figurines. Bula and her husband, their toddler in tow, are setting up a spot for the Goblin's Tooth. They seem to be advertising some kind of 'strawberry ale.' There are also shops set up for the cobbler, the woodworker, the cooper and wheelwright, the weaponsmith and the armorer.

===========

Theron purchases a black velvet cloak and a dark blue velvet cap for 3 gold pieces.  He places them in his backpack.