(17:16:00) Quentin_Boone: A slight smile emerged on Quentin's face as he listened to the old smith. The price was much better than he had feared and with his relief, fingers stopped drumming. Instead, the rough-skinned hand moved to the brawler's beard. He stroked his facial hair as he considered the offer of Berevaran hide straps. "What sort of resistance does the hide give?"
(17:20:37) Aurelianus_Drak'shal: Neal kept his grin hidden by the fingers scratching at his soot-stained beard, glad to have found a customer willing to take his advice for once. Too often the fools thought they knew everything about everything, and scoffed at the humble craftsman's suggestions. "Well, don't know what they do to the animals up there, but any Artic hide is a damn sight tougher than what we have down here." He raised a hand, signalling he would return in a moment and disappeared through to the back room. He returned a minute later, with two sheets of leather in his fist. Neal laid them down on the counter and drew a dagger from his belt. "This one," he said, pointing to the left sheet, "is basic leather." He stabbed the blade into it, leaving a hole in the material. Another swipe, and he parted the edge of the leather with the blade. "This," he indicated the other one, "is Artic hide." The bearded craftsman stabbed the blade down into the hide, satisfied when it left little more than a mark in the leather. "You can see the difference yourself, friend."
(17:24:54) Quentin_Boone: Quentin nodded his approval at the impressive display of the hide's protection. He wasn't convinced by the price, however; two hundred gold would be an extra room for at least a month at The Empty Hand. He picked the hide up from the counter and gave it a look over. It felt tough in his hands, and the dagger's mark was only light. "Is two hundred the best price ya can do?"
(17:27:41) Aurelianus_Drak'shal: Neal habitually clawed at the dry skin under his scraggly beard, humming and hawing as he considered it. Business wasn't so good he could turn away business, but at the same time, he couldn't go just giving discounts to everyone who walked through the door. Finally, an idea struck him, and the swarthy man smiled amicably. "Tell you what, friend; you tell your friends about me, and promise me some return business, and I can knock ten gold off the price. Sound fair?"
(17:47:57) Quentin_Boone: Quentin grinned. "I'll tell ya wha' I can do fer ya. I'll have words wi' me Ringmaster, a nasty old bastard called Adal. Reckon he'll get all 'is fighters to come to ya. Tha's worth more of a discount than ten gold, right?"
(17:49:49) Aurelianus_Drak'shal: The grin widened visibly, displaying teeth stained with years of chewing tobacco. "Aye, that it is. I can do you twenty gold off the price of the Artic hide, and fifteen gold off the price of the spikes. And that is the best I can do without bankrupting myself, friend. What do you say?"
(17:54:26) Quentin_Boone: Quentin took a moment to think, continuing to stroke his beard as the old man grinned. "Well, I don't really 'ave a lorra money meself." He picked up one of his leather straps and wrapped it round his fist. It covered his fingers three times. "I reckon I'd only need a third a'hide than I got leather. Just put a couple'a stitches in to make sure I don't hafta hold it." He paused again, took off the leather strap and placed it back on the counter. "And there's enough leather 'ere for ya to hilt at least three daggers. What's that worth? Considerin' there's next to no hide needed."
(17:57:24) Aurelianus_Drak'shal: Neal spread his hands wide, shrugging helplessly from behind the counter. "Sorry friend, but that really is the best I can offer you. But, to sweeten the deal, you keep coming back to ol' Neal, I can keep giving you a nice little discount for the goods you get." The man leaned casually on the counter, toying with the dagger there as he waited for the customer's answer.
(18:00:34) Quentin_Boone: Quentin nodded. "Ya got a deal. Tell me ya name, and I'll keep comin' back an' make sure Adal gets 'is other fighters to come to ya. Don' worry though, I'll keep the discount between us." Having a friend like this old man could be useful, cheap gear was hard to get hold of. With the hide, he had no need of the leather, "And you keep those straps anyway, I won't need 'em wi' that hide."
(18:03:47) Aurelianus_Drak'shal: "I'm Neal, friend. Pleased to make your acquaintance," the man smiled, popping a wad of chewing tobacco into his mouth and tamping it into his cheek. "Gimme a few minutes, and I'll have your items ready for you," he said, gathering up the materials from the counter and vanishing into the backroom again. It was fifteen minutes all told before he appeared again, and handed the spiked straps back to their rightful owner. "That'll be three-hundred and fifteen sovereigns, if you please."