RP:I Know A Guy
Summary: Zedidiah is on a hunt for a particular plant and Meri may just know the man to assist him.
Xalious Village
This once small village hidden amongst the Xalious Mountains has grown over the years, as studious visitors come to study within the Mage Guild's public library, and also to visit the ancient Xalious Tree. Many of the young magelings have built homes here while learning at the Tower, and most chose to stay when their formal lessons are done. It has a thriving economy built upon this, and is well protected from roving dragons which frequent the Xalious Ranges by the Mage Tower. The houses which line the streets are all simple in construction, yet sturdily built with a caring touch. To the south is the town's well and beyond it the legendary Xalious Tree. To the west is a large inn which houses the town's frequent visitors. To the east is a rocky path back into the Xalious Ranges, and to the north, rising up to challenge the sky itself, is the infamous Mage Tower.
Zedidiah is pacing up and down the road, fidgeting nervously with the clasp of his cloak. His shirt has come unturned in one corner, which is doing no favors for his belly that is a bit round even by halfling standards. Nearby a very bored horse stands tied to a cart that says "Gawkroger Shipping Company."
You had every intention of just passing through. There was not much in this area that really called to her, so while her travels often took her through this area she usually did not have much reason to stay for long. Today would likely prove to be no different, but a certain halfling seems to be cause for delay (not that she was in any amount of hurry). Her steps stop and blue eyes remain fixed on Zedidiah, watching the little guy travel back and forth a few times, curiously. Her approach is marked with questions, "Are you anxious about something? Waiting for someone? Why do you keep pacing the way that you do?"
Zedidiah freezes when someone sees him. What are the odds that someone would come through this village set at a major trade passageway through the mountains?! Quickly he tucks his shirt back in and turns to face Meri. He works quickly to fix his worried face into a smile. "Ahh, yes..well. Hello! Hello, nice to meet you. Zedidiah Gawkroger, at your service. Anxious? I'd say just...planning. Planning how to get this cart across an ocean."
Meri's red lips twist up into a devilish smirk as the halfling makes his worries known. One might guess based on the number of tattoos this woman has that seem to be related to the ocean in some way or another that she may be able to give sound advise! And she could! But nope! It's been a rough couple of weeks and so Meri is just going to amuse herself by going ahead and picking on this poor halfling. "I mean? Have you ever tried to cross a river with this thing? One that is maybe too deep? You unhitch your beasties and float her across!" Which has a success rate of what? "...of course I have never met an ox or a horse that has been able to swim across oceans. But I mean. You never know. They probably exist somewhere. If horses can fly surely they can swim too?" Kelpies? "Or maybe you could just use your cart to transport this to a ship and then a ship to get your junk across the ocean. What goods are you trying to haul?"
Zedidiah holds up one finger high to the sky, meaning in this case about two and a half feet above the ground. "Ahhh, but therein lies the rub. I have neither sufficient caulking nor a ship of my own. What I have is a cart. Well, I have a few carts if I'm being honest. And what I need is a ship, a way to avoid the ten year waiting period on an export permit, and a jade wisp fern. So now, I plan. You wouldn't be willing to barter for a ship, would you?"
Meri points at her person and has herself a good little chuckle at the notion that she has a ship of any sort. "I suppose it would be nice. I wouldn't mind a ship if my own..." There was a bit of a dreamy tone there but Meri is quick to push those thoughts out of her mind. Wishful thinking. She knows how her luck runs. "No, but I bet you I could secure passage for your goods to whatever location it is you are needing to get them to. I assume that you want them to go to Rynvale, perhaps?" One of the more popular destinations in these lands, one that would require a ship to get to. "I guess though, if this is something you wanted me to look into? I would need more details. Dock masters. Their ledgers. You know."
Zedidiah tilts his head and regards Meri more closely. Is this someone who can actually help, or is she just teasing him? He slips his thumbs under his suspenders. "It's a rainforest across the western ocean, where I need to secure a fern and bring it back." He pauses, clicking his tongue and musing almost to himself, "Or find a ledger showing a fern already in transit."
Meri sets her gaze on the skyline to the west, red lips pursed together and brow lifting in thought. There is a considerable amount of mulling. Secure a ship to try and gain passage to some unknown forest to the west of here? Was this something Meri could do? Would she actually be willing to help? Hm. One idea seems better than the other, it's the second notion that Meri actually latches onto. "I suppose that I know a guy by the name of Callum who is uh....Out in the Kelay area the last I saw him? If you leave a note at the little herb shop, he'll get it." Tattooed shoulders are rolled in a bit of a shrug. "Anyway, not only is he pretty good at growing plants but he is a merchant too. I think between the two of you? I bet you could find a ledger of a fern already in transit. Depending on his compensation."
Zedidiah grins brightly, going so far as to snap his suspenders. "Callum, you say. Callum. I like that name, that's a dependable sounding name. Thank you very much. Could I offer you anything as recompense? Dog food? Manure?"
Meri wrinkles her nose up at both offers and is quick to shake her head, declining it. "Oh no, thanks. I have neither a dog nor any need for manure. I am not the one who grows plants. You might try that offer with Cal. See it is gold that talks with me?" Her lips curl up into another easy smirk, one short lived. "But it's not too hard to drop some names, sometimes. I know quite of few of them. Consider this one a freebie." That sentence is punctuated with a grin, she might be back to teasing the poor halfling again. Maybe. "Hopefully my recommendation is a good one."
Zedidiah takes a moment to look back at his bored horse, a new plan blooming in his mind. "Well I'm happy for the name you've dropped, and once I manage this pickle I'll gladly repay a favor in coin. In the interim, rely on Gawkroger Shipping for your concerns."
Meri eyes the halfling in a bit of a knowing fashion, in the sense that he had this look that he was attempting to scheme something up. She'll not press, sometimes there is only so much one can get out of a total stranger. With this conversation seemingly at a close, a lazy salute is offered to Zedediah. "The name is Meri. Anyway, I will leave you to your business and I will continue on with mine. Nice meeting you." With all those lovely little pleasantries completed, Meri continues on with her route.