Peek: A Shift in Current

Warnd and Marle idly chat as they head for Parval's shop, enjoying the company of the other and feeling warm and full after the meal. The roast chicken hit just the right spot for Marle, and Warnd is already looking forward to taking her out to dinner again some time. As they near the shop, he steers the conversation toward the impending shopping spree.

"So, have you thought about what you want to try?"

"Some... a lot. But I haven't really narrowed it down any yet," she admits, and Warnd smiles as he continues to lead them to the outfitter.

"I had a good idea of what I wanted if I was going to be an adventurer. I wanted heavy armor and a big shield, not wanting to do my defense halfway. I... fantasized about being a swashbuckler, too, but I'm not quick enough for something like that."

"What did you end up settling on?"

"A bardiche. Something about it feels like the wood working tools I use, so it feels natural to wield."

Marle sighs at that. "There's not a whole lot of tools a hauler gets familiar with, unless I can somehow swing a hand cart around. Heavy armor and a big weapon are probably the best bet for me..."

"Not exactly what you're hoping for?" When she shakes her head, Warnd continues. "What would you like to do, if you had the choice of anything?"

"A caster," she immediately replies, earning a surprised look from him as she continues. "It just seems so elegant, wielding an affinity directly like that. There's not a lot of elegance in hauling..."

The elf pats her shoulder in support as they arrive, and holds the door for her. "Maybe Parval will have some kind of basic caster tome or something? I have no idea how those kinds of classes work," he admits.

"Maybe..." she echoes, though she doesn't sound particularly sure. As he follows the kobold inside, the elf at the counter speaks up.

"Ah, Warnd! Did you finally shake off that no-account Lem? Looks like you've traded up, to me!" Warnd and Marle both blush a bit at that and Warnd tries to just play it off.

"No, he's just busy tonight. Marle wants to try some adventuring, too, so of course I brought her here."

"Good, good! Another shipwright?" he asks, giving Marle an appraising eye.

"I'm... a hauler..." she admits, though if Parval considers it a lesser class to shipwright, he doesn't show it.

"Ah, a different set of skills than the other two. Hmm..." He rubs his chin as he considers, then gestures at the various shelves, bins, and barrels of goods. "Feel free to browse then, miss, unless you want any advice on what to look into?"

Marle looks conflicted about asking, but Warnd has no such inhibition. If it'll help her out, he'll ask. "We were just talking about what she should look into. Heavy armor and a big weapon are the obvious choice, but do you have any basic caster gear?"

"Ah, wanting to be a mage?" Parval favors the kobold with a smile and gestures at a row of shelves. "I have all manor of foci down the isle there. If you want something else, I think I have something in the back you might like. It'll take me a few minutes to dig it out."

Marle's eyes light at the idea of being a mage, and she looks curious as to what else the shopkeeper might have in the back. "That sounds good. I'll look at the caster stuff while you look in the back then?"

He nods and heads into the back while Warnd and Marle check the isle. "He really wasn't kidding about having all kinds, was he?" comments Warnd, and Marle nods as she tries to comprehend all the options available.

Staves stick out of a barrel at the end of the isle while a bin on a shelf has rods poking out of it. Nearby, two boxes of wands sit among a large selection of orbs. Amulets and rings sit on display beneath glass and alongside a whole rack of cloaks and robes.

But the dragon's share of the shelf space is taken up by books. Not only can they be potent foci on their own, but they also have instruction for a wide variety of classes and affinities. Warnd idly peeks inside a few, but the contents are well beyond him. Instead, he watches Marle as she reverently runs her finger along the tools of the magical trade.

"Look for something that feels right. I didn't know I wanted a bardiche until I picked one up," he suggests, and she starts carefully picking up the different implements. The staves seem a bit too big, and the rods an awkward in-between at her size. The wands look more comfortable in her hands, but she only tries a couple before moving on.

"The wands just feel so flimsy," she explains as she tries a few orbs. They look cool, but have the same awkwardness problem of the rods. She runs her hand over the glass for the jewelry, but sighs and shakes her head when nothing jumps out at her. She tries on a couple cloaks and robes, and though Warnd thinks she looks good in them, they don't seem to feel right for her, either.

Parval returns as she browses the books, the kobold looking more and more unhappy with each attempt that just doesn't fit. Whatever the shopkeeper got from the back, he keeps behind the counter as he speaks up. "No luck yet?"

Marle sighs and shakes her head before approaching the counter, looking like she doesn't expect whatever he has will be her answer either, but willing to humor him. Warnd just hopes he has something to inspire her.

"Then before you try the heavy arms and armor, I have something else you might like. You're not the first hauler I've helped outfit, you know. A lot of them do end up going for a heavy melee approach, but I think the ones that thrive the best look into archery."

"Archery?" echo both Marle and Warnd, and Parval nods.

"Archery. From what they tell me, drawing a bow is not much different than lifting something heavy. And even unloading skills can help with accuracy, if you have them."

To Warnd, it seems a stretch, but looking at Marle, he can see a spark in her eyes as Parval continues. "My ordinary archer stuff is in that isle there, but I think you might find this particular bow to be just what you're looking for." With a flourish, he sets a strange bow on the counter, which Warnd recognizes from rumors.

"Is that a dweller bow?"

Parval laughs and shakes his head. "Not quite! The dwellers are protective of their designs, but that won't stop smiths and boyers from trying to emulate them! This one is supposed to have a lower hold than draw strength, just like the dweller bows. Unfortunately, the draw is much more than most archers can handle. But if someone is very good at picking up heavy loads..."

He trails off with a smile as Marle reaches a shaking hand to take the bow. Just from her holding it, Warnd can see it just fits her, and she proves it as she plants her feet and pulls the string back to full.

"Just don't release it without an arrow nocked. I did that with a different bow when I was young." He smiles at the memory. "I got such an earful, heh. Put the string back like setting down something heavy, instead of dropping it."

Marle absently nods as she repeats the draw and reset several times, her gaze far away as she lets the possibilities take her imagination. Warnd smiles and turns to Parval.

"How much for it and a quiver? And... some leather armor?"

"And a pack and supplies for her as well," points out Parval with a predatory grin. Thankfully, the total comes out very similar to what Warnd paid for his own first set of adventuring gear. Marle doesn't come back from her imaginings until the sound of coins changing hands finally breaks her trance. When she sees what Warnd has for her, she tries to convince him she doesn't need all that, but he's not hearing it.

"It's all important to keep you safe, and to keep me and Lem safe if we're all three going to delve together. Don't worry, it's about what I paid for my own set, so I have enough to cover for you, and you should be easily able to pay it back," he explains, only to be surprised whens she jumps up and hugs him. After a few moments, he hugs her back, before setting her back on her feet.

Parval grins at the two, causing them to blush brightly. "Come back any time you two!" he says with a smile, his words ignoring what they did, but his smile proclaiming he saw everything.

They quickly leave with all of Marle's stuff, embarrassed that he saw, but not so embarrassed that they don't hold hands all the way to Marle's home.