DnD Wife Stories

Tobias had been in the port town of Kal Marha for one day now. It was a fairly large village for the area as it was the only port around for quite a distance. The buildings of the town were an amalgamation of the various MyrRin that had occupied the area over time. As a port town, Kal Marha was one of the few places on the MyrRin continent where some MyrRin lived in harmony despite being from different tribes. Many of the government buildings were designed in the ornate nature of the Tuskari, while others like mud huts for Rooka or tents for the Mirr’Sha were scattered around.

This hub town was the last stop for many on their pilgrimages to the sacred clearing or those who were traveling through the area. It was also a great place to set up a temporary shop to make some extra coin or more importantly barter for other goods one would normally not be able to get. In the day or so that they had been there, the Mastadori Trading Caravan had set up temporary shop nearby. Each wagon set up along side the other in a sort of market formation. They all had a similar feature where one side of the wagon could flip open to reveal the contents within. This allowed Tobias to cook from within the wagon and serve through the lifted panel.

Tobias was set up a little ways off from the caravan as they were not comfortable being seen this close to an exiled MyrRin. However, he was confident in his cooking and knew he would sell well in such an open minded place where the tribes mingled freely outside of the festival. Just letting the smells waft out from his cart as he prepared was usually enough to gather a large crowd by the time he was ready. In his cart, Tobias got to work on all the meats he had gathered over the long months of travel. First, he broke them down and then he began preparing them with various spices. He stuffed buns with the mixture and began steaming box after box of delectable buns with all sorts of flavor combinations for everyone to enjoy.

As predicted, a large crowd of MyrRin began to gather of all kinds. They had been drawn to the cart by the variety of food that appealed to all of them. Tobias’ buns sold so well! He sold out by the end of the day and even had to turn away a few straggling customers. He had made seven gold and it was a fortune for him. The funds would allow him to purchase materials he would need for the festival as he would need a lot more to feed the huge crowds that were going to be there. The sun was beginning to set as Tobias, cleaned up and closed up his cart. Once he was sure it was secure along with Torvas, he set off for the town proper to explore.

He walked among the other traveling vendors that had set up around the same area. He began to pass the caravan when Sodia beckoned to him from the front.

“Oh Tobias! Come, come!” She gestured at him to come closer, “Are we already done for the day?”

“Well I have to resupply. I sold out pretty quickly!”

“Oh well, I did always think you had a knack for these things!” she said with a chuckle, “I have a little challenge for my son today and I think perhaps, maybe you could be involved as well.”

With an apprehensive but interested gleam in his eyes Tobias tried to casually ask,

“Oh what can I help you with.”

“I know you are out right now but I would like to test who is best at selling their wares. Go make a few more, gather your supplies, and the next ship that arrives, sell them your wares. Let’s say ten gold worth.”

“That’s a lot of bun,” countered Tobias.

“Yes, but that is why it is a challenge! You must prove just how gifted you are at making your sales. Show what a valuable asset you could be to the Mastadori Trading Caravan.” Sodia looked off in the direction of the docks and smiled, “There looks to be a small merchant vessel setting anchor now. Perhaps you can convince them to follow you to your cart and earn that ten gold. Do so, and not only will you earn my respect, but also a hundred gold wager.”

“That’s a lot more buns!”

“I believe seeing you do this may be the motivation my son needs to see what it truly takes to be a great merchant.”

Tobias replied with a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth, “I will do my best.”

“Very well then, better hurry up and catch them before they leave the dock! You don’t want to lose them before the get a chance to taste to delicious buns.”

Tobias was completely out of his normal supply of goods, but he did carry a personal stash of ingredients and items for his own personal use that he could sacrifice to this wager in a heartbeat. Once he used it, he would be completely out but the hundred gold would buy whatever supply he would need if he could win.

With a motivated grin, he set to work cooking up the best buns he had ever cooked in his life.

FROM THE BOAT

Everyone gathered their belongings and began getting ready to make their way off the ship. They were all tired and ready to eat something other than the same rations they had had for the weeks of travel that it took to get to this port. The crew of the merchant ship with the strange name of, The Hellish Insanity, began to gather the sails to slow down and made quick work of the ropes and anchor to make dock. A group of Serpithra on the dock began gathering the ropes thrown from the boat to them and began pulling the boat in closer. Once it bumped up snuggled against the dock, the workers began tying the ropes up. Then the crew dropped the anchor with a loud splash. They they gathered around the off boarding plankway to wait for the captain to be the first off.

Captain V paused for a bit as he thought over how he was going to get his wandering cargo to the right people and get paid. The mysterious woman was good to go. She had paid her fare and this was her stop so he didn’t have to worry about that as she had paid her way in advance. He just had to worry about the one below deck and the two others above. The one below was technically damaged goods but he hoped they wouldn’t reduce the fee by too much.

With a sigh, Captain V walked down the ramp and saw a large but not too tall MyrRin. It was green and had a large shell that rested upon its back. He watched as it walked up and said in a drawling voice,

“Wait. Payment for docking. One gold.”

“I see, just one gold you say? I suppose I can pay the one gold.”

With a reluctant hand, he drew the coin out of his pouch and handed it over. The MyrRin looked down at the coin then slowly looked back up at Captain V and said,

“Thanks buddy!” With that cheeky parting the guy took off and disappeared into the market crowds of the town.

Captain V stood there for a moment bewildered by what just happened.

Before disappearing he bumped into two other MyrRin approaching the dock. They passed him and walked up to Captain V. The first MyrRin was huge, towering over him with large hooves and and horns growing out of it’s head. He was so large Captain V was worried the dock wouldn’t hold him as it groaned under his weight. Beside him was a much smaller female Mirr’Sha MyrRin, her delicate feline features were a stark contrast with the hulking one beside her. He was hardly clothed with a simple loin cloth and some leather strapping across the rest of his body while she was dressed in flowing purple robes. Other lesser offical looking MyrRin followed behind her.

When they reached him, the Mirr’Sha asked,

“Are you the captain of this vessel?”

“Why yes I am. And you are?”

“I am the matron of this town and I see that everyone is taken….” She trails off, looks behind her and then back at V.

“You didn’t just give a gold to that MyrRin did you?”

“Yea, I did.” Captain V couldn’t look her in the eyes when he said that.

With a sigh she gestures, “Go hunt him down. He won’t go far.” To V, she said, “I’ll see to it that your money is returned. We try not to treat foreigners so poorly when they arrive. So please accept my apologies.”

“I appreciate that.”

With that settled she took out a little book that had been tucked on her side, opened it and looked at V with a ready quill. “You are Captain?”

“I am the captain of The Hellish Insanity”

“Occupation, profession.”

“Sailor. A mere tradesman and merchant.”

“Reason for arrival?”

“Dropping off cargo and personnel as well as resupply.”

“And how long do you plan to stay in port.”

“Oh no more ‘an a few days.”

“Ah yes, very good, very good. That will be a two gold docking fee. This will include ship maintenance, resupply, and loading of any further acquired items onto your ship. Just tell any of the merchants you purchase with the name of your ship and they will see to it that it is delivered safely on board.

“Ah well, I much appreciate that.” He handed over the requested gold with confident peace of mind.

“I welcome you to Kal Marha. If you are here for travel to the sacred clearing, I would recommend finding someone to travel with that can guide you there. Most of the caravans have left for the festival and there are not many choices or space left.

After a bit more questioning on the accommodations available in town and travel they were almost done.

“Ah you had mentioned cargo needing to be delivered. Will you be needing assistance with unloading it from the boat? We also have a variety of storage options if needed.”

“Oh no the cargo I have carries itself and is fairly easy to move but thank you.”

“Are you sure? We have the muscle.” She waved towards her bodyguards.

Bricky heard this as he was disembarking with the others and shook his head at V, muttering under his breath in Emnarian.

The Mirr’Sha lady waved to her other attendants and began to move away.

“That’s fine. Welcome and please enjoy your stay. Come now, we need to find that gentleman and return the gold he borrowed. He’s probably at the tavern.”

With that she set off and the travelers cringe as the dock boards creak once again under the moving weight of the hulking attendants. They were able to look around for the first time and noticed that the boats docked were of all different sorts and sizes. Their colors also changed dramatically from ship to ship. A few smaller ones had barnacles and other growth running up the sides of their boats while others were larger. The ships all seemed to be designed for all kinds of different peoples. At the moment, they all sat empty and devoid of life.

Bricky lifted Bogbean onto his shoulders so she could see above the crowds and followed the rest of the group as they made their way down the dock towards solid ground.

TOBIAS

As he reached the dock a large MyrRin elbowed past him without regard and he didn’t say anything. A smaller Mirr’Sha followed and he simply gave them a wide berth after that. He didn’t want any problems. The hassle wasn’t worth it. He turned his attention to the goal in mind and looked towards the ship Sodia had pointed out. He saw the people disembarking and headed towards them. A blue scaled one looked past him as he walked and didn’t pay him any attention so he walked on in search of someone to speak to. The next person he came upon was a hooded figure holding a few belongings. The person descended the ramp at a rapid pace and seemed most eager to get off the ship.

These were the people that Sodia had wagered with him to sell to. They were coming off of a very simple boat with only one sail and from the look of them they were not MyrRin. They were foreigners and the boat was not flying any particular colors either.

Tobias gathered his courage and bellowed out,

“Friends, friends, fine sailors, you look hungry. Might you want to stop by for a hot meal?”

The hooded figure before him shrugged of the hood of her cloak at his words. She was a pale woman with almost a hint of blue or purple to her flesh. She looked perpetually cold. Her hair was raven black with waves and what looked like very subtle streaks of dark purple running through the strands. Encircling her forehead was a circlet of amethyst and onyx set in antique silver of ornate design. Small stands of onyx beads draped from the circlet to add more beauty to its wearer. Her eyes were the next thing he saw. They were bright purple that seemed to almost pulse as she looked around. Even more dazzling were the pointed ears that peeked out from the waves that tumbled from her head.

Tobias abruptly stopped upon seeing her. She was something ancient that he had heard stories of from his father. She should not exist. She closed her eyes and breathed in the fresh air of the MyrRin continent and then looked back at Tobias with a refreshed smile.

“Did you say food?”

“Ah, ah yes miss! You are looking too thin. Let us get you some food!”

“I’d love something to eat. I’m starving! I have a few friends, do you mind if I bring them with me?”

“The more the merrier! Right this way.”

With a look at Bogbean, Luna gestured at the rest of the weary travelers to join her in heading towards something to eat. Bogbean, sitting atop Bricky’s shoulders, sniffed the air and began to drool,

“There is something delicious that way!”

Her hand was pointing in the direction Tobias was leading them. With that they set off for the promise of a delicious meal and a warm fire to sit by as they ate.