Knight of Wessex (A Written World Quest)

Spoiler: Winning Plan

[X] Plan: A Little Social, a Little Playing to Our Probable Strengths
-[X] Shopping (Grace Check to see what you can find)
-[x] Socializing with the other contestants (Mystery Box!) x2
-[x] Engage in Minor Contests
--[X] Wrestling (Soma + Combat, with a minor penalty for not being a dedicated wrestler)
--[x] Poetry (Psyche + Diplomacy, with a minor bonus from her Charismata)
--[x] Chess (Psyche + Tactics, with a minor bonus from her Bloodline)

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Audrey wouldn't waste any time lollygagging about! There were contests to win and a name to spread throughout the Kingdom! Fortunately, she had arrived with Sir Vieux with more than enough time to get her feet wet with some of the smaller challenges, offered by local nobles and those who wanted some entertainment while the tournament grounds in Winchestershire were being established and the last few competitors had time to arrive. Supposedly there were going to be worthies from some of the neighboring realms here too, including possibly a few from the Continent too!

She wouldn't be worth her name and title if she passed up that opportunity to show her prowess, in more ways than one! So the moment she had the introductions sorted out, she hired a guide and got to work canvassing the city! A grand edifice, the bones of an old Roman settlement built on and refined over centuries of the wise rule of one of the greatest monarchs in recent times. It was little surprise to see that the city was a bastion of civilization, a melting pot of the best and brightest of the land–craftsmen, traders, and heroes of all stripes and paradigms.

She saw some from the Brythonic folks of Cornwall and Wales, showing solidarity with their cousins in Wessex while showing that the teachings passed down from the time of Arthur and his band of heroes were still mighty even in these changing days, she saw swarthy Norsemen of more mercantile affairs in the markets–fine metal hauberks and steady gazes as they protected their charges, bringing goods from the four corners of the earth.

Including the sight she saw before her right now.

"Interested?" The trader said, arms built like the anchors of a mighty warship, holding a set of chains in his hands, wiggling his brows suggestively at Audrey's incredulous stare. He met her gaze–which was a little odd considering his two armsmen were evidently giantkin, bearing a set of long, ivory-hafted battle axes in an at-ease position flanking the merchant, the man was just her height, and she hadn't reached her full growth yet. "I'm sure a respectable young lady like yourself can make good use of prizes such as this!"

The chains her held towards her led to a behemoth of grey, wrinkly skin, two great tusks, and the haunted look of a beast who had seen something truly awful in their time. Truthfully, a beast like that was probably worth a great deal of meat, and those tusks would make for fine carving material, and yet…

"I think that's just a little out of my price range." Audrey allows after a moment's consideration. "Sadly, I didn't bring enough coin to possibly purchase such a… Handsome beast–what did you say it was?"

The merchant looked a little disappointed, his horseshoe-moustache wrinkling slightly as he lowered the chains. "Well, can't blame a fellow for trying." He shrugs. "Sides, you never know when someone could use a pet elephant–I hear Alexander the Great was gifted a number of them back in the tail end of his conquests by a great prince of the Indian lands! Their every piece too is steeped in potent magic, even if you decide to use them as beasts of burden, or slaughter them for their reagents–why, I remember back in the day, I was part of a warband that brought down a great construct forged from the bones of one of these." He mused, smiling fondly at the memory.

"Yes, true." Audrey nods. "But I can imagine their appetites are equally voracious, and a Squire like myself lacks the income to meet those needs, and while I am confident in my performance in the contests…"

"Squire?" He wonders, a cunning look on his face. "Nice lady like yourself? Hah, nice to see you folks are getting a bit on the progressive side." He thinks on it for a moment, and nods to himself. "Well, while one of my Elephants is likely a bit out of my price range… I do regularly have to knock their teeth out to keep them from getting ideas. Tell you what, I'll sell you a set–I'm sure you can find a use for them."

The creature shuddered at that, seeming to break away, only to find itself arrested by the chains still held by the man–terrible power held in his heathen form, he smiled knowingly, and grinned as he stared the cowed beast right in the eye, a promise of further discipline there.

Still, the beast's loss could be Audrey's gain.

[ ] Buy the Beast Tusks
[ ] Save your resources for a better opportunity

Beyond that, there was the usual grifters here and there–the main events were a time off, and most of the respectable merchants were still getting set up. Most of it was unexceptional business beneath her notice, but she did find one merchant in a corner, selling some fine copper. He wasn't the most handsome of figures, with a long, curly beard and eyes that looked like he was just an inch from having a nervous breakdown, clearly desperate to sell the ingots. But the goods seemed good, and they did have a faint air of antiquity to them… Copper wasn't a great material, but maybe some decorations for her little temple?

[ ] Buy the Copper
[ ] Do Not.

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AN: First part, covering your trip to the market, I'll be doing daily, bite-sized updates through the weekend rather than intimidating myself by trying to get the whole thing done at once and overwhelming you all with options.